www.ubyssey.bc.ca Wednesday, Jariuary 22,2003 tjf & &rcbiv©§ ;Sendl Volume 84 Issue 30 -*& . -ja^-../. -* PEACE IN OUR TIME, PLEASE: An unidentified protester sends a message to the world at Vancouver's peace march Saturday, nic fensom photo The Saturday of their discontent by Anna King NEWS STAFF Anti-war demonstrators walked through downtown Vancouver Saturday, protesting a potential US-led war against Iraq. The march, which ended at the Vancouver Art Gallery, coincided with similar protests across Canada and around the world. The march drew a wide variety of trade unions, teachers, physicians and lawyers' groups along with religious and political organisations and concluded with music by the punk band DOA and speakers. Hemsa Nosh, a UBC student and an organiser ofthe rally, said the thousands of protesters in attendence should make students feel empowered. "We're not victims in this life," she said. "It just takes a small number of dedicated people to Change the world. There are hundreds of thousands of us around the world...We outnumber the US government!" Irene Maclnnes, a Canadian who recently visited Iraq as part of a 'Peace Team,' and another organiser of the rally, was less optimistic Maclnnes met with Iraqi civilians and said the air in the country is extremely tense. "For the most part people are just trying to put a brave face on—they tell a lot of jokes and laugh a lot in a hysterical way sometimes.* She said a war would be catastrophic for ordinary Iraqis because food supplies would be cut off. "They're nearly all on food rations with the Oil for Food Program, and if that gets disrupted—which it will—in a war all these people are going to starve." Vancouver City councillor Fred Bass put in an appearance on behalf of Mayor Larry Campbell and MP for Vancouver-East Libby Davies gave an impassioned speech in which she called the Bush administration the 'real axis of evil." "This is a message to Jean Chretien/ she said, "don't Ietyour legacy be the war on Iraq." Hanna Kawas, the chair of the Canada See"Protest"onpage2. Montreal scam artist operating at UBC by Brooke McLachlan NEWS WRITER A convicted Montreal scam artist has recently surfaced in Vancouver. Harris Black, also known as Harris Simon, has posted positions with the Alma Mater Society (AMS) service Joblink. Black was charged by the Quebec Consumer Protection Office with employment fraud and fined $2000 for taking clients' money without providing employment service. Black currently faces eight more charges for the offence of deceiving people through his scams and has failed to appear in court twice. Black was also charged with sexual assault in 1999 and received 18 months probation. Several UBC students looking for part-time work had interviews with Black when they responded to his ads. Six or seven women have since complained to Joblink about Black. Laura Yang, a fourth-year student at UBC, had an interview with Black, who had posted under his pseudonym "Harris Simon." There was no company name, only a phone number and an e-mail address. Yarig wanted to share her experi ence so students would know that potential employers are not screened and university referral does not protect them from these kinds of experiences. *[K]nowing that he is wanted in Montreal and having that confirma tion about his past [is] really scary," said Yang. "It [makes] it worse to know that he has all my personal information too, like my phone number, address and resume." See"Scam"onpage2. Birds outmuscled POST BATTLE: Forward Kelsey Blair tufsfes with the Clan. See pagettl riosE bouthellier photo CULTURE: Liz Magor! And other arts inside. Pages 8, 9 and 11. NEWS: A Rhodes scholar in our midst UBC student wins prestigious prize. Page 3. SPORTS: Reverse evolution: Dinos can swim better than Birds. Page 12. EDITORIAL: Take the Ubyssey Quiz! Page 10. FEEDBACK@UBYSSEY.8C.CA WWW.UBYSSEY.BC.CA BC universities losing out on research dollars by Janet French NEWS WRITER A recent study by Toronto-based Research Infosource Inc. said British Columbia universities are losing out on federal research dollars—but UBC administration said it's not worried. "The fact that we bring in low research funding is not a reflection of quality," said Dr Indira Samarasekera, UBC's vice-president, research. "I think our [BC] universities are all of very high quality relative to their peers.* BC received only eight per cent, or $266.7 million, out of $3.4 billion total external funds given to Canadian universities in the year 2001, said Research Infosource Inc. in their December 18 report Ontario, on the other hand, received 40 per cent of the funds, ivhich come from government grants, and corporate and private See "Money" on page 2. WEDNESDAY, JANUAR^22, UY*> NEWS THE UBYSSEY CLASSIFIEDS ENGLISH TEACHER WANTED for d/t School to teach int'n students. Send resume to: . info@bestbc.com APPLICANTS WANTED TO STUDY PART IV OF THE URANTIA BOOK. EARN $25000. For details, visit www.eventodaward.com SUMMER CAMP COUNSELLORS ON CAMPUS INTERVIEWS FOR PREMIER CAMPS in Massachusetts: Positions available for talented, energetic, and fijn loving students as counsellors in all team sports including Roller Hockey and Lacrosse, all individual sports such as Tennis & Golf, Waterfront and Pool activities, and specialty activities including art, dance, theatre, gymnastics, newspaper, rocketry & radio. GREAT SALARIES, room, board, travel and US summer work visa. June 21st-August 17th. Enjoy a great summer that promises to be unforgettable. For more information and to apply: MAH-KEE- NACwww.campmkn.com (Boys): 1- 800-753-9118; DANBEE www.danbee.com (girls): 1-800-392- 3752. Interviewer will be on campus Tuesday, March 4th - lOani to 4 pm in the Student Union Building (SUB) - Rooms 214 & 216. TEACH ENGLISH OVERSEAS: JOBS $$ GUARANTEED - GREAT PAY. 1'ESOL Certified in 5 days in-class (or online or by correspondence). Attend a FREE Information Seminar. FREE Infopack: 1-888-270-2941 or www.globaltesol.com. SANDBOX THEATRE AT CITR 101.9 INEEDS YOU! To present radio drama & features Mondays 3-4pm. Radioplay Features & Drama CrWr404. Don Mowatt (our fearless instructor) or Janet montealto40@hotmail.com or jhudgina@sfii.ca AIESEC'S COASTAL CONFERENCE 2003: FEB 1-2, Vancouver. Workshops on business & leadership skills + 2 nights of wild parties. ~$50. Contact: Nema at buterluv@hotmail.com. www.cus.commerce ubc.ca/clubs/aiesec BIRDWALK ON CAMPUS EVERY TUESDAY. Meet at the Flagpole (above Rose Garden; by Chan.Centre)_ at 12:30pm. For info or to get on mailing list contact Christina: struik@interchange.ubc ca. DEBATE: DOES GOD EXIST? WED. JAN 22, 7pm @ Hebb Theatre. Brought to you by Campus Crusade for Christ & the Humanist Society of UBC. FEMALE SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT & VIOLENCE: WE ARE LOOKING FOR WRITTEN & VISUAL ART for a late February exhibit by survivors of sexual assault. Questions? Email Aurora at aurora@interchange.ubc.ca. CASTING CALL FOR SHORT DRAMATIC FILM. Lead male role 23- 30 yrs old & supporting female 22-25 yrs old. Auditions on Jan 25. 4-day shoot. Some pay. For appointment & info, call Stephanie Gossett at 604-221- 7734 or email at antiIinpictures@hotmail.com. HE" Ll LOW COST REPAIRS TO COMPUTERS & ALL ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENTS. Free pick-up & delivery. Free estimate. Alan 604-879- 0290. fimWtMTTI ESSAY RESEARCH & ASSISTANCE: Any Subjects A to Z. Call toll-free: 1- 888-345-8295. www.customessay.com UBC CLASSICAL J1U JITSU CLUB. Self-defence, fitness, friendly atmosphere. All welcome! Open house: SRC Dojo T &Th,8:30p-lO;Sat9:30a-ll. ADULT GYMNASTICS CLASSES AT UBC! Want to improve your balance, strength & spatial orientation? Ever wanted to learn how to flip or stand on your hands? Adult classes Thurs 6-8pm. . Drop-in times avail, also private tramp./aerial lessons. Call 822-0204. $5 million mistake! Outdoor pool flushed? Saturday of their discontent...WRITE THESE HEADLINES. WRITE NEWS. MEETINGS TUESDAYS 1PM NEWS@UBYSSEY.BC.CA THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Public Information Meeting on MacLeod II: Electrical & Computer Engineering Building (ECE) .and Aquatic Ecosystems Research Lab Building (AERL) Monday, January 27th, 2003,12:00 to 1:30 p.m. Cedar Room, Ponderosa Building, 2071 West Mall To present and review the design of two buildings. One is the MacLeod II: Eleclrical & Computer Engineering Building (ECE) proposed to be conshicted on the north end of the existing McLeod Building at 2356 Main Mall. The building will have a floor area of 8177 nf. Subject to Board of Governors approval, construction is anticipated to begin in Spring 2003 with completion in late 2004. The second is the Aquatic Ecosystems Research Lab Building (AERL) proposed to be constructed on Main Mall directly south of the Biosciences .Building. The building will have a floor area of about 4182 nf. Subject to Board of Governors approval, construction is anticipated to begin jn late 2003 with completion in early 2005. This event is wheelchair accessible. Please contact Karfy Henney at (604) 822-0464 for information on the location of the meeting or if you need assistive listening devices, captioning, or information on alternate media. FREE PARKING will be available in the West Parkade. Please pick up a parking pass after the meeting in order to exit the parkade without charge. Questions or for further info: Rob Brown of UBC Properties Trust at (604) 731-3103 ext. 232 or Jim Carruthers at (604) 822-0469, UBC Campus & Community Planning. "Protest"'from page 1. Palestine Association, drew both shouts of approval and boos from the crowd when he compared the situation in Iraq to that in Palestine, prompting Nosh; who was acting as master of ceremonies, to attempt to smooth things over. " I want to make sure you know we are all here to support human rights for all people in the Middle East,* she said after Kawas's speech. . Stephanie Raoul, a UBC Education student attending the rally, said she was encouraged by the large crowd, but said she'd feel more optimistic if she heard about r similar protests more often. "I'd be more optimistic if the media was on our side, We never hear about these kind of protests going on unless there's thousands of people—and they're going on all over the world. We've got to keep pushing it and eventually the media will come around,* she said. Nadja Rence, a second-year UBC Law student, was also struck by the large crowd. 'But I was also struck by the lack of young people,* she said. "There were lots of people in their 40s and 50s there, but I definitely didn't see student groups coming out, which was surprising to me.* "I assumed there would be some kind of relationship between this movement and the [anti]-globalisa- tion movement, but there doesn't appear to be," said Rence. The march was organised by a coalition of groups calling itself The November 17th Peace Coalition. ♦ "Scam" from page 1. ■ "■ Yang's interview with Black was held informally in his vehicle where he asked questions such as how old she was, whether or not she had a boyfriend and if she had ever played the game truth or dare. He also commented on Yang's smile and said that she must have a lot of guys after her. Black also requested that Yang come over to his apartment for testing on his home computer. When she told him that her parents didn't think it was a good idea. Black asked her why she had to tell her parents where she was going and suggested she tell them she was going to a friend's. When Yang asked Black about his company she said he became defensive and it was at this point that she decided to step away from the job. Yang reported the incident to UBC Career Services and Joblink who had already removed the posting due to previous complaints. According to Natasha Norbjerg, coordinator of AMS Joblink, it is not unusual for individuals as well as companies to place ads. "We post a lot of positions for individual employers and 99 per cent of the time its fine," she said. Norbjerg admitted that the reports about Black are a source of concern to her and that she will meet with the AMS to discuss the issue. The Joblink website does have a disclaimer which states that it does not pre-screen employers or endorse them. Norbjerg said that Joblink does screen employers in a sense, as they will not post anything that seems "sketchy"—meaning anyone without a full name or proper mailing address—and they always require an employers* full name, mailing address and telephone number before they will post a position. Nevertheless, Norbjerg cautioned that students should always be wary and take safety measures — like holding interviews in a well-lit, public place like a coffee shop, regardless of the type of job. "If ever the [person] feels uncomfortable, no matter how great the job or how good the pay, if they don't feel comfortable they shouldn't proceed with the employment opportunity," she said. UBC Career Services Director Una Walsh also emphasised the importance of alerting students and encouraging them to look for signs of legitimacy, such as the questions posed by the interviewer and the location where the interview is held. She explained that the most obvious sign of illegitimacy is asking questions that are prohibited by law such as those relating to age, marital status or religious affiliation. Walsh said she encourages students to come forward if an interview has made them feel uncomfortable. Walsh also said that students shouldn't hesitate to walk away if something feels wrong. Norbjerg said there was no other action Joblink could take and the situation has been reported to all of the appropriate offices, including the police. The RCMP detachment at UBC cannot begin an investigation until someone who actually interacted with Black com6s forward, which Yang has not done yet*> "Money" from page 1. donations. BC placed fourth in total dollars received, and seventh place in the number of dollars received per capita. