Volume 19 Issue 5 October 29, 2008
Camosun’s Student Voice Since 1990
tentinG it
wine And dine
CAmpus GHosts
Supreme Court allows homeless to set up camp, but pitching on campus probably not a good idea.
Want to impress a date with wine knowledge and keep some pocket change? follow this guide.
team nexus does some paranormal investigating in the oh-so-haunted young Building.
news—3
liFe—7
FeAture—9
c a r y S mov ies A horrifyin
g history
photo: Courtney Broughton
Page 8
VIEWS Nexus Editorial
2
Next publication date: Nov. 12, 2008 Deadline: noon Nov. 5, 2008 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 Liz McArthur Andrea Moir Jason Motz Chris Pal Miriam Putters MANAGING EDITOR
Jason Schreurs L AYO U T E D I T O R
Party like it’s Halloween
Fishnets, firecrackers, beer bongs, and candy—ready for Halloween? You better be, because it’s an evening to do what we want, when we want, and wear whatever the hell we want. It’s that one day of the year when we don’t have to abide by the rules and can pretend we’re someone else for an evening. Pure anarchy. With all of this extra excitement, things can sometimes get a little out of hand. Go ahead and party like a rock star, but make sure to think before doing a keg stand. As a student newspaper we thought we’d give Camosun students a heads up for Halloween. Don’t think of us as a nagging parent, but more a cool aunt. Pub crawls are very popular on Halloween and involve hundreds of drunken students screaming out of bus windows and leaving a mark at every pub they leave. These
Laila Brown STUDENT EDITOR
Tessa Cogman
Open Space
COPY EDITOR
Alan Piffer E D I T O R I A L A S S I S TA N T
Kait Cavers
Courtney Broughton ADVERTISING SALES
Breanna Carey Jason Schreurs 250-370-3593 Campus Plus NATIONAL 1-800-265-5372 DISTRIBUTION
Courtney Broughton Ashley Moore CONTRIBUTORS:
Guy Alaimo Adrian Binakaj Allie Bowman Courtney Broughton Breanna Carey Kait Cavers Tessa Cogman Maelina de Grasse Christopher Gillespie Jared Gowen Paul Haysom Elizabeth Jarvis Brendan Kergin Donald Kennedy Keltie Larter Joanna Lillard Wil Maartman Hayley MacDonald Kelly Marion Liz McArthur Andrea Moir Jason Motz Chantelle Mussell Amee Niijar Alan Piffer Shane Priestley Sarah Rankin Shane Scott-Travis Rhea Smilowski Ed Sum Justyne Wallace
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]
breAnnA CArey ContriButing Writer
When the US recently declared a financial crisis, the words hit Canada hard. And the economic turmoil will soon affect students. Upcoming grads can expect to face a limited job market. This is good news for colleges and universities who would gain higher enrollment from students avoiding the job market until the economy stabilizes. But with very little worker demand, students will find it very tough to find jobs. Also, student loan repayments will be harder with growing
Letters
S TA F F P H O T O G R A P H E R
crawls are all the rage, but can leave students broke and confused as to where they are, and how they managed to lose their friends in the chaos. Downtown Victoria can be dangerous, especially on Halloween, transforming into a night of the living dead and stupidly drunk. The police try to calm things down, but only manage to aggravate people by stuffing partygoers into the drunk-tank. So what’s the best way to celebrate on Halloween? This is a tough question to answer, but house parties top the list. Going to someone else’s party is always fun, because there’s no need to worry about cleaning up afterwards. Unlike the bar where friends can get separated, normally everyone will stick together at parties. If the unfortunate event of someone hugging the bowl occurs, a friend will have your back and keep
your hair out of your face at the same time. It’s rare that house parties will get shut down on Halloween because the police can only arrest so many people that night. Having a lookout on the porch, however, always helps.
Downtown Victoria can be dangerous, especially on Halloween, transforming into a night of the living dead and stupidly drunk. For the obsessive, explosive type, backyards are much more discreet for setting off fireworks than the middle of Douglas Street,
and there’s less risk of passer-bys getting hit. Another thing to check out is Nightmare’s Entertainment Haunted House Spectacular, Glamorgan’s Last Stand, in North Saanich. It’s fun, scary, and safe (when not being chased by a bloody chainsaw). While we’re not encouraging misbehavior on Halloween, we’re giving tips to those who see Halloween as the Mardi Gras of Canada. Students like our Feature Writer, Brendan Kergin, who celebrates a birthday on top of Halloween’s festivities, should be extra cautious. This kind of double-header can involve extra consumption of beer, porn-star shots, and mini Kit-Kat bars. If you’re more of a coach potato on All Hallow’s Eve, we hope our feature on pages 8–9 will help you select a variety of scary films. Have fun, be safe, tag all your friends on Facebook, and don’t blow your face off.
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.
Financial crisis affects students as well
S TA F F W R I T E R S
Guy Alaimo Brendan Kergin Liz McArthur
October 29, 2008
Aramark: Screwing the next decade
I read the article in Nexus about the cafeteria situation at Camosun [Aramark caf underwhelms students, Oct. 15 issue] and I wasn’t at all surprised to read how unhappy people are with the place. First and foremost, the prices are completely silly. We’re students, many of which are riding on student
interest rates. A recession in America has the potential to create an economic domino effect in many other countries. Canada is particularly affected by the meltdown in the states because we rely so much on them as a trading partner. Our economy can expect to experience a reduction, rather than the projected growth spurt. Canada is an exporting nation, and with an unstable southern trading partner we can’t rely on to buy our exports, economic growth prospects appear dim.
A stable economy needs confident consumers. With plunging stock markets, Canadians and Americans alike are concerned about their savings, finances, mortgages, and pensions. People are hesitant to invest their sideline funds during a volatile time in the stock market. It will take at least a year for stocks to recuperate from the losses, after being in a 10-year upswing. Banks will now find it harder to give out loans, which much of the economy, particularly small business, relies on.
Graduating students planning to buy homes or set up businesses will have to wait for creditors to stabilize until they can take out a sufficient loan. We can learn a lesson from America’s troubles. Save for a rainy day, limit credit usage, and spend within one’s means. Consumer confidence will transform the outcome of the crisis. If people are relaxed, still purchasing cars, and spending their money, the economy will recover faster than if everyone hoards money waiting for the crisis to pass.
loans and, if we have time, part-time work. This brings the budget down a little. I haven’t seen any food at the cafeterias priced at “student fare.” A good example is at UVic where there are one-dollar coffee refills if you have your own mug, which encourages both reduction in waste and buying your coffee there. And they have two-dollar wraps that aren’t going to act as a meal, but they will keep you going when you forgot to pack a lunch or need a quick snack. Go talk to a business instructor
about supply/demand/price curves . . . you’ll see the cafeteria is out of bounds with the market. And the bit about an issue of finding employees?! Are you kidding me? You can’t tell me that if you paid students a fair wage they wouldn’t be able to find able-bodied people who could multitask their time to clean up the always-disastrous sugar/cream area. At the same time, better paid employees will have a bit more of a chipper attitude . . . the current cafeteria cashiers are depressing! Then I read that Armark has a
eight-year contract here?! WTF? Were the people making that decision trying to screw the next decade? They must have made a pretty sweet offer to do that. Was there even a trial period to see what Aramark could offer? I can’t see why the student body couldn’t run a cafeteria of that size. But, hey, that’s just coming from a guy who’s been in the service industry for 10 years.
mAtteus Clement CAMOSUN STUDENT
Help build our team
This is Open Space, a forum for Camosun students to share opinions and thoughts. 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.
nexus needs student volunteers Nexus is looking for a few good students to join our team. If you would like to write, take photos, or just want to help out with the newspaper, get in touch with us asap! 250.370.3591
[email protected] www.nexusnewspaper.com Richmond House 201, Lansdowne
NEWS
[email protected]
Tent city ruling brings up question of on-campus squatting Liz McArthur Staff Writer
With rising tuition fees, food, and rent taxing many students’ budgets, those on the verge of being homeless might even be considering the option of tent living.
“We’ve dealt with concerns with individuals who want to camp or stay overnight on our grounds.” Pervez Ditta
Camosun College
A new city bylaw might make this an easier choice, but those staking out places around Victoria will have to be careful where they set up camp. The campuses of Camosun, for example, are not an option, according to acting College Safety
Manager Pervez Ditta. A recent BC Supreme Court ruling states it’s unconstitutional for the City of Victoria to prohibit homeless people from erecting shelters for themselves in public parks. With an estimated 1,200 homeless people in or near downtown Victoria and nowhere near that amount of shelter beds, tenting in public parks looks like a viable solution for some. The City of Victoria reacted by announcing its intention to appeal the decision, which could take up to a year. So what if homeless students or non-students decided to camp out on Camosun’s campuses? That huge, green, rolling lawn in front of Lansdowne’s Young Building could hold a fairly large tent city. “We’ve dealt with concerns with individuals who want to camp or stay overnight on our grounds,” says Ditta. “Once they’ve been identified, they’ve been dealt with.” Ditta explains coming onto campus is an implied consent and
anyone on campus must abide by the Student Code of Conduct. “If individuals did decide to occupy the space within the college, there’s a number of different stakeholders that we would liaise with,” adds Ditta. “College Safety being one that would get involved; we’d also get direction from our senior management team, the police, bylaw officers . . .” With around 40 percent of people in the homeless community dealing with mental illness, Ditta says the college would also likely seek advice from an agency like the Vancouver Island Health Authority to see what the challenges are, and try to connect the homeless individual with someone who could help. And some may argue a tent city at Camosun could affect the learning environment of the institution. No more studying peacefully on the campus green spaces if they’re home to a down-and-out student population. Nursing student Bryanna Gortz
says having homeless people camp out at the school wouldn’t affect her learning environment, as long as they were fellow students. “There are two different sides to the issue,” says Gortz. “For them, it would be a good idea, but for us it would probably be a bad idea.” Engineering and Philosophy student Joel Witherington agrees that an on-campus tent city would benefit homeless students. “It’s a great idea,” says Witherington. “I was planning on doing that this term, but I didn’t.” Witherington says he doesn’t see how overnight campers would affect the learning environment at Camosun, especially if it had a similar time restriction rule (9 pm7 am) as the City of Victoria. He does admit toilet facilities would be an issue. For now, those hoping to claim sanctuary under the Supreme Court Ruling will find it doesn’t technically apply to the college grounds, only to public parks within the City of Victoria.
NEWS BRIEFS by Kait Cavers
Depressed much?
If you’ve noticed that you’re feeling crappier than a bag of hot manure lately, you could be suffering from something worse than the midterm blues. Depression is a serious health disorder that afflicts millions of people, and it’s treatable! This is where Depression Awareness Week comes to the rescue. Get the help you need to conquer the dark side. Starting Nov. 3, info will be offered at booths on the Lansdowne campus—in front of the library, as well as near the Fisher, Young, and Wilna Thomas buildings. Third-year nursing students will also be there to assist. Private and confidential depression screenings will be offered on Nov. 6 in the library.
Soapbox hero
As a follow-up to last issue’s article, “Camosun wins soapbox derby,” mechanical engineering instructor Jeffrey Stephen has won the Community Impact Award at the Camosun Celebrates awards ceremony. Stephen is donating his $100 award to the Canary Soapbox Derby fundraiser for the BC Cancer Foundation. High five!
