november 2, 2016 issue 5 | volume 27 nexusnewspaper.com camosun’s student voice since 1990

VICTORIAN WITCHCRAFT TODAY

PAGE SIX

Student Society declines to Camosun prof Kari Jones Busty and the Bass’ participate in Fight the Fees launches new book Victoria connection rally, CFS tensions continue page 4 page 8 page 3 2 VIEWS November 2, 2016

student editor’s letter open space The witchy issue For our collective benefit camosun’s student voice since 1990 AARON STEFIK Camosun’s courtyard being encased in a thick morning fog seems to of land, much of it unused. A do- CONTRIBUTING WRITER Next publication: November 16, 2016 be all but a requirement of fall. Halloween is still in the air, and whether nation fund should thus be started Deadline: 9 am Monday November 7, 2016 you’re sorting your kids’ pillow sacks full of candy or recovering from a Dearest reader, to aid in providing all wanting stu- night you can’t remember much of, it’s a holiday you either love or love Allow me to draw your attention dents with camping tents in which Address: 3100 Foul Bay Rd., Victoria, BC, V8P 5J2 to hate. For some, that love or hate stems from the cultural implications to the crisis of the student debt to reside on the local grounds on Location: Lansdowne Richmond House 201 and consumerism the night entails. and all of its attendant problems, a a semi-permanent basis—a “tent Phone: 250-370-3591 Now, speaking of Halloweeny things like witches, it was a pleasure to concern on whose unhappy nature city,” if you will. I can imagine no Email: [email protected] write this issue’s feature, an inside look at the witchcraft community in much has recently been written, and recent precedent that might give Website: nexusnewspaper.com Victoria; it certainly taught me that I had spent most of my life misunder- for whose reformation far more pre- cause to object to this idea. As for standing what the word “witch” actually means. It’s the most unique of cedent yet remains. I am astonished, the tents themselves, I measure that Publisher: Nexus Publishing Society the features I have written; it was an adventure to write, whether I was bystander though I am, that a cer- a single tent will prove sufficient for NEXUS PUBLISHING SOCIETY getting odd looks from members of the public as I asked their opinions tain collection of glaringly obvious three students, the college’s own STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS on this oft-misunderstood subculture or sitting in John Threlfall’s super- solutions has yet to be proposed, budget being what it is. Adam Boyle decked-out office in UVic’s Fine Arts building, talking about the vast array for the evidence is now beyond all Thirdly, there remains the mat- Matt Gadd of ceremonial spiritual practices witches are involved in. This feature is one refutation. ter of the debt itself. Estimating Jayden Grieve to remember for me, and I hope it is for you, too. Check it out on page 6. To begin, we shall treat on that an agreement with the banks Keagan Hawthorne Over in the news section, we report on the continuing tensions between the ever-persistent concern of the holding these debts may be reached, Patrick Newman the Camosun College Student Society and the Canadian Federation of modern local students’ regrettable their ownership should be trans- MANAGING EDITOR Students; the student society is not participating in the CFS’ national inability to feed themselves, the ferred immediately to the college Greg Pratt student Day of Action on November 2 because of this, and there is also cost of groceries now what they itself. Their creditors now conven- STUDENT EDITOR a student petition circulating to begin discussions regarding Camosun are. The answer lies in whacking iently located upon the campus, Adam Marsh student membership in the CFS. Read all about it on page 3. two birds—or, more specifically, the students would then be set to STUDENT WEB EDITOR He Wei Also, there’s an incredible amount of music coverage in this issue. Of two deer—with one proverbial work as indentured labour until STAFF WRITER note, we talked to Busty and the Bass’ Evan Crofton, who was born and stone. Those who live in the areas their obligation is paid, performing Adam Boyle raised in Victoria, about living life in the fast lane as a touring musician surrounding Camosun College the countless menial tasks which STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER and how it feels to come back to his hometown. Read the interview on have had great reason of late to maintain the school’s general func- Jill Westby page 8, check out the rest of the music coverage on pages 8, 9, and 10, complain of the number of these tions, and in the process gaining a ADVERTISING SALES and, as always, enjoy the whole issue! dreadful creatures running amok; fresh appreciation for such often Greg Pratt Adam Marsh, student editor left unchecked, no rational soul overlooked industry. 250‑370-3593 [email protected] would deny the inevitability of their There are some unimaginative FREE Media (national) overrunning the city. If the college souls who will balk at the boldness [email protected] were to merely offer courses in the of my scheme, and an equal num- 780-421-1000 CONTRIBUTORS time-honoured practice of hunting, ber, I conceive, who might name Kennidy Anderson flashback then parties of students might rea- me callous or disconnected in the Sean Annable sonably be organized to quell the approach. To these obstructionists, I Jordyn Goodwin 25 years ago in Nexus beasts, thusly providing an easy submit as proof of my intentions and Jayden Grieve Keagan Hawthorne source of sustenance for thousands sympathy the many hard minutes Mason Hendrix Parking, parking, parking: It’s of impoverished students. Venison I myself have sacrificed in crafting Quinn Hiebert the same old story with parking, will be found a simple and hearty this treatise. Patrick Newman and we ran it again this issue. This fare, and, rest assured, the complex- The days ahead will be grim and Calista Pearson ity of its preparation is only mildly spartan, I concede, but with spears Finlay Pogue time around, the story “Semester greater than that of our current in hand, tents at our backs, and deer Mohammed Rashead parking: double or nothing” de- Shireen Roy tailed the concerns at hand at the staple of instant ramen. carcasses slung ruggedly over our Matt Smith time: there were too many cars But what, I hear you cry, of the shoulders, I cannot doubt for an Aaron Stefik and no incentive for students to entwined housing dilemma? I prof- instant that the tenacious spirit of Jennifer Wyatt fer a reminder that the campuses the Camosun student body will rise All editorial content appearing in Nexus is property of the ride the bus or take their bikes. Nexus Publishing Society. Stories, photographs, and artwork have to their name some 250 acres to the challenge. contained herein cannot be reproduced without written permis- So it begins…: Our October 28, One option being discussed was to sion of the Nexus Publishing Society. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors, not of Nexus. Nexus 1991 issue featured a story talking raise parking fees to help subsidize has no official ties to the administration of Camosun College. about whether or not Camosun the bus-pass program and provide One copy of Nexus is available per issue, per person. letters students should join the Canadian bike racks and lockers for cyclists. Federation of Students (CFS). The This option did not go over well Camosun Nursing program frustrations Send a letter Nexus prints letters to the editor. Nexus reserves the cost at the time was estimated to be with students who drove because I am frustrated at the lack of a grandfathering system for Camosun. I right to refuse publication of letters. Letters must in - clude full name and student number if a Camosun stu - around $70,000 annually (although they lived far away, which shows am a practical nurse and Camosun doesn’t even acknowledge my existing dent (not printed). Nexus accepts all letters by email to [email protected]. We reserve the right to edit in our next issue, the Camosun that this always-thorny issue is a nursing education and are still going to look at my high-school grades. all letters. College Student Society president complicated one and always will be. It’s not fair that after doing two years of practical nursing, I still have to

OVERHEARD AT NEXUS: “I had a spider crawling around in wrote a letter to say that that num- This must have been the place go through four years of the RN program. They should offer some sort my mouth the other day.” ber was more like $35,000). Stu- to be: An ad for Scrubby’s Laun- of system that allows PNs to advance their education and career without COVER PHOTOS: Witchcraft: Jill Westby/Nexus dents did vote to join the national dromat mentioned that they had having to go through the competitive entry. We are already nurses and Student Society: Greg Pratt/Nexus Kari Jones: Jill Westby/Nexus student organization, but, as our videogames, TV, and snacks, and are strong candidates. Busty and the Bass: Kelly Jacob recent series of stories (search for were open until 9 pm. Sounds like ARIANA BOIRE Something on your mind? If you’re a “CFS” at nexusnewspaper.com) a 1991 party to me! We looked into VIA NEXUSNEWSPAPER.COM Camosun student, send Open Space shows, the honeymoon is clearly whether this place is still around, submissions (up to 500 words) over. Tensions continue to grow and it is; their website shows that correction to [email protected]. between the CFS national office the snacks are still there, but no The Japanese Conversation Club column in our October 5, 2016 issue Include your student number. Thanks! and locals in British Columbia, word on whether the videogames was written by Raffi Paul Keays-Vegt, not Aaron Stefik. We apologize for including here at Camosun. remain. the mistake.

