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E'->1 ? Culture
Friday, 7 October, 2005 THE UBYSSEY
Blossom Chic
Local designer aims to dress Vancouver up:
Fewer yoga pants! More ruffled trims!
by Jessalynn Keller
CULTUREWRITER
Chloe Angus is on a mission. While
other aspiring colleagues have
thrown in the towel and headed
eastwards, this local designer is
. determined to make Vancouverites
more stylish. Angus launched her
Spring 2006 line at BC Fashion
Week on Granville Island. Tided
'Blossom Chic,' Angus' pieces are
sophisticated and sexy, yet casual
and fresh. 'Blossom Chic is strong,
feminine, and unique,' the designer explains, 'it is eveiything that
BC women are.'
And therein lies the secret to
Angus' designs. Born, raised and
educated in Vancouver, Angus
knows Vancouver women and
what they want—casual, easy to
wear clothes for all body types
that are still sophisticated and
cosmopolitan stylish. Her new
line uses many of the spring
trends seen recently at the Spring
2006 New York Fashion Week
while reworking the styles tor
make them wearable for west
coast women.
"I want to dress Vancouver
women up a httie," the designer
explains, "show them they can
throw a fitted gold jacket over their
casual outfit" Angus designs with
this mix and match philosophy in
mind, pairing soft linen pants with
delicate hand-painted tops and
flowing chiffon dresses with tailored silk jackets. A classic pencil
skirt is teamed with an open back
blouse to add an edge for a night on
the town, while a satin slip-dress
and patterned scarf provides the
perfect outfit for a casual evening
walk along the beach.
Angus' colour combinations
also reflect her desire to make
dressing easy for Vancouver
women. Combining rich whites,
buttercup yellows, and slate
greys with accents of blues and
pale golds, the muted colour
palate of "Blossom Chic" is not
only effortless to wear but also
easy to match with those pieces
already in your closet.
While clean lines and simple
cuts dominate Angus' collection,
she accents many of her pieces
with feminine flowers, a modest
ribbon, or a ruffled trim. These
additions remain subtle surprises
though, adding a unique west coast
spring feel to the clothing. It is no
shock that Angus specifically mentions the beauty of Vancouver
spring blossoms as a major inspiration to her collection.
Angus plans to stay in
Vancouver, unlike many of her fellow west coast designers who make
the move east to Toronto or
Montreal in order to escape the
Vancouver style staples of fleece
and yoga pants,, and to access larger fashion scenes. Angus has a
passionate enthusiasm about
Vancouver's style and sees value
in the newness of the Vancouver
fashion scene. Consequently, she
has high expectations for the city's
future in the fashion industry.
"I want to help bring the international [fashion] eye this way," Angus
gushes. Not surprisingly, she is
already doing her part—Angus has
been invited to show her next collection at Saks 5th Avenue in New
York. Lucky for lis, we can get our
hands on Angus' collection before
the rest of the world at several
stores in the Lower Mainland,
including The Bay Downtown
Vancouver, Helmet on West 4th
Avenue, Ella's' in Langley, arid
Marilyn's in West Vancouver. II
'Tweens
UBC Men's Volleyball
WarMemorial
October 7,7pm
UBC Thunderbirds play
against Hawaii. Come cheer
on your school team and
watch a game of volleyball.
UBC Symphony
Orchestra
Chan Centre
October 7,8pm
Are you interested in enjoying a night listening to
instrumentals? Then come
listen to the UBC Symphony
Orchestra directed by Jesse
Read.
MuchmusicVJ Search
October 7,10-4pm
time to whip out your best
talents for the Muchmusic VJ
search 2005 baby! Here's
your second chance to audition and wow the judges
and become the next
MUchmusic VJ or to find out
how you can make it on TV.
In either case there will be
tons of prizes for all efforts.
Jigerfest
SUB Partyroom
October 7,7pm-11pm
$5 tickets
SUS is having a jager-
themed event featuring lots
of drinks such as the jager-
bomb. If you arrive before 8
you can receive a free beer
and bratwurst. Members of
The Ubyssey will be there
stealing new volunteers.
Turkey Bowling
Third Floor Lasserre (just behind
that long useless bench)
October 7,5pm
Frabric Land and Good
Times present turkey bowling. There could be turkeys
there but it is uncertain.
However there will be a
chance to win prizes and if
you shoot a spare or a strike
you get one free shot.
Arcade Fire
The Forum
October 7, 8pm
The tickets for this show
could or could not be sold
out at Zulu Records.
MIA
Commodore Ballroom
October 7,8pm
This concert is unfortunately
sold out but I'm sure you'll be
able to find some scalpers if
you really want to see the
show.
isceiianeous
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Friday, 7 October, 2005
Vol.LXXXVH N°10
Editorial Board
coordinating editor Jesse Marchand
coordinating@ubyssey.bcca
news editors Paul Evans St Eric Szeto
news@ubyssey.bcca
culture editor Simon Underwood
culture@ubyssey.bcca
sports editor Megan Smyth
sports@ubjrssey.bcca
FEATURES/NATIONAL EDITOR
Bryan Zandberg
features@ubyssey.bcca
photo editor Yinan Max Wang
photos@ubyssey.bcca
production manager Michelle Mayne
production@ubyssey.bcca
Coordinators
volunteers Liz Green
volunteers@ubyssey.bcca
research/letters Claudia Li
feedback@ubyssey.bcca
The Ubyssey is the official student newspaper of the University
of British Columbia. It is published every Tuesday and Friday
by The Ubyssey Publications Sodety. We are an autonomous,
democratically run student organisation, and all students are
encouraged to participate.
Editorials are chosen and written by the Ubyssey staff. They
are the expressed opinion of the staff, and do not necessarify
reflect the views of The Ubyssey Publications Sodety or the
University of British Columbia. All editorial content appearing in
The Ubyssey is the property of The Ubyssey Publications Sodety.
Stories, opinions, photographs and artwork contained herein
cannot be reproduced without the expressed, written permission
of The Ubyssey Publications Sodety.
The Ubyssey is a founding member of Canadian University Press
(CUP) and adheres to CUP's guiding prindples.
Letters to the editor must be under 300 words. Please indude
your phone number, student number and. signature (not for
publication) as well as your year and faculty with all submissions.
ID will be checked when submissions are dropped off at the
editorial office of The Ubyssey, otherwise verification will be done
, by phone.*Pefsperth«s^ are opinion pieces, over 300 words but.
.under 750 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 freestyles unless the latter is
time sensitive. Opinion pieces wil not be run until the identity of
the writer has been verified. The Ubyssey reserves the right to edit
submissions for length and darity.
