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VOL.LXXXVIII N°21 www.ubyssey.bc.ca Friday, 17 November, 2006 Creepy neck caressing since 1918 1
Reduce, Reuse, Remember f Pulling the blindfolds off waste * disposal in Vancouver. -- Pages 6 & 7
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THE UBYSSEY FRIDAY, 17 NOVEMBER, 2006 CULTURE Craig marks welcome return to Bond's roots CASINO ROYALE opens today
by Greg Ursic CULTURE WRITER
According to etiquette mavens, one should avoid discussing religion or politics in polite company. They may wish to add "favourite Bond" to the list: raise the subject with any group of cinephiles and you're sure to get a "spirited" response. The announcement that MGM was drop Look on ping Pierce Brosnan for Daniel Craig sparked a firestorm of protests among Bond fanatics and spawned anti-Craig websites. The main the bright stream press stepped in with edito rials berating the studio for tamper ing with the "tried and true formula," with some suggesting that side of life "Blonde Bond" could sink the 50- overshadowed by gadgets, special use her looks to her advantage. And particularly the middle section year-old franchise. effects, coiffed hair and product unlike previous paramours, Lynd which dragged on considerably. STRANGER THAN FICTION Take a pill people! placement. So for the 21st film in does not bounce around in scanty There's also the matter of the never- now playing Having achieved his 00 designa the series they chose to return to outfits. I enjoyed the snappy chem ending endings, or The Return of by Alec Young tion, which imbues the holder with Casino Royale, the first Bond novel. istry between Craig and Green: it felt The King syndrome as I like to call it: CULTURE WRITER the discretion to kill in the course of Any doubts about Craig's ability uncomfortable at times, not unlike there were literally three times his duties for Queen and Country, to fill Bond's shoes are quashed real relationships, and set the tem when I thought the film was over Most people have someone—moth James Bond is ready for his first within the first few minutes of the plate for any inevitable future rela and at least one of the "endings" er, best friend, dog—that knows assignment: he is tasked with bank film: he gives what may well be the tionships Bond will have. could have been excised. them better than they know them rupting "Le Chiffre" (the Cypher) in best performance of the six actors But it's the action that impressed Finally, it's obvious that selves. This is all too true for Harold a poker tournament. Le Chiffre, it who have tackled the role. Craig's me most. the writers who worked on the Crick in Stranger Than Fiction. seems, is a self-styled financier for Bond isn't a wannabe model. He Unlike its predecessors, there Brosnan Bonds had too heavy a From Finding Neverland direc fanatics, or a banker to the bombers, possesses a boxer's demeanour in are no invisible cars or overblown hand in the script—if the producers tor Marc Forster, the film stars Will who provides money laundering actions and appearance, yet there CGI to distract the viewer. From the really want to break new ground Ferrell as Harold, an IRS taxman and investment services to terror is a hint of vulnerability beneath opening free running sequence, it's with the franchise, they need to whose life is pitifully mundane. ists around the world and MI6 is the bravado. clear that the action has been bring in fresh writers. Thankfully, He lives alone, doesn't like cookies itching to close in on his operation. Mads Mikkelsen is almost bland stripped down to its barest compo there were enough of Paul Haggis's and his favourite word is "integer." Bond is a novice to the spy ly subdued as Le Chiffre, if not only nents. I appreciated the fact that trademark witticisms—he was But when he discovers that his life biz who lacks the polish of his con for his penchant for weeping blood, there was no attempt to sanitise the brought in to help with the script- is the subject of a novel being nar temporaries. He's considered self- until his darker side is unleashed in violence: when Bond emerges from to keep things amusing. rated to him by a mysterious absorbed and reckless, little more the tournament's aftermath. a scrap heap, he's bloodied and Regardless of one's preferences, authorial voice (Emma Thompson), than a blunt weapon. He's accompa Judi Dench's return as M is bruised. And when he takes some Casino Royale is a substantial, Harold learns that the novel is nied by the beautiful yet brainy marked by an expanded role in one out, it's up close, personal and engaging action film that boasts about to end with his tragic and Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), who is on keeping with the tone of the film. messy. Despite his protests to the some clever humour, solid perform imminent death. hand to ensure that the treasury's Her character has a caustic edge and contrary, killing clearly takes an ances—most notably Craig's rough To change his fate, Harold enlists cash isn't squandered. prefers expediency over decorum emotional toll. and ready Bond—and lays the the help of literary professor-turned- In spite of the fact that the last (translation: she's a ball buster.) In spite of the pluses, I found groundwork for further exploration metaphysical sleuth Jules Hilbert Bond movie earned more than any I also enjoyed Green's perform myself underwhelmed by both the of the character. All the studio has to (Dustin Hoffman). His advice is for of its predecessors, the progeny of ance as Vesper Lynd. Astute and soundtrack and the opening mon do now is to convince the legions of Harold to try and disrupt the plot creative producer Albert Brocolli felt pragmatic, she doesn't fall for tage. The 140 minute run time was Bond fans that breaking the mould line by changing his life. He takes that the character had become Bond's charms and knows when to in need of some judicious editing, is a good thing. @ the advice to heart and begins learn ing to play the guitar and pursuing love with Ana Pascal (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a baker he is assigned VAG's new perspective idealises Emily Carr to audit for tax fraud. In a particular ly clever touch, we also see Harold EMIL Y CARR: NEW PERSPEC ment was suppressing the traditions go to the movies to see Monty TIVES ON A CANADIAN ICON of First Nations cultures through Python's The Meaning of Life. at the Vancouver Art Gallery such acts