Volume 19 Issue 12

February 18, 2009

ready, Set, BuSted CharGinG to PlayoffS? BalCony Banter

If you’re prone to drinking and driving, Chargers fans keep fingers crossed in Ebert and Roeper pack their bags so
better put some cash aside for a new hopes our sports teams show up the Nexus professionals can step in
Camosun’s Student Voice breathalyzer initiative. strong at upcoming playoffs. and analyze the Oscars.
Since 1990 neWS—4 SPortS—9 artS—13

Photo: Courtney BrouGhton

2 VieWS February 18, 2009

Would you like fries with that?

Editorial
Nexus
teSSa CoGman very appealing, but to keep the cash
StAFF Writer flowing until a career is found a
Campus life can snazzy uniform might be an un-
get addicting. The fortunate possibility.
Next publication date: March 4, 2009 beautiful landscape, But you can stop having res-
friendly faces, and helpful faculty taurant job-related nightmares,
Deadline: noon Feb. 25, 2009
can make a student feel safe and because there’s hope.
Address: 3100 Foul Bay Rd., Victoria, BC, at home.
V8P 5J2 We have spent years at school,
Location: Lansdowne Richmond House 201 networking and becoming famil-
Phone: 250-370-3591 iar with everyone here. But once For students with a
Email: nexus@nexusnewspaper.com graduation arrives, the bubble clear goal in mind,
Website: www.nexusnewspaper.com bursts, reality comes crashing down,
and students are thrown into the
there’s a tendency to
Publisher: Nexus Publishing Society
real world, job or no job. lose your head after
I will be graduating from
NEXUS PUBLISHING SOCIETY
Camosun this April from the Ap-
that graduation cap
STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS
Kyla Ferns
plied Communication Program and hits the ground.
I am getting antsy myself. Quite a
Kelly Marion
Andrea Moir
few of my peers will be moving on
Jason Motz
to university, but I will be entering Each year, college graduates are
Chris Pal the real world in hopes of pursuing surveyed nine months after the end
Miriam Putters a career. of their program.
MANAGING EDITOR
But when April arrives, my stu- The 2008 survey respondents
grAPhiC: AdriAn binAKAJ
Jason Schreurs
dent loan money will say “bye-bye” said they were 80 percent employed
and I will be working two jobs just at a job or business. Of these stu- like it’s going to last forever, folks. jobs you want and apply early.
LAYOUT EDITOR
to keep food in the cupboards while dents, 88 percent reported they There’s an economic crisis every Be professional, include a cover
Laila Brown
searching for an ideal position. found their job within two months other decade and the world hasn’t letter, and don’t be stuck with no-
STUDENT EDITOR
Some students enter programs of actively looking and 73 percent come crashing down just yet. where to go come graduation. And
Tessa Cogman
they have no intention of pursuing said they were in a job directly Until we get past the mess left hopefully Camosun’s employment
COPY EDITOR
a career in, but for students with a related to their studies. by Bush’s mistakes, it might be a success rates will be even better
Alan Piffer
clear goal in mind there’s a tendency Phew! That’s very good news. little harder to find a career, but next year.
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
to lose your head after that gradua- But with the job losses in BC, how don’t give up. The earlier we brace ourselves
Kait Cavers
tion cap hits the ground. accurate is that survey this year? Instead of printing off four- for the road ahead, the softer the
STAFF WRITERS Printing off resumes for Mc- The economic crisis has every- dozen resumes and applying every- ride will be.
Guy Alaimo Donalds and Fairway Market isn’t one’s panties in a twist, but it’s not where and anywhere, apply to the
Brendan Kergin
Jason Motz
open Space accepts submissions from Camosun students. Submissions to open Space should be
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Courtney Broughton Open Space 400 words or less. responses to previous articles in nexus should be 250 words or less.
e-mail submissions to nexus@nexusnewspaper.com and include your name and student number.
ADVERTISING SALES
Breanna Carey
Jason Schreurs
250-370-3593
Campus Plus (national)
Let’s boycott the Aramark bad habit
1-800-265-5372 andy roBertS having my food selection whittled From now on, I’m bringing from the bookstore, which is priced
DISTRIBUTION Contributing Writer down to nothing on a Friday after- food from home every day, with lower than the Caf and always
Adrian Binakaj For the second Friday in a row, noon or late in the day. I’m also granola bars, rice cakes, and fruit does their utmost to stock items
Ashley Moore I step into the Campus Caf at Lans- sick of Aramark touting their corn as a backup if I’m running late. on request.
CONTRIBUTORS: downe, only to find the sandwich cutlery and other recyclable condi- Better still, I’ll exercise my right
Guy Alaimo display empty, the soup urns down ments as a reason to charge higher to eat this stuff in the Caf right in
Adrian Binakaj to their dregs, the pasta selection re- prices—a responsible company front of their noses. Big, hairy mam-
Courtney Broughton duced to smithereens, and the pas- should be eco-friendly as a matter rather than fill out moth balls to you, Aramark.
Chris Burnett try selection limited to a few muffins of course. surveys or write a I’ve heard enough excuses from
Cristian Cano that have seen better days. Aramark is a food provider for Aramark and refuse to believe they
Breanna Carey My only choices seem to be deep- people of limited means and it con-
letter, i decided to hit don’t make a profit or can’t lower
Kait Cavers
Alisha Charmley
fried junk, overpriced pizza, the sistently fails to listen to customers Aramark where it hurts prices and raise quality.
somewhat pathetic Euro Baguette, or serve customers’ needs. I’m pretty sure any other fran-
Matteus Clement
or a rather pricey salad. It suddenly dawned on me what
by not giving them my chise could make a profit and supply
Tessa Cogman
Zan Comerford
I ask about sandwiches and am I needed to do, and the solution was money. a decent quality of food. If another
told some are being made; 25 min- staring me in the face—boycott the franchise set up a mobile cafe and
Maelina de Grasse
utes later there stands a row of ham Caf completely. pulled up in the parking lot one
Samantha Doney
Michael Duncan
sandwiches, perfect for someone Rather than fill out surveys or day, an awful lot of money would
Christi Kay
like myself who neither eats ham write a letter, I decided to hit Ara- I’ll buy my coffee from a nearby be made.
Donald Kennedy nor red meat. mark where it hurts by not giving coffee shop on my way into campus, So long, Aramark. You failed
Keltie Larter Enough is enough. I’m tired of them my money. Ever. and anything else I need will come me for the last time.
Alissa Lauren
Kelly Marion
doesn’t appear is ridiculous and Thanks for running this very
Chloe Markgraf
help build Put the
Letters

immature. interesting article. I was in Heb-

Jason Motz
Miriam Putters our team “e” back in I totally support equality for ron myself once and remember it
Sarah Rankin womyn everyone (men and women, and vividly.
Andy Roberts I was a little con- the people in between), but stunts However, you need to print a
Shane Scott-Travis fused when reading like this make people think femin- correction.
Ed Sum the recent story, Not a ists are just a bunch of bra-burning In the accompanying article,
Joel Witherington gentleman’s club [Womyn’s Centre yahoos. An endless struggle by Staff Writer
the views and opinions expressed herein are those column, Feb. 4 issue], by Chloe eriC mCveiGh Brendan Kergin, he states, “An
of the authors, not of the nexus Publishing Society.
Markgraf. CAMOSUN STUDENT agreement was struck with the
one copy of nexus is available per issue, nexus needs
At first I thought there were just Palestinians already living on the
per person. nexus is printed on a mixture
student volunteers (Ed. note: For an explanation
of 100 and 40 percent recycled paper.
shitloads of typos, but I soon real- land to split it with the refugees
Please recycle your copy. thanks!
if you would like to write, on the spelling of womyn in the founding Israel.”
Editorial meetings
ized the spelling of “womyn” was Womyn’s Centre columns, see Chloe
Come out to our weekly nexus editorial meetings, take photos, or just want intentional. What’s with that? I fear Kergin has made a his-
where all Camosun students can get involved in
Markgraf’s column in the Jan. 21 torical boo-boo! The Palestinians
to help out with the Do they not want the word issue.)
their student newspaper. Meetings take place agreed to no such thing.
every tuesday at 11:30 am in the nexus office, newspaper, get in touch “men” involved with anything
richmond house 201, lansdowne. Call 370-3591 feminist? Lame! If I were a racist The United Nations imposed
with us asap!
or e-mail nexus@nexusnewspaper.com for more
(keyword “if”), would I change the the division, after much lobbying by
information.
Send a letter 250.370.3591 way I spelt “Caucasian” to “Caucey- Historical boo- Jewish populations and, I believe,
nexus prints letters that are 250 words or less
in response to previous stories. nexus reserves
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com sian” so that the word “Asian” boo! the British government.
the right to refuse publication of letters. letters
www.nexusnewspaper.com didn’t appear? I don’t think so. Re: Cameras offer powerful tool SuSan SCott
must include full name and student number (not Richmond House 201, Changing the way you spell for Palestinian struggle, Jan. 21 COMMUNITY MEMBER
printed). nexus accepts all letters by e-mail to Lansdowne “women” just so the word “men” issue.
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com
Students shouldn’t support the fake brands
Alissa Laurin
Contributing Writer
A student is standing in line at
the bookstore, when a woman in
front boastfully pulls out a Chanel
wallet. Meanwhile, the man at the
counter is sporting a nifty pair of
Oakley sunglasses on his head. But
are these name-branded items real
or fake?
There’s no doubt name brands
are everywhere—in the halls of
Camosun, movies, and even on
buses. In our society, things we own
can send out an impression of what
type of person we are.
This is an underlying reason for
our consumption of name brands.
They have the power to make us feel
like we’re paramount for purchas-
ing them.
Since many people want to own
the crème de la crème of material-
istic paraphernalia, it only makes
sense that there’s undercover copy-
ing of name-branded goods.
This is where the black market
comes in, selling cheap replicas of
Since many people
want to own the crème
de la crème of
materialistic
paraphernalia, it only
makes sense that
there’s undercover
copying of name-
branded goods.
name brand merchandise for less
than the original item. This can be
heaven-sent for those who can’t af-
VIEWS 
ford the cost of the genuine article,
and want to feel like they can by
purchasing a faux.
But it’s demeaning; it takes
away from the original creator
of the item and is of much lower
quality.
In addition, underground mar-
kets make replicated items more
obtainable and less prestigious than
before they became accessible to the
rest of the public.
This can further confuse con-
sumers as to what’s real and better
quality, and what appears to be
but isn’t.
The black market used to be
undercover and less accessible.
Now, largely due to demand for
Photo: Courtney broughton
More and more students are wearing name-brand knockoffs around campus.
imitation products, black market
items can be found in Victoria malls stopped. Not only do underground and where they come.
during the winter season, in small markets sell replicated and stolen It’s far better to save up and
boutiques downtown, and even in ideas, they also lead to risk factors invest in authentic products where
UVic’s Student Union Building. such as the uncertainty of what quality, trust, and honesty are also
This is appalling and should be these pseudo items are made from obtained in a purchase.

Sharing the wealth during tough economic times

Keltie Larter
Contributing Writer
Recent reports released from
Statistics Canada show that over
the past three months the Canad-
ian economy lost a jaw-dropping
213,000 jobs. Wow.
It seems we’ve all been living
in an economic house of cards.
And, of course, when the job mar-
ket shrinks, so do some people’s
minds.
I am so tired of hearing people
complain about foreigners “steal-
ing” our jobs. Every time layoffs
happen, a bunch of ignorant, selfish
jerks start moaning about migrant
workers and how we should be tak-
ing care of our own first.
Just because we’ve had the luck
to be born in Canada doesn’t mean
we own this country or we’re owed
employment. The jobs do not “be-
long” to us. Besides, everything we
have we’ve stolen from those who
were here before us.
A lot of people believe foreign
workers in BC should be sent back
to their countries and their jobs
given to those who have been laid
off, so “real Canadians” can look
after their families.
But what about the families
of the thousands of workers we
send packing? Most foreign work-
ers come from countries where
there’s no unemployment insur-
ance, health care, or welfare, and
the loss of money most Canadians
would find paltry would be devastat-
ing for families relying on the extra
income to survive.
At least the families of those who
were laid off in BC won’t face star-
vation, sickness, or death because
of their reduced circumstances.
And really, would you want to
work 12-hour days in a box factory
or in some hotel scrubbing wealthy
people’s shit out of toilets for eight
bucks an hour?
Because I wouldn’t want to, nor
would most of us spoilt Canadians,
which is why employers solicit for-
eign labour in the first place.
I met a man last summer who
left his wife and children back in
Mexico to work in the fields pick-
ing daffodils 14 hours a day for
minimum wage.
Every time there are His only day off from the daf-
fodil farm was spent working at
layoffs, a bunch of a neighbouring farm shoveling
ignorant, selfish jerks manure.
He said he felt extremely lucky
start pissing and to have such good jobs, and the
moaning about money he made would send his
children to school and buy heart
migrant workers and medication for his wife, not to men-
how we should be tion feed them all. It was a humbling
conversation.
taking care of our own We enjoy a standard of living in
first. this country which most of the rest
of the world pays for in one way or
another, so shouldn’t we be happy
to share the wealth?