It is aareed by all persons placing display or classified advertising
that if the Ubyssey Publications Sodety faiis 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. The 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, BCV6T 1Z1
tel: 604-822-2301
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•advertising: 604-822-1654
business office: 604-822-6681
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e-mail: advertising@ubjrasey.bcca
business manager Fernie Pereira
ad sales Wesley Ma
ad design Shalene Takara
Chris Little went on a scavenger hunt to find Szabo who was
shopping for Greg Ursic who wanted to buy a Jesse Ferreras for
Jessalyn Keller's birthday so that Trevor Gilks could wear his original Amanda Stutt and carry a Laurence Butet Roche handbag
before he went to dinner with Will Keats-Osbom who wanted
Heather Travis to take him to Boris Korb/s house and introduce
him to Gaelan Marsderi who secretly thought that Heather Pauls
was really gorgeous even though she had a thing for beautiful
boys named Gabriel Murray who drove a Scott Birdsley and was
talking to Colleen Tang, the girt who believed in love at first sight
because Champagne Qioquer had said it existed after a conversation with Andrew MacRae who got drunk off of Trevor Gilks martinis after he had been to see the new movie directed by Bryan
Zandberg the famous director who made the movie called Simon
Underwood starring household names like Claudia Li and Eric
Szeto who had secretly had a moonshine business with Paul
Evans and they had been busted by Jesse Marchand even though
Megan Smyth had told her not to because she thought that
Michelle Mayne was a better target and Liz Green agreed quietly
because she feared for her life and Yinan Max Wang had asked
her not to say anything in case Spencer Keys heard and wanted
to join the scavenger hunt
cover design Michelle Mayne
editorial graphic Simon Underwood
V
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THE UBYSSEY Friday, 7 October, 2005
Culture 3
$
I
Dragons and Tigers leap from the screen at VIFF
by Jesse Ferreras
CULTUREWRITER
Running parallel to the press-heavy exhibition
of Canadian film at the 24th annual
Vancouver International Film Festival was the
2005 Dragons and Tigers showcase. This
year's program featured eight films in competition and over 30 features from several countries, ranging from smaller nations such as
Tibet to stronger commercial and independent markets such as Japan. A wide selection of
films provided for an exhibition of talent that
succeeded in bringing East Asian cinema wide
recognition in Canada.
Now in its twelfth year, the Dragons and
Tigers series owes much to the participation of
two individuals who have worked diligently to
bring the cinema of East Asia to Vancouver.
The first is Tony Rayns, a London-based filmmaker, critic and festival curator who has contributed numerous articles to publications like
as Film Comment and the influential French
pubhcation Cahiers du Cinema. He is the
author of the forthcoming book Wong Kar-wai
on Wong Kar-wai.
"When I was first asked to do this job, I
wanted to focus on Pacific Asia, and I wanted
it to be veiy comprehensive,* he said. "I wanted to show a wide margin of films...commercial, art, poHtical, experimental...I am against
the idea of a focus...I want it to be inclusive
instead of exclusive.*
Rayns found a common ally in Brad
Birarda, an employee of Dundee Securities
in the departments of finance and venture
capitalism, who has served as the single financier for the program for the,'past five
years. Through his financial contribution to
the festival he has sought to bring Canadian
and Asian cultures together in Vancouver.
One of Birarda's most significant contributions is his support for the Dragons and
Tigers Award for Young Cinema, recognizing the most creative and innovative first or
second feature-length film from Pacific
Asia. The award itself is a prize of $5,000 to
the film's director, courtesy of Birarda, and
is administered by a juiy of seasoned filmmakers and scholars.
This year's jury was comprised of three
members whose involvement in the international film community reflected
Vancouver's strong ties to international festivals . and exhibitions across the world.
David Bordwell, professor of Film Studies at
the University of Wisconsin-Madison and
co-author of Film Art: An Introduction,
served this year as chairman of a jury
rounded out by Li Cheuk-to, previously
the director of the Hong Kong International
Film Festival, as well as Gerwin Tamsma,
programmer for the Rotterdam International Film Festival.
The competition proved exceptionally
difficult with the screenings of varying films
from, several different genres and countries.
One particular film that amassed significant
attention was Gie, a sophomore feature
from Indonesian director Riri Riza. It is the
story of Soe Hok-gie, a young intellectual
who utilises his superior intelligence and
respect for free thought to organise protests
against Indonesia's repressive governments
of the '50's and '60's. The film documents
efforts that culminated in the organisation
of student protests against these governments and attests that they contributed to
their fall.
Although the jury acknowledged the
achievements of all films competing this year,
they were excited to announce the winner, Liu
Jiayin's Ox Hide, which received its North
American premiere at this year's festival.
Thirty-two fixed-angle shots of the filmmaker
and her family in a cramped Beijing home
encompass the film, which has received wide
acclaim as one of the most innovative Chinese
films since 1997's Xiao Wu (Unknown
Pleasures). The audience greeted the young
filmmaker with rousing applause and Tony
Rayns thereafter announced that a screening
of the film had been added for October 7th at
the Vancity Screening Room at the new
Vancouver International Film Centre.
Bordwell himself claimed Ox Hide succeeded
at "[showing] how formal experimentation
can coexist with engrossing human drama
and powerful emotion."
In addition to its competitive program,
Dragons and Tigers functioned eveiy year as
an exhibition for an eclectic selection of films
from Asia-Pacific nations. Though he does not
like to play favourites at the festival, Mr.
Rayns gave particular attention to Nagasaki
Shunichi's Heart, Beating in the Dark, a world
premiere event at VIFF 2005.
"I think it is the greatest achievement in
Japanese cinema this year," he said. "I was a
supporter of the first film and had a preordained curiosity about the new one...[a world
premiere] places great trust in VIFF."
Shunichi's film is a remake of his 1982
film of the same name, the haunting story of
two young lovers hving in self-imposed exile
after the murder of their child. Shunichi takes
a remarkably unique approach to the remake,
telling the story of a new couple following the
same path trod by the original twosome,
intercut with images from the original film as
we^l as the rehearsal and shooting of the
remake.
The meteoric rise of Korean cinema was
reflected in this year's program with two special presentations. Duelist is the latest from
director Lee Myung-se, whose international
hit Nowhere to Hide had its world premiere
in Vancouver. His latest is a spectacular
swordplay thriller set in Joseon Dynasty
Korea. The stoiy of a feisty young officer who
pursues a mysterious swordsman known only
as Sad Eyes, Rayns described the film as the
"first erotic swordsplay" movie.