as banning the potlatch It is strange to see Will Ferrell until January 7 ceremony and forcing children into tone down his performance from residential schools. over-the-top comedy. His greatest by Peter Clark Surprisingly, the VAG's "New talent remains the art of ludicrously CULTURE WRITER Perspectives" exhibition does not deadpan comedy. I challenge any make mention of these issues. An one to listen to him tell Gyllenhaal The Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG) untrained viewer is left thinking that that he ogled her "only as a repre makes its best efforts to attract the collected melange of various First sentative of the United States gov exhibitions that expose interna Nations artwork presented alongside ernment" and not crack up. tional culture or freshly examine painted documentations of "disap As for the other actors, Emma local phenomena. They are, for the pearing" cultures is a natural one. Thompson has a lot of fun portray most part, novel and original, and It is never pointed out that the ing the deliriously eccentric author one rarely sees the same thing pottery that Carr decorated with First who spends much of her time envi twice. The exception to this rule is artifacts representing a veritable about BC's most famous artist. It Nations imagery and sold to tourists sioning gruesome deaths for her the repeated exhibitions of Emily mishmash of the artistic traditions implies creativity, critique, and even was highly exploitative and misrepre- characters, and Hoffman is solid as Carr. It is rare that you step into of First Nations peoples. controversy. However, it still idealis sentative of cultures that never used usual. Gyllenhaal does a dizzying the VAG at a time when there is no The second section identifies es her work, neglecting to mention pottery. After exploring the gallery character turn in the middle of the Carr on the walls, unless perhaps Carr's modernist tendencies, describ highly critical analyses that have space, viewers are left ignorant of the film, going from an anti-establish they are in the midst of setting up ing her time in France in 1911— been prevalent since the 1980s. contemporary issues surrounding ment left-winger to a sugary sweet for her next exhibit. She makes up 1912 and her embrace of the style of Emily Carr has been criticised Carr's work. heart who offers Harold a batch of the largest single chunk of the European Primitivists such as in the past two decades for present Perhaps it is not the gallery's job homemade cookies in the course of gallery's collection and it's hard to Gauguin and Matisse. The last sec ing a simplistic and inaccurate, if to make analytical conclusions for its a single scene. Harold manages to blame them for trying to take tion presents Carr, the individual, as not ignorant and erroneous, view of viewers. However, when one consid tame the sweet-yet-spunky owner advantage of this. a multi-faceted figure by reproducing Canada's indigenous peoples to the ers that the average viewer is a casu of the Uprising Bakery with almost But does the public really need to some of her autobiographical materi public. The popular belief across al observer, the danger behind pre no effort. This is a problem, but see more? al, presenting her role as cultural North America during the period of senting work with socially complicat then again, inexplicable romances To be sure, curator Ian Thorn has tourist, and of course, displaying her Carr's work was that First Nations ed implications should be clear. That seem to be the cardinal sin of attempted to present Carr's work in stern and confident late-life self-por cultures were tragically dying off as being said, to anyone aware of these most American comedies. Besides, a manner that has never been done trait. All three sections arrange her a result of supposedly natural laws implications, the exhibition provides Gyllenhaal has enough charisma before. The structure is based work in manner not seen before of "Social Darwinism." The pro ample opportunities to see them at that we can forgive it this time. around three sections. The first 1927 and combine VAG-owned fessed goal of much of Carr's work work, and can help create a fascinat This is a charming comedy that reproduces parts of the 1927 exhib works with those from collections was to document the last vestiges of ing exercise. This show could be just deals with the inevitability of death it in Ottawa that introduced Carr's across Canada. these "primitives" and their unadul another in a long line of Emily Carr and the pursuit of life, but not at painting to the Canadian establish The subtitle, "New Perspectives terated cultures. Her paintings thus exhibits, but a viewer armed with a the expense of having some laughs ment and combined it with various on a Canadian Icon," teases the propagated this viewpoint. critical mindset may well be able to along the way. Even if metaphysical Group of Seven painters. Her paint gallery-goer with the hope that they However, the truth of the matter was find meaning and merit in their comedies are not really your thing, ings have been shown alongside will learn things they don't know that at the time, Carr's own govern experience of her work. @ this one is worth checking out. @ CULTURE FRIDAY, 17 NOVEMBER, 2006 THE UBYSSEY
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WWW.UBYSSEY.BC.CA Acosta quick on trigger
This track is more bass-heavy Newspaper Anagram GEORGE ACaSTT>\ than the previous one, and gets the energy pumping just hard How many words can you make out the word "newspaper"? enough for one of the album's greatest tracks, and an unfortu nately early climax, DJ Precision If you can find more than 101 words—reigning champion Carolynne Burkholder's grand total—come into the and Terry Bones's "Another Ubyssey office and Carolynne will buy you a chocolate bar. Situation." Though not particularly distinctive from similar tracks by other artists, its aim is to get the listener dancing, and more than almost any track on the compila tion, "Situation" does it best. GEORGE ACOSTA Unfortunately to the detriment All Rights Reserved of the rest of the CD, which does Moist Music not match the momentum built up at the start. Gareth Emery and by Jesse Ferreras Jon O'Bir's "No Way Back" comes Here's a few to get you started.. CULTURE EDITOR close, but falls short of the stan dard set by the first three tracks. Trance is one of the most reviled The same is true of the second musical genres