@prefix edm: . @prefix dcterms: . @prefix dc: . @prefix skos: . edm:dataProvider "CONTENTdm"@en ; dcterms:isReferencedBy "http://resolve.library.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch?bid=1211252"@en ; dcterms:isPartOf "University Publications"@en ; dcterms:issued "2015-09-17"@en, "1998-01-09"@en ; edm:aggregatedCHO "https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/Ubysseynews/items/1.0128696/source.json"@en ; dc:format "application/pdf"@en ; skos:note """ llout af s left over m APEC, and en some ck star player Geoff Lynch ms from a ocatedknee eaks the of the motherly other things ubyssey magazine a< white man's wiggle since 1918 ,v. ubvssev. be. ca FRIDAY, JANUARY 9. 1998 VOLUME 79 ISSUE 24 Stonewalled by John Zaozirny Trying to interview Oliver Stone seems like something out of The X-Files. A dark, shadowy and mythical figure, always out of reach. Arranged meetings that always fall through. Phone calls from subordinates. The Stone is out there. When I first looked into mterviewing Stone, it was more of a longshot than anything actually solid. He is, after all, one of the major directors in film today, and such people are always difficult to see, let alone interview. When grasping for interview slots with * important' subjects, the onus is always put on the would be-interviewer, an abrupt switch from the normal format Interviewers and their subjects are usually held together by a symbiotic relationship; the writer needs the story and the subject needs the publicity. But when it comes to dealing with the ' important people,' tlie relationship shifts into a darker slant, the relationship being seen as parasitic, and the interview as an unbearable nuisance. Furthermore, the 'important people' are always surrounded by buffers protecting them from the inquiring writer, and even when interviews are granted, every communication is slowly filtered through innumerable layers. As Martin Amis once wrote (on interviewing Madonna), "Now, when you are cir cling round a star of this magnitude—stacked like a package tourist above her fogbound airport—you nevi negotiate with the star herself. You negotiate with her peop] or, in best post-modern style, with her people's people: hi agent's agent, her assistant's secretary's assistant's secrei The messages come back in a remote and cautious ciphi And such was the case, when I found that I was to be granl a ten minute telephone audience with the highly elusive barely available Mr. Stone. Now, ten minutes is an incredibly short period for an ini view, especially when dealing with the ramblings and asidi that telephone interviews can encompass. But ten minutes better than nothing, and so the next day found me sitting by] wire-tapped telephone. Hours after the call was due, I receivi notice that my ten minutes would have to be shifted to tomi row, when Mr. Stone would call from another city. So, skipped classes and canceled work for yet another day. N< day, same thing, but this time aMr. Stone's assistant a wearii and wary Ms. Annie Tien, called in to inform me that my ini view had been upgraded. I would be able to meet the infamoi director in person, and would be given fifteen minutes of time. So, the date for Oliver Stone's pricey and highly antidpati 1 (though not highly attended) lecture arrived and I, along with tl j less than half capacity crowd, trooped into the Orpheum to he r about movies, meaning and other such tilings. The ostensible n t- son for this lecture toxir was to promote and discuss Stone's late t endeavour, a book titled A Childs Night Dream though he hai r ly opened the book the entire lecture. The book itself has as sp ;- ted a history as Stone himself, having been written feverisl * when the author was 19, half destroyed in a rage, and then left ) ignominious decay in a shoe box before being discovered by i book editor-friend of Stone's who saw its potential. What potent 1 the book has, other than cashing in on. Stone's loyal fans, is a t t questionable and I'd read enough ofthe book to convince mys« f that it might have been best left in the shoe box. But afl this h* I little importance at the lecture, because Stone spent most of the time assailing critics of his films and speaking about how only the young truly understood his work. This was quite a winning tactic, as he was speaking to the converted (who else would shell out $30+ for tickets?), and must have been even more effective at his usual choice of venue: American colleges. I seriously doubt there was a single person in the Orpheum that day who believed that Lee Harvey Oswald shotJ.RK.. The lecture finally ground to a halt, and the floor was opened to questions, which resulted in long, meandering inquiries, most of which seemed to ask why Stone hadn't made a film about their cause, Oliver Stone is ifeiliTDOMlg for films that expose the great secrets of American society. But he's ff:rfiB€lM]nijfi to give away any hints about himsel We trie OLIVER STONE at his Vancouver engagement at the Orpheum leatre last October, richard lam photo which ranged from marijuana legalisation to the struggle of Natives. Placed on a pedestal as the only liberal filmmaker in Hollywood by his fans, Stone did little but get harried and annoyed at their insistence. The question and answer period dragged on for a short while, Stone's actual answers never quite answering the questions asked But after this, the much more attractive item (at least for a number of the fans there) of the day finally began; the autograph session. But any hope that this might pass for a chance to " meet and greet' Oliver Stone—a major life goal for some fans at the lecture—was dashed by the hurried motions of security and the wearied apathy of the lecturer. My interview with Stone was supposed to happen after the lecture, but I was getting a bit nervous about the interview happening at afl. Spying Ms Tien, I inquired whether it would take place that night Unfortunately not, was the answer yet again, though I was assured that I would be slotted in "somewhere" between all the interviews Stone was doing the next day. Given a time and the name of the hotel I dutifully showed up in the hotel's lobby, twenty minutes late due to a mysterious disappearance of parking spaces in the downtown core. Viewed as a potential threat by the suspicious hotel staff—Ms Tien had forgotten to give me the room number—I was only let up half-anhour later after several frantic phone messages. I walked into the room, expecting to find Stone, but instead I found a very peeved Terry David Mulligan camped out with his sullen camera operator. TDM was pleased to inform me that I could do my interview just as soon as he finished his. He'd been waiting for two hours ari-wea^iaTiarnMurTate^S of journalists and assistants, and Mulligan was soon plying his trade to the weary Stone. Mulligan had introduced Stone at the lecture the night before, but the director seemed to have no idea who he was. To TDM's dismay, I was told to sit through his interview to "get a feel for the questions" that Stone was being asked. This meant sitting and listening to Mulligan's attempts to flatter Stone (he called A Child's Night Dream an instant classic, which should be "required reading for students") and throw pointless questions at him (such as what his thoughts on the Internet were). An hour later, I was forced to sit through yet another flattering and overly analytical interview, as a reporter from The Vancouver Sun lavishly lauded Stone's novel with references to Joseph Conrad, Ernest Hemingway, e.e. oirnrnings, William S. Burroughs and Arthur Rimbaud tossed out casually. But after all the preening and contemplation was over, it was my turn to bargain for a piece of Stone's time. Problem was, there was no time left Eager to meet with some backers, he was in a rush to escape the interviews. So, as Stone rushed from room to room, I was to interview him. After weeks of preparation, my page of questions was cut down to three questions—three questions that were hardly answered by a harried Stone as he impatiently strode around the hotel hallways. The responses aren't even worth printing except to note that when I asked him about the special appeal of the desert a prominent setting for key scenes in four of his films, he simply replied, "I like it" Soon after, Stone rushed out of what I had attempted to make into an interview to get ready to fly back to the golden lights of Los Angeles. But as he hurried down the corridor he did point at me and ask his press secretary to send him "a copy of Bob's article." I didn't bother to rorrecthirn. Yes, I met Oliver Stone, I ended up spending two and a half hours with him, but in the end I had nothing more than a bad taste in my mouth. Stone never seemed to break out of a shell he'd built up for dealing with journalists, when dealing with fans. The worst irony of the experience was that Stone had held as his strong point his relation with the youth of today, with the "young people.' But every instance where he was called on to relate with them, to discuss his ideas with them, he ignored them. At the question and answer session, the autograph session and even the interview, Oliver Stone held himself apart from his young fans, from his supporters. Here was Stone saying that only 19-year olds would understand A Child's Night Dream and be able to discuss it, while at the same time he did an excellent job of ignoring a 19-year old sitting across the table from him.-* -iMiiKli. ni-in-Mimiur* Career AsaesmentB "If you don't know where you are going you may end up somewhere else" Vocational testing will assess your "career self (Interests, Needs, Aptitudes and Personality) and give you direction and inforrnation about educational programs. If you are planning to enter college or a training program a career assesment will benefit you. Maximum fee is $ 160.00 536- 4277 fax 536-7133 Experienced Japanese Language teacher available for tutoring.. All lev- J els. Please call Ms. Maedaat270-4352 j Vi ill [II 'Summer Positions in your home town: Student Work is hiring NOW I for positions next summer through- j out B.C. call 733-6110 j Male & Female Models Required for | a new Vancouver magazine. No |experience necessary Call 528-9714 11990 Honda Civic DX Grey, 2 door, j standard, 155,000 km Good j running condition $6000 473-9169 i Kerrisdale 1 Bedroom, 1 blk. to UBC bus and Shops, furnished or non, bright, quiet, nonsmoking, minimum 3 mo, price negotiable ph. 731-7265 New, Save Money use WEBKALL to make cheap telephone calls to anyone in the world via the internet. No special hardware/software required. Visit http://www.earth- calls.com/ubcJitm to immediatetly place your calls. Cool Service ! Software Developer ACCPAC International, Inc. the world's leading developer of high end PC accounting software, is looking to fill the following positions: Windows Programmers who want to be involved in the development of market leading products using state of the art database, user interface and report generation technologies. Applicants must have a thorough knowledge of C or C++ and a university degree. DOS Programmers who have extensive DOS experience to maintain and expand ACCPAC Plus. Applicants must have a thorough knowledge of C and a university degree. Software Translator to translate accounting programs from English to Chinese for the Asian market. Applicants should have a certificate in translation, excellent writing skills, some knowledge of business and acounting procedures, and experience in the computer industry Technical Writers to create and update end-user manuals and on line documentation for new and existing software products. As members of project-oriented teams, writers are involved in all stages of production development. Applicants must have excellent writing skills, some knowledge of business and accounting procedures, and experience writing software documentation. Technical Consultants to provide telephone and on-site support to user of our software products. Applicants must be willing to travel and have experience working with Netware, NT and MS-SQL. Send your resume to: Computer Associates Canada Ltd. Human resources Department 13700 International Place, 3rd Floor Richmond, BC V6V 2x8 Fax: (604) 207-3602 Or visit our website at: www.accpac.com Nominations for AMS Executive Positions, UBC Senate and UBC Board of Governors will be closins Jan 9th,1998 at 4:30 pm. AMS Executive Positions open: The President Vice President Director of Administration Director of Finance Coordinator of External Affairs Nomination forms and candidate information is now available from the lExecutive Secretary in SUB 238. All candidates are required to meet with Ithe Elections Administrator once nominations have closed. It is only after Ithe close of nominations that a list of candidates will be released, and [campaigning may begin. |For more information, please contact, Kaaren Vlug, Elections Administrator, c/o AMS SUB Room 238, or drop by AMS SUB 224, or call 219-0465. Nomination forms and further information regarding only UBC Board of Govenors and Senate Elections are available from the Registrar's Office in Brock Hall. CLOSED JAN 9 1998 Wanted: Poll Clerks The AMS is looking for poll clerks to manage the polling stations during Voting Week (January 19th to 23th, 1998) ofthe AMS Elections. Those interested are advised to bring a copy of their class schedule to SUB Room 224 at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, January 13th, 1998. Honouraria will be paid, of $9/hour. No experience necessary - just some enthusiasm and creativity. As a poll clerk, you can choose your own hours and locations! For more information, please contact Kaaren Vlug, Elections Administrator c/o SUB Room 238 or drop by SUB 224 or call 21 9- 0465 Trash your Summer... Become an Entrepreneur! Operation Manager wanted for Summer of '98 between May 1 and August 31. Requires 50-60 hours a week. There are 9 positions available in B.C. & Alberta and earnings are based on profit sharing ( between $9,000 and $16,000 over a summer ). You will be responsible for: daily operation, customer service, developing and implementing a marketing plan, hiring and managing 1-4 employees, managing finances ana setting goals ana working to achieve them. Must be ambitious, enthusiastic, honest, responsible and hard working. You should be able to work with minimal supervision, must have good leadership skills and exceptional customer service skills. No business experience is required, we will train. Contact Puai Guy at 738-JUNK (5865) iuj I If- RUBBISHBOYS STUDENT OPERATED See How They Run\\ i 3 ALL CANDIDATES FORUM This is your chance to ask the candidates what their policies, plans and ideas are for your campus. What makes them the best person to vote for? This is your opportunity to find out. Wed, January 14th, 1998 12:30-2:00 AMS SUB Conversation Pit THE UBYSSE UBC professor admits to assault » *WSj\\ , DAVID LEVITT wasn't talking Thursday richard lam photo by Daliah Merzaban A UBC medical professor is under investigation by the College of Physicians and Surgeons after pleading guilty in BC Provincial Court to common assault Monday. David Levitt was charged with sexual assault last spring after a secretary at his office complained to police that Levitt tried to kiss her and touched her breast She also complained that at an office party he repeatedly propositioned her to have intercourse and often put his hand on her hip or shoulder. Although Levitt was charged with sexual assault he pled guilty to common assault and was given an 18 month probation. He is undergoing counselling. University officials couldn't be reached yesterday to comment on whether Levitt will face any disciplinary action. This term he teaches a class on clinical diagnosis. According to David Vanandel, the deputy registrar of the College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPS), which oversees the activities of doctors in BC, Levitt will face a hearing before the CPS council in the next few weeks. The council will decide whether to discipline Levitt, and according to Vanandel that discipline could include counselling or a suspension from the College. Vanandel wouldn't release any details of the investigation. According to court transcripts, G Parson, crown counsel at the trial, said June Williamson, 24, felt uncomfortable with 64 year old Levitt's advances, but did not take action. Williamson works for Alan Weiss, a physician who shares an office with Levitt. On March 13, 1997, Williamson went to Weiss' office to relax. Levitt came to check on Williamson's condition; she had complained of a headache. 