Volume 19 Issue 16

April 8, 2009

zombie ProTesT radiCal gardening ViVa la Vag

You’re not crazy; those zombies Guerrilla gardening group in Looking for a different kind of
on campus weren’t a figment of Fernwood takes planting and vagina? No need to fear, the
Camosun’s Student Voice your caffeine-buzzed imagination. growing stuff to whole new levels. Vagina Monologues are here!
Since 1990 neWs—4 life—7 Columns—17

-lite
Page s 10-11

PhoTo: brendan kergin

 VIEWS April 8, 2009

Cheers to an excellent year

Editorial
Nexus
Tessa Cogman berg in Stilettos DVD reviews, my
Staff Writer Overheard at Nexus, and Kelly Mar-
Well folks, an- ion’s Giving It Up (which recently
other school year got picked up by CBC Radio)!
Next publication: May 8, 2009
has come and gone Staff Writers Brendan Kergin
and so has another year of Nexus and Guy Alaimo, along with ad-
Deadline: noon April 29, 2009 newspaper issues. While you can vertising sales guy Jimmy Nguyen,
Address: 3100 Foul Bay Rd., Victoria, BC, check out our special magazines smoked up with pot activist Ted
V8P 5J2 in May and July, and we’ll be back Smith one evening. The best part?
Location: Lansdowne Richmond House 201 with regular issues in September, We printed the whole thing! Oh, but
Phone: 250-370-3591 it’s time to reflect on another year this was just the beginning . . .
Email: nexus@nexusnewspaper.com of publishing Camosun’s student Larter wrote an excellent fea-
Website: www.nexusnewspaper.com newspaper. ture on a kink group that was very
Publisher: Nexus Publishing Society
popular with the men of Interurban
campus, and recently we covered
scientology and a spoof of UVic’s
NEXUS PUBLISHING SOCIETY
STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS
While sometimes we student newspaper, The Martlet.
Some of the staff and volunteers
Kyla Ferns got hate mail, or a got to attend the Western Prairie
Kelly Marion
Andrea Moir
copy of the paper Northern Canadian University
Press (CUP) conference in Vancou-
Jason Motz marked out with ink ver, the National CUP conference
Chris Pal
Miriam Putters on our stands, we’ve in Saskatoon, and the Western
The invention of the printing press, Nexus-style.
Graphic: Adrian Binakaj
Regional CUP conference in Prince
MANAGING EDITOR all enjoyed working for George. office may be small, there’s a lot of Camosun voices.
Jason Schreurs
LAYOUT EDITOR
such a laidback, fun, This year was an amazing and love. None of us have ever loved a Although this is my last editorial,
unforgettable experience. And job so much. Great, I’m tearing up I feel strongly that Nexus will con-
Laila Brown and entertaining when we say unforgettable, we now. Seriously though, it surprises tinue to maintain this reputation. It
STUDENT EDITOR newspaper. mean the parts where liquor wasn’t all of us how much work can get might sound like we’re tooting our
Tessa Cogman involved. The staff and volunteers done when we’re having so much own horns here, but we just want
Copy EDITOR got to see many places and meet fun and laughing at Alaimo’s and you to know what it’s like to write
Alan Piffer many important faces. Kergin’s jokes the majority of the for a student newspaper.
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT The staff and volunteers have While sometimes we got hate time. Don’t believe us? Find out for
Kait Cavers seen and experienced a lot since mail, or a copy of the paper marked With the world changing so yourself and volunteer next year.
STAFF WRITERS the fall and I’d like to share some out with ink on our stands, we’ve all much right now, there’s a lot to Someone’s going to have to take
Guy Alaimo of our memories with you. enjoyed working for such a laidback, write about. All of us have a voice, my place!
Brendan Kergin We had a lot of new column fun, and entertaining newspaper. but it’s getting people to listen So long, Camosun College, and
Jason Motz additions this year, such as Keltie And the readership has never been that’s the problem. Nexus is more wish me luck finding a job where
StAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Larter’s fearless sex column Inter- higher. than a college newspaper; it’s a I can cuss freely and speak my
Courtney Clarke Course, Maelina de Grasse’s Spiel- Although our Richmond House community and a family for all mind.
ADVERTISING SALES
Breanna Carey
Jimmy Nguyen Open Space accepts submissions from Camosun students. Submissions to Open Space should be
Jason Schreurs Open Space 400 words or less. Responses to previous articles in Nexus should be 250 words or less.
E-mail submissions to nexus@nexusnewspaper.com and include your name and student number.
250‑370-3593
Campus Plus NATIONAL

Evil parking fees unfair to students

1-800-265-5372
DISTRIBUTION
Adrian Binakaj
Ashley Moore Shane Priestley ing tickets and towing threats, they financially, but students should get Parking in residential zones
CONTRIBUTORS: Contributing Writer make us fear them. some of that support. isn’t easy to get away with, either.
Guy Alaimo
In this deep economic crisis, For students who drive, these If there were prepaid monthly For example, the Oak Bay scooter
Adrian Binakaj
sometimes we feel it’s just us against draconian measures slowly elim- passes, we would never be scroun- patrol runs the borders around
Allie Bowman
the upcoming depression. inate our bank accounts. Laws are ging for change under our car seats Camosun and UVic, spotting illegal
Courtney Clarke
So as a Camosun College stu- laws, but how can a fulltime student or having to cross out that extra zone parkees. The scooter patrol
Cristian Cano
Breanna Carey
dent, while I support my school in afford $120 a month for parking, pork chop off our grocery lists. works for the ultimate power of
Daniel Carranza
many different ways, I hate support- plus gas? the Oak Bay Municipality, who
Kait Cavers ing the Axis of Parking (Robbins Some may suggest avoiding all doesn’t seem to believe in computer
Tessa Cogman Parking, its commissionaires, and that by taking the bus. Unfortunate- Pay parking may help databases.
Camosun). ly, some of us live in the outskirts of When trying to dispute a ticket,
Ryan Gibbons
Maelina de Grasse These groups maintain power Victoria, and our only option is to
our school financially, you have to phone up the scooter
Michael Duncan by collecting money from students’ transfer buses three times just to but students should man on his cell phone and plead
tight budgets, handing out $20 to reach Camosun. Believe me, it’s your case. Like he’s going to give
Christi Kay
Brendan Kergin $40 fines for parking violations on worth the drive.
get some of that you a fucking break.
Donald Kennedy campus. Robbins Parking is contracted support. Robbins started their reign in
Joanna Lillard Under these dictatorships, ter- by Camosun College; this means 1958; now they have over 200 park-
Keltie Larter ror has reigned, whether for not Camosun gets a piece of meter ing facilities and are slowly invading
Alissa Lauren parking between the lines, parking revenue. These totalitarian laws are put- more businesses, just like the other
Will Maartman in residential zones, or just getting From the hundreds to thou- ting mothballs in our wallets, taking parking authorities.
Hayley MacDonald out of class 15 minutes late. sands of students buying tickets our minds away from our stud- Let’s stop the madness and re-
Kelly Marion They use special parking police each day, that’s quite a big piece. ies, and forcing us to worry more sume the rights of the free parking
Chloe Markgraf to enforce laws and, through park- Pay parking may help our school about bills. world—dispute, dispute, dispute!
Andrea Moir

Bus drivers need attitude adjustment

Jason Motz
Amee Nijjar
Alan Piffer
Shane Priestley
Joanna Lillard a majority of my time waiting for interaction of the day and they riders get on and off their bus in
Andy Roberts
Shane Scott-Travis
Contributing Writer busses in rain, wind, rush hour can influence our mood just like a given day, but each one of those
Nathan Stam
For students, public transit is traffic (day and night), and some- anyone else. people is paying for the service.
Ed Sum
a lifesaver. It’s a cheap, effective times in extreme fatigue. If the last three busses just Public transit in other bigger
Richard Whibley means of transportation to and Having done this for five years, passed me by, a driver’s pleas- cities is very impersonal, but not
Joel Witherington from school when the wrath of I can now easily spot busses several ant response to my “good mor- here.
Robbins Parking and high gas blocks away that are virtually hid- ning” might just be sufficient In Victoria, it’s normal to hear
prices await those students who den by surrounding traffic. compensation. nearly every single passenger thank
The views and opinions expressed herein are those
of the authors, not of the Nexus Publishing Society.
choose to drive. Many bus routes in But waiting for morning busses I understand operating a the bus driver as they get off, even
One copy of Nexus is available per issue, per person.
Nexus is printed on a mixture of 100 and 40 percent
Victoria cater to students, provid- also usually consists of watching vehicle crammed with people can if they were yelled at to move back
recycled paper. Please recycle your copy. Thanks! ing direct transportation to UVic one, two, or three of them casually be stressful, but the driver isn’t only minutes earlier.
Send a letter
and Camosun. Unfortunately, not drive past because they’re at max- crammed in between those people, If bus drivers are unwilling to
Nexus prints letters that are 250 words or less in response to
previous stories. Nexus reserves the right to refuse publication
all bus drivers along these routes imum capacity. and at the very least has a place provide simple civil interactions
of letters. Letters must include full name and student number
(not printed). Nexus accepts all letters by e-mail to nexus@
are accommodating or pleasant. Students’ encounters with bus to sit. with the public, they should con-
nexusnewspaper.com I, like many students, spend drivers might be their first human Drivers may see hundreds of sider another line of work.
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com
Farm for homeless won’t solve the problem
Will Maartman
Contributing Writer
The Creating Homefulness
Society purchased the 78-hec-
tare Woodwynn Farm in Central
Saanich for over $5 million earlier
No rehab centre is
located at the farm
and patients won’t be
allowed to stay at the
residence—two
important elements to
getting off drugs and
off the street.
this month. The plan is to create a
therapeutic community for home-
less people—a safe, welcoming
place where participants will oper-
ate the farm under knowledgeable
direction while learning life and
work skills.
Although most in the commun-
ity support the farm, some ques-
tions need to be asked.
The money spent on the Wood-
wynn Farm is substantial and it’s
safe to assume future operating
costs will be high. There’s the po-
tential for donations, but the farm
needs more financing than dona-
tions alone can bring in.
Also, the society might have
a hard time securing government
funding, as the current economic
climate has created cutbacks in
public spending.
The farm itself does have the
potential to be profitable, but this
won’t be easy. Farming is difficult;
12 homeless people with little farm
skills aren’t going to bring in sub-
stantial profits for a while.
The Woodwynn Farm models
itself off the San Patrignano com-
munity in Italy, a rehab centre in
VIEWS 
which the patients live and work.
San Patrignano boasts a rehabili-
tation rate of 70 percent, but also
allows patients to drink wine daily.
The high success rate they claim is
questionable, as the average rate is
usually between 10 and 20 percent
for rehabilitation.
The underlying problems lead-
ing to homelessness aren’t being
addressed in this case. People are
homeless due to addiction and/or
psychological problems. Wood-
wynn doesn’t send addicts to rehab,
nor does it create more detox beds.
No rehab centre is located at the
farm and patients won’t be al-
lowed to stay at the residence—two
important elements to getting off
drugs and off the street.
Helping the homeless is a good Getting into a rehab centre as well as a place to call their own,
thing, but spending this much anywhere on Vancouver Island not to mention vocational training
money on a plan with a lot of holes for those who lack resources is in relevant areas.
in it isn’t a good investment. The extremely difficult and should be These are real solutions that
homeless don’t need a farm right made easier. could be tackled with $5 million.
now; they need the chance to get The homeless also need access None of them are addressed by the
help. to intense counseling and therapy, Woodwynn Farm.

You live in what part of Curbed appeal

town? Oh, that’s so ghetto!
Daniel Carranza
Contributing Writer
Every city has its supposed
worst or most “ghetto” neighbour-
hoods. Victoria is no different. But
if you believe the stigmas, then
places like Esquimalt, the Gorge,
and Langford are the worst spots
in Victoria.
But if those places were really
as bad as a lot of people think,
Langford wouldn’t bother with
the recent expansion of their mu-
nicipality. Would a world-class golf
resort like Bear Mountain be built
in a “ghetto” area?
Let’s take a step back and ana-
lyze the word “ghetto.” The Mer-
riam Webster Dictionary defines it
as a part of a city where members
of a minority group live due to
social, legal, or economic pres-
sure. For Langford to be a ghetto,
the people living there would have
to be poor.
Yet according to a 2006 Sta-
tistics Canada survey, Langford’s
average family income was
$73,775, compared to $65,787
for the rest of BC. Does that scream
ghetto to you?
Esquimalt is also
labeled one of Greater
Victoria’s worst
municipalities, but I’ve
lived there for 12 years
and have experienced
a normal adolescence.
Esquimalt is also labeled one
of Greater Victoria’s worst muni-
cipalities, but I’ve lived there for
12 years and have experienced a
normal adolescence.
Many people think Esquimalt
isn’t a safe place to live; you’ll eas-
ily get shot or stabbed there. I’ve
never experienced either getting
shot or stabbed.
I’ve even left downtown from
the clubs at 3 am many times,
alone or with a friend, and walked
through Esquimalt without
incident.
Another misconception is
you can’t wear red in Esquimalt.
First off, we don’t live near any
Bloods (a California gang who
wears red).
Second, I wear red shirts, hats,
and shorts all the time and have
experienced no repercussions.
It’s a shame people have to
claim other parts of a city as dan-
gerous with no proof to back it
up other than because someone
said so.
People should think for them-
selves and form their own judg-
ments by spending some time in
Victoria’s infamous areas.
Many people have lived in
these areas all their lives.
They may be your friends or
classmates.
Andrea Moir
Contributing Writer
You’ve spent the last seven
months in combat with your room-
mate, trying to get them to vacuum,
put the dishes away, and stifle the
midnight moans while you’re try-
ing to sleep.
Don’t spend another year with
Joey Tribbiani; scrape up a little
extra rent money and move out on
your own. And don’t worry about
furniture, because with spring
cleaning on the horizon it won’t
be long before Victoria’s streets
will be full of one person’s junk and
another person’s treasure. Couches,
chairs, and tables will be left on
sidewalks and curbsides for fed-up
roomies to take away.
Today’s world is so highly com-
mercialized that many are buying
new furniture every five years, as
opposed to your grandparents
who would keep their living room
furniture for 25 years. Don’t buy
in to the latest and greatest fad.
Instead, find items your neighbour
was too lazy to repair and make a
one-of-a-kind creation!
One of the best places to curb
shop is Fernwood. With its quirky
charm and laid-back attitude, it’s
easy to find items that, with a little
TLC, will fit with a new place. It’s
also a great area to spend a few
hours walking around enjoying the
small-town feel.
Recycling furniture is good for
the environment. Every piece of
furniture taken from the curbside
is one more item kept out of the
landfill, which receives an estimated
140,000 tons of municipal solid
waste annually.
Plus, think of the money saved
from picking up items off the street.
Getting furniture for free means
more than enough extra money to
clean and customize the items.
Rent a steam-cleaner for a day
and pick up a few meters of fabric
or a can of paint and the items will
look new.
You can then scoff at friends
who won’t sleep on your used futon,
but sleep in their own beds with
sheets that haven’t been cleaned
for weeks.
For those who still aren’t con-
vinced curb shopping is a smart and
easy way to stay out of debt, that’s
fine. It just means more items left on
the curb for the smart people.