in existence today. disc, which opens on a high with With superstar DJs under its ban the hard trance-inspired "By Your ner such as Tiesto, Paul van Dyk Side" by the Thrillseekers, then and Ferry Corsten, it is often tones down the pace a little with blamed for killing the collective T4L's "Perfect Blend," and finally spirit of the rave that was so preva hits a climax with Solarscape's lent in underground party circles "Alive." Like "Another Situation," in the late 90s and the early millen "Alive" hits a euphoric note more nium. It is now subject to intense than any other track on the second criticism and sometimes outright CD, thanks in part to the added hatred on blogs and electronic effects of female vocals, which music sites. As such, anyone who help to carry the listener away. grew up on the rave scene and had But the rest of the album, includ the privilege of experiencing the ing Acosta's original tracks, drug-infused Bacchanals will come pale in comparison. The artist's down on George Acosta's new remix of New Order's "Blue album All Rights Reserved. The US Monday" stands out for pure nos DJ, ranked 214th on DJ Mag's 2005 talgic value, but its charm dies out list, has compiled a collection of very quickly. tracks featuring trance luminaries Ultimately, Acosta's "All Rights such as Solar Stone, Gareth Emery Reserved" has some memorable The Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and the Thrillseekers. The result is tracks but falls victim to the trend (TESOL) Certificate Program is for university graduates certain to infuriate the purists of placing its most euphoric tracks who want to teach English. It is a 120-hour program raised on rave, but those who have at the beginning of the album. featuring both theory and practice. stuck it out and indulged in the That trend can largely be blamed phenomenon of the superstar DJ on DJ Tiesto, who used that very The TESOL Certificate Program is taught by professional will be certain to warm to Acosta's technique for 2004's "Just Be." teacher trainers who are considered to be among the finest collection. The concept of a journey through in Canada. Graduates receive the TESOL Certificate from A great trance album builds the compilation is central to the Vancouver Community College and qualify for national up a powerful sense of euphoria enjoyment of a trance album, and professional certification from TESL Canada. that reaches a giant climax right while Acosta gets the blood pump at its conclusion. Acosta, however, ing effectively at certain points in Program Dates: Jan. 15 - Feb. 9, and April 30 - May 28, 2007 opts to peak right at the out both discs, you don't get the set of his two-disc compilation, impression of a journey as you opening with a characteristically get from the right organisation For more information and to apply call 604.443.8665 light introduction, of Airbase's of tracks. or visit www.tesol.vcc.ca "Escape," before the collection's All Rights Reserved is certainly beat is established 40 seconds into worth checking out, and its tracks the first CD. The track gets things would be right at home at any club moving effectively enough and night, but one who is looking for Centre for Continuing Studies School of Music Centre for Technology Vancouver Centre for Design School of Arts and Sciences Centre for Business Studies forms a nice segue way into Silent trance music to carry them away School of Health Studies School of Language Studies School of Hospitality Community Electro's Polarity, the second would be better suited to Armin Centre for Transportation Trades School of Instructor Education College track, which has to tone down the van Buuren's latest A State of elevated, epic sound of the opener. Trance compilation. @ DFX \U difvu FRIDAY, 17 NOVEMBER, 2006 THE UBYSSEY FEATURE THE UBYSSEY FRIDAY, 17 NOVEMBER, 2006
Oltt OF MHV3v BUt HO %PVM ^ m^m 1^#|WiWJ t^ Vancouver's garbage crisis re-examined after years of turning a blind eye text by Myles Estey, photo by Oker Chen I n an era where lip service is the dominant One of the pivotal problems propagating our provincial and national boundaries in an effort that greatly from Vancouver's strategy, or any lem with a blue box," she stressed. Our simple problems a city faces when trying to enact landfill sites incur costs of up to $85 per tonne. minimise the output of non-recyclable products. form of taking environmental action, world's inability to deal with or even acknowl to erase any local, physical evidence of waste. other major municipalities' plans, for that mat recycling program cannot keep up with the full- changes to this kind of legislation. "Our current Conversely, incineration in Ontario tends to cost But as it stands now, she explained, approxi I! catchphrases like "going green" and "envi edge the ecological catastrophe waste manage Approximately 400 tractor trailers head to ter. Cache Creek, the collective hiding spot for the on waste production we insist on maintaining. program diverts an estimated 80 per cent of approximately $170 per tonne and recycling mately 90 per cent of all disposed garbage ronmentally friendly" get tossed around so fre ment has become can be explained by a simple Michigan every day, brimming with solid waste majority of GVRD waste, lies approximately 3 50 Spiegelman's argument is that even with blue recyclable containers from landfills allowing costs between $85 and $103 per tonne. heading to the dump has a brand name on it quently that it's become easy to believe them to axiom: humans do not like dealing with their of all sorts, while another dispatch is sent to km outside of Vancouver, conveniently beyond boxes at every house and every tenant under them to be processed then later reused." Stringer Unfortunately, the ostrich technique is the best and often originates from a foreign country. be true. Sure, we hear the Doomsday reports on waste. We have conditioned ourselves to like northern Quebec where processors deal with the scope of our vision. Being the primary stor standing their necessity, this is not enough to also mentioned the city's policy to reject truck- buy. In some ways, it pays to not care, while con Producers are largely left to their own the big topics like global warming, air and water things shiny, clean, new and if possible, delicious what has been designated organic waste by age facility of the region's waste over the past 16 stop people's wasteful patterns. "If you introduce loads with more than ten