Continued on page 4
Camosun searches for new president CCSS election results Guy Alaimo Staff Writer
Camosun College has created a president search task force to help find a new head honcho in time for next year when current president Liz Ashton steps down. The task force will review resumes from prospective applicants and decide who is best suited to be Camosun’s next president. Chaired by Board of Governors member Cindy Robertson, the task force has 12 other people from the board, including representatives from the College Faculty Association (CCFA) and Camosun College Student Society (CCSS). The task force’s first role will be engaging a request for proposal process to identify a search agency that will take on the role of gathering prospective applicants. “We are still a long way from actually launching the search,” says Robin Adair, chair of Camosun’s Board of Governors. “This particular year is unique in the fact that five colleges are also currently
searching for new presidents. We could be competing with other colleges who are trying to hire the same person.”
whether students and faculty received enough say in the decision. This time, all seems to be well. “We always want to see more student representation,” says Matthew de Groot, CCSS board member and task force member. “We could be “Bringing in other students could competing with other be difficult, the way the search is set up. I’d say that there is a pretty colleges who are strong student representation, trying to hire the same considering the amount of other stakeholders.” person.” CCFA President Darryl Ainsley is happy with the way his group is Robin Adair Camosun Board of represented in the search for a new Governors college president. “I had a chance to talk with the Board of Governors,” says Ainsley. Adair says the college is looking “They listened well, and I’m hopefor certain criteria in an applicant. ful we’ll get a good result.” “The person should have at least The creation of the task force a doctorate in their field for a good comes just weeks after current chance to get the job, but that’s and longtime president Ashton not to say the position cannot be announced her retirement for filled by someone without one,” next year. says Adair. It’s been 14 years since In past searches for new college Camosun last searched for a new presidents, concerns arose over president.
include a tie Guy Alaimo Staff Writer
Camosun College students have spoken. The results for the recent Camosun College Student Society elections are in. Well, most of them. The Pride Director position is currently a tie between candidates Cristian Cano and Kris Matheson, each with 188 votes. A decision was not available at press time, but the CCSS has met with the two candidates to seek a resolution. More on that next issue. In total, just over five percent of Camosun students voted (422 total voters), with Interurban voters outnumbering Lansdowne 291 to 131. Typically, voting numbers are higher at Lansdowne, but locations of the voting tables may have been a factor. Lansdowne’s table was tucked beside the Fisher Building’s bank
machine and did not see a lot of traffic while the second-floor Campus Centre location at Interurban was much busier.
The election results are as follows: Pride Director: Decision pending First Nations Director: Kieran McMonagle Lansdowne Directors: Ana Clara Sosa Cazales, Mohsin Abbas, Shaahid Khalpey, and Roxanne Smillie (all acclaimed) Interurban Director: Chad Wilton, Ra Pich, and Duane Louis (all acclaimed)
What’s your most memorable Halloween experience? By Keltie Larter
Andrew Hettle
Tamara Russell
Stephen Clarke
Kristine Parker and Hannah Neubert
Sumeet Dhaul
Carrie Davies
Taking my twin cousins trick-or-treating and making them sprint from house to house to get the most candy ever!
Being stalked by two guys in San Jose, Costa Rica, on our way home from the bar. They had baseball bats . . . it was definitely scary!
I had a date with a pretty girl, but she left her house before I got there, so I ended up taking her eight-year-old sister trickor-treating . . . she was a princess!
Kristine: Winning best costume for my high school masquerade dressed as a unicorn, and then dancing all night long! Hannah: I went to a party where there was a girl wearing the exact same costume as me and I caught my boyfriend grabbing her bum because he thought it was me . . . or so he said!
Spray-painting and tagging my neighbourhood.
Spending weeks planning, decorating, perfecting my costume, and carving pumpkins, and then the whole thing was over in a matter of hours!
NEWS
4
October 29, 2008
Students connect with each other through Camosun Facebook clubs Amee niiJAr
ContriButing Writer
Typing Camosun College into Facebook’s groups search uncovers nine pages filled with 90 Camosunrelated groups. The main college group has over 1,450 members and counting, and that’s only at the top of the search results. Amongst the alumni and program-specific groups, anything from teacher fan clubs, sports clubs, and even gossip clubs can be found.
“People seem to check their Facebook pages as regularly as their email.” mAdison kollA
CamoSun Student
No one can deny the ability Facebook has to connect people with similar interests but, then again, no one can deny the ability Facebook has to come up with a bunch of useless crap. So does being a member of one of these groups have more purpose than being a part of, say, some zombie application? Perhaps it does. For students
new to Camosun, or just flat out unaware of what’s going on around campus, joining one of the groups can come with huge benefits. And, frankly, tracking down people on Facebook is easier than tracking down people on campus. Some groups were created as part of a class project. Sheila Porteous helped form Camosun College Students with Children in February as part of her Community, Family and Children Studies course. photo: Courtney Broughton “The purpose of the page was Meagan Hogg, admin of Overheard to create a group for parents who at Camosun Facebook group. attend Camosun College; a place to find other parents, advice, and getting started, recruiting members, stress-busting ideas,” says Porte- and planning events. Scuba Club creator Madison ous. “My group thought it could be a supportive network that was easily Kolla checks her group page daily. “Even if groups do hold monthly accessible to busy parents.” Unfortunately, the group never meetings, it’s inevitable that some took off, and today only boasts five people won’t be able to show up, members. “I think our project was and people seem to check their successful for learning and, for Facebook pages as regularly as their me, it really highlighted the lack of e-mail,” says Kolla. Amongst the resourceful Facommunity on campus,” reflects cebook groups, some Camosun Porteous. Sports alumni and club pages pages are created for a laugh and also appear in the search, and it’s not much more. You Know You’re not surprising to find Chargers a Business Student at Camosun volleyball and basketball groups. When . . . is a group formed solely But for lesser-known recreational for the purpose of telling jokes, and clubs like Camosun Scuba Club, Overheard at Camosun is a group Facebook can play a huge role in that lets students quote things
overheard on campus. “I hate to admit it, but it’s kind of a gossip thing in a very loose sense of the word ‘gossip,’” says group admin Meagan Hogg. “You know, with everyone being interested in everyone else’s lives so much . . . plus, it’s totally entertaining.” Despite the gossip angle, there’s an underlying initiative to the page. Hogg reveals she likes to post upcoming events in the Recent News section as a way to get more students involved in campus activities. “This being my fourth year at Camosun, I’ve found it hard to meet people not in my program or classes,” says Hogg. “So, part of my evil plan is to get people involved, slowly but surely, in Camosun events . . . like Dunlop Pub!” So whether it be Camosun Pride Collective, Outdoors Club, or even Japanese Conversation Club, chances are students will find at least one Facebook group relevant to them and possibly worth joining. And, if not, there’s bound to be something new to learn about Camosun, even if it’s the latest business program joke, or what that girl in front of the Young Building is having for dinner tonight.
Student loan assessments unfair, say students JoAnnA lillArd ContriButing Writer
The amount of financial aid a student qualifies for is determined by many factors. While some students are satisfied with their student loan amounts, others feel they are unfairly assessed. For example, owning a car suggests a student has the funds to operate and insure their vehicle, disqualifying them for more assistance. So, do we rob ourselves of the finer things in life or do we . . . you
know, fudge that part on the loan application? Amanda Hatfield, a psychology student at Camosun, says small sacrifices are a fair trade for a good education. “It’s better to be robbed of the finer things for a short period of time while going to school, rather than my whole life, if I didn’t get a good job because I didn’t go to school.” Minister of Advanced Education Murray Coell agrees post-secondary education is a good investment. “Students who successfully
complete post-secondary education will be better off, in most cases, than those who don’t,” says Coell. Another issue that can cause problems with student loan applications is a student’s living situation. Claiming common law status can affect the amount of a student loan. One student feels she was unfairly assessed based on her living situation. Next time, she admits, she’d fill out her application differently. “Just because I have sex with my ‘roommate’ doesn’t mean that I am being subsidized anymore than if I were living with a girlfriend with whom I am not having sex,” says the student. For students in the throes of stressful, full-time academic studies, small fibs on applications may seem innocent, but the government
guarantees these don’t go unnoticed and takes fraud allegations seriously. “Student Aid BC audits 100 percent of applications for certain information, such as social insurance numbers and credit checks,” says Coell. “All reports of incorrect information are investigated and all information supplied on the Student Aid BC application is subject to audit and verification at any time.” According to Coell, the ministry understands students’ needs and the difficulty in properly distributing funds. “We understand that every situation is unique,” he says, “and staff works very hard to find a balance between assisting students who are facing hardships and ensuring taxpayers receive appropriate accountability for public funds.”
NEWS BRIEFS by kAit CAvers
Get a job, ya bum
Booyah! Employment workshops. No charge to students, alumni, or employees. Tons of information will be offered on provincial government applications, interview protocol, networking, marketing oneself, job interview formats, and negotiating contracts. What else do you need? Keep your eyes peeled for listings in Nexus’ Eye on Campus on the back page. For more info, contact
[email protected] or call 250–370–4181.
Catch the wave
How can youth be influenced to take part in creating a healthy environment and living a green lifestyle without prompting a yawn? The Rip-tide Surf Charity Event held at Sugar Nightclub is the answer. The event aims to inspire adults in teaching youth about helping the environment through surfing, an action-packed extreme sport guaranteed to catch their attention. Surfers pride themselves on cleaning up beaches and caring for the environment. The event will feature sponsor giveaways, a movie premiere, speeches from Big Brothers, Big Sisters and live music, so do some good and come check it out. It all happens at Sugar Nightclub on Nov. 8 at 9 pm. Tickets are $12.50 in advance from Sitka (538 Yates).
Under the C
Higher education and applied research in Canada’s ocean technology sector is the focus of a collaborative effort between Camosun College and the Marine Institute at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Earlier this month the two groups agreed to develop new joint initiatives in the ocean technology field. This meeting of east and west coasts plans to inspire growth in serving the needs of the ocean sector here and around the world. The agreement will explore the possibility of student/faculty exchanges between institutions, as well as international opportunities.
Let’s talk about sex (baby)
Talk Sex host Sue Johanson speaks at UVic on all things sexy during this Camosun College Student Society and UVic Student Society co-sponsored event. Get your sex drive back in high gear. UVic New Sciences Building room B150, Oct. 30, 4:30-7 pm. Tickets are $12 for students and available at the Lansdowne CCSS office.
* '
MLA Victoria-Beacon Hill
Supporting more affordable and accessible post-secondary education
[email protected] 250-952-4211 www.opposition.bc.ca
CAMPUS
[email protected]
My Camosun videos show reel campus Liz McArthur Staff Writer
It’s unknown how many Camosun students are sitting on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the judging of the My Camosun video contest which closes on Oct. 31. But one thing’s for sure, contest organizer David Sovka is pretty stoked on the whole thing. “This kind of a contest allows people to see that, in fact, our institution is extremely colourful; it’s extremely diverse, it’s extremely interesting,” says Sovka, associate director of College and Community Relations. After searching “My Camosun” on YouTube, a few things come up. There’s a wealth of video fan mail for the college, as well as a few other goodies. The entire second-year class of 24 students from Camosun’s
Second-year ACP student Donald Kennedy stars in this My Camosun contest entry.
Applied Communication Program has entered submissions as an assignment for their video class. Beyond that, a few other entries can be found. “We’re absolutely overwhelmed,” says Sovka, who explains the college originally expected about a dozen entries. “We haven’t got a final count on it yet, but right now there’s about two-and-a-half dozen.” Brent Townsend, a 52-year-old
Comox Valley bird watcher, offers some footage of sandhill cranes, discussing the birds’ circling patterns before signing off with “this is my Camosun,” pronounced wrong. What does that have to do with Camosun? Nothing. Sovka says he isn’t worried about the college being misrepresented by the My Camosun videos on the web, despite the vague rules of the contest-it must be one-minute long and it can’t be creepy. “99 percent of the material that’s on there that says Camosun would be very specific to Camosun,” says Sovka. “It’s great; it’s very human to present an extremely diverse picture for an organization. That’s the kind of place I want to work at; that’s the kind of place I want to learn at.” Those who don’t meet the time restrictions for the contest won’t be
automatically disqualified, adds Sovka, but the rule about not being creepy still stands. The rule is there to keep anything overtly racist, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise offensive out of the competition.
“The goal is to allow the wider Camosun community to tell the Camosun story.” David Sovka
Camosun College
“That hasn’t happened, fortunately,” says Sovka. “In 2008, in Victoria, we would all say that is not appropriate and wouldn’t want to see that.” Some students are wondering
what’s up with the blooper reel that’s also been posted by Sovka. The short video of Sovka and Administrative Assistant Laura Mannerfeldt forgetting their lines is taken from a promotional video filmed for a virtual college and university recruitment fair held on Oct. 22. Sovka says he uploaded the video because he loves blooper reels. But for Sovka, the contest is all about what Camosun students have to say about the college. “The goal is to allow the wider Camosun community to tell the Camosun story.” And what is that story? That’s up to you. Submissions for the My Camosun video contest will be accepted until Oct. 31. Winners of the contest will be announced Nov. 6 at 7 pm at the A Channel studios.