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), one of the agencies- granting external funds, said they have no direct control over how,funds are allocated because grants are awarded with a peer- review system. "If there were any chance of bias," the person leaves the room," Public Affairs Officer Francis Lionet said, explaining review committees are chosen from across Canada. "[Grant applications] are judged on merits by people who know." Samarasekera said the study's data doesn't reflect the current state of funding at BC universities ' because it's two years old. In 2001, BC universities received little provincial funding, which she said is a 'double whammy" when applying for federal grants. "[Provincial funding] is a, vital seed for new researchers to establish their track record/ she said. "Researchers need it to compete more effectively for federal funding." But the amount of external funding UBC receives has improved dramatically since the study was done, thanks to the Canadian Foundation for Innovation Funding (CFIF). Samarasekera said in the past two academic years UBC has dominated the CFIF competitions, and currently has received $154 million of their support. The province has matched that amount with the BC Knowledge Development Fund and was awarded another $110 million in the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. But tuition increases and a lack of guaranteed internal funding are hurting UBC's chances of gaining external funding, said Chris Fennel, vice-president, external of the UBC Graduate Student Society (GSS). "What we really need to focus on, is keeping the top graduate" students here, and the top faculty," said Fennel. "This is where UBC might be having a problem." He said both the University of Alberta and the University of Toronto guarantee their graduate students a stipend—something UBC has yet to do. Fennel is fighting to get guaranteed funding for all research-based EVENTS doctoral students in Canada by lobbying agencies like Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), NSERC and the federal ministers of industry and health. Both Fennel and Samarasekera agree one of the problems UBC faces is the disparity of grants between health research and other disciplines. Fennel said that although 65 per cent of UBC graduate students are in Arts, they receive only 25 per cent of th? funding. Samarasekera said she would like to see more external funds made available for engineering, the physical sciences and Arts. Other factors that may have influenced BC's poor showing in Research Infosource's study are the low number of post-secondary spaces in the province, and BC's lone medical school. Samarasekera said UBC's tuition increase is going towards the expansion of the medical school, which should help attract even more external funds. "The [provincial government] has not cut back on post-secondary education funding in the way they have cut back other" ministries,* said Samarasekera. "For that we have to be grateful." ♦ What's going on between classes E-mail production@ubyssey.bcxa about events going on between classes. THEUBYSSEY N E WS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2003 Honours student off to Oxford UBC English Honours student Yaa-Hemaa Obiri- Yeboah only BC student to win Rhodes Scholarship by Amielle Del Rosario NEWS WRITER Inside a quiet hallway, Yaa-Hemaa Obiri-Yeboah leans on the ledge of the stairs, adjusting her corduroy jacket. She pushes her dark, intricately braided hair back and smiles warmly. Her eyes gleam from behind her tinted glasses at the mention of her latest accolade- being named BC's Rhodes Scholar "I'm as normal as you could get," she jokes. But she is far beyond ordinary. Twenty-one-year-old Yaa-Hemaa, whose name means 'queen born on Thursday', was selected for the honour of BC's Rhodes scholar along with ten others from across Canada She insists it was support that mainly contributed to her achievements, but she believes that it was a lucky twist of good fate that she ended up here in Canada. In 1981, when Yaa-Hemaa was only six months old, her family was forced to flee Ghana due to a military coup led by Jerry John Rawlings, a Ghanaian political leader. Her father, Kofi, who was an aeronautical engineer for the military, was a colleague of Jerry John Rawlings. Her father was asked to join the coup, but refused. "They wanted him to be part of the coup d'etat to overthrow the government My father doesn't believe in that," says Yaa-Hemaa. "He believes in the democratic process." Because he resisted, Kofi was arrested. He joined 11 others who were to be executed—eight were eventually shot He managed to escape through an airport exit Carrying only one suitcase, Kofi, Irene, and baby Yaa-Hemaa headed to Nigeria by car, with the help of Yaa-Hemaa's uncle. A year later, they applied for refugee status with the help of the World Council of Churches held at Vancouver. Despite their tumultuous history, the Obiri-Yeboahs regained their lives and have never failed to OXFORD BOUND: BC's newest Rhodes scholar starts school in September at the same university as Chretien went to. nic fensom photo "I'm as normal as you could get." —Yaa-Hemaa Obiri-Yeboah Rhodes Scholar remind their children, Yaa-Hemaa and brothers Yaw, 20, and Fiifi, 18, that they should take advantage of opportunities that come their way. They were encouraged to be well- rounded, to read, to volunteer, to be physically active and to be aware of social issues in Canada as well as in Ghana. "Education is something that no one can take away from you," says Yaa-Hemaa. "My parents told us that it would be the key to our lives." For Yaa-Hemaa, this key has opened many doors indeed. But Yaa- Hemaa, who has stayed grounded and humble, has always shared her successes, lending a hand to those who need it—a qualify that she says her parents have instilled in her. Her commitments at UBC are diverse. She gets straight A's, represents the AMS as the resource ~ groups commissioner, volunteers at Speakeasy and is the president of the English Students' sociefy. She also plays piano, plays field hockey with a Burnaby club and is also a mentor with Akoma Ntoaso, an agency that partners black and biracial kids who have been adopted into Caucasian families with a mentor who the children can identify with. "[Yaa-Hemaa's] really good with the kids," says Karen Madeiros, a coordinator with Akoma Ntoaso. "She's hard-working, committed, and has a community conscience." Dr Peter Krause, a UBC professor that teaches cultural history and African-American history deems her as his "favourite subject* "Yaa-Hemaa possesses a tough, unrelenting, critical—yet empathet- ic—intellect That's quite a combination," he says. "She isn't afraid to be tough, and she isn't afraid to share her feelings. She is humble, aware of human weakness and frailty, but also confident that she can make the world a better place. She is fearless when it comes to exploring new ideas, and I have never known her to be defensive about anything." These qualities encompass what the Rhodes panel looks for—character beyond achievements. When interviewed for the award, Yaa- Hemaa gracefully dealt with questions about social and current issues from a diverse panel consisting of a neurosurgeon, a lawyer for the provincial government, a judge from the Court of Appeal, professors UVic and SFU, and an electrical engineer. She claims that the anticipation before was the most nerve- racking. "When I got to talk to them the night before during the dinner, I became less nervous. They're amazing people." Upon hearing the news that she was the recipient of the prestigious scholarship, Yaa-Hemaa said that her initial feeling was of relief. "It's pretty surreal. It's actually other people you hear who get it But to be the one...it's pretty phenomenal." She gives credit to her family, professors and friends who pushed her to realise her potential. She will be attending Oxford University in October 2003, joining a group that includes former Canadian Prime Minister, John Turner, Australian Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, and former United States President Bill Clinton. She plans to major in English with a Political Science minor. In her future, she hopes to be a part of opening a cultural centre for Vancouver's African community. ~ "The black community is so scattered here in Vancouver, and I can identify with the feeling of being alone. I would really like to see a cultural centre. That would be tremendous. It would be a nucleus where people can meet" Yaa-Hemaa believes that her motivation comes from loving what she's doing and using this love to survive through hardships. "You should remember the past, but not dwell on it," she says. Just as she has been inspired by people who have made her believe her ambitions are tangible, Yaa- Hemaa wants to inspire others and she has never stopped counting her blessings. 'I was really lucky to have support from everyone. I've worked hard, but I've just been lucky all my life." ♦ UBC'S Liu Institute launches Ugandan project Project aims to end civil conflict By Ted Chen NEWSWRITER UBC's Liu Institute for Global Issues has teamed up with Human Rights Watch, an independent non-governmental organisation, and the Makerere University to launch the Northern Uganda Emergency Action Project (NUEAP) to end the ongoing cycle of violence in Northern Uganda. UBC researchers began the project this week, travelling to the region to study abuses against children, women, refugees and displaced persons. The eight-month project will cost US$85,000 to implement and has been funded by a grant from the Chicago-based MacArthur Foundation. The purpose of the mission is for researchers to moniter the human rights situation in Uganda and to release a current report on the situation The report is intended to grab international attention and result ih action to counter the continued abductions of children and use of child soldiers, as well as to contribute to current initiatives towards a peaceful solution to the conflict. Human Rights Watch will be sending a mission to the north by the end of January with participation from Makerere University. The Liu Institute is sending a representative to Uganda this week to work with the University on preparations for this mission. The Liu institute will also send expertise to Uganda to work with Makerere on peace and reconciliation research aimed at the longer term. In a recent news release by UBC's Public Affairs Office, Liu Institute Director and CEO Lloyd Axworthy expressed serious concern for the plight of the Northern Ugandan civilians. "This is a'region devastated by civil war where 400,000 people reside on internal displacement camps. We've been conducting research for some time on the risks to war- affected children in the region," said Axworthy. "With this project we'll be looking at what has been working and assess the potential for strengthening the many peace and reconciliation initiatives underway." Rhonda Gossen, the Liu Institute's policy advisor who is currently spearheading this project, noted the severity of the civil crisis in Northern Uganda. "In short, security is a problem for civilians as the conflict.is continuing. Civilians have to take refuge in internally displaced people camps for safety," said Gossen. "There is a shortage of food and basic services in these camps. Children are always at risk of abduction." Julie Wagemakers, deputy director of the Liu Institute, was also aware of the crisis in Northern Uganda. "Ugandan civilians face a need for personal safety every day. The risks that they take are con- sidered to be a normal part of their lives," said Wagemakers. "I think that they are threatened daily from the lack of food, shelter and all other basic human needs." In recent months. Northern Uganda has once again been wracked by civil conflict in a 15-year cycle of ongoing bloodshed. Such conflict has resulted in numerous civilians entering internally displaced persons camps where delivery of food aid is difficult, as humanitarian agencies cannot reach the most desperate camps without armed escorts. •> WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2003 NEWS THE UBYSSEY W Work Abroad SWAP can help you get a visa and find work overseas! Programs are available in many countries including Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, South Africa, japan, Australia, New Zealand & the USA. Find out how you ; can have this amazing experience... Come to the information session! P*-""**-1"""'"""""" " " '' ' rpoonap«a—oopapaaam—on»—«»—p»^ Wednesday Jan 29 SUB Room 206 TWO sessions: 12:30 & 3:00 SWAP. Travel that works. iMnnv.swap.f:a item&iM ZL Lovely War joaaUt? Jan 22-Feb 1 Mon-Sat 7:30pm TELUS Studio Theatre Tickets: Reg $16, St/Sp $10, Preview Jan 22 $6 ■ m * * «r * • j, *i ■ Theatre at UBC Box Office ffMfML*' .m '604-822-2678 J**'\iHjUt: *—,™t5r^ www.theatre.ubc.ca UBC SNOWBOARD OR SKI FOR FREE! STUDENT, STAFF & FACULTY GROUP SPECIAL Organize a group of 10 or more and receive complimentary lift pass & rental. Group Rates Start @ $19 (incl. tax) Mention this ad upon arrival & the organizer's name is entered to win an exciting River Rafting Adventure for two. Call 604.986.2261 local 215 Facing off .