Canadian education needs some stimulation too

Michael Duncan
Contributing Writer
With the recent release of the
federal government’s budget and
economic stimulus plan, it’s clear
the issue of student debt relief was
disregarded.
While the budget included per-
sonal tax reductions and other
economic measures, there remains
a growing burden on current and
former Canadian students—the
$13 billion federal student debt.
According to the Canadian Fed-
eration of Students (CFS), who
tracks the mounting loans, this
federal debt increases by $1.2 mil-
lion every day.
This amount doesn’t even in-
clude approximately $5 billion in
additional student debt owed to
provincial governments, as well
as personal debt from credit cards
or bank loans.
The combination of the cur-
rent economic downturn with a
generation of students mired in
debt renders both the economy
and graduates disadvantaged from
the onset.
The current graduate debt aver-
age of $25,000-$28,000 could be
returned directly to the Canadian
economy if Stephen Harper and
his band of fiscal conservatives can
expand their mindsets to consider
the benefits of freeing graduates
from a decade or more of student
loan repayments.
The federal budget does address
some educational concerns, with
an allocation of $500 million for
worker retraining in the Strategic
Training and Transfer Fund, and
$175 million for a combination of
Aboriginal Skills programs across
Canada.
But the budget does little for a
majority of young students.
In response to the current situa-
tion, the CFS sent a letter to Finance
Minister Jim Flaherty suggesting
an increase to the Canada Social
Transfer for post-secondary educa-
tion to $1.2 billion, reducing debt
and tuition fees; more grad-student
funding; an increase in financial
support for Aboriginal students to
$200 million; and a boost in fund-
ing of the Canada Summer Jobs
program to $200 million.
According to the CFS, post-
secondary education should be
treated as a public works “mega-
project” that will benefit the next
generations.
With an investment in debt relief
for Canada’s students, whether in
the form of fee reduction, increased
grants, or additional employment
opportunities, the government
would not only provide urgent
stimulation to education but also
invest in the country and students’
futures.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

By Keltie L arter

Roxanne Smillie Chad Kreutzenstein Brie Nelson Chris Ho Patrick Rooney Melanie Johnson Eli Bell
I see myself continuing I have no idea where I’ll Studying environmental I’ll be somewhere in I see myself sitting in In five years I see myself I see myself living on
with my activist work, be in five years. I hope sciences and working the sea of new media, my own office, living traveling somewhere far a co-op farm, working
as well as starting work it’s somewhere good. in a co-op program on hopefully creating what the life! away. as a librarian, raising
as a nurse. the east coast. And I want to create. And kidlets, and fomenting
generally enjoying life! maybe finally making evolution.
some cash on the side
as a YouTube partner!
 NEWS February 18, 2009

New technology keeps drunk drivers off streets

Blow over .02 into this handy unit and the car and its passengers won’t be going anywhere fast until the driver sobers up.
Jason Motz
Staff Writer
A new initiative between the
Superintendent of Motor Vehicles
and the Victoria police is going
to squeeze the wallets of anyone
caught drinking and driving.
The Ignition Interlock program,
first introduced to the province as a
pilot project in 2005, was expanded
effective Feb. 1. So far BC, Alberta,
Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Que-
bec are in the camp of ignition
interlock advocates.
The program utilizes an ignition
interlock device, a small breath-
alyzer installed in a car to prevent
drunk drivers from starting their
vehicle.
It looks a bit like a CB radio
with a tube stuck to it. The driver
gets behind the wheel of his/her
car, blows, and if he or she is over
the preset limit of .02, the vehicle
won’t start.
Steven Kelly, a Camosun psych-
ology student and self-described
“hard-ass” when it comes to drink-
ing and driving, questions a poten-
tial flaw in the program.
“It may be effective, but only
to a certain extent,” says Kelly.
“Couldn’t you just get a friend to
blow in it for you?”
But the unit asks for breath
samples at random times during
each drive, to avoid other people
blowing into the device before the
drunk driver gets behind the wheel
and drives away.
In the case of a failed breath
sample at any time during a drive,
a warning is issued to the driver
to shut the vehicle off. If repeated
warnings are ignored, the car horn
blares and the lights flash until the
driver concedes. Hell hath no fury
like a breathalyzer scorned.
Sergeant John Price, public
information officer for Saanich
Police, is a firm believer the pro-
gram will benefit the police in doing
their job.
“Anything that we can add to
the fight against impaired drivers
and the carnage they cause will be
of benefit to the whole community,”
says Price.
“Anything that we can
add to the fight
against impaired
drivers and the
carnage they cause
will be of benefit to the
whole community.”
John Price
Saanich Police
Those who are convicted of driv-
ing under the influence of alcohol,
multiple 24-hour roadside suspen-
sions, or 90-day Administrative
Driving Prohibitions (ADPs) will
now be required to have an igni-
tion interlock device installed in
their vehicle.
Kelli Moorhouse, acting chair
of Camosun’s Criminal Justice
Program, is cautiously optimistic,
but questions if the program will
work on all participants.
“In theory, it’s a good idea. For
some folks it will work really, really
well,” says Moorhouse.
An ignition interlock device
isn’t a free gift from ICBC or the
Victoria Police Department. All
fees associated with the device
come straight out of the driver’s
pocket. There’s the program fee
of $150, another installation fee
of $150, and a monthly monitoring
fee of $105.
Throw in the Responsible Driv-
er Program at $880, and miscellan-
eous expenses such as towing and
legal fees, and it adds up. That’s
precisely the point of the device—to
make the driver pay.
“Driving is a licensed activity,
and if you don’t want to comply,
then take the bus,” says Price.
Can the program be successful?
Price thinks so. “Jeopardy—like
fines, driving suspensions, criminal
records, now ignition locks—is a
deterrent for most drivers.”
According to data from the
Superintendent of Motor Vehicles,
the program has been responsible
for a 90 percent drop in repeat
drinking and driving infractions.
Price adds, “Life is about
choices, and when that poor choice
has the potential to change lives
forever, then it is important that
people sit up and realize what it will
cost them and their family.”

Another film crew at

Camosun
Maelina de Grasse films in Victoria alone. “I started in
Contributing Writer high school, and after graduation,
Camosun hosted yet another I just couldn’t get away from it,”
film crew on the Lansdowne cam- says Bauman.
pus Feb. 6–7 for the making of There appears to be a reason
Stranger with My Face. local movie makers stick around in
The film stars 7th Heaven’s Victoria, as opposed to finding other
Catherine Hicks, Victoria’s own opportunities in bigger cities.
Beau Mirchoff (Scary Movie 4), and
Alexz Johnson (Smallville, Final
Destination 3).
The 90-minute feature is a Hal-
Some ACP students
loween thriller about a high school who were there in the
girl whose friends start to see her in later hours of the
places she’s never been. Johnson
plays the part of Laurie, who dis- evening also
covers she has an evil twin sister mentioned seeing the
plotting to take over her life.
The first portion of the shoot- crew set up on the
ing began in the top floor of the fields in front of the
Lansdowne library.
The scene included Laurie and Young Building.
her friend searching through the
pages of a book to help uncover
her twin mystery, as well as a con- “In each project we work with
versation between her and Gordo a core crew,” says Productions
(Mirchoff), a jock who’s confused Manager Paul Rayman. “We all
as to why she’s more interested in know each other very well, so it
books than in him. makes planning and organizing
The crew moved into the Fisher much easier.”
building, and later the third floor of Because there aren’t a lot of jobs
the Young Building in Room 311, for aspiring filmmakers in Victoria,
a room used by the Applied Com- Rayman says getting together a
munication Program (ACP) as a crew makes for a very easy task.
small lab. The room also has a door “The crew is like a family—they can
that leads to the Young clock tower look out for each other.”
and some filming was done on the The film crew will be shooting
tower’s roof and in the stairwell. for approximately a month in vari-
Some ACP students who were ous locations, including Sooke, 10
there in the later hours of the even- Mile Point, Mount Doug Senior
ing also mentioned seeing the crew Secondary, and BC Ferries.
set up on the fields in front of the Stranger with My Face will air
Young Building. just in time for next Halloween
Jeff Renfroe, who’s been mak- on the Super Channel, where you
ing movies since high school, is can also find one of Bauman’s
director of the film. Also, producer other recently produced miniseries,
Ted Bauman has produced over 15 Impact.
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com neWS 5
NEWS BRIEFS By Kait CaverS
Shelter bylaw creates
Long overdue
the Camosun libraries need your help. the Camosun Foundation
challenges for local homeless
is launching a campaign to help raise funds for Camosun’s upcoming
zan Comerford
library revitalization project. More and more students are taking Contributing Writer
advantage of the libraries at both campuses, and computer access
A new bylaw amendment put in
continues to remain insufficient, while group and quiet study space
place by the city of Victoria on Feb.
is at a premium. the demand for electronic research tools is es-
5 has many local advocates for the
calating, and with your help the libraries can take a step into the
“next generation” to provide the right amount of the best tools that
homeless concerned.
students need to learn. the love Your learning library campaign will The bylaw states camping in
help to purchase more books, provide online resources, more com- parks is allowed, but only between
puters and media stations, as well as provide classroom equipment 7 pm to 7 am, and not in playing
to more students. For info, e-mail foundation@camosun.bc.ca or call fields, Bastion Square, roads or
250–370–4232. pathways, or anywhere designated
for an event.
New group for old growth “Can you imagine what it’s like
less than 10 percent of the old growth forest on Vancouver island to have to pack up your home and
remains. the newly formed Action for old growth (AFog) student all your worldly belongings every Photo: CourtneY broughton
group at Camosun wants to know if we can afford to lose such a key single morning by 7 am?” asks Tents like this one on Pandora near Quadra won’t be allowed between 7 am-7 pm.
component of a vital cycle that nature has carried for so long. the old Janine Bandcroft, a local activist Most bylaw disputes go un- Others see the controversy as an
growth forest on the island has been an important part of the culture and founder of StreetNewz. noticed by the population at large, ongoing opportunity for progress.
and economy, and the outlook of its survival constantly remains in
but this issue was thrust into the “[The bylaw proceedings] were,
limbo. if you are one of the many that feel the need to take action to
public eye with the arrest of activists and still are, an opportunity to call a
protect this part of your homeland, then AFog wants to hear from
“our interest is in Kristen Woodruff, David Johnston, public meeting, include the home-
you. beginning March 1, the group will launch 10 days of actions
and events for the ancient forest with uVic groups and the Western
and Tavis Dodds this past winter. less, and see what imaginative solu-
Canada Wilderness Committee. if you want to get involved, e-mail
ending homelessness, The three were arrested for re- tions a compassionate community
oldgrowthcamosun@gmail.com not managing it.” fusing to remove their belongings can muster,” says Bandcroft, citing
from their camp under the Sequoia the numerous successful tent cities
Bully beat-down dean fortin tree in Centennial Square. in Portland, Olympia, and Seattle.
Although it often seems like child’s play, bullying in and out of ViCtoriA MAYor On Jan. 28, Victoria Mayor The city-appointed Coalition to
schools across the country has the ability to lead to tragedies on Dean Fortin announced the regula- End Homelessness takes a different
much larger scale that can and have included suicide and murder. tions had been ruled “not a sufficient approach.
bullying touches everyone at some point, and if you have been Whether or not bylaws like this basis to enforce bylaw infractions,” “Tents are not homes, and shel-
affected by it then you know the serious emotional impact it can take are reasonable city policy, or in the aptly named “Sequoia Three” ters are not homes,” says Robert
on families, and the horrific events it can potentially to lead to. on conflict with the Charter of Rights were found not guilty. Mitchell, a coalition member.
Feb. 25, students and staff at Camosun are asked to make a pledge and Freedoms, has been debated by Justice Brian Mackenzie found On Jan. 28, Fortin announced,
and wear a pink shirt on Pink Shirt day to let everyone know that you protesters, the City of Victoria, and by arresting them the city was “Our interest is in ending homeless-
do not tolerate bullying. For info, or to see how you can help, go to the Supreme Court. trying to enforce a bylaw deemed ness, not managing it.”
www.pinkshirtday.ca In October of 2005, the Su- unconstitutional and therefore no As for those actually affected
preme Court ruled it was uncon- longer in effect. by the bylaw, one local homeless
Prizes! stitutional to ban persons from Public opinion remains mixed man who has been sleeping outside
the City of Victoria is conducting consultation on a project called making their own shelter if there’s about the direction the city must most nights for the past year-and-
the Victoria Sustainability Framework. As part of this consultation, insufficient space elsewhere.
the city has launched an online youth forum to get a discussion
take in order to effectively address a-half says, “Shelter is essential
The city appealed this ruling in Victoria’s housing problems. for survival; we all have a right to
going about sustainability. the forum is designed for ages 13–24,
2008, implementing regulations “[It’s okay] as long as they keep survive. When the government
and is currently interested in getting input from the Camosun student
(since turned into the recent bylaw) to themselves,” says Camosun begins regulating your right to
community. the forum will be live until the end of February, so par-
ticipants are encouraged to get their opinions in before then. need
specifying when and where shelters student Maria Peacock, “they need survive, well, you’re entering into
a little inspiration? there’s a chance to win some prizes, as well as could be erected. somewhere to sleep.” dangerous territory.”
the satisfaction in knowing your opinions can directly help shape the
direction of the city. to voice your opinion, go to www.vibrantvictoria.
ca/youth

Using your outside voice

this March marks the first annual loudSpeaker festival, a cele-
bration of music, poetry, and theatre in correlation with international
Women’s day. the goal of the festival is to promote awareness of the
many diverse experiences of women, through creative performance.
the shows also hope to aim attention at the status and experiences
of women who are powerful role models. Subsidized or free tickets
are available for those in financial need. Proceeds from the festival
will be donated to the Prostitutes education empowerment resource
Society, which provides support resources and exiting programs for Board of Governors &
both male and female sex trade workers. For a full list of events and
their descriptions, e-mail andrea_june@hotmail.com Education Council
Got pipes?
if you’ve got the pipes to belt out some sweet tunes and are
ELECTION
looking for a place to expose your talent, the harmonious Family

Representation is important!
Choir is seeking you. the choir is a non-audition community choir
that welcomes all individuals and family groups. the spring season
new singer intake began Feb. 5, and they are still searching for
unique members to join their harmonious team. For details go to
www.harmoniousfamilychoir.com, call 250–385-Sing, or e-mail Do you want to make a difference? Would you like to
sing@harmoniousfamilychoir.com. get your voice heard, sign up have a voice in the development of educational programs?
now!
Expand your horizons by serving on Camosun College’s
Board of Governors or Education Council!

Rob Fleming, MLA The nomination period is from Monday, March

Victoria – Hillside 02 through Monday, March 16 (3 pm deadline).