How do you feel BC Transit’s service is for students? by Adam Marsh

ROY GONZALEZ JULIA CARR TIMOTHY DARLING NATHAN SALVADOR LEXY MCDONALD ZYANNYA FOX “It’s kind of unreliable. It’s “Average at best; it’s never “During peak periods it “I think they managed to “Sometimes it’s difficult “Pretty good, I guess, late a lot of the time, but it’s reliable. In the mornings it’s can get pretty busy and a change the number 4’s because buses don’t go to because we have the bus pretty good.” not too bad, but definitely lot of people can’t make it schedule, and I notice that places that you need to go, [included in tuition]. If I when I’m going home I wait on the bus, but if you have they have more frequent but it’s a good, affordable didn’t have that, it could up to 15 minutes for my bus later classes, the public times.” way for students to travel; be shit, because it’s really to come.” transportation is fine.” it’s also safe.” expensive.” nexusnewspaper.com NEWS 3 student politics Student society refuses to participate in CFS rally; student petition circulates regarding CFS membership

ADAM MARSH STUDENT EDITOR “It does not make sense for us to support an Every Camosun College student pays, through their student fees, organization that doesn’t utilize the democratic membership dues to the Canadian practices it once stood for.” Federation Of Students (CFS), RACHAEL GRANT Canada’s largest national student CAMOSUN COLLEGE STUDENT SOCIETY group. Despite this, the Camosun College Student Society (CCSS) has chosen to not participate in the CFS’ Fight the Fees rally, which is Camosun College—as well as stu- definitely open to having conver- happening on November 2 as part dents at other institutions through- sations and explaining background of the CFS’ national student Day out the country—have begun a on this issue.” of Action. petition to initiate a referendum Arte says that students are Tensions between the two regarding continued Camosun allowed to petition to begin the groups, as documented in previ- student membership in the CFS. process of having a referendum ous Nexus stories, have been rising. (The exact wording on the petition is talking about Camosun student CCSS external executive Rachael “We, the undersigned, petition the membership in the CFS. FILE PHOTO Camosun College Student Society external executive Rachael Grant. Grant says that the CFS is not taking National Executive of the Canadian “That’s every member’s the steps they should to be transpar- Federation of Students to conduct democratic right,” says Arte, “so resources on things that directly Grant says that the signatures ent and democratic. a referendum on the issue of con- I think if folks are exercising the benefit students every day.” on the petition to initiate a referen- “It does not make sense for us tinued membership in the Canadian democratic right to initiate a refer- Arte says that there is always dum have to represent 20 percent to support an organization that Federation of Students.”) endum on the question of continued room to talk about change “to be of the student population. doesn’t utilize the democratic prac- “Since the change in [CFS] membership, then that’s their right more reflective of the needs and the “20 percent of students have to tices it once stood for, that doesn’t leadership, and the shift in prior- to do so. There isn’t really much wants of our members” and admits say ‘this is worth voting on,’ then exercise financial transparency in ities and practices that does not more to say about that.” that the democratic practices of the there is a yes-no vote,” says Grant. the way they are legally obligated benefit students has happened, it is But Grant has lots more to say CFS aren’t always flawless. “It would trigger a referendum; to anymore, and who has blatantly no longer of value to belong to the regarding the CCSS leaving the “Whatever the iteration of the that’s the process we had to navigate disrespected a number of students, CFS,” says Grant, “and the board of CFS. federation that exists today, it is to join—and it’s mirrored to leave as particularly the ones from BC.” directors of the student society here “It would be a benefit to leave the result—whatever proximities, well—and that’s practice through- CFS national chairperson Bilan at Camosun is actively working to out Canada for this organization.” Arte says it is a “missed opportun- advocate best for the rights of stu- Grant says the student society’s ity” for the CCSS to not participate dents when it comes to this matter.” “I think if folks are exercising the democratic decision to not participate in Fight in the rally; she also denies that there Grant says the petition is avail- right to initiate a referendum on the question of the Fees on November 2 is not be- is anything unlawful in regard to the able at the CCSS office (Nexus continued membership, then that’s their right to cause they don’t support access CFS’ financial statements. confirmed it is at the Lansdowne to education but because of the “Well, that’s not true,” says Arte office), and students can send her do so. There isn’t really much more to say about direction the Canadian Federation about Grant’s claims of a lack of an email if they want to be filled in that.” of Students has taken. financial transparency at the CFS. on the extensive background that “As someone who has been “Our federation provides updates has led to the petition. BILAN ARTE involved in the student movement at every general meeting around “We have the petition available CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS prior to the shift in leadership that our finances, and around budget in our offices if students want to sign has been so damaging to the work committee. And, in particular, there it or ask questions,” says Grant. the CFS with the way it is currently bylaws, organizational structures done nationally for students,” she is a further study of the federation’s “Also, they can send an email to being run,” says Grant. “Right now that we have—it is the result of over says, “it’s been really disheartening financial status.” myself. Our contact information a lot of energy goes into dealing with 30 years of debates and discussion to see an organization that is capable Grant says that students at is on camosunstudent.org; we’re the situation, which is incredibly at general meetings, at forums of so much good go in such a nega- unfortunate. And it’s very sad to where students across the country tive direction. I’m encouraged by see an organization that has done a have come together,” says Arte. “It how this kind of negative situation lot of good for students lose its way doesn’t mean it’s always perfect, is often channelled by people into in such a tangible way that hurts but what it means is that there’s good energy to continue the work GREG PRATT/NEXUS students so much. To leave would a democratic process in it. It also to advocate for students, but it’s sad The petition that is currently on campus and available for students to sign. mean being able to spend time and means that it can change.” to see an organization lose its way.” NEWS BRIEFS

New student reps mas hampers for those in need; the plete their trades-building reno- Chargers men’s ember 4 and 5 at 8 pm at the Pacific hampers contain food and other vations at Interurban, while also Institute for Sport Excellence at elected to CCSS board goodies. If you are in need of a ham- purchasing equipment for student volleyball gets it done Interurban. The Camosun College Stu- per, email the student society’s Gord use. The college recently said they The Camosun Chargers men’s dent Society (CCSS) held their Rant at [email protected] to be need $200,000 more to meet their volleyball team kicked off their -ADAM MARSH student-board by-elections on Oc- added to the list. The hampers will goal, which just happens to be ap- season on October 13 with a pair of tober 25 and 26. 16 students were be handed out at both Lansdowne proximately the amount they spent wins. Head coach Charles Parkin- Got a news tip? Email voted into their positions; look for a and Interurban campuses after in the past year on an ex-president son, who commentated on Olym- [email protected] to complete story in the Nov. 16 issue December 1. they fired but won’t give a reason pic volleyball from Toronto this fill us in today! of Nexus. summer, said in a press release Trades building to the public for (search “Kathryn Student society gives Laurin” on nexusnewspaper.com that the play was “a bit ragged at funding almost for more information). C’mon: are times” but that he’s happy with how Want to be a news writer? No the gift of giving complete we not going to make a joke about well-rounded the team is looking so experience necessary! Email us or Every year, the CCSS puts that? Totally going to make a joke far. The Chargers men’s volleyball stop by our office (201 Richmond Camosun College has been together a limited number of Christ- about that. team’s next home games are Nov- House, Lansdowne campus) today! trying to raise $5 million to com-

As part of our 25th anniversary celebrations last year, we started an Instagram account! Come say hello over there and see what we’re up to online. While you’re at it, we’re also on Facebook and Twitter, you know... 25 Find us as nexusnewspaper on all three. See you there! N 4 CAMPUS November 2, 2016 literature Camosun College instructor explores intense themes in new book