'He put his hand on her forehead and then kissed her. She felt his tongue briefly on the outside of her closed mouth and she felt his hand touch her breast for about one second," said Parson. Parson said that a month earlier, Levitt "blatantly propositioned her to have intercourse' at Weiss' fiftieth birthday party. Levitt's wife was also at the party. Williamson rejected Levitt's advances and he apologized for his actions the following day. Williamson said she was satisfied with Levitt's sentencing. 'I feel fine about it I didn't want it to be majorly bad because it was a fairly minor thing in comparison to a lot of things that have happened [in society].' she said in an interview at the office where she still works. Williamson has continued working at the office since the incident, but said 'Ever since that happened there hasn't been a single word passed between the two of us.' 'There's no animosity towards him at all,' said Williamson. 'It was just a stupid moment and he's got some problems. I just wanted to make sure that Re got help—that was the big thing.' She is leaving the job next week for reasons she says are not related to Levitt. According to the court transcript Levitt plans to continue his job at UBC and at his practice in order to support his two daughters, 15 and 17. Madame Justice Godfry, the. Provincial court judge at Levitt's trial, told the court Levitt will be granted a discharge if he meets his probation. Levitt's lawyer, T L Robertson, said his client's sentence is not too light. "He will be formally reprimanded, and that reprimand will be published to the media and to the profession, which is likely a great or greater punishment to him than the criminal consequences."♦ So long Thunderbird Store by Sarah Galashan After two hours of emotionally charged debate last Wednesday, AMS council voted 18-14 not to renew the lease of the privately owned Thunderbird Shop. But students could have a direct say in the future of the Thunderbird Shop, a SUB fixture for the past 25 years, if the .AMS accepts a petition of 5000 signatures and puts the petition question to renew the shop lease to referendum during the upcoming AMS election. Kristie Kimnett, a fourth year geography student and a Thunderbird Shop employee, presented the petition to AMS officials last Thursday. Ryan Davies, the AMS president wouldn't comment Thursday on whether the petition was sufficient to trigger a student referendum. The aAMS did not want to comment on the possibility of a binding student vote until they consulted a lawyer about the wording of the petition question. Some councilors said at the council meeting Wednesday that the Thunderbird Shop's petition question was misleading because it doesn't say what the AMS's plans for the shop's space are. At Wednesday's meeting, councilors flip-flopped between talcing a business risk—there is no guarantee that developing an a\\MS owned shop in place of the Thunderbird shop will make money—and sticking with what has proven successful in the past Even Jennie Chen, director of administration and a former advocate ofthe proposal, was undecided. In the end, she voted against the motion not to renew the T-Bird lease. The decision was made in favour of 'confidence in our general manager,' said Ryan Davies, AMS President. The vote Wednesday also gave AMS staff the go-ahead to develop a retail outlet similar to the T-Bird shop in that space. But some of those opposed to the motion said a vote in favour was an insult to students. Among those voices were the owner and staff of the shop who lined one side of the council chambers, wearing Thunderbird T-shirts and listening with long faces as councillors discussed the ethics and business issues around the decision. Bernie Peets, the AMS general manager, has repeatedly detailed plans for the AMS store. Projected costs for renovations to the store are $66,000. The cash-strapped council took Peets' projections that while initial profits will be low, running the retail business themselves will bring more than the $65,000 they make leasing the space. In a final plea shop owner John Lecky offered to bump up his rent to nine per cent of sales, increasing it to about $84,700. But it was not enough for the majority. Initially T-Bird employees responded to the AMS plan not to renew the lease with a campaign to garner student support by collecting the 5000 signatures. "Five-thousand students is more than [the number who] vote in .AMS elections,' said Philip Ledwith, a Science representative. Ledwith acknowledged that while students who signed might have been uninformed of future AMS plans, the petition still signified a "very strong feeling of community.' AMS staff have presented detailed drawings of their pro- MICHAEL KINCSMILL'S drawing of the proposed AMS store. posed retail outlet and have made several presentations to the council to assure them that their plans are sound. Peets' extensive retail experience has been noted several times as well. For Peets planning ahead has meant looking into possible suppliers and merchandise, and finalising renovation plans. But Lecky said he doesn't believe .AMS executives questioned Peets enough and he doesn't think they understand the principles behind the decision. 'Who are you going to believe: an aclministrator with a vision and no money invested, or an entrepreneur who has invested 25 years in the business?' Peets expressed confidence in the future ofthe plan. 'From my perspective I understand the concerns and why it is emotional for the Thunderbird [employees], but I don't agree. We're poised to be very successful.'* UBC to promote banking services under monopoly deal by Chris Nuttall-Smith An arrangement intended to give the Royal and Hong Kong banks a campus monopoly includes a provision that will see UBC promote banking services to staff and students, sources say. The deal, approved by UBC's Board of Governors (BoG) last month, gives the two banks exclusive rights to set up branches and instant tellers on campus, except inside the SUB, which is controlled by the Alma Mater Society. The two banks will have to negotiate with the AMS to replace the Bank of Montreal branch and Toronto Dominion and VanCity instant tellers in SUB. The spaces are currently leased out by the AMS. The two banks want to buy out the Bank of Montreal's lease as early as this summer, then replace all instant tellers in SUB when those leases expire. Preliminary groundwork for future nego tiations has already begun. Meeting with AMS General Manager Bernie Peets and AMS executives Jennie Chen and Vivian Hoffman last month, UBC Business Relations officials offered to help the student union work out its own deal with the banks. Debora Sweeney, Business Relations marketing manager, also suggested the AMS could help mairket the banks' services to students. 'We would determine together how best to communicate with students about the benefits of the partnership, to them and to the institution so that they can decide whether they wish to move their personal banking to the Royal or HongKong Bank," Sweeney wrote in her minutes of the meeting. 'This would include deterrriining the AMS' potential financial benefits from marketing the program to students," she added. Paula Martin, a UBC spokesperson. wouldn't discuss details of the agreement Wednesday, but she said the university would make a formal announcement later this month. She added the agreement will create a sizeable windfall for UBC. But she said that figure, as well as other details of the agreement, will stay confidential. Martin said UBC officials will consult with groups, including the AMS and the Graduate Students' Society, about how to implement parts of the agreement. A motion allowing AMS staff to begin discussions with the two banks was presented to council only this Wednesday. The motion, tabled by Chen and Hoffman, will come up for discussion and approval later this month. If and when the cash-starved AMS works out a deal with the two banks, council will likely revisit many of the arguments still clinging to the Coke deal signed in 1995. The most contentious issue will be whether council should limit student banking options in exchange for cash. The issue of exclusive agreements is a controversial one, both on campus and within the AMS. Marathon council debates over whether to join the university and sign on to the cold beverage agreement giving Coca-Cola a campus monopoly were some of the most contentious in recent AMS history. Council's decision to accept the deal was also a lucrative one—the AMS generates some $ 130,000 annually from the contract. UBC adniinistrators already have hopes for the money coming from the agreement. Maria Klawe, vice president of student and academic services, asked AMS council Wednesday to support a plan, whereby $400,000 of annual revenues from the agreement would go to varsity athletics. Klawe proposed the money pay for tickets to varsity games, which would be given away to students.♦ news JJRY9. 1998 WM THE UBYSSEY HAS TWO TICKETS TO F N G G A R I D A Y I G H T ' S R I Z Z L Y A M E GAINST CHARLOTTE. YOU CAN HAVE THEM IF YOU ARE THE FIRST PER SON TO COME TO OUR OFFICE AND SING ANY SONG BY THE VILLAGE PEOPLE. Mam7inacl I rs^ Magazines Movies (Dvpr-^nnn Hivo erse videos (Music CD's buy & trade) Games (PC. Nin 64. Sony PSX] International Newspapers S Video 4453 West Tenth \\ - Writing Centre The UBC Writing Centre offers six- or twelve-week non-credit courses emphasizing English writing for academic, technical and research purposes. Classes are held on the UBC campus. Six-Week Courses (New!) Writing Essays about Literature Tuesdays and Thursdays, Feb 24-Apr 2, 12:30-2 pm. $175. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Feh 24-Apr 2, 4:30-6 pm. $175. Persuasion and Rhetorical Analysis Tuesdays and Thursdays, Feb 24-Apr 2, 12:30-2 pm. $175. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Feb 24-Apr 2, 4:30-6 pm. $175. Getting Ahead with Grammar Tuesdays, Feb 24-Mar 31, 7-10 pm. $175. Preparation for Professional Communication I: Case Studies for Memos and Letters Mondays and Wednesdays, Feb 23- Aprl, 4:30-6pm. $175. Preparation for Professional Communication II: Oral Presentations Mondays and Wednesdays, Feb 23- Apr 1,4:30-6 pm. $175. Twelve-Week Courses Writing 097: Intermediate Composition Saturdays, Jan 17-Apr 4, 9:30 am- 12:30 pm. $245. Writing 098: Preparation for University Writing and the LPI Several sections are offered. Students should consult the UBC Registration Guide or contact the Writing Centre for details. $245lsection. Writing 099: Advanced Composition Wednesdays, Jan 21-Apr 15 (no class Feb 18), 7-10 pm. $245. Report and Business Writing Saturdays, Jan 17-Apr 4, 9:30 am- 12:30 pm. $245. Wednesdays, Jan 21-Apr 15 (no class Feb 18), 7-10 pm. $245. Information: 822-9564 www.cstudies.ubc.ca/wc .e HOLIDAYS for 18*35s Wednesday Jan. 14th 12:30 pm SUB Room 212A * Free Admission * If you are planning on QoinQ to Europe this year, don't miss this show! Come learn how Contiki and Travel CUTS can make your trip fun, exciting: & affordable! ■*$$£ wW"- inRAVELCUIS Lowar Level SUB 822-6890 UBC Village 221-6221 Ovvneo ana apeialed 0/ tne Canaaian f eaerattoo 01 Students Researchers push for big infrastructure boom by Chris Nuttall-Smith UBC researchers are hoping to get a big piece of an $800 million federal fund for university research infrastructure, but if the provincial government doesn't soon agree to pitch in with its own money, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) funds could be a lot harder to get. The CFI was announced in the federal budget last year to help fund university science projects like new labs, science research libraries and computer networks, and also to hire new faculty. But the fund only provides up to 40 per cent of a project's cost; universities must find the balance from private donors, industry, endowment funds and their provincial governments. So far, however, only Ontario and Alberta have committed provincial funds. Quebec has refused the federal support and BC, while talking with UBC officials about the fund, is wavering on an announcement. When asked whether the province will allocate money for CFI projects, the BC education minister, Paul Ramsey said: 'Yes, absolutely," but he wouldn't discuss specifics. "I respect that the CFI is a wonderful opportunity for institutions in British Columbia to improve their research facilities and I want to work with them to find ways to do it. Having said that I gotta tell you that the fact that the Liberal government is coming and doing this at this time is quite out of synch with what British Columbia has been doing,' Ramsey said. 