1020 Hillside Avenue

The election will be held on Tuesday, April 7, Wednesday,
250 360.2023
April 8, and Thursday, April 9, from 8 am – 7 pm.
rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca

For more information, see posters around the campus, on CamNews,

Serving Our Community student website, or contact Becky McGowan at 370-3530.
 CAMPUS
Dental students and First Nations team up
Camosun dental students are excited about a new partnership with the Malahat
Nation to provide the community with oral hygiene.
Cultural talent show at Lansdowne hits the mark
Andrea Moir
Contributing Writer
The Peer Connections Talent
Show on Feb. 12 proved Camosun
College is blessed with a gifted stu-
dent body, no matter what continent
they may call home.
“Working together and
learning about culture
is what this night is
about.”
Brian Herron
Camosun College
The Peer Connections Program
is a peer support group for inter-
national students. The talent show
was put on to promote awareness
of the program, as well as honour
and celebrate Camosun’s diverse
culture.

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

Supporting more affordable and
accessible post-secondary education
carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca
250-952-4211
www.opposition.bc.ca
Jason Motz a relationship between the Mala-
Staff Writer hat Nation and Camosun Col-
Students of Camosun’s Dental lege. Working in conjunction with
Hygiene Program have embarked Camosun’s First Nations Education
on an ambitious community project. department, Kasting admits the
In conjunction with the people of idea sprang up informally.
the Malahat Nation, this initiative “We just started talking. It was
is designed to promote oral health one of those things,” says Kasting.
care among the First Nations people, “We got together in the fall, started
while at the same time providing the talking, and it grew from there.”
students with an excellent learning
experience.
According to Colleen Kasting,
chair of Camosun College’s Foun- “We want to build trust
dation board, the program will be of between the Malahat
equal benefit to both groups.
“The needs of the Malahat band Band and health
are huge,” says Kasting. “Meeting services.”
with the students makes it a whole
lot easier. They’re more likely to Denise Baillet
Camosun student
take better dental care.”
Currently no active oral health
care program exists within the
Malahat Nation, which has two Although this is only a pilot
land reserves, one in Goldstream project, optimism is high. “It’s a
and the other over the Malahat really good opportunity all around,”
near Mill Bay. adds Kasting. “It’s really exciting
Cultural differences between to watch.”
the Malahat band and the health Melissa Schaefer, an instructor
care industry are a sensitive mat- in Community Health at Camosun,
ter the students are very cautious believes this comprehensive com-
of. This cooperative program aims munity-planning project is a per-
to fix that. fect fit for the Dental Hygiene
“We want to build trust between Program.
the Malahat Band and health ser- “We’ve been looking for some-
vices,” says dental hygiene student thing like that,” says Schaefer.
Denise Baillet. “And it’s a small nation, so it’s not
This program is the first step in overwhelming for our students.”
who played the oud, an instrument
prominent in Islamic music. His
style could be considered worthy of
a spot on Camosun’s global roots
station, Village 900.
Additionally, contemporary folk
singer Elizabeth Gerow’s spiritual
songs made it clear Camosun is
home to extraordinary talents.
What does Herron hope his
international students will gain
from this experience?
“Working together and learning
about culture is what this night
Photo: CHristi Kay
Camsun student Takehiro Suzuki was is about,” he says. “They have
one of 12 performers at a recent on- also been taking leadership; they
campus talent show.
have been the spirit of this whole
ology student Robin Patterson had event.”
the audience in a somber silence, Planning the show meant a
until he recited the final line of his lot of hard work for all of the Peer
self-written poem, The Door—”Are Connections students, especially
you almost done in there, I have Takehiro Suzuki, a classical voice
to pee!” major in the Music Foundation
Possibly one of the best pieces Program at Camosun.
of the night was an Arabic per- “I had to e-mail a lot of people
formance by Mohammad Khadim, every night, and to be honest, I
wanted to cut off my fingers so I
didn’t have to e-mail anyone else.
My teachers will be happy after
this,” says Suzuki.
Suzuki not only took charge
of planning the talent show, he
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Currently, 263 people are regis-
tered members of the Malahat Na-
tion, but only approximately 150
live on the two land reserves.
The dental students have begun
the program in earnest. In early
February the students started a ser-
ies of informational presentations
designed to educate members of
the Malahat Nation. Specialized
presentations were organized that
focused on dental care for youth
members, new parents, and a men’s
group.
These presentations highlighted
basic oral and hygiene instruction.
The next step in the program is to
initiate individual assessments.
“It has to fit in with the students’
schedule. That is how we are work-
ing it,” says Kasting.
The combination of education
and trust will be crucial to the pro-
gram’s success. “We want to help
them get to the point where they feel
empowered,” says Baillet.
For Baillet, there’s the added
incentive of promoting the role
dental hygienists play in the health
care profession.
The students in her program
will have direct involvement in the
planning and implementation of an
oral health care plan in an “at-risk”
community.
“This is what we do,” says
Baillet. “It’s a bit beyond teeth
sometimes.”
also performed four songs that
night, each in a different language—
German, French, Japanese, and
English.
His vocal range shocked and
delighted the audience, with his
first songs in low baritones and his
final songs in a range Mariah Carey
would find tough to beat.
His musical talent is one many
singers could only hope to achieve,
and one that did not take him very
long to cultivate.
“I have been singing for four
years. I worked really hard and I
have a great teacher at the Conserv-
atory of Music,” he says.
Unlike dream-crushing Amer-
ican Idol tryouts, no official winner
or loser was announced at the
show; instead, it focused on cele-
brating the diversity of Camosun
students.
The show was a success but,
as Suzuki explains, perhaps more
important was what the perform-
ance gave back to the students who
were involved.
“It made them proud in what
they do because when you have that
kind of reaction from the audience
that makes you feel really great.”
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nexus@nexusnewspaper.com
Disabled student says capitalism must go
Guy alaimo
StAFF Writer
Not being able to walk or do
everyday things can drastically
change your outlook on life. Just
ask Nathan Moss.
The 27-year-old Camosun Col-
lege Interurban student, who suf-
fers from cerebral palsy and uses a
wheelchair to get around campus,
has lots to say about the state of the
world. He also has a few ideas on
how to change it.
“it’s not about our
environment, it’s not
about famine; it’s
about a dollar bill.”
nathan moSS
interurbAn Student
“I have three goals in my life,”
says Moss. “One, to get into pro-
fessional sports. Second is to look
after my chosen family and my
blood family. Third, is to create a
militia that will bring capitalism
to its knees.”
His third goal is the one he’s
most passionate about. Moss har-
bors resentment towards capital-
ism for a few reasons, some more
personal than others. He says our
current state of government puts
people with disabilities at a serious
financial disadvantage.
liFe 7
“I live on $856 dollars a month,
with $325 of that going to my care-
taker. [People with disabilities] are
expected to live on about $500 a
month from our wonderful gov-
ernment,” says Moss sarcastically.
“That pretty much sums it all up.
That is why I believe capitalism has
to be destroyed.”
The destruction of the natural
environment is another thing
Moss worries about, along with
the general state of the world he
says has been deteriorating because
of capitalism.
“It’s not about us and it’s not
about the oppressed,” says Moss.
“It’s not about our environment,
it’s not about famine; it’s about a
dollar bill. That’s what it breaks
down to. People just don’t give a
fuck, that’s why it’s so sad, in my
own country, to see people from the Photo: CourtneY broughton
upper middle class and elite behave Doctors feared Interurban student Nathan Moss would not survive after being born prematurely and with cerebral palsy.
so ignorantly.”
As for creating a “militia,” Moss people. We need to have more com- what made the continent so unique, Moss currently plays floor hock-
says he wants all minority groups passion to those groups. We need without Western propaganda influ- ey in a league with other disabled
around the world to join together. to have more talks about legalizing encing them.” athletes. He is also interested in
“I want to bring real solutions even the harder drugs, and offer When it comes to competing in someday working for a professional
to the issues,” says Moss. “We will them the right amount so they will professional sports, Moss says it’s sports team.
start in Canada and create a real be comfortable, or offer them an always been a dream of his. After In the meantime, Moss is going
economic plan. One that doesn’t option to go to rehab.” being born four months premature to continue his crusade fighting for
just benefit the upper middle class Another thing on Moss’ long with cerebral palsy, a nurse draped a better world to live in, despite
and the elite.” to-do list is working in Africa. the diehard Saskatchewan Rough- what some people might think of
Bringing a level of understand- “Currently there are many coun- riders fan in the team’s green and his beliefs.
ing about other serious issues many tries [in Africa] that are in the midst white colors. “I live life with my soul, whether
Canadians may take for granted is a of war,” says Moss. “We need to go “I guess the colors kind of seeped that means fighting, reading, medi-
driving force behind Moss’s goals. in there and help. We don’t want to into me, because I’ve bled green and ating peace, or working on my
“We need to start the process create a Western-style democracy. white ever since,” says Moss, whose career. No one can question my
of enlightening people about the We simply want the Africans to bedroom is stocked to the brim in desire to live and make this world
mentally ill and the drug-addicted live their lives, and return back to sports memorabilia. a better place.”
Camosun College is looking for your INNOVATIVE ideas
to help the college become a leader in sustainability.
You could win a $1,000 cash
prize and a $1,500 operational budget to help make
your idea a reality.
Your idea could be anything *, as long as it has a
positive impact on sustainabilty at Camosun College.
Project submissions are due by 4 pm, March 2, 2009.
Applicants must be registered Camosun students in
March, 2009.
www.camosun.ca/green
*for a complete list of contest rules see:
Camosun Colleg Students for
Environmental Awareness
 Business Options
Career Fair
Interurban Campus Thursday, March 5, 2009
Centre for Business and Access building (first and second floor atrium)
Exhibitors and networking: 10 am-2 pm
Employer presentations start at 10 am (see schedule below)

Want to get your career on track?

Are you a business student wondering which area to
specialize in?
Almost ready to graduate and looking for career options?
Want to find out more about life as an accountant, a marketer or a
hotel manager?
Got questions you would like to ask potential employers?

Exhibitors include: The School of Business and Co-operative Education and Student Employment are banding
BCHRMA—www.bchrma.org
RBC Royal Bank—www.rbc.com together to help you get the answers by hosting a Business Options and Career Fair.
Ministry of Attorney General—www. Representatives from a variety of local businesses will deliver a series of career related
gov.bc.ca
Staples—www.staples.ca information sessions to increase students’ awareness of the different sectors; what skills are
Certified Management Accountants required, what steps to take to enter the market, and the possible career prospects. Exhibitors
of BC—www.cmabc.com will be set up and ready to chat with you about their business and potential career, co-op,
Investors Group—www.
investorsgroupvictoriametro.com internship, or summer employment opportunities.
Canada Revenue Agency—www.
cra-arc.gc.ca • Learn how to enter the market
Inn at Laurel Point—www.laurelpoint. • Discover possible career prospects
com • Meet and chat with employers from all business sectors
Certified General Accountants • Build your personal network
Association of BC—www.cga-bc.org • Discover what skills are required in the workplace
• Find out where the best opportunities lie
Speakers include: • Investigate employment opportunities
• Larry Randle, Manager of Corporate
Services, Township of Esquimalt Maximize your opportunities. Come well prepared, dressed appropriately, and with resume in hand.
• Anita Wasiuta, Senior Marketing
Coordinator, BC Transit Enter the draw for a grand prize provided courtesy of Staples.
• Ian Powell, General Manager, Inn at Laurel
Point Thursday, March 5 presentation schedule
• Brock Campbell, Hayes, Stewart, Little & Co.
• James McKenzie, President, Monk Office
10-10:30 am 10:30-11 am 12:30-1 pm 1-1:30 pm
Supply Public Administration Accounting Human Resource Accounting
• Michelle Roswell, Manager, Human Management Management Management Finance
Resources, Public Affairs Bureau Marketing Economics Public Administration Economics
• Kim Jordison, Premier’s Office, Province of Tourism and Marketing Economics Public Administration
British Columbia Hospitality Human Resource Marketing Marketing
• Maggie Ker-Southin, President, PR Director, Management Finance Management
Artemis PR & Design Tourism
 SPortS
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com 9

Three Camosun sports teams look to

charge into provincial playoffs
Guy alaimo
StAFF Writer
The Chargers women’s basket-
ball team had one game left in their
fairy tale season that had seen them
ranked as high as first place in the
country.
With a win on the weekend
of Feb.13–14, the women would
clinch home-court advantage in the
BC Colleges Athletics’ Association
(BCCAA) playoffs. Results were not
available by press time but the team
currently sits at 14 wins, one loss.
One thing is for sure though.
The women Chargers are basketball
favorites heading into the BCCAA
postseason.
Kate Carlson, one of the team’s
more outstanding players, was
ranked ninth in the league in assists,
averaging 2.73 per game. Carmen
Lapthorne is also having a very
strong season, and was ranked
fourth in the league in points per
game with 13.4, and fifth in assists
per game with 3.4.
Meanwhile the men’s basketball
team is out of the playoffs with a
record of 4-11. Their last game is
against Douglas College on Feb. 20.
Jeff Krawetz has been a bright spot,
ranking eighth in the league in scor-
ing with 15.9 points per game. Also,
Nick Adair is seventh in rebounds
with 7.3 per game.
The Chargers women’s vol-
leyball team was barely in playoff
contention heading into the last
two weeks of the season with a
record of 5-10.
To do the improbable, the Char-
gers had to defeat rival Vancouver
Island University (VIU) on Feb.
13. Results were not available by
press time.
“the players are
confident and really
believe that they can
win.”
CharleS ParKinSon
CAMoSun ChArgerS
But the team may not have got-
ten this far at all had it not been for
the stellar play of Charger Caitlin
Weir. She was in first place in BC
with 0.53 aces per game. Laura
Ouillete was seventh in BC with
3.59 digs per game.
The men’s volleyball team, cur-
rently at 11-4, was also in a must-
win situation if they wanted a bye in
the first round of the playoffs.
UBC Okanagan trailed them by
half a point heading into their final
Kate Carlson and the women’s basketball team hope to win it all in BC playoffs.
game of the regular season. If the
Chargers won the weekend of Feb.
13–14, UBC had to lose one of their
final two games for the Chargers to
get home-court advantage.
Head Coach Charles Parkinson
says his team is prepared for the
upcoming playoffs.
“We could do well in the playoffs
this year because we have beaten
all the top teams at least once and
are riding a pretty hot streak right
Photo: SAMAnthA doneY
now, says Parkinson. “The players
are confident and really believe that
they can win; a mental state which is
critical at this time of the season.”
Parkinson also says the team
has worked hard all season and is
well prepared for the playoffs.
“We have earned every one of
our 11 victories this season,” says
Parkinson. “We’ve found a way in
every match to earn the last few
points at crucial times.”
Post-season
blues
here’s a look at how the Chargers
teams have fared in the bCCAA playoffs
over the past two seasons:
Women’s basketball
• 2007/08—finished first in league
play (13–3), silver medal in play-
offs
• 2006/07—finished sixth in league
play (6–10), fourth place in play-
offs
Men’s basketball
• 2007/08—finished third in league
play (11–5), bronze medal in play-
offs
• 2006/07—finished fifth in league
play (9–7), fifth place in playoffs
Women’s volleyball
• 2007/08—finished seventh in
league play (6–12), didn’t make
playoffs
• 2006/07—finished sixth in league
play (5–11), fifth place in playoffs
Men’s volleyball
• 2007/08—finished seventh in
league play (8–10), didn’t make
playoffs
• 2006/07—finished third in league
play (10–6), fifth place in playoffs