What’s the craziest thing that has ever happened to you downtown at night?
By Keltie L arter

Thea Lamoureux
I was at Second Slice
when it was closing and
I had a bag of chips. I
was trashed and this
homeless man who had
been given a box of
free pizza asked me if I
would trade him some
chips for a slice, so I did.
It was pretty delicious.
Mike Wolk Robert Hurst Maria Peacock Ashley LeBus Mark Verhulst Brian Ross
I was leaving the I was at Element I got really drunk I was on the bus home After working at the For my football team
Upstairs Cabaret and watching Gregory Isaacs downtown and when from downtown when bar all night, I was initiation I had to run
a fight broke out and when this guy started I woke up the next this girl pulled out jealous of all the around downtown in
somehow I ended up at dancing all crazy and morning my leg was all a knife and stabbed drunks, so a bunch nothing but my shoes
the bottom of the stairs kept hitting me with his scratched and bloody, another girl in the arm of us went to Mount and boxers. We had
with a bloody face. dreads. I got tired of it and there were bits of and the girl’s boyfriend Doug beach at 3 am to get 10 girls’ phone
and confronted him, at tree all over my bed and in the leg. The police and lit a huge bonfire, numbers written on our
which point he offered in my hair. To this day I stormed the bus and it got debaucherous, and chests, a bra, a pair of
me a huge doobie. I have absolutely no idea was all pretty scary. watched the sun come panties, and an unused
don’t remember much what happened. up. condom. We ended up
after that. in the drunk tank.
4 NeWS April 8, 2009

Zombies plague campus in the fight

against student debt

PhOtOS: COurtNey CLArke

Jason moTz
CONtributiNg Writer
Camosun College was invaded
by a horde of zombies on March 30,
staggering and moaning through
campus and along Richmond and
Foul Bay Road.
Their purpose was to protest
the high cost of education, causing
more and more students to build up
large, insurmountable debt loads.
These zombies were actually
Camosun students as well as mem-
bers of the Camosun College Stu-
dent Society (CCSS).
They took time off from their
classes to paint their faces white,
wear the tattered ruins of Sid Vi-
cious’ wardrobe, and affect their
“Student debt is best Thriller-style shuffle.
turning us into the So why the zombie attire?
“Student debt is turning us into
living dead.” the living dead,” explains CCSS
ChrisToPher External Executive Christopher
gillesPie Gillespie.
CAMOSuN COLLege StudeNt With only 16 people taking part
SOCiety in the zombie walk, they weren’t the
force to be reckoned with compared
to the annual autumn zombie walk
that takes place downtown.
But what they lacked in num- cation costs affect us all.
bers, they made up for in passion. “Education is like infrastructure
“It looked like a lot of fun,” says for our province,” explains Glover.
19-year-old general arts student “Without that, we’ll be in much
Josh Sissons. “I don’t have any worse shape than we are today.
debt myself, but it seemed like a We need [education] like we need
good cause.” roads and waterways.”
Zombie fun aside, the dire mes- Glover hopes the zombies will
sage at the heart of the zombie walk also be a reminder for students of
was not lost on its participants. the importance of voting in the
CCSS Student Services Co- upcoming provincial election.
ordinator Michael Glover, who “Students need to be aware
rallied his troops on with an impas- this coming election,” says Glover.
sioned cry of “You’re evil, you’re “Spend some time, think education.
undead. Zombify!” says high edu- Vote early and vote often.”

Interested in how Nexus is run Foul Bay gets safer

behind the scenes? Jason moTz
CONtributiNg Writer
Students who have entered the

Come on down to our AGM campus from Foul Bay in the past
week have likely noticed the con-
struction going on in the middle of
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE NEXUS the road. The city of Oak Bay began
PUBLISHING SOCIETY construction on a pedestrian island
in late March.
Thursday, April 16 @ 4 pm The reasoning behind all of this
Young Building 316, Lansdowne is simple—illegal left turns and
passing. Specifically, those north-
bound vehicles that would rather
Agenda drive through the center lane to
I CALL TO ORDER move past an idling bus instead of
1.) Ratification of meeting chairperson allowing the bus to load or unload
II INTRODUCTION TO RULES OF ORDER passengers.
III APPROVAL OF AGENDA
“It is the position of Oak Bay
IV APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS AGM
that this maneuver is detrimental
V REPORTS
1.) President’s Report to pedestrian safety as well as to
2.) Financial Report vehicles exiting the Camosun Col-
VI ADOPTION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT lege south main parking lot,” says
1.) Adoption of 2008-2009 financial statement Ergin Ozbadem, manager of capital
2.) Adoption of 2009-2010 proposed budget projects for Camosun College.
VIII RESIGNATION OF CURRENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS By creating a “pedestrian ref-
IX BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTIONS uge,” it’s hoped the issues of il-
X ADJOURNMENT legal left turn entry into the college
and the passing of buses will be
Please bring valid Camosun College student ID in resolved.
But Ozbadem says there will
order to vote at this meeting.
be a period of adjustment, both for
drivers and pedestrians who fre-
250.370.3591 quently use the Foul Bay entrance
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com to Lansdowne.
“It is understood that there will
www.nexusnewspaper.com
be some delays over what is cur-
Richmond House 201, Lansdowne rently a hurried, potentially unsafe
situation for pedestrians, cyclists,
PhOtO: NAthAN StAM
and motorists alike,” Ozbadem
adds.
The college worked with Oak
Bay on the implementation of this
project. Currently existing left turn
exits from the college were scru-
tinized. The conclusion was that
traffic flow would not be greatly
impeded.
Also, it was determined by both
parties that the proposed island
would create a safer pedestrian
environment.
“All in all, it is realized that the
introduction of this pedestrian
island will result in a generally
slower but safer situation,” says
Ozbadem.
Now if the college could only
have another chat with Saanich
about the perpetually unsafe Rich-
mond Road bus stop and its lack of
a crosswalk.
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com
NEWS BRIEFS
by Kait Cavers
Call for submissions
There’s now an easier way to
get noticed on the Internet that
doesn’t involve undressing in
front of your webcam on Tuesday
nights. Thank goodness,
because I am getting mighty
tired of having to hack into your
computer to watch. It’s called
Beside the Point, and what it
lacks in the nude department,
it makes up for in its substance.
The Creative Writing program
at Camosun College is seeking
fiction, poetry, drama, creative
nonfiction, visual art, and
crossover genres such as comics
to publish in its online journal,
Beside the Point. The submis-
sion deadline for the next issue
is April 15. Submissions and
questions can be sent to editor@
besidethepoint.net or check out
www.besidethepoint.net
Gettin’ down to biz
Remember that time our
outgoing Camosun College
President claimed that Camosun
students weren’t “the best and
the brightest”? We’ll, here’s
a tasty bit of info for her to
stick in her pipe and smoke.
Camosun’s School of Business
won the team championship
Parking a rip-off, says survey
Guy Alaimo
Staff Writer
Camosun students feel they
are getting poor value for their
dollar when they pay to park at
Camosun, and parking spots at
both campuses are getting more
difficult to find.
These are the main highlights
of a large survey on transportation
and parking the college conducted
late in the fall.
According to the survey, 31–40
percent of Camosun students
say the availability of parking on
campus is fair or adequate. That’s
a downturn from 2006’s survey
where 38 percent of students
thought parking availability was
good.
Most students surveyed also
believe they are receiving fair, poor,
or very poor value for their dollar
in return for parking. Overall, 28
percent of students think they
are getting very poor value while
only seven percent think they are
getting excellent value.
“The cost of parking gen-
erally is a lightning rod,” says
Camosun’s Ancillary Services
Director Kathryn Le Gros. “Our
NEWS
culture doesn’t value the cost of a
parking space. The availability of
parking has been an issue the last
few years at Camosun which is why
we commissioned and developed
a Transportation and Parking
Management Plan. We have to
address the access to Camosun,
not just the parking, but other
modes as well.”
Michel Turcotte, CCSS Dir-
ector of Operations, says he’s
unhappy with the college’s pro-
posed parking plan. He’s also
unhappy with the parking rate
increases Camosun implemented
in September and the proposed
increases that could take effect as
early as next year.
According to the new plan,
Camosun parking rates could jump
another 10 percent and would see
a new tier system come into place
where parking closer to the school
will cost more than parking near
the back of the lot.
“Le Gros made a good presen-
tation to the board of directors a
month and a half ago,” explains
Turcotte. “Because they saw the
intention of the whole parking plan
as largely a revenue generating
activity, they were concerned.”
Turcotte strongly believes the
intention of the new parking plan
is not to eliminate cars from the
roads and lower greenhouse emis-
“There are many
students that need to
drive for various
reasons, whether its
work commitments or
scheduling issues;
increasing the parking
rates double-hurts
these students.”
Michel Turcotte
Camosun College Student
Society
sions as stated in the plan. He feels
it’s a cash-grab from students and
Camosun should try other ways of
generating funds rather than tak-
ing more money out of student’s
pockets.

“There are many students that
need to drive for various reasons,
whether its work commitments or
scheduling issues; increasing the
parking rates double-hurts these
students,” says Turcotte.
The bottom line, according to
Le Gros, is Camosun has limited
land and resources.
She says raising parking prices
is a strategy to get more students to
leave their vehicles at home.
“There are alternative modes
to our campuses that may need
some attention. It is cheaper to
support some of the alternatives
than to build more parking, and
more parking is not in the campus
plan,” says Le Gros. “The survey
report illustrates that there are a
large percentage of both employ-
ees and students who are willing
to consider alternate modes of
transportation to Camosun. This
is exciting!”
The issue of parking at
Camosun has been a topic of con-
cern for many students and faculty
over the course of the past year,
especially after Camosun released
their Transportation and Parking
Management plan in October.

College director criticizes cafeteria

in the 2008/2009 BC Portfolio
Management Challenge competi-
tion and placed second overall.
The challenge is a province-
wide competition open to BC
universities and colleges with
commerce/business programs.
See, even when my classmates
and I are sitting around huffing
glue, everyone else continues to
raise the bar. Kudos guys, way to
be edumacated.
Mind over Antimatter
The 12th annual Antimatter
Film Festival is currently seeking
imaginative, volatile, enter-
taining, and critical films and
videos. The festival is dedicated
to the exhibition and nurtur-
ing of film and video as art,
and is the premier showcase
of experimental cinema in the
west, encompassing screenings,
installations, performances,
and hybrid media experiments.
If you’ve picked up a camera in
2009 and now have a film aching
to be viewed, then submit it
along with $15 to Antimatter and
let your work be appreciated for
what it is. But good luck beating
out the video I made about a bus
that can’t drive below 50 kms/hr
or it will explode. Check out the
details at www.antimatter.ws
Taking it to the net
As if life wasn’t good
enough, BC students and their
families now have a new online
election resource. The Canadian
Federation of Students in BC
created VoteEducation.ca which
will provide policy analysis,
information on how to register
to vote, and up-to-the-minute
campaign news as it relates to
postsecondary education in BC.
In addition to this, the website
will be the campaign hub for
student activists who are mobil-
izing in communities across BC.
Now all they need is a Facebook
group, a Twitter feed, and a daily
blog outlining the youthful folly,
jubilance, and hi-jinx of celebri-
ties and it’ll be bookmarked
on the computers of students
province-wide.
Jason Motz
Contributing Writer
Despite its relatively small size,
Victoria is home to an impressive
array of ethnic restaurants. Thai
food, Ethiopian, Japanese, Italian,
Korean, and Mexican are just a
smattering of the food choices
area residents have when craving
some zesty international dish.
But that array of international
cuisine stops when students come
to campus.
Perhaps no one is more aware
of this than the international stu-
dents who attend Camosun.
Thevi Pather, associate director
of Camosun College International,
is concerned international stu-
dents, as well as students with
dietary needs, aren’t being served
by the current menu offered by the
Aramark-run campus cafeterias.
“Some students do not have
adequate access at the college
to foods that meet their dietary
needs, needs they are used to,”
says Pather.
Local sewage treatment an expensive task
Breanna Carey
Contributing Writer
What we do know is the prov-
ince has announced that the Capital
Regional District (CRD) of Victoria
must decide on a new wastewater
treatment system by the end of this
year. But the big question is, how
much will it cost?
Repairing and replacing one
of Victoria’s oldest forms of infra-
structure could take enormous
amounts of money, experts say.
“Many of the pipes are over
100 years old,” says Erwin Dyck
of the Vancouver Island Health
Authority’s water testing facility.
“The costs could run us up into the
millions.”
The biggest problem is Vic-
toria’s share of the pie is currently
at $400 million after the province
International students make based diet that’s so common to food supplier for Camosun Col-
up a large part of the Camosun locals is the polar opposite to what lege, is open to requests for more
environment. On average there they’re used to. diverse range of cuisine on campus,
are over 600 international students “We have students who come she says.
attending the college per year. from certain cultures where they’ve “We are always interested and
been reared on certain staples, like do act on suggestions that serve
rice, for example,” Pather states. the needs of both the majority and
Pather suggests broadening or smaller groups of students on
“Some students do not the meal options on campus would campus,” says Burger.
have adequate access be of great value to international Burger says some student and
students. staff requests for menu items
at the college to foods “These students would be bet- last year are now being provided,
that meet their dietary ter served if they had better access including V8 Juice, smoothies,
to those types of meals,” says homous and pita, salads, low-fat
needs, needs they are Pather. muffins, and dairy and gluten-free
used to.” It’s unknown how many soups.
students who attend Camosun, Pather points out that there
Thevi Pather
international or not, have special would be an economic benefit to
Camosun College
dietary needs. the college if there were even more
According to Donna Burger, ethnic and dietary options in the
Aramark director of food services cafeterias.
The vast majority of these for Camosun College, no official “We have students who actually
students hail from Asia, with ap- complaint has been lodged regard- leave campus to get their needs
proximately 40 percent of those ing the issue of lack of ethnic food met,” he says.
students from China. There are options. News flash—Aramark and
roughly 70 students from Japan “We have had no requests for the college are actually missing
and an additional 60 from Korea. ethnic-based foods to date,” says a chance to increase their food
For these students, the wheat- Burger. Aramark, the exclusive revenue!
and Ottawa chip in. Raising the “With our system, finding a large chuk. “With more plants, there are
money with a 25-year municipal location is a challenge.” more opportunities for resource
bond amounts to roughly $30 mil- City councilors can’t seem to recovery, but, like with anything,
lion a year. find any other way to raise the you have more equipment, more
Residents will be asked to fork millions of dollars required for maintenance, so the costs are sub-
out a large (but yet to be deter- the project other than through tax stantially higher.”
mined) amount of tax dollars for increases. Aside from the long decision
what many consider to be a must- Property tax hikes are expected process, Kalynchuk explains the
do task. to be anywhere from $200-$700 a new system does have a positive
Since the region has 13 munici- year for the average homeowner in aspect.
palities, there’s much debate over the Greater Victoria area. “Through that digestion process
which method of treatment would With the combination of rising of the bacteria digesting the sewage,
be most appropriate and how many energy costs and the need for a gas known as biogas is given off,”
plants need to be built. sewage treatment facility, the city says Kalynchuk. “It can be scrubbed
The CRD is spearheading the needs to look at a more effective to get it to biomethane that could be
project, asking for public input for means of using their resources, says used in the Terasen pipelines, or you
building designs and locations. Kalynchuk. could do further refinement and put
“More than likely it’s going to be “There are a number of options it in vehicles if you wish.”
a minimum of at least three [sewage for the committee to look at, and Kalynchuk says the city isn’t
treatment plants] to deal with the beyond just the financial they have expecting to come to a decision
system effectively,” says CRD Gen- to look at the social and environ- about the sewage treatment plants
eral Manager Dwayne Kalynchuk. mental factors,” explains Kalyn- until June.
 CAMPUS
New Interurban business club has successful year
Christi Kay
Contributing Writer
Camosun’s student business
club, Delta Epsilon Chi (DEC), is
seeing many successes in its first
year. Based at Interurban, the club
is part of the School of Business.
Although only open to business
students, the club has attracted
more than 17 members since form-
ing in August.
“We see social
responsibility not only
as something business
people should do, but
as a demand
developed by our
modern marketplace.”
Christopher Paine
Camosun student
“We have seen great numbers
join our flanks in the last year, but
even more will join when they see
what a successful year we have had
and the many opportunities that
we offer our students,” says DEC
president and Camosun student
Christopher Paine.
Despite the suggestive name, the
Transferring to University of Victoria ain’t that bad
Alan Piffer
Staff Writer
It’s enough of an adjustment
getting used to the college system,
especially for students who have
been out of the school scene for a
while. But many Camosun students
also need to quickly adjust to UVic’s
system when doing a university
transfer.
Camosun counselor Nancy
Willihnganz says UVic’s larger
system can intimidate those used
to Camosun’s close-knit, smaller
environment.
“Students are often afraid they’ll
get lost in a very large system,
and they won’t be able to make
connections with people,” says
Willihnganz.
Another issue Willihnganz
mentions is the general difference
between teaching styles at UVic as
opposed to Camosun.
“Our instructors teach, and
that’s their focus,” says Willihn-