-. - ' >• / •*-, ,• VX 5 V. -* ,•> .- ' . i <••<:*'••' ,** ti'\.\, * fc- r-j'.V-Vs'Tf'/v,- * 1 ' ' ■*. y ■* .• - '» - f; S&i I '5 M** Pr ■'.*.''"l * 1 Vs. . ' I -V. .• ' 1 ■ -1, ,,* ** - * v- \ * f-.r * > * v*.-' -.1 - "I. _iw * 1 itfLah tfi i-a. u »i- 4 THEY'RE TALKING THE TALK: But will they walk the walk? Kate Woznow of Student Progressive Action Network (SPAN) (middle right) and Oana Chirila Students For Students (SFS) (middle left) address students at the presidential debate last week while Justice Patrick Pilarski (far left and far right) glares ahead at those whom he would command. Students were treated to their fourth forum for the AMS elections on Monday. Held in the SUB conversation pit, candidates for all positions told the gathered audience (around 20- 30 students) the reasons why they should vote for each candidate. A large part ofthe speeches made by the candidates from slates focused on the accomplishments and merits ofthe slate each belonged to, and spoke little about theJr own skills and abilities". Independent candidates were very critical of slates, as were candidates running with the Radical Beer Faction (a slate). "Heaven help you if a whole slate goes in," Vice-President, Administration hopeful Graham Hicks told students. Monday's forum went 45 minutes over the alloted time, resulting in the candidates for vice-president, academic and president being rushed.This also happened at the first all- candidates forum. The large number of candidates in this election (77) is partly to blame. Attendance for the event dropped off significantly after 1pm to half of the original crowd. Students can now vote online at ww.ams.ubc.ca/elec- tions. Dates and locations of m6re forums and debates can also be found at that website. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION Economic tips for students *•_ Flexibility and open- mindedness are keys to success in the future economy by John McCrank NEWSWRITER Dr David Foot, author ofthe bestselling book Boom, Bust and Echo: Profiting From the Demographic Shift in the 21st Century, gave a lecture in the new Meekison Arts Student Space on Friday as part of the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) Speaker Series. Speaking on how demographics affect us all, the charismatic Dr Foot looked at local, national, and international economies- in terms of their "boom, bust and echo" factors—the boom referring to the baby boom generation, the bust reflecting to the decline in population growth as a result ofthe introduction ofthe birth control pill and of women entering the workplace en masse, and the echo pertaining to the children ofthe baby boomers. One of the points stressed by Foot was that the traditional hierarchical structure of the workplace has changed, or rather flattened out, as hordes of boomers currently climbing the corporate ladder converge at the mid-management level. "Have you ever tried to push a rectangle up through a triangle?* asked Foot He went on to say that the spiral career path is now the norm, with lateral movement in the career more common than vertical movement, and added that flexibility is the key. 'Arts degrees don't lock you into one occupation," he said. "Generic skills like good communication skills, good analytical skills and good computer skills are what you need right now," advised Foot, who said that while the long-term future for people graduating from university today is excellent, the short-term prognosis isn't as rosy. "You can't rely on the boomers retiring and making jobs for you. You're going to have to go out and do that yourselves," said Foot, referring to the fact that the majority of the baby boon! generation are still in their 40s and won't be retiring for another 20 years. For those thinking of investing at some point in the future, Dr Foot recommends catering to the world's massive aging population. Some of the fastest growing recreational activities in Canada are bird-watching, gardening and curling, and could be lucrative investment areas, likewise with progressive lens glasses and recreational vehicles. Lori Lam, academic co-ordinator for the AUS, helped bring Dr Foot to campus. "We asked Dr David Foot to be our marquee speaker this year because we felt his ideas on demographics would be extremely relevant to the lives of students and their future career paths," said Lam. "While this event was part of Arts Week 2003, Dr -Foot's theories directly impact all young people regardless of what they study," she added. "And I think we were right on the money because Dr Foot was extremely well- received and in fact, he almost missed his flight home because faculty and students were so eager to meet with him after his talk." Two such students who attended the lecture were Brian Hughes, fourth-year Arts, and Helena Chan, third- year Arts. "I'm thinking about graduation looming and I'm trying to figure out what to do after grad, and I'm looking for some guidance," said Hughes, who wasn't alone in seeking advice. "I think that what he had to say was very useful and it applies to any discipline," remarked Chan after the talk. "I think he brings a lot of new ideas that I can use in my personal life andNeareer—a new perspective." Dr Foot received his doctorate in economics from Harvard University and teaches at the University of Toronto, where he has received a national 3M Award for Teaching Excellence and is a two-time winner of the University of Toronto undergraduate teaching award. ♦ THE UBYSSEY NEWS WEDNESDAY JANUARY 22, 2003 Carleton TAs' tuition indexed by Adam Grachnik OTTAWA BUREAU OTTAWA (CUP)-Just hours before their strike deadline, teaching assistants at Carleton University won 100 per cent tuition indexation, inking a tentative agreement to avert a major work stoppage. "It's a relief, a feeling of satisfaction that we have managed to get a deal," said Hassan Husseini, vice-president CUPE 4600. "At times the negotiations were tense. I would categorise them as hard- nose." Neither the university nor Husseini would discuss specifics ofthe deal, but a link onCUPE 4600's website lists the details of the tentative agreement. The agreement includes 100 per cent tuition assistance and allegedly includes a three per cent wage hike in the firstyear of the twoyear deal and a two per cent hike in the second. According to Husseini CUPE is "happy," because they wanted to increase their tuition indexation assistance from 75 per cent, which existed in the previous deal, to 100 per cent "If we didn't have the 100 per cent tuition rebate, [there was] not much for us," said Husseini. "Had we not achieved [most] of our demands, we would be on strike and we wouldn't have gone back to work." ' Tuition, said Husseini, will be based on 2001 levels and whenever it increases CUPE 4600's 1100 members will receive a 100 per cent credit "Essentially, what it means is that tuition is frozen, so if it rises by six per cent we would get 100 per cent of it back." After an 11-month strike, CUPE 3903 at York University negotiated a similar deal' with their university; however, their tuition assistance is based on 1996 levels. "They have a very good deal, but there are other aspects to it. It's not just straightforward," Husseini said. In a statement, Stephen Green, chief negotiator for Carleton said "We are extremely pleased to have reached a settlement and that a strike has been averted. This means that students can continue their studies without disruption and that it will be business as usual at Carleton University." According to Melissa Armstrong, an executive member of the Carleton University Student Association (CUSA), the" university wanted to roll back the agreement that expired August 31. "The university's initial effort was to roll back and we ended up getting more," she said. "It's a huge victory for CUPE and [the administration] will have difficulties taking it away." Armstrong, whose student government was prepared to shut their doors and Businesses in solidarity with the union, believes this deal is important for all Canadian campuses. "The issue is related to the quality of education," she said. "It's some of the best language,in the province and it set precedence as other [unions across the country] can now refer to it." Luckily for Carleton students the two sides were able to come to a deal at 4am, when a 7am strike time had been set. "There's no strike, no interruption to classes or tutorials," said Husseini. "We went to the 11th hour, but now we can return to our studies and our teaching." The two-year deal, according to the CUPE 4600 website, will expire August 31, 2004. Armstrong is convinced "it will be a battle again two years from now." ♦ Native stories echo in science UBC professor challenges traditional ways scientists think by Jonathan Woodward NEWS WRITER UBC Anthropology Professor Julie Cruikshank recently published an article challenging traditional scientific ways of thinking, by detailing Yukon Native storjes.of surging glaciers and climate change and how they relate to Western scientific records. Cruikshank argues that local histories of. how northern latitudes underwent dramatic, climate change are not only Important as data in climate change and sustainability studies but also vital as alternatives to the scientific mindset—and scientists are listening. "These stories offer a new way of looking at global knowledge," said Cruikshank. "Kluane National Park in the Yukon is not just a place. to do research, but is an archive of memory." In her article, "Glaciers and Climate Change: Perspectives from. Oral Tradition", published in the journal Arctic, she delicately weaves Aboriginal myth. Western science and colonial records together. While most glaciers move less than one kilometre per year, surging glaciers in the 'Little Ice Age' moved as much as 80km per year, acting on very human timescales. Legends record glaciers as responding reciprocally to human action, part of a "sentient land that listens," rather than an impassive natural world divorced from humanity. The stories of the glaciers often coincide with terrible tragedy. In 1852 near Mount Logan, a cataclysmic flood resulted from a lake the size of Great Slave Lake emptying in two days, flooding "Myths understand changes in land as changes in character, and these changes have fundamental geological implications." -Paul Smith Paleontologist down the Tatshenshini River. While7 geoscien- tists estimate the cause was the bursting of a glacial dam, Kitty Smith, a member of the Tlingit band offers a different explanation in Cruikshank's article. "A young Tlingit boy made fuii of an Athapaskan shaman because of his balding head: 'The top of his head is just like a place where gophers play, a bare stump!' To punish the insolence, the shaman summoned the glacier across the river, creating a dam. The resulting outburst flood scoured the landscape and drowned Tlingit settlements." The stories are vibrantly true in metaphor, and certainly not drawn of ignorance, said Cruikshank. "Local people know quite a lot of science, and scientists are very interested in stories." Can local perspectives contribute to science and understanding climate change? Paleontologist Paul Smith acknowledges myth as important. "Myths understand changes in land as changes in character, and these changes have fundamental geological implications," he said. He argued however, that the points of view that myth brings are, in his field, "largely irrelevant." Earth and Oceans Sciences (EOS) Professor Kurt Grimm said his view is that sustainability science is at the interface of natural and social science. "It is embedded in values. It's profoundly arrogant to suppose that those who know most about sustainability are the ones doing measurement-based science," he said. Rob Cross, a second-year geological engineering student, noted a detachment from the debate: "Personally, I haven't noticed any use of local myth in my EOS courses this year," he said. Grimm will be offering a new transdisci- plinary field