per cent cardboard, a versely, it's expensive to act responsibly. devices to decide how they manufacture, pollution, species extinction, and resource deple and we are willing to pay top dollar for all that. Toronto's green bins. Their waste management years, it too welcomes a number of trucks: recycling, the next obvious step is to make it law that echoes a number of other initiatives that 'Economic efficiency' has a stronger impact package and dispose their products. It almost tion, but by and large our lifestyles remain more When we are done with them, we are done with mandate seems pretty simple: get it out of here. approximately 50 double-length haulers drive [legally] mandatory...I think what the city needs focus on Number Two in the good old 'Three Rs' on limiting recycling initiatives than you might goes without saying that this strategic free- or less unchanged, and problems persist rela them. They go in a bag, in a box, down a toilet, Vancouverites, similar to most other there every garbage day, with most of the rest to do better is draw convenience away from mantra of waste management reduce, reuse, think. "Everything is recyclable," Stringer for-all rarely boils down to anything more tively unchecked. Environmental issues like onto a truck and just generally away from us and Canadians, are quick to take the moral high going to the Burnaby incinerator for our other throwing [things] out and make it mandatory to recycle. These include subsidising backyard com explained. "Even Styrofoam is recyclable—but than the cheapest way of dealing with the waste management don't even get any airtime that's what matters. Gone, gone, gone. A little ground on this and give the customary scoff of favourite way of making things disappear: burn recycle." As it stands, blue boxes and the like may posters, utilising residual methane gas from the problem [is] that there is simply no market problem, which essentially leaves us all in anymore and thus persist with even greater water and antibacterial soap will wash our hands indignance against the "love-to-hate" city (which ing them. abound, but when convenience calls recyclable landfills to create energy and harnessing energy for it or for other similar products." Recycling the dumps. voracity with little awareness about them. of the issue. many of us have never visited.) Hearing statistics But like all unsustainable ideas, change must products still end up in the thick green bag. from incinerating waste. needs to be cost-effective in order for it to be Suspiciously sparse in the green movement is To this tune, the waste we create serves as an like these, you can almost hear the incredulous soon come to fruition. Cache Creek is into its Spiegelman argued that our habits with waste While Stringer praises the institution he accepted into municipal practice and as it stands immm mmm omm any thorough discussion of the waste our society ugly metaphor of our cumulative laziness, lack of tone of West Coast natives sipping a freshly final two years of operation and the GVRD has, to are drawn from a long legacy of thinking that works for, he's also quick to highlight some of the right now this is simply not the case. Stringer Without any real public pressure to jump- creates—an unstoppable deluge of garbage we foresight and our inability to enact positive steamed latte, "those careless heathens over date, accepted 23 proposals for an alternative anything we don't need or want can just go off fundamental limitations of dealing effectively continued, "in this regard we are dependent on start or overhaul the waste management infra pack into little green bags every day of our con change. As we go on consuming haphazardly, we there! Disgusting, pawning off their garbage like means of ridding ourselves of the our packaging, and be burned or buried without any significant with waste in a city. To a certain degree, he the private sector—until the public and private structure, city officials aren't all that motivat sumptive lives. leave behind a seeping, growing sea of diapers, that!" But just like Torontonians and pretty much leftovers and now-useless things. It is time to problem. "We are fighting 100 years of trucks explained, "the municipality is only responsible sector want to fund the multi-million dollar pro ed to make the first move. Legislators need to The 1980s saw a brief wave of revolt against apple cores, tuna fish sandwiches, paper clips everyone else in our society, they throw that little move forward. coming to take away anything from the curb, 100 for coming to the curb and picking up the cessing plants, we can't do anything about it..We feel it is important to their electorate before landfills: classrooms and news segments alike and discarded toys floating in a the small sea of paper cup (with its trusty heat guard and plastic years of conditioning," she said. This ideology garbage." have picked all the low hanging fruit of recycling they go after major producers and demand shocked us with images of bulldozers plowing orange juice and liquefied kidney beans—a lega lid), the wooden stir stick, the sugar and creamer IS RECYCUnG EtlOUGH? persists today, but with increasingly dangerous Stringer pointed out that cities can have effec materials, the easy ones like metal, glass and cer changes or take on massive, multi-million dol through refuse under a cloud of one of nature's cy of unthinkable stagnancy and oversight, packets and the three napkins they took "just in Like most cities, Vancouver has had a fairly consequences. tive means of dealing with waste once it is pro tain plastics, materials that have a built-in mar lar projects like citywide composting. Real most putrid opportunists, the garbage seagull. tucked safely beyond our gaze down a rural road case" into the garbage and go about the business decent recycling program for quite some time "These days, things are going to landfills...that duced, but even the most efficient methods can ket." The rest will go on being thrown away until consideration of the critical flaws of our waste Some of the harsh realities of the bigger envi marked by the innocuous sign "County Landfill." of their own ostrich-blinded day. now. Blue boxes, grey boxes, yellow bags, yard [did not even exist] when landfill techniques still do precious little in rectifying the two most it becomes cost-effective to do otherwise. removal techniques has, for whatever reasons, ronmental issues like climate change still had yet