Chargers to watch for By Samantha doney

What were your personal goals this season?
being my last year at Camosun, my goals were
simply to play hard and to the best of my abilities
while leaving no regrets.
What are your team goals?
team goals are definitely to win provincials and
nationals!
What have been your highlights so far in a
Chargers uniform?
What stands out for me are definitely the friend-
ships. We have a great group of girls and i have
shared many wonderful experiences on and off
the court with them.
How are you feeling this year with all the chan-
ges, like the new gym and new players?
Ashley Mackay—#15
Team: Women’s basketball it’s great! We have added talented new players
Year: 4 that really contribute to our team. the new play-
ers also really give depth to our team, which is
Position: Post
always a good thing. the new facility is awesome.
Height: 5’ 9” i love finally having our own gym.
Hometown: Victoria, BC
What’s your role on the team?
High school: Claremont
i bring some experience and leadership to the
team.
Camosun program: Nursing
How are you feeling about upcoming playoffs?
i’m eager for playoffs to start and excited about
the possibility of winning provincials and making
it to nationals. As a team, we will really have to
come together and play our best for a whole game
for that to happen, but i think we are ready.
What were your personal goals this season?
My personal goals were to play as hard as i could
every game so i can finish this season with no
regrets.
What have been the highlights so far in a Char-
gers uniform?
the friendships i’ve made over the past three
years, and being a part of the transformation of
the women’s program.
Kate Carlson—#5 What’s your role on the team?
Team: Women’s basketball
As a third-year player and the point guard my
Year: 3
role on the team is to be a leader. i bring some
Position: Point/wing
experience to the court and hopefully that helps
Height: 5’ 5” my teammates out.
Hometown: Victoria
Plans after Camosun and Chargers basketball?
High school: Spectrum
i don’t have any set plans for next year; it will
Camosun program: Criminal Justice definitely be weird not being a Charger anymore!

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

Call, e-mail, stop by.

We want to hear your JUICY story tips.
250.370.3591
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com
Richmond House 201, Lansdowne

10 February 18, 2009
Tips for shedding those extra pounds
Here are a few helpful tips for losing weight that I’ve discovered along the way.
MUSIC
Music was the key to my
success and wanting to go
out to exercise. Bands like
Muse, Linkin Park, Coldplay,
and Radiohead kept me
going and rose my con-
fidence while exercising.
Music is also important for
the gym. When you put in
your ear-buds and turn up
the music, it puts you into
your own little world. You
forget about everything
and everyone. It’s just you
and the beats.
I took away the power the depression had over
me by destroying its foundation.
A PROGRAM YOU ENJOY
Finding a form of exercise
you enjoy is essential for
successful weight loss. For
me, it was hiking. When
you find the right type of
exercise, there’s no stop-
ping you. The same goes
for food. I’ve discovered
a love for healthy foods;
bananas, oranges, dried
apricots, and raisins, to
name a few. If I don’t feel
like fruit, I’ll have a piece of
12-grain bread with a small
amount of peanut butter
and a thin slice of cheese
on top. It’s a great mixture
of complex carbohydrates
and protein.
OLD PICTURES AND VIDEO
This is a great motivator.
What I did halfway through
my weight-loss program
was print up a few pictures
when I was at my heaviest.
I put the pictures all around
my room so I would see
them. I would tape one
to my door, on top of my
alarm clock, beside my
desk . . . It served as a re-
minder to me; if I decided
to stop exercising and eat-
ing well, I would end up
looking like the pictures.
FeAtu
L
osing the b
One student’s story
I LOOKED UP THE DEFINITION of the word “fat” the of
other day. It was defined as “the ester of glycerol” and an
“one, two, or three fatty acids.” That’s not what fat really of
means. wa
Fat means being teased. It means you’re tired all the we
time. It means you wear enough clothes to cover up the
“fatty acids” clinging to your body. for
It means you’re ashamed of what you’ve done to your co
body, and the realization you can’t do anything about the
it—you’re too far-gone. You’re going to be a “fat-ass” tha
for the rest of your life. No romantic relationships, no the
swimming with your shirt off. Pass the burger and fries;
it’s game over. old
That was my thinking 22 months ago. It was March “m
of 2006, and I held three tickets in my hand to a Stars on sch
Ice figure skating show at the Save-on-Foods Memorial
Arena. try
My grandmother was visiting from Nova Scotia, and eve
my brother and I decided it would be a great idea to take ah
her to the show. I put on my usual t-shirt with a flannel
shirt on top, along with a hoodie and a puffy vest. I was ba
a fashion nightmare. run
As my brother and grandmother took their seats, I pa
discovered something that horrified me. I couldn’t fit
into the seat. My “love handles” wedged themselves ing
against the chair’s side arms and my 283-pound body so
was suspended in mid-air. This, needless to say, was tio
fucking embarrassing. pa
hit
wo
so
Fu
av
ex
it—
wi
my
Luckily, my brother was occupied trying to explain po
something to my grandma and never saw my Cirque de
Soleil handles-of-love seat trick. I forced myself into the af
seat and sat there, bleeding on both sides for two and fai
a half hours.
There I was, in agonizing pain, watching men in sch
spandex pants flying through the air. “It’s for Grammie,” an
I told myself, so I endured. I made it back home, went be
up to my room, and cried myself to sleep. (I w
I was a reasonably healthy kid up in the few years
fas
wa
rat
ing
INJURIES WEIGHING YOURSELF em
What I found out the hard Because your weight
way was there’s a very fine fluctuates dramatically ab
line between pushing your- throughout the week, it’s
self and pushing yourself essential to weigh yourself
for
too hard. There’s no better only once a week in the
killer of a diet and exercise morning (before eating). sch
program than an injury. Also, you have to be wear- oth
Work hard and make sure ing the same amount of
you end up in a sweat, but clothing each time. By
for
don’t go as far as feeling weighing yourself before in
dizzy or nauseous. It never eating in the morning, you gre
ends well. can see how much you wo
weigh without food digest-
ing in your stomach. If you
liv
weigh yourself every day, an
it will fluctuate. Some days the
your body retains water,
and others it doesn’t; the
ever-changing weigh-ins
the
can be very demoralizing. are
To get your true weight,
weigh yourself only one ins
morning a week.
be
Ature
e baggage
ory of dropping 120 pounds and starting life over again
he of my life. I started playing sports with my brothers
nd and began playing in a soccer league. Around the age
lly of six, I used to wake up really early every weekend and
watch morning cartoons and sports. It was one of those
he weekends where it all began.
he I began to travel down a path I wouldn’t escape from
for the next 15 years. I crawled up on top of the kitchen
ur counter and grabbed six cookies from the cookie tin on
ut the top shelf. Why six? Because cookies are delicious,
ss” that’s why. So every weekend I ate my cookies and lived
no the life.
es; I steadily gained more and more pounds as I grew
older, and by high school I was classified as being a
ch “morbidly obese” teenager. When you’re fat and in high
on school, you generally have a rough go of it.
al It was there I began covering myself up with clothes,
trying to hide my very public secret. In gym class, when
nd everyone was in shorts and a t-shirt, I was in shorts and
ke a hoodie.
nel I loved sports; I loved scoring goals and smacking a
as ball with a bat as hard as I could. But when it came to
running around the bases, or trying to get open for a
,I pass, my weight quickly became an issue.
fit I was always completely out of breath before reach-
es ing first base. I couldn’t get past the halfway line of the
dy soccer field without wanting to drop dead of exhaus-
as tion. Everyone noticed my struggles and no one would
pass me the soccer ball. And no matter how far I could
hit a baseball, I couldn’t get past second base. My body
wouldn’t allow it.
My high school had a 2400-metre run once a month
so students could show off their fitness to their teacher.
er Fuck. The first person would finish in eight minutes. My
average throughout high school was 40 minutes.
n. Was I embarrassed? You bet, but people weren’t
expecting anything different from me. Think about
it—how could someone that large run for a long distance
without lagging behind? I ended up dreading going to
my favourite class and it made high school almost im-
in possible to deal with.
de When it came to the end of high school, I was labelled
he a fat, insecure redhead with seemingly no chance of a
nd fair life without the excess pounds.
As you might have guessed, I didn’t have a date to the
in
e,”
school prom. I did ask one girl out (via e-mail, of course),
and she ended up making the excuse she was going to
nt be in Seattle that day. I ended up going with my parents
(I was so cool) and only stayed for the free food.
rs When the dancing started, I booked it out of there
faster than a fat kid on a Smartie. There was no way I
was going to embarrass myself on the dance floor; I’d
rather go home and have some Ben and Jerry’s.
And that was the end of high school. No more judg-
ing the fat kid, no more 40-minute runs, and no more
embarrassing moments with friends at sports events.
t I knew I couldn’t go straight to university; I needed
y a break from the education system. I decided to sign up
s
f
for a trip to work abroad.
e I was assigned to work in an American international
. school in Genoa, Italy. I was thrown together with five
- others my age from all around BC who were handpicked
f By the time I took off for a trip to Italy, I had lost 50
y
for this trip. It was the first year the program was working
e in Italy, so we all felt special and unique. This would be
u great, I thought. I’d be going to a country where no one
u infection on my big toes. I could barely walk, let alone
would know me, and the only person I knew in Europe
-
u
lived in England. This would be my chance to fix things
, and become a better, mature person. I was supposed to be
s there for 11 months. But I didn’t last nearly that long.
r, Genoa itself was a beautiful place to live; palm trees,
e Chalk it up as another failed attempt.
s
the calming waves of the Mediterranean, and the food
. are things I still crave to this day.
, It was the middle of October when I felt something
e inside me start to change. I was stressed from the work,
becoming upset and irritated at very minor things, and
my overall mood took a serious turn for the worse.
After a long day at work, I would stop by the bakery,
grab two pieces of cheese foccacia, and head up to my
apartment. I would shut my door and close the curtains
and windows so it was pitch black. Looking back at it
now, this behaviour wasn’t normal. But for me, it was.
My mind began to turn on me.
Then my friend came to visit me from his own trip
in England. It was during this visit when he realized
something was wrong with me.
While he was entertaining my friends in the kitchen,
I was sulking in the comfort of the dark in my room. In
the pitch black, I couldn’t see where I was and what I
looked like. I was alone with my negative thoughts. I had
a serious case of clinical depression and needed help.
I flew home early in December after being in Italy for
only three months and began my long road to recovery.
It was during this time that the weight really started to
pile on. The feeling I had during the worst months of
my depression was the feeling of being completely and
utterly numb. I couldn’t laugh, cry, be happy, or show
any emotion. I was numb to everyone and everything
around me.
Eating food was the only comfort I had in life. I ate
the foods that had the best taste so I could get some en-
joyment out of something. Those foods ended up being
fast food, chocolate, Timbits, and candy. Any food with
more than 100 calories in a bite would be digesting in
my stomach in a matter of seconds.
In a year and a half I strengthened the main weapon
of my depression—my weight. Anytime I would feel a
little good about myself, my inner voice would show up
and take me down. It would remind me I was wearing
size 54 shorts. This was the way I was and it would never
change, I thought.
One of the later stages of my depression involved
me having extreme mood swings. One minute I would
be happy and on top of the world, the next I would be
bombarded by a dark cloud with nothing to look for-
ward to.
It was during one of these episodes where I began
having a discussion with myself. I was sick of feeling
sorry for myself. I was sick of being fat.
So I gave myself an ultimatum—keep eating and
living the way I was and end up in the morgue after a
fatal heart attack, or start working hard to shed the
pounds and see what the rest of my years would be like
as a healthy person.
I knew I didn’t want to die a fat, depressed 20-year-
old who never gave himself a chance. It was time to
change for good.
I set a date to start my own diet and exercise program.
I immediately cut out all the junk food and started eat-
ing healthy. It was difficult, and my body began craving
the calorie-heavy foods I was so accustomed to. But the
change of food was nothing compared to the exercise.
Exercise hurt.
I started walking on a trail by my house for 20 min-
utes every other day. I would be so out of breath at the
beginning, middle, and end that I felt like if I fell over I
wouldn’t be able to get back up.
My lungs would hurt, my legs would burn, and my
stomach turned into a sea of nausea. I had to remind
myself every minute I was sick of being my depression’s
bitch. This needed to be done; I had to win.
During this excruciating work, I had a mental image
of what I wanted to look like when I was finished. I knew
I had to push through the pain to accomplish that image.
I took it week by week and began shedding the pounds.
Eventually, the trail wasn’t enough of a challenge for
me; I was becoming fitter and faster.
Throughout my program I discovered I loved hiking,
so I began climbing Mt. Doug. I climbed it every week as
much as I could. I loved the challenge and that I could
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com 11
By ChriS Burnett
Photo: CourtneY broughton
see how high I climbed when I reached the aerial at the
top. Weeks turned into months and I continued to lose
weight.
In January of 2008 I did something I never thought
I would ever do. I joined a gym. I hated gyms because I
always felt like everyone was watching my sad attempts
at losing weight.
But I had lost 50 pounds and knew if I wanted to lose
more the gym would be the best place to do it. I worked
on all the machines my body would allow and dropped
the weight even faster.
After 115 climbs up Mt. Doug, I discovered it wasn’t
enough of a challenge, so I thought bigger. I started
climbing Mt. Finlayson.
To this day I climb “The Fin” and love being in and
around nature. It’s come to the point where I actually
miss doing exercise if I don’t do it. I get a high off of it.
I never thought I’d like exercising, but I know if I’m
down and feeling stressed I’ll go for a hike or row a couple
thousand meters at the gym. It’s amazing how different
you feel after the endorphins do their thing.
I took away the power the depression had over me
by destroying its foundation. I changed my life and the
way I live. All it took was a hunk of willpower and a lot
of hard work and dedication.
When all is said and done, I’ve dropped 120 pounds.
I’ve gone from a size 54 waist to a size 32. I can wear any
kind of clothes I want and have the freedom to play well
and hard at any sport.
While I’m only 21 years old and am by no means out of
the woods yet, I have the confidence and support around
me to continue this lifestyle for the rest of my life. When I
set out to lose the weight, I wanted to be thin for the sake
of looking thin. I wanted to fit in with everyone.
What I’ve come to realize is my image is only a small
portion of the good that came out of this experience.
The fact I can move more freely is the most important
thing to me now.
I can get up off the floor with one hand. I can do push-
ups. I can do sit-ups. I can jump like I’ve never jumped
before! I’ve taken control of my life and my body.
Game on.
Try and try again
This article would not be complete without mentioning
my failed attempts at losing weight.
The first time I really tried was in Grade 8. I started run-
ning around my neighbourhood for a few weeks and
ended up losing 15 pounds.
I figured that was enough; I thought I could keep it off
for a while. That “while” lasted one month. That’s how
long it took me to gain it all back.
All other attempts to lose weight ended prematurely.
On one try I pulled a hamstring; on another I tore a
ligament in my foot. I would lose all interest by the time
I was better, and before I knew it I was memorizing the
dollar menu at McDonalds.
My best attempt came in the summer after Grade 12.
I had received numerous tips from my PE teacher and
really went hard at losing weight during the summer.
pounds. I was giddy with pride.
But, a few days into my trip, I contracted a serious
exercise.
No exercise plus foccacia, gelato, and pizza equals a
fat Chris. It took exactly one-and-a-half months to gain
back the weight I’d worked so hard to lose.
It’s important to understand that my latest attempt
wasn’t my only one. I’ve had eight years of failure to
get to where I am today.
The important thing is to persevere, to never give up on
what you know you can do. I’m living proof of this idea.
12 ARTS February 18, 2009