“It struck me that there is a lot that goes on in people’s houses that we don’t know about. I kind of realized there is this whole underground network that goes on of people taking care of each other that’s not official.” KARI JONES CAMOSUN COLLEGE

ver Island plays an important part character, Maddie, she had to figure in the story. out her role in helping her friend.” “They are a little bit isolated,” The idea for the book came to she says about the people of her Jones when her son, now 19, was fictional town, “and I think that just younger and a few of his friends creates a different kind of dynamic came into their lives and ended up with people.” living with them, on and off, over Jones wanted to look at the idea the course of a few years. of community and responsibility to “It struck me that there is a lot friends as well as the line between that goes on in people’s houses when to get involved and when not that we don’t know about,” says to get involved in other people’s Jones. “I kind of realized there is business. this whole underground network “We live in community, and that goes on of people taking care in some ways our community is of each other that’s not official. We broken, but we can still help each don’t necessarily know about it, JILL WESTBY/NEXUS other,” says Jones. “What I was but when you get into that world Camosun College’s Kari Jones is ready to launch her new book, At the Edge of the World. trying to do is explore two sides yourself, you realize how much of JENNIFER WYATT of the same situation, where one that is going on.” CONTRIBUTING WRITER The book is set in a fictional says about the new book’s setting. person is in crisis and the other Camosun College English and small town along the west coast “I think when I describe the place I person has to decide how to help Creative Writing instructor Kari of Vancouver Island inspired by have a very clear picture in my mind that person. For the main character, Orca Book Publishers fall Jones knows all about betrayal, Tofino and other small towns on the where it is, so to me it almost seems Ivan, his growing up was trying to launch (with Kari Jones) responsibility, crisis, and commun- island. Jones says that she enjoys real because I’ve been writing about figure out what was okay in his life. 7 pm Wednesday, November 9 ity. After all, her new young-adult writing about characters living on it for a while now.” Was it okay living the way he was? Munro’s Books novel, At the Edge of the World, ex- the west coast. Jones feels that the small-town Did he need to make some kind of munrobooks.com plores all of those themes and more. “It’s local but fictional,” she setting of the west coast of Vancou- change? And then the other main know your profs Camosun English prof Nigel Brooks gets post-apocalyptical

ADAM BOYLE 3. What’s one thing you wish and Madmen, about crazy scientists STAFF WRITER your students knew about you? and forbidden knowledge, and, Know Your Profs is an ongoing That I learn a lot from them; most recently, After Armageddon, series of profiles on the instructors teaching is a two-way street. I have about the post-apocalypse, which at Camosun College. Every issue students who know more about, say, you find everywhere nowadays in we ask a different instructor at Neil Gaiman or H.P. Lovecraft than I TV series and blockbuster films. Camosun the same 10 questions to do. I’ve had students give me a copy get to know them better. of Batman: The Dark Knight Re- 6. What’s the worst thing that’s If you have an instructor you’d turns or lend me one of the books in happened to you as a teacher here? like to see interviewed in the paper, George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice A reduction in the number of but perhaps you’re too busy to ask and Fire series. Feedback from stu- second-year English courses being them yourself, email editor@nexus- dents on the latest trends in popular offered. newspaper.com and we’ll add them culture helps me with something I to our list of teachers to talk to. love to do: linking some of the more 7. What do you see in the future This issue, we chatted with daunting classic works of fiction to of post-secondary education? Camosun English prof Nigel Brooks our contemporary world. I show For years people have spoken about being able to teach new cours- how, for example, Shakespeare’s about the decline of post-secondary es, the decline of post-secondary The Tempest influenced the 1956 education. In the 1925 novel The education, and what beverage he movie Forbidden Planet (starring Professor’s House by Willa Cather, thinks goes well with ploughman’s Canadian Leslie Nielsen) and all an academic talks about the way in lunches. subsequent sci-fi films. which higher education is becoming too profit-driven, so such a concern 1. What do you teach and how 4. What’s one thing you wish they has been around for decades. The long have you been teaching at didn’t know about you? definition of what constitutes a JILL WESTBY/NEXUS Camosun? That I can’t always remember more highly educated person has Camosun College’s Nigel Brooks learns from his students. English. Over 25 years—hard students’ names. evolved as well: not so long ago hope that post-secondary education weekend recently I visited the San to believe. being fluent in Latin was the mark doesn’t lose its mission of making us Juan Islands for the first time and 5. What’s the best thing that’s of an educated person, but who now aware of the roots of our own culture learned about the Pig War. 2. What do you personally get happened to you as a teacher here? is that familiar with Latin? Change while at the same time widening out of teaching? Being able to teach new cours- is inevitable. Sometimes I worry our knowledge of cultures different 9. What is your favourite meal? I really enjoy the college’s great- es. I got a PhD in the Renaissance about the increasing dominance of from our own so that we don’t build That changes over time, but er emphasis on smaller classes but I’ve moved on to teach Amer- the newest technical devices serving big walls that shut out the rest of most recently I have been enjoying and on teaching. My approach has ican and Canadian literature and, as a distraction: the medium over- the world. ploughman’s lunches with a good always been to relate what I teach more recently, I taught a course whelming the message. The most beer. to the student’s current cultural titled From The Garden of Eden to important aspect of education is to 8. What do you do to relax on world; the college’s emphasis on Hollywood, about the role of myth give people a sense of history and the weekend? 10. What’s your greatest pet being part of our community lends throughout western history. In the how our culture has evolved—no I like on occasion to travel to peeve? itself to this. last two years I taught Of Monsters matter what field they are in. I would different parts of our region. On one Condescension. nexusnewspaper.com CAMPUS/PUZZLES 5

sports tech Chargers volleyball season begins Camosun student developing new app

maybe two weeks after I found them we were in talks, already starting the development process.” Foreman says that he was really encouraged along the way by the support he was getting from family and friends, as well as the enthusi- asm he saw from others who learned about his app. “Something that I found en- couraging is that everyone who I’ve told about it seems to think it’s a good idea,” he says. “I don’t know if they’re lying to me to be nice, but it seems to have gone across well to anyone I’ve told. It’s humbling that people are accepting my idea and I’m getting the help I need.” Foreman says that while it’s pos- sible that he would still have ended CAMOSUN COLLEGE A/V SERVICES up designing Locus if he had studied Chris Dahl coaching the Camosun Chargers women’s volleyball team. at somewhere other than Camosun, he feels that his education at the ADAM BOYLE college was an important part of his STAFF WRITER learning how to coach should think Volleyball is one of those sports of it as being part of the service becoming an app developer. PHOTO PROVIDED “I’m really proud of the educa- that everyone knows. From daring industry. He feels that when you’re Camosun student Connor Foreman shows off his Locus app. dives to powerful spikes to coordin- doing it in service of others, it is very tion that I get here at Camosun,” ADAM BOYLE “It just all started with brain- he says. “Something that I’ve been ated sets, a viewer expects the play- rewarding. STAFF WRITER ers to be masterful in all regards of “Some people will come natur- storming something that is really able to do is apply what I learned at the game. The wear and tear on the ally by that, and others will figure it Every Camosun student de- popular with my generation and Camosun directly into what I’m do- mental strength of a player or coach out over time,” he says. “Whether velops their own path in life; some- the rest of the people that I see as ing with the app. I do feel fortunate can be quite strenuous. you start with that mindset or come time students end up in places they phone users,” he says. “I came up to be coming out of Camosun. I real- The Camosun Chargers across it over time, you will even- thought they’d never be. Camosun with the idea of ‘okay, going to bars ly want to give Camosun some of the women’s volleyball team has re- tually get to that point where this College Business major Connor and nightclubs and going to meet credit that the program deserves. cently started their season; coach is what it is.” Foreman, for example, has found people is a big thing.’” Sometimes they get overshadowed Chris Dahl says he helps the ath- Jacqueline Coulter is a second- himself entering into the world of Of course, no business venture by UVic a little.” letes to overcome their obstacles in year player on the team; she’s from app design and getting a head start is complete without its struggles. Foreman says that anyone look- sometimes simple ways. Calgary, and her parents are both in the business world. For example, the actual coding ing to start their own business needs Foreman says that his app, and developing of the app was to remember that sometimes we are Locus, aims to connect people head- something that Foreman wasn’t our own worst enemy. ing out for a night on the town and able to do. “Just try to deal with the self “We try and use the word ‘opportunity’ a lot. If to streamline their night by allowing “Since I’m not a developer my- doubt,” he says. “If you believe them to see who’s going where and self, I realized I’ll have to hire a in what you’re doing, then keep we can frame the situation as an opportunity, it what shows are on. He says that company to do it for me,” he says. going.” might take some of the stressors out of it.” the process of getting to this point “So I kind of just started looking Foreman says that a January of app development was natural online and found a company that I release is set for Locus for both CHRIS DAHL for him. was interested in working with, and iPhone and Android. CAMOSUN CHARGERS portmanteau word search “We try and use the word former Olympians. When she first Call us simple (you wouldn’t be the first), but we love a good portmanteau here around the office. We’re ‘opportunity’ a lot,” he says, “be- moved here and became a student never clever enough to come up with one in time during conversation (if you ever see managing editor Greg Pratt cause if we can frame the situation athlete, she didn’t know anyone, staring blankly while you’re talking to him, that’s probably what he’s trying to do), but we sure do appreciate as an opportunity, it might take but joining the team helped out the art of the portmanteau. The artmant... oh, forget it. some of the stressors out of ‘this with that. Here, to show how serious we are about this, we put together a list of just 20 of our favourite (there are many is a really big event’ or ‘this is a big “This was hard for me,” she more) portmanteaus for this word search. moment.’ If we can rephrase those says. “Living in the same city my As always, stop by the Nexus office (Richmond House 201, Lansdowne campus) if you complete this puzzle and make them into opportunities, whole life, I’ve always had a huge to pick up a prize. we can view them as a moment support team and help close by of where you’re at, and then the whenever I had needed. The in- outcome of that is great feedback dependence I learned moving here T H R E E P E A T G C V V P W for ‘okay, where do I go from here was huge, but I can’t imagine mov- now?’” ing to a new place and school with- G N I P A C S N A M H W H P E ADVERTAINMENT Part of what helps a team to stay out volleyball. The Chargers have ADVERTORIAL L N E T O C R A C Y I D N J B up to par and to continue to pump given Victoria a sense of home for ANACRONYM out results is the faculty, equipment, me now and are the reason I miss it BROGRAMMER P O A M Y N O R C A N A C A I and support from the school itself; when I’m away.” CELEBUTANTE T N E M N I A T U D E S L H S Dahl says that the women’s volley- Coulter has been incredibly in- CRAPTACULAR ball team is happy with the support fluenced by the Chargers program EDUTAINMENT L C T L A I C R E M O F N I O they get on campus. and feels that it has helped her grow FRANKENFOOD “Every year at the start of the in ways she never imagined. HACKTIVISM I I N F O T A I N M E N T E D year we do an inventory check,” “It has given me a chance to find INFOMERCIAL he says. “That includes everything out who I am outside of my family INFOTAINMENT S L A D V E R T O R I A L I E from our athletes to our coaching name,” she says. “The team has JAZZERCISE T O T V B R O G R A M M E R U staff, and then things like if we given me so much confidence in LISTICLE have enough resources. There are every aspect. The guidance from MANSCAPING I H U E D O O F N E K N A R F definitely things that the college Dahl and our coaching staff is NETOCRACY provides that stimulate growth and something that has helped me find PERMALANCE C A B E H A C K T I V I S M W development of the players. We’re potential I never knew I had. The SCREENAGER constantly on the lookout for how support and talent of the people SHOPAHOLIC L P E R M A L A N C E D F O A we can do more with more, because in our program inspire me to be THREEPEAT E O L G R A L U C A T P A R C we definitely don’t desire to cater to better and set new goals every day; WEBISODE a culture of ‘let’s do more with less.’” it’s always easy to find motivation F H E S I C R E Z Z A J E V L Dahl says that anyone who is to improve.” M S C R E E N A G E R H Y D N 6 November 2, 2016 FEATURE Smashing spiritual stereotypes A look at Victoria’s witchcraft community

