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overtheedgenewspaper.ca

November 11, 2014

ote-newspaper@unbc.ca

Volume 21, Issue 6

Over The EdgeUNBC’s Independent Student Newspaper est. 1994

Prince George Mayoral and Council

ElectionsSee page 10 & 11

VOTE Nov. 15th

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Over The Edge is the University of Northern British Columbia’s independent student newspaper. Our office is located on the 2nd floor of the NUSC building in room 6-350. We are an equal opportunity publication which represents students in the UNBC and Prince George community. Our publication supports student writing by welcoming news, arts, sports, culture and opinion articles, as well as photography, comics, and creative writing submissions.

Every year, we provide employment as editors, designers, and managers to students with a passion for journalism and are always looking for motivated individuals to work and volunteer in our collaborative environment. Over The Edge offers competitive advertising rates for space in our print publication as well as online.

Support is always needed and no experience is required; help make Over The Edge better. We want to hear from you! Call us at 250-960-5633, tweet us @overtheedgeunbc, email us at ote-newspaper@unbc.ca and be sure to like us on facebook. For more information, please visit our redesigned website at www.overtheedgenewspaper.ca.

Next deadline: November 19, 2014

Over The Edge

Prince George has long been known as Canada’s most politically controversial

city. We have an extensive history of mayors being involved in conflicts of interest, public scandal, and substance abuse like crack binging (but only during drunken stupors).

Oh wait, no. That’s not us. Our mayoral scandals are usually limited to uproar regarding the pothole situation (in winter) or the caterpillar apocalypse (in summer)—although last year’s plowing

incident was particularly entertaining. No matter who is leading this town, the complaints of citizens are not going to evolve into any news-worthy, analytical debate about the level of change being made.

Keeping that in mind, there are some things that the mayor of PG does, particularly which affect UNBC. For instance, it would be great to have buses that run until the bars are closed on weekends. It would be nice to see people comfortable walking

downtown after 9pm. It might be appreciated to have some additional low-cost hotels and hostels in town for younger travellers.

These are all things that affect UNBC students, and are all reasons why students should vote in this week’s municipal election.

Our mayor may not make news around the world, but the mayor of Prince George will make a difference (no matter how small) to you during your time here.

UNBC Life

UNBC Remembrance Daylecture by Gwynne Dyer

The semester is drawing to a close,

and it's a busy time for students, with midterms, projects,

elections, and life ramping up the stress.

Fear not, however, for stress busters are on their

way!

We have just finished our AGM and

REMEMBRANCE : WHAT THE FIRST WORLD WAR TAUGHT US

A free public lecture

Sponsored by the College of Arts, Social & Health Sciences

And the Geoffrey R. Weller Library

By Gwynne Dyer

GWYNNE DYER has worked as a freelance journalist, columnist, broadcaster and lecturer on international affairs for more than 20 years, but he was originally trained as an historian. Born in Newfoundland, he received degrees from Canadian, American and British universities, finishing with a Ph.D. in Military and Middle Eastern History from the University of London. He served in three navies and held academic appointments at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Oxford University before launching his twice-weekly column on international affairs, which is published by over 175 papers in some 45 countries.

His first television series, the 7-part documentary ‘War‘, was aired in 45 countries in the mid-80′s. One episode, ‘The Profession of Arms’, was nominated for an Academy Award. His more recent works include the 1994 series ‘The Human Race’, and ‘Protection Force’, a three-part series on peacekeepers in Bosnia, both of which won Gemini awards. His award-winning radio documentaries include ‘The Gorbachev Revolution’, a seven-part series based on Dyer’s experiences in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union in 1987-90, and ‘Millennium‘, a six-hour series on the emerging global culture. This lecture is based on his latest book ‘Canada in the Great Power Game 1914-2014’.

November 13, 2014, 7:00 pm

Canfor Theatre

UNBC

elections; it was great to see so many involved students putting some time into checking in with what NUGSS has been doing and what we're looking towards for the future. Keep posted for more NUGSS feedback sessions!

On November 13th, come out and enjoy Pancakes with Professors, a new breakfast activity put together by Student Life and NUGSS. What could be better than receiving tips that profs have for you as the final days of the semester approach, whilst enjoying some good ol' flapjacks?

Another foam war is being planned near the

end of November. In addition, exam jams and exam workshops will be happening soon! For the time being however, feel free to drop by the office to let us know what you want to see for the upcoming year, as we are always open to feedback and ideas.

This is probably the tensest time of the semester so I'll say this: Timberwolves, you can do this. Get some rest, eat really well, and stay positive, for nothing can stand in your way except for what you deem impossible. Roll out!

Come to a public presentation by well-known Canadian journalist, columnist

and military historian Gwynne Dyer. Dyer’s presentation will focus on Canada’s role in WWI, referencing material from his most recent book, Canada in the Great Power Game, 1914-2014. This event will take place on Thursday November 13 at 7 in the Canfor Theatre. Admission is free; reserved seating is available by donation. This event is sponsored by the Dean of the College of Arts, Social and Health Sciences and the Geoffrey R. Weller Library.

Dyer has worked as a freelance journalist, columnist, broadcaster, and lecturer on international affairs for more than 20 years, although he was originally trained as an historian. Born in Newfoundland, he has received degrees from Canadian, American,

and British universities, finishing with a PhD in Military and Middle Eastern History from the University of London. He served in three navies and held academic appointments at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Oxford University before launching his twice-weekly column on international affairs, which is published by over 175 papers.