club isn’t a sorority or fraternity.
“The name originated from
Distributive Educational Clubs
of America, which was for high
school students,” says Paine. “It
was renamed Delta Epsilon Chi for
college students.”
DEC gives members the op-
portunity to volunteer, fundraise,
compete, network, and organize
events. Their first event, a debate on
Efficient Market Theory, was held
in November. Non-perishable food
items were accepted at the door and
donated to the Camosun College
Student Society’s food bank.
In the same month, five mem-
bers attended the DEC Collegiate
Leadership Conference in New
York. The trip resulted in an invita-
tion to the Washington State DEC
competition in February. These
events have a variety of categories
for members to compete in.
“Students participate in a range
of business competitions including
case studies, prepared business
presentations, and business simula-
tions,” says Paine. In some events,
exams are written, while in others,
reports are required, he explains.
The Washingston State DEC
Competition brought many suc-
cesses for the club. In the Entrepre-
neurship Event, Patrick Antonio,
Ben Gerbrecht, and Peter Paine
received first place for their pro-
ject that required them to prepare
a written business plan and then
ganz. “A professor up at UVic
likely has a research component
“If you’ve been at
Camosun College, it’s
like you’ve already
moved out of your
parents’ house and
been on your own. And
when you come to
UVic, it’s a bit like
going to a different
town or city.”
Susan Corner
UVic
as part of their work, in addition to
teaching, so they may or may not be
teachers first.”
*
 '

Supporting more affordable and
accessible post-secondary education
carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca
250-952-4211
www.opposition.bc.ca
April 8, 2009
Photo: Courtney Clarke
Some members of the student business club, Delta Epsilon Chi, hang out in the CBA Atrium at Interurban.
orally present it. The club raised $375 at the DEC hosted an economic
Peter Tikk and Charlene Cald- Royal Roads University annual panel discussion on April 2 with
well earned second and third place venture challenge and donated it to David Hahn (CEO of BC Ferries),
respectively in the Restaurant and the Queen Alexandra Foundation Lindsay Hall (CFO Gold Corp),
Food Service Management event. for Children. and Steven Dagg (GEO Copeland
In Retail Management, Mitchell “The Queen Alexandra Founda- Communications).
Woolley was awarded second place tion represents the quality of social Later in April, club members
and Caldwell captured the prize responsibility that all organizations will have the opportunity to par-
for third. should strive for,” says Paine. “I ticipate in the International Career
But competition isn’t the club’s predict that we will develop a strong Development Conference in Ana-
only focus. “We see social respon- and long lasting partnership with heim, California.
sibility not only as something busi- the foundation.” The club is always looking for
ness people should do, but as a Earlier in the year, members also new members. For more informa-
demand developed by our modern donated their time to the Choice’s tion, contact DEC at corrigan@
marketplace,” says Paine. Adoption Silent Auction. camosun.bc.ca
It’s unlikely students transfer- “I thought there would be a large to socialize, there are music and
ring to UVic would be swept away learning curve, basing my ideas on fun nights at Felicita’s. If you are
by the massive class sizes of first- the assumption that the quality of in the mood for academia, there
year university courses, instead teaching at Camosun is not as good, is an array of thought-provoking
finding smaller classes with more but it turns out that Camosun has lectures to attend—we get some
focused material. fine teachers, as well as learning pretty famous speakers coming to
“Once you start getting into environments,” says Dylan. “My UVic, like David Suzuki.”
third-year courses, the range of grades are relatively the same, and UVic offers services for any
study is more in-depth and less in third and fourth year classes, student who may find the transi-
broad,” explains Willihnganz. the class sizes are small enough tion to UVic difficult. Susan Corner,
She also says students can have to interact in discussion without manager of Student Transition
an easier time starting a new social feeling daunted.” Services at UVic, organizes orien-
network at UVic, bonding with a But Dylan feels it’s realistic to tations placing a lot of focus on
group of students working towards anticipate increasingly difficult the Camosun students that make
the same goal. courses at UVic. “Classes might up a large portion of transferring
“You’re with a distinct group be a bit harder, but it should be ex- students.
and you’re taking other similar pected in third and fourth year.” “We try and make it easy; the
courses,” says Willihnganz, “so He advises new UVic students idea behind orientation is we’ll
your opportunities of getting to to get accustomed to its geography. provide an introduction to the
know people are greater than if “For anyone transferring, I would resources and services that are
you’re just a general student.” suggest walking around the campus here, so you’re not going to have
Koltre Dylan, who recently and learning where the computer to hunt for them,” says Corner. “I’ll
transferred to UVic from Camosun, labs are located, and getting ac- give you an analogy that if you’ve
was pleasantly surprised by the customed to the USource program been at Camosun College, it’s like
difference in educational quality students are forced to use.” you’ve already moved out of your
between the two institutions. Angela Joyce is another stu- parents’ house and been on your
dent who transferred to UVic from own. And when you come to UVic,
Camosun a few years ago. She says it’s a bit like going to a different
new students should make the most town or city.”
of UVic’s social settings. For more info on UVic’s student
“Get involved and join things,” transition services, visit transition.
says Joyce. “If you are in the mood uvic.ca
If someone around you became seriously ill or
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TRAINING WWW.bcfirstaid.com
 Life
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com 7

Guerilla gardeners reclaim the city

alan Piffer Graham was introduced to make your surroundings greener,
StAff Writer guerilla gardening through a book including planting seeds in sidewalk
In Canada’s urban centres many given to her as a gift, and was in- cracks.
people feel a profound disconnect trigued by reading about making While a lot of this activity is
between themselves and nature. “seed balls”—little balls of clay, technically illegal, Graham explains
And much of what nature is around mixed with seeds and compost, with the authorities would be unlikely
us is a little sterile and artificial. the ability to self-germinate when to crack down on such behaviour,
But there’s a movement afoot placed in soil. citing the example of the efforts of
aiming to change all that. Sheena two Fernwood ladies utilizing a city
Graham, a local “guerilla gardener,” lawn for gardening.
is trying to promote the philosophy “That green space there is tech-
of reclaiming our green spaces. “there are so many nically city property; the city knows
“There’s two takes on it; one’s they’re doing it, they don’t really
political—making a statement to green spaces out there have permission, but the city’s let-
your community, and to the govern- that are just barren, ting them getting away with it.”
ment, on utilizing green spaces,” But there is the potential for
says Graham. “There are so many
and the city or trouble; usually this would involve
green spaces out there that are just community’s doing trespassing rather than the actual
barren, and the city or community’s
doing nothing with them.”
nothing with them.” act“Say of clandestine gardening.
you go onto a vacant house
As is implied by their name, sheena graham property, or there’s lots of buildings
Guerilla Gardeners get out there and gueriLLA gArdeNer that are vacant, and you started gar- Radical gardeners enjoy planting things in the strangest of places.
plant, regardless of the legalities. dening on that land, they probably
“It’s not about getting permis- won’t do anything,” says Graham. While Victoria’s guerilla gar- connecting society with nature, is
sion; you just do it,” explains Gra- “It’s just going to be a waste of tax- dening scene isn’t as established as the way of the future.
ham. “So you go out, day or night, “I was given a book by a friend payer money. It really depends on those of larger centres like Vancou- “I feel like society’s becoming
it depends on the people. Some called the Guerilla Art Kit. The where you live, too.” ver, Victoria is an ideal candidate for more balanced, in the way of, yes,
people like the day because they whole idea of making seed balls was Graham feels guerilla garden- the movement. there’s technology, but we don’t
like to interact with the community. in there, which is part of guerilla ing is a vital form of community “Here, people have heard about have to rely on it, and we can rely on
Some people like it at night; they gardening,” says Graham. “It’s activism. it, but I don’t think anybody’s real- ourselves and be more self-sustain-
just do it for themselves. But you everything I love—political, artistic, “More people are putting a foot ly taking action,” says Graham. able,” says Graham. “So guerilla
can leave signs saying what it is.” gardening. So I just started that, put down to their city and their com- “Victoria’s the perfect area to do gardening is kind of being more self-
Graham says the other aim up flyers to get more people inter- munity, saying, ‘Why aren’t we it, because of its green space—it’s sustainable. It’s taking your health
of guerilla gardening is artistic ested, and it’s slowly building.” utilizing this space? There’s people just a good environment to do it in. and food into your own hands and
expression. Graham says Guerilla Garden- that are hungry; why not make There’s a lot of people who don’t going out and doing something
“It’s making a statement, but in ing required a lot of research on vegetable gardens?’ And it gets it have a lot of money to buy vege- about it. I think it’s going to be a
an artistic way,” says Graham. “So her part, learning about the proper out there,” says Graham. “So even tables and fruits that you need to big thing.”
just going up and putting planters plants to use, and to avoid planting if somebody were arrested, it would be healthy.” For more info, go to fukuoka-
up on poles, and leaving shoes with invasive species. She also explains kind of be good. More people would According to Graham, this, farming.info/index.html or www.
flowers around.” there are many ways in which to know about it.” along with other movements re- seedballs.com

Entering the uncharted territory of digital law

alex hamlyn
the eyeOPeNer (ryerSON uNiVerSity)
TORONTO (CUP)—Facebook
offers its users a sense of confi-
dentiality and privacy. Personal
messages, private chats, and em-
barrassing photos are meant to
be just between the user and their
friends.
But everything John Leduc
considered private will soon be
public.
Leduc is involved in a lawsuit
over a car accident, and the defend-
ant’s lawyers claimed his Facebook
page should be included as evidence.
The judge on the case agreed, order-
ing Leduc to submit the contents of
his page for trial.
This groundbreaking ruling
is an example of the developing
culture of digital law and privacy
that first erupted on the Ryerson
University campus last spring, sur-
rounding the case of Chris Avenir.
Avenir, then a first-year en-
gineering student, was accused
of cheating for taking part in a
Facebook study group that offered
solutions and help on chemical
engineering assignments.
Though one of his professors
originally called for his expulsion,
the ensuing media maelstrom and
student outcry led Ryerson to re-
think its position, and Avenir was
allowed to stay at the school.
Cases like these, and others
constantly peppering the news, will
only increase as people’s lives move
further online and the disconnect
between law and society grows.
“We’re facing a generation
gap like we haven’t seen since the
1550s,” says Mark Federman, a
researcher at the Ontario Institute
for Studies in Education.
Federman says the last time a
similar change occurred was the so- “Society is in a state of confu- “We’re still breaking ground,”
cietal upheaval of the Renaissance, sion,” he says, pointing to what says Mickey Cirak, Ryerson’s stu-
when great scientific discoveries many students post on Facebook dent conduct officer. Cirak took
shared the world stage with the as a perfect example. “Some of on the position just prior to the
likes of the Inquisition and witch the people in the fogey generation 2008 school year and Policy 61’s
hunts. would say, ‘Be careful. Your em- inception.
He adds everyone needs to be ployer is going to see this.’“ He says that the policy is up
extra cautious while in the midst It has been nearly a full school for review in 2011, unless the vice-
of such social change. year since Ryerson established provost students wishes to do so
Federman believes our digital Policy 61. before then.
culture increasingly leads us to Policy 61 is Ryerson’s non-aca- Cirak also doesn’t see the Leduc
conduct our private lives in plain demic student code of conduct, the court case as having an immediate
public view on the Internet. result of the fallout from the Avenir impact on school policy. “Whatever
In terms of the ramifications case, along with the university’s is in the courts is different [than
of the Leduc court case, Federman desire to create a more modern university policy.]”
doesn’t see it as precedent setting. guideline for student behaviour While Policy 61 is an example
As courts often ask for docu- online and outside of school. of the gradual adaptation of post-
ments and evidence of a person’s The code prohibits students secondary institutional law to the
lifestyle in a lawsuit, asking for from distributing “malicious” trends of digital culture, society is
someone’s Facebook information or untrue materials about other still learning to adapt to changing
isn’t extraordinary. students and faculty, from being technology.
But how people behave in per- “drunk and disorderly in public,” “We’ve now outed what used to
son and on the Internet is very or hazing other students, among be private,” says Federman, “and
different. other things. are surprised by our actions.”