A précis on Propagandhi
Swim with a Shane Scott-Travis
Contributing Writer
new school There’s Propagandhi, purvey-
ors of political punk and satirical
song craft. And there’s the Canad-
ian music scene, which the band is
tethered to in a guilt-by-association
sort of way. They are based in wintry
Winnipeg, a culturally rich city that
has shaded some true Canadian
originals, of which Propagandhi
is no exception. member Dave “The Beav” Gullias “Bands like SNFU and DOA
On the cusp of the band’s fifth (seriously shredding on guitar). opened me up to a new kind of cul-
full-length release, Supporting “We’re at a rejuvenated state tural paradigm,” says Samolesky.
Add online courses Caste (which drops March10), and and we’re progressing; it’s like “If Propagandhi can contribute
to your regular studies an eagerly anticipated world tour Propagandhi with a new clever layer to that sort of thing, that’s how
set to begin, these self-proclaimed added to the mix,” says Samolesky. I’d measure our success. We’re
“visibly aging prairie skids” are back “We’re moving ahead with a lot of a band in a privileged position;
Didn’t get into the course you needed? with renewed energy and vigour. confidence.” we were able to ride the coattails
Is your busy schedule making it difficult to Despite a fickle punk scene, Confidence needs to be conclu- of the pop-punk explosion of the
balance schoolwork and a job? Propagandhi has been slam-dan- sive for a band known for picking early/mid-’90s, and that bumped
cing their way into hearts and minds their battles and fighting the good everything up a level or two. Now
Thompson Rivers University can help by for over two decades. No small feat fight. Often described in multiple we have our second wind to take
bringing education directly to you through in a genre where longevity’s a knack hyphens as a powder keg of anti-fas- things seriously, to keep improving
Open Learning. With over 400 online and very few can crack. cist, pro-vegan, pro-gay, left wing and to keep spreading messages.”
distance courses available for registration “We’ve never been a band to flag-bearers, a sense of humour is According to Samolesky, any-
throughout the year, you can get the credits milk the genre,” explains drum- requisite for these Manitobans. body can play a role in social change.
you need and transfer them back to your mer Jord Samolesky, one of the “Which Muppet is my favour- “I appreciate people who go against
home institution. band’s founding members. “We just ite?” snickers Samolesky. “I don’t the grain, and many academics,
produce music at our own pace and want to say Animal—that’s too like Ward Churchill and Norman
You can study when you want, where you suddenly 20 years passes.” obvious. I’m leaning towards the Finkelstein, should be viewed as
want and even set your own exam schedule. Being planted in the prairies old curmudgeonly fuckers [Statler social artists.”
and working on their own terms and Waldorf], I could see myself as “It’s the same with people on the
For a complete list of Open Learning courses has been primary to the band’s a variant of either of them later in margins of society, or even just kids
and programs please visit our website. perseverance and motivation. my life.” in a college environment who are
And Supporting Caste repre- There’s always been a certain generating and sharing information
sents a shift in the band’s dynamics. amount of sass with their ouevre for a reason. That alone speaks to
“We’re excited!” says Samolesky. and Supporting Caste, while futzing me as much as any art,” he says.
“It’s our first studio effort as a four- with new thumps and thuds, is still Anyone wishing to break free
www.truopen.ca piece band.” prime Propagandhi. With tracks of imposed thinking, giggle at
The current lineup also includes like “Human(e) Meat,” Swiftian some great banter, or simply hone
1.877.663.4091 lead vocalist/guitarist Chris Han- satire never chimed truer. And this some armchair intellect should visit
nah, Todd “The Rod” Kowalski recipe of politics and parody has propagandhi.com and bone up on
(slapping a mean bass), and newest helped sauté their success. some high-priced social currency.

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

For many of you, going to college or university is about freedom and exploring your own boundaries. But
it’s also about making good decisions. Unfortunately for some people their decisions regarding gambling
can lead to problems. Problems with gambling can ruin your relationships with friends and family, affect
your finances, and destroy plans for graduating and career.

The Province of British Columbia established its Responsible Gambling Strategy in 2003. The goal
of the Strategy is to prevent gambling problems and raise awareness of responsible gambling
practices. Managed by the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch, it is comprised of public
awareness and education, clinical counselling and prevention services, research, and policy
development. If you would like more information about these services, or to be referred to a
counsellor near you, phone the 24 hour toll-free Problem Gambling Help Line at
1-888-795-6111

The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) is an independent, non-profit organization committed to

problem gambling prevention. RGC designs and delivers highly effective awareness programs. The
Council promotes the identification and adoption of best practices in problem gambling prevention
through research and information dissemination.
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com ARTS 13