His first television series, the 7-part documentary War, was aired in 45 countries in the mid-80s. One episode, ‘The Profession of Arms,’ was nominated for an Academy Award. His more recent works include the 1994 series The Human Race, and Protection Force, a three-part series on peacekeepers in Bosnia, both of which won Gemini awards. His award-winning radio documentaries include The Gorbachev Revolution, a seven-part series based on Dyer’s experiences in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union in 1987-90, and Millennium, a six-hour series on the emerging global culture.

Geoffrey R. Weller Library

News from NUGSSShawn CalderaVP Social | NUGSS

UNBC Life4

Dr. Swainger is a history professor at UNBC, whose research interests include legal and crime history in

Canada with an emphasis on the 19th and 20th centuries. We caught up with him to talk about history, coffee, and cats.

What made Dr. Swainger come to UNBC? “There were plenty of job opportunities at UNBC as a new university. I thought I would take a chance on a new university and a new city,” he said, noting that he was in the midst of teaching at the University of Calgary when the job was posted. When asked what made him stay, he replied, “they hired me, of course.” Laughing, he continued to say that, “The best of [the] UNBC experience is reflected in the small classes. I had that experience at the University of Lethbridge, where most of the professors knew their students by their first names in their second or third years… so you had a different relationship with your profs, you simply couldn’t get away with stuff. It was different in the fact that if I cut a class, my prof would confront me. That’s what we get here, where we get these relationships where students

actually know their professors... even do research with them. These are amazing opportunities and if through this process one gets an educational experience that you get no where else, then this is the place one wants to work at.”

Why should every student take a history class? “Historical perspective shapes perspective. I very firmly believe that historical knowledge is about changing the way you act in the present day; understanding that things are historically contingent and nothing happens by happenstance, and that the current situation is a product of the past. Coming to understand that provides one with much deeper insight; and thus, we are less apt to make short-sighted snap judgments and decisions,” he said, emphasizing that through writing, oral argumentation, and the ability to do research, history students are tooled up to almost any career.

What makes your classes unique? “I would like to think that students know about my reputation well enough to know that it’s going to be tough, and in effect students self-select and make the classes better because of it. But really, it’s the students.” Next semester Dr. Swainger will be teaching “Canada Since Confederation” and “Topics in Law, Order, and Society,” if you’re not afraid of his readings.

What food or drink should the students bring you to get on your good side? “Coffee is always good. Oh, and the nachos from the Thirsty Moose. I’m certainly bribe-able, though I can’t guarantee any results.” Dr. Swainger takes his coffee with cream, and “fake sugar that I’ve got here [laughs]. It has to be a decent cup of coffee,” he said, adding that Degrees is the best on campus.

What is your favourite animal? “Cats, because cats don’t like us.”

Can you name one of your long-term goals? “They’re mostly academic, like finishing my novel on the Peace River Region. But also some old-guy things, like living somewhere where I don’t have to shovel snow.”

Do you have a secret talent? “Probably mimicry, I’ve been known to do variations on the English accent. I consider good lecturing to be the likes of the theatre; so, I if can pull that good stuff out, that’s good fun.”

When Dr. Swainger isn’t lecturing, he’s buried in his basement, reading something – anything at all, really.

Hannah Rizun Contributor

The person behind the professor

Dr. Jonathan Swainger

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UNBC Life 5

Stress affects everyone. It is part of being a living, breathing, functioning human

being. Some stress can be good since it motivates action. However, when stress gets overwhelming it becomes both unhelpful and unhealthy.

The middle of the semester is the time when stress becomes overwhelming to students. Midterms, papers, projects, and finals around the corner all add up to large sources of stress for nearly anyone at UNBC. This does not even take work, clubs, and other responsibilities that are part of university life into account. Signs of stress may be knots in the stomach, a lump in

the chest, or a strange feeling as though your head is on its way to exploding.

Stress can have significant negative impacts on a person’s mental and physical health if it gets too much to handle.

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), prolonged overwhelming stress can result in difficulties sleeping, prolonged headaches, and illness. It can have serious lasting effects on a person’s physical and mental wellbeing.

Due to this, the CMHA has created strategies to combat stress. These strategies include identifying the cause of stress, simplifying your life, talking about it to a friend, physical activity, mindful exercises like yoga or

meditation, and enjoyable hobbies. By being able to take your mind off the source of the stress, you may be able to work through the stress in a calmer and healthier way.

UNBC also recognizes the student stress level during this time and tries to help students actively combat stress. Normally this occurs in Stress Buster activities in the Wintergarden during exams. As well, UNBC Counselling is always is always open and has student-specific tips on their website. There are many resources UNBC normally has to help students out in times of stress.

This year; however, UNBC also has started one more thing to help students combat stress. November 3 kicked off the first annual Thrive Week at UNBC. UNBC Student Life created

a week for mental health wellness and awareness. This week-long event saw special happenings all over campus for all five days. These included talks from the CMHA; fitness such as kickboxing, yoga, and tai chi; puppy therapy; Silver Linings Playbook viewing and discussion; and a Wellness Carnival that hosted games and belly dancing.