Campus life beyond the books Future holds more space for students Sarah Rankin
Contributing Writer
College life can be about more than just essays and exams. Besides classes, Camosun offers a wide range of on-campus student clubs that appeal to many different interests. Students may want to get their noses out of the books and scope out some of Camosun’s A-list clubs. Anyone looking to lose some inhibitions on the weekend without the aid of alcohol might meet that special someone over a sultry tango. The Camosun Ballroom Dance Club has classes every Saturday and Sunday at Lansdowne campus and UVic. So far, the Ballroom Dance Club has enrolled 50 members this term. Combined with its UVic participants, the club averages between 100 and 200 members each year. “We are by far the most successful club in Camosun history,” says club founder Derek Madson, an ex-Camosun student. Classes range from Standard Ballroom, to Tango Fusion, all the way to what the club describes as “one of the most versatile and playful partner dances,” the “funky-sexy” West Coast Swing. And anyone without a dance partner can stop worrying—partners aren’t needed in this club. In fact, instructors actually advise against dancing with just one person. Those who aren’t interested in dancing may want to hone their mental abilities instead. Students with an interest in psychology (or who just want to be stimulated on a Tuesday afternoon) can drop by the Camosun Psychology Club in the Fisher Building at Lansdowne. Reaching outside the realms of the standard psychology textbook, this club offers activities, guest speakers, movies, excursions, and the opportunity to attend conferences. It also provides practical information on career advancement in psychology. Attendance has been steady so far this term, and new members are always welcome. “It’s a very casual club; people come and go as they wish,” says club president and
Camosun student Taylor Byers. Drop-ins are encouraged and the club is free to join. Byers says the club also does fundraising during the year in hopes of traveling to a psychology conference. This year, their sights are set on either Portland, Oregon for the Western Psychological Association Conference, or Montreal, for the Canadian Psychological Associa-
tion Conference. These are just two of the clubs on campus and others offer more opportunities for students to spice up their school routine. Not only can involvement in a student club be a great addition to a resume or scholarship or university application, but on-campus clubs offer a chance to meet other students with similar passions.
Camosun clubs want you! Camosun Ballroom Dance Club When: Saturdays, Sept. 13-Nov. 29 and Sundays, Sept. 14-Nov. 30 Where: Saturdays, Young Building Gym, Lansdowne; Sundays, McKinnon Dance Studio, UVic McKinnon Building Fees: $35 for students if purchased before the first class, or $40 at the door. The pass is good for unlimited classes within the term. How to join: 250–686–8091 or email
[email protected] More info: www.geocities.com/ballroomcamosun The Camosun Psychology Club When: Tuesdays, 3:30 pm Where: Fisher 210, Lansdowne Campus Fees: None How to join: 250–370–3198 or e-mail
[email protected] or
[email protected] More info: www.camosun.ca/learn/ programs/psyc/club.html
Some other Camosun College student clubs: Asian Movie Club A place to share and watch Asian movies as well as learn about Asian culture. Camosun College Toastmasters A branch of Toastmasters International, the club provides a supportive environment for students to master communication and leadership skills, and to become more confident and comfortable in front of an audience through public speaking practice. Camosun Scuba Club Opportunity for divers at Camosun to meet and plan recreational dives, charter trips, and get advanced dive education. Community in Action (CIA) A network dedicated to creating a healthier campus environment,
promoting gender diversity, women’s rights, sexual wellbeing, and a green environment. The club provides food for students in need, weekly potlucks supported by food donations, speakers on current issues, and fundraisers for supported external organizations. Japanese Conversation Club Opportunity for non-Japanese speakers to practice the language with native Japanese speakers outside of class, learn about Japanese culture, and meet new friends. Korean Language Club For students wanting to learn about Korean language and culture, offering regular grammar and language classes, tutoring, a drop-in centre, and Korean potluck parties. Korean Student Association (KSA) A place for Korean students to network. The club offers study groups, parties, wing nights, and a supportive environment for those with homesickness. Mature Student Networking Club Provides a venue for mature students to share experiences, information, support, and a social network with regular meetings and social outings. Snowboarder Club Arranges affordable travel to Mt. Washington, as well as an outlet for sharing experiences and ideas with like-minded students. Students for a Democratic Society Provides students concerned about social justice issues with networking opportunities, election registration and information, speaker nights, and student debates. For contact information and complete club listings, check out camosunstudent.org/clubs.shtml
Andrea Moir
Contributing Writer
The many students who frequently sit on the uncomfortable floors of campus hallways in-between classes are well aware of the lack of student spaces at Camosun. The Physical Resources Department is working with the Camosun College Student Society (CCSS) to deal with the deficiency and create more suitable lounge and study spaces for students. “We recognize students need contemporary spaces to hang out in,” says Marian Miszkiel, director of Physical Resources. At the Interurban Campus, concepts and budget discussions are underway and being finalized. These plans include more seating and tables in the CBA building’s atriums and outside the library. At Lansdowne, Physical Resources are currently in consultation with the Health and Arts departments. “We have to balance how much student space we can design without bothering the students and teachers,” explains Miszkiel. These changes should be underway by next summer using funds put aside in the general college budget. But it could be a couple of years to phase in all modifications, says Miszkiel. Other college plans could also lead to more student legroom. Camosun hopes to receive federal funding for a new health building at the Interurban campus that will house nursing, dental, and dental assistant students. This addition would free up room for more gathering places at Lansdowne, where the programs are currently located, as well as additional art classrooms and offices. Another long-term plan is the creation of a Student Union Building (SUB), similar to UVic’s. For just over two years, Camosun students have been paying $3.50 per month towards this
development as part of their CCSS student fees. Approximately $550,000 has been collected since the SUB levy came in via referendum, and the CCSS hopes to have over $1 million before starting construction. “In our long-term planning, we were assuming that we would seriously be looking at construction options sometime after the Winter Olympics, when building costs have hopefully stabilized and we have saved a down payment,” says CCSS Director of Operations Michel Turcotte. The SUB will most likely be built at Interurban, given the space necessary as well as the influx of students after the health building is constructed. “When this change occurs, Interurban Campus will have considerably more students than Lansdowne,” says Turcotte. Some Interurban students are excited about the development of a Student Union Building. “It is harder to meet people at Camosun as opposed to UVic because Camosun doesn’t have residence or a Student Union Building. With the addition of a building that is for students and is social-oriented, rather than full of classrooms, it would bring students closer together,” says Interurban Business student Brad Aitken. Lansdowne students may not get a new building on campus, but other options are being considered, including renovating that vacant white house between the Dawson and library buildings. “We can certainly not afford to build two full buildings on both campuses, but it may be possible to consider something on the Holly House site if the costs are not too high,” says Turcotte. Physical Resources is currently looking into how much it will cost to restore and rezone the Holly House, says Miszkiel. Until concepts are finalized, students will remain with sore backs and numb body parts, but may see comfort in the future.
October 29, 2008
SAD: Dark days equal darker moods Elizabeth Jarvis Contributing Writer
As student workloads increase, the mood on campus can change from an active, positive environment into a quiet, gloomy atmosphere. But is it really the workload? Perhaps the weather is to blame. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of clinical depression that follows a seasonal pattern, and is most often experienced by people between the ages of 20 and 30. SAD starts in the fall, lasts through the winter, and dissipates in the spring. The suspected trigger is decreased amounts of sunlight, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). SAD manifests itself in several ways. These include changes in appetite, weight gain, decreased energy, fatigue, a tendency to oversleep, difficulty concentrating, irritability, avoidance of social situations, and feelings of anxiety and despair. So what can a student do to keep the winter blues away? According to Camosun Counsellor Chris Balmer, students should watch for changes, not only in
photo: Courtney broughton
Some students need to go to great lengths to get a bit of extra sunlight.
mood, but habits and diet. “If you notice that every winter you just don’t have the energy or the motivation you normally do, that is probably the first and biggest symptom of SAD,” says Balmer. People who experience most or all of the typical symptoms every fall are more likely to have SAD. But those that do shouldn’t worry; they’re not alone. CMHA statistics
claim three percent of the population will suffer severe symptoms and 15 percent will experience milder symptoms. Balmer says more students tend to visit the college’s counseling centre as the semester progresses, some feeling the effects of SAD. “I have students come to me in the first week of school knowing that they didn’t do well in the winter,
so they come early to establish a relationship and regular counseling routine,” says Balmer. In his opinion, the students’ symptoms can be linked with the shorter days of fall and winter. “We do get more students coming in for depression [in the fall]; I had never thought of the possibility of it being related to SAD,” says Balmer. SAD can be treated without prescription antidepressants. Homeopathic treatment can also been extremely successful. The most popular treatment is light therapy. Exposure to full-spectrum light simulates sunshine, as the lack of sunlight is suspected to be the trigger for the change of mood. Light therapy is also a known treatment for acne. St. John’s Wort is thought to combat depression as well, but can interfere with other medications. Vitamin D could also help, because when skin is exposed to sunlight it creates vitamin D in the body. Without medication, the best things to do for alleviating depression include regular exercise, balanced meals, and being socially active. Balmer suggests students seek
the help of a counselor as soon as they think there might be something wrong. The sooner they get help, the faster the problem can be faced and overcome.
“If you notice that every winter you just don’t have the energy or the motivation you normally do, that is probably the first and biggest symptom of SAD.” Chris Balmer
Camosun College
Camosun College’s Counseling Centre is available for students, offering career, personal, educational, and cultural counseling. They have six counselors, two of them reserved for international students. The Counseling Centre is located in Dawson 202 at Lansdowne and Campus Centre 2nd floor at Interurban.
Camosun College lacking in faith services Jason Motz
Contributing Writer
As a diverse society, Canada usually keeps religion as a small part of institutions of higher education. Camosun College is not immune to this. Stroll through the grounds of either the Lansdowne or Interurban campus and no chapels, or any vaguely church-like edifices, can be found anywhere. Signs of religious life are almost non-existent at Camosun. For the Buddhist, Muslim, or Jewish student with a great moral weight on their mind, there’s no one on campus representing their faith for them to speak to. At UVic, there’s an interfaith
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chapel. UVic also has a wide-ranging department of chaplains offering counsel and advice to faith-based students. Known as Interfaith Services, the chapel covers every theological base, from Christianity to Christian Science, Judaism to Islam, and Baha’i to Wicca. Now compare that to Camosun, where one Catholic minister serves the diverse needs of the college’s students. Father Dean Henderson has been offering his services to Camosun students since 2007, as an extension of his work at UVic. Henderson spends Thursday afternoons in and around the Fisher Building, but currently he doesn’t have time to provide services at the Interurban campus. “Millions, billions, of people have very positive experiences with religion. That’s a simple fact. That ought to be acknowledged in a place of higher academic inquiry,” says Henderson. For the foreseeable future, Henderson will be the sole intermediary for Camosun students, be they Catholic, Christian, Buddhist, or Muslim. “I’m here to accept people where they’re at, and direct them in the best direction they think they ought
to go in terms of their own questions,” says Henderson. But speaking to a Catholic chaplain might not be ideal for students such as Ahmed Alsafwani, a 27-year-old business student and devout Muslim. The small Muslim community of Victoria, although it does include a mosque, must seem even smaller for the Saudi-born Alsafwani while he attends classes at Interurban. In carrying out his Muslim faith, Alsafwani prays five times a day. Fitting that into a robust academic lifestyle is not always easy, but Alsafwani manages. “I don’t have time during the daytime to go to the mosque, but at nighttime, where we break our fasts, everybody just goes there and we share the food and the ritual stuff,” he says. At times, Alsafwani has resorted to using the library at Interurban to pray. “There’s always a way to schedule yourself, just to do whatever you want to do, and then perform spiritual things.” For his part, Father Henderson relishes the idea of having some theological companions on campus. “It is a pluralistic world in which clearly there is a wide spectrum
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“It is a pluralistic world in which clearly there is a wide spectrum of spiritual needs, beliefs, and traditions within Victoria.” Father Dean Henderson
Camosun College
photo: Courtney broughton
of spiritual needs, beliefs, and traditions within Victoria,” says Henderson. The college currently has no plans to provide more faith services, but students like Alsafwani are placing the onus of their practice squarely on themselves. Not content to wait for a representative of Buddhism to open shop on campus, Leeanna Deringer, a 27year-old Sociology student, simply makes faith the top priority in her life. And how does someone juggle that along with schooling? “You get up very early,” says Deringer. In her case, 5 am everyday for daily meditation. “If you don’t make it a priority, your religious or spiritual life will never happen.” Even if it means doing Pranayama (a yogic breathing exercise controlling one’s vital energy) in the ladies restroom. The lack of any space on campus
designated for faith-based students can be easily explained. Unlike UVic, there are no residences at Camosun, so the communal spirit at the college is much less proactive. Even among the faith-based students, there’s little confidence Camosun will ever be able to offer services comparable to UVic. “Logistically, it kind of makes sense to me, but it would be great if we could have representatives of all religions,” says Deringer. Father Henderson would, at the very least, like to see Camosun adopt a department of chaplaincy similar to UVic. “Somebody, whether it’s students or whether its administration, has to say, ‘It’s time that we take this whole faith/spirituality question seriously for the sake of the students,’ and make something happen.”