The diverse selection of East Asian films
finished its primary exhibition on October
5th, but many screenings from the Dragons
and Tigers slate continue to the end of the festival. Rayns advised audiences at the October
fifth awards ceremony that Ox Hide had a
slim chance of receiving a wide theatrical
release, and that its final screening on
October 7th would likely be the last time for
filmgoers to catch it. a
Talk to people on the other side of the aisle': Greenstreet
What happens when Michael Moore gets invited to a Utah campus days before the US election:
THIS DIVIDED STATE
Oct 12, VanCity
by Greg Ursic
CULTUREWRITER
The decision by the student council at Utah
State Valley College to book Michael Moore for
a speaking engagement two weeks before the
2004 election seemed like a great way to start
a dialogue. But few could have anticipated the
firestorm that came to divide the campus.
Petitions, threats, and lawsuits: it was ideal-
fodder for a documentary.
As soon as Moore's visit became public ;
knowledge, Steve Greenstreet knew he had to :
act fast Greenstreet, a film student at nearby;
Brigham Young University, called independent film producer Bryan Young. The two wasted no time deliberating about whether of not
to make a film.
"We were shooting in two hours," relates
Greenstreet
By the time they reached the campus the
halls were bristling with angry political
groups who were protesting Moore's visit. It
was a harbinger of what was to come..
The ensuing 'debates' heated!* up* to a
fever pitch when Kay Andrews, a multimillionaire real estate developer and Bush-
backer became downright outrageous by
Moore's impending visit. When efforts to
bribe the student council failed, Andrews
filed a lawsuit which left me puzzled. How,
I asked Greenstreet, "can a private citizen,
not affiliated with the college, a supposed
bastion of free speech/ sue them for dis-
,agreeing 'lyith a speaker?
:'.".'• "It's suhple," he replied. "[Kay] has money
and clout witli'the legislature."
With all vitriol hovering around the film, I
wonderied'how the filmmakers' families reacted to the project
"t tibiae* from a militaiy family where
everyone -has served in the military except
ine,"' smd:Greeiistxeet "They're extremely
Republican and right wing. To this day my
parents have not seen the film and refuse
to see it"
There is no doubt that the story makes for
great drama. But what about the legitimate
criticism that a person like Mr Andrews comes
across as a caricatures who represents neither
Mormons nor neo-conservatives?
Greenstreet does not mince words when it
comes to understanding the polemics of
American politics. "I don't beHeve it's that
polarised," he insists. "Whenever a controversy arises everyone feels they must choose a
side. You're either for or against Moore and
can't be in the middle."
And as Young notes, "It's so easy to spark
that ignition. If you say you're against Bush it's
considered treasonous...as one caUer says, if it
were up to him, Michael Moore would be
tried, convicted and executed for treason."
"I believe it's because people weren't tolerant [is why we are] spending our time fighting
each other," Greenstreet continues. What's
missing in civil discourse in America is that
people don't Hsten to each other. We need a
more gentlemanly debate, where you shake
hands at the end. Let's find some common
ground and start from there."
Young concurs, "The message in the Q
and A's [after the screenings] land the tone
of the website is that we need to have a
more open dialogue and civil dialogue and I
think that people on both sides respond to
that. We've been able to have sane, civil discussions."
At this point I check to see if either of them
is wearing rose coloured contacts—surely they
can't be that naive. And that's when
Greenstreet drops his bombshell.
"The students who invited Moore were
actuaUy Mormon RepubHcan Bush supporters," he says almost nonchalantly. Thinking
I've misheard him, I ask him to repeat what
he said and he does, adding "I expected
them to be these Hberal left-leaning people
and they weren't and that was kind of inspiring, that someone with an opposing view
would support him. To the last day they were
the strongest supporters of. Moore's right
to speak."
"It was moments like that," Young notes,
"[that] gave us a glimmer of hope that you can
talk to people on the other side of the aisle."
While he's optimistic, Young is also a
realist: "It's hard to do with people shouting
from the sideHnes. If Michael Moore were
invited back to the school today, you'd Have
the same problem." t!
i
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Quick & healthy gourmet meals
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Vancouver Training Institute 1580 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6J..5K8
Phone: 604-713-4550 or 604-713-4500 I Email: cregistrat@vsb.bc.ca
■il; 6 Feature
Friday, 7 October, 2005
THE UBYSSEY
Friday, 7 October, 2005
Feature 7
Discover Japan!
PROGRAMME'
Experience Japan for a year with The Japan Exchange and
Teaching (JET) Programme as an Assistant English Teacher or
Coordinator for International Relations, beginning August 2006.
Applicants must be a Canadian citizen, hold a Bachelor's
Degree by the end of Juiy 2006, and be under the age of 40.
Information Session at UBC
Thursday, October 13 -12:30-2:00 PM
Buchanan D, Rm 230
Tuesday, October 18 -12:30-2:00 PM
Asian Centre Auditorium
Application Forms and Information
UBC Career Centre
www.vancouver.ca.emb-japan.go.jp
Consulate General of Japan _. . ^« #*«*«%>-
Tel: (604)684-5868, ext 415 November 18, 2005
Deadline
The JET Programme Is an official programme of the Government of Japan
y:ou"tH ;;iy ':S''.rt':5';..'■ I-^a^ttvls'0..
October 21st ^ 22nd
' (3 redf ■ Nor the? V'WoM G: >. • 7'? P u'i •:' Vonc o aver
X'^S'i:¥^ '^fa^Wqyvt'
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Friday Night
■ M;iO • >t->fj
Saturday '■ Workshops'.
Saturday -N-i&ht..
After-Party
Call for tickets or info: 604 606 6425
Early Bird & Group ticket sales available
infe@earfhproject.ca www.earthproject.ca
Proto&tyJvdM Marat** Prtjicta
What is in the stars?
by Heather Pauls features staff
illustrations by Simon Underwood
A thousand years after astrology and astronomy went their separate ways, people still believe that their
destiny can be written in the stars. Are their ideas credible or is it just more fun to be superstitious?
PISCES
Aau A RI us
The night sky is wonderful like shattered glass
on black asphalt or a black velvet blanket
speckled with sparkling diamonds. Lying on
an open field outside of the city, the sky looks
immense, dazzling, and overwhelmingly
huge. Sublime. Compared to the vastness of the universe—even the part of the universe you can see with
the naked eye—you're essentially insignificant You're
a speck of dust in a conglomeration of matter. Does
your life mean anything? Is there something going on
in this universe, something to take away from those
myriad constellations?
According to astrologers, there sure is.
Basically, astrology is the belief that the sun, moon,
planets and stars radiate energies, and that the
positions and movements of these celestial bodies
are affective in understanding, analysing and predicting human existence on earth. An astrologer
believes that what happens in the heavens, will
affect human life—so above, so below. Calculating
cAm I CORN
the position of celestial bodies at the moment of
your birth could then foretell your destiny, your
fated personality, and even offer insight into your
daily life. For thousands of years, astrologers have
been looking up into the night sky, and creating
meaning from all those twinkling lights.