Activities such as these are important to engage in when stressed out. You may not feel like you have time to participate, but just five minutes of petting a puppy can do wonders for your physical and mental well-being in times of high stress.

Remember to follow the CMHA strategies to keep stress at bay. You will be happier and healthier for it.

Kelley WareMultimedia Coordinator

Dealing with stress during crunch time

UNBC Life6

Maryna DakhnoTeam Member

Student Life coordinator, Lisa Scheck, decided that UNBC was in need of a high quality leadership program. According to Lisa, the best fitting program for our student body

would increase their engagement with UNBC campus, and offer valuable leadership training at the same time--important skills for students to develop early on because it sets them up for success in life. By building these skills, students who participate in the leadership program are modelling the way towards their future careers.

“Modelling the way” is setting up a strong foundation for your vision or project, and is also the first one of the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership, according to James Kouzes and Barry Posner. Kouzes and Posner have been studying and researching leadership for over thirty years now. According to them, leadership is the art of mobilizing others to want to struggle for shared aspirations.

Kouzes and Posner created an award winning and bestselling book called The Leadership Challenge, which became the focus of UNBC’s new leadership program. By the end of June 2014, LEAD was born. LEAD is a new leadership development program available through Student Life at UNBC. Its structure is composed of skill building workshops and discussion sessions, which explore the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership.

According to The Leadership Challenge, the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership are: model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act, and encourage the heart. During discussion sessions, students explore components of each practice which leaders can employ to make amazing things happen. So far the sessions have been led by Scheck and her assistant, but they are hopeful for students to take the initiative to prepare and lead future discussions. Cooperation and teamwork skills bloom when individuals with different

values can teach each other as well as share their knowledge and experiences with each other.

Many students who joined LEAD are seeking to gain a confidence boost in their leadership skills. Scheck informed me that the ultimate goal of LEAD is to get students confident enough in leadership to take it to the next level, and get involved with leadership positions on campus, such as student government, clubs, or other community opportunities.

The program increases employment opportunities on campus and in the community for the involved students by connecting them with key individuals and building skills. Having strong connections with influential people is always handy when trying to successfully bring a project to life.

If current leadership students are willing to stick with LEAD, this program could become a multi-year opportunity with its own conferences. It has a ton of room to grow and expand, and many projects to take on. Students are required to put their newly built skills to practice by completing a capstone project that promotes positive change on campus. The project may range from social issues, health and wellness initiatives, academic supports, transition support for new students, and many others.

Recently, LEAD had to determine the values which they will uphold no matter what. It is essential for leaders to know their vision and what they stand for before they can inspire others to act. Respect, empowerment, integrity, trust, perseverance, challenge, friendship, thankfulness, environmentalism, knowledge, and self-reliance are the values LEAD decided to stand by.

If you are a prospective leader, LEAD is the ultimate first step offered by UNBC towards a leadership role in your life.

LEAD: New program at UNBC

LEA

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The holiday season is fast approaching, bringing craft fairs to our community!

Prince George has already seen two major fairs over two consecutive weekends: the UNBC Artisans of the North fair on October 25 and 26, and the Prince George Studio Fair from October 31 to November 2. Numerous smaller school craft fairs have been hosted over the same time period.

Each fair sees a very diverse group of vendors

community causes. Vendors pay a fee for tables which usually go to a fundraising organization. These organizations vary depending on the type of fair. The Artisans of the North fundraise for UNBC Athletics, and some Timberwolf athletes manned a substantial raffle table. The Studio Fair’s ticket sales go directly to the Prince George Community Arts Council, cycling back the funds into the local art community. Craft fairs at high schools usually fundraise for the Dry Grad of their graduating students.

While the vast majority of the craft fairs are hosted in the last week of October and

selling a variety of foods, textiles, beauty products, pottery, jewellery, and more.

These fairs are a perfect opportunity to buy holiday gifts for friends and family. Craft fair gifts are more unique and interesting than regular store-bought merchandise, but still offer impressive quality that make these items memorable. There are truly many amazing pieces from both local and travelling artisans.

As well as offering unique products just in time for the holidays, craft fairs in town are also often fundraisers for different

first few weeks of November, there are still a couple out there that you can catch.

The Elder Citizens Recreation Association is hosting a Craft and Collectibles Fair on November 15 from 10am to 4pm at 1692 10th Avenue. Closing off the craft fair season will the Kelly Road Craft Fair on November 29 and 30, which typically houses four large rooms of crafters and the hallways connecting them.

There is still plenty of time to find special and unique gifts for your loved ones, shop away!

Kelley WareMultimedia Coordinator

Unique gift ideas: checking out holiday craft fairs

Culture

Culture8

The presence of women in Iranian cinema after the 1979 revolution has been driven

by the ups and downs of politics, and the way that the government looks at feminism. A respectable Iranian woman is defined based on Islamic criteria and the religious concepts that describe the frame of her activities in a society. With a change of governments, and because they know themselves as executors of cultural affairs, we have seen an adjustment, especially in cinema, for women.

Everything changed when the Khatami became president in 1997. Women began playing a more important role in cinema. During this period, women were invited to come out from their homes. This means that women had the opportunity to participate in society without threatening their

responsibilities at home as a wife or mother.

