volu n - UBC Library - University of British Columbia

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Prison issue
THE UBYSSEY MAGAZINE Friday, March 10, 2000-volume 81 issue 41
he open tract of land in front of the
Burnaby Correctional Centre for Women
(BCCW) is slated for development.
Piles of earth and heavy machinery litter the expanse . Soon, the provincial penitentiary, which houses some of the country's worst female offenders, will be totally
obscured—hidden in a maze of similar-looking complexes, all surrounded by their own
barbed wire, all guarded by their own little
armies of security guards.
In one sense, the city is getting closer to
the prison's walls ; in another, it's staying
safely apart . It doesn't acknowledge the
space that exists between the inmates and
the outside world . It doesn't encourage the
return of inmates into society. The jail exists
as just another one of the many storage
facilities that house the unseemly clutter
pervading our everyday lives.
For most people, the question of incarceration is a tricky issue . While manning a
display in the Student Union Building during UBC's volunteers fair, Alison Granger
Brown, head of the BCCW's volunteer program, was lambasted by a student who
argued that jails were responsible for locking up people for smoking flowers.
"Of course, you have people who only
think of them as victims," says Alison.
"And, on the other hand, you have those
who would have you lock them up and
throw away the key . You have to be able to
find yourself somewhere in the middle of
that, saying 'Yeah, you did something
pretty crappy, but I understand, perhaps,
why or where that came from, and I'm
prepared to invest some of my working
day, or some of my volunteer time in helping you not to go there again .'"
T
he main task of the volunteer force
at BCCW is to re-integrate inmates
near the end of their sentences
back into the community. There is
also a substantial amount of work that
goes on within the centre to encourage
the inmates to normalise the patterns
of their lives, and to make sure they
don't just pick up where they left off.
Between 80 and 90 per cent of
the women in the BCCW are victims
of childhood abuse . According to the
institution's mission statement,
recognising this cycle of victimisation and attempting to break it are
two of the facility's key goals.
Part of the statement reads :
T
U Archives jai
volu n-
rs
Innovative pro-ee!i
grams in the
Lower Mainland
use people just
by Tom. Peacock,
Like you to heLp
offenders reintegrate themseLves into
society .
minimise the risk as much as possible . A
"Women shall have access to a range of traditional and non-traditional
training and work programs designed to develop the social and economic roles of women, including life-skills, parenting skills, educational
upgrading, and vocational training ."
At BCCW, there are many different ways that volunteers from the outside community can get involved . One of the most important is the
Citizen's Escort Program (CEP), which allows inmates nearing their
release date to slowly and constructively re-integrate themselves into the
community before they are actually let out.
There are three types of leave granted to inmates : medical
temporary absences (MTA), escorted temporary absences
(ETA) or unescorted temporary absences (UTA) . With the
exception of the MTA for which inmates are simply handcuffed or shackled and accompanied at all times by a security officer in full uniform—getting an ETA or a UTA is a long,
drawn-out, bureaucratic process . The waiting period before
an inmate is even considered for leave depends on the
length of their sentence.
An application for a temporary absence is submitted to a
panel comprised of a parole officer, an RCMP officer, a case
manager, and a senior corrections officer . If it is approved,
the prison director still holds the authority to veto the decision.
ETAs are the very first step towards the inmate's re-integration into her community. A suitable volunteer is selected
to escort the inmate beyond the prison fences . The expedition could be for something as simple as registering for
school, seeing the doctor, or visiting a sick relative . But more
often it's so that the inmate can attend support group meetings with a cultural or religious organisation or a substance
abuse program such as Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous.
As Alison states, "we hope to show them a different way of living in their community, and beng safe in their community."
Volunteers for the CEP have to be women over the age of 19,
and the handbook states clearly that, "awareness, personal integrity and strength of character are definite prerequisites ." Although
there has yet to be an incident between an inmate and her escort,
the potential is always there, and Alison and her co-workers want to
thorough background check is done on all volunteers before they are allowed to take part.