course to address this issue. Called The Science and Practice of Sustainability, it will bring concerns of forestry, fisheries and tourism to anyone in the sciences or humanities, in an attempt to bridge the gap. It will begin in August 2003.' Cruikshank will be giving further lectures open to the public—called Do Glaciers Listen? Colonial Encounters and Social Imagination near Canada's North-West Border—as part of the Brenda and David McLean Lectures in Canadian studies. The lectures will run January 30, February 6, and February 13 at 7pm at UBC Robson Square. ♦ THE COST OF A GOOD EDUCATION: Premier Roger Grimes speaks to the Board of Trade about the recently announced five per cent tuition reduction at Memorial University. In contrast to the rest of the country, Newfoundland has seen a ten percent reduction in its tuition fees over the past two years, and the province has committed to continue the freeze. MATTHEW MURRAY/THE MUSE PHOTO Memorial getting five per cent fee cut Reduction will be last step in three-year 25 per cent reduction by Steve Durant THE MUSE ST JOHN'S, NFLD (CUP)-Newfoundland's premier has announced the government will deliver on its promise of a five per cent tuition reduction, dispelling concerns that the government might be unable to complete their promised 25 per cent tuition reduction. Roger Grimes first made the announcement at a Board of Trade function this past Wednesday. He repeated it while introducing prime ministerial hopeful Paul Martin at a breakfast hosted by the Memorial University Liberals Thursday morning, saying the government will implement the last stage in a three-year initiative to reduce tuition by 25 per cent. . "We've had a ten per cent tuition reduction in [each of] the past two years, and we'll reduce it again by five per cent," said Grimes, who announced last year that he will call an election in 2003. .Grimes also says,the government remains committed to continuing its freeze on tuition at the College of the North Atlantic (CNA), which has been in effect since 2000. He did not make any announcement regarding tuition levels at Memorial's medical school, which was not included in the 2001 and 2002 reductions. Although Memorial's Board of Regents officially sets tuition levels for Memorial's 16,000 students, for the past two years the province has made extra money available to the university with the understanding that it be dedicated to reducing fees. In both 2001 and 2002, the Regents honoured the province's request to drop tuition fees ten per cent. The province is expected to make the same sort of funding commitment for the 2003 tuition cut. Fees per course at Memorial have dropped from just under $330 two years ago to the present $267. In September 2003, that will fall a further $13.35 to $253.65, although the government might round that figure to an even dollar amount as they have in the past. The changes mean a full course load will cost about $2,536,50, which comes to $2978.50 after student union fees and the university's $40 per semester recreation fee. Memorial has some of Canada's lowest tuition levels, especially as universities in most other provinces continue to raise their rates. About two-thirds of the direct costs of post-sec- ondaryeducation are paid for by the provincial government, said Minister of Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education Sandra Kelly, ♦ Tp WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2003 FEATURES WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 22, 2003\ 7 THE UBYSSEY i * >*w * .>"•<* Sit* •*« *?,* |f :*Vi'vi« vp *\$m ,%i y 7 the Ubyssey rates the focal slopes this winter by Johnny Hua and Megan Thomas FEATURES STAFF W till laughing when you overhear those poor suckers longing for snow to magically appear oh the hills? Well, time to stop the chuckling. The season has arrived, snow has fallen— along with a little rain—and the mountains are open for business. The trusty Ubyssey staff has hit the slopes to save you the pain of seeing what's up with local hills. So read on and find out where there is snow, who has shelled out the bucks for improvements and what the best deals are. It's time to stretch the student loan and dip into the beer budget so you can hit the slopes. Cypress Bowl Freeriding Any mountain is only as good as its snow. Unfortunately for Cypress, there is definitely not an abundance of the._ white stuff at the moment. However, it is not alone as this winter's apparent . droughts affecting all the local hills. But with a little imagination and as keen eye for natural hazards, there is run to be had. As far as the layout is concerned. Cypress takes the local cake. With five lifts spanning the 53 5m of vertical on two separate peaks, there is a run for everyone on this hill. And with last year's addition of a highspeed quad, people move up the hill faster than,they come down. All this- modernity of the lower bowl chairs lulls one into a comfortable sense of competency. This quickly evaporates when the two-seater Sky Chair launches the unsuspecting down an off-ramp resembling a bobsled track; this peak chair is not for the beginner. However, the peak offers much advanced terrain for the hardcore that is sorely lacking in the lower bowl areas. Runs on the hill could fall prey to the critique that they are a bit on the short side, but for a mountain that is 30 minutes from a major city—and year^ round golf courses—Cypress performs pretty well. The only layout challenge the mountain poses is for those who are slightly less fit. Moving from chair to chair around the hill requires a bit of hiking, the bane of the recreational snowboarder's existence. And for those who only come out at night, Cypress also offers an excellent variety of lit runs. In fact, weather providing, every chair on the hill is open from 9am until 10:30pm. Freestyle For those of you who actually know what 'freestyle' means the terrain park is now open. Bring your helmet though, it's safety first at Cypress and you will be denied entry without one. (You can also rent them at the base for $6.) The park offers a good variety of rails, from the inches-high launny rail' to rather elevated and daunting types. There are also a variety of jumps maintained by the hill for your life- risking pleasure. According to Cypress ski and board instructor Matt Hamblin, the 'kickers' could be a bit steeper and longer, and there is no half-pipe at the .moment But bring on the snow and the park has some potential. It is also conveniently located under the chair so everyone can witness the thrills and spills. Public Relations In general the Cypress staff seem to be happily Freestyle / or uphill? * Il employed and do relatively little hassling And with conscientious parking attendants and crossing guards you will feel taken care of. The" food category is average, with one of those overpriced cafeterias and a crowded lunchroom. But there are rays of light coming from the pub where they have a daily drink special and some excellent cheesy broccoli soup that is fairly affordable. Financial Services For the pleasure of a day on the hill you pay steep prices ($42 a day), although the afternoon pass rings in at $36 and lets you stay till close—making it appealing for the cagey shopper. The one-nighter pass is also a fair deal at $175 for the season. Mt Seymour Freeriding If what some women are saying is true, that size no longer matters, then Mount Seymour has just gained the upp'er hand. Also known as the sensitive mountain, Seymour possesses the warm and cozy feeling of a second home. This mountain is for those who just want to keep it real and avoid the mainstream. So if you're looking for that Mom 'n' Pop feel on the mountain, look no further and become a 'Seymour kid.' Containing a base elevation of 1023 m, Mount Seymour suffers from a slight case of Napoleonic Syndrome. Living the belief that it's not the size that counts, but rather how you make use ofthe terrain, Mount Seymour has stepped up and flooded its 60 acres with a maximum of 21 rims, a respectable terrain park and even a quaint day lodge. Unfortunately, when a mountain possesses only three chairlifts it has the major setback of extremely long lineups. If you lust for wind burn arid don't like to speed check all that often, the 45-second to five- minute runs may not be worth the 15-minute lineups that await your swift arrival. . Although Mount Seymour may not measure up to the other mountains in size, it makes up for it with its close proximity, fair lift prices and incomparable atmosphere. The best way to avoid all the kinks of the mountain is to live at the terrain park. Stepping up to the diemands of the jib-happy riders, Seymour has set up a decent park consisting of a mini fun box, eight and 22ft straight rails, and 24 by 4ft rainbow rails. For those of you who want to pop and lock, sadly it's no go in the jump and tabletop department Due to the lack of snow, the landings are sketchy, which adds an element of consequence. If you want to hit the park, be prepared for business, because there are jagged pieces of ice that are just waiting to pink slip your ass. Public Relations This mountain is low key. Don't expect any exotic liftees, since most of them are the local kids just trying to earn some booze money. However, they do their job and do it well, slowing down your lift in order to avoid any unnecessary butt contusions. Financial Services Definitely the most reasonably priced among the mountains; layaway is not necessary in purchasing a lift pass. An adult all-day pass is a fair $33, and a half-day pass is $2 5. Mount Seymour is now offering a $149 one-night pass in order lo compete with Cypress Mountain. Grouse Mountain Freeriding A great thing about Grouse is the. scenic eight- minute Skyride you get to take to the top of the mountain. The 3 5 other great things about Grouse are the 3 5 nature-defying snow guns, which have the capability of bringing a tear to any rider's eye. This mid-sized mountain likes to walk in big mountain boots, offering up to 2 5 runs, a number of high-speed lifts and even a magic carpet Probably the closest thing to a miniature version of Whistler, Grouse definitely has the resources to compete with the best The runs at Grouse aren't too challenging and are suited for the beginner and intermediate riders. The very set-up of the mountain is a nice change—it's worth taking the trip up every so often. Freestyle Aside from the Grind, Grouse Mountain has discovered a second way to kick the crap out of its visitors. The two terrain parks built on the mountain are directed towards two very different levels of experience. The beginner park is perfect for the initial phase in learning jumps, rails and Other tricks. At the other end ofthe spectrum is Grouse's real park, which is meant to beat down anyone who tries to conquer it Comparable to Whistler Blackcomb's High-level park. Grouse offers black and double- black diamond rails such as staircase rails and step- down kinked rails. So, if you have a. high tolerance for pain or just like to own it, you won't be disappointed with this park. Public Relations Like all the other local mountains, there isn't much to be said here. You get pretty much what you'd expect, which isn't a bad thing at all. Grouse has a great lodge up top that offers everything from warm food to skating on a frozen pond. Financial Services Grouse seems to take after Whistler Blackcomb in the price department as well. A full day of riding will cost $39, whereas nocturnal riders pay $29. Grouse also offers a one-night pass for $250 and a steep season pass at $625. Whistler Blackcomb Freeriding The two behemoths clock in an unfathomable 7071 acres of skiable terrain, encompassing over 200 runs and 33 lifts. Yes, it's a little unfair to put a two-mountain review amongst the others, but either one ofthe mountains easily puts the rest to shame. Snow never seems to be a problem at this altitude, as a bad day at Whistler Blackcomb could easily be a season high for the locals. With this year's base finally reaching a decent 185cm, riders can ski down to the base without having to trash their boards. The two mountains accommodate any level of riding, from green runs to the mythical backcountry. The mountains have invested in 33 lifts, which include high-speed gondolas, quads, triples, doubles and various other towing contraptions. Despite owning state of the art lifts and economically-analysed line schematics, Whistler Blackcomb still struggles Y \ \V\ f\ Z*T*Z.1*&* s.