Nexus presents: Discover Student Life

May 8 and July 8 Special magazine issues

Come and grab our special spring and summer edition

magazines, in Nexus boxes on May 8 and July 8.
Our regular newspaper issues will return on September 9.
250.370.3591
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com
www.nexusnewspaper.com
Richmond House 201, Lansdowne
 LIFE April 8, 2009

How to survive living with roommates

Alissa Laurin
Contributing Writer
High costs of living combined
with the difficulty of finding ac-
commodation in Victoria can leave
many Camosun students with no
choice but to live with roommates.
Needless to say, it doesn’t always
go smoothly.
“I wish I could afford to live on
my own,” says Shelly Macquesta, a
general studies student at Camosun.
“My roomies are so loud and I find
myself having to leave the house
whenever I need to study.”
These living situations may not
be ideal, but there are ways to make
this collaboration more of a blessing
than a curse.
According to Chris Balmer, a
counselor at Camosun’s Lansdowne
campus, living with roommates can
be a great opportunity rather than
an unfortunate circumstance.
“I lived with 26 roommates over
10 years, and have had nothing
but positive experiences,” says
Balmer.
If students follow a few simple
procedures, successful living situa-
tions and friendships can be created,
he says.
“Firstly, it’s important to be hon-
est and upfront about your lifestyles
by asking questions [of prospective
roommates],” says Balmer. “You
can actually get a pretty good match
if you ask questions that are import-
ant ahead of time.”
Balmer suggests guidelines
should be established amongst
roommates. Such guidelines in-
clude whether grocery bills are
divided or if sections of the fridge
are separated for each roommate
to store their own staples.
“You have to be
assertive, to a degree,
to get what you need.”
Chris Balmer
Camosun College
“It’s horrible to come home
and notice that the cereal you were
expecting to eat after school is
nowhere to be found,” says Ash-
ley Arscott, a former Camosun
student. “We now have separate
shelves where we each keep our
own food.”
According to Balmer, address-
ing problems early and openly,
asking for what’s needed, and prac-
ticing open communication are
all vital when living with others. If
open communication is avoided,
then it’s easy to get walked over
and become upset because issues
aren’t addressed. Through asking
for what’s needed, matters can be
targeted and solved.
“You have to be assertive, to a
degree, to get what you need,” says
Balmer. “If it’s really noisy in the
house, ask for some quiet.”
Weekly house meetings and
creating charts to organize chores
and procedures around the house
are two more ways to create easier
living conditions.
“We had weekly meetings and
used to have a chart of chores,”
says Balmer. “There were four of
us [roommates] so we had four
columns, each listed with different
chores. To give variety, we would
rotate positions every two weeks
so that everyone had a chance to
do each chore.”
Out of necessity, many students
end up living with roommates. If
honesty, open communication,
guidelines, meetings, charts, and
addressing concerns early on
are all taken into consideration,
roommates may find happier living Photo: Courtney Clarke
conditions. Sharing a fridge is one of the many challenges of living with roommates.

The art of Kabuki Kab driving U of Winnipeg bans

Maelina de Grasse
Contributing Writer
With students struggling to find
bottled water on
summer jobs, and the economy
making standard serving positions
harder and harder to come by, it
campus
might be time to start looking at the Loredana Pero administration each year.
other jobs Victoria has to offer. And The Concordian (Concordia Getting the attention of admin-
as one of the most popular tourist University) istration at Concordia hasn’t been
attraction cities in the province, Ka- MONTREAL (CUP)—The the problem, but “a lack of com-
buki Kabs is one of those options. University of Winnipeg (UoW) re- munication” has been, says Laura
Ben Dunsmuir, a second-year cently became the first university in Beach, Tap Thirst’s co-founder.
Camosun Mechanical Engineer- Canada to ban plastic water bottles On-campus associations such
ing student, worked as a Kabuki on campus. as Sustainable Concordia have
Kab bicycle driver downtown last The ban at UoW came after already adopted a “no bottle” policy.
summer to save money for tuition almost 75 percent of students voted Beach calls this a sign of hope. “I am
the following year. According to level up,” says Dunsmuir. “You Dunsmuir says most of his in favour of it. optimistic that things will happen
Dunsmuir, it was “an incredible need to be big and friendly and full riders are girls with high heels The ban is not being implement- and the ball will keep rolling.”
experience. Really challenging, but of energy all the time.” who want a break from walking ed just yet, because the university
totally worth it.” But even with the difficult side and inebriated individuals who doesn’t have enough water foun-
of the job, Dunsmuir says most live in the area, wanting a faster tains installed on campus to serve
of the time it just doesn’t feel like and safer way home at the end of the entire student population. “They have a right to
Most [Kabuki Kab] work. “You’re just out having a a long night. Once implemented, it will in-
be angry, because they
good time.” Dunsmuir laughs when re- clude every container from small,
riders are girls with And like any job with customer calling the common experiences portable water bottles to bigger are just not informed.”
high heels who want a service, it comes with many stories. drivers face, like drunken bar- gallon water containers.
Vinay Iyer
Dunsmuir recounts a time his cab hoppers falling out of the cart. Vinay Iyer, University of Win-
break from walking broke down while trying to go up a “They weren’t falling off, though; nipeg Students’ Association pres- University of Winnipeg
Students’ Association
and inebriated hill. But the tourists were friendly they were climbing on me,” says ident, says water bottles should be
and supportive, and weren’t both- Dunsmuir. “In the middle of out of sight by January 2010.
individuals who live in ered by the cart’s problems. One of an intersection . . . on Douglas Though he considers the ban a
the area, wanting a the riders even helped flip over the Street!” success, some students are a little One obstacle anti-water bot-
cart to take a look at it. As far as moneymaking goes, upset about this new rule. tle advocates have to overcome,
faster and safer way “He was singing me songs of Dunsmuir explains it’s a difficult “They have a right to be angry, she says, is how companies make
home at the end of a inspiration,” laughs Dunsmuir. thing to try to work out hourly. because they are just not informed,” people think tap water is safer for
“He’s like, ‘You can do it!’” Kabuki drivers have to pay for the says Iyer. them. While city water is tested
long night. While daytime shifts bring rental of the cabs, and depending Iyer says tap water is safer than daily, companies don’t test their
many tourists and cruise ships, on the time of year and the day, the bottled water because it doesn’t water very often.
Dunsmuir says nightshifts are price varies. boast the same toxic elements The Students’ Society of McGill
So what’s so hard about driving when Kabuki drivers interact a little “There’ll be times when you pay found in the plastic used for water University has already taken a step
around all day in the hot summer more with locals. 200 bucks [for your cab], and you bottles—something he said many in banning water bottles in their
air, talking to interesting people? “Generally, it’s just getting go out there and make 200 bucks students aren’t aware of. building.
Dunsmuir says it’s physically chal- people from one pub to the next,” in a 10-hour shift,” says Dunsmuir. Tap Thirst, a Montreal-based “McGill is committed to sus-
lenging above anything else. The explains Dunsmuir. “And other times you’ll get 100 project that lobbies against selling tainable operations,” says Dennis
bike carts are heavy even when Kabuki charges approximately dollars in 20 minutes.” and consuming bottled water, is Fortune, McGill’s Sustainability
empty; add a couple of tourists a dollar a minute, so the fare isn’t Dunsmuir reveals there’s more working with McGill and Concordia Director. “We believe we should
and their suitcases to the equation actually cheaper than regular cabs, of an art to Kabuki Kab driving in hopes of eliminating bottled water be encouraging tap water.”
and going up a hill suddenly isn’t but carts are more convenient for than one might initially expect. on campuses at both universities. Opponents of bottled water
so leisurely. And it’s not just the trips within the downtown area, “It’s all about the attitude,” he According to a recent audit of point to its high price and argue
physical side of it that presents a and more readily available when says. “The job is hard to be good the university’s waste, Concordia that since water is a free resource,
challenge. taxi cabs are tied up on busy Sat- at, but if you are good, you make sees 1.2 million bottles of water go students shouldn’t need to pur-
“It’s hard to keep your energy urday nights. a lot of money.” through the hands of students and chase it.
 SPORTS
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com 

Can the skateboarding ban, man!

Allie Bowman In an attempt to control this walkers more space and warning.
Contributing Writer “problem,” the City of Victoria Sharing the bike lane, or creat-
Stereotypes run rampant in has a bylaw prohibiting riders ing a separate skate lane, would
our society and its attitudes to- from skating throughout the busy provide the same guidelines for
ward skateboarders are glaring downtown core. skateboarders, keeping the public
examples of this scrutiny. Just This restriction applies to two at ease and allowing skaters rights
having a skateboard strapped to sections. The “red zone” stretches to the road.
your backpack immediately paints from Herald Street to Superior, and Other complaints resulting
you as a social deviant who breaks from Wharf Street to Vancouver. in the bylaw’s implementation
laws, defaces property, and knocks The “blue zone” extends further include vandalism and nuisance—
over old ladies’ canes when skating to Bay and Cook. groups of skaters scratching and
by them. If a skater is caught on their denting rails, ledges, and other
board anywhere within this skate- objects while doing tricks.
ban no-man’s-land, they’re hit Skateparks are specifically
with a $60 fine. If it’s a red zone designed for these sessions, but
Injuries involving cars, violation, the severity of the pun- the nearest one is across the bridge
ishment increases, including in Vic West—an area requiring the
bicycles and seizure of their board plus a $25 risk of infiltrating the “red zone.” A
pedestrians occur impound fee. These restrictions smaller park built closer to down-
are inconvenient and unreason- town would provide a legitimate
more frequently, yet no able, preventing skateboarders area for skaters to practice tricks,
bylaws ban them. from easily and freely navigating eliminating the need to find ran-
through the city. dom structures and use inner-city
Some may argue the streets riding strictly for transportation
are crowded with pedestrians purposes.
and the unpredictable nature of Instead of trying to accommo-
Right . . . It couldn’t be that skateboarders increases the risk of date everyone and find comprom-
skaterboarders just can’t afford to collision. Although accidents are ise, the bylaw shows intolerance
drive a car. Or maybe they want to possible, it’s absurd to ban skating and enforces control. The City of
lessen their carbon footprint, get completely. Injuries involving cars, Victoria has effectively managed
exercise, have fun, or just make it bicycles, and pedestrians occur to not only alienate skateboarders,
to work on time. But, no, clearly more frequently, yet no bylaws but also piss them off.
the so-called “skate rats” infest the ban them. I’m just waiting for the next
Photo: Courtney Clarke streets, threatening the safety of This is because cars and bikes brilliant bylaw—giant-sized “skate
Skateboarding is prohibited in Victoria’s downtown core. innocent civilians everywhere. have designated lanes, giving rat” traps.

Baseball preseason should be scrapped

Matt Di Marco
The Concordian (Concordia
University)
MONTREAL (CUP)—Practice
makes perfect. Stretch out those
muscles, we don’t want you to
pull a hammy. No hustle, no love.
Keep your eye on the ball. Stick the
needle in your butt because con-
gress hates talking about your ass.
Pretend you don’t speak English.
Misremember.
These are all solid pieces of ad-
vice that any baseball little leaguer
will hear when working his way up
to the Major Leagues.
Not all will take the road paved
with hormones, steroids, and 15-
year-old country singers, but those
lucky few that make their way up to
the upper echelons of pro ball will
know there’s no downtime.
When you’re not playing base-
ball, you’re practicing baseball.
When you’re not practicing base-
ball, you’re thinking about base-
ball. And if you’re Pete Rose, when
you’re not thinking about baseball,
you’re betting on baseball. It con-
sumes your life.
There’s the regular season, the
postseason, the winter leagues,
and every now and then there’s the
World Baseball Classic, but the most
worthless and damaging of them all
is the preseason; a useless showcase
of long-shots, overachievers, and
inflated rosters that’s more of an
exercise for the infirmary than the
actual players.
The regular season is painfully
long. The players have to endure a
marathon campaign of 162 games
to finally decide who advances to
the playoffs.
Let’s face reality. No one cares
what happens in the first 50 or 60
games.
No one is chasing any rec-
ords, and as Colorado proved in
2007, it doesn’t matter how many
games you’re down coming into
September.
Why on earth would players
want to endure another 30 pointless
games before they can even count
towards your team’s standings? The
Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues are
causing way more harm than good,
and they offer absolutely no indica-
tion of who will be contenders.
Let’s examine the evidence. Of
the past six World Series winners,
only one has posted a preseason rec-
ord of over 500. That team was the
2004 Red Sox who went a decent
17–11–1 in spring training fun.
For the record, it took a monu-
mental comeback to actually make
the final round, as they were down
three games to none to the Yankees
in the ALCS.
Why on earth would
players want to endure
another 30 pointless
games before they can
even count towards
your team’s standings?
So what do we have spring
training for? Well, it’s a great way
to injure your players a lot earlier in
the season so they can come back
rested and repaired in time for the
dog days of August.
That sounds ridiculous, but, in
essence, it’s what’s happening.
Manny Ramirez, A-Rod, Dus-
tin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Chad
Billingsley, and Joe Mauer are all
hurting. That’s just the tip of the
iceberg that dips all the way down
to caveman Randy Johnson who is
having biceps problems, probably
stemming from stamping his cards
too hard at the bingo hall (he’s way
too old).
Why not just take your expand-
ed roster, make each player run two
miles, and then push them down a
flight of stairs. It would yield the
same result.
Spring League is to baseball
what showers and dignity are to
Kevin Federline, what a hairstyl-
ist is to Donald Trump, what tal-
ent is to Simple Plan—clearly not
important.