The trouble with Oscars

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

BEST ACTOR, LEADING
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of
Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Ed: The Curious Case of Benja-
min Button is a great concept, but
Brad Pitt? He’s hardly an excep-
tional actor. And the story’s not
exactly original; it was inspired by
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story.
Will Hollywood ever recognize
originality?
Shane: Did David Fincher even
read Fitzgerald’s story? It was a
satirical piece laced with irony, not
a three-hanky weep-athon! I have to
say, Ed—Brad Pitt, despite his bad
boy visage and hot lateral spread,
really can act. But he won’t be tak-
ing home Oscar for this one.
Ed: After seeing Frost/Nixon,
Frank Langella’s nomination for
Best Actor is highly deserved.
Langella really pulled it off. His eyes
revealed the depth of his character
and he gave it his all.
Shane: Sean Penn was sublime
in Milk, but he’s a real douche off-
screen. Not that you need to be a
nice guy to win an Academy Award,
but it wouldn’t hurt. The same
can be said for Mickey Rourke.
He was brilliant in The Wrestler,
but in real life the guy is a total
butt-munch. The Oscars are like
hemorrhoids—sooner or later every
asshole gets one.
Ed: It’s Langella all the way.
I can only imagine what the film
crew must have felt while shooting
those climactic scenes. As for The
Wrestler, just because Rourke has
the baby-face look down and there’s
tons of praise for his comeback
doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll win
an Oscar. The person I’m rooting
for in that film is in the next cat-
egory . . .
ACTRESS, SUPPORTING
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Christina
Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case
of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Ed: Marisa Tomei played more
of a three-dimensional character
than Rourke.
Shane: Tomei was fearless and
impressive, but I’d like to see Penel-
ope Cruz win for her role in Vicky
Christina Barcelona. Cruz was
a highlight in a great film which
should have gotten Woody Allen
a screenwriting nomination, but
didn’t. Too bad, because it’s one of
his freshest stories in years!
Ed: Over in the supporting actor
category, there’s a lot of fuss over
Heath Ledger. His performance as
the Joker will be remembered for
a long time. He put the joke back
in Joker.
Shane: The big question on
everyone’s minds is will Heath
Ledger show up to receive his
Oscar?
Ed: (Groans.)
Shane: What? Too soon?
Ed: Nyah-ha-ha! No, seriously,
for a supporting role, it’d be cool to
have a cast member from a comic
book movie win.
The Oscars are like
hemorrhoids—sooner
or later every asshole
gets one.
BEST PICTURE
The Curious Case of Benjamin
Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
Shane: Why is Slumdog Mil-
lionaire nominated for everything?
Sure, the film has heart, but no way
does it compare with Revolutionary
Road or Synecdoche, New York.
Neither film got nominated, but
both will be remembered and writ-
ten about for years to come. Mark
my words!
Ed: I don’t know about Slum-
dog; maybe because it’s not a stereo-
typed look at India?
Shane: Don’t tell India that! I
look at Slumdog and see a compen-
dium of clichés. Best Picture will
probably go to Milk. Though, in my
opinion, Van Sant’s other film from
last year, Paranoid Park, was every
bit as evocative as Milk. Of course,
there isn’t a big name actor in its
entire cast, which would explain
its absence from the Oscars and
strengthen my theory that these
awards amount to a popularity
poll.
BEST DIRECTOR
David Fincher, The Curious Case of
Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant, Milk
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
Danny Boyle, Slumdog
Millionaire
Ed: None of these stand out
as spectacular, spectacular. Sorry,
I had to borrow a line from Mou-
lin Rouge there. It’d be a rarity if
Hollywood went for Slumdog, so
it’s a toss up between Boyle and
Van Sant. There’s something about
Slumdog I like, and I always root for
the underdog.
Shane: My money’s on Van
Sant. Milk is a small miracle, and
San Francisco hasn’t been framed
as lovingly and as hauntingly since
Vertigo. Boyle’s competent and all,
but Slumdog isn’t his masterpiece.
I wonder why John Patrick Shanley
got snubbed? Doubt was stun-
ning and it had four of the leads
all nominated for Oscars in acting
categories. The director would have
something to do with that, don’t
you think?
Ed: Too bad Best Director
couldn’t go to Andrew Stanton for
Wall-E. For a CGI film, it surpasses
everything this genre can do.
ANIMATED FEATURE
Bolt
Kung-Fu Panda
Wall-E
Shane: I predict Wall-E will win
for Best Animated Film and maybe
even Best Original Screenplay.
Ed: I never thought Wall-E
could be carried through by sound
effects alone. And how Stanton
could guide the creative and CGI
teams throughout the rendering
process must have been draining.
Why the Best Director category
is limited to live action films is
beyond me.
Shane: Documentary direc-
tors get dissed too. Don’t get me
started.
Ed: I’m a huge animation fan,
and Pixar never disappoints. I can
only hope their future films are just
as thoughtful. I can see Kung-Fu
Panda challenging Wall-E because
kids can identify more with cuddly
animals than cold steel.
Shane: I never would have
guessed you were an animation
fan, Ed. Never!
Ed: You got me. Something
else that gets me is the Academy
voters. They determine the fate of
CGI flicks! Making these films takes
a long time, and only so many can
come out each year. This category
should be retired until there are at
least four challengers rather than
three. Bolt doesn’t even come close
to being Oscar-worthy.
Shane: Horton Hears a Who
should have gotten Bolt’s nomina-
tion. And there were other animated
films that got overlooked. Waltz
with Bashir got a Foreign Language
Film nomination, but it’s animated.
What gives?
Ed: I agree with you on Hor-
ton. At least it had less of a Disney
feel.
HONORARY AWARDS
Shane: Onwards and upwards!
Each year the Oscars have honorary
awards to dole out. This year’s no
different, with Jerry Lewis getting
the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian
Award. Does this mean that 40
years from now Tim Allen will get
his?
Ed: Jerry Lewis definitely de-
serves it. He’s done more than cross
boundaries in all the work he’s
done, on and off screen.
Shane: True, Lewis’ telethons
raised billions of dollars to fight
Muscular Dystrophy, but it’s the
least the man could do for putting
us through all those dreadful films
he did with Dean Martin. There’s a
reason Lewis is big in France—they
love fromage!
OTHER CATEGORIES
Ed: I’m not surprised The Dark
Knight was snubbed in the major
categories but is carried by technical
awards. Comic book movies are not
meant to be Best Film winners. That
would mean Hollywood writers are
admitting defeat; they can’t put out
a good story.
Shane: I don’t know about that,
Ed, but it’s great Mike Leigh has
been nominated for his screenplay
for Happy-Go-Lucky. Leigh doesn’t
technically write any of his screen-
plays; they’re organic creations he
teases from his actors over a long
rehearsal process. He’s publicly
admitted his loathing for traditional
screenplays. I wonder if it pisses
him off to be nominated? I guess the
joke’s on the Academy this time.
FASHION
Shane: Drawn like a moth to a
flame, I’ll be watching on Feb. 22.
All complaints and pettiness aside,
I really want to see what Angelina
Jolie will be wearing. Will she war-
rant another entry in my fantasy
file? We’ll see. Like a moth to a sexy
flame, we shall see.
Ed: We’ll have to wait until Feb.
22 to see what goes down! Until
then, the balcony is closed.
GRAB A NEXUS
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campus in our handy blue
boxes.
Find us near the Richmond
and Foul Bay bus stops at
Lansdowne, and near the
bus shelter at Interurban.
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bus rides!
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1
Rock and roll and agriculture
Peter Gardner
Contributing Writer
Dan Sioui, lead singer and
guitarist of Vancouver band Car-
penter, loves singing, partying,
John Cougar Mellencamp, and
farming. Agriculture might not be
hardcore to some, but in Sioui’s
opinion, all of these things are key
elements to rock music.
“There are a lot of similarities
[between music and farming]. You
need to believe in yourself, and be
passionate about your abilities and
the cause,” says Sioui.
Sioui’s love of farming started
when he was working in the down-
town eastside of Vancouver.
“I was seeking a refuge,” ex-
plains Sioui. “I started spending
time on organic farms in the lower
mainland, and started educating
myself about the struggles they
were going through. I found myself
becoming passionate about it, and
wanting to spread the word to help
the cause.”
It’s a cause Carpenter has been
well involved with. In the past,
they’ve helped support such organ-
izations as the Canadian Organic
Growers and Farm Folk City Folk.
Now the band is about to head to
Cuba.
The band recently got a letter
from the arts minister of Cuba,
inviting them to tour the country.
The tour will last 18 days and the
money raised will go to Solidarity
Rock, which promotes freedom of
expression through rock and roll.
As well, the band is bringing instru-
ments and equipment to donate.
“They heard about us since
we’ve done some political cause
shows, and they liked our music
and what we were all about,” says
Sioui.
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Being on an independent label
can sometimes make it harder to get
noticed by these organizations. But
a lot of Carpenter’s songs are about
the struggles of being a farmer,
which “ brings a level of being
genuine when you’re singing about
it,” says Sioui.
“Plus, I just bought a 160-acre
farm in North Ontario. [Your mes-
sage] carries a bit more weight
when you put your money where
your mouth is,” he says.
But as important as farming is
to Sioui, he knows it’s about the
music first.
“The point of our music isn’t
just to bring people to a cause, but
for people to sing along and enjoy
the music,” says Sioui. “That’s the
big thing about this band. At first
it’s almost seen as a novelty act
because of the John Cougar thing,
or the farming thing, but once they
get a chance to see us, we get taken
TECHNOLOGY
CHANGES
EVERYTHING
ArtS
Noise Addict
Old rockers, new albums
If the following three musi-
cians were spotted in downtown
Victoria, someone might assume
they were retirees out for a leisurely
stroll. With their graying hair and
sagging complexions, their golden
years might just be behind them.
Then again, these men are iconic
and influential musicians who
have just released new material.
So get past those geriatric jitters
and harvest these new albums from
Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and Bruce
Springsteen.
Neil Young’s newest album,
Sugar Mountain: Live at Cantebury
House 1968, may not be a set of
recently written songs, but it’s a
seriously as being a real profes- look at his unique sound just as it
sional band.” was blossoming. This live recording
Playing with hardcore and punk from 1968 is Young’s first solo gig
bands and being on a predominately after Buffalo Springfield’s breakup,
punk/hardcore label, Winnipeg’s and his first test as a lone singer/
Smallman Records, doesn’t worry songwriter. Whether you’re a de-
a rock band like Carpenter. voted fan or a casual listener, Sugar
“Our band, live, has the spirit Mountain is a necessity. It contains
of punk music. We might not have songs from his first album, Neil
a lot of half-time breakdowns or Young, but also features material
screaming parts, but at the end of from his biggest commercial album,
the day, what Carpenter embodies After the Gold Rush. This live album
is straight-up-in-your-face rock is low-fi and simple, featuring only
and roll; and we’re loud as hell,” Young and his guitar but, overall,
says Sioui. it’s an album highlighting a young
“We claim to be the loudest band and rising musician with a high
in the west, and I guess we’ll find out pitch and a charming ability.
when we come to Victoria.” Bob Dylan’s voice may be
hoarse nowadays, and to some it
may feel like sandpaper to their
Carpenter (with Gob) eardrums. But he doesn’t mince
words and his songwriting ability
Feb. 27, $15
is unparalleled. With his newest
Lucky Bar album, Tell Tale Signs: Bootleg Ser-
www.luckybar.ca ies No. 8, nothing has changed. Al-
though this album is a collection of
Arena Rock
High School Musical: The Ice Tour
Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, Jan. 29
aliSha Charmley
Contributing Writer
I walked out of the arena not
entirely sure what I just witnessed.
Was I impressed? Well, yeah. It’s
not every day kids younger than
myself dance, catch basketballs
falling from the ceiling, flip, and
jump on tables, all while on ice.
It’s also not every day a micro-
phone is shoved in my face at a
huge concert and I’m forced to
sing (terribly, I might add) in
front of an arena full of children
and their parents. That took me
to the other side of my confused
emotions—complete and utter
embarrassment.
Following the giant sing/
dance-along began the story about
young love, school musicals, and
February 18, 2009
By Michael Duncan
previously unreleased and alternate
tracks from 1989 to 2006, it reveals
there’s no defining version of a
Dylan song. The album maintains
a refreshing feeling throughout
and contains a staggering quality
of sound that many contemporary
artists can only hint at.
Bruce Springsteen can be,
at times, a point of contention for
many tune-jockeys, but it’s surely
out of a lack of listening. His new-
est album, Working on a Dream, is
a batch of songs written while on
tour in support of Barack Obama’s
campaign, and may be more access-
ible for skeptical listeners. While
this accessibility might please the
hesitant listener, rabid Boss fans
might worry. But don’t distress—
the album is laden with his diverse
hooks and signature surging bal-
lads. With a distinct song collection
and rich production, Working on
a Dream is an excellent addition
to that Boss collection. Or maybe
just the start.
snotty popular girls. During the
show there were three on-ice falls,
a cheesy slow-motion basketball
game, pleather sparkly pants, and
lip-syncing to questionable music
playing from shitty speakers.
But the phenomenal chor-
eography and exceptional skaters
made it good enough for what it
was—a Disney movie turned into
an ice show.
I could say so much more,
but it doesn’t really matter what
I think; the show wasn’t designed
for me.
As I walked to my car, a little
girl skipping in front of me said
to her mom, “That was the best
High School Musical ever!” put-
ting the entire evening into real
perspective.
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com ArtS 15

Scud: The Disposable
Assassin: The Whole
Shebang!
By Rob Schrab
Published by Image Comics
Shane SCott-traviS
Contributing Writer
Back in 1998, Rob Schrab put
an abrupt halt to the successful
little indie comic he’d been doing
for close to five years. That book
was called Scud: The Disposable
Assassin and it was destined to
become a shaggy dog story without
end. But 10 years on, a revitalized
Schrab, having rediscovered his
muse (while writing, directing, and
producing episodes of The Sarah
Silverman Program, perhaps?),
finally gave the closure fans were
clamoring for.
Scud: The Disposable Assassin:
The Whole Shebang! collects all 24
issues of the series, as well as the
Drywall: Unzipped one-shot, in a
mammoth trade paperback. This
book, whose fate many thought
was already decided, is a definite
delight.
Scud takes its cues from a Tar-
antino-like universe of high and
low pop culture references, crazy
social commentary, and ultra-vio-
lent slapstick. Think Terminator
meets the Marx Brothers and you’re
getting warm.
Scud is set in a near future
where consumerism reins supreme,
technology is everywhere and taken
for granted, and most people are
a bunch of cynical smart alecks.
Sound familiar?
Well, in Schrab’s world you’ll
also find vending machines contain-
ing “Scuds”—robot assassins that
execute the target of your choos-
ing and then self-destruct. It isn’t
long before nonsense and nausea
become routine.
Sensitive readers may wriggle
and struggle while fans of main-
stream comics may be puzzled and
put off. Thankfully Scud makes no
apology for its bombast and bile.
Now that the Scud circle has
effectively closed, will the animated
film be far behind? As fans of the
series know, there has been talk
of this for ages, and blather of an
Oliver Stone-led production have
resurfaced too.
While this is mostly speculation,
one thing is for certain—The Whole
Shebang! is a deathly delight that
should pacify the most critical of
fanboys.
Curtain Call
If you’re going to sleep around,
do it with a Roman god
Joel WitherinGton
Contributing Writer
I had never been to the opera
before and I was very impressed
with Handel’s Semele, currently at
the Royal Theatre.
Opera is a great fusion of
symphony music and theatrical
performance. Handel was one of
Beethoven’s favourite composers
and he doesn’t let us down in this
opera.
Semele is an entertaining Bar-
oque opera about Roman mythol-
ogy. The story follows the Princess
Semele, who’s supposed to get
married to Prince Athamas but
has fallen in love with the Roman
god, Jupiter.
The feelings are mutual and, de-
spite his marriage, Jupiter also falls
for Semele, kidnaps her, then hides this play is all in English, plus sur- sing about love and death was both
her away in his pleasure palace. titles are above the stage if you relaxing and inspiring.
Jupiter’s wife, Juno, is the pro- have trouble following the story For opera fans, or those who
tector of marital fidelity, so she’s not from song. have never been before but enjoy the
too happy about the little love affair. The set design is magical. The performing arts, Semele is definitely
Juno plots revenge while Semele warm temperature in the theatre worth going to.
tries to become immortal and gets would have put me to sleep, but
pregnant with Jupiter’s child. the wonderful sets and lighting Semele
The opera is about desire, mor- changes throughout the opera kept Until Feb. 21, 8pm
tality, love, and a little “endless me going. Royal Theatre
pleasure.” All the performers had great
www.pov.bc.ca/semele
Don’t worry about translations, voices, listening to the whole chorus

A chance meeting Entre Les Murs (The Class)