Now, directors and producers are aiming to show Iranian women who is looking out for themselves and their rights, and are trying to change people’s perspective of a traditional Iranian woman. Female characters in movies are now seen reading newspapers, listening to music, or playing musical instruments. Instead of cooking or sewing in every single scene, now they are improving their skills in sports, art, engineering, and management. These characters are clearly educated women with social and political agency and reactions.

The Iranian women’s Hijab is also changing. Chador is not the official Hijab for women in Iranian cinema anymore. All of these changes are reflective of a greater social revolution.

The government of Ahmadinejad tried to

reverse these advancements, but filmmakers were still looking for ways to keep cinema a medium showing the reality of Iranian feminism. As a result, many movies did not get permission to be created, and fewer stories included a female protagonist. Most filmmakers were thinking of the commercial aspect of cinema, and the presence of women was limited to relationships in families.

New government pressure and people who are tired of common stereotypes in movies have been forcing independent filmmakers to attempt change.

Among other filmmakers, Jafar Panahi is another a director and writer who is challenging the traditional women’s roles in his movies. In Offside (2006), Panahi shows young Iranian women who are dressing as boys to enter a stadium and watch a soccer match. Although this is a comedy, what

makes Offside effective is that young women are not portrayed as activists attacking the system. They are simply soccer fans and do not want to accept the fact that they are excluded from enjoying the sport.

We can also consider Rakhshan Bani E’temad, who is not only one of the best filmmakers in Iran, but also one of the bravest. Gilane (2005) is a movie about a mother who has to take care of her son, who is suffering from PTSD, after the Iraq-Iran war. She never gets disappointed, sad, or tired. She is just a simple victim of the war. Bani E’temad has recently won the award of Best Screenplay in Venice Film Festival for Tales (2014), a movie censored by the Iranian government.

The role of Iranian women in film is positively changing, but has a long way to go.

Nahid TaheriTeam Member

A good movie can be a transformative experience. To see something that

challenges your expectations and shows you new sights, new stories, and new sounds is one of the best things a human being can do. In the same way, watching a bad movie can be eye opening. It can be uproariously funny to see cheap special effects, bad acting, or visible boom microphones. It can also be tragic, seeing the culmination of a group of people’s hard work ending up a disaster. Here are four bad movies that are sure to entertain you:

Troll 2 (1990): The director of this shockingly horrible horror film obviously had an agenda. An anti-vegetarian, pro-corn agenda. This film hates vegetarians, depicting them as literally being bloodthirsty goblins. The

director of this film obviously thought that corn is nature’s sexiest vegetable, because this film features the most bizarre seduction scene in film history involving an ear of corn, an RV, and a witch. By the way, this film contains no actual trolls and is completely unrelated to the first Troll film. Troll 2 is hard to sum up in a paragraph, so watch it and see why it’s a B-movie favourite.

Reefer Madness (1936): Originally produced to be a cautionary tale warning people not to smoke marijuana, this film is enjoyed these days for how bad it is. If you’ve ever wanted to be warned about the dangers of pot by people who don’t know anything about it, this is your film. According to this film, marijuana super excites people, driving them mad and prone to fits of murderous rage. That doesn’t sound like any pot heads I’ve ever known, but the poster for this film advertises that it’s “What actually happens!”

The best thing about this movie is that it is in the public domain, meaning that there are many legal ways of finding a copy online.

Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959): This is perhaps the most famous bad movie of all time, and it deserves all the credit it gets. Director Ed Wood loved movies, but unfortunately had no idea how to actually make one. The special effects are all done with tinfoil and sparklers, the sets wobble as actors walk through them, and the cast includes a man who legally changed his name to “Dudley Manlove.” The film’s big name star, Dracula’s Bela Lugosi, died during filming, giving Wood the great idea to replace him with his wife’s chiropractor. This film was originally made as a serious sci-fi/horror film, but you’ll be unable to keep yourself from laughing.

The Room (2003): If Plan 9 from Outer Space is the best classic bad movie, The Room

is the best bad modern movie. After you witness the stilted acting, the confusing editing, the insane dialogue, and the bizarre directorial choices, you’ll wonder if it was all an elaborate joke. However, it was made completely sincerely, making it both funny and sad at the same time. Who is to blame for this disaster? That would be director, producer, writer, and star Tommy Wiseau, who is by far the funniest part of the movie.

It might seem mean-spirited to go out and specifically look for bad movies to laugh at. After all, someone worked hard on them. However, if you enjoy them then their purpose as entertainment is fulfilled. It would be worse to have these films disappear into obscurity, with no one to enjoy them in any form. These movies will probably make you laugh, but who knows--maybe you'll find them genuinely endearing.

Colin SlarkTeam Member

Help Stave Off Boredom4 Bad Movies to

Women in Iranian Film

Culture 9

Jasmine KirkEditor in Chief

Authorized by Cindy Whitecotton, Financial Agent, Don Zurowski for Mayor 250-562-8447

DON

ZUROWSKILET’S GET PRINCEGEORGE GROWING!• The FUTURE is 100,000!

• Needs Before Wants

• Improve Civic Pride

phone 250.964.3311cell 250.613.5622zurowskiformayor.com

facebook.com/donformayorpg

twitter.com/donformayorpg

FOR MAYOR

When Sarah McLachlan was in Prince George in 2011, she brought Butterfly

Boucher and Melissa McClellan and put on a miniature version of Lilith Fair. The show was relaxed and featured a variety of McLachlan’s classic hits intertwined with McClellan and Boucher’s original work, sung in harmony by all three women.