'So [while] we have a new opportunity here I wish they'd been around a bit earlier instead of all the cuts we got,' he added. Ramsey said he would likely make an announcement about the CFI during the spring sitting of the provincial legislature. But UBC administrators are hoping the provincial government will give $100 million tc BC universities to support CFI projects. .And while they're shying away from suggestions that UBC is 'lobbying' the province, university officials say they have met with BC Premier Glen Clark and expect to meet with employment and investment minister Dan Miller this month. Alison Speer, UBC's manager of government relations, also said staff in the university development office have asked business leaders to urge the province to commit money to CFI. In a presentation to the university's Board of Governors (BoG) last month, Martha Piper, the UBC president, laid out a financial plan that she says will bring some $330 million from CFI and provincial and external donors. By her estimates, that money would create about 1500 construction jobs, several research spin-off companies, patents and licences resulting in 375 research jobs. "The future economy of this region is going to be driven by technology, research and know-how,' said Piper. Richard Spratley, the director of research services at UBC, is heading up the university's proposals for CFI grants. He said that unlike applications to other federal granting councils, CFI proposals will often be for broad and costly projects. 'We're looking at the big bucks, really. We're going to try to package really integrated proposals,' he said.-* Grad students say 'Non' to department merger Corinne Seror, Nancy Stevens, Darcy Cullen and Valia Spiliotopoulos stare down the dean, richard lam photo. by Douglas Quan UBC's senate has approved the creation of a new French, Hispanic and Italian Studies department despite strong objections from some graduate students. Grad students studying French say that merging the French department with that of Hispanic and Italian Studies will mean the proliferation of courses taught in English (the only language common to all three disciplines), and the general erosion of French studies on campus. "The French language courses won't be as popular,' said French grad student Valia Spiliotopoulos. "Well be studying the language, but it will be as if its a dead language.' The graduate students presented a petition to Senate on December 10 asking the academic body to oppose the merger. But Senate voted to support it Current French department head Richard Hodgson will head the new department once it comes into effect April 1 and says the students don't have all that much to worry about 'It's true that in this new department, we will be offering perhaps one or two more courses a year which would be given in English..but these courses would not be compulsory. "Any graduate student who prefers in the future to take all his or her courses in French rather than in English that will still be possible.' Hodgson said the majors ofthe two programmes will be retained. He also said there is a growing trend in Canada to merge Romance language departments. The proposal was first announced by Shirley Neuman, dean of Arts, in November. Despite repeated requests from the Ubyssey for an interview, Neuman refused to comment But in a memorandum sent out to the various departments dated November 12, Neuman explained that the merger was necessary for administrative reasons. One reason cited was that there is currently no replacement for Marguerite Chiarenza when she steps down as head of the Hispanic and Italian Studies department at the end of this academic year. The department is also in need of a new faculty position, but cannot afford to keep both a head, and create that new position. According to Derek Carr, a professor in the department the number of fulkime positions has dwindled to just eight The merger with the French department is the only thing they can do to maintain funding levels, he said. Neuman's memo also cited problems within the French department Because of declining enrolment in third and fourth years, and steady faculty numbers, the department needs to collaborate with other programmes 'in order to cany its share of teaching in the faculty." Neuman suggested that the departments merge, and develop shared courses and programmes (e.g. in literary theory and Romance Studies): 'such programmes would give students a broader-based expertise when they leave the university for the job market' But graduate students say that the bottomline remains: the range of courses available to them in French is slowly diminishing. .And Spiliotopoulos says that doesn't bode well for Canada's other official language. 'If we want the language to survive we have to make sure that there is expression.'*?* THE UBYSSI by Chris Nuttall-Smith It's been nearly a month and a half since 18 APEC leaders met at UBC but the fallout around campus is still raging, with allegations of a Prime Minister's Office (PMO) plan to silence protesters, a crusading webmaster, at least two law suits and high-level questions about whether the APEC lead- APEC fallout ers' 'retreat' should have been held here at all. This week some 20 students and activists who were arrested or pepper sprayed during campus protests against the leaders retreat at UBC November 25 agreed to let two Vancouver lawyers, Cameron Ward and Aymen Nader represent them in a civil suit against the RCMP and Prime Minister Jean Chretien. 'We feel that there is evidence that the police have acted maliciously and that their treatment of protesters deserves not only compensation but also punitive damages,' said Nader. He said the suit, which will likely be launched in BC Supreme Court later this month, will allege false and wrongful detention and imprisonment, assault and battery and sexual harassment of the women who were arrested November 25. The women allege that they were all strip-searched at the Richmond Pre-Trial Centre, while none ofthe males were. They will also argue the RCMP and Chretien violated their Charter rights to freedom of conscience, expression and security against unlawful search; as well as their freedom from cruel and unusual treatment, Nader said. The political interference allegations against Chretien stem from documents released by UBC last month that show the Prime Minister's office changed RCMP- approved security arrangements in order to keep protesters away from the leaders' motorcade. The protest area between the Law Building and Chancellor Boulevard was originally planned to extend close to Chancellor Boulevard, where the passing leaders would see the protesters, but the area was moved back from the street by the PMO, despite strong objections from UBC. The protesters might also name the university in their suit because of a letter the UBC president, Martha Piper wrote to Chretien November 19. In that letter Piper warned Chretien of serious concerns about the safety of protesters. 'Officials from your office have decided to reduce significantly the area available for line of sight access to the APEC leaders. This contravenes the University's commitment to its community, violates a prior agreement, and increases the risk of a serious incident arising out of over-crowding and frustration in a very confined space,' Piper wrote. The protesters allege that Piper was negligent because she knew there could be a safety problem on the twenty-fifth but failed to take adequate precautions. Jonathan Oppenheim, an anti-APEC organiser who might join the suit, said the protesters aren't after personal gain. He said the protesters agreed that if they claim and win damages from the suit they will donate them to charity or start a scholarship or trust fund. A similar suit that caught national media attention last month was launched by Craigjones, a UBC law student and a member of the BC Civil Liberties Association. He was arrested on November 25 while holding two signs saying 'Free Speech' and 'Democracy.' Jones was standing on the lawn in front of Green College, where he lives, when RCMP told him to remove the signs. After arguing that he had a Constitutional right to hold the signs, Jones was arrested and taken to the Richmond Pre-Trial Centre, where he was held for 14 hours then released. In his suit against the RCMP, the Attorney General of Canada and three RCMP officers, Jones alleges police acted with a 'wanton, flagrant, inten- RICHARD LAM PHOTOS tional, or alternatively reckless disregard for his constitutional and legally protected rights...' The university has also been quick to release documents to the media in order to clear its name after the day ended with 49 arrests and protesters, media and onlookers being pepper sprayed. At the December 11 Board of Governors (BoG) meeting, Piper listed the steps her office took to ensure students could be involved in the APEC protests and activities. She said these efforts included appeals to the Prime Minister's Office and the RCMP to develop agreeable protest areas and then keep them, as well as working to feel that there is evidence that the police have acted maliciously and that their treatment of protesters deserves not only compensation but also punitive damages" —Aymen Nader a vancouver lawyer keep the campus informed before the event, partly by ensuring the Ubyssey was permitted behind security lines to cover the event. Piper added she did not meet any of the 18 Asia Pacific heads of state at the retreat, other than Chretien, to whom she handed over the keys to Norman Mackenzie House, the president's official campus residence and a venue for a leaders lunch that day. She also said she will work to correct and investigate the events of the twenty-fifth. Piper's other actions: •She requested access to RCMP reports and investigations ofthe day; •Piper wrote to request a Solicitor General's inquiry into the day; •She gave $5,000 to both the AMS and the Graduate Student's Society for research or legal action; •Piper announced a public forum on APEC to be held at the Chan Centre on January 20. She said she invited GSS and AMS representatives, as well as anti-APEC organisers and a campus union representative to sit on a panel at the forum. According to Philip Resnick, a faculty representative on BoG and a vocal opponent of having the leaders' meeting at UBC, the administration's actions since APEC have helped remove some public stigma from the university's image. 'It puts the university in a much better light than if those letters were never sent,' said Resnick. Lois Moen, a staff representative on BoG, said Piper should criticise Chretien for his comments. 'I don't think it would be out of line for this board to write the Prime Minister to address his flippant and real arrogant remarks that he made...that made us all look like idiots,' Moen told the BoG. The board directed Piper to write Chretien with an outline of the actions she was taking and also to express concern over his now infamous 'For me, pepper, I put it on my plate,* response to a reporter's question about the RCMP use of pepper spray against protesters. Many of the board members, including Resnick, Ken Georgetti, and student representatives David Borins and Kera McArthur, said the APEC meeting at UBC was an embarrassment to the university. "The building of the Atrium at Norman MacKenzie House, the endowment of a few chairs and scholarships [in exchange for holding APEC] are a high price to pay for the limiting of civil liberties on campus,' said Resnick. The fallout has also prompted letters to Martha Piper from the English department. Interdisciplinary 19th Century Studies, the department of Fine .Arts, and the History department, all condemning the RCMP actions. Twenty-five professors from the faculty of Law also wrote Chretien to express their concern over "breaches of fundamental constitutionally protected rights on our campus on November 25, 1997.' UBC Law professor Wes Pue has also started a website of accounts about November 25. The site, with the title 'Canada, APEC and the rule of law' cheekily placed over the official APEC logo, includes Jones' suit, accounts from Green College residents, the departmental letters to Piper and Chretien and photographs taken that day. Pue also examines the day from a legal and civil rights standpoint, and he offers some harsh criticism of the federal government and of the RCMP. "The RCMP has been disgraced. Many officers — who joined the force as a noble public calling—will wear the Red Serge less proudly in the future,' Pue writes. 'Some of them should never wear it again.' The website is at www.law.ubc.ca/links/apec97/•> Questions after AMS hires elections administrator by Michael McGowan The search for someone to oversee upcoming student government elections ended in late November. After two calls for nominations failed to fill the position of election administrator, AMS council appointed Kaaren Vlug following a council vote November 19. After previous attempts to hire someone for the $1800 position failed, Vlug a 1997 representative for the Arts Undergraduate Society, and friend of Jason Murray, current Arts Rep and chair for the elections nominating committee, was hired. 'I do see how people would be concerned,' Vlug said. 'Jason [Murray] and I are friends but we've been friends before either of us were interested in student politics, she added. 'I think I can do a very good job.' After administrative problems with last years AMS elections recomendations were made to hire the next administrator well in advance to avoid any similar mishaps. Last year's election saw ballot miscounts and as a result the loss of Jeff Myers' Board of Governors student representative position. In addition allegations of voting fraud were raised but never substantiated and two unadvertised poll booths were operating off campus. According to Vlug her late appointment to elections administrator will not affect the election. She says this year the elections committee is taking action to correct some of last years problems. The ballot counting machine that three years ago cost the i\\MS $16,950 to purchase will be replaced this year by a man ual count conducted by a hired accounting firm Separate ballots are also being used for the AMS race, the Board of Governors race, and the Ubyssey Publications Board race. Instead of using felt pens to mark off squares on the back of student cards, the elections committee has opted to have poll clerks physically scratch out these squares to eliminate the possibility of multiple voting by the same person. The draw for free tuition, which previously offered a strong incentive for students to vote multiple times will not be offered this year.»> WEST 10TH OPTOMETRY CLINIC Dr. Patricia Rupnow, Optometrist Dr. Stephanie Brooks, Optometrist General Eye and Vision Care 4320 W.1 Oth Ave. Vancouver, BC (604) 224 2322 FIND US on the 2nd floor Behind CIBC Bank University Village 2174 W. Parkway Vancouver, BC ^KZ 1st page ' in file ea. addtn'l , page in file We accept: ZIP. SyQuest EZ135. & SyQuest 44. 88. 