Thanks to Chris Pal for SUMMER

all his years volunteering JOBS
with Nexus and his work COLLEGE PRO PAINTERS
on the Nexus Publishing is presently looking for responsible / hard-
working University or College
Society board of directors. students for:
Full-Time Painting Positions
We’ll miss you, buddy. May - August
No experience required,
we will train you to paint.
250.370.3591
Positions available in your area.
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com
www.nexusnewspaper.com If interested call 1-888-277-9787
Richmond House 201, Lansdowne or apply online at www.collegepro.com
10 April 8, 2009
riding
shotgun with
the Victoria
police
breNdAN kergiN
StAff Writer
i arrive at the cop shop at mid-
night on a Friday night.
For the average college or university student, this
would be a low point and the end of the evening’s
celebrations, but for me it’s the start of a night
in a police van.
Which is a good thing. For me. This time.
I’m partaking in the Victoria Police Depart-
ment’s ride along program that allows media or
others an opportunity to view the city from the
other side of the thin blue line.
My guides for the evening are Constable Al-
vin Deo and Constable Melanie Hederson. Deo
has been with the force a few years now, while
Henderson is finishing up training with some
on-the-job work.
I’m here because I’m interested in some of the
late night problems the police have to deal with,
and how students factor into those problems. But
Other weapons can be found in the van’s arsenal. Starting with the baton,
the next up would be good ol’ pepper spray. After that comes the
beanbag gun, then the taser, and last is the lethal sidearm.
I don’t get all of the answers I’m looking for.
Our first duty of the night is a trip up to Royal
Jubilee Hospital to visit a middle-aged man. He’s
been beaten severely; it looks like a lot of shots
to the face. Both eyes are swollen shut, painful
to open, but he’s unwilling to discuss what hap-
pened to him. Apparently he’d be considered a
snitch if he talks and would rather protect those
who beat him.
After taking a look at the injuries and record-
ing them via digital camera for future reference,
we move on, heading into the downtown core
as the first revellers start leaving the clubs and
pubs. Along the way we pass by a couple of
groups of students wandering and slow down
to check on them.
As we pass the arena a call comes in about
a knife fight near the Best Western Downtown.
feAtu
-lite
Sounds interesting, but with 20-odd cops work-
ing the city tonight, we pass by four other cars
with their lights on at the scene and continue
on.
We head up towards the 900 block of Pandora
where a lot of drug trafficking takes place. With
Centennial Square and Cormorant St. getting
some clean up, the dealers and addicts have
moved uptown towards the McDonalds and
homeless shelter.
“A lot of people on the street don’t intend to
be on the street,” sayd Deo. “We just deal with
the criminal aspect.”
Deo says that while police would like to see
the homeless issue dealt with, there isn’t a lot to
do from a professional perspective. It’s a social
issue that needs a wide spectrum solution.
Along the way we stop and check on a couple
of dudes taking a breather on a street corner.
They’re respectful, though a little tipsy. Deo has
a quick chat with them and after they stand up
we roll away.
Apparently it’s really hit and miss with which
people will be standoffish, says Deo, adding
about half will be nice.
We start heading down Government St., past
Chinatown and towards the core again. Ahead
of us a vehicle doesn’t have its lights on, so we
follow. Deo suggests this might be a sign the
driver is intoxicated, one of a variety of signs
police watch for in drivers. The car turns its lights
on soon and, while we follow it into Esquimalt,
it’s let go without being pulled over.
We soon find ourselves following another
vehicle, this time an SUV. Deo looks it up on the
fancy little in-van computer he has and looks at
the driver’s stats. The vehicle’s driver is listed as
Ature
ork-
cars
a Commissioner, and while this bodes well for
the driver inside, we do keep tabs for a couple
inue blocks.
Our route loops back into the city, and we
dora soon pass Upstairs Cabaret and Darcy’s. Just
With past we see a young male in the street. He isn’t
ting crossing the street, he’s waving us down.
have We pull up beside the UVic student
and and ask how his evening is.
He asks if we have a “rubber issue.” This isn’t
nd to a good sign. After Henderson notices he’s peed
with himself, it’s decided this solo night flyer is due
o see
for a date in the drunk tank.
“No, I’m fine,” says the UVic student, and
ot to
ocial
promptly falls down.
After carefully loading him into the back of
uple
the van and smacking his head into the door
frame by accident, we head back up to police
ner. headquarters.
Underneath all the offices is a small parking
lot with a sobering up station and a couple of
holding cells.
n, It’s here where there’s a small group of police
spending the night, processing what we’ve col-
lected. After dropping all firearms at the door, we
head inside for a quick tour. Bland and white, it
has less character than the hospital, but it gets
the job done. A small snack station off to one
side does not carry donuts, but there are some
chocolates and popcorn.
A pair of plainclothes cops come in, looking
has like a scene out of an old movie, with badges
d up around necks, tucked-in t-shirts, and driving
an obvious ghost car. They’ve brought a friend
hich with them who looks like he got punched in the
ding face one too many times for his own good. He’s
processed after our guy, and then a third guy
past appears; bigger, not as cut up, but obviously
head distressed over the situation he’s gotten himself
o we into. It can’t be confirmed, but it looked as though
the he was tearing up a bit before we left.
igns As we head back out, Deo’s taser comes into
ghts view. To carry the controversial device, Deo had
malt, to experience its effects on himself. Since then
he’s been glad to have it, but has rarely had to
ther pull it out. Most people, even semi-lucid, ap-
n the preciate its power.
ks at Other weapons can be found in the van’s
ed as arsenal. Starting with the baton, the next up
would be good ol’ pepper spray. After that comes
the beanbag gun, then the taser, and last is the
lethal sidearm.
After a few more loops around town, we
spot another questionable driver—another
SUV. This time we pull him over at the late night
Wendy’s.
“No, i’m fine,” says
the uVic student,
and promptly falls
down.
After a short conversation, the middle-aged
man steps out of his vehicle. A little belligerent,
he complies, but asks what happens if he refuses
to blow into the breathalyzer. Apparently it’s
a criminal charge and a ticket. After a formal
request by Henderson, he blows into the little
device and comes out clean.
Back in the city things are starting to cool
down. It’s a cold night with a cool wind coming
off the water and clearing out the streets. Only
a few can muster the will to fight, and we miss
out on every one.
But we do nab a foreign UVic student urinat-
ing on a wall. Despite arguing against it as best
he can, he admits the fine is better than what he
would probably get in his country.
While trying to be as friendly as possible, he
attempts to worm his way out, but no go. But it’s
a municipal fine akin to littering, not a criminal
charge, and he hops into a cab before we pull
away from the curb.
With that, my night is done, but the con-
stables still have a few hours left before they’re
free. After lighting up the red and blue once more,
they go back to looping the downtown core.
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com 11
PhOtOS: breNdAN kergiN
Student issues
Oftentimes students and police share different views on late night prob-
lems. Victoria Police Constable Alvin deo pitched in about some of these
issues while circling the wandering drunkards downtown.
there’s been debate in Victoria about the liquor laws and when to end
service. A provincial law states no more booze after 2 am, but there’s a rule
allowing municipalities to raise this to 4 am if they wish, and many com-
munities have change their time limits, including the northern metropolis
of Prince george and the little town by the sea, Vancouver.
deo doesn’t see an advantage to changing the closing time, suggesting
the majority of people will simply stay until they’re kicked out of whichever
club they’re in.
Camosun students, for the most part, disagree, pointing to europe as an
example of a more progressive party system.
“i think it’s stupid, but i’m usually tired by 2 am, so it’s not a huge issue
for me,” says teaching Program student Christan Macatee.
“i’d like it to be open 24 hours, but i can’t see them doing it,” suggests
business transfer student Shaun Miller.
but it’s not unanimous across campus.
“that’s legitimate. Most people are so trashed when they get to the club,
and i kinda think later would be more problems,” says Nancy MacWhirter,
a university transfer student.
One issue police and students agree on is post-party transportation. it’s
been a thorn in the nightlife scene for awhile now, and while a recent shuttle
experiment with uVic is being starting up by a local chauffeur company,
Camosun students won’t be seeing much direct assistance.
“i can’t believe the buses are so bad in Victoria. i had to cab home for $20
if i didn’t want to sleep over and catch the first bus home at 8:30 am,”
says MacWhirter, who regularly experienced the issue working late nights
at a local nightclub.
“Victoria’s really small. installing a Skytrain in Victoria sounds preposter-
ous. i don’t think we have the room for it,” says university transfer student
gabriel Letourneau. “it would be nice if the busses ran past midnight. it’d
be good if the busses ran a half hour past when the clubs close.”
All students do agree that late night in Victoria is a fairly safe situation.
With plenty of cops visible, an anaemic gang situation, a general lack
of weapons, stoner culture, and ominous yet generally quiet homeless
situation, there isn’t much to worry about.
“i find there’s a lot of homeless people around, but i don’t find that a
problem for safety,” says Macatee.
“At night if i sober i feel very safe, but if i’m drunk i don’t always have my
wits about me,” says Letourneau.
“there were certain times you didn’t walk home. i find the homeless were
the biggest issue,” says MacWhirter.
All and all, the police seem to be doing a pretty good job of keeping stu-
dents from putting their eyes out, though some of the laws and bylaws do
seem constricting to a section of society looking for fewer restrictions.
MacWhirter makes one final point.
“Cops are like boyfriends, when they’re around you don’t really want them
there, but they’re missing right when you need them.”
12 ARTS April 8, 2009

Victoria buskers take to the streets

Keltie Larter
Contributing Writer
Ever heard the term “singing for
your supper”? Well, street perform-
ers have, and many of them manage
to do it right here in Victoria.
“You can bring together people from all over the
planet and all different walks of life . . .”
Alex Elixir
Local busker
From street acrobats on the
causeway to store owners solicit-
ing musicians to play in front of
their shops, street performing (also
known as busking) is great way to
make money while meeting a lot of
interesting people.
Here are three examples of
buskers who put themselves out
there, showcasing their artistic
talents to the crowds roaming Vic-
toria’s streets.

The Fiddleborne Trio

Osborne brothers Aidan, 14, Rowan, 11, and Eamonn, 8, all started playing music
at a very young age and have busked on Government Street for the last three
summers. While their father, Mike, stands guard, the Fiddleborne Trio ply their
trade, earning a lot more than just oohs and ahhs from passersby.
Born and raised in Victoria, the brothers came up with the idea of busking to help
pay for the music camps they attend each year. This year, the boys will travel to
the Yukon Music Camp in Whitehorse, and while their parents will pay for trans-
portation the boys can pay for the rest themselves.
Their father believes busking is a good way for the boys to learn a sense of respon-
sibility. “They understand the concept of money now,” says Osborne. “Everything
has a price, and you have to work for what you want.”

Photo: Keltie Larter

Alex Elixir
Alex Elixir has been working as a performance juggler since 1982. He has per-
formed at Expo 86 and on Canadian military tours. On warm days, he can be
found performing on the Inner Harbour causeway downtown.
But Elixir doesn’t just juggle with fire and play with knives. He spends as much
time and energy drawing an audience as he does performing for them, and has
a repertoire of jokes to keep them there throughout his act.
Because he performs on the tourist-heavy causeway, Elixir’s busking license is
much more costly than those who play elsewhere in the city, and because his
shows involve flames and crowd participation he also has to pay for $3 million
worth of liability insurance.
Still, Elixir loves what he does. “There’s something magical about street perform-
ing,” says Elixir. “You can bring together people from all over the planet and all
different walks of life and make them laugh.”

Photo: Keltie Larter

Sarah Glover and Jade Varelle

Since the beginning of last summer, junior high school students Sarah Glover and
Jade Varelle have been busking at the top of the stairs leading to the causeway.
Glover plays the trombone, cello, and piano, and Varelle plays the clarinet and
violin. Both girls attend Central Middle School and play in the school band.
The girls agree busking is a great way to earn money. “My dad was like, ‘It’d be a
good way to make money,’ so we gave it a try and it worked,” says Varelle. “We
made $20 in half an hour on our first day.”
The girls use the money to buy new strings and help pay for music lessons, camps,
and band trips.
Although they say music will always play an important role in their lives, the
girls fear the “cute factor” will eventually wear off and they won’t make as much
money busking when they are older.
Glover hopes to study law or psychology when she graduates and Varelle would
like to become an architect “or maybe just a hippie!”

Photo: Keltie Larter

 ARTS
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com 13

Spoken beats on Victoria’s streets

Zan Comerford
Contributing Writer
The hip-hop revolution is mak-
ing its evolution, from the streets
of Brooklyn and the alleyways of
Toronto, to the anarchist bookstores
and street corners of . . . Victoria?
Fo’ sho.
DIY mixing, incredible beat-
boxing, and intelligent, subversive
hip-hop are breaking through the
barriers of Victoria’s indie-domin-
ated music scene. You just have to
expand your horizons to find it.
“It takes an immense
amount of talent to
pull off the art form of
beatboxing.”
Elizabeth Heibert
Camosun student
Victoria’s hip-hop scene gets
richer the deeper you look. But
the most unique and intelligent
rhymes can’t be found on stage
at Element or behind a $15 cover
charge at Sugar.
“My street corner is my stage,
my voice my microphone,” says
Alex, a street corner beatboxer who
has been a part of the local hip-hop
community since 2004 after moving
here from Calgary.
Beatboxing, or producing the
sounds of drumbeats and rhythm
with one’s mouth, provides these
renegade performers with ultimate
freedom.
“It’s amazing; I’m my vocal-
ist, my DJ, and my drummer,”
says Nelly Scott of Sweet Georgia
Brown’s Liars Choir, a local beat-
boxing/spoken word group. “It’s so
liberating! Beatboxing allows you
to be completely self-sufficient.”
Scott learned how to beatbox
last year as a way to pass time dur-
ing her workday as a canvasser for
various non-profit organizations.
Liberation doesn’t mean ease,
however, as many of the city’s best
beatboxers practice almost con-
stantly to perfect their craft.
Photo: Courtney Clarke
“It takes an immense amount Beatboxers mix rhythm and rhymes to create a one-person rap.
of talent to pull off the art form of
beatboxing. I, for one, can’t do it,” restricted and competitive. Fewer to match each others’ rhymes and having anything, all they had was
says Elizabeth Heibert, a Visual venues means less space, and the beats and grow a community to their voices,” says one artist who
Arts student at Camosun College. variety of nightlife gets homogen- call their own. One group meets did not want his name used.
Heibert first witnessed Victoria’s ized along the way. weekly at an outdoor location in Want to catch a glimpse of some
beatboxing talent at a downtown It makes sense that underground Fernwood. of the best in the west? Keep your
open mic show. (and often underage) hip-hop art- “Meeting on the street is intrin- ear to the street. Hip-hop in Victoria
It’s well known by locals that ists are taking to street corners, sic to what hip-hop is, where its isn’t dead, it’s just buried deep
Victoria’s music scene is heavily bookstores, and even laundromats roots are. It came from people not underground.