This time, McLachlan created a comparably intimate atmosphere, with soft lighting above a stage that had plush couches and chairs dispersed among the full piano, drum set, and microphone stands. McLachlan began the show by explaining she would still be playing the old songs that everyone knew and loved, but that she also wanted to expose the audience to her new album, Shine On. The smoke machine started, lights came on, and after the first note it became clear that this was going to be a rock show.

McLachlan has always had an impressive

voice, and no one is expecting that to change any time soon. It took her a song or two to get really warmed up, but when she finished in the encore of a two-hour

Fall concert review: Sarah McLachlan

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set with “Song for my Father,” she sounded as strong as she had twenty years ago. The show was low on gimmicks, but she invited members of the audience up on stage to show (and take selfies) from her “living room couch,” and she also read audience

questions from a hat. These distractions were entertaining (the audience witnessed about three minutes of yodeling, and got to hear a story about McLachlan’s speaker-dancing

days) interludes from a powerful set.

The concert was good--really good. McLachlan didn’t deliver any surprises. What was particularly amazing about this show was her band. Guitarist Joel Shearer, who

has recorded and toured with artists such as Joe Cocker, Santana, Michael Buble, and Damien Rice, was absolutely spectacular. His solos were spot on, hitting every single note with clarity and precision, while still portraying a relaxed and non-committal stage presence. Bassist Tim Smith offered the same effortlessness on the other side of the stage. Smith was able to draw the attention of the audience and added to every song, but did not take away from McLachlan’s singing, a skill that every good background musician should have.

McLachlan mentioned that Dorian Crozier (on drums) and Vincent Jones (on keyboard and percussion) had played with her for a number of year and it showed in the chemistry that these three had on stage. Somehow, these five people were able to perform an engaging and entertaining show, despite the fact that they had played every one of these songs ad nauseum. The audience could never get sick of hearing the same “In the Arms of an Angel” or “Ice Cream,” so long as these artists enjoy playing them so much.

The Feature

The Prince George Municipal elections are fast approaching. On November 15 will again be faced with the question “Who will take the big chair of mayor on City Council?” Over the Edge, in partnership with Shaw TV, had the opportunity to sit down, speak with both mayoral candidates, and ask them a series of questions relating to student issues and why they think they deserve to

be the new Mayor of Prince George.

Over the Edge had an opportunity to ask each candidate the

same questions at the Shaw TV studio on

October 28.

Each

candidate was asked to comment on downtown development, an important area in this election. Hall said he is open to this idea, and he believes the municipal government could help out in terms of land. The city owns some property in the downtown core, which they might be able to offer to help get this project off the ground.

Zurowski also thinks that downtown residences are a good idea, and would be open to the contribution of land for the project. However, as for actually funding this project, neither Hall nor Zurowski believe funding should come from the city. Zurowski would like to see it come from the provincial government, as they are responsible for educational funding. Zurowski does not believe that the funding should be the burden of the institutions or the city.

Many citizens of Prince George are concerned about safety, particularly downtown after dark. We asked the candidates what they

would do to help remedy this problem. Zurowski said that everything comes

down to the idea that not enough people are on the streets.

An increase in people walking around on at

night downtown would go a

long way in

mitigating people’s worries. He went on to speak of a story when he was in downtown Vancouver walking around at night, explaining that he felt comfortable and safe because the streets were full of people.

Hall would prefer working with the RCMP. His idea is to bring back foot patrols in the downtown core. This, in his opinion, will go a long way to help people feel like they are safe downtown. Both men think that people living downtown and spending time downtown would go a long way to help the downtown core feel safer.

We then looked at snow removal in Prince George, focusing on last winter. People said that it was a particularly bad winter for snow removal, and it caused problems all over town for people getting to school and work. Both candidates acknowledged the issues of last winter, and said that city hall had all the resources they were going to need to get the job done. Hall was more focused on ways to work with the city crews to help find the best means of clearing the roads and sidewalks. Hall spoke of changes which had been done to help improve snow removal for this upcoming winter.

Zurowski’s position is that Prince George has the equipment that the city needs to make sure the job gets done, but must make sure that the equipment is utilized and employees are as efficient as possible.

One of the final points Over the Edge talked about with the candidates was

public transit. The candidates agreed with each other

on this issue: public transit problems

are something that the

province would have to handle. They were clear that the city can get involved in helping the process along, but does not have direct control of the outcome. Hall spoke of working with students to find a possible solution to and vocalizing the issues to the province.

Zurowski reiterated his past record regarding public transit; the bus routes in Prince George were running very infrequently and he took part in helping to upgrade them. The candidates agree that if the problems with public transit are to be remedied, the city needs to work with the province to see the most beneficial outcome for Prince George.

The 2014 municipal election will be an interesting one; both of these men have extensive experience in local government. Zurowski seems to be more economically libertarian--he thinks that with tax cuts, Prince George can grow the population, which will then grow the tax base. Hall strikes a more moderated view on economics. He too would like to see growth, although sees it through communication and leadership in government. Whichever candidate wins, they will have a period of population growth, due to the economic development in BC’s mining operations having a positive effect on the economy.

It is hard to say which candidate has a more student friendly platform. In this election, we need to be well informed about the current issues and where the two candidates stand.