For Alison, soliciting public interest in the
CEP is difficult ; she's hindered by funding
cuts and the prevailing attitude of ignorance
and uneasiness about the penal system . And
of course there is all the bureaucracy that
stands in the way of any efforts she makes
to expand her program . For this article, I had
to wait over a month before I was granted
security clearance to visit the jail and conduct some interviews.
o many of the rules that govern prison
life appear arbitrary from outside—
chewing gum, for example, is prohibited—but they must all be followed to
the letter by even the most sympathetic volunteers if the program is to work at all . "We
have had to revoke privileges from some
people who were not able to work within
the rules of the facility," says Alison . "This
is not about whether this rule is ridiculous
or not . The women are in this facility
because they've broken the rules . So you
have to support the women in saying,
'okay, these are the rules ."
Inmates, for the most part, epitomise
the term "street smart." There is a
whole section in the BCCW's volunteer
handout on the propensity among the
prisoners to try to manipulate the people working with them.
One inmate, named Vicki, has already been
through a large part of the re-integration process.
Now she even gets a monthly UTA, which she uses
to go home and see her family in the Okanagan.
Vicki has hopes of some day becoming a youth
counselor. She believes that she would be good at
it because she could identify with troubled youth.
Over the years, Vicki has been in and out of
prison on multiple convictions of fraud . "My biggest
S
THIS IS NOT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE.] REPEAT...The Burnaby Correctional Centre for Women as seen on a rare sunny day in the Lower Mainland .
continued on page four
PHOTO COURTESY BCCW
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WEDNESDAY
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IZPM NooN
problem," she says, "was that I couldn't say no . Then element of the process of re-integration . A foundation
my oldest daughter had a car accident . I wasn't there of trust is established through the mere act of listenfor her. I just needed a reality check . I have two kids.
ing, of understanding, of communication.
It's time to stop this and go home and be a mom ."
Sherry and Glen had a friend who committed suiAlison tells me later that Vicki's goals are a little far- cide when he got out of jail . His death was the catalyst
fetched . Despite her convictions that she's changed, for forming LINC . "Our friend Ronnie," she says, "he
Vicki is very likely, according to those who work with
didn't have the opportunity to know that he belonged.
her, to slip again if she's granted her freedom.
He just felt like he was a fraud, like he didn't have anyAlison concedes that the facts surrounding these
thing to offer."
women are often discouraging—many women, once
Being at the meeting is like peering into a different
they've gone through the exhaustive
side of life . Howie uses the analogy of
process of re-integration, the counlooking through a keyhole . With prison
selling, the support group meetings,
tattoos showing on the backs of his
the temporary absences, once they've
hands as he gestures, he explains
finally been granted their freedom,
how he wants these meetings to turn
return to the mean streets and end up
that little keyhole into a plate glass
dead or back in jail.
window.
"There are so many sad cases
This sentiment, this need to make
here," she admits . "One woman I
a connection with the civilised, workaused to escort spent the last ten
day world, the Real, Outside World, is
years under the Georgia viaduct . She
expressed by all the men . The older
has been a heroin addict for 25 years.
man, the sex offender, describes how,
She's out there now, and if I don't see
during a Shrove Tuesday pancake dinher, well . . .it means she's probably
ner at the half-way house, a doctor had
dead ."
said he didn't believe people could
Once, on their way to a co-depenreally mend their ways.
dency meeting, the woman in question
"We were talking about the boy
OPENING DOORS : The BCCW's
realised that she had forgotten to take
Alison Granger Brown is work- from Taber, Alberta . But it reminded
her methadone . "I told her that we did- ing hard to expand relationships me of something," he says, slowly
n't have to go," Alison explains . "But between the jail and the comlooking around to make sure everyshe said she would . During the meet- munity. TOM PEACOCK PHOTO
one's listening . "A hundred years ago
ing, I told her if she wanted to leave to
in Halifax they hanged a boy for stealjust nod, but she didn't . She made it . On the way back ing a loaf of bread . 'The bread's not the issue,' they
in the car, I kept on telling her how proud she should
said . 'He's been in trouble before .' I thought to myself,
be with herself . I was proud of her."
that's not it at all . It's these labels and convictions
Being able to build a strong relationship of trust that people have, that people are what they are and
was the thing that most struck Alison ; that such an they're never gonna be anything else . That's what conuncommon bond could be forged between two people
cerns me ."
who otherwise would never have found common
For Howie, it was one afternoon in the courtyard,
ground.
after watching a petty drug deal go down, that he
realised he didn't want to be there anymore.