LIFE
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A beginner’s guide to wine selection wil mAArtmAn
ContriButing Writer
Students that avoid the wine section of the liquor store, or stick to beer or cocktails on a date, can stop worrying. Choosing the right wine doesn’t have to be too complicated or difficult. The first choice is selecting the region the wine is from. Keep it simple and try to choose wines from BC. Buying locally supports our economy and, even better, the environment. Young wine connoisseurs shouldn’t fret about the wide varieties and selections on display in the stores. According to Glenn Barlow, wine guru and owner of BC WineGuys, wine can be broken down into five simple styles—”sweet whites; dry whites; rich whites; light, fruity reds; and big, rich reds.” Sweet whites are very appealing for a simple reason; a bit of residual sugar has been left over after fermentation. A popular type of sweet wine is Riesling, which can be fun with most food because of “the zingy acidity it possesses and the intensity of flavor,” according to Barlow. Dry whites, such as Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc, are very versatile, accentuating a meal’s flavour. When what’s for dinner is up in the air, a good rule to follow is picking up a sweet white.
Rich whites tend to be a bit pricier, but can be the right choice. The most common example is Chardonnay, but be cautious, as Barlow warns, they can “dominate anything delicate” and are best to have with something contrasting, such as spicy food. The light, fruity reds (it’s okay guys, you can drink these) are usually full of flavour, with a touch of acidity. Because of this, the lighter reds such as Pinot Noir or Gamay Noir complement a carnivorous meal quite well. Last are big, rich reds, the boldest of all wines and “by far the most popular [for] red wine drinkers,” says Barlow. Rich reds are full-flavoured wines that look to kick you in the face, with the most popular being Merlot, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon. If someone is looking to get inebriated with a meal-sized wine, a big, rich red is probably the best choice. Remember, the selection of wine is ultimately about whatever pleases the palate. “The joy of wine is completely up to you,” says Bill Madison, owner of Cobble Hill Estate Winery. Once someone finds a wine they like, Barlow advises to “try another from the same producer to see if they are consistent; [if]
that doesn’t hit the spot, then try the same variety and style from another producer.” But how does one order wine at the restaurant? To look as sophisticated as possible, just follow these simple steps provided by Madison. Find out what the table might like and the food they plan on ordering; then make a wine selection. To avoid embarrassment trying to pronounce the wine’s name, just point to it and let the server do the honours. The label will be presented from the wine. Don’t plan on knowing anything significant about the label, just fake it. Next, the cork will be handed over for examination. Don’t smell it or nibble on it. Just flip it over and make sure it’s not crumpled, cracked, or dried. Once satisfied with the cork, a portion of wine will be poured into a glass for testing. Pick up the glass, swirl it around, and take a sniff. There are things to smell for, such as a vinegar smell (good) or a cork smell (bad). Once satisfied, allow the server to pour the wine into the glasses. Voila! This process should take only 30 seconds in total and, more importantly, if pulled off correctly, it will raise one’s coolness level by a few points.
photo: Courtney Broughton
Pairing wines with foods Whites
that blends well with most things.
Chardonnay A full-bodied white that goes best with chicken and seafood, as well as cream sauces.
Pinot Noir This lighter-bodied red is a classic wine. For different kinds of foods, this is probably the best bet.
Pinot Grigio A light, crisp white that goes well with fish and pasta.
Shiraz A spicy and peppery wine best suited for barbecue grub.
Sauvignon Blanc A dry, crisp white that goes best with grilled chicken and seafood; tends to be fruitier than Pinot Grigio.
Reds Cabernet Sauvignon A full-bodied red that matches well with hearty stews and steaks. Merlot Smoother and softer than Cabernet Sauvignon, pairing excellently with white or red meat. A versatile wine
Others BC Ice Wine Popular in BC and very sweet, it has about the same amount of residual sugar as honey. Go with this one after dinner and pair it with some dessert. Wine-in-a-Box Popular in most trailer parks and student dorms. Best to pair with hot dogs or Kraft Dinner. Do not serve in wine glasses; plastic cups or mugs work just as well.
Camosun moves forward in the green age HAyley mACdonAld ContriButing Writer
Many students know what they can do around their own homes to fight global warming, but may be wondering how their school is working towards reducing its environmental impact. Camosun Students for Environmental Awareness (CSEA) is just one group that’s been creating ideas for changes on campus. CSEA’s past successes include converting college printers and photocopiers to 100 percent postconsumer recycled paper and hosting an annual Sustainability Day. The student group, which brings on new members each year, has more campaigns in the works, such as reducing disposable water bottles on campus and expanding the college’s composting. A composting initiative was started last year, but fell short due to funding. “The school was enthusiastic about a campus-wide implementation,” says CSEA member Kyle Artelle, “but then severe budget cuts prevented the pilot from expanding.” Staff and faculty at Camosun are also working hard towards green initiatives. According to the Camosun Green website, the college’s energy consumption in 2006 totaled 9,726,931 kilowatt hours of electricity and 39,581 gigajoules of natural gas consumption—enough to power a small city. Camosun’s Physical Resources department has developed a plan called the Camosun Energy Project to attempt to make energy practices more efficient. A major part of the Camosun Energy Project is the recently completed Interurban energy study,
which looked at various aspects of heating, control equipment, and fossil fuel use on Interurban campus. Provincial government funding has been provided for Camosun to make changes based on the study.
“640 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced just from Interurban alone.” AnGie bowles CamoSun CamoSun
“Next year, we will be implementing from that study,” says Angie Bowles, Camosun’s energy awareness coordinator. “640 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced just from Interurban alone.” The Lansdowne campus is now being studied. Bowles is also promoting the Get A Grip competition, which encourages students to come up with
energy-saving ideas for Camosun with a chance to win prizes. Screenings of documentary films on environmental issues have also taken place, with more events for students in the works. Camosun has an updated college plan in which sustainability and energy management play a strategic part. According to Bowles, there has been a “shift in ethos—more green on the forefront.” In each college department, any purchases will be the greenest and most efficient products possible within a set budget. Anna Colangeli, chair Camosun’s Environmental Technology Program, says different projects on campus are looking into energy use and sustainability. “There is a transportation management group that is looking at parking issues and transportation issues to the college and alternative methods,” says Colangeli. “That’s something that started a little while ago and now is getting into full swing.” The idea is to lobby BC Transit once staff and students have come
Rob Fleming, MLA Victoria – Hillside
together and pointed out transit areas needing improvement. The college grounds staff is also working on replacing certain plants needing lots of water on campus with native plants adapted to the environment. “That’s a project that we’re involved with because we do plant propagation in one of our courses,” says Colangeli. “We could reduce our water footprint, [which is] a step in the right direction.” Colangeli feels green initiatives
on campus will succeed when suitable alternatives are in place. “It’s one thing to promote good environmental practices, but there still has to be something realistic that can be used to replace that. That’s when you are going to see more people getting on board,” says Colangeli. “There’s still a lot of work to do, but definitely there’s a movement in the right direction.” For more info on Camosun’s current green projects, go to camosun.ca/about/green
GET A GRIP Monthly chance to win a Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) $50 Gift Certificate
What can you do to conserve energy @ Camosun? Get a grip... There is no Planet B
Drop off your energy saving idea at the Get a Grip box located at the campus bookstores.
Draws take place monthly until December 31, 2008
1020 Hillside Avenue
250 360.2023
[email protected]
Serving Our Community
Suggestion cards available at campus bookstores. Winners will be announced online at camosun.ca/green
The Camosun Energy Project SHIFTING TO A GREENER FUTURE
FEATU
October 29, 2008
Shock, gore, and social comme The evolution of horror films A
Brendan Kergin
Staff Writer
scared young woman wanders down the corridor of some murky industrial complex. There’s a dripping sound in the background. She carries a small, flickering flashlight as she creeps forward, twitching at each unfamiliar sound. Without warning, a masked man bursts from a door behind her, brandishing a knife. The audience jumps and screams at what they see on the big screen. Why do people enjoy watching scary movies? “For the same basic thrill as going on a rollercoaster,” says local video store Hollywood Tonight’s resident horror movie buff, Steve Young. “People get amusement off the anticipated thrill and, sure, endorphins too.” Directors of scary movies skilfully use sound, story, light, and colour to increase the anxiety level of the audience. The director then shocks the audience by taking the emotional build-up to a climax and release. This is how a horror film is supposed to work, and how the masters, be they Italian, Japanese, or American, have been doing it for decades. Audiences enjoy being toyed with to a certain extent; they like being shocked and scared by what they see on screen. This has been the case for over 100 years. Horror films have been made since cinema started in the mid-1890s. The earliest films used simple editing to shock audiences with apparent magic and references to the occult. No blood, gore, or mind games; simply editing two pieces of film together to create an effect. Horror movies continued to evolve as the film industry expanded. Monsters became more common, as well as mad scientists. Popular characters from this early era were romanticized, such as the phantom in the Phantom of the Opera and Quasimodo in numerous films. These characters were rarely pure evil or even very violent. Physical violence was practically non-existent compared to today’s films. As sound was added, famous monsters appeared, along with the classic sound effects of screams, grunts, and groans. More classic novels started showing up on celluloid in the late ’20s and ’30s, including Dracula and Frankenstein. The German expressionism of the early ’20s influenced much the style of these films. These monster flicks were as scary as they were fanciful, providing not just a rush, but also some relief from the Great Depression. Audiences rushed to them, giving the genre a spike in popularity. When World War II was declared, horror films took a backseat. The public were now starved for heroes fighting an enemy as human as they were. The horror genre had to stop scaring the public for a bit. In the war’s aftermath, the true horrors of humanity were realized. Horror films faltered, falling into the B-movie category, no longer starring big actors and master directors. But the genre had a new tool in its belt. With technological advances and the introduction of
the atomic bomb and radiation, creatures like Godzilla appeared, along with other mutants and aliens. Mad scientists made a rebound. Technology was saving the genre through new plot devices, but the stories were thin, and most titles reflected the Cold War. “The stuff in the ’50s didn’t have much impact, since it dealt with the ‘red menace,’” says Pic-a-Flic Video staffer and horror fan Ashleigh Walker.
“You don’t see a Rosemary’s Baby or The Amityville Horror anymore. Nowadays they want to jump right to the Hostelstyle horror with anguish and torture.”
Steve Young
Hollywood Tonight The film industry knew by now who their main demographic was—teenagers. With the threat of war in the news and parents who lived through WWII, horror flicks again became a form of escapism, and B-movies were there to provide it. The cheesy horror onscreen was rarely truly scary though, and violence was still waiting on the bench while mass hysteria had its time in the spotlight. The ’60s saw the genre splinter somewhat, as the cheap B-movie mutant flicks degraded into featuring scantily clad women and attempts at comedy. The monsters that had scared their predecessors only surprised and amused the new audience. By decade’s end, B-films started to drift towards more violence, especially in the classic zombie flick Night of the Living Dead. The film struck a darker chord as well by looking at social issues in America. This gave what might have been another B-film some actual depth and meaning. But its main mark is the extraordinarily violence, which opened up doors for future films. A flipside to the shocker genre appeared with Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho and The Birds, films that stayed with audiences long after the credits scrolled by. Rosemary’s Baby also played with people’s minds, questioning the motives of those closest in their lives. These weren’t shocker films; they were films to think about on the way home. Themes in horror films were moving back home to more realistic stories of individual people. As the ’70s started, the optimism felt in the
’60s was lessening. The Vietnam War was going on, Nixon was caught lying, and rock stars were dying. Instead of taking a backseat to real-life horrors, this time horror movies raised the bar. While B-movies still existed and were more shocking, more crafted examples of the horror genre were created, the most memorable being The Exorcist. No longer was horror about the public being assaulted. Most of the time, it was an individual struggle. Instead of monsters, there were now villains of the demonic sort, and more deranged humans willing to hack up other people. “(The) late ’60s to the ’80s were the best. There was occult stuff, you had exploitation, and the Japanese starting to come into it,” says Walker. At the same time, shock-horror cinema was reaching its most controversial point. With films showing real animal deaths and depicting gang rapes, the edge had been found. Lawsuits were being filed against directors for cruelty and some countries were banning films. “The ’70s and ’80s were classic. In the ’80s, we had more censorship. Looking back, with the uncensored versions coming back, the ’80s were pretty good,” says Young. By the ’80s, special effects were catching up with what gore directors wanted, and new baddies were unleashed in cinemas. Freddy Krueger, Jason, and Aliens all hit the screen. Watery blood and rubber monsters were out as robotics, computers, and special effects studios appeared. Horror movies started to spread out, with slasher flicks, some B-movies making a splash, and a few thrillers still being produced. Subject matter was becoming pretty widespread as well. With most external threats already shown on the silver screen, one area had more promise. Psychos always seem to grab people’s attention, probably because they can actually exist. The ’90s saw a slew of nuts hacking at people. From the psychological manipulation in Se7en and Silence of the Lambs to the slasher Scream trilogy, serial killers came out on top in the ’90s, with box office figures to prove horror was still a solid genre. As for the current decade, it remains to be seen how it will end up. “The impact has to be bigger,” says Young. “That’s why you don’t see a Rosemary’s Baby or The Amityville Horror anymore. Nowadays they want to jump right to the Hostel-style horror with anguish and torture.” With war weighing heavily on the global consciousness once again, there hasn’t been a corresponding shift in horror movie themes, though remakes are making a comeback. With all the past films being redone with current effects, studios are just mining the past. “There hasn’t been anything original in 10 or 15 years,” says Walker. The genre has certainly been around long enough, and some masters of horror have left many pieces behind which could still be toyed with. “I think the remake phase still has another 10 years left. The big thing now is to do pseudo-documentary,” says Walker. “The independent companies aren’t competing with the special effects. In the next five to 10 years you’ll see a lot of independent film.” As for the big thing in horror right now, Young says no one is safe. According to him, a current trend will stay big for a little longer. “It’s these home invasion shock therapies where the victims are chosen randomly.”