Once
Starring: Glen Hansard,
Markéta Irglová
Runtime: 85 minutes
On the streets of Dublin a tal-
ented busker is trying to make a liv-
ing and an adorable Czech woman
just wants to get her vacuum cleaner
fixed. But they both have something
to hide.
The busker is suffering from
heartbreak, only playing his touch-
ing, original pieces in the middle of
the night when no one is around,
and the beautiful foreign girl is try-
ing to get by without her husband,
the father of her little girl.
One evening their paths cross,
when the woman shamelessly in-
sists that the busker tell her who
he wrote the songs for. During their
conversation he mentions he just so
happens to work at a vacuum repair
shop. And so begins their amazing
journey, taking them places they
never could have been if it weren’t
for their chance encounter.
The characters’ names are never
mentioned, but most people could
go through the entire film without
noticing this. The reason behind
the anonymity isn’t clear, but it
likely goes hand in hand with the
alternative style of the film.
Once is meant to look almost
like a home video. The camera work
is jittery, the zooms patchy and ir-
regular, and the lighting often poor.
This is a clear stylistic choice, giving
the movie a very film festival-type
feel, almost as though it was never
meant to be as big as it became.
On the other hand, multiple
continuity issues exist within the
film, as well as a few more obvious
mistakes, such as the shadows of
the equipment and crew being vis-
ible in a handful of shots. This is
where the film walks a very fine line
between artsy and amateur.
But the slightly untidy film
style acts as the icing on the cake,
because what makes Once stand
out is how incredibly real it looks.
The characters are realistic and
gritty, untouched by Hollywood’s
perception of what the average Joe
should be.
And the best part is how non-
sappy it is. These two young souls
touch each other’s lives, helping
each other discover the courage to
find happiness and the ability to go
their separate ways to pursue it.
Written and directed by John
Carney, Once is the winner of an
Oscar for Best Achievement in
Music Written for Motion Pictures,
which would come as no surprise
to anyone who sees this inspiring
film.
ratings
Complete disaster . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unfortunate malfunction. . . . . . . .
A solid stand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Freakin’ fabulous . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
★★★★★
Shane SCott-traviS
Contributing Writer
Watching the new film by
Laurent Cantet, Entre Les Murs
(The Class) is to witness the rebirth
of cinema. Nothing you see on the
screen is done for pure effect, and
eliciting anything but an impas-
sioned response from the moviegoer
is impossible. The film’s unassum-
ing origins only add to its appeal.
Cantet’s film won the Golden
Palm at Cannes last year and is
based on François Bégaudeau’s
award-winning semi-autobiograph-
ical novel from 2006.
Bégaudeau’s novel, also entitled
Entre Les Murs, depicts his tenure
as a teacher in an inner city middle
school in Paris. His story adapted to
the screen has so much emotional
power that it electrifies.
That Bégaudeau is cast as him-
self bolsters the proceedings tre-
mendously. And what is more, his
teacher is no saint but a flawed man
who makes mistakes.
His teenaged students are com-
prised entirely of non-actors, insur-
ing an authenticity that Hollywood
could never doctor. Their perform-
ances are so vibrant that you believe
every word, every glance, and every
gesture.
This film is not a dirge, nor is
it all hard knocks. It calls to mind
Truffaut’s The 400 Blows or the
lesser yet still noble Dead Poets So-
ciety because they share a uniform
aesthetic.
Entre Les Murs has elements of
cinéma vérité and feels something
like a documentary, but it’s neither.
It has more authenticity and human-
ity than any film in recent memory.
This film’s heart is unequalled and
it exceeds cinema. It’s bigger than
all of us.
Ocean Oasis
★★★★★
ed Sum
Contributing Writer
IMAX films are never visually
disappointing and Ocean Oasis is
suitably impressive. When com-
pared to other oceanographic odys-
seys, this one emphasizes a message
of conservation. Otherwise, this
IMAX offering doesn’t stand out too
much compared to similar films.
Filmed in 2000, the Soames
Summerhays-directed documentary
is finally making its theatrical run in
Victoria. Ultimately, this movie is
too short. It has a lot to feature in
40 minutes, like a cute kangaroo rat,
mammoth manta rays, aging grey
whales, and speckled rattlesnakes.
Some humourous moments can be
seen in the film, especially amongst
the seagulls.
Adding to the enjoyment of
seeing this film at the IMAX is
feeling the huge theatre’s roaring
sub-woofers.
Capturing the depth of the
elephant seals’ grumble not only
requires excellent long-distance
microphones, but also proper sound
systems to recreate their call.
Compared to the IMAX ex-
perience, watching this documen-
tary at home would only prove
disappointing.
Naturalists will enjoy this film
and a portion of ticket sales goes
towards continued research and
conservation efforts in the Baja
California peninsula and the Sea
of Cortés.
16
Expectations a letdown
Sarah Rankin
Contributing Writer
I stare helplessly into the deso-
late coffee cup, searching for some-
thing that obviously isn’t there. I’m
looking for my $6 worth of hope
and joy, but all I find is a sad excuse
for a latté.
What the menu earlier promised
as the solution for my morning woes
has now turned into the black hole
of my day. Lukewarm milk with a
sorry layer of brown foam; all I taste
is disappointment.
One more sip of anger, followed
by the dregs of regret, and my day
has taken a turn for the worse, all
thanks to one cup of coffee and
the expectations that came along
with it.
Expectations are the plague
of our existence. Always one step
ahead of rational thinking, these
preconceived ideals tear pleasant
experiences into shreds of failure.
And whom do we have to thank
for these unrealistic expectations?
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VIEWS February 18, 2009
Here’s to caring less
Miriam Putters work part-time; you’re unimpressed
Advertising and mass media— mantic comedies might be to blame Contributing Writer with your grades; and your Face-
those who spoon-feed us notions for the breakup with your partner, College students are over- book event invite must have gotten
of an ideal life. not your ex’s habit of breathing too whelmed with assumptions of lost in cyberspace.
In the advertising world, a new loudly all of the time. curiosity, intelligence, and the But it’s not worth all the
phone can give you friends at your Most romance movies last long obscure knowledge of pop culture time, health, and effort we’re all
fingertips, the right beer can make enough to follow the character’s references. investing.
you a real man, and skin cream can battle against all odds to win each But what about those of us who The majority of concerns are
reverse time. other’s hearts. are indifferent if the president of the simply taken out of context. It’s
We never see the 20 years later, United States is black, if McDon- wrong to expect a significant opin-
where husband and wife mow the alds is terrible for your arteries, and ion on any given subject. Why can’t
lawn and fight over yogurt prices. if we never accomplish something we just remain apathetic?
Expectations are the When it comes down to it, it’s legendary? As for your marks? It’s Camosun
plague of our all a matter of having the right Apathy, Camosun College— College. You’re probably an oblivi-
perspective, and a good perspective sometimes you don’t have to give ous University Transfer student
existence. is an easy thing to lose when you’re a fuck. anyways.
up against the genius of modern People are disgusted when I Occasionally, when you have
marketing. haven’t contemplated existence. the spare time and energy to re-
In reality, Marc Jacob boots For instance, if the chicken I eat is search indie music, current events,
Media leads us to believe fam- won’t make you popular, moving farmed, and why I haven’t learnt and contribute to a political-based
ily problems can be solved in a 20 to New York City won’t make you from my mistakes. But does any conversation with more than, “I
minute heart-to-heart, using the fabulous, and a Porsche Carrera of it matter? would vote Obama because I’m
right shampoo will make you a can’t make your hair grow back. Not every piece of music is not racist,” you’ll eventually be
better girlfriend, and a diamond So what does this mean for us worth a detailed review, nor is every “that guy.”
actually means forever. as consumers? For me, next time cough in need of a medical exam. When have you enjoyed the
As these beliefs continue to I go for coffee I’m expecting cof- We’ve got to let things go. We can’t company of someone passionate
sway us in making personal deci- fee, not my dreams realized in a care or be interested all the time. about everything and never once
sions; they distort our reality. Ro- paper cup. I get it . . . life’s difficult. You had to explain what that eye roll
meant?
Life goes on and there are larger
concerns. Eventually you’ll have to
let the topic go, so why bother with
it in the first place?
Next time you’re cornered into
providing a vital, self-professing
comment on something you’re
indifferent towards, just be direct.
You don’t have to care enough
about anything.
Techno
annoying
Matteus Clement
Contributing Writer
Click, click, click—the tap-dan-
cing of keys springs out from the
person sitting next to me in class,
punching away messages to one
of their Facebook buddies.
This is my favourite class, but
I can’t focus at all with the sounds
of cyber banter and flashing laptop
screens in my line of vision. What-
ever happened to pen and paper?
Do laptops have a place in the
classroom? Do they provide an edu-
cational edge over the old-school
pencils and notebooks? I might
think so, if it wasn’t for the fact
every time I look at most people’s
computer screens, I see Facebook or
some other social networking site.
I’ve seen only one student
consistently use a laptop for class
notes.
Looking at Camosun College’s
policies, the last update made to the
Computer and Technology man-
date under “acceptable computer
use” was in 2003. It didn’t even
mention laptops anywhere in the
document. Perhaps when laptops
were 30 pounds and not terribly
practical for school, it wasn’t so
much of an issue.
Cell phones have a time and
a place too. I’m sure instructors
are offended when someone’s cell
phone goes off in class. I would
like to see this reprimanded—can
a professor even do that?
And, for the love of god, if you
have one of those cell phones that
vibrate (and by vibrate I mean shake
itself into pieces), just put it on
silent and keep it off the table!
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com COLUMNS 17

By Keltie Larter
GIVING IT UP: old habits di
By Kelly Marion
hard

Conquering with a kiss

Whoever said the eyes are the windows to the soul was mistaken. It’s all in the
lips.
I’ve heard that ancient peoples believed a person’s soul was carried in their breath,
and that kissing was thought to be an amalgamation of souls. And did you know
that we use 146 different muscles in our faces and necks when we kiss?
The way a person kisses says a lot about who they are in my opinion. For example,
some people kiss like they’re in a porno; they stick their tongue out all stiff and
pointy and sort of wiggle it from side to side in your mouth. If any of you out
there reading this are porno kissers, do yourself a favour and just stop! Porno
kissing is not hot.
Likewise, with those of you who immediately jam your whole tongue down the
other person’s throat and those of you who slobber all over the other person’s
face. Not hot!
A good kiss should start slow. Try taking the other person’s top or bottom lip
between yours and then switching to the other one. This means that if you are
kissing your partner’s top lip, they’re kissing your bottom lip, hence the term
“lip lock.”
Now you can start playing a bit with your tongue. Instead of putting it all out there
all at once, try just softly flicking your tongue in and out of the other person’s
mouth. As the two of you start to get more hot ‘n’ bothered, more pressure, a
little nibbling, and more tongue are okay—just remember not to strangle your
partner with it.
Most people will kiss and touch you how they like to be kissed and touched, so
pay attention to what your partner is doing!
Also, there are lots of other good bits to kiss on a person’s body. The back of the
neck and shoulders is a popular but sadly overlooked area. Basically, anywhere
where a person would be ticklish is a good spot for kissing because there are
loads of nerve endings just waiting to be stimulated.
Next time you’re getting it on, try forcing yourself to do nothing else but kiss each
other for at least 30 minutes, and then see how much better sex is after that.
A good kiss can raise the little hairs on the back of your neck, stiffen your nipples,
curl your toes, make your heart race, melt your spinal column, and muddle your
brain, not to mention cut down on the amount of lube you need to use!
The famous Dutch poet Daniel Heinsius wrote “you may conquer with the sword,
but you are conquered by a kiss.”
It seems as though kissing has been thrown out the door along with chivalry and
romance. I say we bring it all back.
Veganism
The challenge
Give up eating meat and all animal byproducts and
live the life of a vegan.
The research
The average American adult eats roughly 50 pounds
of pork, 66 pounds of beef, and 86 pounds of chicken
annually. That’s an alarming amount of animals being
killed just for us to eat. And it doesn’t include animals
slaughtered for fashion. We can do without the leather
(or can we?), and do we really need to chow down on
pig’s butts and chicken legs? Protein is necessary for a
balanced lifestyle, but many arguments have been made
claiming meat-based protein, especially to the extent
that most of us eat it, is more or less digging our own
graves by inflicting strokes, clogged arteries, cancer,
and heart disease. Did you know vegans have a cancer
rate only 40 percent that of meat-eaters?
The rationale
I wouldn’t dream of eating my beautiful kitty, so
why would I hack up a defenseless, grass-munching
cow? Following the footsteps of the Dalai Lama, I’ve
decided to adapt to animal-loving ways, treating them
like mammals of equal status rather than my next meal.
Hello Tofurkey!
The trial
Day 1: No meat; so much for family dinners. Papa
made his famous Guinness Stew tonight and couldn’t
leave out the beef, so I’ll be making my own grub. Hmm,
tofu, tempeh . . . let’s weigh my options here.
Day 3: Getting dressed today, I was careful to not
Photo: Courtney broughton
this experiment), so I popped by the grocery store on
the way to school and picked up some vegan-friendly
options. My day consisted of vegan granola bars, an
Amy’s Black Bean Burrito (not too shabby, but burritos
should really have meat in them), veggie dogs, and car-
rots. Man, I’m really selling veganism, aren’t I?
Day 8: Thanks to my cookbook I made a delicious
lentil, chickpea, and veggie stir-fry tonight. Tomor-
row, I try wild mushroom stroganoff. Meals like these
aren’t entirely unfamiliar to me, as a large portion of
my meals are already pretty loaded with veggies, but
my stomach has still been feeling a little bit off these
days. Those cruciferous veggies are making me a little
gassy (such a lady) and I think I’m going through beef
withdrawal. I also miss my cottage cheese and haven’t
been able to track down a vegan-friendly kind. On the
flipside, my energy levels have boosted!
Day 11: I thought being a vegan would be super ex-
pensive, but I’ve found you can find some pretty decent
grub for a good price if you just shop smart. Buying in
bulk is great, and not buying $20 sirloins helps. Also,
when I went out for dinner last night with my friend,
making sure we went somewhere with vegan options
was easy, as it’s becoming more available these days.
Even the quirky Joint Pizzeria has a Happy Hippie pizza
which is garlicky, veggie-loaded, and has vegan cheese
as an option. Believe it or not, some restaurants also
offer entire vegan menus.
Day 14: I could almost see myself being a vegan, but
that’s too farfetched. Two weeks is long enough for me
to go without meat. It would be way too time-consuming
for me to shun every minor or hidden animal-derived
ingredient, and I have a feeling even the best vegan out
there falls short on this one. I have far too many other

Take part in The wear any leather, silk, fur, or wool. That was until I
mindlessly put on my running shoes, which are, like
most kicks, made of leather. Do I have any plastic shoes?
things I should be thinking about; for example, that
paper due in three days that I’ve yet to start.

Vagina Monologues
Chloe Markgraf
Womyn’s Director
As 2009 settles in, the
Camosun College Womyn’s
Centre is gearing up for a
production of The Vagina
Monologues.
The Vagina Monologues was
first performed in 1996 by play-
wright Eve Ensler. Ensler wrote the
play after interviewing hundreds of
women about their vaginas.
This may seem to some like an
odd topic for a theatre piece, but it
puts a spotlight on an otherwise
out-of-sight body part.
The play is a series of mono-
logues addressing a variety of
issues surrounding womyn and
their vaginas. It opens with womyn
discussing how worried they are
about vaginas. The show transi-
tions smoothly from monologue to
monologue, giving vaginas a voice
and exploring concerns with both
humor and seriousness.
The piece is an ode to womyn,
and a reminder of how speaking
openly about vaginas is crucial in
halting violence against womyn.
Ensler has developed a non-
profit to raise money for anti-
violence against womyn groups
worldwide. To date, the organiza-
tion has raised over $50 million for
charities.
Aside from raising funds, the
shows create awareness, reminding
us of the beauty of this most hidden
body part.
The Vagina Monologues also
outlines how destructive violence
against womyn is and how it must
be stopped at all costs.
For those interested in partici-
pating in this project, men and
womyn alike, drop by the Womyn’s
Centre (Richmond House bottom
floor, Lansdowne) anytime from
3–7 pm on Wednesday, Feb. 18.
Bring your ideas, questions, hopes,
and inspirations.
For more info, e-mail neelyhouri-
gan@shaw.ca
You know it, baby. I just bought some sweet-ass rain-
boots! Mom thought I was crazy paying $80 for them,
but thank god I did.
The result
I’m sick of my rubber boots and I want my beef.
Vegan . . . hah. It’s not for me.
Day 5: Today I was too lazy to flip through my newly Next issue
purchased vegan cookbook (yes, I bought one just for I’m giving up germs.
Decreasing our eco footprints
Joel Witherington vironment, and suggests ways to de- These calculators are not meant
CSEA Member crease the impact. A good calculator to depress; they’re meant to mo-
If you’re not going can be found at www.go-beyond. tivate and inspire. If your current
to throw caution to the ca/carbon-footprint-calculator impact is big, that means you have
wind and hitchhike to The calculator asks questions the most room for improvement,
someplace exotic dur- about your daily routine, like your so try some of the suggestions and
ing reading break, why commute, the food you eat, and do the calculator again in a couple
not take some time to calculate your how your home is heated. Then it months.
ecological footprint? tells you how many tons of carbon We only have one planet, and
In simple terms, an ecological you’re responsible for putting into no one knows for sure what the
footprint is the effect our actions the atmosphere, and offers lots of future holds with respect to global
have on the planet. Throughout hints to help reduce that amount. warming and the environment. But
the year, this column has suggested If tons of carbon doesn’t mean it’s worth it to play it safe and live
easy things anyone can do to de- anything to you, then check out in community with our planet as
crease their negative effect on the www.earthday.net/footprint/flash. much as we can.
environment. html For more info on Camosun
An ecological footprint calcula- This calculator tells you how Students for Environmental Aware-
tor is a tangible program that helps many planets would be required ness, go to www.camosunstudent.
you understand how some of your to support the world population if org/csea or e-mail camosunsea@
actions may be affecting the en- everyone lived like you did. hotmail.com
18 ColuMnS February 18, 2009

Ask Anything By Breanna Carey Worth the Trip?