** at times with the huge volume of riders. On the other hand, we are not ungrateful, and bear with the trau- matising 15-2 0-minute waits. Written descriptions of Whistler Blackcomb simply aren't sufficient. Gather up all the books that you've bought over the years, sell them to the UBC Bookstore and hopefully you can use the $4.50 that you receive towards a day pass. Freestyle Whistler Blackcomb dominates this criterion, containing a multitude of terrain parks and half- pipes. More specifically, each terrain park is tailored for different levels of riding, allowing undisturbed rides at any level. : The High-level Park requires a helmet and a separate photo pass that costs $ 15 for the season. With _a separate park pass, Whistler Blackcomb is allowed to come up with an abundance of other reasons why getting hurt isn't their fault > For those who would rather not pay the additional $ 15, the Nintendo Gamecube Park is free. The park has beginner to intermediate jumps, spines, wide rails and fun boxes. For beginners, the Gamecube Park is excellent for learning how to do simple rail tricks such as 270 degrees to frontside boardslide to 2 70 degrees off. Public Relations The great thing about having absolutely everyone at Whistler Blackcomb is that half of them end up working there. The opportunity to meet people from all around the world is difficult to miss. A key benefit of spending half your student loan on a pass is the service that you receive. It seems that eveiyone in Whistler Blackcomb is caught in a euphoric state. Perhaps it has something to do with Ross Rebagliati? For rentals, accommodation and food. Whistler Blackcomb offers anything you can imagine, just be prepared for the slight hike in prices. For cheap accommodation there's the AMS lodge, which costs $ 16 for a weeknight and $ 19.2 5 per night on a weekend. Financial Services This is Whistler Blackcomb's greatest hindrance, the cost of a hopeful eight hours of riding. I^he regular price for an adult day pass comes to a painful $65. A good way to get the price down is 7-Eleven's fast track ticket, a still painful $ 59. Your other option for next season is to pick up the discount student season pass, which was raised to $349. Other places for cheaper passes are at TicketMaster, and the Ski and Snowboard Club. To ride the best you're just going to have to suck it up and pay the fee. Mount Baker Freeriding Snow. Not usually a problem for this hill. In 1998, they actually set the world snowfall record. Needless to say a few more flakes have fallen here than on the North Shore. An excellent place to find some powder if you are willing to check the snow phone religiously and rise and shine in the mornings to make first tracks. The lifts at Baker are a slightly different story. Some unsuspecting beginners still shudder at the thought of the off-ramps years after visiting the hill. Good news this year though—they have replaced a couple ofthe most rickety lifts with some new quads. There is lots of variety in the runs at Baker, with an emphasis on some advanced terrain. And there are plenty of places to dash through the trees, as well as canyons that offer great vertical. Regular visitors will soon find their favourite stomping grounds. As an added bonus, those who are properly prepared and trained (this means following the back- country policy posted on the web or at the mountain) can hike out into the backcountry and enjoy some fresh snow. However, getting caught out there unprepared brings both danger and severe financial reprimands. Freestyle Baker also creates a couple of terrain parks each year complete with 183m-long half-pipe. The park features four different rails and five other objects for humans who would like to try and fly. Due to the half-pipe's lower mountain location, and the fact that it is well-shaded by surrounding trees, icy conditions can hamper those perfect tens and lead to nasty bruising. Public Relations The general tone of the staff at Mount Baker is laid back, very laid back. There is no hassling and employee sightings are fairly rare around the mountain. Although those liftees at the top are happy to laugh at you when you bail off the chair. As far as the grub goes, well, let's just say it's fast Hardcores will not lose any time on lunch. However; be prepared, with the exchange, to pay dearly for a pre-made burger. They serve beer too, but don't drink too much because there is nowhere on the hill for you to crash and sleep it off. Financial Services Ready, set, open your wallet: rates are up this year. For a day of shredding it will cost you $3 8CDN. But don't get too excited yet, that is mid-week. For the conscientious student types, a day on the weekend costs $49CDN. Ouch is the only way to describe it • ■ And another important note: your carload will be really sad if that one loser forgets his or her ID (birth certificate and passport are best) and US Customs won't let you cross the 49th parallel; very sad indeed. Set-up sit down: Our technical high-level climate snowboard equipment consultant Billy Ho from the Boardroom Snowboard Shop, gave us a few tips on what to look for when buying for the first time, or trading in your trashed set-ups. Snowboards The first thing that buyers need to understand is that every company has a range of models that are suited for the different levels and preferences of riders, so it's near impossible to compare brands. There are three categories of boards: entry, intermediate and high Beginners don't need anything more than an entry-level board, which is made to suit any style of riding. As your experience level rises, you become more demanding in terms of shape,, stiffness and overall feel. At the high level, the boards will cost an arm and a leg but should suit your needs to the most specific detail. An important note, give up posing buy the gear that suits you, not your favourite pro. Bindings preference You ride what feels the best in terms of stiffness and weight There, are al'so three categories of bindings. The first are plastics, which are^ very light but the least responsive. The next are "half arid half," which consist of plastic bases and high-backs and metal heel cups. Then there are full metal bindings, which are the most responsive of the three, but at times too stiff. Boots Boots are definitely the most important element of your set-up. There's nothing worse than having to re-lace your boots after every couple of runs Important things to look at are stiffness, arch support and foot-beds. Most importantiy, don't* think of skimping on the price in order to get a prettier board Outerwear The two things to look at are fashion and function. For West Coast riding, waterproof coating isn't going to cut it To fend off the rain and wet snow, outerwear has to be at least protected by waterproof laminates that's anything above 8000mm waterproof. Billy's final tip: If you love it enough, find the snow and just go do it The bargains So, it's time to update the equipment but you don't want to lay down too much cash. Well, there are a couple of bargains to be had around the city. A good place to start is the Boardroom Clearance Centre, located right in the heart ofthe action on 4th Avenue at Burrard. This store carries all the same quality gear as The Boardroom but clears out last year's models, they have plenty of selection, staff that use words like 'sick* and 'rad," and great deals on solid gear. Staff picks include Option and Custom Burton boards for the guys and the Option Bella for the ladies. They also cariy a" selection of helmets starling around $69. Unless you feel the need to have the latest and greatest gear, you can save serious bucks at this clearance centre.'Sorry skiers, boards only at this locale. But fear not there is ah answer for the bargain- hunting skiers among us. Sports Junkies is a used sporting goods store located on 6th Avenue near Cambie Street They advertise, buy, sell, trade and recycle. Sports Junkies provides one-stop shopping for you to unload your ojd gear and pick up some newer stuff. They have a variety of everything from skis arid boards, to boots, and all the way down to gloves. However, the most recent equipment will not be found here and shopping for the right gear may require some sifting. If you are small or tall your options are pretty open, but anyone in the medium range, may find the; selection a bit sparse. Nonetheless, things are quite cheap, and the longer an item collects dust on the rack the cheaper it gets. Each tag shows the original price and then lists what the item will cost in the future if it is not sold. If you think about it you could save money by gambling at this place. Wrap-up X 4> ■"** i»i In the binding department it all comes down to Well, the season has definitely begun, and hopefully this feature has gotten you stoked to ride. We simply have to make due, so we can do what we love to do. So pop in your favourite snowboard or ski DVD for inspiration, make a slick mix of old-school gangs- ta rap and layer the base of your board with pages from your Norton Anthology, because this is business. Forget the rocks and branches, it's no time for excuses. ♦ 8 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY?^ 2003 CULTURE THEUBYSSEY i DVD ZONE . 2138 WESTERN PARKWAY, VANCOUVER (on Campus, beside Bank erf Montreal) Large Selection of ■ DVD, VH'S & GAME$ for your enjoyment!.,.; • Reservations 604-221-9355. WHY DOES THE YOUNG GIRL SMILE? BECAUSE I SHE [ WRITES CULTURE FOR THE UBYSSEY. BE HEH ON WEDNESDAYS AT 1PM IN SUB 24. Staff Meeting Agenda Wednesday, 12pm SUB Room 24 1) Intro 2} Monday Production 3) Staff membership 4) Staff t-shirts 5) Ultimate (or lack therof) 6) Women's issue & Pride issue 7) Post Mortem , s twiio^yh.rA^ a new butf'b: . 7-T \;f 77-\- cub robo Poro/ /houldn'b 568 Dunsmufn Sfe (604) 806.4O4O 1191 Dav(© sc. (604) 685.4066 EHBtravel . XMMMpMU. —»»_ BC rag 32782 www sfcabraveLco l'(888} 427.5639 onune*. >»- on rue PHone >> on «mpu/ » on ths/trsst IN THEATRES JANUARY 31 ffmi/m. $MfffffOVZ Receive a COMPLIMENTARY "DOUBLEPASS -, lo^previeW ^ ' screening of; immMMt- Of THE FASfm. 2 .^IlifflMil ^S»i8i^^. showing" Wednesday : "January 29thr 2003 at 7:00pm at Famous Players Capital (820 Granville Street). Come to SUB Room 23 for your complimentary pass. wm— Giveaway Major Vancouver artistry U3C graduate > ,-*j brings four of A her latest; iristallations downtown LIZ MAGOR - af f/je Vancouver Art Gallery until Feb. 24 by Simon MclMally . ■ CULTURE WRITER Liz Magor's last sold show at tha Vancouver Art Gallery was in 1980, and now she'9 back with a survey of her work of the last 13 years, A Vancouver native, Magor was educated at UBC and the Parsons School of Design in New York City. Since then, she has spent time in Halifax and Toronto, but now. she is back living and working" in Vancouver. Among the dominant themes of this exhibition is the construction of personal identity, and how internal conceptions are related to external manifestations. As personal identities take shape between our ideals and our means of projecting thein, Liz Magor's use of realism' is varied and inflected with contradictions. Perhaps the- identity is ultimately her own, but engagement with this exhibition remains relevant to 'st' inuch wider audience. This artist insists "on the narrative" potential* of her "works,* but refrains from' explicitly directing the stories Although the themes' cir- ' culate through this difficult exhibi-' tion in a non-linear pattern-, they at times risk becoming discontinuous and fragmentary. Among the 19 pieces in the show, a sequence of four sculptural installations illustrate particularly well the relations betweeri internal and external personal spaces. Mediated by self- preservation, vulnerability, necessity and desire, these works share -physical relations* which serve to heighten their overall effect ' *Chee-To" consists of a pile of rocks seemingly dumped on top of a pile of cheesies. The pile of rocks is actually a rubber mould, and the cheesies are 'real'—that is, as 'real' as'real cheesies are. The soft internal space is crushed by the overbearing'weight of the rocks, and' just a l:qw neon snacks "spill out An internal desire is* concealed bf an imperfect front, damaged because it is too strong, yet it fails to contain its secret. "Stores" cohsfsts of several real bags of carrots and potatoes discreetly hidden behind a flat piece of wood and a scrap of dry- wall leaning against a nearby Wall. The drywall and wood are real, and the food is decidedly organic; But these nourishments seem unable to be used, perhaps forgotten, maybe because they ireou't of sight "Volvic* and "Double-Cabine|"i are in the'hext roOrh. 