As ridiculous and despicable as Toronto's trimming bags, backyard composters, and paint were developed," she said. Speigelman remind persistent obstacles of waste management: first, According to Spiegelman, the current laws— more or less disappeared as a major issue of to develop sufficient evidence of human culpa momma mm mmm garbage trade and battery exchange centres keep Vancouver ed us also that piling all these goods together cre that our producer/consumer society creates so or lack thereof—in the garbage industry do importance to the average citizen to our col bility to be seriously discussed, so there was To those familiar with the mythology sur appears on compounding the problem at a slower rate than ates a potential time-bomb: chemicals and com much waste to begin with, and second, that the nothing more than provide free license for lective peril. ample room to focus on tangible, visible prob rounding African birds, our society's general atti paper, it if we were to ignore it entirely. pounds rotting away thatwere never meant to be 'best' methods of dealing with our waste do not our society's great The issue of waste needs to be met head-on. lems like giant piles of rotting shit. Now with spo tude towards waste adheres strongly to stereo really But Heather Spiegelman, president and co- side-by-side are sluicing together into unpre always fit into our economic paradigm. est landfill con Real action needs to be taken to curb the prob radic, disastrous weather, shrinking oil reserves, typical 'ostrich philosophy': if we can't see it, doesn't founder of the Product Policy Institute takes dictable mixtures. The consequences of this are Like all environmental problems, the tributors to lem of the excessive waste we produce every and ever-dwindling numbers of species and nat then it is simply not there. Admittedly, modern differ the matter further. "We unknown as of yet, but time will soon tell the tale. almighty God we have made out of "econom create waste single day. Options exist for greatly limiting ural habitats, the empirical proof that the stabili research indicates that it's unlikely ostriches all need to wake people What she ultimately argues for is a stronger ic efficiency" remains a persistent thorn in as much as our gross output, but few of them can be sup ty of our planet as a whole is on shaky ground is actually behave this way, since they'd conse up from the la-la campaign towards waste diversion and improve the side of responsible waste management they want. ported with public complacency. Changing more than apparent As such, the methods by quently have a low chance of continuing to scale land where they ment of recycling capabilities in Vancouver. She To return to the Toronto/Michigan With effec something as entrenched as legislation to which we deal with our garbage has fallen a few the evolutionary rungs. The fact that this strategy think they are is most adamant about diverting organic garbage-shipping example, much of the tive legisla- force manufactures to create easily reusable notches off the chain of importance, left to stag has never really worked for anyone, even solving the materials into being processed in industri weight in the policy-making process tion and or recyclable products would take a large nate out of sight. ostriches, further underscores the futility of prob al-size composters, a technique Toronto, comes down to, as always, money. For enforce- amount of money and energy. And with In all fairness, the problem really begins adopting such a practice of irrational non the Maritime provinces and much of Toronto to ship the waste to Michigan m e n t nobody all that interested in addressing the with the fact that general concern over envi chalance. But it is, without exaggeration, , northern Europe have had in place for costs on average $63 per tonne. produ problem, it seems unlikely money and energy ronmental issues in popular public discourse our society's primary method of deal several years now. Changes like this are Ontario cers could will materialise and the policies will change nowadays—not just on waste management- ing with waste and it shows no sign necessary to move towards a more func be made themselves. appears to have slipped off the radar entirely. of undergoing a rapid change any tional and responsible means of min to produce With Vancouver on the verge of making a It seems that by and large, most of us are in a time in the near future. imising the amount of our gross waste. in accor major decision in how we will be dealing bit of a lull—altogether loath to the idea of actu Currently, Toronto is But this is a lot easier said than done. dance with with our waste now is an appropriate time to ally caring, let alone doing something—about demonstrating exemplary Mike Stringer, a Senior Engineer standards start talking again. Progressive disposal and the environment. Green was the new black for aptitude for mimicking the in the Waste Policy Department of designed diversion techniques throughout Canada and while, but now it's become so 1998. The cur ostrich adage. Seduced by J the GVRD provided an out t o the world offer promising options for dealing rent black seems to be something more akin to what must have been line for some of the with our waste in more effective manner and accepting the global environment's disastrous some very compelling entrenched there are many notes to be taken. plight and not doing anything about it. And business strategising, Hopefully, addressing new means of deal with this, waste management, maybe more so Toronto politicians ing with waste will play a role in waking peo that other "high profile" environmental caus have adopted a ple up to the fact that in our era, being es, seems to have fallen deep into the realm of multi-year waste duped by our city's waste disposal disap nonchalant complacency. We don't hear or see removal plan that pearing act has to stop. With attitudes that much of it, and thus we assume it's fine. breaches both choose not to see the brown piles of slop we leave behind us in the wake of our progress, it is time to stop acting like ostriches and start acting like the think ing human beings we actually are. @ Masters of Digital Media
Open House,