Q: i’m trying to work on my confidence, for a number of
Q: i met someone on Valentine’s at a singles party, except The battle of on and off-campus eats
reasons, but mostly to meet new people. how can i do i’m not totally sure he’s single. We connected really well,
this, and fast? but i don’t want to do anything i might regret—help!
By donald Kennedy and Guy alaimo

A: go outside of your comfort zone as often as possible.

if public speaking is your fear, then sign up for a toast-
A: if the person was at a singles party, and he was alone,
i’m guessing even if he’s in a relationship he’s not very
Aramark Campus Caf
Lansdowne Campus
masters meeting where you chat with all sorts of people and happy. Still, this doesn’t give you the green flag to go ahead World Fair Special (Teriyaki
give speeches in front of them, or offer to host for a group and nab him. if you want to come out of this unscathed, play Rice with Chicken and
project. every little bit helps; if you accept your mistakes the friend game until you know more details. of course, that’s Vegetables)
and try not to criticize yourself, you’ll improve every time assuming you two didn’t act more than friendly the other $6.41 (tax included)
you speak. Another way is to write a speech designed to sell night. either way, dial it back a bit and let him come to you. A
yourself. in other words, what you would tell an employer man rarely if ever leaves for the other woman; that’s usually
about yourself in order to get hired. talk about all of your the rule. You must treat yourself with the ultimate respect
strengths on camera and review the tape. Another option and refuse his advances unless you’re confident he’s single, Presentation and service
is to engage your friends in a mock interview situation. As otherwise things will get messy. Play it coy, and when he guy: look at this! the Campus Caf has finally and ever-so-subtly intro-
much as this seems silly, it can really help to correct stuttering does contact you keep things short and sweet, and act busy. duced daily specials. they really want us to like them. it’s like posting a
and lack of confidence. dates and interviews have a lot in Men thrive on women being busy and unattainable because cleavage picture on Facebook, then pretending not to notice when every-
common because they consist of one person trying to get a it seems like they’re hard to get. if it’s meant to be, things body comments on how good you look. Will the food taste as good as the
feel for what the other person is like. if you’re confident and will work out in time. remember, you deserve all of another new flashy lCd screen promoting it? Probably not, because it looks like
capable, then that’s the persona you’ll exude. person, not someone who’s stuck between two. the cook just squirted teriyaki sauce out of a squeeze bottle.
donald: i swear the cook here gets more personable every time i step up
to the order counter. it’s only a matter of time before his line of question-
The risk of just being yourself ing branches out from, “how’s your day?” to something more probing.
eventually he’ll ask something like, “have you ever had to perform a
CriStian Cano affectionate in public? Many queer queer-friendliest cities in the country, pancreaticoduodenectomy?” And, before you know it, i’ll be doing home
Pride direCtor people avoid public displays of affec- plenty of things can be done to im- surgery in return for free baguettes. Actually, no, that would never happen.
Every day we tion towards their partner, because prove the experiences of queer people i just hyperbolized your ass!
see people trying on they’re afraid of being discriminated here and help create safe spaces. Taste
clothes in stores and against, or worse, victimized by hate- The Camosun Pride Collective d: Microwaved rice with sweet teriyaki sauce, chicken, and vegetables—
think nothing of it. But ful acts or speech. has decided to take a stand and help this is the type of meal boring girls make on second dates. tastes fine,
when a male-to-female It may be hard to believe some- the community identify truly queer- but i’m not going to take it home to meet the folks.
transgender person thing as simple as holding hands with friendly places of business. g: A taste of the world, you say? A taste of my ass. nice try here. Charge
attempts to try on women’s clothes, your partner can be so intimidating. The collective is designing a six bucks plus taxes for waterlogged veggies, steamed rice, and a teeny
they often face ridicule, aren’t al- For a queer person, holding hands survey to achieve this goal, and it will weenie bitty of unflavored chicken breast. i’ll take the bus to hillside Mall
lowed to try the clothes, or are even can be an act of courage and a polit- need as many volunteers as possible and order some Mcdonalds. nice scam though. hopefully it’s back to the
kicked out of the store. ical statement. to survey area businesses. drawing board for this special. Serve some fucking food, for fuck’s sake.
We see couples everywhere hold- Ask yourself, “Am I part of the If you would like to volunteer, You have a kitchen. Fucking use it.
ing hands and kissing, but how often problem or part of the solution?” contact us at pride@camosunstu-
do we see same-sex couples being Even though Victoria is one of the dent.org UVic Campus Centre Café
University Centre
Open Face Turkey and Gravy

Maude’s February Specials Sandwich with Rice and

Vegetables
$4.75 (tax included)
Monday
$6.95 Burger & Fries Presentation and service
d: i’ll just put this bluntly because i can’t think of a clever way to say it—the
(substitutes extra) girls here are fucking gorgeous. they all look like they spend 10 hours a
day volunteering downtown before squeezing in some casual modeling
Music Bingo starting March 9 at 7:30 PM before bedtime. i bet if i pretended to be a homeless photographer, i
would be neck-deep in pussy.
Tuesday g: that’s right. don’t just pour the gravy over the turkey. Make sure it’s
$6.95 Quesadilla - Chicken, spread nice and thick over the rice and vegetables. Very personable lady
running the hot item section, if you can get past the annoying lineups full
Beef, or Vegetarian (after 4 PM) of Canuck memorabilia-wearing pricks who can’t stop calling each other
“brah.” the refreshment cooler is located against the lineup, which is a
pain. get ready to say “excuse me” six times in 15 seconds.
Wednesday
Taste
.35¢ Wings (after 2 PM) d: do uncle ben and the Jolly green giant run the kitchen here? no, of
course they don’t. they’re fictional characters. if they did run a kitchen
Thursday though, it would probably produce something like this. the salty gravy
and soft bread do taste comforting enough, but it’s all just a little too
$6.95 Perogies (after 4 PM) familiar.
g: it’s a low grade Swiss Chalet meal. that’s the only thing i can possibly
Sunday compare it to. it’s almost like the messy chicken sandwich, but with

Sunday Brunch Specials turkey instead, and for less than five bucks, it’s awesome. You even had
a choice of potatoes.
H
Roast Beef Special ($8.95) Y LUNC And the winner is . . .
IL beautiful bosoms and a side of potato, uVic has it all.
DA 6.95 WICH Verdict
Daily Draft Specials $ SAND ND
it’s still worth the gas money and travel time to save $1.66 and not have
to eat at Aramark.
A
Show your student ID for 10% off food S OUP

Watch Canucks hockey here!

3810 Shelbourne Street (at Cedar Hill X Rd) 250.721.2337 Mexican
Tacos ● Tamales ● Beer

w w w.nexusnewspaper.com
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

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

visit t h e nexus online 1002 Johnson St.

(at Vancouver)
11am - 7pm
Mon - Sat
Visit us today at
www.orale.ca
Fo r g e t g r o u n d b e e f. . . w e p u l l o u r m e a t !
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com
by Kait Cavers
Saturday, Feb. 21
AC/DC tribute
Thunderstruck
SOPRANO’S, DOORS AT 8:30 PM, $15
if you’re both a starving student and
a diehard ’80s metal band fan, then
not only can you barely afford your
Kraft dinner, but you’re probably
also hurtin’ for some serious concert
action. thunderstruck to the rescue.
this band is so close to the real
thing they will satisfy your concert
needs and leave you with some cash
to spend on food that isn’t canned.
Saturday, Feb. 21
Horde of Anachron, Black
Lotus, Mother Died Today
LOGAN’S PUB, DOORS AT 9 PM, $10
if you like metal, then go to logan’s
this Saturday. leather jackets with
spikes, cargo pants, lots of beer, and
a forecasted 78 percent chance of
moshing. need i say more?
Wednesday, Feb. 25
Hawksley Workman, Geoff
Berner
ROYAL THEATRE, DOORS AT 7 PM, $25
As much as i disagree with the
venue (an opera stage for hawksley?
Seriously?), these two acts are both
definitely worth checking out. 25
bucks will get you an evening filled
with music you just can’t help but
move to. this Wednesday, drop your
books and head downtown for some
serious concert action.
Wednesday, Feb. 25
Dinner and a Movie
the Superior, doors at 5 pm, $5
dinner and a Movie down at the
Eraserhead By Adrian Binakaj
Phlegm By Shane Scott-Travis
Superior Café presents film noir with
The Postman Always Rings Twice.
enjoy your meal with a side of his-
toric cinema. Share this classic film
and a fine meal in a unique setting
that is rare to come by these days.
Thursday, Feb. 26
Armchair Cynics, theset,
with guests
SUGAR, DOORS AT 9 PM, $10
Alright Armchair Cynics and theset,
i understand you’re too big to play
any venue in this town other than
Sugar, and i get that you don’t
charge under double digits to get
in anymore, and, yes, i admit it’s
always totally worth it and you guys
rock, but, seriously, what is with the
killer whale on your posters? is it
eating penguins? C’mon. Seriously.
Saturday, Feb. 28
Waking Eyes, Arkells
SUGAR, DOORS AT 7 PM, $12
Atomique Productions presents the
always-enjoyable Arkells with the
incredibly talented Waking eyes. it
would be crazy not to check out this
show. if you’re looking for a great
way to spend your Saturday night,
with a guarantee that you will go
home slightly buzzed and smiling,
then get your tickets for this show in
advance.
Saturday, Feb. 28
Reza Manbachi: The
Journey of Love
BELFREY THEATRE, SHOW AT 8 PM, $25
ADVANCE, $35 AT DOOR
reza Manbachi takes the audience
on a mystical ride with the release of
The Journey of Love. backed by an
ensemble of masterful musicians on
both traditional and non-traditional
instruments, the musical celebration
includes some of the top instru-
mentalists from around the globe.
expand your musical mind with this
show!
eVentS
eye on
campus
By Kait Cavers
Thursday, Feb. 19
Reading break ’09
the gargantuan, two-day spectacular
referred to as “reading break” begins.
two days of pure, intense studying will
commence in order to get ahead in our
learning adventures. And, yes, two days
is all we need, because we are all a
breed of next generation super-humans
already submerged in the ancient art
of speed-reading five courses worth
of textbooks while also juggling our
personal lives.
Monday, Feb. 23 to Friday,
Feb. 27
Tax help
School of business Accounting students
will be available to help other students
file their 2008 tax returns. Fees are by
donation and all proceeds go to the Col-
lege Foundation. this is made available
for students only, so take advantage of
people who deal with numbers better
than you do and get your taxes sorted
out before it’s too late! From 11:30 am–
1:30 pm and 3:30–5:30 pm, Monday to
Friday. located in CbA 289, interurban
and the Fisher Foyer, lansdowne.
Tuesday, Feb. 24
Employment info session
Many employees and new hires are
unclear as to how much negotiation
power they have when it comes to the
conditions of their employment. this
workshop will help you to discover the
art of contract negotiation and find your
voice in order to get what you want and
need out of your career. Facilitated by
Suzanne tremblay, Camosun’s senior
human resources consultant. From
4:30–5:30 pm, Campus Centre 121,
interurban. e-mail employ@camosun.
bc.ca for more info.
Overheard at Nexus
nexus staff works very hard during production of the newspaper, and there
are times when exhaustion takes over what we say. the following is what’s
been overheard at the nexus office lately:
“Your dog’s
name is Meow?”
“i don’t want
my vagina to
have a voice.”
19
Mondays and Wednesdays
Drop in floor hockey
indoor floor hockey is like a fine cocktail.
one part sport, two parts gym, gar-
nished with the echo of gleeful laughter,
and then consumed until someone ends
up on the floor with a broken leg from
trying to impress their buddies. Mon-
days and Wednesdays 7–9 pm, Young
112, lansdowne. info: 250–370–3602.
Also, if you want to drop in on nexus’
own floor hockey games, we play from
2:30–4 pm every Monday.
Wednesday, Feb. 18
Nexus pizza day
Seriously, if i see you in the cafeteria
one more time unpacking a diagonally
cut bologna sandwich from a crumpled
brown bag, i’m personally going to call
your mom and tell her to cut you off.
grow up and eat pizza like an adult.
You’re in college; it’s time to pack your
own lunch. And by pack i mean bring
money so you can buy it. nexus sells
pizza for $2 a slice from 12 noon until
you’re completely satisfied in every
single way. no, not that way. outside
the Fisher building, lansdowne.
classifieds
engliSh tutor for help with eSl, essay
writing. bente, 250–592–8340, bentels@
shaw.ca
MAth SCribe wanted for physically
disabled man in Math 053. Mon/tues/
thurs 10:30 am-12:20 pm, in CbA 117,
interurban. Pay is $15 per hour. Please
call rob at 250–414–7315 or drop into
the upgrading help Centre in CbA 109.
Rules
Each registered student at Camosun is eligible
for up to 40 words FREE per semester. this can
be in the form of a 40-word ad, or two 20-word
ads. drop off your ad at the nexus, richmond
house 201, lansdowne, e-mail it to nexus@
nexusnewspaper.com, or call the ad in at 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
teSSa CoGman
StAFF eAVeSdroPPer
“the last time that
happened i just
“What’s that noise? is
someone downstairs started reefing on
digging a tunnel to it with a hammer.”
narnia?”
“i’d take allergies
“Yes, a cabbit. over a stomach
A cat mixed worm any day.”
with a rabbit.”
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