Astrology is popular; you can read your daily horoscope in most newspapers and magazines. Almost
everyone knows their own 'sign' depending on their
birth. But how many people are actually believers? Is
astrology even a plausible, scientifically validated
belief system? Or is it a throwback superstition that
still hasn't kicked the bucket?
Astrology in ye olden days
Many moons ago, astrology and astronomy were one
and the same thing. Both looked heavenward with an
eye of wonder, eager to decipher planetary movements and the physics of the universe. But even well
before the onset of the Enlightenment the two disciplines diverged on one major issue. Yes, astrology
was a study of the stars that could mathematically
map the heavens and make predictions on celestial
movement However, unlike astronomy, astrology is
the study of how these movements influence life on
earth. Gleaning meaning from the stars is where
astrology and astronomy parted ways.
"The words sound kind of similar, but one of them
is actually a science, and the other one'is actually a
whole bunch of nonsense,' says Douglas Scott a professor at UBC's Department of Astronomy and
Physics, when asked the difference between astronomy and astrology. They were kind of similar, but that
was a thousand years ago." So if astrology has
digressed into nonsense from its prior scientific
glory, why is it that astrology is no longer considered
valid from a scientific perspective?
The signs, they are a-changin'
First off, back to the basics of astrological charting.
The zodiac is made up of twelve 'signs,' each corresponding to certain character traits and destinies.
People, depending on the date of their birth, are
lumped into one of the signs. For instance, I was born
January ninth, therefore I am a Capricorn. My power
animal is a goat My element is earth. At the time of
my birth, the sun was in the constellation Capricorn,
according to astrological charting.
But without even questioning the probability that
my birth date will affect my life, it is already problematic to say that I'm a Capricorn. The constellations
have changed.
The earth wobbles on its axis, so the constellations are actually moving round the sky over many
thousands of years. So the actual constellations now
have shifted compared to the ones that most
astrologers use," Scott explains. Precession, the name
given to this phenomenon of the earth's movement,
has the dire effect of giving people incorrect astrological readings.
Richard Dawkins, a well-known scientist for his
best-selling book The Selfish Gene, expressed the
same frustration with constellation changes when he
wrote The Real Romance in the Stars," published in
The Independent newspaper in December of 1995.
"My birthday (26 March) is listed in the papers as
Aries but this is the sun sign which somebody with my
birthday would have had when Ptolemy codified all
that stuff," Dawkins explains. "Because of the preces-
sional shift of approximately one whole zodiacal sign
over the [CE] era, my sign is in fact (if you can call it a
fact) Pisces." Perhaps all this time, everyone has been
reading the wrong horoscope when they check the
daily newspaper.
People are complicated
At this point, the only problem with astrology noted
has been that people might be grouped into the wrong
sign. That's a significant slip-up, as every single day,
people are receiving incorrect information about
what to expect from their day. Or are they? Is it safe to
speculate that perhaps grouping the world's estimated six billion people into only 12 categories might just
be simplifying human experience a Httie?
Dawkins worries about the effect of astrology on a
psychological level. He feels that it's "an insult to the
science of psychology and the richness of human personality/ Having all people grouped into specific categories, for Dawkins, doesn't leave much room for all
the variation of characters life throws our way.
"Daily horoscopes split everybody up into twelve
sets. People are more complicated than that," says
Scott "It's obviously ridiculous that one twelfth of the
population will have this particular kind of day."
So how do astrologers write something that will
pertain to a huge chunk of the population each day?
Vagueness.
SCORPIO
In the mid-1980s, French Statistician Michel
Gauquelin sent out the horoscope of one of France's
worst mass murderers in history. Of the 150 people
he surveyed, 94 per cent of the subjects said that they
recognised themselves in the description.
"All astrology works on the 'Barnum principle' of
saying things so vague and general that all readers
think it applies to them," says Dawkins, explaining
why one horoscope might apply to one-twelfth of the
population.
SAGITTARIUS
Jetology:
let the airplanes guide your destiny
You may have been born under a different constellation and your horoscope or birth chart may be vague,
but that doesn't necessarily imply that astrology as a
- concept isn't plausible. But for this argument's sake,
let's compare astrology to jetology, the position that all
the world's jumbo jets flying at the moment of a person's birth affect his or her personality and destiny.
Ihe concept of jetology was introduced by Andrew
Fraknoi in the article 'Your Astrology Defense Kit,' published in Sky & Telescope in August of 1989. Although
yes, the article is old, Scott advises that the ideas still
apply.
A professional jetologer would analyse patterns of
jumbo jets flying over the earth, and extract their intrinsic meaning. Such an abiHty would take years of training. Fraknoi sets up a possible situation.
"For example, take that bunching of planes over
Chicago's O'Hare Airport—its significance for the subject's love life will require a great deal of study by an
experienced jetologer," writes Fraknoi, assuming the
role of the jetologer. "As your listeners begin to chuckle
over the absurdity of the example, you can ask them
what makes it so amusing. Someone will surely inquire
why the positions of those things in the sky should have
anything to do with our Hves."
The image of jetology indeed seems absurd, but one
could argue that planets and stars are natural phenomena, larger and more significant that the workings of
planes. But jetology, scientifically speaking, might be
more plausible than astrology.
If astrology claims that your destiny and personaHty
are effected by the energies of the planets—whether it's
magnetism, gravity, or a tidal pull—then wouldn't closer objects have a stronger influence?
"If you walk past me, the force of gravity is really
weak," explains Scott "But the principle is there is a
force of gravity between us, and that's way bigger than
the force of gravity between me and Jupiter, because
it's really far away." Essentially, the gravitational field
of a pedestrians could effect your destiny. Scott jokes
that a truck passing the hospital during your birth
would have a greater effect on your personaHty than a
planet Additionally, he also comments that if astrology
doesn't work with gravitational puU, and maybe instead
with electro-magnetic forces, then washing machines
and cell phones could also have a greater effect than the
cosmos.
"It's totally totally absurd because there's so
many other things going on that would dwarf [planetary pull] anyway," Scott says of astrology. But perhaps astrology doesn't need to be proved. Maybe
they're talking about immeasurable forces. To
Fraknoi, it makes no difference.
"Even if we give astrologers the benefit of the doubt
on all these questions—accepting that astrological influences may exist outside our current understanding of
the universe—there is a devastating final point
Astrology simply doesn't work."
Case in point: looking at a birth chart
To test Fraknoi's claim, I got my birth date charted.
When I was born the sun was in Capricorn, the moon
was in Sagittarius in the fifth house, Saturn was in the
fifth house, the sun was in the seventh house,
Venus was in the eighth house, and the sun was
opposition ascendant. Now if you know your astrological charts extremely well, you could surmise
that I was born on January 9, 1983.