200 Cartridges ^% |T gf ea. addtn 'I Q J > prints I 8"2 x 11, single sided ] UB Discover the Friendly Competition! Mort to Fri 8am-9pm • Sat to Sun 10am-6pm For all members of the UBC community- students, staff, faculty and administrators January 13,1998 12:30 - 2:30 pm Conversation Pit, Student Union Building The term "Human Rights" is much in the news... Do you know your rights and rasponsihilitiBS as a citizen of this university? Join Professor Bill Black, Faculty of Law, Margeret Sarkissian, Equity Advisor, Equity Office, Sarah Dench, Student Services Ombudsperson, graduate and undergraduate students, for a lively and vital discussion on Understanding your Human Rights. Discuss: •your rights as a member of the UBC community •your role in promoting an inclusive campus, •where to get advice and information to deal with discrimination and harassment issues. The Culturally Inclusive Campus Committee welcomes your questions and comments to guide this discussion. Please direct all correspondence c/o Equity Office, Room 306, Brock Hall, e-mail jmcbain@equity.ubc.ca Travel CUTS offers you another exclusive deal.' Fly forego to London! Now, for a limited time, you can fly for $290 to London when you book a specific Contiki tour. Drop by your nearest Travel CUTS for details. fl TRAVEL CUTS frtftVOnftlGES CAMPUS Owned and operated by the Canadian Federation c/ Students SUB, 822-6890 203-5728 University Blvd. 221-6221 Contiki is the world's largest tour operator for 18 to 35 year olds. l/*' HOLIDAYS The hindered path "The higher functioning students with autism may excel academically, but they often have difficulty with the dormitories, the social scenes" —Carol Grey CONSULTANT FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH AUTISM Participants must have a valid International Student ID Caid (ISIC) Tours must commence by 09 May 1998 and must be paid in full by 31 Match 1998 Valid foi depattuies from Calgary, Edmonton or Vancouver only. Full details available at Travel CUTS by Laura Tiffany The Muse ST. JOHN'S (CUP)-It's just before final exams and Claire's walls are covered with giant sheets of paper. Covering the length of the walls are with complex diagrams. Claire is pursuing a master's degree, and while the road through post-graduate studies is rarely easy for anyone, she has found th6journey especially difficult. Claire is autistic. Sometimes when she gets scared or 'a bit frazzled," she climbs underneath her desk and refuses to venture out until she feels safe. Claire realises most people don't reac.t to stress in that manner, and has learned to cope with the response it sometimes elicits from her fellow students. "It freaked out everyone who came into my room during that term, but I had finally learned not to care," she says. Autism is a neurocognitive developmental disability. The syndrome affects the way the brain processes information. Autism is not a form of mental retardation, as many people mistakenly believe. It occurs in approximately 15 out of every 10,000 births and approximately four out of every five autistic people are male. fhe disorder affects people with varying degrees of intensity, explains Jared Blackburn, another autistic student, who refers to autism as a "spectrum disorder." "It ranges in severity across a wide range of conditions, like the colours of a rainbow," he says. Aspects of the condition include severe communication and language difficulties, an inability to relate to other people or form social relationships and unusual or problematic behaviour, such as responding oddly to sights and sounds. Autism was first identified in 1943, and the cause is largely unknown. It seems to involve a "muddling" of the information the brain receives from the senses, and this inhibits the accurate processing and integration of it. Some of the biggest problems university students with autism face have less to do with academics and more with social situations they encounter. Parties, class discussions, and even conversations with roommates can beextremely difficult, if not impossible, for people with autism. "The higher functioning students with autism, .may excel academically, but they often have difficulty with the dormitories, the social scenes," says Carol Grey, a Michigan school board consultant for children and adults with autism. "The worst problem is that it's noisy and chaotic here in these dorms," Jared says. "I like people, but I find them most strange, illogical, petty and superficial. I can intellectually grasp, but not relate to, their motives." He explains that, because of autism, he feels like he is in a state of perpetual culture shock. "I don't understand many of the basic social assumptions that others take for granted." Autistic students also encounter difficulties understanding exactly what their professors expect from them on an assignment or exam. "They might not be able to pick up on [what professors want]," Grey said. "They usually have to study longer and harder, and cover everything because they don't necessarily pick up on those strong points like the rest of us." Jared finds himself spending a long time at his studies because of another aspect of his difficulty with processing information. He says he has difficulty scanning words into actual meaning while studying. "I must stop and process letter by letter, syllable by syllable, and then word by word... so it takes me a long time to read," he said. "When I have many reading assignments, I spend all my time on them, get behind, and am too burned out to concentrate on anything within a week or two." Dianne Wills, who is also pursuing a master's degree, admits that frustration over her studies sometimes lead her to harming herself. "I often found math frustrating, and if I couldn't solve a math problem Iwould often bite myself. I bit myself when I was frustrated from as early as I could remember." Coping with autism can affect a student's decisions throughout university. Diane had the option, to complete her master's degree, of taking an exam or writing a thesis. She chose the exam. "Writing a thesis would have been very difficult for me since, due to my autism, unstructured tasks don't come easily," she says. Students also seek extra assistance from their schools to help them cope. The most common request from university students who have autism, says Grey, is to have more time allotted for exams. She believes autistic students often require more time to complete an examination. "It does take them longer to figure out what it is intended from a question and to formulate their response," says Grey. But. whether or not autistic students are allotted the extra time they need depends on the school they attend. For Claire, it was not a problem. "My tutors were generally sympathetic and interested when I told them about my diagnosis, and I was able to get permission on medical grounds." It is often suggested that the university community as a whole needs to become more aware of autism and the problems associated with it. Grey says one approach to this could involve "just improving in general the understanding that professors have of students with autism so that they will not misinterpret or take offence at some of the social errors they might make." For Jared, this surfaces as the "constant and frustrating" problem of being unable to get his points across to others, including his professors. "I might ask a question about one subject, and get an answer about another, totally unrelated subject," he said. "Since I am the common factor," he said, "the logical explanation is that I am not expressing myself well... in a way other people can understand." University has for some time been emerging as a reasonable goal for people with autism, explains Grey, as the face of those with the disorder is changing. "We are identifying more and more high functioning people with autism... so we're dealing with a new population that we just became aware of." The assumptions that autistic high school graduates should either get jobs in sheltered workshops or out in the "real world" are being challenged by the realisation that there are other options, including university. While pursuing a post-secondary education, autistic students are acquiring much more than diplomas and degrees. Some find their social skills can be helped just by attending college and university. Diane recalls eating lunch with fellow classmates. "I remember making a very big effort to keep a conversation going and I must have been successful because they continued to have lunch with me," she says. "However, I wasn't able to feel a real deep attachment with anyone. Still, I think those experiences of eating with those girls, and also socializing with other girls, was positive." Jared adds that as time passed, it became easier for him to meet others. "Before college, I had no real interest in socialising or spending time with other people. I preferred to be alone," he said. "During my early years of college, I developed a taste for company, which I previously lacked." Dianne says she is happy she attained a post-secondary education, adding that it not only enhanced her social and communication skills, but also gave her a "very good career." Many autistic graduates have gone on to successful careers in their chosen fields and lead fulfilling and productive lives. But they still must grapple with the realities of their condition. Grey explains that many of these students often end up in careers where contact with others is minimal, and where they "don't need to stand around the water cooler to make points, or to climb a social ladder. [They go] where they can just pursue an area of interest." Whatever their destinations, it is evident that more and more people coping with autism will be making the journey through university. And though it will often be a difficult passage marked with frustration, as it has been for Claire, Jared and Dianne, chances are they will be the better for it* THE UB--reSEy»FR,rMY,'JANUARY 9, 1998 . Jane's diction Sassy but nothing's really shocking anymore JANE MAGAZINE by Marina Antunes As of last September there is one more magagazine to clutter the closets and coffee tables of women aged 15-30. But this one's a little different—it's actually good. The creative team behind Jane is the same group that brought us the original cutting edge style of Sassy magazine. Granted Sassynow sits with the current glut of nauseating crap such as Teen Seventeen and YM. TianMully, the creative team that originally madeSassysuch a great success has infused that cutting edge style into Jane. After readingjane, most ofthe other mainstream, trend-setting magazines seem worthless. Jane covers all of the bases from health to fashion but does it with dignity and raciness. Behind the glossy layout and slick appearance are some interesting and inforrnative articles. In the November/December 1997 issue, the writers of Jane showed off both their hilarious and serious sides. In sections like "Dish", the reader is given Hollywood's inside scoop, but not in the kiss-ass manner practiced by other magazines. Jane kisses no one's ass. Instead, this mag chooses to treat celebs as regular people rather than bigger-than-life superstars. Also on a comic note, is a short article in the "Fashion Blender" section of the magazine. In "The Sidewalk is my Runway," Gigi Guerra tests the validity of runway fashion as wearable clothing by taking an outfit provided by designer Alexander McQueen onto the streets and observing the response. And if that doesn't tickle your funny bone, check out "It's Hard to be a Woman" in which 26 year old "boxer-short-wearing, upright-peeing, dirty-toe-and-hang-nail kind of chump style guy," Tony Romando explains the hardships of being a female after spending a month, that's an entire 30 days, as a woman. November/December's issue also proved to be a showcase of great writing talent Susan Colon's interview with Robin Wright, a woman who takes crap from no one and refuses to cooperate with media, hints at the potential ofthe magazine. In a three page interview,Colon managed to get Wright to disclose inforrnation about her modeling career, her husband Sean Penn and her feelings toward being in the public eye, something she says that she never wanted to do. The magic is that Colon gets Wright to talk, something that other writers fail to do with celebs who enjoy the spotlight but who clam up when asked to talk about it. Of course there are the standard make-up-tip-stories that few women's magazines successfully hit the shelves without. These tips usually leave people feeling as if they need a professional make-up artist and a million bucks to make them useful. On top of that, most tips also suggest people need to wear make up to cover up flaws that don't even exist! Jane provides easy to understand tips, that do not sell makeup as the salvation for "imperfect" women. Instead they show it as an art form that was created to accentuate or highlight a person's natural features. And although Jane stories are not the underground topics that will revolutionalise the way we view the world, their stories do take a new slant on some very old and tired topics. \\%J Robin l Wright Penn on Seem, her kids, and the one thing * she can't stand Ways Sex Makes You Prettier Ethan Hawke has never looked better We Road refi That Wbn't Compared to the others there is one major difference: Jane has good writers with attitude. Omit the stories titled-"Eight Ways Sex Makes You Prettier" and "A Therapy Victim shops for a shrink"-and you're golden. ♦ Anne Rice fiddles around from vampires to ghosts Cathode Ray looks back in envy by Marina Antunes Anne Rice VIOLIN [Knopf Canada] Vhil-- mos'. ofthe really good material published each month 'liimin*-' largely unread and iinhi'iini of, except in 'thu litur- ary underground," Anne, Kir-:, the best-selling author ofsuper natural fiction plunges into the hUsrarv "wnv once again with her neiv novel V'inlin W< already on thu best seller's list 'I'uo bad ii isn't worth $32.9:1 Kicr- does not return to her romantir vampires who famed hrr both **. following arid a fortiuii*. instead, sh" rtik;i!:ll>jf- he- .(• *rn; love aft::ir *Ai0l iJlii'sift. kii*e'*- n:.*i*ativ'i s:j,< ossiiiiN -Hi-,)V(.'.~ through both present ;.n.'l past, dn*-.;!1". and reality, while tiillini; the sioiy of'Triana, a woman cursed with misfortune and loss. From the death of Ti'ianna's husband to the loss of her six year old daughter lo can cer, the reader is whisked from one tragedy to another. Triana also finds herself haunted by the death of her father and alcoholic: mother a1* well as the !o-:s of hrr hrst husband to her ex-best friend. Starting to feel like tins is a soap opera "-uipt'- Wom- not. The plot doesn't get any juicier. Th-i plot not only confuses the reader; poorTriaiirf is also hi* fuddled by this mesh (if problem*-. Unable to handle the pressures of her bleak reality, site seeks relief in r-la.isii.ai music. Stefan, the j-lv's! of a Russian aristocrat and st;ltish bastard who plays a mean, demonic fiddle, taps into Tridiia's grief and her love oi lhe music he plaw so well, t-i her mxd. In a spellbinding sequence of events, Rir« takes Triaua into Stefan's (Satan's) world as well as into her past and gives her the opportunity lo rescue herself from an «jnri she unknowingly created. Although confusing at Limes and slow at others, Yi'i'lin is Hire's ric:l*in*d. work 'j! ilain !i\\ fa**. Her trudf-tn.irk use ol language and vocabulary reachi.