Knives, psychos,
Picking a Hallow
We trolled the Internet horro the more intense and distur These aren’t your everyda ones that actually scare th
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986, American) This one is loosely based on reality, but that’s not its strength. It’s the depiction of reality and the mind of t titular “Henry.” So mundan so normal, you’ll never loo at your neighbours the sam
Cannibal Holocaust (1980, Italian) Take one part Blair Witch Project, one part Lord of the Flies, one part possible snuff film, and leave the animal rights out. This one takes it to the line and ove it, especially with actual footage of animals being killed.
The Vanishing (1988, Dutch French) This is one for the mind, w little-to-no blood and minim deaths. More suspense tha real horror, the key is to as yourself what you would d in this situation. And then watch everything crumble. Of course, go for the origin version, not the US remake
Eyes without a Face (1959, French) This one is really a love story. Really. A doctor love his daughter, but she has a disfigured face, so he collects young women to take their faces. See, true father-daughter love.
Suspiria (1977, American) More in line with the slashe genre and less controversi Suspiria uses the senses t create suspense and fear, using music and colour to manipulate the audience. Though it seems like a run-of-the-mill slasher, something more lurks here
ATURE
mentary:
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9
In the hallowed halls Ghost-hunting at Camosun
chos, and fear, oh my!
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net horror bins to find out about some of nd disturbing films of the horror genre. everyday slasher films; these are the scare the shit out of horror buffs.
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photo: Courtney Broughton
ed sum
ContriButing Writer
The ghosts lurking in Camosun’s Young Building may or may not be real, depending on who you talk to and what you believe. Local historian John Adams collects stories of hauntings, recounting them in his various ghost tours. He suspects the Young Building is haunted because of where it’s located as much as what’s taken place inside it over the years. Adams links the reports of on-campus activity to nearby Mount Tolmie, believing the ancient volcanic cone to be a place of very strong energy. “It’s a place that has absorbed a lot of energy of the living and the dead over the centuries,” says Adams. Bob Preston, a Fine Arts faculty member who works in the Young Building, has his own late night tales. “You can hear people talking in the classroom next door . . . and there’s nobody in the classroom,” says Preston. “The doors are locked.” The Young Building has a long history as a schoolhouse and college. It was also a military hospital during World War II, where many soldiers died and are often thought to be the source of the ghostly activity. Maybe the energy of students from days gone by or soldiers who died on the operating table left a kind of imprint being played back like an audio tape . . . or maybe it’s something else. On a chilly October night under a nearly full moon, students from Camosun’s Applied Communication Program (ACP), along with a team of paranormal investigators from Paranormal Victoria (PARAVI), spent a night in the lonely and foreboding building to investigate. That night, the team had some interesting experiences. From the third floor to the basement, the team explored the halls and different rooms with a variety of recording and data-gathering equipment. The technology is used to find paranormal energy and natural or human-made elec-
tromagnetic fields (EMFs). But what does the term “paranormal” mean? “It’s not always about ghosts,” says Darren Thomson, lead investigator of the Washington State Paranormal Investigations and Research group. Paranormal can be a diversion from everyday experiences, according to investigators. “It is something which is not part of the scientifically discovered,” says PARAVI founder Susanne Gilby. In Young Building rooms the team explored, a few unexplainable things happened.
investigator went to drink from the water fountain underneath the old surgery room. Those alarms had been disabled by security to allow the team to move around. Walking in a dimly lit room, especially alone, felt intimidating. Sometimes a distinct feeling of dread overwhelmed the senses. In two lonely corners, this happened to a few members. The washrooms in the building were particularly creepy. The final area the team went to was the basement, home to the Fine Arts Program and the Recreation Department. In the women’s shower room, believed to be the location of the military hospital
“You can hear people talking in the classroom next door . . . and there’s nobody in the classroom. The doors are locked.”
Bob Preston
CAMOSUn COLLEgE Team ACP ventured into the former dead body storage room (now a Village 900 radio studio on the third floor) for an electronic voice phenomena (EVP) session. EVPs are attempts to capture the voices of spirits on audio tape. One of the students felt something dimly lit fly behind him, reflecting off his glasses. Later, sitting in the Gibson Auditorium’s balcony, he was fascinated with glowing orbs captured by infrared video cameras. While many think these orbs are forms of spirits, paranormal investigators believe a huge majority of them to be dust and insects reflecting the camera’s ambient light. But when they move through solid objects, that’s when one has to wonder. By the piano on the auditorium’s stage, a distinct male voice was captured on tape saying “11” when PARAVI’s Gilby asked for the time. No men were nearby when this sound was recorded. Afterwards, the second-floor alarm briefly sounded when another PARAVI
morgue, strange things happened in the adjoining area where more EVP recording sessions were made. A flash of light appeared from the ceiling and soft footsteps were audibly heard and recorded on tape. The automatic basement hallway light didn’t turn on, so perhaps it was just a security guard walking around outside? While there may be reasonable explanations for the things that happened that night, one that was particularly hard to explain was an unattended audiocassette player recording the silence of a closed room. When one team member went to retrieve the recorder at the end of our session, the lid was open and the tape had stopped just a few minutes in! The batteries were fine and unit still had power. The team left early that morning with no definitive answers. Nobody really knows what exists within the gloomy halls of the Young Building.
Paranormal investigation terms Electromagnetic Field (EMF)
Electrically charged objects produce electromagnetic fields. Paranormal investigators use EMF detectors to find unshielded sources of energy. Very sensitive people can have headaches, feelings of paranoia, and feelings of being not alone when in contact with EMFs.
Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP)
An EVP audio recording is made in a haunted area while an investigator asks questions of the spirits. Sometimes a voice may be buried in the static, only audible upon playback. The EVPs are often hard to hear and critics argue investigators are trying to hear something out of nothing.
Orbs
photoS: Courtney Broughton
Some believe these glowing balls of light are ghosts, something akin to the will-o’-the-wisp in folklore. The majority of ghost hunters discount most photographed and videotaped orb to be specks of dust, lens flare (anything reflective will bounce light), or simply bugs finding their way to the camera. Some ghostly orbs will exhibit strange behaviour that’s difficult for investigators to explain.
ARTS
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October 29, 2008
Vietnamese shrine promotes Canadian unity AlAn piFFer Staff Writer
A Vietnamese-born, BC-based artist is using ancient traditions of his native culture to help Victorians ponder modern issues. Lao Oi, Lao A . . . (O Ancient One) is an exhibit currently at the Open Space Gallery, themed around a Vietnamese-style shrine to Lao Noi Kieu, a spirit guide influencing harmony within a nation.
“It’s way better than talking to politicians. I’m getting primary information from people that actually relates to their own lives.” nHAn duC nGuyen
vanCouver artiSt
Lao Oi, Lao A . . . (O Ancient One) Until Nov. 8 Open Space Gallery (10 Fort, second floor) Free www.openspace.ca
photo: ami muranetZ
Arena Rock JAson motz
ContriButing Writer
Bob Dylan
Save-on-Foods Arena, Oct. 23
The last time Bob Dylan rode through town in 2005, he left in his wake an audience of mostly baffled, bewildered, and confused patrons. I say mostly because I was there and loved every second, every wheeze, and every warbled quasi-enunciated syllable that spilled forth from Dylan’s mouth. In the years since that gig, I have met few people who share my fond recollections of that gig. So I was more than a bit surprised when Dylan announced a return engagement in Victoria. In spite of the bad press his last appearance garnered, Dylan returned to Victoria to begin the new leg of his Never Ending Tour (now into its twentieth-year!). The 67-year-old, who once famously quipped that he saw himself as a “song and dance man,” proved he is still a potent and powerful performer.
Dylan sang in his trademark wheezy, nearly incomprehensible style, at full-bore no less, for nearly two hours. He and his black-clad band even overcame some technical glitches with their gear, never once dropping the beat or losing a note. Dylan even did a little soft-shoe routine at one point while his piano was being fixed . . . mid-song! That’s professionalism, baby! The set-list was a radio-friendly romp, full of classics to satiate the old folkie fans and those who love classic rock. There were rare tunes for the hardcore Dylan fans, and recent songs to appease the Dylan newbies. It’s impossible to find fault with a gig that begins with “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” and ends with “All Along the Watchtower.” There’s an enigmatic light about Bob Dylan that continues to draw attention, analysis, and, among those most intimate with his music, a devotion few other artists can ever expect to receive.
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Exhibit creator Nhan Duc Nguyen assembled the various aspects of the shrine using everyday objects such as flyers, mirrors, photographs, recorded sound clips, and voter ballots. According to Nguyen, shrines play an important role in Vietnamese culture. “We have shrines to literature, trees, rocks . . .” says Nguyen. “Anything that touches the miraculous or moves you is enough of a basis
to create a shrine for it.” Lao Oi, Lao A . . . was built to promote the concept of harmony, and coincides with Citizenship Week as part of BC’s 150-year celebration. Nguyen points out that ideas of harmony can differ, particularly between wealthier and poorer countries. “In Vietnam they’d rather call for more rain for the crops, better trees so they can make a house with it; those are real things that create harmony,” says Nguyen. In Victoria, on the other hand, people have the advantage of relying less on the whims of nature and more on choices people can make in running their communities. Talking to different people in Victoria, Nguyen discovered the homelessness issue was generally first and foremost on people’s minds. “One of the questions I do ask is, ‘What would you do if you were mayor of Victoria?’ And the homeless issue always comes up,” says Nguyen. Posted in a line along the walls of the entire exhibit are questions and statements written in mirror image. Submitted by various people, the phrases were the results of various political discussions among different age groups contributing to the project. “It’s way better than talking to politicians,” says Nguyen. “I’m getting primary information from people that actually relates to their own lives.”