ttending a post-secondary institution of people.” is not just about making it to class on Beet says she understands how one might react in an A time, double-spacing your mid-term uncomprehending or even hostile way when it comes paper, and choking down cafeteria food. Those to being involved in what many consider to be a are elements of a student’s day-to-day life— left-field spirituality. some of them vital elements—but education “It’s harder to accept someone sometimes comes when a chalkboard is who practices and believes nowhere in sight, as it did for me the something which is diametrically foggy fall Friday afternoon I sat in John opposed to your own belief system, Threlfall’s office at the University of your own worldview,” says Beet; she Victoria. adds that witchcraft entails a lot more Threlfall is the special projects flexibility than other practices because and communications officer for UVic’s of the lack of designated scripture, such as Faculty of Fine Arts. a bible, or other strict guidelines, although He’s also a witch. there are numerous books on the religion. Threlfall isn’t comparable to any post-secondary The portrayal of witches in popular cul- employee I’ve ever met. His office is covered in pop-culture ture, says Beet, has definitely not always been memorabilia, including a vintage orange-soda poster, of all things. accurate, but she says it can be entertaining. He is also a man of peace, spirituality, and religion, something that She points to True Blood, saying it was fun to watch he discovered in 1986 after living a childhood that consisted of no but completely inaccurate as to what she actually does as a witch. religion (“except maybe consumerism,” he says). For the past 30 She also says some people started practicing initially because they were years, Threlfall’s religion of choice has been witchcraft, which, he attracted to the way the Harry Potter series portrayed witches. (Of course, says, is tragically misunderstood. Lawrence Pazder’s infamous and more or less debunked Michelle Remembers, a book claiming to be a true story associating local witches with Satanism, didn’t help, given the hysterical Satanic Panic of the era it was released in.) “I think it’s a gateway drug. That sort of stuff draws a lot of people in. Finding peace and belonging Witchcraft is a very unique and awesome solitary path,” says Beet. “Even though it tends to be really inaccurate portrayals of witches in media, sometimes it wakes people up and it inspires them and it encourages them ’m going to bundle it all up into a ball and light it on fire and to seek out and find other people. We’re finding now that there is a whole release that energy out, and then this new energy, I’m going to wave of young people who are showing up because of Harry Potter and all “Iwrite it on a piece of seed-based paper, and then put that in the ground so it grows, and as that grows, the energy is attracted to me.” Threlfall is explaining one of his spiritual practices as a witch. The bun- “There’s no way of recognizing other witches; dle of fire, for him, in this example, represents the obstacle, the entity from we don’t have a secret handshake or a secret which he is seeking solace, by literally eliminating it to ash and replacing it with something more desirable. wave or anything like that, so quite often we The “seed-based paper” is the solution, the object in the Earth that will rely on jewelry to know.” help him reach his goal; the specific goal is not relevant to understanding the spiritual practice. Witchcraft doesn’t follow scripture. Instead, it draws on JOHN THRELFALL the five elements (earth, water, air, fire, and spirit) to honour nature, which LOCAL WITCH is the basis for the religion. “I’ve had rituals with people where we cook together,” says Threlfall, who adds that all rituals, for him, begin in a circle. “You get together as a group, you open the circle… and you cook. And as you put things into—literally— of the fantasy media that has been proliferating for the last 15 years or so.” the soup pot, everyone’s adding things, they’re adding their energy, they’re There are multiple metaphysical stores in Victoria, while the lower adding ingredients. You have intention. You’re stirring it up and then you mainland couldn’t support one, says Beet. So why is Victoria such a powerful all eat the soup together and take that into yourself. We’ve also done really metaphysical epicentre for witchcraft? silly rituals where we toss oranges at each other to represent the sun going “It’s much more cohesive [than Vancouver],” says Threlfall. “I came to through the sky. It’s sometimes silly, sometimes fun, sometimes serious, Victoria specifically because I knew it was an outreach town, some place where sometimes sombre; it’s a little bit of everything.” I could be comfortable, find an open community, wear my pent [pentagram Linda Beet is a local tarot-card reader and a witch who practices in the jewelry] walking down the street and not feel alone.” area of reclaiming, a witchcraft tradition that brings together politics and Back in his office at UVic, Threlfall leans forward in his chair to show me spirit. Beet finds the cultural misunderstanding of witchcraft “cute” and the silver pent hanging around his neck; he says that jewelry and accessories says that it shows that humans often are repulsed by the offbeat, or by se- are often a big part of witchcraft. vere difference. She says that anti-witch discrimination can get to the point “There’s no way of recognizing other witches; we don’t have a secret where people lose their jobs over being involved in witchcraft, causing some handshake or a secret wave or anything like that, so quite often we rely on witches to stay closeted, or, as she puts it, “not out of the broom cupboard.” jewelry to know.” “The fear that people have isn’t just based on stigma and depictions,” Threlfall remembers when Hecate’s Loom, a national pagan magazine, says Beet. “I think there is also a cultural fear of non-conformity, a cultural was being published out of Victoria. Things happening in media and politics, fear of difference, and we see that in every category of how we can be he says, help put Victoria on the witchy map. A group called 13th House different. And this is how you can be very spiritually different. There Mystery School, which Threlfall is a part of and which he refers to as an is a lot of ignorance and assumptions out there. I think this is “umbrella coven,” has been teaching a bi-yearly 13-week how-to class on one of the reasons not a lot of witchcraft is public.” rituals for almost 20 years. UVic was home to Robin Skelton—“arguably One of the more common misconceptions about the Canada’s most famous witch,” says religion is that it is Satanistic or evil in nature; in reality, Threlfall—who co-founded The says Beet, it is about peace and acceptance for most. Malahat Review there and was the “If you happen to be a practicing wiccan and She adds that Satan is a traditional devil in Christian founding chairman of the univer- you have your children taken away because the beliefs and, in fact, has nothing to do with witchcraft. sity’s Creative Writing department. “The Judeo-Christian model of ‘we work to be able to It’s reasons like these, Threlfall government believes that you’re practicing leave our bodies and go to a happier place’… it doesn’t make says, why Victoria often draws in something that’s nefarious wouldn’t you want to the slightest bit of sense,” she says. “It doesn’t connect to what marginalized subcultures. we do at all as witches.” have someone step in and say, ‘No, hang on a Beet says that lesser-known forms of religion and spirituality can second, there is nothing nefarious going on be confusing to someone who practices a more mainstream religion like here, we’re simply practicing a very Earth-based Christianity; when the beliefs of others clash with the beliefs they have A witchy lineage carried their whole life, it can be hard to understand at first. tradition’?” “What if we’re right?” asks Beet. “What if we can just talk to spirits, MICHELE FAVARGER what if we can see through time, what if we can make magic happen? That Local witch Alison Skelton, LOCAL WITCH messes up a lot of firmly held philosophical and theological beliefs for a lot daughter of Robin, says that it’s a FEATURE nexusnewspaper.com 7 Smashing spiritual stereotypes Story by Adam Marsh, student editor A look at Victoria’s witchcraft community Photos by Jill Westby/Nexus of people.” misconception that she followed in her father’s footsteps when sense, as she had to do get legal recognition, was not Beet says she understands how one might react in an it comes to spirituality and religion. Skelton says her father did an easy process. uncomprehending or even hostile way when it comes not openly practice witchcraft when she was growing up; they “The fact that I was the Wiccan chaplain at William to being involved in what many consider to be a happened to cross metaphysical paths quite independently. Head for 14 years certainly added to that record, but I left-field spirituality. “I grew up in an environment that was conducive to had only recently started [at William Head] when we “It’s harder to accept someone that kind of thing. There was a philosophical awareness began that process with the church,” she says, adding who practices and believes of the importance of nature and mysticism,” she says. that the entire process took nearly 25 years. something which is diametrically “It was there but it wasn’t defined as anything. My Now, she can look back on that time of politics, opposed to your own belief system, father didn’t actually define himself as a witch until I discrimination, and social conservatism with a keen logical analysis of the your own worldview,” says Beet; she was around 17.” ins and the outs and the hows and the whys, and, most importantly, derive adds that witchcraft