The complete interviews have been airing on Shaw TV since November 8, and will continue to air until November 13. Election day is November 15, and we can only push for more inclusion in government and a greater voice in our city if we come out to vote.Advanced voting polls will be open at UNBC on November 13 in the Doug Little Lounge, so there are lots of opportunities to vote!

Full articles at overtheedgenewpaper.ca

Grant BachandTeam Member

Prince George mayoral race: Don Zurowski & Lyn Hall

Lyn Hall for Mayor | Facebook

11

James Mangan & SuIn LeeTeam Member & Publisher

On October 30, the students of UNBC had an opportunity to meet local politicians

and discuss various issues concerning student life. At a Meet and Greet hosted by the PSSA, the candidates for the upcoming municipal election were questioned on six prominent issues relating to student interests.

The PSSA provided an excellent setting to better understand how the councillors view the major issues that have so far characterized this election, including downtown revitalization, Prince George pride and reputation, public health, the transit service, and student housing in downtown Prince George.

The first question regarded the revitalization of Prince George’s downtown. Councillor Dave Wilbur, first elected in 2008, supported incentivizing grocery stores and pharmacies downtown. He also expressed his wish for more exterior dining options and increased transportation to downtown. Susan Scott, who is currently seeking a first term in council, suggested the creation of city guides, who could direct tourists to the specific downtown hubs.

The second question regarded Prince George’s image. In 2011, Macleans magazine declared Prince George Canada’s most dangerous city. Monica Peacock, seeking a first term in council, suggested the need to build a legacy in Prince George surrounding the Canada Winter Games to. Her counterpart at the table, Jeffery Cumin, also seeking a first term in council, emphasized the need to push Prince George’s recreational capabilities.

Over the Edge’s next question regarded the poor air quality in Prince George. Councillor Albert Koehler discussed at length his belief that the Prince George City Council should put pressure on the BC Ministry of Environment to improve

Prince George’s air quality. Koehler referenced the ministry’s role in determining environmental regulations on the local mills.

Candidates were then asked whether they would abide by the outcome of the upcoming referendum regardless of their personal beliefs on the issue. Greg Kauk, seeking a first term in council, said “yes,” and voiced his concern over why this is still an issue. He emphasized how Prince George is lucky enough to have some of the cleanest water in the world, and that the outcome of the referendum should put the matter to rest until further data emerges from the appropriate scientific community. Ravi Saxena, also seeking a first term in council, stated his belief that fluoridation is a waste of money, but that he’d abide by the outcome of the referendum.

Councillor Cameron Stolz, emphasized his identity as a Prince George small business owner. When questioned on issues regarding students and downtown revitalization, Stolz expressed his wish to not only increase bus hours, but also have the city research popular online applications that would message students and non-students alike when their buses will next be at the nearest stops. He also detailed his belief in public-private partnerships regarding downtown revitalization, as well as his ideas regarding financially incentivizing new businesses that intend to open in downtown Prince George.

The candidates were then asked about their support for student housing in downtown Prince George. Councillor Cameron Stolz stated his support for more residences in the downtown region for all

citizens, not just students. He suggested, however, that the establishment of student residences downtown could be incentivised if UNBC offered courses out of some of the current established buildings downtown. Bryon Mix, seeking a first term in council, countered this argument, claiming that the university experience, including housing, should remain on campus. He stated that residence lifestyle should remain solely a university issue.

Finally, candidates were asked about their future visions for Prince George. Councillor Garth Frizzell discussed how residents of Prince George prefer the small-town feel this city has to offer. He pointed to the rising of the UN and Pride flags at City Hall as examples of Prince George’s inclusive nature, and how groups such as the Facebook page Hell Yeah Prince George are attempting to give the city a positive face. Murry Krause, first voted into council in 2002, added that Mr. Frizzell and he had worked towards their visions of social justice here in Prince George during their years in City Hall. He further emphasized the need for City Hall to encourage the various institutions in Prince George to work towards a

common goal alongside the community.

This student-led event was a great opportunity to let the council of the future to be mindful of student issues. As youth voter apathy increases, politicians and community leaders feel increasingly relaxed when making promises to the Canadian youth. Events that bring students into contact with their elected representatives, such as those sponsored by the UNBC PSSA, allow students to hold their representatives accountable for their promises.

Election Day is November 15. We’ll see you there!

Prince George council: meet the candidates

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Mani SamaniTeam Member

It does not matter that the creation of India’s Mars Orbiter, Mangalyaan, cost one-

tenth the cost of NASA's Maven spacecraft (or less than many Hollywood blockbusters). What is significant is that their spacecraft reached the red planet’s orbit as soon as its US counterpart arrived there. Now these two are in orbit and collecting data together.

NASA's mission cost $637 million “…and we came in under budget!” said the primary investigator on the project, Bruce Jakosky, in an interview with NPR. “It's essentially buying a Honda Civic verses buying a Mercedes S-Class,” said Amaresh Kollipara, a managing partner of Earth 2 Orbit, a company that pairs private satellite providers with the Indian Space Research Organization. The Mangalyaan satellite is a lot less mature than MAVEN, and is not designed to last as long as NASA’s spacecraft.