Floating heads
and more
The X Files: I Want to
Believe
Starring: David Duchovny,
Gillian Anderson, Billy
Connolly
Directed by: Chris Carter
Runtime: 104 minutes
Remember Dana Scully and
Fox Mulder? Fighting crime and
UFOs fearlessly throughout the
’90s? Well, 10 years later, they’re
back—except they’re older, wimp-
ier, and way more emotional.
For the first half of the movie,
Mulder looks like he hasn’t bathed
since the end of the show’s last
season, and Scully, once a daring
and brilliant detective, is now an
emotional surgeon spending the
bulk of her time crying about her
patients.
The movie starts out somewhat
slowly, following the disappear-
ances of several women. Consider-
ing the X-Files TV series was always
about something supernatural or
out of the ordinary, it may leave
viewers curious as to when the real
action is going to start.
An ex-priest claims God is send-
ing him visions of the crimes and
is asked to help with the case. But
things start to get interesting when
it turns out he’s been convicted of
sexually assaulting 37 of his altar
boys. After Scully and Mulder start
fighting about the priest’s integrity,
the movie progresses at a faster
pace—not with action, but with
sheer ickiness.
Suddenly, there’s a two-headed
dog attacking Mulder, and a crazy
Russian guy has a conversation with
a disembodied head in an ice bath.
And if that isn’t enough, the
disembodied head and the crazy
Russian guy turn out to be lovers;
crazy Russian guy thinks he can save
his boyfriend by attaching him to
other bodies. At one point, disem-
bodied head guy is seen sporting the
grey breasts of a woman’s decaying
carcass. Lovely.
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
can land viewers a severe case of the
heebie-jeebies. Once it gets moving,
it’s enthralling in a can’t-look-away-
but-really-want-to sort of way.
And having the original actors
really gained it some credibility. It
may have been strange and some-
what humorous seeing the retired
detectives back in action, but it
would have been a total bomb if it
had been cast with knockoff replace-
ment actors.
For anyone who was an X-Files
fan back in the day, this film is worth
seeing, even if just for the notorious
theme song and the chance to see
Fox, Dana, and even Walter Skinner
back on screen.
Ratings
Complete disaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unfortunate malfunction . . . . . . . .
A solid stand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Freakin’ fabulous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Monsters vs. Aliens
★★★★★
Ed Sum
Contributing Writer
Watch out, Shrek! Dreamworks’
latest offering, Monsters vs. Aliens,
is more than just another franchise,
wonderfully paying tribute to the
B-movies of yesteryear.
Sci-fi connoisseurs will find
plenty of pop culture references to
snicker at. And who wouldn’t love a
fluffy, Godzilla-like creature?
While this film doesn’t com-
pare to Pixar’s movies for depth of
meaning, it follows a new anima-
tion trend. Made from the ground
up with 3-D in mind, the visual
experience is more enjoyable than
grating.
Susan Murphy (Reese Wither-
spoon) is a young girl from Modesto,
California, unaware of her impend-
ing date with destiny. A glowing me-
teorite crashes right on top of her;
the fact she is unharmed gets her
detained by the US government.
In prison, she meets Dr. Cock-
roach (Hugh Laurie), a fish-man
(Will Arnett), and a blob (Seth Ro-
gen). When aliens led by Gallaxhar
(Rainn Wilson) invade the Earth,
it’s up to Susan and the rest of the
monsters to save the planet.
As an action/comedy, every-
thing is here. Young children won’t
necessarily understand some of
the jokes, but will find Monsters
vs. Aliens entertaining when the
slugfest begins.
With its older franchises getting
boring, Dreamworks should retire
Shrek and Madagascar. But, please,
save the penguins!
Sunshine Cleaning
★★★★★
Ed Sum
Contributing Writer
Sunshine Cleaning is an enjoy-
able, quirky comedy-drama where
much of its meaning can be gleaned
from the film’s title.
Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams)
and her sister Norah (Emily Blunt)
are struggling to clean up their
lives. Rose, a former high school
cheerleader, laments her adult life
as a single mother cleaning houses
for a living. Meanwhile, Norah is
chronically unemployed.
Rose learns from a local cop,
Mac (Steve Zahn), that someone
has to clean up bloody crime scenes,
so the sisters partner up to operate
a lucrative business of bio-extrac-
tion/crime-scene cleanup in Albu-
querque, New Mexico.
Sunshine Cleaning feels like it’s
made by women, for women, who
are looking for some happiness in
their life.
The story tends to overlook the
male characters, like their father
Joe (Alan Arkin) or Rose’s son,
Oscar (Jason Spevack). The lack of
subplot development about the boys
is slightly forgivable, however.
Director Christine Jeffs nicely
brings out the understated humour
in Megan Holly’s script, delivering a
simple message—when life hands
you lemons, make lemonade.
That’s what Sunshine Cleaning
does when all the characters, includ-
ing the boys, find resolution, and it’s
inspirational in that regard. And,
no, this film is definitely not a sequel
to Little Miss Sunshine, a darker film
from the same producers.
14 ArtS
Lo-fi rocker Shotgun Jimmie talks
pancakes and aphids
alan Piffer
StAff Writer
A lot of Canadian bands pay
their dues touring in all sorts of
offbeat places across the country,
each with its own strange tales to
tell. Shotgun Jimmie, also known
as Jim Killpatrick, has his share of
crazy gigging stories.
Originally from Ajax, Ontario
(just outside of Toronto), Killpat-
rick found himself playing a very
memorable regular show on the
other side of the country, and north
of the 60th parallel.
“i can’t talk about
myself in the third
person; i just feel like
an asshole.”
Jim killPaTriCk
ShOtguN jiMMie
Killpatrick played at The Pit, a
definite “character” bar in an his-
toric hotel in Dawson City, Yukon,
a place filled with thousands of
working students during the sum-
mer, but only a few crusty locals
during the rest of the year.
“You know those bars where
they have little glasses of beer for
cheaper, and then you see a bunch
of old guys in there and they’ve got
a dozen of those little glasses on
their table? It’s that kind of vibe,”
describes Killpatrick.
The place opened at 10 am and
Noise Addict
Spring tunes to kick the blues
With Victoria’s recent weather
giving no end to winter and no hint
of spring, some may be suffering
from the bad weather blues. To add
to this unfortunate situation, one’s
playlist may be behind the seasons,
stuck on a moody and dark shuffle.
Well, to hell with the wet and the
weary, bright music and bright
weather is what’s needed. In hopes
that the sun makes its debut, here
are three CDs to be released this
spring that will either summon the
sun gods, or tide one over until the
summer.
War Child (myspace.com/war-
childheroes), the charity organ-
ization, that is, has just released
a compilation CD featuring 16
contemporary artists covering clas-
sic songs from 16 music legends.
All profits from the album, titled
Heroes, go to War Child in sup-
porting children affected by the
brutalities of war. While the list of
old and young talent on the album
is too long to mention, the songs
that are covered range from Bob
Dylan’s “Leopard Skin Pill Box
Hat,” covered by Beck, to David
Bowie’s “Heroes,” covered by TV
on the Radio. The album is not
only a phenomenal compilation
some patrons would just sit and
drink for 10 hours straight, says
Killpatrick.
“And then we’d show up and do
four sets a night. So for that first
set, we had to play to this crowd
of local, older folks who had been
drinking all day, so we ‘d ease into
it with covers for the first set, and
for the second set there’d still be a
few stragglers; we’d just get heckled
out of there.”
For Killpatrick, the experience
tested his mettle, showing him if he
could survive that kind of audience
he could survive anything he’d en-
counter on cross-Canada treks.
“I felt like I was paying my dues,”
says Killpatrick. “I’ve picked up a lot
of tricks, like how to communicate
with people who are a little standoff-
ish, or just have a hard time relating
to you because they come from a
totally different place.”
But for someone who had
previously been based in Toronto,
small-town life found its allure for
Killpatrick. After spending time in
Dawson City, he ended up in the lib-
eral-arts college town of Sackville,
New Brunswick, a place he now
calls home, to get away from the
music scene he found tiresome in
the city. And the clouds of aphids.
“The last summer that I spent
in Toronto, for some reason there
was an unusual amount of aphids,”
says Killpatrick. “I was walking
home from work and I had the
flu, and I was sweaty and sick. All
these insects were stuck to my arms,
because they were thick like smoke
in the air—bugs swarmed the whole
downtown. It was crazy. I just felt,
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
that will brighten one’s day, it will
also support those children most
affected by war.
Peter Bjorn and John (myspace.
com/peterbjornandjohn) can be
relied on for those feel-good pieces
of pop gold. Their newest album,
Living Thing, is once again a pop-
fueled adventure and adds lyrical
content that suggests a more de-
veloped thematic style for the band.
They might be dealing with their
fame troubles, but the album has
the band on a slightly darker twist.
The Stockholm, Sweden trio still
provides those electronic beat and
April 8, 2009
this is no way to live.” recipe for blueberry pancakes. it was that pot smoking day [4:20].
So Killpatrick ditched Toronto’s “I can’t talk about myself in We took the first ferry in the mor-
crowds, aphid clouds, and the tire- the third person; I just feel like an ning from Vancouver, so we had
some music schmoozing to settle asshole,” says Killpatrick. “At the the entire day to spend there, and
down on a friend’s 60-acre farm, an time I was really quite into mak- we ran into a lot of people smoking
ideal spot for making a lot of noise. ing pancakes, and I’d actually just pot,” recalls Killpatrick. “It kinda
In short, a musician’s paradise. finished making some and thought, freaked me out. But that was my
“It’s an ideal situation, because ‘You know what? This’ll just have first impression of Victoria, which
it’s in the middle of the acreage, so to be my bio for now.’ And I just left I realize is an inaccurate one.”
we have absolutely no neighbors,” it up there.”
says Killpatrick. “And we can play While some of Shotgun Jim-
music, or we can have parties, or all mie’s YouTube videos show him Shotgun Jimmie
kinds of stuff. But it’s also peace- playing every instrument in his
ful and quiet too, because it’s on songs, when he comes to Victoria (with Attack in
a marsh.” he’ll be backed by headlining band Black)
A quick glance at Shotgun Jim- Attack in Black. While he enjoys
Wednesday, April 22
mie’s Myspace page offers some- the scenic beauty of Vancouver
thing interesting; unlike the usual Island, his first visit was a bit of a Lucky Bar, $15
self-serving dreck comprising most shock for him. www.luckybar.ca
musician bios, his page contains a “The first time I was in Victoria,
By Michael Duncan
14 Tractors
By Gerald Hill
(NeWest Press)
alan Piffer
StAff Writer
14 Tractors beautifully merges
the worlds of poetry and farm trac-
tors. In fact, it could be classified as
faux-blue collar poetry. The back of
this book states its author, Gerald
Hill, has never driven a tractor, so
you get the sense he’s romanticizing
the rural Alberta/Saskatchewan
farm life without ever really having
been a part of it.
The book brings to mind alt-
country, a romanticized, ironic
version of country music for people
in cities.
acoustic-strummed combos though. It took me awhile to warm up bought it for them because of the
Living Things is sure to please the to country, because if you’re from cover. They might flip through it
avid fan, and may even catch the ear a small town like I am, you know briefly and look at the pictures, but
of an innocent bystander. country music is more for beer- they’d never read it.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs (myspace. swilling, redneck shitkickers and But I would, because I was a
com/yeahyeahyeahs) will provide the women who love them. little too artsy for the small-town
that kick some might need with I grew up on a small hobby farm. culture in which I grew up.
all this dreary weather. It’s Blitz is My dad owns a tractor just like one I can imagine reading this book
the newest album from the Yeah of the ones pictured in this book. I in my comfy little Fernwood abode
Yeah Yeahs and they also covered learned how to drive it when I was with Hank Williams playing in the
the Ramones’ “Sheena Is a Punk a little kid, so this book takes me background, eating sushi while
Rocker” for the previously men- back. dreaming of raising chickens on
tioned Heroes cover album. It’s Blitz But a lot of people who actually my own hobby farm in Central
sounds intriguing and edgy, so be drive tractors probably wouldn’t Saanich.
sure to check out the album or their read this. If they have, someone If that sounds good, check out
War Child contribution. would have seen this in a store and 14 Tractors.
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com COLUMNS 15

GIVING IT UP: old habits di

By Kelly Marion
hard By Keltie Larter

Music
The challenge
Give up music.
The reason
Music can be uplifting or soothing; it can set or
break the mood. In many cultures it’s an essential
part of who they are as people. But is there a point to
which music can be overbearing? From mall music to
TV shows, and now most ringtones, music is every-
where—in an almost irritatingly, unavoidable way.
The rationale
There’s nothing worse than sitting on the bus
minding your own business while your neighbour
blasts Nine Inch Nails on his iPod. Nothing against
NIN or iPods, I just feel that many people are so tuned
out of their surroundings and into their music that they
miss out on so much, like meeting new people . . . and
eavesdropping on cool stories.
The trial
Day 1: As expected, I ended up riding the bus today
beside some 15-year-old punk blaring his tunes. Think-
ing ahead, I stopped at the dollar store yesterday and
picked up some earplugs, which did me good until I got
to school and blatantly ignored my fellow classmates.
If I had worn my hair up they would’ve seen the reason
behind my silence and apparent snobbishness, but
tomorrow I think I’ll be getting the cold shoulder.
Day 3: I had to bribe my family into not playing any
music for the next 11 days. Unfortunately, I’m now
stuck making dinner every night and I have to clean
the bathroom.
Day 5: I went for a run today and only lasted about 10
minutes. Despite having a scenic route, abundant with
distractions, it’s apparently not stimulating enough
and I ended up stopping due to boredom. I can’t help
it if music pumps me up and Missy Elliot’s beats set
my pace. Studies even show that music can enhance
endurance by up to 15 percent and make exercise more
productive.
Day 7: Today I participated in Earth Hour, a time
Photo: Courtney CLArke
to vote against global warming and minimize energy
use. I lit some candles, turned off the TVs in my house,
turned down the thermostat, and tucked away in my
room to enjoy the true rarity of silence. I stretched
for a while, did a few sit-ups, brushed my hair, did a
crossword, stared out at the open sky, and listened to
the wind comb through the trees. It sounds boring
but it was really quite soothing, and boy does every
minute go accounted for when you’re that aware of
your surroundings.
Day 9: I walked into the mall. Then I walked out. I
forgot my damn earplugs. You really can’t go anywhere
these days without hearing music. At the movies, in
restaurants, public bathrooms, the gym, on downtown
streets, even at my school! In the foyer they were pro-
testing violence against women and chanting outside
my classroom as a girl was strumming her guitar.
Having only one option I did the unthinkable and built
my lair in the library—one place where silence is truly
appreciated.
Day 11: “Da da deedum da shingy bowwow.” Even
though I can’t actually hear music it still seems to play
in my head. I can’t escape it.
Day 13: Normally I do my work while listening to
music because it keeps me relaxed and focused. Yester-
day I was forced to take a different approach. For two
hours I sat at the computer accomplishing very little,
constantly being interrupted by cells ringing, doors
shutting, and people talking. Music is a great way to
shut off from the world; most of the time this is a bad
thing, but sometimes it can actually be useful.
The result
I, like most of those in North America, have grown
so accustomed to having music around me that it affects
my efficiency and mood. The world seems so much
more depressing without it and I don’t think I’ll be
giving it up for good . . . ever. The thought alone gives
me the willies. As Nietzsche said, “Without music, life
would be a mistake.”
Next
I’m giving up school and this column. Peace
Camosun!
Three’s company
The most common sexual fantasy must be the threesome. There’s just
something so tantalizing about throwing an extra person into the mix.
But threesomes aren’t like regular sex, and if you plan on having one,
or just hope like hell you might one day, you need to know what you’re
getting into and following some basic rules will help to make sure your
three-way is a success.
Rule #1: There are no rules! Just kidding. You should definitely lay out
some ground rules if possible beforehand. Although spontaneity is a key
factor in a good threesome, everyone has different boundaries and needs.
This rule is especially important if two of you are in a relationship. Make
sure you know how far everyone is willing to go. Are you all comfortable
with penetration? Oral sex? Kissing? And if you’re in a two-men/one-
woman or two-women/one-man threesome, are the two people of the
same sex comfortable with engaging sexually with each other, or will they
both focus on the member of the opposite sex?
Rule #2: Don’t fuck your friends! You can bend this rule if all three
participants are single and very confident that the friendship can handle
it, but I strongly recommend if you’re a couple looking for a third person,
find someone you don’t have to be around all the time. Seriously, it can
get really messy, so try to avoid it.
Rule #3: Make sure no one feels left out. Remember that when there
are three people involved it’s less of a give and take situation and more of
a share and share alike. If you’re having penetrative sex with one person,
make sure to caress the other person, look them in the eyes, and talk to
them. If the two other people are busy with each other, find a way to be
involved. Kiss them, caress their necks or good bits, give oral sex to one
person if the positioning is right, or maybe just masturbate while watch-
ing the other two go at it.
Rule #4: Be safe! Make sure to use separate condoms when penetrat-
ing different people and while giving a hummer. Either use one hand for
each person and keep it that way, or clean your hands with disinfecting gel
between partners. Using a dental dam while “dining at the Y” is a good
idea too. After all, the only thing you want to take away from a threesome
is good memories!
Rule #5: Don’t get wasted! While alcohol is not a bad idea to loosen
things up at first, keep your consumption to a minimum. Too much booze
will mess with your equipment and your judgment.
Rule #6: Spending the night is probably not a great idea. Having a three-
some is mostly about fulfilling a fantasy, and waking up next to each other
in the morning can be awkward. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t indulge
in a little post-coital cuddling, but then go your separate ways. This rule is
especially important to follow if two of you are in a relationship. Chances
are you’ll need some alone time to process everything that’s happened and
reaffirm your connection to each other. Make sure to discuss this when
laying down ground rules so no one is left feeling rejected.
Queer podcasts
Cristian Cano cast. It’s the lesbian version of Feast
Pride Director of Fun, but is only released twice
We live in a very heterosexual a month.
world. Sometimes it’s overwhelm- Sandi is an interesting host who
ing for queer people to exist in definitely knows what lesbians like
a world that ignores them. But and how to keep them happy.