group called LINC (Long-term Inmates Now in the
"I thought I knew everything . I knew street life, I
Community), started by a former inmate named
knew prison life, but once I opened myself up to the
Glenn Flett and his wife, Sherry, holds four weekother side, I realised that I didn't know. Once I realised
meetings for offenders out on parole . It takts that I didn't want to spend the rest of my life in a cage,
out 35 inmates every month for ETAs from all the that was when doors started opening ."
men's institutions around the Lower Mainland, as well
Sitting on the fence with his minor criminal record,
as the BCCW, and is strongly involved in in-reach proJimbo's only at the meeting because he thought he
grams as well.
could help . But he's actually found his efforts being
"When I was at Queen's [University]," says Sherry,
reciprocated . "I've always been kind of shy, but here
"one of the people who headed the Green Party at the
I've felt way more comfortable than I have in school.
time came to speak . . .and he said that the greatest This is one place where people come and aren't
revolutionary tool was to acknowledge the humanity of judged ."
the other, and to me the groups are sort of like that ."
For the cons themselves, the meetings have a
The stated purpose of the organisation follows the
marked effect . The man who served 21 years for
lead of the'corrections philosophy : "to aid its members
attempted murder suffered through years of sexual
in finding ways to break the cycle of incarceration and
abuse at the hands of an uncle . At the meeting, he sits
create fulfilling, meaningful lives ." Although I am right beside the grandfather of the bunch who, a long
unable to attend a LINC meeting with the women from
time ago, was a sex offender—a pedophile.
BCCW, I manage to sit in on one of the men's meetThe younger man's clearly a little agitated—he's
ings downtown.
still got a lot of anger inside . "But," he says, "I think
Across the table from me are three offenders : one that us sitting here, tolerating each other's presence
a convicted sex offender, the other already 21 years is indeed a great milestone ."
into a life sentence for attempted murder, and the last
one a disenchanted carpenter with a minor criminal
hen I began this story, there had never been
record.
any jail breaks at the BCCW, but when I
At the end of the table sits Howie . He's been
returned a few weeks after my first visit to pick
behind bars for 19 years of a 25-year life sentence for
up some photos, Alison tells me that the week
murder. But Howie's a respected member of the Native
before, two women had bolted from the minimum
community . He's a pipe carrier, an important spiritual security wing . It had been a dark, rainy afternoon . Their
role . "He does sweat lodges out at Sumas," Sherry
suspicions aroused, the corrections officers did a
tells me . "His position is one taken on the way to
quick roll call and realised that two women were missbecoming an elder." There's no telling what will hap- ing . They reviewed the video, to find out which way
pen with Howie, but like the other men at the meeting, they'd gone, and took off in pursuit. A few hours later,
he's trying really hard to get his life in order, to make the women were apprehended.
something of himself.
The whole episode has the familiar, rehearsed feel
The men at the meeting are as you would expect of a bad movie : the sound of rain outside setting off
them ; they look like a pack of aging, out-of-work reser- the abnormal silence of lockdown, the late afternoon
voir dogs . But the members of the community, surpris- darkness obscuring the shapes of guards rushing
ingly enough, are all young women, three of whom are
through the compound . And somewhere, out there,
studying criminology at Simon Fraser University (SFU). two women running across a muddy field ; helping each
The fourth, sporting the pinkest sweater this side of other over flooded ditches on their way to the nearest
grade school, is an English major at SFU . After the men road, a thumbed ride, and freedom.
tell their stories, the women—who seem younger and
When we hear about such a prison break in the
more girlish than their ages—are given an opportunity
news, part of us hopes that they'll make it . For a brief
to put their cards on the table . After listening to ten or
moment, we see the offenders as if we're looking
15 minutes of detailed social dilemmas, educational
through that big plate glass window Howie was talking
indecision, friend trouble, classroom conundrums and
about . But it's harder for us to see people escaping
more roommate jibber-jabber than could fill three
from their former selves, from cyclical patterns of crimsorority bunk-beds, I begin to wonder how the other inal behaviour. This is more abstract, more complicatguys can possible relate.
ed than the rituals of any B-movie . Empathising with
Then, I look across the table at the old, hardened the frightened ex-offender standing in line for a welfare
cons ; they're soaking up every word with rapt atten- cheque or school supplies requires us to dig a little
tion, nodding intermittently and grinning at even the
deeper. But if we can do that, then we might underslightest cue . Suddenly, it all seems to make sense;
stand how it's never too late to go much farther than
this chatter, this confessional way of talking, is a vital just over the fence .+
W
KillArn st
page friday—the ubyssey magazine • friday, march
Guy Davis' life has
unfolded like a well
thought-out game
plan-only there is
no real plan
by Naomi Kim
When the ball is set, he will not hesitate . He will
be ready. He will make no mistake.