I learned all this from Roman Roman, someone
I found on Craig's List (an online buy and sell service) who offers free birth charts. His personaHty
summarisation based on my birthday was at times
vague—"Your life will be full of changes'—and at
other times, chillingly accurate—"Your vulnerabiH-
ty to external influences makes you subconsciously
imitate the manners and ways of those with whom
you relate."
What confused me, however, was the evaluation
of my love life. On the one hand, Roman writes: "In
love you are dependable and able to curb your recklessness." But on the flipside, "the fact of the matter is that in love you are very changeable, unstable, or too preoccupied with trivialities.* The two
don't exactly reconcile.
My birth chart says, "Your life will be one of very
intense social activity... this position tends to make
you somewhat extroverted." And while this doesn't
exacdy contradict, it also says somewhat puzzling-
ly, "secretly you nourish the desire to be involved
in human situations, but you apparently have lost
the abiHty to relate to other people" I'm not sure I
like that evaluation of myself, although there is
redemption in knowing that I am "very perceptive"
of "psychic vibrations." But all in all, my birth chart
left me puzzled, not entirely remembering what it
is I just read.
6EMIN
University of Astrology
At Kepler University in Lynnwood, Washington
State, students are learning to make birth charts
like the one from Roman Roman. It's an accredited
university that has been authorised to issue
Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees since
March 10, 2001.
Their website boasts that "a degree-granting Hber-
al arts college that includes astrological studies has
long been a vision of scholars seeking to approach the
subject objectively. Kepler College is the answer to
that dream."
On the one hand, the history and anthropology
of astrology would be fascinating, in a traditional
classroom scheme. On the other hand, at Kepler
University—named for the late German
astrologer/astronomer Johannes Kepler—the students are not just history buffs but are already
beHevers in astrology.
"What I wouldn't give to be able to go back and
throw this newly revealed information in the face of my
ninth grade astronomy teacher (she wasn't very big on
astrology, I guess you could say)," writes Chris Bennan
in his student testimonial. "One of the goals of the
school is to re-establish astrology bade to its rightful
place as an academic discipline where it belongs, no
longer to be shunned by the intellectual ehte, and that
goal is not far off"
Karen Hawkwood is part of Kepler's first bachelor of arts graduating class, known as the Lobsters.
Speaking at an astrology convention in May, 2001
in Seattle, she said, "history without astrology was
much like a tapestry with one colour removed...you
always knew the pattern didn't look right but you
never knew why. Now I know." Calling for a rein-
troduction of astrology into Western academia is
Hawkwood's vision.
However, Hawkwood and Bennan may have a
point Astrology has been swept to the corner in
academic circles for hundreds of years.
The Bath Spa University in Bath, UK is host to
the Sophia Centre, which also the Centre for the
Study of Cultural Astronomy and Astrology.
Although their mandate is to study the impact of
astrological and astronomical beHefs on cultures,
reHgions, poHtics, and the arts—not the actual
influence of the stars on human affairs—their mission statement makes an interesting note:
"Whilst the scientific study of astronomy is well
estabHshed in universities, the academic study of
astronomy and astrology from a cultural perspective has not been the specific focus of research of a
university department in. the west for over three
hundred years."
Even though astrology has been omitted from
academic circles, it is surprising that it has been
deleted as a subject of cultural phenomenon. When
I took a class in witchcraft at the University of
Edinburgh we studied the historical instances of
witch persecutions, not how to cast spells. So could
we not reintroduce astrology as a history subject to
study without having to prove it's real?
Knowing what's real
Dawkins writes that "astrology has nothing to go
for it at all, neither evidence nor any inkling of a
rationale which might prompt us to look for evidence." He then shifts his attentions to astronomy:
"The real universe has mystery enough to need no
help from obscurantist hucksters." Indeed, perhaps the spotlight that should be on understanding
the cosmos has been on astrology too long.
Scott also beHeves that the tactile universe is
interesting enough. His eyes light up as he says,
"The real universe is pretty cool, I think. There's a
whole bunch of really wacky things in there that are
actually for real. It's much more amazing than
Jupiter wobbling around can make you happier
today. There's black holes!"
Fraknoi, also an enthusiastic astronomer,
mourns the fact that "even today, despite so much
effort at science education, astrology's appeal for
many people has not diminished." He points out
human's interest in the sensational and meaningful over the scientific. "For them, thinking of Venus
as a cloud-covered desert world as hot as an oven is
far less attractive than seeing it as an aid in deciding whom to marry"
The general scientific consensus is that astrology cannot be proved. If it's not proved, then why do
people beHeve it? Scott has his theory.
"People like to beHeve stuff. People like to think
that the universe is expHcable and comprehensible, and that it can effect things, rather than feeling
powerless." »
TAURUS
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Friday, 7 October, 2005 THEUBYSSEY
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Preparation Seminars
& Complete 30-Hour Seminars
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10 Qpimon/Editorial
Friday, 7 October, 2005 THE UBYSSEY
G3.
.■■J-
-'- -*-
Good news, or is it?
The gloom and horror that's
shown on the news everyday can
take a toll on our mental well-
being, so we thought it might be
time to share some good news.
Venezuela's land reform
Hugo Chavez announced last week
that the Venezuelan government
would be seizing land to redistribute to poor farmers.
Altogether 1,235,000 acres of
unused land will be seized—all to
be appropriated to workers for
free. This is part of Chavez's land
and agrarian reform movement;
his attempt to eliminate private
ownership of land and to provide
stable levels of subsistence for a
country which currently imports
80 per cent of its food.
Anyone between the ages 18
to 25 can apply for a portion of
the land. After three years, the
recipients of the land cannot sell
the land, but it may be passed
along to family.
The seizure of this land has
galvanised opposition as skeptics
have warned that this will curb
foreign investment. Critics within the country beHeve that this
one more ploy to further
advance his sociaHst revolution
agenda, as landowners who are
having their land seized are not
being compensated.
But heck, it is not like they
were using it anyways.
IMF: One step at a time
Whether bowing to international
pressure, or issuing it based on
good faith, the International
Monetary Fund's (IMF) decision to
forgive $40 bilHon of debt reHef is
a welcome sign for developing
nations cash-strapped by international loans and the interest that is
accrued from these loans. These
totals may reach up to $55 bilHon.
Eighteen countries have had
their debts written off, and nine
more potential countries may be
eHgible in the future. Most of the
beneficiaries will be countries in
developing nations, primarily in
Africa.
To many skeptics of the IMF
and World Bank, this good deed
doesn't erase the long Hst of bad
poHcies that the IMF has
employed. This should have happened years ago. Countless countries have had their internal
growth severely affected by IMF's
high interest poHcies.