entails a lot more Skelton began taking a tarot-reading class with from it a sense of purpose. flexibility than other practices because Victoria’s Jean Kozocari (who co-wrote the 1989 “It doesn’t matter if you’re a priest or priestess, or a minister, or a chap- of the lack of designated scripture, such as book A Gathering of Ghosts with Robin Skelton) and lain,” says Favarger. “Your service is through the gods to the congregation. If a bible, or other strict guidelines, although fell in love with the craft. She began accompanying her I am able to meet the needs of people who are seeking a spiritual connection, there are numerous books on the religion. father and Kozocari on “ghost-busting” missions throughout The portrayal of witches in popular cul- the city. ture, says Beet, has definitely not always been “There are so many things that can be experienced as hauntings that “What if we’re right? What if we can just talk to accurate, but she says it can be entertaining. aren’t necessarily what popular culture considers a classic haunting of the spirits, what if we can see through time, what if She points to True Blood, saying it was fun to watch spirit of somebody who is dying,” she says. “There are lots of ways that but completely inaccurate as to what she actually does as a witch. energy can show up as being disruptive or troublesome.” we can make magic happen? That messes up a She also says some people started practicing initially because they were Skelton says that she would “pick up on emotion” and “get images” that lot of firmly held philosophical and theological attracted to the way the Harry Potter series portrayed witches. (Of course, were like seeing past events play out before her eyes. She says she’s not sure Lawrence Pazder’s infamous and more or less debunked Michelle Remembers, what emotions these spirits were feeling, but she would pick up on them. beliefs for a lot of people.” a book claiming to be a true story associating local witches with Satanism, “I would follow—almost like a dog following a scent—to a point in a LINDA BEET didn’t help, given the hysterical Satanic Panic of the era it was released in.) building or in a house that felt like that was where the problem was centred,” LOCAL WITCH “I think it’s a gateway drug. That sort of stuff draws a lot of people in. she says. “Then I would be able to say what it felt like or what images or Witchcraft is a very unique and awesome solitary path,” says Beet. “Even metaphors came to me.” though it tends to be really inaccurate portrayals of witches in media, For individuals who are curious about the religion, Skelton says that sometimes it wakes people up and it inspires them and it encourages them independence—the same independence she used to form a practice sep- to seek out and find other people. We’re finding now that there is a whole arate from her father’s—is key. Skelton says to not rely too much on other wave of young people who are showing up because of Harry Potter and all people’s ways of practicing. then my job is done. And if I can have that recognized in their rights to their “Be creative,” she says. “Personalize it. Don’t be afraid to draw on your own spirituality protected in the eyes of the law, then that’s critical, you know? personal symbolic language to inform you.” If you happen to be a practicing Wiccan and you have your children taken “There’s no way of recognizing other witches; Such language, Skelton says, is shaped by all of the experiences a person away because the government believes that you’re practicing something we don’t have a secret handshake or a secret has throughout their life. The input from those experiences can then shape that’s nefarious, wouldn’t you want to have someone step in and say, ‘No, your practice, she says. hang on a second, there is nothing nefarious going on here, we’re simply wave or anything like that, so quite often we “That develops in us a symbolic language,” she says, “that the spirit can practicing a very Earth-based tradition’?” rely on jewelry to know.” then communicate to us through.” ack in Threlfall’s office at UVic, we’re deep in conversation. He JOHN THRELFALL says that for him, a unique form of spirituality filled a void that LOCAL WITCH Ba consumerist-based, theology-deprived childhood left open. It A close call behind bars comforted him, he says, gave him a sense of purpose, and opened up a whole new, peaceful way of seeing the world. “It was certainly nothing in my family background,” he says. “We were so of the fantasy media that has been proliferating for the last 15 years or so.” ichele Favarger is a local witch and a legally ordained priestess. aggressively middle-class it was crazy. We had no religion at all, so the idea There are multiple metaphysical stores in Victoria, while the lower She witnessed the political and legal transformations that make of religion was not even a part of my life, which is one of the reasons, spirit- mainland couldn’t support one, says Beet. So why is Victoria such a powerful MVictoria the harbour in the tempest it is today. She was also ually speaking, I started looking for something, because I didn’t have that.” metaphysical epicentre for witchcraft? the Wiccan chaplain at William Head Institution, where she officiated the But Threlfall knew there was something greater and bigger for him to “It’s much more cohesive [than Vancouver],” says Threlfall. “I came to marriage of an inmate in a pagan ceremony. cling to. He says his family was not surprised when they learned he had be- Victoria specifically because I knew it was an outreach town, some place where “That happens, you know,” she tells me with a laugh. come a witch, saying that if he was going to pick up a religion, it was bound I could be comfortable, find an open community, wear my pent [pentagram The catch is that after she had finished and wedding bands had been to be an interesting one. jewelry] walking down the street and not feel alone.” exchanged, a marriage commissioner told the newlyweds to remove the “When you’re in your teenage years,” he says, “you start looking for that Back in his office at UVic, Threlfall leans forward in his chair to show me rings so he could “marry them properly,” says Favarger. sense of belonging, sense of community, something greater than yourself. the silver pent hanging around his neck; he says that jewelry and accessories “The bride looked at him and said, ‘No, we’re already married; you’re As I read more about 1960s-era cult practices, if you will, it just resonated are often a big part of witchcraft. here to sign the paperwork,” says Favarger. “I think, actually, her words with me, and it seemed to be the thing that interested me. I liked the idea “There’s no way of recognizing other witches; we don’t have a secret were something like, ‘Over your dead body.’” of incarnation, I liked the idea of—and this was even before George Lucas handshake or a secret wave or anything like that, so quite often we rely on Favarger says it’s hard to see some people brush off “such an Earth-based came up with the idea of the Force—just being connected to other things jewelry to know.” religion” as though it’s some kind of joke. She says that because the com- through energy.” Threlfall remembers when Hecate’s Loom, a national pagan magazine, missioner did not recognize anything but traditional Catholic ceremonies, There was a profound energy about me when I left Threlfall’s office, my was being published out of Victoria. Things happening in media and politics, the wedding was almost ruined. consciousness flooded by a new well of spirituality I did not previously know he says, help put Victoria on the witchy map. A group called 13th House “The thing is that a marriage commissioner can’t perform a religious existed. Could it be, I wondered, that witchcraft is the spiritual answer hiding Mystery School, which Threlfall is a part of and which he refers to as an ceremony,” says Favarger. “It can only be a civil ceremony. The fact that in plain sight that many spend their lives searching for? Maybe, maybe not, “umbrella coven,” has been teaching a bi-yearly 13-week how-to class on he chose to be so insensitive to the desires of the family of the bride and the but one thing’s for sure: any premature assumptions I had once held about rituals for almost 20 years. UVic was home to Robin Skelton—“arguably groom, that became very much our reason for getting recognition here in the religion, be it through ignorance or the influence of popular culture, had Canada’s most famous witch,” says Canada.” vanished into the dark October night. Threlfall—who co-founded The Favarger says the marriage commis- Malahat Review there and was the “If you happen to be a practicing wiccan and sioner heeded the words of the bride, founding chairman of the univer- you have your children taken away because the stepped down, and allowed the bride sity’s Creative Writing department. and the groom to keep their rings on, It’s reasons like these, Threlfall government believes that you’re practicing subsequently signing the paperwork. But says, why Victoria often draws in something that’s nefarious wouldn’t you want to the legal recognition of Wiccan marriage marginalized subcultures. ceremonies “was a far lengthier process.” have someone step in and say, ‘No, hang on a “It was a matter of being established as second, there is nothing nefarious going on a society,” says Favarger. “It was a matter here, we’re simply practicing a very Earth-based of proving our record, of showing that we A witchy lineage were in service to the community, not only tradition’?” to the local community, but to the broader MICHELE FAVARGER community.” Local witch Alison Skelton, LOCAL WITCH Favarger says that proving that the daughter of Robin, says that it’s a religion met human needs in a spiritual 8 ARTS November 2, 2016 music Victoria’s Evan Crofton brings Busty and the Bass home