www.gnwc.ca/mdm THE UBYSSEY FRIDAY, 17 NOVEMBER, 2006 SPORTS THE FUTURE OF UBC MEN'S BASKETBALL LOOKS BRIGHT by Sukhi Atti team at the FIBA tournament. "I was other weekend for games all over SPORTS WRITER sixth man on the team, and I came Western Canada, you realise just how onto the floor for anyone who needed much is expected of UBC's top-tier ath UBC men's basketball rookie Brent a break. I even filled in for the letes. Brent is currently in the Faculty of Malish was one of BC's most heavily point guard if he needed to come off. Arts but has business endeavours in recruited high school players last Everyone in international play is able mind for the future and is looking to year. The former Langley resident and to play any position and that's why I transfer to the Sauder School of Brookswood Secondary standout is was able to contribute to the team.' Business within the next year or two. thought by many to be the future of the T- Malish says that comfort, the coach This season, Malish has high expec Birds program, and with an expansive es and the academic reputation were tations for his team and for himself. resume that already includes represent the main reasons why he chose UBC "My team goal is to win a national ing his country at the international level, above Division I destinations down championship for this school and for the future of UBC basketball looks bright. south. "I wanted to go to a good academ these coaches, and my personal goal This past summer, the stellar for ic school and I wanted to play for is to improve everyday." Brent has ward was a member of the U19 the coaches at UBC." His long-term goal fit right in with head coach Kevin Canadian Junior National team and has always been to be involved in the Hanson's system this year, drawing on played in the FIBA World Qualifiers in national program at the senior men's similar experience in an up-tempo style Dallas, Texas against the likes of teams level in Canada, and the coaches at UBC of play in his international experience such as Brazil, Puerto Rico and have a lot of experience at the national on the U19 junior national team. Argentina. At such a young age, inter level and are willing to help him attain The best thing about Malish is that national experience is hard to come his goal. The American coaches, on the while he could be basking in all the atten by, and it has only made his transition other hand, might not have been as pas tion and fanfare surrounding his debut to university ball that much smoother. sionate or as encouraging of his devel this season, he's not. He is confident, but "All of the international players were opment in this area. "[Assistant coach] has a genuine modesty about him. He is big guys who had good fundamental Randy Nohr knows my game very well one of those people who has an authen and skill-oriented play. It was good to and he's constantly reminding me of tic love and determination for excelling get exposure playing against so many what I need to work on and what I do in the game. Not bad qualities for some versatile and all-around talented well; overall the coaches are just great one who may very well be the guys," said Malish. guys and I wanted to play for them." face of UBC basketball one day. Upon Malish credits much of his success Like most first-year athletes at UBC, Malish's initial commitment to UBC, to strong fundamentals and his simple Malish admits that balancing athletics Hanson was quoted as saying to fifth- style of play. With a statline of 32 PPG, and academics is a challenge high year Thunderbirds captain and CIS All- 16 RPG and 7 APG in his senior year at school didn't really prepare him for. Canadian Casey Archibald, "Here's the Brookswood, Malish had recruits from Varsity athletics are a big commitment perfect guy to pass the torch to when NCAA Division I and II schools like that most non-varsity athletes fail to you're done." With this torch, the future Idaho, Portland, California-Irvine and understand. A typical day for Brent of UBC basketball remains bright Boise State knocking at his door all starts with him rising at 7:30am, head indeed. @ throughout grade 12. And if his stats ing to class, then to a personal workout Malish and the Thunderbirds are in don't say enough about him, this will: with a coach, then back to class, then to action this weekend, putting their unde Even at 6'6" and 205 lbs, he is versi- the weight room, then to class again, feated (6-0) conference record record on tile enough to play every position on then to the team practice. The day ends the line Friday and Saturday night the floor, something rarely found in a with a little time for homework against the University of Winnipeg and player his size. Brent commented on before nodding off to sleep. Taking into the University of Manitoba. Game time how his versatility benefited his U19 account the team is on the road every is 7pm at War Memorial Gym.
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www.studentcare.net Health & Dental Plan Office Room 61, Student Union Building, Lower Level 10 years GRADUATE 5TLFDEKT SOCIETY 6138 SUB Boulevard, Vancouver, BC siuDenicaRe Alma Mater Society of UBC Toll-free: 1 877 795-4421 .nei/worKS UBC Graduate Student Societv 10 OPINION & EDITORIAL FRIDAY, 17 NOVEMBER, 2006 THE UBYSSEY PERSPECTIVE Apology to Haircut We've been Tooped! by Christopher Willard Pryde This letter is addressed to the slim, 5 foot 11 inch, 20-something, white, dark-haired fra ternity member, hereafter referred to as "Haircut." Haircut, we met recently but were not properly introduced. I am Christopher Willard Pryde. Shortly before 5pm on November 15 near the Forestry building on the Point Grey campus you stepped out in front of my car. I was not racing to get some where nor was I behaving so irresponsibly as to be on the phone or otherwise distracted and my headlights and wipers were on. I did n't see you until you were in front of me. As I write this I imagine the grievous circum stances in which we would both find our selves had I not managed to stop. It is unlikely that you heard my genuine expression of regret, Haircut. Although I tried more than once, you were understand ably preoccupied with making sure that I POSSIBLE REASONS FOR UNANSWERED PHONECALLS could hear the very important point you were making and I agree-'TT IS A FUCKING Dear Stephen Toope, Other members of your annual Maclean's ranking man such as yourself obviously CROSSWALK!" executive team have promptly system in September. does not work without assistance, Having had a few hours to reflect on the As the official student newspaper answered our numerous requests Admittedly, you are ranked so this letter is also addressed to incident, I wish