Others warn that there may
be conditions attached to qualify
for debt reHef, such as HberaHsa-
tion of their economy and privatisation of its industries, all of
which may have a profound and
unpredictable impact on the
developing nations.
Maybe someone could forgive
our student loans also.
The play must go on
The Laramie Project," a play
recently banned by the Surrey
school district will now be staged
by the students of Lord Byng secondary school. The content of this
play is based on the tragic story of
Matthew Shepard, a gay college
student who died in 1998. He was
beaten and tied to a fence after
being picked up at a gay bar in
Laramie, Wyoming. Five days later
Shepard died ofhis injuries. The
decision of the Surrey school
board to band this production
causes concern as it comes on the
ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE!
heels of a decision to ban several
books involving, same-sex parents.
Lord Byng secondary school is taking on the challenge of tackling a
controversial and deHcate subject
Although "The Laramie Project"
includes violence and coarse language, it is most definitely a story
that needs to be told.
Nobel Prize shared
internationally
The 2005 Noble Prize in physics
was presented to Americans John
Hall and Roy Glauber and German
Theodor Haensch. The team has
been working to advance and
refine the precision of optic technology. Such technology can be
used to assist spacecraft navigation abilities and improve worldwide communication. Team effort
was the key the success of this
international research project.
Smoking the tobacco
companies out
Following a ruling from the
Supreme Court of Canada, British
Columbia is now free to sue cigarette companies to reclaim pubHc
health care costs from treating illnesses caused by smoking.
This decision will likely pave
the way for other provinces to take
the tobacco companies to court,
potentially costing the companies
hundreds of milHons, or even bil-
Hons dollars. Another important
consequence of this decision is
that it highlights the responsibiHty
companies have for the products,
especially harmful ones, they put
out on the market a
Perspective Opinion
Y TTfc
1 1
1
"■•><•
udl snouia nox oe a political campaign aa
by Ryan Weddle
When I logged on to the UBC website, I was quite surprised to be
greeted with the headline 'UBC welcomes Mexican President Vincente
(sic) Fox," with a photo of Martha
Piper and President Fox applauding before a commemorative
plaque unveiled for the occasion.
Certainly, this is important news,
but isn't it a bit odd that no one
seemed to know about this ahead
of time? While we are sent emails
on everything from new construction proposals to the latest poHcies
in human resources, students were
not notified that the head of state of
Canada's fifth largest trading partner was to visit our school.
President Fox is, to say the
least, a controversial figure. A former Coca-Cola executive. Fox has
remained a staunch advocate of
free markets as the key to success,
despite Mexico's recent economic
decline. Fox also maintains what
the White House describes as "an
excellent relationship and a strong
friendship with George Bush." The
two have negotiated a proposal
that would allow Mexican citizens
to gain temporary work permits in
the US to perform labour that, as
Fox outlined, "not even blacks
want to do." This April, one milHon Mexicans marched in the capital opposing Fox's attempt to jail
his aspiring presidential challenger, the popular left-wing
mayor of Mexico City, on trumped
up charges.
This is not to say that Fox
should not have come to UBC. Fox
could have arrived and given a
talk somewhere like the Liu Centre
for International Relations. The
event could have been open to the
entire UBC community and pubH-
cised ahead of time, allowing students and faculty the rare opportunity to engage a world leader face-
to-face on the issues we study.
This would indeed have been a
moment UBC could take pride in,
showing how our university is a
pivotal institution for matters of
global significance.
Instead, Fox arrived in secret
According to the UBC Ceremonies
Office (the President's Office was
not forthcoming with information
when I called), the event was
arranged about two weeks ahead
of time through the Mexican
Consulate. Tucked away in the
life Sciences Centre with an audience of hand-picked students and
community members, Fox gave a
speech filled with flowery language about the "new horizons of
prosperity" that the two nations
are achieving (the transcript can
be found in Spanish at www.presi-
dencia.gob.mx). Afterwards, the
President fielded some softball
questions from the audience,
which were prefaced by remarks
like "I will vote for you in 2006,
this I promise you.*
Basically, the event was a
photo-op for the University
Administration and the conservative National Action Party of
Mexico. Fox gets to portray the
image that he is a popular world
leader, fawned over by foreign
faculty and students abroad—even
in a progressive city like
Vancouver. Likewise, Martha
Piper gets to tout the status of
UBC as a place that world leaders
deign to visit. The problem is that
we, members of the UBC community she is supposed to represent,
were not consulted in the matter.
Perhaps after the massive student
protests against Suharto, the
Indonesian dictator who came to
visit in 1997, the administration
is not taking any chances of the
student body actually having a say
in how well the visitors are
received. Let's make sure that in
the future, more than a handful of
in-the-know university officials
have a say'in who we decide to
welcome to our school.
—Ryan Weddle is a fourth-year
Asian studies student
Letters
UBC Counselling not the only option
To the students) who feels disappointed with Counselling Services:
As a service provider, I feel very
sorry about your experience at UBC
Counselling Services. I can only
imagine how frustrating it is to be
in need of support and not be able
to receive it because there are "no
appointments available." I know
that for the majority of students
like myself who have to work and
go to school, it is very difficult to
access a service that works on a
drop-in basis but always seems to
be full. There are, however, other
options for free support services
available on campus and off campus. If you are looking for support
on-campus there are two great
services provided by the AMS:
Speakeasy, which has a crisis line
(604-822-3700) and a drop-in
option with a private and confidential counselling room in the SUB
(their desk is located on the north
side of the main concourse in the
SUB) and the Sexual Assault
Support Centre (SASC) which provides both drop-in and by appointment counselling. They are located in rooms 119 A/B in the SUB,
light across from Mclnnis Field
and you can also phone them at
604-827-5180. The SASC provides
support to any survivor of any
type of violence. There are many
options for support services off-
campus such as the Crisis Centre'
(604-827-3311) and SAFER
(Suicide Attempt FoHow-up,
Education and Research) which
can be reached at 604-879-9251.
For more information about support services you can contact
Speakeasy and they will be able to
refer you to a service that works
for you. I hope that this information is helpful to you and to anyone else who might be looking for
support.
—Mariana Payet
AMS Safety Coordinator
Streeters
Tell us some good news.
I got an intern position.
Christine Su.
Arts 4
I had fun working with elementary
school kids today.
—Rob Gray
Human Kinetics 3
I got married.
—Ana Carolina
Graduate Studies
We just performed something in
class and it went over very well. It's
the end of part of our module class.
It's time to move on but it was a lot
of fun.
—Corey Fischer
Film 5
I'm in a band and two shows are
coming up.