“I just love the west coast. Going back there is a treat every time we get to play there.” EVAN CROFTON BUSTY AND THE BASS

are,” says Crofton. “It’s a treat to be able to do that. It’s a treat to get new fans. It’s not a constant struggle. I could say that two years ago it was a lot worse then, but now the shows just keep getting better, and we managed to sell out venues that we never thought we were going to.” Despite the growing success KELLY JACOB elsewhere, Crofton says there is still Somewhere amongst the members of Busty and the Bass is Victoria’s own Evan Crofton, who is excited to be returning to the island. nothing like coming home. ADAM MARSH on the road. “Sometimes it’s worse own music a bit more, and then it especially if the venue empties out “I just love the west coast,” he STUDENT EDITOR and sometimes it’s better depending kind of evolved into wanting to do as they are doing a soundcheck, says. “Going back there is a treat Victoria’s Evan Crofton fell in on where we are and what kind of something a little bit more modern which he says has happened to every time we get to play there.” love with hip hop and rap at a young gigs they are.” and more relevant.” them before. Crofton credits hard work and age. From listening to records as Touring life, says Crofton, is One of the main goals, says “We’re trying to make a name perseverance for the band’s recent a teenager to touring the UK and hectic, and it’s often “hard to get Crofton, has been “not recreating for ourselves overseas, and that success, but he also isn’t shy about mainland Europe with his band comfortable,” but he says it’s all a 1970s funk band.” Crofton says requires a bit more grinding,” he giving some kudos to their own Busty And The Bass (who are based about taking the stage and doing that the band’s unique sound comes says. “It’s not as luxurious. You creativity. in Montreal, where Crofton lives what he loves: playing music. So it from its nine members having such can’t depend on people.” “Our music is so unique,” he now), music and performance have makes sense that the band formed a versatile background in music. Crofton takes it as a compliment says. “It speaks for itself. If we have always been his life. After being on in a very music-centred place. “I do a lot of rapping and pro- that the audience usually doesn’t any self-doubt, we listen to the al- the road playing bars and clubs, “We all started playing together vide hip-hop influence to the band walk out once the band starts play- bum that we’re making, and it’s like, Crofton says he is looking forward at McGill [University, in Montreal] in a number of ways,” he says. “In ing, but the trick for the band now ‘Wow, nobody is really doing this.’” to coming home to play at Sugar, in the jazz program; that’s how we terms of the clubbing aspect, our is to do that “grinding,” that grunt where he and the rest of the band all met,” he says. “So we were just drummer, Julian, has a pretty big work, to get themselves an overseas Busty and the Bass will be playing material off of their jamming jazz standards, and then influence on that.” audience. And it’s starting to pay off. Tuesday, November 8 new EP, Lift. some funk, and then eventually Crofton says that playing over- “We play a London show, and $15, Sugar “It’s just a reality of tour life,” covers of Motown tunes and more seas, where the band is not as well it’s sold out, and everybody’s there sugarnightclub.ca Crofton says about constantly being funk songs. We started writing our known, can be a little bit harder, to see us because they know who we

New Music Revue

like a strong old friend and stop the ing, layered vocals and a relaxing, of post-secondary years—room- Overall, this album was irrevoc- album from being too melancholic. synth-heavy experimental-indie mates and parties—but without ably prodigious and a monumental His storyteller’s way of writing sound. The creative album artwork the hardcore feel that often comes listen. This is a band that deserves songs is the perfect way to cover captivates the listener, while the associated with bands singing about recognition. these topics. music—all performed by one Lynn such topics. -Jordyn Goodwin Although this is one of Sam- Fister—does the same. I enjoyed the laid-back music, son’s solo works, the sound is simi- Aloonaluna’s music is hypno- but I found the vocals came across lar to old Weakerthans albums. This tizing—maybe a little too much. as weak. Still, sit back and relax with isn’t surprising, however, since two I understand that this style is of Tuck In Your Tie-Dye. The vocals are of Samson’s old bandmates played music is meant to be unique, but lacking, but the music is good, once a big part in both production duties it may have crossed the line. This I got used to the singing. and playing the instruments here. is definitely not a party album; it’s -Calista Pearson John K. Samson Samson’s signature soothing something I would get my hands WiL Winter Wheat voice is in perfect harmony with the on to distract the mind and try to Songs (Anti- Records) slow, soft songs that lull the listener follow the intense musicality that (Cordova Bay Records) 4/5 into a peaceful daze. Although the goes on within each track. 4.5/5 instruments are mostly there to Despite its difficulties, Aloon- Winter Wheat is the second solo support Samson’s strong voice, they aluna has created a mixture of funk Songs is the new six-track EP album (third, if you count 1993’s provide a great backdrop. You can’t and electronic music on this album, from Qualicum Beach roots-rocker split release Slips and Tangles) from help but picture cold, snowy prairie and it’s something I would definitely Sparrows WiL. WiL utilizes piano on the John K. Samson, former vocalist/ winters and beautiful scenery. keep in my music library. Way to go. Let the Silence Stay Where It Was EP, which creates a special kind of guitarist of popular indie rockers -Shireen Roy - Mohammed Rashead (New Damage Records) music that mixes pop and classical. The Weakerthans. In true Samson 4.5/5 The EP’s first track, “Our style, the album is dripping with Song,” is totally different, musically, Canadian and prairie images and The new album from Toron- from the other songs. In this song, is an homage to his hometown of to post-hardcore band Sparrows WiL uses electric guitars to begin Winnipeg. marks an upward turning point the main musical melody, but the Samson also focuses on other for the group. Let the Silence Stay other songs use piano. “Our Song” themes, such as our growing rela- Where It Was is fantastic. The songs uses more electronic instruments; it tionship with technology, mental Aloonaluna Flower Girl vary and leave the listener delight- has a delightful and exciting style. illnesses, and the effect of fossil fuels The Gilded Hegemony of Stars Tuck In Your Tie-Dye ed with the sudden shifts from Most of the deep and melodious on our planet. He seamlessly threads (Scioto Records) (BUFU Records) soft, eerie openings to loud, frantic parts of the EP use piano for the these serious issues throughout 3/5 2/5 endings. The power of the vocals is main melody, and the louder, more the album and brings in a sense of astounding, with a perfect mixture exciting parts use percussion and hope. He hints at how people are The unique sound created by Tuck In Your Tie-Dye is New of orderly and aggressive singing. electric instruments. But even with capable of bringing the change “Baby Moldenke We Fell,” the first York’s Flower Girl’s second album, The song “The Written Rules of this variety, Songs proves that WiL that is necessary to make things track on Aloonluna’s The Gilded showcasing a mainly alternative Choking” is a personal favourite, still has a clear vision—and a clear better. Encouraging songs such as Hegemony of Stars, really sets a sound with hints of pop and country. with its soft melody and fierce, sound—in his songs. “Postdoc Blues” make Samson feel great tone for the album, with sooth- The lyrics focus on the goings-on sudden incursion of louder sounds. -He Wei nexusnewspaper.com ARTS 9 music Twin Rains get extreme with their dream pop