In terms of the technical view, NASA’s spacecraft still has the advantage, since India chose a cheaper orbit around the Mars. The Indian satellite did not go as close to Mars as the US spacecraft. Less engine use means that Mangalyaan requires less fuel, keeping the weight down to half of the NASA mission. A lower fuel load also made the Indian project much cheaper to launch.

The primary investigator of the project said, "We had, at one point, over 600 people working on the project." Although it takes a lot of people to build a spacecraft, and of course they need to be paid, India claimed that their top-notch aerospace engineers are cheap. The average payment for Indian engineers in this project was $12 000 per year which is significantly less than a regular minimum wage worker in North America. Chairman of Indian Space

Research Organisation, Mr. Radhakrishnan, called the Mars Orbiter Mission “The cheapest interplanetary mission ever to be undertaken by the world.”

Despite India’s achievement in space, is it an appropriate comparison to NASA’s big spacecraft? Dr. Erik Jensen, Professor and Chair of Physics department at UNBC said, “I would say the biggest milestone... is showing that India can do these things because for

so long [the] Americans and the Soviets, and then the Japanese and Chinese, have done some interesting things in space… as far as exploration, there are so many countries that have done so many… exploration kind of missions. This is… India making [a] statement that they are reaching… [the] ability to [do] these kind of things.” Although Canada has the infrastructure and technical expertise available, there is not the national will to spend money on extensive space exploration.

Can we actually compare India’s orbit mission with NASA’s spacecraft? “They published some pictures from… the surface of Mars and they are nothing like the high resolution images that… NASA’s spacecraft is giving… it would be hard to imagine that it will be equal in quality.” Dr. Jensen continued, “There is no cheap way to do that, because most of the things that NASA does is of the highest quality… and it is extremely expensive because they are only building one of them.” Despite the capability to make cheaper satellites, NASA doesn’t have any interest in doing so because it is not beneficial to send low capability spacecraft to that kind of distance.

India's space ambitions are not over either. The next step may be putting an astronaut into orbit for cheap.

Indi

a Ti

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The price of the Mangalyaan launch

News 13

There should be no doubt to any right-minded Canadian that human

trafficking is one of the most despicable and long-running industries to date. This frustratingly prevalent and harmful industry is surprisingly difficult to police. Human trafficking has taken some of the most unforgivable human rights violations and--according to The Guardian’s Mary Goudie—turned them into a 32 billion dollar industry. Slavery of any kind has been illegal in Canada for some time; however, it remains an active process.

With the release of the CBC’s new report about Kailey Oliver-Machado—a fifteen-year-old pimp, who finds herself being tried as an adult— this industry is clearly far more complex than the average Canadian might think. Her case proves that the issue of human trafficking is more prominent, more complex, and more difficult an issue in Canada than anyone would like.

There are charities and groups working to combat human trafficking, but the breadth of this international industry requires more attention than Canada has afforded it thus far. The Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons (OCTIP) has been actively fighting the industry since 2007, but their resources are limited.

As stated in a Cornell paper by Patrick Belser, “The ILO [International Labour Organization] found that almost 2.5 million people who are exploited by private agents and enterprises are in forced labour as a result of human trafficking,” and that “more than half of trafficking is for forced sexual exploitation.”

What might shock some British Columbians is how common it is here in our own province. For a more local sample, Surrey’s Servant’s Anonymous Society has more chilling numbers from Vancouver. Not only do they claim that there is at any given time about 500 prostitutes under the age of 17 walking

Vancouver’s streets, but that anywhere from 20-50% of the sex-trade is visible above ground the rest happening underground. If this much is known about the industry, then why is human trafficking so hard to stop?

Winnipeg Conservative MP Joy Smith, an anti-trafficking advocate, told the CBC that “I think too many are getting away with it. . . basically because it was under the public radar screen, police weren’t trained for human trafficking.” This is something that is being remedied as best as possible by Canadian authorities, and the a law in 2005 was a good start. However, in the same article an anonymous victim of the industry claimed “the law did not protect her, and the justice system doesn’t see trafficked women as the victims of crime.”

Human trafficking is incredibly hard to pin down, and appropriately regulating it and prosecuting the men in charge requires a reform that is still in its infancy here in Canada—as seen by Mozami being the very first man convicted for the crime here in BC. The SAS’s findings also show that victims who manage to escape the life of a forced sex worker are beset by a host of other problems. PTSD affects 68% of these workers, and the children involved are considerably more likely to engage in substance abuse and violent crimes. People who have gone through the harrowing experience of the sex trade were raised under have unique circumstances that may not be suited for the Canadian Government’s current social programs.

There are charities around Canada that focus on trafficked workers, such as SAS, the Alliance Against Modern Slavery, and Walk With Me. However, these organization’s resources are imited. If Joy Smith is right and Canadian law enforcement just isn’t prepared, it needs to be known that this is an important issue to the public. It is not Canada’s job to police the world, and it would be delusional for Canada to try and control the international trade single-handedly.

This does not, however, mean that there is nothing that can be done. There is already a variety of publically available awareness campaigns, and a variety of guides on what to look for in airports, bus stops, and other travel-oriented places. There are resources to help the public identify forced child and other unwilling sex workers. While it may be incredibly frustrating that Mozami was the first man to be convicted of human trafficking in BC, it is also a sign that the system may finally start working. A single conviction--while far from making a dent

in the human trafficking industry—may be the start of many more, if we’re lucky. Canada cannot single-handedly tackle the human trafficking industry in its entirety on an international level. However, Canadians--and British Columbians--can educate ourselves and help raise awareness and funds for the issue and hopefully put a serious dent in this industry by starting to eliminate it from our province.