to offer an apology. I am here at UBC, we're appalled by the for interviews this semester— one step above the afore your staff in the president's sorry, Haircut; you were right and I was wall of silence we've encountered among them, VP External Dennis mentioned administrators, but office—particularly to whoever wrong. But there is more that I need to every time we've tried to talk to Pavlich, VP Students Brian this doesn't give you the answers your phone. express to you. You have enlightened me and you. You have been the UBC Sullivan, VP Research John privilege of ignoring the student Every time we have attempted for that you have my unending gratitude. You president for almost five months Hepburn, and former VP press. to contact you we have been have shown me a new and correct perspec and we have yet to secure an Academic Lome Whitehead. We President of Simon Fraser brushed off by your staff tive on what it means to be a pedestrian— interview with you—and it isn't for haven't had a reason to contact University, Michael Stevenson who repeatedly tell us to your perspective. lack of trying. the final member of your upper and President of the University of contact Public Affairs Director When I started driving in 1983 I made In your welcoming address circle, VP Finance Terry Sumner, Toronto, President David Naylor Scott Macrae or redirect us to his some foolish and grossly careless decisions. you said, "it is through social but former editors assure us he is have made themselves available line automatically, sometimes Thankfully, for most of us this is a phase interaction that most great as forthcoming as the other vice- to the Ubyssey within the last five tersely scolding us that Macrae is through which we live to look back and intellectual advances are made." presidents. months. In fact they responded to the one who handles all media laugh. In my case, I also look back at it quite Funny considering that As an example, if you read the us within the same day. It reflects affairs. We're to take Macrae as critically and it has made me both cautious you have been anything but Ubyssey, you will remember the terribly on our school when other the "mouth of Toope" when we and judgmental of those with whom I cur socially interactive and have story "Teacher evaluations to be university presidents will talk to really want comments from the rently share the road (that includes you hardly helped to foster student made available to the public," [Oct. us, and yet our own gives us the president directly. cyclists who don't know how to ride.) In fact, engagement. 24]. Sullivan replied to our cold shoulder time and time Although Macrae is very with each passing year, driving becomes an As you know, the National reporter within three hours with again. capable and helpful most of increasingly stressful chore for me. As a Survey of Student Engagement all the information she asked for Admittedly, Martha Piper did the time, we never manage to result, I seldom drive anymore unless it is recently demonstrated that and even suggested three other not set the best precedent. Last secure an interview with you. impractical to use my bus pass or my bike. UBC students are anything but sources she should talk to. year she only spoke to us once, This is in direct contrast to all To be blunt, I hate driving. engaged. UBC scored lower than Similarly, for our story "New but once is better than the other members of the upper It will not yet be obvious that all of that is the benchmark in five out of five College for interdisciplinary resounding silence we have had administration. They don't make germane to the point of this perspective categories for senior students studies worries student senators," from your office thus far. At the us go through Macrae at all. They because my attitude as a driver has manifest and three out of five for first- [Oct. 11] Whitehead not only very least, in the first month of all take our calls personally. ed itself not only in stress when behind the year students. replied to our reporter within her her term at UBC, she contacted Our request is a simple one: wheel but also when I must navigate my car- Here's a tip: part of engag 24 hour deadline, but also made our business manager to ensure stop talking about engagement centric Fourth Avenue neighbourhood on ing and encouraging learning an effort to advance her story. that copies of the Ubyssey were and start becoming engaged. foot. Until this day, when you, Haircut, deliv initiatives is to actually interact John Hepburn was also delivered to her office every Answer a call and talk to us. ered my epiphany—pedestrians have rights. with the students—what better readily available for a last- Tuesday and Friday. No more will I coach my children to estab way to do this than through the minute comment regarding We are not, however, directing —Sincerely, lish eye-contact with the driver as they move student press? UBC's withdrawal from the the blame at you alone. A busy the Ubyssey through intersections on their way to school. Never again will I delay a trip to the grocery store with needless waiting at the crosswalk until traffic has come to a halt. Your heroic example has taught me that the onus is on Streeters the driver to yield the right of way to me. And I intend to exercise that right. I will be strong like you, Haircut. I will exercise my right at all times without cow ? ardice or compromise. Like you, I will exer What do you think the UBC president does day to day? cise it as night falls while wearing dark cloth ing. And like you, I will not falter when I encounter unlit crosswalks in weather so exceptionally bleak one might think it was from a poor screenwriter's imagination. So lead on, Haircut, and I will fall into step with you angrily and deliberately out into traffic. Even if some drunk speeding back to Whalley from Wreck Beach in his girlfriend's tricked out Chevy Cavalier stomps on the brakes late and slides right on top of my ass, t^J I will take console in being flat-out right. —Johnny —Vanessa Yee —James Perreaux —Garrett Johnson —Brandon Walker Rest assured that I will never give up your Engineering Physics, S Arts, 1 Theology, 3 Economics, 4 Civil Engineering, 2 good fight, Haircut, even if I have to learn to walk again to resume the battle. Even if I "I have no idea." " I have no idea. I really "He probably sits in his "There's certain things "I would imagine that have to rehabilitate the motor skills of one don't know what they office all day...I would he has to do...chair the he interacts with all hand to the degree that I can manipulate a do." guess that he makes funding committee the people who are joystick, I will get back behind you as a mem some decisions...meets and the Senate. You doing construction... ber of your irreproachable army of pedestri ans. And when I do, I intend to program my with some important have to come up with connects with all the speech synthesiser to demand my rights, people...looks out for a vision and hold the deans...goes for long with your battle cry: "IT IS A FUCKING University." University to it. Other walks along Wreck CROSSWALK!" times you're just beg Beach." ging for money." —Christopher Willard Pryde is taking a Master of Educational —Coordinated by Paul Bucci and Kasha Chang Technology at UBC