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Another shot at Sarah Marshall Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Starring: Jason Segel, Kirsten Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand Runtime: 112 minutes
As far as Forgetting Sarah Marshall goes, I think I already have. It’s a different story, however, for music composer Peter Bretter (Jason Segel), who flees to Hawaii to try to get over his TV star ex-girlfriend. But Sarah Marshall (Kirsten Bell), whose claim to fame is a sexually explicit parody of CSI, proves to be very hard to escape. She turns up at the exact same hotel in Hawaii with her new beau, Aldous Snow (Russell Brand), an
English arsehole whose music is a fabulous depiction of just how tiny his brain is. Nonetheless, his character is undeniably entertaining and he’s among a selection of secondary leads that outshine the larger roles. The cast includes Saturday Night Live’s Bill Hader, who played one of the cops from Superbad; Jonah Hill, the penis-drawing kid, also from Superbad; and the outstandingly awkward assistant in Knocked Up, SNL’s Kirsten Wiig. They all serve as clever and adamant distractions from the mediocre leads. Inevitably, Peter meets someone else while staying at the hotel, and when shit hits the fan with her as well, Forgetting Sarah Marshall de-
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The look of the phrases is influenced by Nguyen’s tendency to write in reverse, but they are also intended to more thoroughly engage the observer. “It actually acts on more parts of your brain than you naturally use; therefore, you think more about what you actually are reading,” says Nguyen. Nguyen feels it’s important to have citizens realize their ideals by setting achievable goals. “If you say, ‘I want harmony,’ sometimes it doesn’t mean anything,” says Nguyen. “But if you say, ‘I want that homeless person to have a shelter,’ that’s something doable, and quantifiable.” When working with young students, Nguyen tries to instill a sense of value towards art. “It’s essential to get them involved, not just in making the art object, but to think about what they make,” says Nguyen. “At the same time, give them a sense that art does matter. In Canada, particularly, art is considered extra—a bit on the side. If you make art a part of the everyday, it’s much more difficult for government to come in and cut a necessity out.” For Nguyen, the community’s involvement in the project is what makes it special to him. “The most important part of all this is not the actual objects, but the fact that the community is going to contribute,” says Nguyen. “The process is much more interesting than the end product.”
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velops a typical “boy gets dumped, boy meets girl, boy fucks up, and is now doubly dumped” feeling to it. So, for a substantial portion of the film, it’s a struggle to find the originality of the plotline, which is disappointingly flat. The humour grows a little old after the first hour or so, and begins to feel as if the writers are running out of ideas. But just when we start fidgeting in our seats, one particularly sleep-deprived writer with a few too many cans of Red Bull in his system comes up with Peter’s method of recovery—the composing of a Dracula puppet musical, which makes for an ending that’s so ridiculous it’s ingenious. From the guys that brought you 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a satisfactory comedy including nudity the guys will appreciate and some romance for their girlfriends. As far as male nudity, Segel’s full frontal in the opening scene may or may not be considered a good thing.
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ARTS
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Book celebrates Lansdowne’s legacy ed sum
ContriButing Writer
The Lansdowne campus, formerly known as Victoria College, has a rich legacy not many Camosun College students are aware of. With the 100-year mark nearing for the campus grounds, a recent book launch of The Lansdowne Era, Victoria College (1946–1963) reunited alumni at the Empress Hotel’s Crystal Ballroom in a formal gala. The book, however, doesn’t focus on the coming milestone of the grounds that are now housed by Camosun’s Lansdowne campus. “Instead, it honors the memory of Peter Lawson Smith,” says editor Edward B. Harvey. Smith, who passed away two years ago, was a former dean at Victoria College and a major contributor to the development of the University of Victoria. “It was his dream to capture the era of the Lansdowne years,” says UVic President David Turpin, who acted as master of ceremonies at the event. Turpin green-lit the project when Harvey originally spoke with him about it, saying the book would
be a fitting tribute to Smith, and he’s very happy with the finished product.
The book contains nearly two decades worth of candid retrospectives from past students who rose to prominence. “It will renew the links and strengthen your involvement in the life of our institution of higher learning,” says Turpin. The Lansdowne Era, Victoria College (1946–1963) contains nearly two decades worth of candid retrospectives from past students who rose to prominence, like Honorable Chief Justice Lance S.G. Finch and UVic chancellor Ronald Lou-Poy, both in attendance at the book launch. In the book, the former students of Victoria College recount what life was like in an era where Canadian
Curtain Call
Wells’ The War of the Worlds. Just as in those shows, cast members inVictorian Age sensibilities are volve the audience by narrating the brought to life and challenged in lead-up to each act before escorting The Picture of Dorian Gray, cur- them to the next room, where they rently being staged at Craigdarroch blend into the surroundings. This Castle. technique is used remarkably well Originally written by Irish poet to transition between the scenes, and playwright Oscar Wilde, this and the audience gets some exertale mixing gothic horror with cise too. homoerotic undertones has been If there’s any truth to the idiom adapted by local theatre company “the walls have ears,” here the audiGiggling Iguana Productions for ence members are the walls. They their annual Halloween offering. are the shadows watching the horFounder Ian Case does a spec- ror unfold by peeking into the dark tacular job in adapting Wilde’s side of Dorian Gray’s soul. Because novel and his fine acting troupe the action takes place a few feet continues their tradition of using away, the emotional depth of the the historical Craigdarroch Castle performance is intimately felt. as their roving stage. Nick Ruskin plays ailing hero In previous years, they have Gray, who descends into a world performed Edgar Allan Poe’s The of hedonism, narcissism, and madFall of the House of Usher and H.G. ness. The close friends he makes ed sum
L
ocal music mindfuck
by Chantelle Mussell and Liz McArthur
One Eleven Archer
society and economy was rapidly changing. For Harvey, working on the book was a deeply rewarding experience. He found it a privilege to revisit and interpret those times at school from the perspective of his age and experience, he says. At the launch Harvey thanked each contributor with his or her own gift-wrapped copy of the book. He finished his emotional speech by saying, “Victoria College was a class act.”
Classic horror story comes to life inside the castle ContriButing Writer
11
watch his world spin out of control. He enters into the classic deal with the devil, and the price he pays becomes immortalized in the painting of artist Basil Hallward (David Radford). With each misguided act Gray performs, the story progresses towards its terrible conclusion, and the painting reflects the truths hidden within his soul. Just as one tale ends, so does another; unfortunately this play will not return next year.
The Picture of Dorian Gray Until Oct. 1 Craigdarroch Castle $19 20–92–2
What does it feel like to be psychoanalyzed by someone slightly unhinged? Find out as we discover that One Eleven Archer has some secrets they may not want to share with us. We try and one-up them by revealing some secrets of our own. They pretend it bugs them. Guitar player and vocalist Jordan Trousdell talks about his teeth and we dazzle him with our superior Tooth Fairy knowledge. Chantelle: I was told to ask you about the time you were called One Eleven Felcher by another band. Jordan: Well, that’s private. C: What?! J: I’m not sure we were actually called that. I think that was made up. C: So, your name means there’s one archer, or 11, or possibly 12? J: There’s probably 12, but the other guys might want me to keep this secret. C: Too many secrets! You should trust me; I’m very trustworthy. J: It’s an address from a movie. C: Can you tell me about the first tooth you lost? J: I’m just about to lose a tooth. C: Do you think the Tooth Fairy is going to come? J: I hope so. It’s costing me enough to do it. C: Oh, so you’re not just going to tie a rope around it and slam a door? J: No. I thought about it though, and building one [tooth] out of wood. C: Like a big wooden tooth that can open bottles and soup cans? That would be sweet. J: I remember the first tooth that I lost, and my parents promised me there would be money. We weren’t a very well off family and I woke up and there was nothing. So I was disappointed. C: Uh, the Tooth Fairy isn’t real, if that’s any consolation. J: Thanks. C: What Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle were you? J: Donatello. C: Me too! Do you remember the name of the stick? J: Bowstaff. My current favourite kid’s show is Yo Gabba Gabba. C: I have no idea what that means. I would prefer it if you spoke English. We have mainly English readers. J: You can’t afford a translator? C: No. What is the band going to be for Halloween? J: We might be the The A-Team. C: There’s four of you. You could be the Ninja Turtles. J: We could. That’s a great idea. C: Could you just run that by them, then? For more info, go to www.oneelevenarcher.com
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SPORTS
12
October 29, 2008
Women’s basketball dominates preseason Guy Alaimo Staff Writer
Could this be a dynasty in the making? The Camosun Chargers women’s basketball team destroyed their competition on the scoreboard during a recent doubleheader of exhibition play at St. Margaret’s. They showed signs of being even better than last year’s Chargers squad, which dominated the BC Colleges Athletic Association (BCCAA) standings. After maiming Kwantlen Polytechnical by a score of 94–63, Camosun continued their preseason romp with a 74–32 shaming of Quest University. The wins at St. Margaret’s came just one weekend after the Chargers won an exhibition tournament at Capilano University, where they
struggled in their first two games before walloping the Capilano Blues in the final game by 63–38. Carmen Lapthorne led all Chargers
After maiming Kwantlen Polytechnical by a score of 94–63, Camosun continued their preseason romp with a 74–32 shaming of Quest University. with 12 points, while Oak Bay grad Carly Hopp finished with 10.
“We struggled the first two games because we had not played any games compared to the other teams in the tournament,” says Camosun’s head coach Brett Westcott. “We shot the ball poorly, did not work hard enough at the defensive end of the court, and we made too many poor decisions for us to be happy with our performance. That all said, we still held 12-point leads late in both games.” Currently, the team is gearing up for another weekend exhibition tournament in North Vancouver, before being faced with the task of setting up their starting lineup for the regular season. Forward Jill Proudfoot is expected to retain a starting position, beginning her third season as a Charger.
The women begin their regular season at home versus the UBC Okanagan Heat on Nov. 7 at 6 pm in the new Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence (PISE). Meanwhile, the Camosun men’s basketball team struggled during their first few exhibition games, losing two of three at the Douglas College Exhibition Tournament in New Westminster. After starting off the weekend tournament with a 63–52 loss at the hands of Langara College, Camosun rebounded with a decisive 75–59 win over Kwantlen, before being routed 72–47 in their final match versus Trinity Western University. The men will be spending Halloween in Nanaimo for an exhibition tournament, before opening
photo: Courtney broughton
Star Camosun Charger Jill Proudfoot will return to the women’s basketball squad this year.
their season at home against UBC Okanagan on Nov. 7 at 6 pm at PISE.
New-look Salmon Kings ready to swim upstream Paul Haysom
Contributing Writer
Victoria Salmon Kings Head Coach and GM Mark Morrison woke up in early June to some disturbing news. The leading scorer of his team and his captain were both leaving the squad and moving to Italy to play hockey next season. Morrison had two options. He could shave his head, move to Mexico, and pretend the Salmon Kings never existed, or he could come to grips with the news, wish the players luck, and continue to piece together his club for the upcoming season. Morrison chose the latter, and now the 2008/09 Victoria Salmon Kings are ready for battle. It’s not as if the Kings aren’t used to a little adversity. It was just three years ago the team was setting East Coast Hockey League
(ECHL) records for losses and penalty minutes. But over the past few seasons Morrison has brought in some key players to make his team competitive, and last year the fish were searing hot, winning the West Division title and making it to the second round of the playoffs. Despite all of last season’s success, Wes Goldie, the team’s new captain, will lead a group of just eight players from last year’s team. And while it may not be the same Salmon King team on the ice this year, Morrison is still expecting some first-class hockey. “It was a strange off-season,” says Morrison. “We lost some big players, including our ex-captain, Kiel McLeod, and the league’s leading goal scorer, Ash Goldie, as well as the longest-serving Salmon King and Victoria native, Ryan Wade.” Wade has since moved from the ice to the bench as the Salmon Kings’
new assistant coach. “But while we lost some guys,” continues Morrison, “we also gained some gritty, fast, and young players who have been a thorn in our side the last couple of years.”
“We gained some gritty, fast, and young players who have been a thorn in our side the last couple of years.” Mark Morrison Victoria Salmon Kings
One of those players is rightwinger and Oak Bay native Sean O’Connor, who the Kings nabbed
from the Phoenix Roadrunners. Last season, the 6’3”, 220-pound Victoria product collected 14 points in his last 12 games against the Kings. So the team figured if they can’t stop him, add him. This season will also mark O’Connor’s first time playing for an island team since spending part of the 1998-99 season with the Victoria Salsa of the BCHL. “I’m really excited. It’s great to come back home and hopefully be part of something big,” says O’Connor, who led the ECHL Phoenix Roadrunners in goals last season with 27. “It’s going to be nice to be able to call the Save-onFoods Memorial Centre my home building!” It’s a rare treat that O’Connor is going to have to share with two other Victoria products suiting up for the Kings this season. Jordie Benn, a smart-minded defenceman
who is making the jump from the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies, and Dan Gendur, a forward with a nose for the net who was picked by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2007 NHL entry draft. Gendur spent the 2007-08 season with the Everett Silvertips of the WHL, where the 21-year-old recorded 84 points (29 goals, 55 assists) in 60 regular season games. Gendur also had an impressive training camp with the Canucks this year. “While the team looks different, the mentality remains the same,” says Morrison. “This is our fifth year as a franchise and every year we have shown vast improvement.” If that’s the case, this year the Kings should be competing for the Kelly Cup. For more info and a complete game schedule, go to www.salmonkings.com
Wimbledon a learning experience for Camosun student “I wasn’t in the main part of the competition, just mostly on Camosun student and local the sidelines, because I was too tennis player Cecile Gratton was old to play in the juniors,” says awarded with any tennis player’s Gratton who was 19 at the time, dream in July of 2007—playing right between the junior and adult in the world-famous Wimbledon competition age brackets. tournament. Wimbledon takes place in LonGratton is only 20 but she’s don, England and is famous for been involved in tennis for quite a many traditions, including grass long time. “I’ve been playing tennis courts, Gratton’s favorite surface. since I was three years old,” she “It’s quite a lot faster,” she says. says. “My mom taught me.” Being part of the Wimbledon Although Gratton wasn’t part tradition doesn’t just include trainof the main Wimbledon matches, ing, it becomes part of your life. she was selected to play in some of “I practiced five days a week and the subsidiary events and mingled my whole diet had to be very specific. amongst some of the greatest tennis I was only allowed chocolate once stars, including Maria Sharapova a month,” says Gratton. and Roger Federer. But playing on the famous Shane Priestley Contributing Writer
photo: Courtney broughton
Tennis player Cecile Gratton
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courts and watching tennis’ biggest players wasn’t Gratton’s favorite memory.