Helpful tips for keeping in shape
Andy Roberts
Contributing Writer
Want to drop some extra pounds
before the summer season hits? In
2000, I went from 240 pounds to a
much leaner 160 pounds. Here’s a
few tips I’d like to share with you.
First, exercise is key. I made
space in my schedule to visit the
gym six days a week, with Sundays
off. My average gym session was
around 30–40 minutes, and I made
each repetition count. As my trainer
told me, if you’re going to blitz half-
heartedly through a set of reps, you
might as well not bother.
Second, eat a balanced diet. I
avoided fads, like protein excesses
and carb restrictions. Instead I
focused on the effects my favourite
foods had on me. Soup became a
staple, as it’s filling and low in fat.
Sandwiches were also a godsend;
more often than not, sandwich
fillings tend to be pretty healthy.
Above all else, I didn’t want a diet
designed to help me lose weight—I
wanted a balanced diet I could enjoy
for the rest of my life.
Third, drink plenty of water.
Every hour, make sure you try and
have at least one small glass of
water, and always drink water after
caffeine. If you get hunger pains,
drinking water is a good idea as
well; the body often confuses de-
hydration with hunger.
Next, try the “good day/bad
day” technique. Each week, assign
yourself one “bad day” where you
can eat anything you like.
For example, on Monday you as-
sign Sunday as your bad day, so you
have to be good for the whole week.
If you accidentally eat something
bad on Wednesday, that becomes
your bad day, and you must be good
for the remainder of the week.
As a psychological mechanism,
this teaches you to control your
cravings. By the time my bad day
arrived, I often forgot about the
things I was craving.
Also, be deliberate and build
up slowly. I gave myself 30 days to
break my bad habits but, generally,
a habit can be shrugged off within
just a couple of weeks. If I fell off the
wagon—the moment where most
people tend to give up—I simply
got right back on.
You’ll want to avoid scales like
the plague.
Body weight fluctuates hourly,
and there’s no bigger de-motiv-
ator than an increase in poundage.
Instead, pick a size of clothing
(within sensible limits) you want
to aim for.
Finally, encourage others. Dur-
ing the eight months it took to shed
my weight, I began to learn more
about diet, exercise, and habits,
and was able to help others with
their battle of the flab.
recently I found a way to add a bit
of gay spice to my life—podcasts by
and for the queer community.
My favorite podcast is Feast of
Fun. Hosts Marc and Fausto are the
funniest out there. Released every
day, Feast of Fun debates all of the
most entertaining topics involving
the gay community.
They have interesting guests
who discuss all kinds of topics. You
can tell how much work this couple
puts into the podcast. They’ve won
various awards and are good role
models for the gay community.
For the ladies, The Lesbian
Mafia is another very popular pod-
w w w.ne xu snewspap er.com
visit t h e nexus online
If you want to hear some gay
news, tune into The Big Gay News.
This is a short podcast covering
international news concerning
queer people.
Also, Beyond Masculinity is a
collection of essays about gender
and politics. This is a very intel-
lectual podcast, touching upon
diverse topics.
Finally, for queers and straight
people alike, the Savage Love pod-
cast is hosted by famous advice col-
umnist Dan Savage, who answers
some of the most unusual questions
called in by a very diverse group of
listeners.
1 COLuMNS April 8, 2009

Ask Anything By Breanna Carey Worth the Trip?

Age ain’t nothing but a number
Q: is there an age limit when it comes to love? i’m in my
twenties and am fascinated by a man old enough to
Healing and moving on The battle of on and off-campus eats
Q: i was in an unfaithful relationship that ended after five
long years. i wasted parts of my life i’ll never get back. i
by donald kennedy and guy alaimo

be my dad.
A: don’t place limitations on yourself when instead you can
be enjoying life. No matter what you decide, you won’t
please all of those who judge you. go with your heart and
have fun with the wise gent, because you may learn a lot
from him. young women have enough good-for-nothings to
poke through, so we should branch out once in a while and
test out the successful older age groups. My dad once told
me he felt sorry for the pickings of my generation. As i’ve
grown up, i’ve learned why. that’s not to say all older men
are wonderful; some of them are perverts who’ve mastered
the art of disguising this fact. And as they age the number of
notches grows too, so please use caution. ensure you don’t
become another trophy girl, and that the two of you have a
genuine connection. even if this is a short-term thing, you
may discover certain characteristics in him that you should
expect from any future healthy relationship.
worry i’ll never find a man who treats me like i deserve.
A: you’ve got to make peace with your past before moving
on. it’ll take you roughly half the time you spent with this
man to get over all of the saddening things that happened
between the two of you. remember, you’re still young, beauti-
ful, and smart, and you have all the traits you need to find the
perfect man. What you need to provide for yourself is time.
try not to rush into any new relationships while you’re not
quite okay on your own. A few harmless dates and maybe
even some flings will assist you in slowly getting back into the
dating realm. i’m assuming this man was one of your firsts,
so he shaped how you view a relationship with a significant
other. his infidelities have caused you to be wary and unsure
of yourself. regain your strength by believing in yourself (as
corny as that sounds). your friends are amazing resources, so
rely heavily on them while you heal. Once your prince comes
along, he’ll mend any remaining breaks in your heart.
Campus Cafe
Small Fries
$2.30 tax included
Presentation and service
Donald: With blank, soulless eyes, a young girl scrapes away at the grease on
the pizza trays like a modern day Cinderella. her evil stepsister stands at the
cash register, refusing to let the would-be princess step out into the Campus
Cafe ballroom. Cinderella longs for the day when her fairy godmother will turn
her workpants into gorgeous, black slacks, and her green button-up shirt into a
low-cut tee. in her magical new clothing she’ll go to a Campus Career day. there
she’ll meet a handsome prince who’ll whisk her away to the Cactus Club, or maybe
Moxie’s. but until her prince arrives she stays at the Campus Café, her only friends
a group of sympathetic, singing mice.
Guy: i’m getting sick of writing these fucking reviews. how much longer can i lie
to myself and the people who read this column? i don’t enjoy doing this anymore.

Environmentally friendly 101
Joel WiTheringTon
CSeA MeMber
The end of term is
here and I’m sure we’ve
all learned a lot. This
column has covered
a number of different
ideas and suggested a few ways we
can all live a life that puts less strain
on our planet.
Whether all of this was preach-
ing to the converted or some readers
learned something new, there’s
always an opportunity for change.
Look at your input and output,
how can they be reduced? Input
has mostly to do with consump-
tion—the goods you buy. Think of
purchases like a vote. Where and
what you buy supports different
industries and they wouldn’t be in
business if it wasn’t for us buying
their goods.
Anytime you buy, look at the
source, and spend a bit of time find-
ing out where the product comes
from and the business practices of
the company.
Here are a few ways your im-
pact can be lowered or made more
environmentally friendly:
Clothing
Don’t throw clothes away when
you get tired of them and just buy
new ones. Reuse, re-fashion, start
a clothing swap, and, if you need to,
buy secondhand.
Food
Make your own beer and grow
your own fruits and vegetables. Or
least try to eat them more. If you
love meat, know where it comes
from. Support local farmers, not
imported foreign food. Check out
grocery store dumpsters; there’s
lots of clean free food there (just
don’t make a mess).
Output
Try not to buy things with ex-
cess packaging, recycle with your
biweekly neighbourhood pickup,
compost food waste, take other
materials to the Pacific Mobile
Depot, and plant trees and other
plants everywhere.
Get involved
Finally, join an environmental
group and participate in some grass-
roots activism to meet likeminded
people and share ideas.
For more info about CSEA, visit
www.camosunstudent.org/csea
or e-mail camosunsea@hotmail.
com
there’s only so much you can quip about food. i’ve been running on empty for the
past two months. fucking donald is resorting to comparing people who work at
school cafeterias to characters in a disney movie. i don’t even get it. the campus
caf is shit, alright? fucking change it. Piece of fucking shit cafeteria with shitty
employees, except for the guy who wears the Montreal Canadiens hat, and i’m a
motherfuckin’ Leafs fan.
Taste
D: i haven’t had fries this bland since the mean old days before White Spot des-
cended on bC ferries. the flavour is not so much potatoey as it is fried, greasy
mush. there aren’t many dishes at the Campus Cafe that need to have salt added
to them, but this is one of them.
G: tastes like fucking fries.
Saanich Roadhouse Bar
and Grill
Side of Fries
$4.50 plus tax
Presentation and Service
D: “When the new Saanich roadhouse opens, patrons will be able to watch their
meal cooking on a spit.”—times Colonist, 2007. Well, it’s two years later, there’s
no spit, and this place certainly isn’t the texas-style roadhouse it was promised to
be. roadhouses don’t serve fucking thai Noodle Salad and fucking “Ploughman’s
Antipasto.” this place is so infuriating i can barely handle it.

Maude’s April Specials

G: So the waitress with baggy eyes needs to tone it down a notch. her introduction
nearly gave me a heart attack, and i don’t think i’m far off from one of those, so she
pretty much turned me off. All she needed to do was nicely introduce herself instead
of making her life and my life difficult by trying to create cute conversations after
Music Bingo Mondays (Bingo starts at 7:30 PM) rudely asking for our ids. hey, this isn’t a fucking pub, and i can’t afford to drink
right now so why don’t you go be a good ogre and grab me an ice water.
$6.95 Burger & Fries (4PM) Taste
Martinis $5 D: boston Pizza in sheep’s clothing. i know it’s bad form to review a place before
Black Tuesdays it’s been open at least a month, but fuck it. this place has been open at least three
weeks, and i don’t see them starting to cut their own fries in house anytime soon.
$6.95 Classic Beef Dip & Fries (4 PM) All the spiral staircases and tall tables in the world can’t mask the fact that these
are boring supplier fries at a painted whore of a restaurant. fuck you and your
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tie. We all lose worse than a pregnant mother who gambles with vodka and
Thirsty Thursdays cigarettes.

$5.95 10” Pizza (4 PM) Verdict

every little word the Saanich roadhouse has spoken, just promises broken,
$3.99 Hi-Balls/$5 Doubles yahh.