12 NEWS FRIDAY, 17 NOVEMBER, 2006 THE UBYSSEY Vice-President Academic resigns Whitehead will fill new position being created to enhance quality of teaching and learning at UBC
by Carolynne Burkholder pus environment. NEWS EDITOR For first-year students, the other data set studied by NSSE, UBC After only two years as UBC's Vice- ranked lower than other large President Academic and Provost, research-orientated Canadian uni Lome Whitehead announced his versities in three of the five cate resignation last Friday. gories. UBC was comparable to its Effective immediately, Whitehead peers in enriching education and will be UBC's Leader of Education active and collaborative learning. Innovation—a new position created In all categories, UBC ranked to improve the quality of teaching at much lower than similarly-sized US the University. institutions—the greatest gap put "The President and I have ting UBC 12.3 per cent lower in stu agreed to what I feel is a very dent and faculty interaction in stu exciting change," said Whitehead. dents' senior year. "UBC has a number of initiatives "According to the NSSE survey that we're getting ready to blast if you compare UBC to other off on. What's missing is someone universities, we appear to be to coordinate, innovate, strategise, not as good," said Whitehead. "I fundraise and get the resources don't think we have perfect meas aligned to really make this happen." ures on those topics...but of course These initiatives include Stu on any measure we'd like to dents Horizons in Education (SHINE) appear the best." 2010 and the Carl Wieman Science Jeff Friedrich, AMS VP Academic, Education Initiative—both which said the AMS is very concerned with attempt to enhance the quality of the NSSE results. teaching and learning at UBC. "The results were fairly disturb Whitehead's resignation comes ing," he said. "The University is not a few weeks after the results from meeting its goals in providing a the National Survey of Student good undergraduate experience." Engagement (NSSE) were released. "I hope our future VP academic LORNE WHITEHEAD: Former VP Academic now holds UBC's newest position, OKER CHEN PHOTO This survey ranked UBC signifi will make a commitment to making cantly lower than other schools in teaching and learning a priority at improve the undergraduate experi President Stephen Toope spoke Whitehead's new position and his all five areas of student engage this University," Friedrich contin ence at the University. about Whitehead's contribution to dedication to improving the quality ment using data collected from stu ued. "There's some room for growth "I think I received a wonderful the UBC community at the Senate of teaching at UBC. dents in their senior year: academ in that area and I think the NSSE education here, but that doesn't meeting on Wednesday evening. George Mackie, formerly the ic challenge, active and collabora survey speaks to that." mean we can't do better," he said. "I Although Toope emphasised that vice provost and associate vice-pres tive learning, student and faculty Whitehead, who completed all think UBC has the chance to take the Whitehead's resignation is a great ident, was appointed the acting vice interaction, enriching educational three of his degrees at UBC, agreed lead. If I can play a small role in that, loss to the executive team, he said president academic and provost experiences and supportive cam that there is work to be done to I will be very pleased." that the University will benefit from until the position is filled. @
UBC top ranked for vegetarians
by Carolynne Burkholder ian cuisine on campus, such as chop particularly focussed on increas NEWS EDITOR suey with tofu, black bean sloppy joes ing their vegetarian options in stu and lentil curry with spinach. dent residences. The People for the Ethical Treatment "This is good because it shows it's "There's a large number of vege of Animals (PETA) have named UBC not just one kind of food, it's a variety tarian options that vegetarians and one of the most vegetarian friendly of high quality options," said Modi. non-vegetarians are enjoying in the colleges in Canada. "The variety would appeal to non-veg residences especially," he said. "We keep track of schools that etarians, so they're more likely to "The changes that we've made have are excelling in providing healthy, want to try these foods." been very positively received." humane options for students," said Andrew Parr, director of Food But third-year geography stu Pulin Modi, the college campaign Services, said he was pleased to hear dent Allison Savigny said she wish organiser for PETA. that UBC had made PETA's list es there were more choices for Islam Awareness Week The 15 Canadian colleges were "This wasn't a direct strategic vegetarians at UBC. President of the Muslim Students'Association Hesham selected through input by PETA's goal, but a reaction to our market "There are definitely vegetarian Alsalman spreads the word about Muslim culture during Street Team—a group of people who place," said Parr. "I think—very options, but there's not a lot of Islam Awareness Week. The event was sponsored by the MSA promote animal rights at the grass stereotypically speaking—that west- options for healthy meals with lots and ran from November 14 to 16. OKER CHEN PHOTO roots level—and through PETA's pro coasters are more in tune with natu of protein," she said. file on MySpace and Facebook. ral eating than many other areas of McMaster University topped According to Modi, UBC students Canada." PETA's list as the most vegetarian noted the diverse options for vegetar Parr said Food Services has friendly Canadian college. @