“We moved to Vancouver about four years ago, and almost immediately we started to notice a shift in our sound.” CHRISTINE STOESSER TWIN RAINS

decided to move out west to Van- “We had a lot of other names couver, where they worked as music that we were considering,” she says, teachers and spent what little free “but then we’d do a Google search time they had trying to produce their and find out it’s a band somewhere. PHOTO PROVIDED own melodies. I liked the way Twin Rains sounded; Twin Rains bring a hazy element to pop music on their new album, Automatic Hands. “We moved to Vancouver about the rains kind of reminded me of MASON HENDRIX four years ago, and almost immedi- the west coast, but that’s not why CONTRIBUTING WRITER row—have been playing music “Our prior band, which was ately we started to notice a shift in that was picked. I ran it by a few Twin Rains take the sounds of since they were kids. called Make Me Young, was formed our sound,” says Stoesser. “Our people and I said, ‘What do you pop to extreme places on their debut “I’ve been singing my entire life, after we met in Toronto and had music became a little more dreamy picture, what do you visualize, when album, Automatic Hands. But not and I started playing piano when I much more of a gritty sound,” says and experimental, as opposed to I say “twin rains”?’ Everyone had extreme in a loud or heavy way; was eight,” says Stoesser. “Jay was Stoesser. “We just kind of decided harder hitting and loud, which was something different to say, which instead, they go the other direction. a bit older when he started playing with everyone we were living with more of the style we had been doing I like. Personally, I always thought They’ve been called “dream pop,” guitar; I think he was 12. We met in at the time that we would start a in Toronto. It wasn’t a conscious to myself that it was a neat way to if that’s any indication as to what Toronto, through a mutual friend, band; we just fell into it, really. Our decision to switch up our style; it describe tears.” their sound is like. and we became roommates.” first couple of songs were written just sort of happened.” And it makes sense that they Stoesser and Merrow shared a very easily, with almost no thought Going even further back, Stoess- Twin Rains (with Noble want to push boundaries at this passion for music, and they had both involved, and it was really fun.” er says that when it came time to Wolves) point: both members of the band— wanted to start a band for a while. However, their old band—and name the band, the process had a Thursday, November 3 vocalist/keyboardist Christine Once they met, it didn’t take long their residence in Toronto—didn’t lot to do with avoiding band names $10, Copper Owl Stoesser and guitarist Jay Mer- for that to happen. last long. Stoesser and Merrow that had already been taken. copperowl.ca 10 ARTS/COMICS November 2, 2016 music Donovan Woods brings Canada to Nashville

and gross tourist-trap stuff, but at “I go down to Nashville to write. They drink a lot the same time there’s a wild energy that you can’t really deny, you know? there, and I try and fit in, and in that, I’ve ended You feel like you love it there, even up throwing up in a few parking lots.” though it’s representative of all these gross things.” DONOVAN WOODS Woods has penned tracks for MUSICIAN many artists, including Tim Mc- Graw, who picked up his song “Port- land, Maine,” and Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum, who included “Leaving Nashville” on his first solo album. Woods is flattered that art- ists like these two perform his songs. “These guys have access to who gave him a vote of confidence ic, has a sense of positive whimsy. songs from the best songwriters in RYAN NOLAN and a chance to pursue his dream of It demonstrates the passion and the world, and everybody’s pitching Donovan Woods knows a thing or two about songwriting. And vomiting. becoming a professional songwriter. tenacity that writers have, and their them songs every day,” he says, KENNIDY ANDERSON thought, ‘Oh, shit, I’ve gotta finish “I was really lucky,” he says. will and determination to not give “so to catch their attention was CONTRIBUTING WRITER these,’ but I didn’t want to rush “I’ve never really thought of myself up no matter what struggles and really flattering and exciting; I just Toronto folk musician Donovan them, and I didn’t want to force as an artist, because then you start rejection they face. couldn’t believe it. Everybody in the Woods knows when to admit his them to be done. I don’t really have to think of yourself as this celebrity “I go down to Nashville to Nashville business gets people tak- songs aren’t up to par. After Woods a process; I’m pretty lax. I wait for music person, and I didn’t really write,” he says. “They drink a lot ing their songs, so they’re all used released his fourth LP, Hard Settle, inspiration to strike. I’m not one of think that that was the right route there, and I try and fit in, and in to it. But, whenever I think about it Ain’t Troubled, earlier this year, he those people who can write every for me. I thought that I’d always that, I’ve ended up throwing up in objectively, it’s pretty amazing. I’m released the They Are Going Away day, that’s for sure.” write songs for other people. I never a few parking lots. Nashville is hard pretty amazed that it happened, and EP, which he says consists of tracks Woods says that he’s always thought that I would be on my own work, and it’s kind of addictive, and I feel really lucky.” that weren’t quite ready to be includ- considered himself to be more of type of tours like this.” there’s something about it that’s ed in the full-length album. a writer than a performer, which is One standout track on Hard enjoyable even though there’s so Donovan Woods “They just weren’t good,” ironic given his touring history. He Settle, Ain’t Troubled is “Leaving much negativity. It’s like a place (with Joey Landreth) Woods says with a laugh. “I tend kickstarted his career by making his Nashville,” which Woods wrote like Times Square or Las Vegas. You $12, Thursday, November 10 to take a long time with lyrics, and way down to Nashville in the early about his time spent in that city. The look at it and go, ‘This is everything Lucky Bar I didn’t think they were done. I 2000s with the help of a publicist song, although lyrically melanchol- I hate.’ It’s consumerism, gridlock, luckybar.ca