'Volvic,* when Erst approached^ appears as a stack of several oblong sections of industrial styrofoam (a decidedly synthetic material). Wfyen circumambulated/ the~ piece reveals that the 'stack' is actually a molded shell. With one side cut awayYrbws of bottled water are visible inside. There seems to be one bottle missing, but closer £nspec: tion reveals that one more bottle' would riot'fit;* thus the outer shell imposes limits ori ifs own capacities. "Double Cabinet* works in a similar way. Initially it'appears as two short stacks'of towels, but another point of view f eveals the stacks" to be rubber shells, this time containing beer and vodka. The Kokanee brand inflects the piece" with ari aspect of 'Canadian' identity."' In all four of the se' floor installations,' a consumable commodity seerns" to be concealed within a protective exterior. Nfetaphoric of our fears arid desires, Magor has used materials to help convey" the mediations * between inner and outer identities. '•>' Graphiterwon, lost or drawn East Van gallery plays host to innovative* exhibit of drawings WIND PLAYS TRICKS W/SLEEP by Lee Hutzulak "- - Xeno Gallery (18$ East Broadway Avenue} until Feb. 2 •■-> .., by Bcyaij Zapdbfrg *7'-« (Y7 7 CULTURE STAFF: ' The first thing you will need to know is the impishness of Xeno Galleiy, tucked in the back corner of aril art- and-eclectica retail"space called Dadabase. The secorid 'is that this little fio'rrier of the world is presently home ta a dozen or so graphite drawings comprising Lee Hutzulak's solo exhibition, entitled Wind Plays Tricks w/ Sleep. The collection signals Lee's "return to working in pe'neil after more* tharf a year's hiatus dabbling with collages and executing soirie stunning stuff in felt' marker painting. This present exhibition, so poetically titled, is the nexus" of Hutzulak's Overly-imaginative mind, a fistful of pencils of varying shades, Strathmore Bristol paper with a vellum finish and a'smattering of disparate influences. The result? A suite of highly sym- . belie-arid psychological forms and landscapes where empty'spaces are as vocal as filled ones, where the slightest provocations (the pretentiousness of a turtle- ' heck sweater, the sound" of a friend playing the trumpet, an ad on the radio) are departure points into the -artist's subliminal world. -' '-'" A prime example, arid a favourite of mine, is'a composition called "Attn: Diariiond-Shoppers.*" Its jet-black mythological forms; are arresting especially given the appearance of moveihent'fendered by the blurred appendages of forms that are half man, half " beast. Above one of these creatures," which appears to - have the"; head of a buffalo, Hutzulak slings a '. haunting-Taridseape, literally a riightrhare caught 6ft « the" horns ofthe bull. Vanishing edifices'and huinan 'visages are ensconced in contours that bind'the wholescene together. * ■•*■...■ >-:" Adding to the complexity of "Diamond Shoppers* is the fact that, according to Hutzulak, the stimulus for . the drawing came from a Spence Diarriorids corpirier-. cial he kept hearing ori"' the radio, a detail which makes for some fascinating allusions when you're standing th6fe locking'at the work. Sound and iriusic are ' thematic in the exhibition and for that matte r in Hutzulak's art as a whole. Many of his ideas are rendered both as works of aft and as" songs he plays m various Vancouver venues'with his band, Dixie's Death Pool. Altogether, Hutzulak's poised and visceral drawings( are fetching, both visually and mentally, which reminds me of the third thing you need to know: expect to see good things from this guy in the future, •♦* THEUBYSSEY CULTURE WEDNESDAY; JANUARY 22, 200^ 9 Cause for celebration Campus musical event raises funds for Afghani . women and children AWCEP FUNDRAISER at the Gallery Lounge Jan. 25 by Ian Duncan % CULTURE STAFF V Got plans for \* Saturday, January • 25? Well, I've got "'a something even \ better. UBC's Afghan ' " " -.^ \ Women and Children's Education Project (AWCEP) is hosting a fundraising gala at the Gallery in the SUB. It will include local musical talent such as Bent Roads Tavern and Thru Glass, which will be more funk and folk than you can shake a stick at. AWCEP was founded by UBC political science professor Kathleen Hill and a group of concerned UBC students in an effort to raise awareness and aid for the benefit of Afghani women and children. The focus is on giving women a chance to Become equal partners in the new Afghani government and supplying many kinds of aid for the betterment of the lives of women and children who live under it. Tickets* to" Saturday's event will b,e_ five dollars and all the profits will go to UNICEF,, the aid group to which AWCEP has decided to direct all of C'^i^x .S the funds raised. All of the money will go toward UNICEF's Afghan women's and children's education activities. Travis Allan, a member of the group and one of the. organisers of Saturday night's shindig says "[AWCEP'sJ- emphasis is on long- term reconstruction rather than only short term aid . peace building; and riot just peace keeping.*. This will be a fun night,, and unlike the usual beer-guzzling, self-destructing Saturday, this will be in support of a very important causeY AWtCEP will be selling tickets all4 over campus, but get 'them*in advance by e-mailing awcep@yahoo com, since there will be a limited amount of tickets available at the. door. Get involved and get a ticket, come have a drink, see the bands and help support the cause. ♦ Legends collide on BRAINWASHED George Harrison [Capitol] -; EDWARD THE GREATEST HiTS Iron Maiden [Columbia] GREAT: THE by Chris Dingwalt CULTURE WRITER The spiritual and musical quest that began with "Within You Without You" ends with Brainwashed, George Harrison's posthumously released album. Produced, by Harrison, son Dhani and long-time collaborator Jeff Lynne (of the Electric Light Orchestra and the ~ Traveling Wilburys), the bulk of the album was recorded in the time, leading up to Harrison's November 2001 death and shows him to be at the height of' his musical and lyrical'charms. "Any Road" begins the album with a sunny jaunt through Harrison's existential philosophy that,is equal parts profound and tongue:in-cheek.' the dark hand of fate ("Oh Lord, we pay the price/With the spin ofthe wheel and the roll of the dice") shares space with 'alf-yeah's and 'ooh-ee's. The alburd goes on iii this vein; in some eases hearkening to his Beatles days; "Rising Sun" has a lot of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Rocking Chair in Hawaii* has A lot of "For You Blue*—shimmering slide guitar and all.' "Marwa Blues* is a pretty instrurhental that delicately lays bare Harrison's Eastern and Western influences, otherwise implicit in songs like "Run So Far" and "Never Get Over You," which deal with mortality and break-ups, respectively. This album is in many ways a document of a man who knows he is dying (Harrison had been diagnosed with lung cancer in 1997)i yet none ofthe album is sombre. Sometimes his wiy sense of spirituality is too serious for its own good (we are being "brainwashed by the satellite," he helpfully warns at the end of the title track), but these* moments are rare. Brainwashed corries from another world that only Harrison's weary soul can'glimpse, and only his gentle wit can make believable Iron Maiden's "spiritual and musical quest is of a slightly different nature, though the calib're te just; as high: George' Harrison .makes nice music about bicycles arid God's love; Maideri makes nice music about Satan and . his army. Edward the Great compiles the band's most cherished singles on a single disc, iricludirig all four from their seminal Seventh Son of a Seventh Son album. (1987) and one live track from their epic (2 50,000 attendees) 'Rock in Rio', concert in ■ 2Q01. As such, Edward is njeant for Maiden beginners—there's nothing new here for die-hard'fans—and it serves as ari excellent introduction to the woefully under-appreciated genre of heavy metal. Maiden's music is complex and not to be scoffed at, its lineage traceable, to Phil Collins' Genesis/ Motorhead, and Led Zeppelin. Their lyrical subXect inattef runs the gamut from a homage to the plight of the " American Cree on "Ruh.fo.tfie Hills," an enthusiastic ode to anal sex on "Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter," arid a contender for the most iriisunderstood love song of all time, "The Evil that Men Do." As a rock vocalist, Bruce Dickinson doesn't sing' so much as chant And as primary songwriter, Steve Harris is more a conjurer of gloom from an ethereal landscape saturated with demons and evil. This is metal at its best artfully loud music that exists well beyond the mundane experience of modern individuals. Like Harrison, Maiden isn't too keen on the world as-is, and they both, use their music to glance at more awesome places. ♦ eedback(S)ams.ubc.ca *- - .-. - upas?... youp chance to decide VOTE!!!!! February 10-14,2003 If passed, the U-Pass will be a mandatory program for all UBC students. The U-PasS will give you: , ' • Unlimited access to TransLink Bus, SeaBus and SkyTrain Services (all zones); 'Discounted West Coast Express Fares; • Increased service and capacity on U8C routes; • Discounts at participating merchants; • Continued access to other UBC transportation programs (provided by the Trek program center} How much will it cost? • $20 per month (Sept-April) for non UBC housing students '". '•'■$ V5 per month'(Sept-ApVil) for UBC housing students • - Want More Info? Check out www.upass.ubc.ca, or email AMS VP External, Tara Learn at vpexternal@dmS.ubc.ca. t—you have a voice - use it! Ofi January 23rd, the Board of Governors will meet to decide whether .there has been enough dialogue, between students ar$ the University to . justify'aii $800* tuition increase. Come to the Student Led Consultation on Tuition and bring your concerns directly fo the Board of Governors Where: The Old Administration Building (past the North side of Koerner Library) When: Thursday, January 23rd, from 3:00 pm to . 50Q pm. * .-■ u There will be: music theater and the opportunity to voice your opinion. -800 is the base increase, different faculties will face larger union increases. ams elections^ r Campaigning for the AMS Elections is now underway. Check out the Various candidates via their posters around campus, the link below and the student forums. Make ah informed decision and get ready to vote online! ' For more information, contact the Elections Committee at 604-827- 5325 (SUB Room 224>; e-mail elections@ams.ubc.ca or visit the ams website at www.ams.ubc.ca/elections Don't forget to vote January, 17th to 24th. • Tuesday,January21,8.-00 pm-WfiOpm'PlaceVanier,(Hubbard's Lounge) - All candidates forum (except BOG and Senate) • Wednesday, January 22,12.00 pm - 200 pm ■ Meekison Arts Student $pace - Buchanan, D Block - All Candidates Forum, (except BOG and Senate) • Friday, January 24,11:59 pm-Voting ends. ^ - compost workshopsv Is your New Year's Resolution to cut down on waste and become more environmentally friendly?? Well even if it isn't, an indoor worm composter is a great way to reduce waste and get your department involved In a group project UBC Waste Management is holding a worm_ composting workshop on January 30th, at 12:30 pm where you will learn how to build and maintain your own worm composter. Composters are odorless and small enough to fit into any office and are a great place to put lunch scraps, coffee grinds and other organic wastes. When: Thursday, January 30th, 12:30 pm -1:30 pm Where: 6381 Stores Rd (near the Geology Building, off of Main Mall) Cost: $25 for supplies - FREE if you are only coming for Information. ^Registration by: Friday,January 24th,500 pm eventsn Sue Johanson, the host of the Sunday Night Sex Show will be on campus talking about sex and answering audience questions. Free condom giveaways and prize*. Totem Park Ballroom on Tuesday, Jan. 21st at 700 pm. AMS Volunteer Servkes presents 2003 International Opportunities Fair Have you ever wanted to go abroad and do something that made an impact on your life and on the lives ofthe locals? If so, then you won't want to miss out on this fair! Numerous organizations that offer exciting International Opportunities wilt Ipe present at booths on the SUB Concourse from January 22nd -24th -10:00 am to 200 pm. If you're interested in hearing what other students have to say about their experiences abroad, don't miss the Student Panel on Wednesday; January 22nd at 12O0 noon in the SUB Partyroom. The JET program, UBC Student Exchange, and Agriventure will also be hosting info sessions. If you're interestedin any pf these, organizations, the info sessions are a great chance to get the specifics! For more info, visit: www.ams.ubc.ca, or email volunteers@ams.ubc.ca. Equity Office Workshops, PositiveSpace This workshop trains resource persons for the Positive Space Campaign. Positive Space is designed to raise visibility of safe ( and supportive places for lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgendered, twp-spirited, iriter-sexed and questioning (LGBQTT) people on campus. It works to increase awareness of these Issues, reduce homophobia and heterosexism and challenge patterns of invisibility; a direct result ofthe oppression LGBQTT people experience. Dates/times:Jan. 21 st, 1O0pm to 4O0pm - Ponderosa Annex E, #111,2021 West Malfc For more information, please contact Chris McKay, at 604-822-6353 or equity@equity.ubcca~ €J 10 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2003 EDITORIAL THEUBYSSEY THE UBYSSEY WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2003 VOLUME 84 ISSUE 30 EDITORIAL BOARD ACTING COORDINATING EDITOR Duncan M. McHugh NEWS EDITORS Kathleen Deering Chris Shepherd CULTURE EDITOR Michael Schwandt SPORTS EDITOR Sarah Conchie FEATURES/NATIONAL EDITOR . Duncan M. McHugh COPY EDITOR Anna King PHOTO EDITOR Nic Fensom PRODUCTION MANAGER Hywel Tuscano COORDINATORS VOLUNTEERS Jesse Marchand RESEARCH/LETTERS