—Carolyn Bailey
Arts 3
—Streeters coordinated by
Claudia Li and Colleen Tang THEUBYSSEY Friday, 7 October, 2005
News 11
Bad credit
is bad news
by Amanda Stutt
NEWSWRITER
"Student* and "debt" are practically
synonymous terms these days as
many students take out loans and use
credit to pay for tuition, books, residence and other expenses.
To address the issue of student
debt, the Alma Mater Society (AMS)
presented Financial Awareness Days,
a series of seminars and workshops
aimed at coaching students on how to
keep debt to a minimum and gain
control of their finances.
Jennie Yendall, professional financial coach and seminar presenter
said that students need to be more
aware of their options when it comes
to managing their finances.
"Students get caught up in the day
to day. They need to be aware of the
bigger picture."
And part of that bigger picture is
starting a savings plan while they are
still young, she said.
"The most popular option for
students is to wait to save
money...don't wait Even if you can
only afford twenty or fifty dollars a
month for a long-term investment
plan, find a way to save it It won't
affect your lifestyle. But if you don't
save that money, you'll find a way
to spend it*
Many students use not only student loans to make ends meet, but
also credit cards.
Yendall stressed the importance
of making payments on time, and
maintaining a good credit rating, as
missed payments now will affect
your abiHty to get a mortgage or
loan»inthe future. ■ ■■'•■-- ■■•■--*•■'*■-^-*=
"Be aware of what you are getting
into," she said. "Never think of available credit as available cash. And
UBC Hungary to share
its forestry curriculum
Joint program may increase enrollment in Hungary
SAVE YOUR MONEY: Make the ING guy proud. YINAN MAX WANG PHOTO
remember that credit is debt dressed
up in a suit"
Yendall said it's key to establish
good financial habits now. "You are
being programmed to be consumers
and spend your money...take ownership of your finances and form good
habits now," she said. "The habits you
form in university are the habits you
will take into the adult world.
"Students often think when they
are in university, it's not the real
world. You are in the real world right
now," she explained.
MeHssa Anderson, a third-year
poHtical science major, has student
loans to pay for school and expenses,
but chooses to Hve at home to save
money and avoid accumulating a
large debt
"I have one credit card, a Visa.
That's all I need...I usually pay it off
every month." She said. "I use it to
pay for stuff like dinner, movies,
clothes. It's more for convenience...I
use my student loan money to pay off
my Visa."
Anderson said she doesn't work
during the school year but does look
for a job in the summer.
Heidi Newcombe, a second-year
Arts student, attended the workshop to learn how to better manage
her finances.
"I'm in debt pretty bad," she said.
"My boyfriend and I have a mortgage...and I also have about $10,000
in credit card and line of credit bank
debt...I use my credit cards for
absolutely eveiything, food, gas, haircuts...I don't work during school. I
have no income," she said.
Newcombe said a lot of what was
discussed in the seminar she knew
before, but learned some interesting
things about interest rates and percentages.
"You kind of numb-out money
issues and forget for a while. It's
important to bring money issues to
the foreground and deal with them."
Jennie Yendall wants students to
be aware of the difference between
good and bad debts. "Remember
that in the big picture, yotkr student
loan is a drop in the bucket. A
degree is good debt. A degree is a
return on an investment.'M
by Eric Szeto
NEWS EDITOR
UBC and the University of West
Hungary have embarked on a
joint forestry program—the first
of its kind between Canada and
the European Union.
The program, slated to begin
by 2007, wiU employ a common
English curriculum, which will
allow students from Hungary
and UBC who study in forestry
to have credits that are transferable between the two universities.
"It's mutually beneficial, it
really ties into the UBC Trek
2010 document with internationalised globalisation so I'm a
strong supporter of it, and I
think my coUeagues are too,"
said UBC's Dean of Forestry
Jack Saddler.
UBC forestry has had a long
tradition with forestry faculty
at the University of West
Hungary (Sopron), dating back
to 1957—one year after the
Soviet Union's invasion of
Hungary. For the school to survive under Soviet occupation,
UBC opened the Sopron division of forestry here in
Vancouver, which allowed over
200 Sopron students and 14
faculty members to emigrate
and continue their education
in Vancouver.
The Canadian-Hungarian
community has roots here so
it's no surprise that Sopron
chose UBC for the joint venture
program, said Saddler.
There are currendy four vis
iting professors from Sopron,
aU here on a type of reconnaissance mission that they say will
help them understand the
nuances between the two
schools and their curricula.
Professor Vosak, one of the
visiting professor's from
Sopron called this program "a
unique European-Canadian
diploma."
Professor Laszlo Jager,
another visiting professor,
expressed his hope that this
program would increase the
fledgling number of post-secondary students in Hungary.
"The number of the students
are decreasing in Hungary so
we hope that we will be able to
increase the number of the students with this program," said
Jager.
One of the hurdles that people from Hungary will have to
overcome is learning English,
something that Sopron
Professor Balint Heil said will
be difficult because not many
students speak English—
although the numbers are
improving.
"More and more people are
learning EngHsh," he said.
The long term goal of this
program is for Hungary to be
able to recruit students to
Sopron from all the adjacent
countries, said Tony Kozak, a
coordinator between the two
universities.
The program's success will
bode well with the European
community and Canada, he
added, a
University of Ottawa i
*\\
Attend law school in Canada
and the United States
< ' ."! ^ .t A - N~
't\\~--'^—y-y-- --
y 3r* v*
Earn two degrees:
* an LL.B. from the University of Ottawa; and
* a J.D. from Michigan State University
College of Law.
Pay Canadian tuition for all four years.
v Balsam Dental Centre
Dr, Francisco Leos-Marquez, Inc, Dentist
Preferred Rates for Students!
Just 10 minutes from campus on the 41st bus.
We also specialize in implants and orthodontics.
Phone: (604) 261-6232
Fax: (604) 261-6209
Email: balsamdentaI@hotmail.com
Balsam Dental Centre
Suite #303,5704 Balsam Street
Vancouver, BC, V6M 4B9
THEUBYSSEY
u Ottawa
L'Universitg canadienne
Canada's university
For more information visit:
wvvwxommonlaw.MOttawa.ca or
call (613) 562-5800, ext.3288
Application deadline: November 1,2005.
»i*i*>Iv>>^x•>X'^ic^'Xv*>x■x■Xvi^*.■
Be one of the first to
stop by SUB 23, to
pick up a free movie
pass to a preview
screening of:
Lies
on Tuesday
October 11y 2005
7:00 p.m. at
Fifth Avenue Cinema
in Vancouver
IN THEATRES
OCTOBER 14
White quantities last.
One per person, available on a
limited basis, not an employee
of FS or other promo partners.
-«v 12 News
Friday, 7 October, 2005 THEUBYSSEY
■.:»*
Marine Drive Towers encounter resistance
irjk^~
.^Br?B?