Gratton mingled amongst some of the greatest tennis stars, including Maria Sharapova and Roger Federer. “My favorite part was going to the banquet afterwards and watching the extra awards and
congratulations from the sponsors,” states Gratton. Gratton, who was sponsored by tennis company HEAD, says her involvement in Wimbledon made her a better tennis player. The experience also helped her realize she could explore other interests. At Camosun, she is currently taking marketing, French, and English with an eye towards the tourism industry. Gratton has competed in tennis tournaments in Canada and abroad since she was 13, including places like Dubai and Australia. Originally from a small town in the North West Territories, she moved to France for about five years, eventually coming back to Canada.
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A Anything
By Breanna Carey
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GIVING IT UP: old habits di By Kelly Marion
I’ve been having dreams lately where I’m able to control what goes on. I get really excited in my dream, but then I wake up before anything really good can happen. Can women actually have orgasms because of erotic dreams? You may have been thinking about your sexy history teacher or that cute boy in the cafeteria before you went to bed and ended up with some naughty dreams. But they seemed so real, right? These are classified as lucid dreams; this phenomenon can be erotic, and other times not, but you’re aware that you are dreaming and can control the subsequent chapters. Depending on your self-awareness, lucid dreams can be extremely real and vivid. Although it was previously believed only young men and boys going through puberty could have “wet dreams,” women are also quite capable of having orgasmic episodes while they sleep. Typically, arousal can cause the dreamer to waken, sometimes before they reach actual orgasm. By staying still and attempting to remain in the dream state, you may be able to continue the erotic dream. Dreams can be a wakeinitiated lucid dream (or, suitably enough, WILD) where the subject goes from conscious to dreaming without any apparent time lapse. If you have good dream recall, then you’re in a position to have lucid dreams. Keeping a dream journal will help you start where you left off. Often reading erotic material or thinking about a particularly arousing event right before you go to bed puts you in a position to have erotic dreams. Just hope that you don’t talk in your sleep during class. Send your questions to
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The External Voice: News from the CCSS
Students should speak up about homelessness Christopher Gillespie External Affairs Executive
With the rising amount of homeless people within Victoria and a municipal election on the way, the BC Supreme Court has dropped an election nightmare onto the present city council. In a ruling, a Supreme Court judge stated it’s against the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to deny the homeless of Victoria the right to erect shelter on public property to protect themselves from the environment. This ruling has created cries of joy and outrage from interested parties. Many homeless activists are overjoyed with the ruling, but city hall has reacted with an appeal. This is a matter of human rights and dignity, but must be handled with delicate care on both sides. Neither side, so far, are willing to budge, nor do they seem to be attempting to communicate.
The City of Victoria has also reacted with a new rule that states the homeless may erect shelters in parks from 9 pm-7 am, but between 7 am-9 pm shelters are not permitted. A fledgling tent city was defiant of the new rule and people were eventually taken away or fined. How do you feel about this as a student? How would you want to be treated if you were homeless? How would a permanent tent city affect your use of Victoria’s public parks? What can we do to find an equitable solution for both parties? These are the questions all Victorians should be asking themselves when they head to the municipal polls on Nov. 15. I urge you, as a student, to seriously consider these questions, listen to what all the candidates are saying, and participate in the municipal election. A vote is your voice and city hall needs to hear that voice right now, more than ever.
Keep a thought for Memory Justyne Wallace Women’s Director
Sometimes it’s hard to believe how much a single voice can achieve in this world, but usually that’s all it takes. From an activist perspective, strength is usually attained through unity and solidarity. When all of that is taken away, you get to the root of it all, just like the butterfly theory of “one flap, global impact.” It usually only takes one person, with an immense passion, to start a worldwide movement. We all have the push in us, and for some personal success stories come quicker than others. On Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 4:30 pm in the Wilna Thomas Cultural Centre, Camosun College, on behalf of the Women’s Centre, will be welcoming a guest speaker from Malawi, Africa. For years Memory Chazeza Mdyesteni has been working in
Malawi, teaching and advocating the rights for accessible post-secondary education for young women. A topic many of students here at Camosun can greatly relate to. Through years of hard work, lobbying efforts, fundraising, and determination, Memory has seen many of her girls gain the opportunity go on to post-secondary education, an accomplishment that’s invaluable to her. Her presentation will be an informative combination of personal stories of hardship and success through her work in Malawi. If you have a moment on Nov. 5 at 4:30 pm, please take the time to drop by the Wilna Thomas Cultural Centre and listen to Memory speak. Food and beverages will be provided. When it comes down to it, it only takes one person to get things started, but having several people can achieve accomplishment a lot faster.
photo: Courtney broughton
Caffeine The challenge
Forego all forms of caffeine for two weeks. This includes coffee, tea, pop, and energy drinks.
The research
Research shows as little as one cup of coffee per day can cause an addiction. Considering over 63 percent of adult Canadians drink coffee on a daily basis, that makes for a lot of addicts.
The reason
I am fully a caffeine addict. I love the taste and I need my fix. It’s time
to break this dependency. Unfortunately, withdrawal from caffeine causes physical symptoms and a disruption in daily life so severe that it’s considered a psychiatric disorder. As I begin my challenge, I hope my symptoms will be a little milder.
The trial
Day 1: I wake up, stretch my legs, and head straight for the coffee pot before realizing, “Shit! No coffee allowed.” No worries; I can do this. The day creeps by and I’m tempted (a lot) to sneak in some caffeine, but I restrain myself. The
hard
day ends a success! Only 13 more to go. Day 3: Ughhh. I can’t even get my lazy sod of a butt out of bed. Just knowing what’s scribbled in my agenda and having to do it sans caffeine kills me. How do people find the energy? Day 5: I’m shockingly still caffeine-free. My head fucking throbs and my mom just called me a bitch, but I’m sticking to it. Day 9: The sweet aroma of fresh coffee brewing still gets to me, and that can of Coke chilling in the fridge is calling my name, but I’m nine days caffeine-free. Ain’t nothing gonna break my stride. I’ve found a loophole though—they make caffeine-free Coke! If you can’t indulge your cravings, trick them! Day 14: Two hours and 14 minutes to go. That’s right, I’m counting down the minutes until I can order myself an Americano. I spent the last 14 days in sloth mode and I’ve had enough. I’m irritable enough as it is, and I thought these bloody withdrawal symptoms would pass, but to my despair, they haven’t. Day 15: The sweet, brown liquid called coffee effortlessly slides down my throat and a goofy grin spreads across my face.
The result
Caffeine is a part of who I am. I need it . . . it needs me. Or so I’d like to think. A breath of fresh air can be invigorating, but it’s just not as effective as a crisp Full Throttle or a steaming mug of Columbian.
Next issue
I’m giving up hot water.
The BCAA Student and Junior Membership Cards.
BCAA Membership. Go even further with the whole independence thing.
Sometimes independence can use a little assistance. If your car breaks down, you need help planning a road trip or just want a deal on a pair of shoes, your BCAA Student or Junior Membership Card is there. BCAA Student Membership for drivers 21 or younger includes: • Four Road Assist calls per year with towing up to 5km or to the nearest garage. • Free North American maps, Tourbooks, TripTiks and Campbook Guides • All Show Your Card & Save® benefits • 5 Free Music Downloads • A complimentary Student Price Card • Savings on BCAA Travel including Contiki Holidays BCAA Junior Memberships for non-drivers 21 or younger includes: • One Road Assist call per year with towing up to 5km or to the nearest garage • Free North American maps, Tourbooks, TripTiks and Campbook Guides • Exclusive BCAA member-only discounts at Payless Shoes, Bell Mobility and other retailers worldwide • A complimentary Student Price Card One year BCAA Membership with above benefits: $51 Drivers; $17 Non-Drivers.
Call 310-2345, visit your local BCAA office or click on www.bcaa.com for more details. Some restrictions apply. Prices do not include GST.
COLUMNS
14
October 29, 2008
Skanking it up on Halloween rHeA smilowski ContriButing Writer
Many guys get excited for Halloween, not for the candy and pumpkin patches, but more for the skanky costumes chosen by some women. There’s the nurse, the devil or angel, any animal that involves a cute ear attachment, a hot cop, pirate/wench, etc. But these costumes are overused and cliché. Follow these guidelines, ladies, and you too will be able to stand out among the fuzzy animals and naughty nurses, attracting your Halloween crush with originality. So here’s the ordinary made extraordinary:
Killer bee
It’s the cute bee costume, right? Well yes . . . and no. With a splash of blood on the cheek, dripping off the chest and arms, it’s no longer cute, but it makes for some curious stares. To make this extra obvious, keep a bloodstained knife (made
from pancake syrup and red food coloring) in one hand and give it an erotic lick now and then.
Cowgirl
Wear chaps with this one; don’t use jeans! To clear the air, all chaps are created “ass-less.” When the holes are filled with an ass they turn back to pants, right? A sheriff’s star will bring the costume up to a whole new level; the level where you can start to arrest everyone! A toy gun is also needed.
Army camouflage
Most girls try to be a drill sergeant of some kind and have skin showing. Carry some kind of firearms or bullets wrapped over the shoulder. A greatly underused idea is bullet wounds; a lot or a little, it’s still not done enough.
White witch
It’s pretty easy, a collection of winter white feathers, a satin dress, and lots of glitter. For the hat, get some white spray-paint and paint a black witch hat. Add on white roses and tulle to where it needs it.
If a humorous, skanky look is what you seek, try these:
Gold digger
Gold spray-paint is your best friend on this one. Spray a shovel and a hard hat. A ghetto-fabulous, gold party dress and some chains make this costume complete.
God’s gift to men
Covered in nothing but wrapping paper or ribbon (try to wear underwear), add a huge tag around the neck that reads, “To Men, Love God,” and this costume will be the talk of the night. Go to a fabric store and use the wide style, satin trim for a blanket and buy it by the yard. It looks very similar to ribbons. It’s functionally mobile for the one wearing it, and it will stay on the best. I hope I have steered the ladies in a whore originality direction this year. If it’s too late, it never hurts to be prepared for next year. And, remember, if you wear a paper hat, you’ll get some orders.