Parminder Nizher The Ubyssey'a the official student newspaper of the University of British Columbia. It is published every Tuesday and Friday by Tha Ubyssey Publications Soc'ety. We are an autonomous, democratically run student organisation, and all students are encouraged 1° participate. Editorials are chosen and written by the Ubyssey staff. They are (he expressed opinion of the staff, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Ubyssey Publications Society or the University of British Columbia Tlie Ubyssey is a founding member of Canadian University Press (CUP) and adheres to CUP's guiding principles. All editorial content appearing in The Ubyssey'\s the properly of The Ubyssey Publications Society. Stories, opinions, photographs and artwork contained herein cannot be reproduced without the expressed, written permission of Trie Ubyssey Publications Society. Letters to the editor must be under 300 words. P'ease include your phone number, student number and s:gnature (not for publication) as well as your year and faculty with aU submissions. ID will be checked when submissions are dropped off at the editors! office of The Ubyssey, otherwise verification will be done by phone. "Perspectives" are opinion pieces over 300 words but under 751} words and are run according to space. "Freestyles" are opinion pieces written by Ubyssey staff members. Priority will be given to letters and perspectives over freezes unless the latter is time sensitive^ Opinion pieces will not be run until the identity of the writer has been verged. It is agreed by aD persons placing display or classified advertising that if the Ubyssey Publications Society fails to publish an advertisement or if an error in the ad occurs the liability of the UPS will not be greater than the price paid for the ad. Trie UPS shall not be responsible for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value or the impact of the ad. EDITORIAL OFFICE Room 24, Student Union Building 6138 Student Union Boulevard Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1 tels 604-822-2301 fax: 604-822-9279 web: www.ubyssey.bc.ca e-mail: feedback@ubyssey.bc.ca BUSINESS OFFICE Room 23, Student Union Building advertising: 604-822-1654 business office: 604-822-6681 fax: 604-822-1653 e-mail: advertising@ubyssey.bc.ca : BUSINESS MANAGER Fernie Pereira AD SALES Karen Leung AD DESIGN Shalene Takara Kathleen Deering walked through thA dark dark forest on hex way io Chris Shepherd'* hous*. She \yas in a really bi& rush because sha was avoiding running into Michael Schwandt Sarah Coijchie, Rob Nagai and tha rest o( Duncan McHugh'*.; gang of antisocial miscreants. Anna King had teen roughed up by them toughs last week and if Nic Feiisoni Hywel fuscario, and Sara Young hadn't been coming out torn Jesse Marchand's seedy bar at the tune, she'd have been worse off than Andrew Bowyer and Parminder Nizher. Somewhere between there and Nlegin Thomas's mansion, she heard a terrible, hysterical scream in. the dark. Brooks McLachlan'* anguished cries echoed through the trees and reminded her of the terrible fetes Lii Amiells Del Rosa, Janet French, John McCrank, Jonathan Woodward, Ted Chen, and Johnny Hua had met just a year before., on this very date! Suddenly* Mia Mali's whispered warnings seemed a lot mora dire. She should have stayed at Dan Silverman's place. Suddenly, out of tha terntying gloom came a shape. It carried » knife. She screamed. It was terrible. if wap... Graeme Worthy, coming back to seek revenge again3t Ronald NurwisaA. Kim Koch and Aman Sharma. Zerah Lurie's, whq was hilling in the bushes, wanted no part in aU of that* A Ubyssey * - Canadian University , Press Canada Port Sal* Agr.apn.nt Numb* 073214t quiz 7 Sometimes we at the Ubyssey find ourselves with so many important and pertinent issues to . write about in our editorials that we can't decide which one to grace our readers with. Such i3 the case with today's issue. So, in lieu of an editorial, the Ubyssey would like to present a quiz for our esteemed readers. Give it your best shot, and don't forget to check your answers. The reader who gets the most answers correct wins a prize. Oh, we're just kidding—no you don't. Good luck! 1) How many dollars did UBC overestimate it was getting from summer tuition lastyear when making up the budget for this year? (a) $6.87 7 •, ■ (b) $47.29 (c) $2236.07 (d) $5 million 2) Which UBC character provided the Ubyssey with this tantalising quote regarding the TA Union 'breakfast at Martha Piper's' protest last Thursday? First he said he didn't attend because he slept in. He continued: "I didn't plan to go, ■ no. It's just a personal choice of mine. The logic behind the protest, I agree with." (a) Martha Piper, UBC president (b) that flute-playing guy (c) Alex Grant, TA Union pres (d) Chris Lythgo, Alma Mater Society (AMS) vp academic 3)Date ofthe Sapphire baifl Ohmygodohmygodohymygodl (a) Yesterday, you missed it (b) It's like, the biggest sorority event of the year! (c) Saturday, March 22. (d) I'm so excited I think I'm going to throw up. 4) Who is. this unnamed AMS councillor referring to when he said, at one of council's biweekly meetings: "You should bring a pillow. Some people just can't stop talking.' (a) Martha Piper's imaginary friend Bort (b) your parents (c) your blind date (d) the AMS council - 5) What shouldn't you do after consuming enough liquor that your blood alcohol level is 0.149? •' (a) rule a province ' 7 (b) drive on a winding highway kilometers and kilometres away from your destination (c) smile for your mugshot (d) all ofthe above . . 6) You're the head of a major international institution of learning involved in negotiations with your employees. They want a pay raise to match increased costs you have imposed on them. What shouldn't you do? (a) suggest tents on Wreck Beach for housing . (b) call the RCMP " (c) accept a 30 per cent pay increase (d) all of the above 7) What constitutes a threat to US National security? (a) empty chemical warheads made in the 1980s (b) four Canadian soldiers practicing war manouevres in Afghanistan (c) an egomaniacal political family (d) killer bees 8) What did Canada's Poet Laureate George Bowering say to slain poets? LETTERS (a) "[You are all] crude and extremely revolting* (b) "[You are all] prudes, preening and molting* (c) *I really identify with your work. I find it inspiring and passionate.* (d) "What's the deal with your hair?* 9) What was the original phrase that inspired George Bush's "axis of evil" statement? (a) axis of pretzels' (b) axis of hatred (c) axis of grumpiness (d) axis of countries who possess" oil 10) You hear a squeaking, a squealing and a grunting noise. Where are you? (a) UBC farm (b) Totem Park residence lounge (c) AMS exec summer camp \ (d) The Moon Answers; (d,d,c,d,d,d,c,a,b,c) ♦ Real AMS issues stifled under personalities and mockeries by Daniel Grice Although one ofthe less dirty elections in past years, this election again show% thatA^ma Mater Society (AMS) elections have less to do with important issjies and more to do with misrepresentation and mockeiy. As In independent who has to* work ten, tinies- as hard to get my message out there, I ani disappointed, tp see 23 candidates running fi?r presi-,, dent; or members of the_ Radical Beer Faction (RBF) actually saying that they despise the very council that they are running for. I am running against a candidate who indentifies herself as a pylon, which could easily receive more votes than me, despite the fact that the winner will be paid nearly 20 grand and will be fighting for the future of education. Is this one of the reasons that elections often receive less than 10 per cent ofthe - vote. It makes one wonder, do stu-, dents actually care about the quality of their education, the safety and assistance programs on campus, or any ofthe other things that makes UBC , worth attending? UBC is getting a bad reputation for its apathy, . and ,those who are running as a joke do nothing to help it. It is especially sad when students; with strong opinions and., real concerns fail to stand up in a serious issue. Laha Rupp (presidential for RBF) for instance speaks on behalf of Science students who have lost their labs while handing out 'not beers." The AMS shouldn't be treated as a gag, even if students are tired of slates monopolising elections. The only redeeming aspect of this ejection is that I am, not the only independent running this year. Ian McKechnie and Alan Warkentin both have real experience and are candidates for VP 7 Finance. Plus there are others running for Senate and Board of Governors (BoG), Both of them have made a real commitment to balancing the AMS's troubled finances, and have publically pledged to reduce their salaries. With student gpy: ernment, I think there is a level of honesty present, only with.independents. They are the. ones who, make a commitment to the position that they are running for, and to serious issues. Regardless of the results of this election, I hope candidates in the future will be willing to prove their commit ment by only running if they are seriously concerned about the issues, and by running on those issues rather than a slate. And I hope the voters realise that just because you know someone running for a slate, it doesn't mean you have to vote for them all. Come out to forums, read up on the candidates and e-mail them if you have any questions. But especially vote. AMS Council nafs moved to online elections this year so as to make it more convenient to vote, and to allow co-op and students on exchange to participate as well. You pay for the AMS, you may as well vote wisely for it. ♦ —Daniel Grice is an independent candidate for vice president, external and a fourth-year archaeoldgy student. THE UBYSSEY CULTURE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2003 11 Easy reads for hard drives How to kill time, without wanting to kill yourself COMPUTER WAITING GAMES by Hal Bowman [Quirk Books] by John Moon CULTURE STAFF I only wish I had this book in the days of my 386 DX-33 with a 2400-baud modem, running DOS 6.0 and Windows* 3.1. You remember those days, don't you? I waited literally hours on a single-functional, single-tasking PC computer every time I had to install programs. It became standard practice for me to keep a prone computers, such as mine. Written by Hal Bowman, a systems technician in a major corporation. Computer Waiting Games is a do-it-yourself recipe book of "Things to Do While Downloading, Processing, or Crashing." The way Bowman sees it, people usually waste tonnes of time in the workplace, but when it comes to computing, they expect instant gratification. So rather than opening a real book or doing actual work, the impatient computer user can find in this book an activity to fill waiting periods of less than three minutes, three to seven minutes, or eight minutes or longer. • .Many ofthe activities in the book are quite ingenious. The "Mind and Spirit" section is perhaps the most pragmatic; it includes such enlightening activities as "building an altar to the downloading gods' and the 'praying for a decent connection pose.' Sometimes (actually, most times, since I use Telus ADSL), I do feel that prayer and meditation are the only real ways to achieve good, steady connections and downloads. My favourite activity, however, is 'power strip Russian roulette," a game in which you grasp a random cord on the power strip, and pull it out Computer Waiting Games is definitely worth considering as a gift to send a subtle but sure message to your computer nerd friend Hubert that he spends way too much time on the computer. Just make sure you're out ofthe way when he" tries the CD-ROM long-distance discus toss in your direction. ♦ COmPUTER re j., < r it," ** s* r i* ij j»* i k " book by the computer—not because I like to actually read (I hate reading, naturally, as I am an English literature major), but because there was no television in my computer room and looking at a book (yes, looking at; not even reading) was more compelling than watching the installation process. Computer Waiting Games may be a bit outdated in the age of multitasking glory, but it's still quite relevant to slow and crash- What NOT to to do in essays The Fifty Fatal Flaws of Essay Writing by Glen R. Downey.. 