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Lit Matters by Keagan Hawthorne Calculated Thought by Sean Annable The mythologies of Leonard Cohen Matters of interest: part deux Last issue I voiced an ominous projects that create jobs, and con- warning to not celebrate low in- sumers will access cheap credit Leonard Cohen considers himself a soldier but terest rates, as they can be a sign to finance purchases to keep con- of wobbling economies grasping sumption chugging along. It would refuses to take sides in the battle for peace. for growth. And at such extreme seem the latter is happening more lows, rates generally have only one than the former, particularly with direction to go. If interest rates rise, residential mortgage debt. to acknowledge the award and was recognition as a poet and novelist it shows that there’s confidence Greater numbers of mortgages called “impolite and arrogant” by a that Cohen began to perform as a in our economy, which hopefully accessible through cheaper credit member of the Swedish Academy, musician. which administers the prize.) Many of his books contain mix- Or, for that matter, what about tures of poetry that he has recorded The Bank of Canada holds our federal Leonard Cohen? as songs and poetry meant only “Poetry is just the evidence of for the page. Cohen is not easy to government’s cash; they design and distribute life,” wrote Cohen. “If your life is categorize—he is a Sabbath-ob- our currency; they manage our financial system. burning well, poetry is just the ash.” serving Jew who is also an ordained Cohen, who is internationally Buddhist priest. He is a folk singer famous as a singer and songwrit- who records with synthesizers. He er, began his artistic career as a is a recluse and a man of the world. means wage increases and job cre- increases demand for houses, caus- There has been a lot of ink spilt poet. He grew up in Montreal and He considers himself a soldier but ation. The general sentiment is that ing prices to jump. over the songwriting-versus-litera- attended McGill University, where refuses to take sides in the battle rates in Canada won’t rise soon, but It’s not all bad—if interest rates ture debate since Bob Dylan was an- he rubbed shoulders with some of for peace. many say that it’s inevitable. When and house prices have an inverse nounced as the winner of the Nobel Canada’s greatest poets, including But one thing Cohen most def- they do, debt will become more relationship, as the data would Prize in Literature this year. Some Irving Layton and Louis Dudek. initely is, transcending all of these expensive to manage. suggest, maybe rising rates over the critics, even while they accept that Cohen published his first book categories, is a poet. So what influences the prime next decade will mean (relatively) lyrics can be literature, question the of poetry, Let Us Compare Myth- rate tied to your student loans? Most cheaper houses for us students by specific choice of Dylan. In a year ologies, at age 22. Since then, he Leonard Cohen must-read: impactful is the central bank’s over- the time we’re ready to buy. with zero women laureates, why has gone on to publish 13 books Stranger Music: selected poems night interest rate, or “key rate.” Hey, we can always dream. not Joni Mitchell? At least she might of poetry and two novels, winning and songs The Bank of Canada (BOC) is our have answered her phone. (At the the Governor General’s Award in (Greater Victoria Public Library central bank; it’s a mostly autono- time of writing, Dylan has refused 1968. It was not until after he gained Emily Carr branch: 811.54 COH) mous Crown corporation. They hold our federal government’s cash; they The Bi-weekly Gamer by Adam Boyle design and distribute our currency; they manage our financial system. Slugfest at Staples Center Their main objective is to keep inflation at a “low, stable, and pre- Well, they did it: SK Telecom T1 playing some tunes from the game. feeling that the series was over. Boy, dictable” level, according to their (SKT) claimed their third cham- Then, out of nowhere, fireworks were we wrong. website; two percent is where they pionship in four years. went off and the ground melted Games three and four both went like it. The BOC targets inflation 㐀 ─ 倀漀猀琀ⴀ匀攀挀漀渀搀愀爀礀 This marks the end of the League down into a huge pit with a cube to Samsung Galaxy in a fashion that through monetary policy, foremost 匀琀甀搀攀渀琀 䐀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀 of Legends World Championships that fell out of the sky. noticeably shocked the viewers. by guiding our economy with chan- ⠀眀椀琀栀 瘀愀氀椀搀 猀琀甀搀攀渀琀 䤀䐀⤀ for 2016 and, boy, was it a show to Sounds crazy, right? Well, that’s For the first time in the event’s ges to the overnight interest rate, remember. all thanks to 3D screens that were history, there was a game five in the which is the rate banks use when Facing off in the finals against placed all around the stage in a cube finals. Riding on the momentum they lend, short-term, amongst SKT were Korean league rivals format, giving the image of things of their previous wins, Samsung themselves. The BOC will raise the Samsung Galaxy, a team that was happening in real time. Galaxy flew out of the gates, get- key rate to cool a hot market when rebuilt from scratch at the start of All this continued until at last ting a huge lead over SKT. But, prices rise too quickly and lower it the year. Hosted at Staples Center the cube opened and there in the teamwork and careful play led to a when the economy is stumbling. in the heart of downtown LA, LoL center stood Zedd, a DJ who had huge turn-around fight that swung A change in this rate signals world’s fever swept the city the day composed “Ignite,” the anthem for the game’s momentum in favour of banks to follow suit; they aren’t of the finals. Billboards, bus ads, TV this year’s tournament. SKT. This change eventually led to forced to react, but to stay com- commercials, and people cosplaying Right after the games began. the defending champions winning. petitive, they normally adjust their as characters were all exploding out SKT faltered midway through game Good game, Faker and Bengi; you prime rate in tandem. from the arena (which is also home one and almost gave it up to their two earned your third titles and the Currently, our key rate sits at a to the LA Lakers). rookie opposition. Game two, how- right to say you are the best duo in historically low 0.5 percent. With The opening ceremony started ever, was a demolition of Samsung League of Legends’ history. Adieu, these low rates in place, business- off ominous, with a live orchestra that left many—myself influded— 2016; onwards to 2017. es are, ideally, investing in new

To See or Not to See by Finlay Pogue Adaptation is a modern masterpiece The other powerhouse behind What is truly remarkable about Adaptation is a critique on the film industry Adaptation is the great Nicolas Adaptation is that it somehow is Cage, who plays twin brothers Char- simultaneously about a single man while also being very much a product of it. lie and Donald Kaufman (see, even and all of humanity. Somehow it is that small whiff of a plot is already a critique of the film industry while making you question things). Cage also being very much a product of it. is a wildly underrated actor whose Somehow it relates its story—and directed Adaptation (2002), and it here because that would be to supreme talent is often overlooked, its story’s story—to every living from there the film sets about ex- whittle the film down to a single given his dodgy filmography. But thing in the world. ploring the depths of its own ques- word—one that fails to unravel any in Adaptation he is outstanding, Like all great films,Adaptation tion, proving itself to be one of the of its mysteries—and because the as he always is in roles that allow has such a personal and at the same most fascinating, inventive, and term is now often used as a crutch us to study his face and marvel at time sweeping statement of hu- oddly universal plumbings of the by lazy film writers who think “in” his performances that show us, manity that—on paper—it’s hard human mind. references and celebrity appear- wordlessly, the inside of his mind. to fully comprehend. This is a film that is folded back ances constitute the worthwhile Jonze takes on the thankless job But as Charlie struggles with his on itself, and on reality, so many and intriguing insights that the of directing the Kaufman screenplay own mind, we begin to understand times that it begins to seep out of films they’re making lack. One of (round two, after 1999’s Being how he feels, and therefore how Adaptation (2002) the confines of the screen until we the many things that separates John Malkovich), which puts him we feel. The way Kaufman com- can no longer find the beginnings Kaufman from the hacks is that in a position of telling Kaufman’s municates this with us leaves us 5/5 or endings of what’s fictional and he’s an overwhelmingly generous story, Kaufman’s way. No direc- knowing exactly what he’s saying “Do I have an original thought what’s literal. It’s electrifying. writer, and he packs his films with tor is capable of overshadowing about himself, and about us, and in my head?” The word “meta” is often used idiosyncrasies and seemingly need- this writer’s presence, which—in we love it, and we feel heard, and This is the first line of the Charlie when attempting to pin down Adap- less touches that make his movies Adaptation especially—is in the we feel connected to everyone and Kaufman-written, Spike Jonze- tation, but I refrain from deploying so rich and absorbing. very blood of the film. everything. 12 EVENTS/PUZZLES November 2, 2016

what’s going on contest by adam boyle Find the hidden Nexus and win

PHOTO PROVIDED Rykka will be bringing her alt-pop tunes to town on Saturday, November 12. Until November 7 rock and post-punk at the Copper Thursday, November 10 Owl; see copperowl.ca for details until Saturday, November Local B.C. readings and ticket prices. Reading helps to connect families 26 and friends; Read Local BC is a Saturday, November 5 French politics series of events that can just do that Politics and games are interchange- through readings of poetry, stories, Going through puberty twice able for 18th-century French aristo- and more. For more information on crats. Many used sex and seduction authors, dates, and locations, see Trying on Your Dead Mom’s Under- as both a sport and a power-control GREG PRATT/NEXUS books.bc.ca. wear is coming to Intrepid Theatre weapon; Les Liaisons Danger- Let’s see if you can find this copy you ask? It was on the main floor on November 5; this play is an euses is a play about exactly this. Until December 10 autobiographical tale of a closeted of the last issue of Nexus, which of Ewing; tucked away in a corner, It all goes down at UVic’s Phoenix we hid somewhere at Camosun by the photocopier, is an unused Without an origin trans teenager. Tickets are $10; see Theatre; student tickets are $15, and intrepidtheatre.com for info on this Altering photos is one of those more info is at phoenixtheatres.ca. College’s Lansdowne campus. and unloved shelving unit of sorts. and other events. things that can be used for bad or for The first person to find this copy We couldn’t resist popping a paper Saturday, November 12 good, which is what artists Arnold Wednesday, November 9 of the paper and bring it in to our in there. Koroshegyi and Laura Dutton are Travelling across the pond office wins themselves a free prize! Who will find this issue’s hidden An evening of exploring in this exhibit at Open BC-born-and-raised singer Rykka Where was last issue’s hidden, Nexus? Happy hunting! Space. The Absence of the Origin remembrance is heading on tour across Canada, of Its Likeness aims to demonstrate November 9, 1938 was a day of making her last stop at Lucky Bar. the creation and process of altering horror and loss for many Jewish fam- Rykka’s alt-pop tunes just might get photos and examine new ways of ilies. On the night commonly known you moving; see luckybar.ca for info. looking at photographs. Check out as Kristallnacht (Night of Broken openspace.ca for more info; admis- Glass), authorities turned a blind eye Saturday, November 12 sion is by donation. to the planned attacks on everything On the road with Sweet and anything Jewish in Germany and Friday, November 4 camosun’s student voice since 1990 Austria. This program, being held Alibi and Jadea Kelly Returning to the stage at Congregation Emanu-El Syna- Winnipeg folk band Sweet Alibi and 15 years after their last release, gogue on Blanshard Street, includes Ontario singer-songwriter Jadea Kelly Duotang is going back on tour. readings, musicians, presenters and are playing a co-headlining show at Formed in 1995, the duo went on more. For further information, con- Upstairs Cabaret on November 12. a 12-year hiatus starting in 2002. tact Micha Menczer at victoriashoah- Check out upstairscabaret.ca for New at Duotang will be playing their modern [email protected]. prices and other information. Camosun? Join us.

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