-s an all time besl. K* unfortuale lhe story doesn't live up so thi; promise of her prone. TMs will be a groat disappoinL ment to fans: Rice could have spent her time rehasing an old story. Perhaps Tans would then feel a little more salis iied.*> CATHODE RAY pelf-titied \\i'. tir-'t impression upon spmning Cathode Ray's debut CD was lb.;! -inger Richard Reagh sounds an awful lot like Neil Young. Ii -'jier.s with a strong, catchy powerpop song, vaguely reminis- i • -1-' "!' the B-52's which promises more hard-ass excitement lliai '.he rest of the CD actually delivers. This is not to suggest, lieu i \\i*r that, musically, the rest ofthe CD is urnnteresting. ' :ilhode Ray have somehow managed to combine a slow, ,i'*:ii'-i mellow jazz-like funk with the driving, rough-around- ilii- ei^es rhythm guitar de rigeur for any serious band in the ■•'•-! iirunge 90s. There is also the odd Down-Under element • i| ■■ ■ r.:: ing within the Cathode Ray context—the song "Memphis" I: -i ■■vimple, could easily relocate to a Midnight Oil CD without e\\i iiing the notice of your average punter ofthe Aussie persua- .-.i'"i Iii .i strange, almost dreamy kind of way, Cathode Ray's iiii-"dv-melancholic music has achieved the sort of lazy intro- s]iim :ii.n once, long, long ago, the preserve of Neil Young, way baik when he still was.'J" Andy Barham UBC FilmSoc Jan 9 -11, Norm Theatre, SUB Peacemaker FiimSfiUJyteirte une, 24 hrs, M2-3697 7 Years '" Til>et W e /'noi/eyou to join Cftfp/ia T^i The Beta Theta Chapter of our women's fraternity is extending an invitation to interested women to become members of our cherished order. We offer sisterhood and support to female students that last the year through. Come join us in the fun and build memories and friendships for life. For details contact Vrania at 267-9383 or 828-5837 after 6 pm or Kimi at 525-0731 BRITISH COLUMBIA LEGISLATIVE ,.W- INTERNSHIP PROGRAM Purpose Who is eligible How many- Location When Stipend Application Deadline How to Apply- To provide recent university graduates with an interest in public affairs, an opportunity to supplement their academic insights of the legislative process with practical legislative and administrative experience Students who have received a degree from a British Columbia University by the program commencement date. Seven interns will be accepted for the 1999 program. Parliament Building, Victoria, British Columbia. January through June, 1999 $10,500 for 6 months (under review) 4pm, Friday, January 30, 1998 Program applications are available from the Political Science Departments and the Student Employment Centres on Campus, at the University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia. They are also available from the assembly services office located at 431 Menzies Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 1X4 6 E LBraEVj* n fiii i"# /■ THEU8Vsaey*JAt«J*?vfev*^Bef4'» 1998 9 the ubyssev WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR FUTURE GETTOUGHVs™ When you set out to gain the skills that will change your life, you have many important questions to ask. It's like your first homework assignment. Practically every student who enrolls at CDIS has visited every other school first. And they ask tough questions of every one. We think that this is a good thing. CDIS provides comprehensive training in the areas of multimedia, webmasters, video production, 3D animation and recording arts. CDIS is regarded by the industry (the people that hire, not the ones that hype) as providing top notch, industry ready graduates. And many of our grads springboard into an entrepreneurial career, confident of their skills and their portfolio. You have already made up your mind about changing your future. You know you need to do your research. Just be sure to ask a lot of questions - you may be surprised by the answers. REAL QUESTIONS - STRAIGHT ANSWERS CENTER FOR DIGITAL IMAGING AND SOUND 3264 BETA AVE., BURNABY, BC, V5G 4K4 phone: 604.298.5400 toll free: 800.661.1885 email: info@artschool.com website: www.artschool.com TO A Children's Literacy Program Be a Volunteer Tutor and Open the World of Reading to a Child Do you have 2-3 hours a week during the DAY to help a child learn to read? The Junior League of Greater Vancouver Phone:730-0031 for the campus community THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Post-APEC Forum "What can we learn from the APEC experience about the role of universities in a democratic society?" Tuesday, Jan. 20,1998 12:00-2:00pm, Chan Centre for the Performing Arts Moderator: Prof. Lynn Smith, former dean of Law, UBC Panelists: Arnab Guha, University Forum Jonathan Oppenheim, APEC Alert Martha Piper, President, UBC Wesley Pue, Professor, Faculty of Law Hockey Birds hope new year brings playoffs by Wolf Depner appears to prevail as the UBC hockey team heads into the second half of the season, still chasing its first playoff spot in eight seasons. The Birds have reasons to be confident UBC is unbeaten over the past three games and finished the holiday exhibition schedule with a 2-1-1 record. UBC's best game came against division rival Calgary, whom they beat 4-3 in overtime to claim the Father Bauer tournament for the third time in ten years. "It is good to get back at them," said forward Chris Low, who scored the overtime goal. "It was a good combination/'' said UBC head coach Mike Coflin. "It was meaningful and the way we won is something to build on." While the victory did not count in the Canada West standings where UBC trails the Lethbridge Pronghorns by one point for the final playoff spot, it gave UBC a much needed boost of confidence. "But this is not the time to be complacent," Coflin said. UBC has after all lost four out of its last six games that do matter. All losses came against weaker teams, at least on paper, if not on ice. "I think we get up more for the stronger teams than for the so-called 'weaker sisters'," explained Low. He has a point. UBC has played well against Edmonton and Calgary, but it does not justify the team's horrid play against the likes of Brandon and Regina. Low's theory will be tested over the next three weeks. UBC will host west- ern division-leading alberta this weekend, then travel to second-placed Calgary, before East-division leading Saskatchewan comes to town. ■ • ! The three teams combine for a .690 winning percentage. Lethbridge opens the second half with games against Manitoba, Regina, and Brandon—a sad lot considering they have a grand .369 winning percentage. Everybody knows what's on the line and there is a good chance UBC could trail Lethbridge by much more than one point when the Birds travels to Lethbridge at month's end. But Coflin does not see the next three weeks as a make-itor break type situation. "You don't judge it until it is done," he said. "If we are thinking playoffs, we better put that out of our minds and start i±inking day to day. We're reminded in November, the most important is Hie next one" The next two against the Alberta Golden Bears are as big as they get "We always want to beat the Golden Bears," said Low. "You ask any guy in that locker room and he will say 'bring them on.'" Be careful what you wish for—last season the Bears brought it on alright as they swept, no, destroyed UBC, winning both games by a 17-2 score. But the Birds are a better team this year and more importantly, they are healthy heading into the second half. Winger Corey Stock and centre/winger Geoff Lynch are back in the lineup and they seem to have found their stride after injury. Stock, who had a terrible first half and suffered a broken bone in his right hand, played with the same grit and drive he displayed last year when he was fhe team's leading scorer. Lynch, who scored seven goals before dislocating bis left knee, had a goal and two assists in his first two games back, a 64 win and a 3-3 tie over Mount Royal College. The Birds also added two forwards to the roster over the holidays—winger 6' 1", 195 pound Brad English and 6'2", 210 pound centre Ben Hoy. Both come from the NCAA and add size. "That's a quality we need in our forwards," Coflin said. But it is clear they still need to get in game shape. When they do, they are expected to help in the goals-for-column, where UBC ranks third-worst in the Canada West UBC, 5-8-1 on the season, lost four games by one goal and the Birds can't seem to get timely goals late in the game, a trend that has carried from last season. When UBC is tied or leads after two period, the Birds are only 4-5-1. "Those were the situations we would have liked to have been better in and if we had, we would be in a much better situation," Coflin said. UBC's poor offensive production overshadows the fact UBC has the second-lowest goals-against total in the league. Defensive zone coverage has been good and goaltending has been outstanding, if not spectacular. Dave Trofimenkoff was the Father Bauer tournament MVP and has a 3.19 goals-against average in 21 games. Jon Sikkema gets the job done when called upon and continues to split playing time with Trofimenkoff. Coflin said he will alternate between Trofimenkoff and Sikkema, but promised to stick with whoever has the hot hand. Coflin also stressed team discipline as a key to success as the playoffs draw near. "When your team has trouble scoring, discirjlinR needs to eive you an edge," Coflin said. In a playoff race that may be decided sooner rather than later, the Birds need every edge they can get a hold of. ♦ by Wolf Depner Geoff Lynch, UBC's top centre, is used to plenty of ice time. This past Friday night his first game back from a dislocated left knee, he logged only 12 minutes. That was just fine wimhim. Tm a little bit tired, but it is to be expected," he said after UBC beat the Mount Royal College Cougars 64 in exhibition action. "The hands were not quite there, but it felt alright." Lynch's return to UBC's lineup could not have come at a better time. As UBC tries to make the playoffs for the first time in eight years (the Birds trail Lethbridge by one point While playing junior in the Western Hockey League, Lynch and Low drew the interest of NHL scouts and both landed tiaining camp invitations—Lynch with Anaheim and Low with Edmonton. In the end, both came to UBC. Lynch, who briefly played in Cincinnati, Anaheim's IHL farm team, said he'd like to give the NHL another try. "Playing with Cincinnati was a really good experience. Obviously, there are a lot of things I have to work on, but I really want to take the next step." Lynch appears to have all the physical tools to play in tlie NHL-UBC assistant coach Brad Edgington once liked him to for the final spot in the Canada West western division) Lynch can make a big difference. " While UBC, the league's third-worst offense, does not have a bona fide super star who can carry a team when needed, Lynch comes close. "He was really coming on before the injury," said UBC head coach Mike Colfin. "It was just unfortunate timing, but luckily we came through that very well." Indeed, they did. Lynch was on a seven-game scoring streak before the injury, but it happened just before the six week long winter break. As a result Lynch, who has 13 points (eight goals and five assists through 15 games) did not miss any league games. At 6'1", 200 pound the native of Burns Lake, BC (pop:2,146) combines finess and power. "He is a guy who can score and be a presence on the ice also," said Coflin. "He adds intensity to our team and he is a character in the dressing room," said Chris Low, Lynch's linemate and best friend. all- star John LeClair of the Philidelphia Flyers—and expansion is roming up. So Lynch has a chance. But that is in the future and on Friday night he was just happy to be by Wolf Depner The women's volleyball team had a pretty good first term. Head coach Errninia Russo wants the second one to be even better. Russo publicly challenged her team this week, saying the players need "to work harder more often" in the second half of the sea- the national team, coached by former UBC head coach Doug Reimer. "National team was really fun," Ross said. "I can take from the international experience and apply it down here, trying to make people around me better and hopefully, help the whole team improve. I am glad to be back," she said. So are her teammates, none more than Maxwell, currently bothered by a sore right shoulder injury stenxming from overuse. The 6'4" Ross will not only help blocking upfront, she will also add variety to UBC's attack that has relied way too much on Maxwell and fellow powerhitter Barb Bellini. "I hope so, that would be nice," quipped Maxwell before Tuesday's practice. With Ross back in the lineup, Russo said UBC will run a faster offense. But right now, Ross is only a force-in-waiting. She is still recovering from a knee scope she underwent over the holidays, and may not see any floor time this weekend when the Birds host Calgary. Russo said she will not force Ross' return. volleyball UBC son. Power hitter Sarah Maxwell echoed the sentiment, saying the team lacked "heart in certain games" during the first half of the season. These comments are somewhat surprising considering they come from a team that is not struggling, but ranks first in the nation. Indeed, UBC won its first eleven games to start the season. "It would have been really nice to come into the break undefeated," Russo said. "But I also know that some ofthe wins were close. We squeaked through. I think this term is going to be way, way tougher than the first term." Good thing then middle Jo-Ann Ross is back with the team. An all-star, Ross spent the last term with "You have to think long-term here. [It's] ridiculous to trunk she [Ross] is going to be our saviour," Russo said. Instead, Kusso expects ner team to be more focused as a whole, starting in practice. She also expects her team to start playing the way it did at the start of the season, when nobody attached expectations to the team. Russo called her first term as head coach a learning experience and admitted she was caught off guard by off-court matters. Russo also admitted to tensions amongst the players, but refused to divulge any details. "But on the other hand, we're able to get through them. Hopefully, as a whole, we'll be stronger," Russo said. "But I don't know yet if we will."