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Fro j; 'uei: by Zerah Lurie CUtTURESTAFF Most students never bother looking over their essay once they find out their grade, yet looking over their comments and seeing what they did wrong is probably the best way students can improve their essay writing. The Fifty Fatal Flaws of Essay Writing helps students improve their writing by going over their essays for them- Glen Downey, a writing teacher, lists many common mistakes that he has seen in his students' essays and explains how to correct them so that they don't have to decipher their teachers' handwriting and figure out what the cryptic shorthand means. The book is arranged in a simple, straightforward format in which Downey explains each flaw with an example, shows how to fix it, and " then gives exercises for further practice. This'book is aimed at high school, university and college students, and although upper-year students will find most of the examples too basic, lower-year students will find many ofthe tips extremely useful. One thing about this book that students will appreciate is that it makes no apologies in telling them what teachers are really looking Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Come write for the real thing. sports@ubyssey.bc.ca Ubyssey Sports Betto, th- The Ubyssey's annual Pride Issue hits stands February 14th A meeting for interested writers, photographers, designers and arts is on Friday, January 24th in SUB Room 24 in the basement ARC ^ Alternate Routes to Computing A program offered by the Department of Computer Science, University of British' Columbia • Are you thinking of making a career change? • Are you thinking about a career in Information Technology? • Are you looking for an education program that will equip you with the knowledge you need to turn this aspiration into a reality? ARC is a 28-rnonth post-baccalaureate diploma program combining 18 months of academic computer science courses with an or 12 months co-op work experience, It is designed for people with an excellent record of academic achievement in any field but witr little or no programming experience. Features of the ARC program: • Small class size; • No high tuition fees. The fees are the same as those paid by other undergraduate students; • Industry experience; • Welcome students from a wide range of academic backgrounds, e.g. humanities, science, education, engineering, business. For more information, go to our web site www.arc.cs.ube.ca or email undergrad-ihfo@cs.ubc.ca. for. Downey speak3 to.the students without pretension, letting them know that teachers won't be fooled by their schemes to disguise bad essay writing—for example, overusing the thesaurus and padding with unneeded words are flaws nine and ten respectively. There is no secret code that teachers expect in students' writing. Instead, as Downey explains, all they want is a clear and well-written essay. Downey splits his book evenly between mechanical mistakes (the dangling modifier, flaw #42) and 'more general problems in writing style and essay-writing (the two-sentence conclusion, flaw #15). He tackles essays at the word, sentence-, paragraph and content levels. Unfortunately, since this book has no index or table of contents, students will need to look through the entire book to find information about a particular writing flaw. While it might be easy to learn how to correct the mechanical mistakes, overcoihing sentence and paragraph mistakes can take a lot of practice and patience. While the practical exercises try to help students by giving them ways to practice solving a particular flaw, they are often unrealistic, suggesting tasks few will ever bother carrying out. Filly Fatal Flaws does not pretend to be the ultimate answer to all your essay problems. Downey suggests several times that the reader should consult a MLA or grammatical reference guide. These writing guides are extremely useful and expand on some of the' issues that Downey only touches on. Yet, while a writer's reference is perhaps an essential tool for all writers, it only works if they know how to use it Still, The Fifty Fatal Flaws of Essay Writing shines by telling students where they can go wrong in very simple and concise language, so it is easy to know which problems to they need to fix. Best of all, Downey explains how to recbgnise and fix each flaw in under two pages, so each individual problem can be identified and corrected quickly. ♦ 12 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2003 SPORTS THE UBYSSEY Birds by Rob Nagai SPORTS WRITER It was the moment that captured the weekend. With 14 seconds before the end of the first half on Saturday night, SFU's Pasha Bains squared off against Thunderbird Corey Ogilvie. Bains dribbled the ball back and forth, beating the challenge into the floor. The Birds' defence had settled, and all eyes were on Bains. Suddenly," he exploded past Ogilvie, making for the hoop. But instead of a swoosh, the whistle sounded- as first-year Thunderbird Ryder McKeown threw himself in front of Bains to draw the call for charging. That's how. the whole weekend played, out for the Clan, moving past one Thunderbird only to find another in their path. But the first and perhaps most damaging block came almost a week before tipoff, when star forward Jordan Mason was declared ineligible to play under SFU's academic rules. The last time SFU and UBC met, Mason did major damage as one of the Clan's leading scorers and play- makers, With Bains suffering from pneumonia, and Mason gone, the' Birds swept the Clan out of the number one spot in the Pacific Division with just six games left before the playoffs. gamescores \ With 1500 rowdy fans in the stands, UBC won out over the struggling Clan 91-80 Saturday night, following a Friday match in which the Birds thumped Simon Fraser 87 to 60. Second-year star Karlo Villanueva laid down ten points and nine assists in the victo'SFU is not just a notch on the post," said the five^foot-three point guard. "They were ranked, one all year. They had two games on us, we had to get the wins and make the point spread. And we did." Veteran forward Kyle Russell also helped lead the team, Russell had a lot of sympathetic words for SFU over the loss of Mason, but didn't show sympathy on the floor as he put up 24 points in Saturday's game. Fourth-year forward Pat McKay was beaming on Saturday night after he put up 22 points and knocked down 11 rebounds. "They tried to attack me and I stepped it up," said McKay of his presence under the boards. Coach Hansen, sees the, wins as equivalent to playoff victories. "You want to say it is just another game, but when it is your rival there is a lot on that line. We really want to ride the wave right now. Beating your rival puts you on a momentum swing," Hansen said. "We end. [the season} on four road trips. So you got to take" care of business at home." ... , ; The Birds host the University of Victoria Vikes at War Memorial Gymnasium next weekend. Tip-off is . at 8pm Friday and Saturday. V Dinos upset UBC pool Swim team loses Canada West championships for the first time in five years by Sarah Conchie SPORTS EDITOR For the first time in five years, the UBC Thunderbird swim team stood second on the podium at the Canada West Championships. A young Dino team, capitalising on the lack of Olympic material from the UBC pool, proved their prowess in their home waters, winning by a 113- point team margin oyer the defending national champions. The Birds were missing power turbines Brent Hayden and Brianjohns, but the Dinos have been on the make since the beginning of the season, winning the national coaches' poll by a 200-point margin over the Birds as of January 12. The swimming program at UBC boasts five national championship banners and a stable of Olympic athletes. but although the Birds posted record-breaking times at the event in Calgary over the weekend, the Dinos broke tradition with some impressive swimming of their own. Despite Jessica Deglau's six gold- and one silver-medal performance, Calgary's women won out on the third day of the meet, with Dino Erin Gammel setting the record, winning the 100m backstroke with a time of 1:00.65. UBC's Kelly Stefanyshyn contributed five medals to the T- Bird total, while newcomer Michelle Landiy swam for four, including two golds for the 200m and 400m individual relays. In the absence of Hayden and Johns, Bird Mark Johnston lead the men, winning six golds and one silver, and breaking his earlier 200m freestyle record in the process. Matt Huang, a recent addition to the UBC pool, won first place in both the 100m and 200m breast- stroke, and the men reset the record in the 400m free relay. '. The national showdown begins February 20 in the neutral waters of Victoria.. UBQ will be gunning for their sixth national title, while the! Dinos will look to resume their place as top-ranked in the country.. Before UBC became the team to beat, Calgary was running on a three-year championship streak from 1994 to 1997.♦ Italy update The Canadian men's ice hockey team continues to win at the World Universiade in Tarvisio, Italy, beating ^the USA. 5-1 Sunday and triumphing over Finland 3-1 on Monday. UBC's own Nick Marach. continues to sit in the penalty box, roughing up some American players this time, and serving two minutes in the third period. Marach was on the ice long enough to score the opener in the Finland game, however, before grabbing two penalties in the first and second periods. Team" Canada now sits atop their pool with four wins and no losses, and will advance to the semi-final after a Wednesday match-up against the Czech Republic. Alpine skier and UBC student Alexandra MacLean made good time down the hill on Sunday, finishing 21st, five seconds off the winning time. Monday, MacLean Ice hockey o11 r>T'r>i i'i 0 r: J placed 34th in the women's super G event, 12 seconds, off an Italian winning time of 1:46.46. Luke Heckrodt, the Bird's crosscountry emissary, placed 75 th in the first event, five minutes back* of the winner with a time of 30:24.5. The following day, he jumped 17 spots to finish 58th in the men's lkm sprint event. The Games continue until January 25, with live results and everything Team Canada at www.cisport.ca/wug/tarvisio20O3/ It's still technically attainable, but the men's hockey team will have to win three of four possible points in ' the coming weeks to make the playoffs. The Birds fell 7-1 and 3-2 to the Calgary Dinos on the road this weekend, and are off to Regina to face the Cougars January 24-25. Regina currently holds the final playoff spot in the division. The women are still in the basement ofthe Pacific division, shut-out by the Saskatchewan Huskies this weekend. Goaltenders Lucie Fortin (29 saves) and Teiyne Russell (37 saves) valiantly held back the Husky attack, but the Birds eventually lost 6-0 and 1-0 to the tenth-ranked Saskatchewan crew. The 1-15 UBC squad is still looking for their second win of the season as they host the fourth-ranked Regina Cougars next weekend at the Winter Sports Centre. The puck drops at 7pm both Friday and Saturday night. ♦ «' fc ' i s 4. ill ,"j''rli*x\T TOWER OF POWER: UBC's Pat McKay grabbed Saturday's victor/, rose bouthellier photo rebounds in Women swept by Clan "We can tinker with some things at this point in the season, but by Sarah Conchie SPORTS EDITOR Somewhere in the second half of Friday night's game, the women's basketball team lost their nerve. Playing SFU for the third time this season, UBC had the distinction of being the only team to beat the Clan in 41 games, but the only history made this time around was the presentation of a ■' , " , . brand-new scholar- W6 re getting a |X?ho^iittlelonginthe woman Rutii fog^ to fa rg_ Wilson. - Top ubc for- inventing the ward Carrie .'■*.'' \ # . Watson, the firs|T- Wheel. Bird to receive the $1800 award, had little to celebrate in the wake of Saturday's loss, as she saw her team score a mere three points in the first 15 minutes of play. The Clan dominated the first half, going on an unanswered 19- point scoring run before Watson fought her way through the thicket of SFU players for a lay-up, making the score 6-19 with five minutes of play remaining. > "We just didn't get it done," said Watson in the aftermath. "We didn't take care of business tonight We came out bad, and we just couldn't get things back together." Watson scored 12 points for the Birds in the loss, but she was the only UBC player in double digits as the Clan rumbled to a 57-36 victory. —Deb Huband Head coach, Women's basketball Thirty-six points is a season low for the UBC squad, but coach Deb Huband focussed on the lack of performance rather than the score. "We're on a three-game losing streak, and playing Simon Fraser we thought we could come out with at least a split," said Huband. "So, no, we're not in a good place right now." , The trbuble started in the second half of Friday night's game, with the Clan gobbling up UBC's slim eight-point lead in the first few minutes, and then holding the Bird3 to a 32 per cent shooting average throughout the second half. And even though the Birds out-rebounded SFU 40-27, the last few minutes swung inexorably into SFU's favour. With four minutes left and the Birds within four pomts of tying up the game, the foul calls flew, and the Clan prevailed from the line, winning 65-58. "We can tinker with some things at this point in the season, but we're getting a Httle bit long in the tooth to be re-inventing the wheel," said Huband after the game.."We're confident iji our playbook, we're confident in what we can do on tfie court, but where we're seeing variation is the preparation—the mental side of the game. That's a personal thing and the players need to take responsibility for that" The 9-5 pirds host the young UVic Vikes in the last home series of the seasonJan24-25. ♦