Some creepy Halloween soundtrack ideas rHeA smilowski
ContriButing Writer
Scary costumes and decorations aside, an essential ingredient for creating the proper atmosphere on Halloween night is creepy music and sound effects. Strategic placement of sound effects can add a spooky vibe to any Halloween party. Try setting up audio so it can be heard outside a building, and in quiet places of a house away from where the main party is taking place. Use your imagination, but classic sounds such as thunderstorms, rattling chains, church organs, moaning ghosts, screaming cats, and laughing witches will always do the trick. As to where to find these sounds, you might be surprised at what’s available cheap, whether it’s new, secondhand, or online. And then there are always the Halloween songs, of which there are countless options. Here’s a list of some:
CLASSIC HALLOWEEN SONGS “Thriller”—Michael Jackson “The Time Warp”—Rocky Horror Picture Show “Addams Family Theme”—Victor Mizzy “Ghostbusters”—Ray Parker Jr. “Monster Mash”—Bobby “Boris” Pickett LESSER-KNOWN TUNES “I Put a Spell on You”—Screamin’ Jay Hawkins “Welcome to My Nightmare”—Alice Cooper “Dragula”—Rob Zombie “Bloodletting”—Concrete Blonde “The Munsters Theme”—Los Straitjackets “Lil’ Red Riding Hood”—Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs “Love Potion No. 9”—The Searchers “A Night on Bald Mountain”—Mussorgsky “Werewolves of London”—Warren Zevon “Dracula”—Gorillaz
THIRSTY THURSDAY $5 & $13.50 PINTS
JUGS
$6.95 PEROGIES
By Guy Alaimo & Donald Kennedy
Point Burger has tasty Aura
Aura (at Laurel Point Inn) 680 Montreal Street, 250–386–8721 Dish: Point Burger Donald: Aura first peaked my curiosity when I discovered they had brought a Food Network muckity-muck and a bunch of his buddies from Calgary into their fold. As if the news that a celebrity chef was making burgers in Victoria wasn’t enough, the Aura menu also revealed the kitchen was using a house-made bun for its burger. Does anyone else in Victoria use a house-made bun? I fucking doubt it. The Point Burger’s pre-formed, premium Alberta beef patty retains a surprisingly bold flavour and is delightfully juicy. The texture and flavour of the mushrooms is magnificently subtle, and the house-made bun is—thankfully—light (if not a little too small for the patty). The only condiment on the burger is a house mayonnaise, which appears to have been mixed with a smidgen of Dijon. There’s just enough mayo to enhance the overall flavour of the burger, but not overpower the patty. Despite a glut of toppings, you’re never brought too far away from what is a truly wonderful patty. I really wish this burger was offered on a dinner menu, because it pretty much blows away everything else in town. As if the burger isn’t enough, this place has an incredible hand dryer in the bathroom. When I stuck my hand in it I felt like Bill Paxton in Twister. Guy: This is the best tasting burger I have ever eaten in my life. The juices are dripping like crazy, the mayo is expertly mixed with the bacon and mushrooms; it’s just fucking incredible. This is what $16 should get you. According to places like Moxie’s and Earls, 16 bucks gets you a dry and tasteless patty with a buttered bun. The Laurel Point Inn does it right. Every new bite is as savoury and delicious as the last—the good times never stop rolling. For the last month, every time I saw Donald at school he would mention the burger at Aura, and how much we needed to go. I remember one week I couldn’t muster up the cash, and his reaction was like watching somebody find out they have cancer. Well, Donald is one for building up hype around a burger and having it come through. A second visit to Aura is already long overdue.
Price: $16 (lunch only, 11:30 am-2 pm) Verdict: We’re having a hard time thinking of a better burger in Victoria. Painting by Laura Tosh Design by Brendan O’B O’Brien
Online Journal
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HUMOUR
[email protected]
1
E. Coli Gets Pissed By Adrian Binakaj
Are you for scuba?!?! Join the Camosun Scuba club!
Inconsistent Biomix By Jared Gowen
Whether you are an advanced diver, or are interested in learning how to scuba dive, join now to receive valuable deals on gear, rentals, and education, and to connect with other divers here at Camosun. If interested, please email:
[email protected]
or join our group on Facebook!
Monster Mash: Part 1 By Shane Scott-Travis
Sticky Vicky By Rhea Smilowski Psst… The spell has dangerous circumstances and often has sexy results, but beware…
As your Fairy Skank Mother, I’m here to make your PMS whining stop and therefore make your wishes come true, no matter how lame and temporary they are.
Don’t worry. I only wanted to be a pretty girl to recreate a Ferrero Rocher commercial.
Overheard at Nexus
tessA CoGmAn
Staff eaveSdropper
The staff at Nexus works very hard during production of the newspaper, and there are times when exhaustion takes over the things we say. The following is some of what’s been overheard at the Nexus office the past two weeks:
“I’d name my soapbox car ‘The Panty Remover.’”
classifieds T h e We s t e r n C a n a d a Wi l d e r n e s s Committee is seeking environmentally aware, outgoing people to join our canvass team. Flexible days, fresh air, and fun. Great job for students. Call Susan at 250-388-9292 between 2-4 pm, Monday to Friday.
40 words FREE!
Rules Each registered student at Camosun is eligible for up to 40 words FREE per semester. This can be in the form of a 40-word ad, or two 20-word ads. Drop off your ad at the Nexus, Richmond House 201, Lansdowne, e-mail it to
[email protected], or call the ad in at 370-3591. Please include your student number and contact information. Small print: Nexus reserves the right to refuse ads for any reason. No sexist, racist, homophobic, or otherwise derogatory or slanderous ads. Business-related ads are $15 for 20 words or less. 50 cents per extra word
“What would the car look like, though?”
“I used to plant jellybeans when I was a kid because I thought they would grow into more.”
“You look like Richard Simmons.”
“I’m not Richard Simmons; don’t paint me that way.”
nexus pizza days
The BC Cancer Agency - Vancouver Island Centre is currently recruiting volunteers for the TeaLC Café. If you are available for a weekly shift, are comfortable using a cash register, and wish to spend time in a rewarding volunteer environment, please call 519-5500 ext. 3747. Telerecruiters required urgently for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Part-time evenings and weekends. $10 per hour. Call Sue Dakers at 403-382-4035 today!
“Something phallic.”
“What’s with the Madonna headset?”
Wednesday, Oct. 29 and Nov. 12 12 noon until it’s gone In front of Fisher Building, Lansdowne Each registered student at Camosun is eligible for up to 40 words FREE per semester. This can be in the form of a 40-word ad, or two 20-word ads. Small print: Nexus reserves the right to refuse ads for any reason. No sexist, racist, homophobic, or otherwise derogatory or slanderous ads. Business-related ads are $15 for 20 words or less. 50 cents per extra word
250.370.3591
[email protected] www.nexusnewspaper.com
A fundraiser for your student newspaper. 250.370.3591
[email protected] www.nexusnewspaper.com Richmond House 201, Lansdowne
Friday, Oct. 31
Bloody Betty and the Deadly Sins, Brains! LUCKY BAR, DOORS AT 8 PM, $15
Love You Dead Entertainment presents a Devil’s Night full of music and gorelesque. Musical guests Brains! will follow Bloody Betty and the Deadly Sins, who describe themselves as “a terribly offensive group of chicks who enjoy mutilation and destruction at its bloodiest.” Not for the faint of heart. If you’re wondering what gorelesque is, picture a burlesque bar in the bowels of hell.
eye on campus
www.camosun.ca/green By Kait Cavers
Thursday, Oct. 30
Emotionz, Swagger Jones, Zes Nomis BARCODE, DOORS AT 9 PM, $15
This creep-show, hip-hop Halloween Eve party is officially the perfect starter to your Hallo-weekend. A huge list of acts provides bang for your buck and the bass levels are jacked to destroy your feeble student minds. Presented by Dogstar.
Thursday, Oct. 30
One Night Band, Kiltlifters, Brave New Waves UPSTAIRS CABARET, DOORS AT 9 PM, $14.50
If hip-hop ain’t yo thang this Hallow’s Eve eve, check out Skalloween instead. The Kiltlifters are guaranteed to offer up everything but a dull moment, while Montreal-based headliner One Night Band is sure to impress with rock-steady, reggae-inspired tracks.
Friday, Oct. 31
Horde of Anachron, Start with the Cobra, The Mags LOGAN’S PUB, DOORS AT 9 PM, $10
This Halloween, would you sell your soul for hardcore metal? Clove and Anchor Entertainment present the succulent melding of blackened death-thrash with punk rock, designed to make even the darkest hearts skip a beat. Better get your candy fix before the show because there’s gonna be nothin’ sweet here.
Saturday, Nov. 1
Sarah Noni Metzner METRO STUDIO, DOORS AT 8 PM, $15
Dubbed the “Diablo Cody of music,” BC-bred but Toronto-based Sarah Noni Metzner takes on the Metro for the release of her third studio recording, Mansion of Happiness. Metzner’s folk roots receive an electric injection of insane guitar hooks, and are topped with her trademark “powerful and chilling vocals.” Come support some serious BC-born talent.
Saturday, Nov. 1
Neil Young, Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead (TRIBUTES) HECKLER’S, DOORS AT 7 PM, FREE
Can’t afford to catch the real deal on stage? Try rocking in the free world instead. This show features tributes to three of the most essential acts in musical history at a price that’s right. Young, Dylan, and The Grateful Dead, all together on one stage? My pipe just lit itself.
For a full list of concert listings go to wwww.livevictoria.com
By Kait Cavers
Tuesday, Nov. 4
Interview protocol
Guest speaker Deborah Wilson, director of the WorkSource Wage Subsidy Program, offers up some tasty tidbits on how to conduct yourself in a job interview in order to entice potential bosses. Learn how to prepare yourself and organize your thoughts to best answer dreaded interview questions. You know, like, “What made you want to apply for this job?” and, “Why do you have a possum in your trenchcoat?” 4–5 pm, Wilna Thomas 204, Lansdowne. Info: 250–370–4181 or
[email protected]
Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 4–5
Dunlop pit stop Busy? Hungry? Not in the mood to cook lunch? Dunlop conquers the ongoing battle of stomach vs. schedule with their new takeout menu. Service runs between 11 am and 1 pm and a few to-go items from the swanky Dunlop House Restaurant will be available. Items are affordable compared with most takeout restaurants, the food is typically better, and the proceeds go directly back into Dunlop’s student-run program, so come support your kin. For info, contact william.bergen@stumail. camosun.bc.ca
Wednesday, Nov. 5
Lunch and Learn If you find sheer boredom causing you to
nod off while you mow down, entertain your brain with Camosun’s lunch and learn sessions. Learn how you can help reduce your global footprint, go green, and conserve energy from BC Hydro’s Power Smart specialist, Eric Beevor-Potts. He will be speaking out about the emerging energy gap while free pizza is served. 11:30 am-12:20 pm, Library Media Center 136, Lansdowne.
Wednesday, Nov. 5
Memory Chazeza Mdyesteni On behalf of the Womyns Centre, guest Memory Chazeza Mdyesteni from Malawi, Africa will be speaking out about her teachings and efforts to advocate accessible post-secondary education for young women. Refreshments will be offered. 4:30 pm, Wilna Thomas Cultural Centre, Lansdowne.
Thursday, Nov. 6
Depression screenings Find out for sure if your moody blues actually mean depression, or you’re just a bag of stress and need to chill out. The Nursing Program, in conjunction with Counseling and Community Mental Health, will provide private and confidential depression screenings in the Lansdowne campus library. Find out for sure if you need to begin the path to recovery.
Wednesday, Nov. 12
Networking and marketing yourself Find out how networking can work for you by learning creative strategies to promote yourself, and how to work your way into the inside track for unadvertised jobs. This workshop also covers positive
ways to portray yourself on your resume. Guest Speaker and Employment Facilitator Irene Wallace will provide the guidance. 4–5 pm, Wilna Thomas 204, Lansdowne. Info: 250–370–4181 or employ@camosun. bc.ca
Mondays to Thursdays
Drop-in hockey and soccer Balls, balls, balls! Intrigued? If that got you excited in a new and confusing way, we can’t help you. But while you’re contemplating that, why not come on out and knock some balls around? Hockey on Mondays and Wednesdays, 7–9pm; Indoor Soccer on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7–9pm in Young 112, Lansdowne. Info: 250–370–3602.
Tuesdays
Psychology Club If you like money, cars, big houses, charity, flowers, leather, the color blue, Dave Grohl, baby lion cubs, or free stuff, then there’s a one-in-five chance you also enjoy psychology. I’m not a mathematician, but I’d say the odds are in your favour. So why not come check out the club devoted to all things psych? Guaranteed to leave you thinking. Like this. Tuesdays at 3:30 pm, Fisher 210, Lansdowne.
Wednesdays
Debate Club Do you find yourself looking for any excuse to debate? Do you debate as soon as you wake up? Do you debate in the shower? Do you sit in class wishing you were somewhere else debating? Do your friends refer to you as a master debater? Why debate alone when you can debate in front of a room full of people? Sign up for the debate club! Wednesdays 5:30 pm, Library Room A (2nd floor), Lansdowne.
Camosun College is looking for your innovative ideas to help the college become a leader in sustainability. You could win a $1,000 cash prize and a $1,500 operational budget to help make your idea a reality. Your idea could be anything, as long as it has a positive impact on sustainabilty at Camosun College. Project submissions are due by 4 pm, March 2, 2009. Applicants must be registered Camosun students in March, 2009.
www.camosun.ca/green n.ca/ Camosun Colleg Students for Environmental Awareness