->t-> anada West schools get cold feet back on the ice. Playing without a set pair of wingers, Lynch tried to make the most out of his limited playing time by throwing his weight around. He also had a handrol of chances, but missed the biggest one when he put the puck over the cross bar from four feet out Lynch did manage a point when he assisted on Low's wrap-around that made it 64 UBC. All this left Lynch winded. As coach Coflin left the locker room, he noticed Lynch leaning up against the wall while talking to a visitor. "Don't worry," Coflin said, "you'll feel better tomorrow." Coflin turned out to be prophetic. Plajing with more jump, Lynch played twenty minutes the next night His efforts were rewarded with an assist and goal, all coming in the first period, as UBC tied Mount Royal 3-3. The draw extended UBC's unbeaten streak to three games and the Birds appear confident as they make a run for the playoffs. After Saturday's game, Lynch reflected on what lies. "We'll be ready," he stated quietly as he made his way through the deserted arena to join teammates in a post-game meal held in lhe restaurant overlooking the ice. Lynch proved he is. ♦ RICHARD LAM PHOTO by Wolf Depner by ten Western Canadian universities, including UBC, to solicit and negotiate an exclusive sportswear deal have run out of steam. The ten schools—six Canada West schools and four Great Plains Athletics Conference (GPAC) schools—planned to form a consortium, then sign on with Vancouver-based Spectrum Marketing, the same company that has arranged several corporate partnerships between UBC and private companies, including the controversial Coke-deal, estimated to be worth $850,000 per annum. But Bob Philip, Director of UBC Athletics, said the ten schools could not address the concerns of all schools involved in forming the consortium. "Trying to get the right terminology into the [consortium] agreement has been very frustrating," Philip said. "It is still sitting there. People were gung-ho about it, but I think people have just lost interest" Philip added. Spectrum estimated fhe ten Western Canadian schools would have roughly the same number of sports fans—and as large a market—as one major US school, like Penn State south of the border. Three years ago, Penn State signed on with Nike, a deal estimated to be worth millions. Canada West schools will discuss the future ofthe sportswear deal again when they meet in February. "I think it'll be revived, but I am not sure what the time line will be," Philip said. UBC spokesperson Paula Martin said UBC is still interested in forming a partnership with other schools and Philip added UBC is ready to take a leadership role. Philip said one potential partnership could involve only the six Canada West schools coming together to strike a deal with a sportswear company. Another involves only UBC, UVIC, SFU, and Trinity Western University. When asked if UBC Athletics will attempt to negotiate its own, exclusive footwear deal Philip said "We'll pursue it, [but] only if the business relations office agrees." "And I'm not sure right now of the climate for beiing involved in the short term with a footwear sponsor," Philip added. "Right now, we're involved with several companies and people don't seem to object to that type of situation. But when you all of the sudden decide to be linked to one, then it seems to generate some concern." Martin said UBC will explore the possibility of striking its own deal, but only if all other options are exhausted. ♦ Troubled hoop team faces tough test by Bruce Arthur From the outside, it may appear as if the UBC men's basketball is reeling dangerously. Problems are piling up like rotting pumpkins on November 1st, and the Birds look as though they may be poised to take a dive down the Canada West standings. UBC has lost five games in a row leading back to late November, and the troubles don't end there. There have been rumblings of frustration within the team at the mounting hurdles, and some players haven't been able to adjust to the reau- ties of this talent-thin era in UBC basketball. This is a program that won the Canada West two years ago, and probably should have last year. That UBC has to substitute sheer extra effort for their overall drop in talent has been an unwelcome adjustment for veterans and youngsters alike. First-year post Mikkel Hansen, plagued by injuries all season, is the second big man to quit the team this year. As a consequence, UBC is down to nine roster players. Head coach Rich Chambers has had to recruit players just to practice with the team—Tuesday night's practice with former Bird Dave Buchanan was the Birds first full-scale practice in seven weeks. Former Lethbridge star Barnaby Craddock has also joined some workouts, which should at least offer a good test for Chambers' guard corps. So where is this team headed? Well, with an overall record of 8-8 (3-3 in the Canada West), all is not as bleak as it seems. Three of those five straight losses have been to national champs Victoria, and two of those were by a combined nine points. The other two losses were by four points to the Seattle Blue Angels and by eight points to SFU. Ask Chambers how he feels about his team after this weekend's two-game road tilt with the Lethbridge Pronghorns, who are 6-0 in the CW and are averaging a dazzling 98 points per game. "I think Lethbridge is the best team in the Canada West," he said. They'll give us more problems than [6-0] Victoria" When asked why, Chambers pointed to their supercharged style of play. "Lethbridge runs nonstop, and that will test us." With UBC's increasingly suspect depth, Chambers said UBC will suffer in a helter- skelter track meet style of game. But he also believes if the Birds can stay within their disciplined system and maintain their collective cool, UBC could steal one or even two wins. But given the fact Lethbridge has a reputation of a road stop where the referees practically sit in on the Pronghorn huddle to discuss strategy, fhe possibility of seven straight losses is a very real one. Chambers' prime concern is how his charges respond to this tough road—the wins and losses aren't the be-all and end- all. "Hey, we don't have to beat Lethbridge, or Victoria, or Alberta," he said. "We just have to beat out Calgary and Saskatchewan to get into the playoffs, and then we can do anylhing." The Lethbridge series will definitely be a measuring stick as to where Birds stand in the Canada West scheme of things, but their home series against Alberta January 16th and 17th should be even more revealing—Alberta is the team that UBC may have to beat out for third place in the playoff pooL So who does UBC want to playcome- postseason Lethbridge or Victoria? That question should be answered—at least in part—this weekend. ♦ ■;."■_*. v, jF ~*^ Ubyssey Publications Society 1998 Board of Directors Elections The Ubyssey Publications Society is the organization responsible for publishing UBC's official student newspaper, the Ubyssey. Its membership consists of all UBC students who have not opted out of membership in September by completing an opt-out form. Members are eligible to run for, and vote in, Board Elections. The Board of Directors oversees the administrative and business aspects of the paper including advertising, marketing, distribution, the budget and finances, meetings of the Society, and management of employees. ^ - The Board is not, however, involved in the edftp|iMaspects of the paper. The editorial policy and content ^f tftife^i^ is determined by the editorial board of the paper, elected by the §taff in March of each year. To become a staff member, those interested need to contribute to three issues of the Ubyssey and attend regular staff meetings in order to get voting rights and the right to run for an editorial position. Term is January 98- January 99. Directors attend approximately 20 Board Meetings throughout the year in addition to serving on Board Committees. No previous experience with newspapers or the UPS is required; - jj,, - - -.• .T- ■ The positions up Ipf elation are the President and 4pf|i^tor^t Large. ' '"'W^'~S:t Nomination forms ai#iav&ilable at the Ubyssey BusinessStffic§ *&~> ' V i^"" ,"*: -•*■' ItefSl SUB 245. Completed forms must be returned b^Wl^Prafe January 9, 1998/ "^ \\ \\ , WW^e;[^ < • - » iHlil'UU Elections will be held in conjunction with the AMSJ^ebutive, UBC Board of Governors, and Senate Elections, January 19 to 23,1998. For more information contact Melany Lund, UPS Chief Returning Officer at 822-6681 Bleek says ill the true alternative culture SPECK by Alison Cole Looking for a quick read and a somewhat amusing 'zine ecriture Speck provides a fair dose of your average indie band interviews, inchlong music, 'zine and book reviews, and the occasional stolen newspaper article. Interspersed among a generous variety of advertisements, ranging from other homemade magazines to ads for "The Catalogue of Carnage" ("real human skulls, bones, serial killers...") and "The Journal of the Church of Euthanasia," this 'zine oozes a personality of cynicism, slackerism and sly humour. It's entertaining to read the primitively profane vernacular of a conversation with the California punk band "Twisted Nixon," as well as to read about the demented morales of US soldiers in Korea in the story "G.I. Gripp." "Bleek," the author of the 'zine, who hails from Merritt, BC, also uses Speck as a vehicle for the programme schedule of his pirate radio station MFCR. In addition, an article about Free Radio strongly endorses the pirate "industry" and calls the CRTC "the Canadian version of your protection from free speech." Oh, and there is a "How Awful Is the Radio in Your City?" quiz to take, which marks the phrase "Classic Rock" used in any way as a bad thing, and a DJ coughing and sneezing on the mic as a good thing. While plagued by the eyesores of some really bad comics and one-inch column wide articles in 8-point font, the reading of Speck proves to be amusing but also enhghtening. After all, where else would you learn that cat urine glows in black light that no word in the English language rhymes with 'month' (I unsuccessfully tried to prove this wrong), and that the Boston University Bridge is the only place in the world where a boat can sail under a train driving under a car driving under an airplane? Read this 'zine, and Bleek says you'll be supporting the true alternative culture. His or her address is Box 556, Merritt, BCV1K1B8.** Stories your mother would love STORIES TO HIDE FROM YOUR MOTHER by Tess Fragoulis [Arsenr/i Pulp Press] by Penny Cholmondeley Your pulse races. Your palms sweat You open the cover of Stories to Hide From Your Motherby Tess Fragoulis, ready to be stimulated. But what you find inside isn't your run of the mill moaning and groaning erotica. What you get instead is a collection of witty and imaginative tales thatpeek-into the fantasies of some very interesting characters. The subject matter (broken relationships, affairs gone sour) is not new. Fragoulis' approach is. She focuses on and somehow puts to paper daydreams and emotions usually left unspoken. One tale involves an older woman, who while waiting for the bus, creates a series of imaginary encounters with a young man she sees everyday. One young woman relives her childhood fear the spider she sucked up with the vacuum will lay eggs and its offspring will vengefully hunt her down An abandoned lover wan ders the streets, finding release, but not comfort in a single lustful encounter. Fragoulis' erotic and jarring imagery reminds the reader of those moments when they themselves have been unwillingly exposed. As Fragoulis composes short stories ranging in tone from whimsical to serious and introspective, she demonstrates control of her medium. Her short stories don't try to be more than what they are—brief but concise glimpses into a scene or moment in time. There is no pretense, just an observation of the fear and mystery surrounding sexuality. However, while her characters slide comfortably into the settings she creates, they are also a source of weakness in the collection. It is as if the same character is moving from story to story, changing names but not personality. Yet what Fragoulis lacks in character development, she makes up for in style. She shocks, and still follows through. A story about a cannibalistic mother starts by hinting at a gruesome ending, but develops into a story about an uncon ventional woman's confinement in playing the role of mother. While you might want to call this a feminist collection, it's not really necessary. Fragoulis is not out to change your politics, she's out to entertain. Yes, her characters are often strong, independent women. And yes, they are ultimately the masters of their fate, but they get carried away by their passions also. But don't read too much into it Enjoy the sensations and images the author creates and, while you're at it, share it with your mother.-* When I get to page 15 I need to end it WHEN I SAY NINE O'CLOCK I NEED TO MEAN IT by Jenny Durrant [Smoking Lung Press] by Tom Peacock A bizarre love triangle is the story Jenny Durrant weaves for the unsuspecting in her refreshing zine, When I say nine o'clock I need to mean it. Durrant's zine is anything but light, but does not suffer from being intense. The story's most interesting aspect is the protagonist's freaky but strangely real personality. Durrant describes a year, a short year, in the life of two girls and an extremely large man. The girls both date the man, and are his and each others closest friends. As this intractable friendship progresses, it heads towards a psychotic conclusion, charged with jealousy and possessive love. The sex gets nasty, the intellectual dis tances broaden, then the zine ends after only fifteen pages of large type. We are sad creatures who feed hungrily on the hopeless stories of sadder ones. Durrant was kind enough to step into the gloomy lair where we dwell. Too bad she turned her back on us.-*> the* w omen's Issu^l needs your uoice! Looking for: ' Next meeting to be held: Wednesday, January 21st 1:30 SUB room^ 241K / women writer$,phQtog- raphers, and layout help die ubyssey YOU'RE BACK WE NEVER LEFT The Great January Fun Sale OnNow! 01 uc < 7:00 pm Grizzlier vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday, January 29th a) 7:00 pm Canucks vs. New Jersey Devils Friday, January 30th 3 7:00 pm Gri5%lies vs. New Jersey Nets Saturday, January 31st a? 7:00 pm Purchase tickets at any Ticket Master outlet by presenting- your Student ID. Call 899-RUSH for more info. * This offer is criy valid for tickets in selected price ranges only. Maxiirun 4 tickets per st-udent — gjantities are limited. Offer crily valid for games listed in this ad. Tickets can be purchased at any TicketMaster outlet. Please sr-ow proper Student ID at time of purchase. This offer cannot be cenfcined with any other ticket offer. Tickets can be purchased up until 90 ininutes prior to tip-off. Ticket prices include GST and are subject to TicketMaster service charges. RY9, 1998 Ui*a£&3 I JaiNUARY 9,1W8-VOWME7V ISSUE 24 j Editorial Board Coordinating Editor Joe Clark News Sarah Galashan and Chris Nuttall-Smith Culture Richelle Rae Sports Wolf Depner National/Features Jamie Woods Photo Richard tam Production Federico Barahona The Ubyssey is the official student newspaper of the University of British Columbia. It is published every Tuesday and Friday by The Ubyssey Publications Society. 