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 COLuMNS
nexus@nexusnewspaper.com
Camosun’s Vagina Monologues cast
driven by inspiration
Chloe markgraf
WOMyN’S direCtOr
Students at Camosun
College will embrace
their creativity later this
month as the Womyn’s
Centre aligns with V-Day,
a global movement to end
violence against womyn, to put on a
campus production of The Vagina
Monologues.
Two months ago, Camosun
students Neely Hourigan and Cinda
Walker walked into the Womyn’s
Centre and suggested the pro-
ject, inspired by last year’s local
performance at the MacPherson
Playhouse.
“I read The Vagina Monologues
years ago; I’ve seen it performed
in Victoria twice,” says Hourigan.
“Last year was different—at the
end of the performance the narra-
tor came to the front of the stage
and asked those in the audience
who had been directly affected by
violence to stand.”
What happened next was an un-
forgettable moment for Hourigan.
“I was on the floor of the MacPher-
son, where there are approximately
400 seats, and 80 percent of the
floor stood up. What a profound
visual impact. If that many people
were affected by anything else, there
would be public uproar. For womyn
who have been affected by violence,
there is virtually nothing.”
Witnessing this soon inspired
Hourigan to act.
“I was laying in bed, trying to fall
asleep . . . no deal. I’d been looking
to see when The Vagina Monologues
was happening in Victoria; it didn’t
appear to be,” says Hourigan. “I de-
cided that wouldn’t do, so the next
morning I sent in my application to
V-Day to organize a performance of
The Vagina Monologues and—oh,
wow—they said yes.”
Fellow Camosun student Isha
Gibb was also intrigued by the
play.
“When I first heard about The
Vagina Monologues, I was napping
in the Womyn’s Centre. I knew it
was some sort of womyn’s rights
movement, and that it talked about
vaginas,” says Gibb. “Well, in my
mind it was, ‘Vaginas? Hell’s yes, I
will get involved with vaginas.’”
Erin Sanderson, another one
of the participants, was also pas-
sionate about joining The Vagina
Monologues’ cast.
“No womyn should
have to suffer an
experience which
disconnects her from
the most intimate part
of her existence—her
sexuality, her body, her
roots.”
erin sanderson
CAMOSuN StudeNt
“I joined the Vagina Monologues
project because I want to create a
world where everyone can step into
their own sacred power,” explains
Sanderson. “No womyn should
have to suffer an experience which
disconnects her from the most in-
timate part of her existence—her
sexuality, her body, her roots.”
Though there was abundant
enthusiasm, it did not come without
reservations.
Gibb was initially hesitant in
participating in the production.
“The issue of violence is a big
one, very personal, and I honestly
don’t know where I stand on it
some days,” says Gibb. “I have
seen violence used with positive and
negative results, although primarily
the latter. In many ways, I feel put
off at the idea of addressing the
topic of violence because it feels
like there will be blame, anger, and
hurt thrown around.”
Gibb tends to shy away from
playing the blame game in certain
issues concerning violence.
“Everyone has a side of the story
and everyone is affected,” explains
Gibb. “Just like there is no victim-
less crime, there is no crime where
only one portion of the equation is
victimized.”
But the beauty of The Vagina
Monologues is its ability to cut
through the victimization and get
to the core of it all.
“What I love about The Vagina
Monologues is that there are no solu-
tions offered,” says Gibb. “There
is no blame, there is no accusation.
What is expressed is reactions,
stories, feelings, anger, sadness,
liberation, respect, and more. In-
stead of lecturing or presenting a
moral argument, it opens the floor
for open discussion. The Vagina
Monologues lets people talk about
things that affect them in a way
that is safe, honest, and blameless.
It allows their personal stories to be
heard, and more than that, it allows
people to respond.”
The play stays away from point-
ing the finger, emphasizing we’re
all in this together—all genders
and sexualities.
Sanderson feels the show is a
tool for spreading awareness and
empowerment throughout the
larger community.
“The Vagina Monologues isn’t
about blame or shame; it is a pro-
ject which gives a creative positive
voice to what’s wrong and asks each
person who sees it to do something
about it,” says Sanderson.
Susan Anthony, another Vagina
Monologues participant, has serious
reasons why she was drawn to the
piece.
In this day and age, the prob-
lem of violence still exists, and the
stigma surrounding it is scaring
womyn into silence, she says.
The Vagina Monologues is a
truly revolutionary piece. Although
it tackles difficult issues, the piece is
17
PhOtO: riChArd WhibLey
centered on comedic value. Mono- ened, while others are victims of
logue after monologue leaves the abuse and violence.
audience with questions to ponder, The performance is a delicate
deeper awareness, a chuckle, or a unfolding of a complex matter,
realization. much like the opening of a vagina
The Vagina Monologues is about as it seeks out orgasm. Come join us
catalyzing a greater awareness, and for this unforgettable evening.
can be a subtle reminder of the value
of the vagina.
The play describes the vagina as
The Vagina
a friend, a gateway, an ally, a village, Monologues
a ruin, a flooded basement, a coochi April 24–25, Young 216,
snorcher, and much more. Lansdowne
The series of monologues ex- $10 students, $20 non-stu-
plore various womyn’s relation- dents, available at the CCSS
ships with their vaginas. Some office
womyn are angry, some enlight-
The V- Day perspective
The Vagina Monologues, created by eve ensler, is a collection
of stories and experiences that continued to grow until there
were too many to contain.
So it evolved into V-day, the movement to stop violence against
women and girls.
Any individual or group wishing to use the play to raise money and awareness
can apply to V-day to produce one of the works.
in this way, the play has become an incredibly effective piece of activism. the
caveat for the right to produce the play is that 10 percent of the proceeds go to
the V-day Spotlight campaign, while the rest goes to local projects and programs
following the mandate of ending violence against womyn and girls.
-Neely Hourigan
Mary Manning Centre
As part of the production of The Vagina Monologues at
Camosun we’re also fundraising for the Mary Manning Centre,
Victoria’s only non-profit agency dedicated to treating child
victims of sexual abuse.
the centre works in conjunction with the Child Abuse Prevention
and Counseling Society to provide therapy and victim services for sexually abused
children. it also offers support to other family members affected by the abuse.
Within the community, the Mary Manning Centre provides child abuse prevention
as well as educational presentations, materials, and training. its staff works with
families, schools, police, and professionals in family services, child protection,
and community living services.
V-day Camosun chose to give proceeds to the Mary Manning Centre because we
support the work they do to stop violence against young girls.
the Mary Manning Centre is taking action in our community, so we join them in
their efforts by offering our support.
-Erin Sanderson
18 VIEWS April 8, 2009

The celebrities we love to hate

Hayley MacDonald
Contributing Writer
“Eff-you-cee-kay-me,” trans-
lated from “If You Seek Amy.”
How about, you have got to be
kidding me?
Britney Spears’ newest hit
single has a not-so-hidden mes-
sage most parents would be upset
to hear on the radio. I’ve got to say
she’s being one terrible role model
to young girls.
All celebrities are role
models, whether they
like it or not.
It has become a social norm
to know every detail of the lives of
celebrities and through the worst
times of their lives we still attempt
to imitate their lifestyle, look, and
personality.
All celebrities are role models,
whether they like it or not. Every
actor and singer has a parade of
fans following their every move,
good or bad.
To be honest, I was this way
with the Olsen twins up until a few
years ago. I named both of my pet
hamsters after Olsen’s character
on Full House.
Although the Olsens aren’t the
worst role models, they aren’t par-
ticularly good ones. Mary-Kate has
infamously and publicly struggled
with an eating disorder. She says
she isn’t a role model and yet has
been labelled one since she was
young.
Celebrities don’t get to choose
to be role models; they just are until
they decide to step away from the
limelight.
Now for Lindsay Lohan. She’s
a model for what not to do, but
teenaged girls aren’t going to think
this way. She has been caught pos-
sessing drugs, drunk driving, and
she has been arrested two times in
one month.
Anyone with access to the ce-
lebrity blogs has witnessed the
now-classic shots of Lohan either
passed the “eff” out, or a closeup of
a white, powdery substance cling-
ing from her nasal cavity.
And it’s not always the starlets
who are the worst role models. Re-
cently, Chris Brown is holding that
title. Allegedly, his beating of Riha-
nna was absolutely brutal. Brown is
all over MTV and MuchMusic, and
to make a move like this in front of
his fans is nauseating.
Rihanna reportedly got punched
in the face several times by Brown,
but even she’s no role model by
getting back with the guy.
We’ve all copied or mimicked
a trait or action of a celebrity, even
at a small scale. The stars need to
be aware of their actions and real-
ize the effect it has on the youth
of today. Celebrities are still hu-
man, but that little extra care and
added consciousness in the actions
they take could prove to be greatly
significant.

Overruled by the hipsters Shut it, music snobs

Ryan Gibbons
Contributing Writer
They’re cultural chameleons
with an attitude full of arrogance
and sarcasm. They’re hipsters are
they’re everywhere. And those who
don’t look like a cross between Kurt
Cobain and some Kerouac-looking
beatnik just won’t fit in.
First off, I’m sick of everyone
throwing it in my face that I should
be riding the bus or biking to school
because cars are evil. According to
some, not only should I be riding a
bike, but a certain type of bike.
Remember those shitty Raleigh
20-buck specials you had as a kid?
Well, they are still around, only now
they cost about $700 on Craigslist
because it’s so cool to own one.
Really? $700?
The other night I read a poster
full of anti-car propaganda. It was
promoting a public meeting in Fern-
wood to basically rant about cars
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and, from what I took away from
the poster, stroke the egos of all
those good people who don’t drive
anywhere, ever!
The people who claim
to be so open-minded
and hip to what’s right
and wrong are some of
the biggest hypocrites
I have ever spoken
with.
If cars are so evil and nothing
more than pollution producers, why
have so many great books and songs
been written about being on the road
with that overwhelming sense of
freedom and calmness?
mosun
y at Ca
n t rall
de
Look, I have no problems with
walking and riding a bike; I love
my bike. And because I’m a broke
student, I haven’t owned a car for
two years, forcing me to walk, ride,
or take the bus everywhere I go. I just
don’t want to be judged when I step
foot in a car one day.
Also, I’m sick of being told to eat
organic food because everything else
is going to make me horribly ill.
“Oh my god, you’re a hunt-
er? That’s so outdated. Meat is
murder.”
The people who claim to be so
open-minded and hip to what’s right
and wrong are some of the biggest
hypocrites I have ever spoken with.
Meat that you catch yourself is
healthier and more affordable than
the grocery store shelf. Sure, being
a vegetarian is great. I have close
friends who enjoy the vegetarian life,
yet they love hunting for the excite-
ment of hiking through the bush and
just having the thrill of the hunt in
them. And if they get something, it
won’t go to waste.
Not all hunters are savage kill-
ing machines. Some of the most
ecologically conscious people I have
met are hunters.
Sometimes the people who
get caught up in the latest trend
of saving the planet and preaching
open-mindedness are the most close-
minded and ignorant people.
The only thing that will save the
world from hipsters is continuing to
think for ourselves, and not letting
trends sweep us up into a frenzy of
judging everyone else who doesn’t
think the way we want them to.
Amee Nijjar
Contributing Writer
In my early teens, I was embed-
ded with fear and self-conscious-
ness that arose every time I was
asked about the type of music I
listened to. I started to realize cer-
tain people would take my answer
and use it as a way to judge my
character. And I would panic.
Should I play up my love for
punk and not mention I like coun-
try? Can I say I like everything or
is that too broad? Do I admit to
singing Avril Lavigne songs in the
shower?
Maybe snobs can’t see
the good in every
musical genre, but
that’s no reason to
bitch at other people
for seeing it.
Eventually I’d spit out an an-
swer tailored to fit the taste of the
terrifying person before me. If one
of these people made reference to a
band I hadn’t a clue about, I would
never admit it.
These sinister people line the
halls at school, ride alongside you
on the bus, and glare when you
just so happen to be humming
a Justin Timberlake song in the
laundromat.
They’re music snobs, or elitists,
people who believe they have more
refined taste in music and much
more musical knowledge than you
do. To them, every song and genre
is unacceptable unless they happen
to like it.
Music snobs feel obligated
to enlighten everyone with un-
welcome critiques and irrelevant
musical facts. I see them make fun
of people who listen to mainstream
music, boast about some unknown
band they happen to know about,
and then cringe when someone
modestly shares their views.
One’s choice in music is about
as personal as one’s choice in
friends. Everyone has their own
definition for what makes good
music. Maybe snobs can’t see the
good in every musical genre, but
that’s no reason to bitch at other
people for seeing it.
Some people like beat and
rhythm, some like lyrics, some
enjoy vocals—the list goes on. Life
would be boring with only one type
of music to listen to. In an attempt
to be distinct from the mainstream,
music snobs are just coming across
as narrow-minded.
I appreciate all of their know-
ledge about music, and maybe I’d
like to hear some of it sometime.
But if I happen to break into dance
to S Club 7 in the hall, I don’t want
their grief.
I just wish they’d shut up and
put their headphones back on
already.
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nexus@nexusnewspaper.com HUMOUR 19
What Came First  By Adrian Binakaj Phlegm  By Shane Scott-Travis

Darth & Han  By Alan Piffer

Ninjas   by Kyle Lees, Argus (Lakehead University)

Tessa Cogman
Overheard at Nexus Staff Eavesdropper

Nexus staff works very hard during production of the newspaper, and there
are times when exhaustion takes over what we say. The following is what’s
been overheard at the Nexus office lately:

“I am not your “We’re sandwiched

access to Asian “Warriors… come by political
women.” out to playyyy!” correctness.”

I’m gonna take “Who’s an

a dump when I “So, I bought a actual alcoholic
get back.” bong two weeks in our class?”
ago.”
April 8, 2009
eye on
campus
By Kait Cavers
Thursday, April 9
Last day of class, bitches
you heard me. if you’re enrolled
in a Winter ’09 course, this will
be the last day you have to roll
out of bed to make it to class
on time! unfortunately, this also
means that it’s time to look for a
summer job.
Thursday, April 9
Author speaks
the Victoria genealogical Society
welcomes writer, author, former
diplomat, and community ac-
tivist Mairuth hodge Sarsfield.
Sarsfield’s first published novel,
No Crystal Stair, came third at the
by kait Cavers
Thursday, April 9
Tequila Mockingbird
Orchestra
METRO THEATRE, DOORS AT 7:30 PM, $15
Start the long weekend off on the
right foot. the always-fabulous
tequila Mockingbird Orchestra is
joined by rachael Cardiello for a
night of sumptuous tunes.
Friday, April 10
54–40, The Blue Violets
MCPHERSON PLAYHOUSE, 8 PM, $35
i can’t remember the last time
that $35 bought me a ticket to
go see a band that has an album
i can listen to and enjoy from
start to finish. Check this classic
Canadian act out!
Saturday, April 11
The Dano Stern Project
CAMBIE AT THE ESQUIMALT INN, 8 PM, $5
i can’t even buy a coffee at Star-
bucks for what it costs to check
out this truly awesome, up-and-
coming, Victoria-based band. Nic-
ola Linde spices up the flavour.
.
Healthy Foods for a Healthy Lifes tyle
More than 2,500 healthy choices of certified organic food.
And aisles of certified organic fruits and vegetables.
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www.themarketstores.com
FREE DELIVERY Minimum Order $25. Tobacco
Excluded. Orders in by 2 p.m. Same Day Delivery.
eVeNtS nexus@nexusnewspaper.com
CbC Canada reads competition, short documentary films on indi-
and the book is now included in viduals and organizations from
the english curriculum at several many countries working towards Brazilian Waxing Specialist
Canadian universities. 7:30 pm,
gordon head united Church (4201
sustainability, peace, and social
justice. 5:30 pm, Victoria events
New client special $30
krista at 250-661-1562
tyndall). info: pr@victoriags.org Centre (1415 broad). info: www.
globalonenessproject.org Iaso Bodyworks, downtown near Fort and Cook
Tuesday, April 14
The heat is on!
Oh exams, the time of the year
when blood pressure spikes and
bar sales drop. this is your grand
finale, so make it count! don’t for-
get to check the exam schedules
posted outside the bookstore at
both campuses. exams run from
tuesday, April 14 to Wednesday
April 22.
Wednesday, May 13
Free free free!
the global Oneness Project pres-
Change is good.
ents a free multimedia event
called The New Narrative: Local
Voices for a Global Future. this
event will feature a selection of
Sunday, April 12
If you’re a Biz Admin student, see
The Real McKenzies,
Start with the Cobra, The your Program Leader for details.
Banned
SUGAR, DOORS AT 9 PM, $13
if you’ve been aching for a solid
punk show, then trek your Con-
verse sneakers straight on down
Now.Yes, now.
to Sugar for this one. headliners
the real Mckenzies rock out
with Start with the Cobra and
the banned.
Friday, April 17
Jon Bone and The Karuna
Movement
LUCKY, 10 PM, $5
five bucks this friday will buy you
a night of reggae and funk that
will set your dreadlocks on fire. Ready for your next step?
buena buya and gillian Cofsky
join in for the laid back night of
Take it at Camosun.
jammin.’ camosun.ca/bizadmin
Tuesday, April 21
Lyme-Aid Fundraiser
LUCKY, DOORS AT 10 PM, $10
fast and heavy bands unleash
the Archers, everyone every-
where, Skies kill, and reaver pull
together to support a Victoria
resident with his expensive treat-
ment for Lyme disease. Come
drink, be merry, and be charit-
able, all at the same time!