Andrew KenwayTeam Member

Human trafficking: the face of modern slavery in BC

Full article at overtheedgenewpaper.ca

Councillor Brian Skakun has officially announced he is running for a fifth consecutive term for Prince George City Council.

Brian was first elected to City Council in 2002 and has served on a number of City Committees. Being a local resident for 46 years, he knows what the issues are and is willing to do what he

can to ensure your concerns are addressed at City Hall.

Not being one that is easily intimated, Brian will continue to stand up for what he believes in.

SPONSORED BY FINANCIAL AGENT BRIAN SKAKUN 964-2489

Brian Skakun brianskakun.com

-Economic development

-Road maintenance

-Transparency

-Lobbying senior governments

-Improving intergovernmental

relations

If re-elected, Brian will continue to focus on:

-Supporting green initiatives

-Accountability at City Hall

-Building community pride

-Attraction of seniors

-Youth engagement

and consultation

Sports

Group-oriented assignments have been on the rise, both in the workplace and in the classroom. Upon graduating from post-secondary, you may enter a job that demands group collaboration on numerous projects. At school, we have all been exposed to group homework assignments or term projects.

Through participating in sports at UNBC, students can reap the benefits of learning the meaning of competition, persistence, and teamwork, as well as learning life lessons such as time-management. Running off some stress doesn’t hurt, either. I interviewed a

From the Court to the Classroom

An Employer ’s Perspective: cooperation is key

An Athlete’s View: the transfer of competition

Intramurals at UNBC: Stress-busters

few people to get their takes on the role of sports in academic and professional success.

For most of us, sports have been a part of our lives for longer than we can

remember. However, as health and wellness have always been the main goal, we rarely focus on the benefits that sports can have off the field.

My first interviewee was UNBC’s Director Human Resources, Sheila Page. She enthusiastically stated that: “As an employer, I would be more inclined to hire a person that has participated in sports. Cooperation is such a large part of being a member of a team and a workforce; lessons such as competitiveness and multi-tasking are all lessons that can be learned from sports to be carried over to the workplace or classroom.”

When I asked Sheila about the transfer from sports to the classroom she firmly professed that, “life is about priorities; prioritizing and organizing, and an involvement in sports during your education shows your ability to juggle a number of activities, as one is expected to do in a further career path.”

Heartened by Sheila’s enthusiasm for athletics, I decided to get the first-hand account from Devin McMurtry, a varsity basketball player at UNBC who details the transfer of knowledge from the court to the classroom. “In order to participate in sports at a high level, you have to develop a strong work ethic, and if you can transfer that to the academic sphere, you set yourself apart from your peers. By overcoming athletic struggles, it makes a lot of academic inconveniences seem trivial in comparison. Playing basketball has definitely helped me in school, as it has fueled my competitive streak. I am able to outwork students as a result of my sports background, and I know this will carry on to my professional career.”

Devin is one of fifteen Academic All-Canadians honored at UNBC this year for both excellence in the classroom and in their respective sport.

The last question that remains is: How to get involved in team sports? I spoke to Kaz Ikuta, Athletics & Recreation Coordinator, to get more information on participating in UNBC’s intramural season. Throughout the year, students at UNBC are able to participate in a wide variety of organized sports, such as basketball, floor ball, soccer, ultimate frisbee, and volleyball. Kaz strongly believes, “through participating in intramurals, students will learn how to work with other teammates; these communication skills carry on to both the classroom and the workforce. Intramural sports all provide stress-relief that is a large factor in academic success.” Email intramurals@unbc.ca for more information.

Though it’s difficult for students to make time for extracurricular activities, sports will train you to cooperate and compete. With those skills, success will become eminent, both athletically and academically. And wouldn’t it look great on a resume?

Hannah RizunContributor

Beyond sports: the meaning of competition

Following a thrilling 3-2 shootout victory over their BC Divisional rivals the Kamloops Blazers, the Prince George Cougars gave

back to the community in a big way. The players and staff of the Western Hockey League club invited fans of all ages to skate with them after the game, which was fittingly dubbed “Family Day. There were autographs being signed by all the players, and photos being taken by parents.

Over the Edge caught up with veteran defenseman Joseph Carvalho and asked him what these kinds of events mean to the team. “The community has done so much for us over the years,” Carvalho stated, “The arena has been filled every game with at least 2000 people, which is more than we had last year.

Every time people show you support like the people in Prince George have, we owe it to them to be more accessible to the community.”

The Cougars have a number of community-oriented events throughout the year, but none are more intimate than these family skates. Not only do they provide the fans with a chance

to interact with their team, but it provides kids a chance to dream about one day being a Cougar. Getting the chance to talk

with and skate next to someone they idolize provides the opportunity for these young fans to get to know what

it takes to achieve their goals. This community event also provided the cougars a one-on-one interaction with their fans. The Cougars not only got to interact,

but they got to show off their skills and help the younger fans with their skating abilities. The fans got to see their favorite stars as people in the community, which is exactly what the new Ice Age is all about!

Brady StarkTeam Member

Family Day with the PG Cougars

Coffee Break

Filbert Cartoons

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