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 ot the staff, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Ubyssey Publications Society or the University of British Columbia. The Ubyssey is a founding member of Canadian University Press (CUP) and firmly adheres to CUP's guiding principles. All editorial content appearing in The Ubyssey is the property of The Ubyssey Publications Society. Stories, opinions, photographs and artwork contained herein cannot be reproduced without the expressed, written permission of The Ubyssey Publications Society. Letters to the editor must be under 300 words. Please include 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. "Perspectives" 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 j to letters and perspectives over freestyles j unless the latter is time senstitive. Opinion } pieces will not be run until the identity of the I writer has been verified. Editorial Office Room 241K, Student Union Building, 6138 Student Union Boulevard, Vancouver. BC V6T 1Z1 j tel: (604) 822-2301 fax: (604) 822-9279 Business Office Room 245, Student Union Building advertising: (604) 822-1654 business office: (604) 822-6681 fax: (604) 822-1658 Business Manager Fernie Pereira Ad Design Afshin Mehin When Joe Clark and Sarah Galashan showed up at the reunion together everybody gasped. Chris Nuttall-Smith had been suspicious for years, but Jamie Woods had never guessed it for a second. Richelle Rae also caught people by surprise. She looked more like Federico Barahona than Richard Lam had back in the late 1990s. Wolf Depner hadn't changed a wit His hair had gotten greyer and his ulcers had ulcers of their own. but John Zaozirny whispered to Todd Silver that he sail thought Doug Quan was the first candidate for a stress-induced heart attack. Marina Atunes had done a great job contacting all the old hacks, and Charlie Cho made sure to recognise her efforts with a big wet kiss after he gave a toast. Sarah O'Donnell and Ian Gunn were late as usual, proving that deadlines still were of little concern, even 20 years later. Scott Hayward, tragically, showed up wearing tight, neutrino blue leather pants. Matt Thompson just shook his head and bought Ron Nurwisah a beer —just in time for his 21st birthday. Everyone agreed Dale Lum and Dhatia Merziban had aged better than Michael McGowan. Casey Sedgman didn't look a day over 75. Andy Barham showed up with all of his identical septuple's in tow. Penny Cholmondeh/ won the "most likely to show up to the 20 year reunion* prize; but Tom Peacock had to accept on her behalf, simply because she and Bruce Arthur were on assignment in Chris Tenove's backyard. Have we got a(nother) deal for you There's a thicker edge to the corporate sponsorship wedge at UBC since December 11, when the university's Board of Governors endorsed a landmark banking monopoly deal for campus. Details ofthe pact (hush hush with UBC and banking officialdom) are starting to spill the Ubyssey's way, and they suggest this deal is about more than just sugar and water. Your university (it is yours, after all) has just traded a monopoly over one of Vancouver's richest captive markets (you) for a sizable cash kickback. If that doesn't sound familiar, it should. The university is basically following the precedent it set for itself a couple of years ago when it inked a deal with the makers of everybody's favourite soft drink. The added wrinkle this time around is that the university is also cornmitted, in writing, to promoting the deal and its supposed benefits to students, faculty and staff. The university euphemistically calls that comrmtment "corrirnunicating with students about the benefits of the partnership,' so that students—always in need of direction—can decide whether to keep their money safe with the Hong Kong or Royal Banks. But in a highly confidential and closed meeting, UBC's Board of Governors was told what it really means: UBC just got into the business of hawking bank accounts and mutual funds. Objections from four ofthe governors were dismissed. The university's business relations department was less careful with its choice of words in minutes of a meeting between business relations and AMS officials. In its proposal that the student union sign its own deal with the Royal and Hong Kong banks, business relations said discussions with the banks "would include determining the AMS' potential financial benefits for marketing the program to students." In other words, the AMS would not be denied its own chance to haggle over the size of its own chunk of change. The Royal and Hong Kong Banks now have a lock on every area of campus besides the SUB. And the banks have plans to buy off the student union and to buy out the leases it con trols—most notably the Bank of Montreal branch in the SUB basement. The university is all too eager to help. In another highly confidential meeting, Business Relations head Peter Ufford convinced BoG the Bank of Montreal really wants to take a buyout. Stripped of their prime responsibility (the university millions), the Bank of Montreal will be evaluating their usefulness on campus in the coming months, vowed Ufford. There is one last stand left to preserve some choice for students. The AMS, always here to serve students, has an opportunity to accept a lot of cash. But would they really be serving students by doing so? The inevitable result is that students will end up inconvenienced by a lack of choice or stuck with having to switch banks in order to avoid service charges, which, as we all know, can add up pretty damn fast. If the AMS truly wants to serve students, bring the inevitable proposal from the banks to students. With an issue this big, let students vote on it God knows the university won't ♦ 85 cents a small price to pay In a few days a referendum will be held on the UBC campus. In conjunction with the AMS elections, students will be asked to vote on a proposed increase in their student fees of eighty-five cents per annum to support the work of Pacific Spirit Family and Community Services. Pacific Spirit, an independent non- porfit society, has been providing free counselling and community services to the over 800 families who live on the UBC campus for a decade now and as a former community member and a student parent who has been supported by this agency I would like to encourage UBC students to vote in support of this funding. Combining parenting with studying can be very stressful especially when a low income, new culture and family relocation is involved (as it often is). Pacific Spirit has provided me, and many other student families with the information, support and personal space they need to keep going-with studying, parenting and personal relationships. However, as a non-profit society, they are constantly struggling to secure the funding necessary to continue these services. So please, VOTE YES during the week of January 19th. Eighty-five cents is a small price to pay for the valuable services this agency provides. Cindy Sutherland PaciSc Spirit Staff Roller coaster of a bike ride The bicycle path along the University of British Columbia's Boulevard is dark and dangerously unpredictable. To a roller coaster junky the path compares to Disneyland's "Space Mountain": a roller coaster that takes you on a perilous ride through dark and tumbling tunnels. The only difference is that the bike path lacks a warning sign as you enter the University gate Caution: may cause extreme nausea and dizziness. Not suitable for those with heart condition... On my daily bicycle ride to and from UBC I have witnessed many a cyclist narrowly avoid death. As one dodges ditch and slippery patch of leaves along the narrow path, buses rumble by spraying sheets of cold mud and water from the water accumulated on the road. The road itself barely fits the width of the buses and I fear for those cyclists who, in their frustration with the bike path, risk life and limb for a smoother surface and ride their bikes amongst the heavy traffic. This stretch of bike path is long overdue in need of repair. However, UBC, UEL, the golf club, and the Ministry of Transport have all informed me that they are not responsible for the upkeep of the path. This may be so...a piece of free land just waiting for a taker?...it may also be that the owners are just not paying much heed to me-a lone caller-pestering them with my concerns. At this point, it looks as if it is going to take a serious injury and a lawsuit to repave the bicycle path to UBC. EmmaMacEntee UBC no place for ignorance This letter has been written to address some concerns I've had regarding a few of the letters in recent issues of the Ubyssey. These letters had litde in common except that in each the author tried in some way to encourage or extol ignorance. They came from students who were upset about the way in which the APEC protesters had tried to involve them and tell them about the protest A Ms. Luebkemann objects chiefly to the APEC-Alert tactic of making announcements to class during class time, claiming that in some way APEC-Alert is "imposing its ideals" on her and others "who may not want to know." The imposition of ideals is a tricky and difficult business requiring extensive time and effort try talking to Forestry students before and after they've been schooled, or try reading "A Clockwork Orange." As for those "who may not want to know," how can anyone tell what they do or do not want until they've been exposed? Or does one just know that when issues one certainly does not want to know when much of that suffering is caused, directly or indirectly, by our own actions and policies. I respect and admire a devotion to school, but I am appalled at the idea that there are those who hold ignorance as an ideal. In Arabic there is a word that can be translated best as "seeker of knowledge;" the English word "student" might have that connotation but that's obviously not necessarily true. Ms. Luebkemann claims to respect Free Speech as guaranteed bu the Constitution, but it seems she'd like to decide how and where. Mr. Jeff Valance states at the end of his letter that he's "glad it's over." what's over? APEC continues and hopefully so does social activism at UBC. Chris Wulff Canada Post Publications Sales Agreement Number 0732141 THE t>^ 9*4898-15 An open letter to Martha Piper I have included the text of a letter written on November 2 5 and circulated to several colleagues for their review on the 26.1 thought seeing it might give you some satisfaction. I am very impressed be your quick action evidenced by your message concerning APEC, late Wednesday. I applaud your concern, which is terribly important. It is important for the university to take a pro-active role in dealing with the issues of free speech. "I am writing because I know of your concern for the welfare of the students of the University of British Columbia. "During the recent events organised by our students to raise concern about the APEC meeting a number of events were reported in which it appears that excessive force was used on our students by the security imposed on the campus. These include unwarranted arrests which could and may have threatened the health of a peacefully demonstrating student. "I realise that the security was not organised by UBC, however these are our students. The university should see as part of its responsibility, the representation of their rights while on our campus. "Now that the protests are over, I request that the University investigate the events during November 24 and 25, to determine whether the rights and welfare of the students were threatened. The University should publicise the results of this investigation. Furthermore the University should establish guidelines for acceptable imposition of security on campus lands. Such guidelines may imply that events requiring the type of security seen over that last two days are inappropriate for a free and open campus." Dr. George B. Spiegelman, Professor Microbiology and Immunology UBC admin callous and hypocritical I am writing to express my deep concern over the university administration's decision to allow this campus to be used for the recent APEC meeting. Universities are both a symbol and a locus of free speech. University students are encouraged to question, explore, and debate. The very nature of scholarship, research, and learning often involves challenging the st-.as quo. And yet, UBC allowed onto this campus the leaders of several governments which systematically suppress freedom of thought and speech through the use of torture, imprisonment without fair trial, exile, and execution. As you are aware, these practices contravene the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which Canada is a signatory. The UBC administration's decision to allow these leaders onto campus without a word of official protest at their activities, strikes me as callous and hypocritical. Your office recendy issued a statement that UBC "upholds the rights of all to express their views freely and engage in peaceful demonstrations." However, I believe that UBC has broken faith with students in other countries who are suffering and dying precisely because they have tried to exercise those rights. Moreover, UBC's decision to allow these leaders onto campus teaches a cynical lesson to students at our university. It teaches them, I think, that self-interest may take precedence over principle and rule of law, and that the rights and indeed the lives of people in other countries are of less value then those of Canadians. I hope UBC will make every effort to undo the damage it has done in this instance, and to put morality above self-interest in any future decisions of this nature. John Gilmore, Instructor English Language Institute We need to look at ourselves I would like to start off by saying that I commend the efforts of those who participated in the protest of APEC on November 25, 1997. Though I was not part of the action, I feel strongly about standing up for human rights and the injustices that are taking place in the world. Admittedly, APEC was not a familiar term to me when I first moved here from Alberta three months ago, and I was not fully aware of the coming summit in November. Now that I am more informed about what the agreement entails and what so many people have been standing up against, I feel impassioned by those who took the time to voice an opinion. As for the protest itself, I found myself feeling a bit differently. I don't feel that defacing school property and throwing paint all over the Goddess of Democracy is very productive at all. On a similar note, I don't feel that singing songs to the police with words like "you fucking police..." lends any kind of dignity to the purpose ofthe protest. As for the police, this is such a controversial issue to bring up. On one hand, one could argue that they were simply doing their job and that their aggressive nature was due to the extreme concern of protecting a world leader. However, on the other hand, spraying innocent bystanders in the face with pepper spray seems more like an excuse to exercise unnecessary power. I will say no more simply because I was not present when the spraying occurred. Therefore, I feel I have no right to form any kmd of opinion on the matter. I will end by saying that I find it very ironic how people can protest this APEC