Public consultation
process for phase II
Marine Drive residences
doesn't offer solution
for its critics
By Eric Szeto
NEWS EDITOR
The unveiling of the phase II.
designs for the Marine Drive
Residences was met with scathing
opposition during the public consultation Wednesday night
The recently revealed plans
called for three new residences to
be built — two of which were to be
18-stories — both to stand sidfr-by-
side with the completed phase one
tower. The remaining residence
would be seven stories and stand
perpendicular from the third tower.
There was grave concern, however, that the two proposed 18-
storey towers would be seen from
Wreck Beach, as was the first tower.
"We do not deny the views are
important to maintain [and] those
views ought to be protected,* said
President of UBC Properties Trust
Al Poettcker, responding to the
litany of complaints from the audience. 'But this heritage view doesn't
live up to its billing."
The first phase of the towers has
already registered 600 hew beds
and the completion of the second
phase would add another 1000.
The original plans called for
1980 beds, but after the first tower
was reduced because the height
exceeded Greater Vancouver
Regional District (GVRD) limits, UBC
lost an estimated 363 beds. Final
CAREFULLY OBSERVING: Attendants listen intently as design plans for the Marine Drive Towers are
exhibited. MICHELLE MAYNE PHOTO
completion of the residences would
subsequently increase student housing on campus by 15 per cent
The project is already $28.2 million dollars over budget and rising—
a fatal point is coming unless this is
passed soon, said Poettcker.
Students would be the ones
responsible for offsetting the losses
that UBC incurred, he added.
There will be a point when students will choose to commute
rather than Hve on campus because
rent will be too high, explained
Poettcker.
Despite UBC's display of hardship Wreck Beach advocates are
requesting that the residence be
moved to a different location or at
the very least have the two towers
lowered.
Nothing here convinced me otherwise, said chair of the Wreck
Beach Preservation Society (WBPS)
Judy Williams, referring to the
undue hardship clause that was
issued by the GVRD in August
The clause stated that if UBC
endured any undue hardship during the process it would be acceptable for the proposed towers to
exceed the tree-lines.
"UBC has a chance to not make
the mistakes of tower one which
happened without public input.
Please do not let history repeat
itself," said Williams. "Listen to
the people including over 2000 of
your own students and 700 of your
own alumni."
"If this project was done in the
right way in the first place none of
this would have happened," said
James Lowen, media relations for
WBPS.
"You make your bed and you lie
in it."
Wreck Beach enthusiasts may
have been displeased with the
designs, but according to VP
External and Legal Affairs Denis
Pavlich, this is just part of the
process.
"The purpose of this process is
to listen carefully, and that's exactly what we will do. The planning
folk will take all this information
and as they say they will come up
with the report," said Pavlich who
added that he felt this consultation
was a success.
Alma Mater Society (AMS) VP
Academic Gavin Dew criticised both
sides during this deliberation
process, and requested that they be
more forthcoming and honest in
the fiiture.
"I call on UBC to improve its
communication but we also need to
call on everyone in the process to be
truthful," said Dew.
Dew sanctioned the jeers and
sneers that were coming from the
crowd during the meeting and proposed that the process move in a
more progressive manner.
"At what point are we being hypocritical when we say that this is a
cynical process and then we're
going to laugh," said Dew.
"At what point does it become
infinite regress...at what point do
we say is it never going to be end?"
The public comment period for
the designs ends on October 3 l.H
*u>
M. JL^r AAAV>JL%^v3o> JLJL^J^JLA%4L«UR- Ta*
Totem and Vanier residences will
be closed for the holidays
#*-
by Carolynne Burkholder
NEWS STAFF
Spending the holidays in a university
dorm may not be the first choice for
most students, but starting this
December, residents of Totem Park
and Place Vanier will no longer have
that option.
From December 22 until
Januaiy 2, the two residences,
home to around 2,700 students,
will be closed.
UBC Director of Housing and
Conferences Fred Fotis, said changes.
were made due to safety concerns.
"Since my arrival at UBC {four
years ago] I've been concerned that
we have about 20 students in each
area living in nearly empty buildings
for the break period," said Fotis. 'One
could fall and have an accident in the
shower and it is fully possible that
there may not be anyone else staying
in the entire building."
"While it was convenient for a
small number of students, it was
not a good risk to continue to
take," he said.
Over the past five years, approximately 40 students from Totem Park
and Place Vanier have remained in
residence over this period.
Students living in Totem Park and
Place Vanier will be able to leave all
their belongings in their rooms
although they will not have access to
them. As well, security will continue
to patrol the buildings and the desk
will be open every day.
Most residences at other
Canadian universities allow students to stay over the Christmas
break; the major exceptions being
Bishop's, St Thomas University,
and most of the residences at the
"One could fall and
have an accident in
the shower and it is
fully possible that
there may not be anyone else staying in
the enitre building
-Fred Fotis
Director of Housing UBC
University of Toronto.
UBC will provide alternate
arrangements for students who are
not leaving over the break, said Fotis.
"We will do our best to...help those
students who live at a distance and
choose to stay in Vancouver find
alternate accommodations,' he said.
Students can choose to stay in
Gage Towers and pay a small fee, or
stay with friends in other UBC residences, or at other accommodations,
such as the YMC A
"We believe we can fully assist
the small number of residents who
What else can you do with a BA these days? Part 2:
The Muchmusic VJ search is here on campus! Finally, a chance to cast off the shackles of your
minimum wage position for one which celebrates and markets your own 'unique* personality.
And there's virtually no competition for the job: yesterday's event in the Norm Theatre featured
less than thirty participants mostly performing for an empty theatre. But the brave souls who
did grace the faux-stage did the best they could under the big bright lights.There's still a
chance to audition today at the Norm between 10 and 5pm. Be brave. As one contestant today
so ably proved, you can always bust out your "mean robot." yinan max wang steam
live far away who choose to stay,'
he added.
Fotis said that all students should
have been aware of this change
before they decided to hve in residence. "We decided lastyear that we
would close Totem and Vanier for the
break and stated so in aU printed,
web-based, and contractual material," he said.
David Kiloh, Residence Life
Manager for Place Vanier, said that
despite advance warning, 1 am certain that there are going to be students with nowhere (to stay] at the
last minute.'
For some students, the change
has affected their plans for the
holidays.
"Tm upset that I can't come
back early/ said Nichole Wapple, a
Totem Park resident 'I was think
ing of spending New Years with my
friends in Vancouver...I'm realty
disappointed/
Wapple also added that she wasn't
aware of this change until last week.
Although students will have to
vacate their homes for two weeks, the
monthly fee schedule is consistent
Kiloh said that "the over all rent
increase was less than it would have
been/WB"""@en ;
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