matter when our own Canadian government has committed similar crimes to our native peoples. I ask everyone involved in the anti-APEC protest to seriously consider their own country as well. Step outside the emotions, the passion for humanity and open your eyes to what's happening on our streets. How our government at one point has asked the natives to deny their cultural heritage and be "Canadians, as all Canadians." Look at Tibet, then look back in history at the natives before their land was taken over. Take a look and see if you feel any different about your stand against the denial of human rights anywhere in the world. Jennifer Tomomitsu Arts Student APEC coverage not objective Thank you for your remarkably onesided reporting job in the November 28 issue of the Ubyssey. After having read article after article on how unnecessary the police's use of force was against the student protesters outside the Rose Garden on November 25, I'm left wondering if your paper is objective at all. Certainly, what everyone saw on the news reports and in the papers was disturbing and I hated to see it happen, but as a newspaper you have an obligation to show both sides of the story. Witnessing the events of that afternoon, what I saw was not mentioned in any news reports that I have seen. I saw supposedly passive protesters climbing the Koerner library. I saw a group of students being sprayed in the eyes with painful pepper spray. And I saw it all organised by a few professional protesters who were more concerned with getting their event on television than the safety of the students who were faithfully helping their cause. Seeing the protesters climbing all over the library, then seeing these same protesters tearing down the fence that was supposed to protect both them and the students who were protesting, the police were well within their rights to perceive a threat to the, boundaries they were supposed to be guarding. They knew what would happen to anyone who got past them, and wanted to avoid having to use their secondary measures of dogs and riot squads. They did what they had to, unfortunate and violent as it was. They didn't have time to aUscruriinate between who was a threat to the delegates and who wasn't. The protestors crossed the line and the police were forced to react. The police have a legal responsibility to protect what Cons. Russ Grabb of the Vancouver Police Department calls "IPP's" or Internationally Protected People. Federal statutes obligate the police to give the IPP's protection based on a scale from 1-7, one meaning they give them a personal van and driver, and five meaning they close off roads, weld manholes closed, and remove all mailboxes from the area, along with putting up fences to keep any protesters at a safe distance. Well, they had twelve level five IPP's in one place at one time. When the protesters were climbing all over the library, they were no longer engaged in a peaceful protest When they pulled down the fence, they crossed a boundary they knew they shouldn't have, and they were then engaged, as far as the police's instructions indicated, in a riot It is horrible that they were injured, but the police had to keep them back. Considering the alternatives, pepper spray, with no after effects, was much safer than batons or dogs or guns. The true travesty is that the students were used as pawns by the organisers so that the protest would be televised. They willfully inarched toward the police and took down the barrier. This indicates that they were looking for some kind of confrontation. If the purpose of all this was to make people think about human rights issues in other countries, then they failed in their purpose. All people were talking about all over the news was the conflict with the police at UBC. The genocide in East Timor got no real press at all. John Little 4th Year English Student The new rabble APEC was opposed by First Nations organisations, by churches, by trade unions, by teachers' organisations, by women's groups by a wide range of community groups, by irnrnigrant groups that know oppression at first hand, by the unemployed, by citizens on income assistance, by the homeless, by students at secondary school and university, by seniors' groups, by environmental groups, by peace groups, by business groups with a conscience, and many others. These were the people who made up the large demonstrations against APEC, including the pepper spray war at the University of British Columbia. The students who were in that war are now heroes. They fought for the human rights of ordinary people. Yet Prime Minister Chretien dismisses the pepper spray war as insignificant He puts pepper on his plate, he says. For him, and the elite he represents, the students are fools, the church leader are fools, the Native leaders are fools, trade union leaders are fools, women are fools, the unemployed are fools, low income citizens are fools—everyone is a fool except the Canadian Establishment. What do we do when our so- called political and economic leaders, and their media, treat us like fools? What do we do when we understand that government no longer works for us, but only for the most privileged people in society? We can protest in the streets. We can practice civil disobedience. We are the new rabble-women, men of the worldng/middle class who do not own wealth in any overwhelming sense (the richest 10 per cent of Canadians own over 50 per cent of Canada's wealth according to Statistics Canada Cat 13-588, June, 1987). We are seeing our country being destroyed by those who would turn community into commodity. 77ie Ubyssey (Nov.28/97) contained letters from students and professors that expressed shame for the behavior of the Canadian government and the police who carried out the government's orders. Welcome to the citizen rabble of Canada and the world. Sandy Cameron A safe place to live? Is UBC a safe place to be? Yes, some say. But consider the woman who awoke last year to find a stranger in her room, watching her sleep. Or consider the two students who were violently assaulted on campus simply for speaking in French. And the man who was seen peering over bathroom stalls in the SUB women's washroom...The fact ofthe matter is that these kinds of assaults and intrusions are more prevalent on campus than we would care to admit Here are some alarming statistics: •Out of eight participating universities, UBC students are the least satisfied with personal safety of campus (information comes from a safety report called "UBC Second to None." Go figure.) •Over 66 per cent of women and 22 per cent of men said they would use the campus more often if they felt safer •Twenty-six per cent of women surveyed in 1995 at UBC disclosed that they "had never been sexually assaulted or raped." •Almost one out of every two women in British Columbia has been sexually assaulted (47 per cent) Although many of us may not feel threatened on campus, we should be aware that reports of flashers, voyeurs and attempted assaults are recorded almost everyday by the RCMP or campus authorities. Think of some of the "facts" of university life: night classes, late visits to the library, all-nighters in the computer lab, long walks to B-lot and other parking facilities, and so on. Now think about some of the reported cases of exhibitionism (flashers, streakers and wankers), violent assaults, verbal harassments and sexual assaults that occur on campus. Some of them occur in these isolated areas and darkened corners of the university. There are ways to avoid the stalker in the bushes: Use Safewalk. Use the UBC Safety Bus. Get a friend to walk you home. And walk with confidence. In general, use your head. You can't live your life in constant fear of being attacked, but you should realise the risks that we all face as students on campus... It is important to remember that the "bogey man" type scenario is not actually as likely to occur as acquaintance assault A drunken friend or acquaintance is more likely to attack you than the "stalker in the bushes". Yet, it is the more "sensational" cases that we hear the most about Don't assume that your safety concerns end at your front door. The threat may not come from the stranger in the bushes, but from someone you know and would invite into your home. The "UBC Second to None" report showed that physical assaults were 100 times more likely to occur in private settings. One ofthe most common factors in the majority of sexual assaults is that the assailant in known to the victim (and alcohol usage is the other most common factor). So while pepper spray and steel- toed boots may be helpful to assuage fears of the long walk home, one must be aware not only of the darker places on campus, but of situations which can arise in personal relationships and in your own home. So how can you prevent assault without completely shunning human contact? Educate yourself. If you take the time to think about issues of safety, you will be that much more prepared to deal with situations that may arise. The decisions you make in your everyday interactions can, and will, affect your own personal safety. Ultimately, awareness is your best means of protection. Shana Myara and Vanessa Kwan Safer campus peer educators program X "' As one of Canada's leading universities, the University of British Columbia is taking the initiative in planning for the 21st century. At a time of social, economic, and environmental renewal and challenge, UBC is asking all its members and alumni, and the broader community, to become involved, give advice, and provide input into the vision process. The articulation of that vision, planned to take the best part of a year, has already begun with the publication of a pamphlet outlining the contexts, trends and challenges which must be taken into account before any strategies may be devised. This contextual document is widely available on the campus, including in the Student Union Building and the University Bookstore. Below are some of the points made in the contextual document, including questions that we hope will stimulate thought and discussion, and prompt readers to send us their views. Context' While our economy continues to be heavily dependent on the processing of raw materials and their applications in industry, we are moving into an era dominated by information and knowledge. Technological innovation is transforming education and work, and exercising a significant influence on almost every aspect of daily life, including our leisure and cultural activities...The complexities of the global environment will require individuals not only to be literate and numerate, but also to have an extensive understanding of various cultures, custo: is, and languages. The need for an educated and informed citizenry has never been greater. Such trends, highlighting as they do the growing importance of knowledge and knowledge- based skills, are good news for universities. Perhaps at no other time in history has the well-being of society depended so much on the ideas, creativity, and intellectual development that universities can foster. We have thus an opportunity to show the community how its investment in higher education can lay the foundation for future prosperity, and work to our mutual benefit. The University of British Columbia Invites Ideas and Advice from its Faculty, Students, Staff and Alumni, and from all members of the Community, to Help Establish a 21st Century Vision ChclllenPes: These include 1) the problem of faculty and staff renewal: between 1997 and 2010 almost half the current faculty and staff will retire; 2) freezes in salaries and career advancement plans have created difficulties in retaining outstanding personnel; 3) declining resources have threatened UBC's traditional excellence in research; 4) teaching facilities, including labs and classrooms, are in serious need of upgrading; 5) reductions in public funding relative to our growth threaten our ability to provide a first-class education, create problems of access, and increased the financial burden on students; 6) students are concerned about the relevance of their education to their future career or profession; 7) many aspects of the campus environment, including teaching spaces, roads, and communal space, must be repaired or improved. TrenClS! The shape of the university of the future can already be perceived through some ofthe trends evident in higher education today: 1) internationalization, the training of students to work in a truly global environment; 2) interdisciplinarity, the crossing of traditional disciplinary boundaries towards greater collaboration in teaching and research; 3) increasing use of information technology; 4) a renewed commitment to undergraduate education; 5) new partnerships between the universities and industry or government through jointly-funded research; 6) the development of new teaching methods; 7) the expansion of continuing education programmes, including into the workplace; 8) changes in the student population with respect to age, gender, ethnic background and other factors; 9) rising competition among service providers, making higher education a keenly- contested area. Many questions must be answered before we can begin the planning process, and in the full contextual document we list ten, including: How may the University strengthen its links with the external communities that it serves and from which it derives its support? What steps should we take to improve the environment for teaching and research at UBC? What is the purpose of an undergraduate education, and how may that purpose differ in the 21st century from our understanding of it today? We encourage everyone to consult the full text ofthe contextual document for a more detailed discussion ofthe points noted above. The document is available in hard copy around the UBC campus, and also on the Web at VISION @ UBC.CA. We invite all readers to respond to the questions in that document, and to offer comments and suggestions. Should you experience any difficulty in obtaining copies, please contact the President's Office, 6328 Memorial Road, Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z2; phone no. 822-8300, fax no. 822-5055, email: vision@exchange. ubc.ca."""@en ; edm:hasType "Newspapers"@en ; dcterms:spatial "Vancouver (B.C.)"@en ; dcterms:identifier "LH3.B7 U4"@en, "LH3_B7_U4_1998_01_09"@en ; edm:isShownAt "10.14288/1.0128696"@en ; dcterms:language "English"@en ; edm:provider "Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library"@en ; dcterms:publisher "Vancouver : The Ubyssey Publications Society"@en ; dcterms:rights "Images provided for research and reference use only. Permission to publish, copy, or otherwise use these images must be obtained from The Ubyssey: http://ubyssey.ca/"@en ; dcterms:source "Original Format: University of British Columbia. Archives"@en ; dcterms:subject "University of British Columbia"@en ; dcterms:title "The Ubyssey"@en ; dcterms:type "Text"@en ; dcterms:description ""@en .