He takes things as they come his way, and in
life, . as in volleyball, he is always in the ready position . He takes complete control of the situation,
hits it right on, and waits for whatever comes next.
He has produced no medals or championship
rings in his five years at UBC, and because of this,
he looks upon some of his fellow athletes with
envy. And in his final season on the men's volleyball team, UBC failed to qualify for the playoffs.
But he was named the Canada West player of the
year and was two votes off of being the CIAU player of the year—Guy Davis has faced decision after
decision to get to where he is now, and by the look
of things, he hasn't made any errors in judgment.
Davis' skills and hard work have made him a
feared hitter and blocker in the CIAU, but without
his instincts—all his instincts, not just in volleyball—he could have been a soccer player for the
University of Calgary, or a
Calgary volleyball player
warming the bench, or a
science student in the honours program—at Calgary.
Instead, he's a star volleyball player at UBC, and he
studies cell biology and
genetics . He's a guy who
goes where life sets him a
ball.
As a kid, the ball—a
soccer ball was sent right
to him . He played many
sports growing up, and soccer was his first choice . He
was always competitive,
and even in school races,
his mother remembers, he
was "always quite determined to win ." But the politics of the game—who
plays, who doesn't—drove
him away as a teenager.
Volleyball didn't really enter
Davis' mind until the
eleventh grade.
"I don't know how volleyball came around," he says . "I really don't . . .I'd
done individual sports and I wasn't really all that
satisfied . And I'd done team sports like soccer
and basketball, and it was something about volleyball—it just grabbed me right away."
When he hung up his cleats and pulled on his
knee pads, his parents remained supportive . It
wasn't that they were lacking advice to give—his
father Terry, a lawyer, and his mother Dorothy, the
manager of a crisis phone line, just knew that their
son was sure of what he wanted to do.
"We were sort of tagging along behind," says
his father, joking that he himself was also "for a
very long time a taxi driver."
Although Davis definitely loved volleyball, it didn't seem to be the right fit for him . He's generously listed at a 6'3", small by volleyball standards for a power hitter, and at Sir Winston
Churchill High School in Calgary, he spent most of
his time riding the bench . He claims that one of
the only things he was good at was cheering.
"I was a joke," he laughs . "[My teammates]
used to make fun of me . . .They were like, 'Jump
Guy, why don't you jump?' and I mean, I was jumping as high as I could ."
But Davis improved his game by practising
against his older, more talented teammates, and
he credits them with sparking him to work harder.
"So suddenly
this guy who was
a good university
player–but not an
all-star–came
back an absolute
stud!'
—UBC volleyball
head coach Dale
Ohman on
Guy Davis
I
And when most of his team graduated the following year, Davis got enough playing time to be
named the Calgary high school player of the year.
The obvious choice to continue his education
and his sport would be to go to the University of
Calgary. It's where he wanted to go, and he was
good enough—but it wasn't that simple.
He played club volleyball for the Dinos in grade
11 and was dissatisfied with the program—large
fees, no trips, few practices—so he looked for
other places to go . In Calgary, there was also an
independent coach, Raissa Adolphe, who had her
own gym with nominal fees, relatively limitless
practice time, and a good team . Davis also had a
good feeling about Adolphe, who seemed to care
for her players and was even interested in how he
was doing in school . He switched club teams in
grade 12.
Adolphe also happened to have a "big spat"
going with the Calgary head coach, and Davis
says he was " pretty much instructed, if I play for
her, I shouldn't even bother showing up to play for
U of C ."
But a week after he decided to play for
Adolphe, with his university options now wide
open, the UBC volleyball team came to town and
Davis talked to head coach Dale Ohman . Unlike
other coaches, who recruit new players with big
dreams and empty promises, Ohman, Davis
remembers, was honest right up front.
"He said, 'Well, you're a little short . I don't
really need a big hitter. I just need . . .someone to
pass and play a little defence . I don't know where
you'll fit in our program, but you can come out and
PLAYING ALONG : UBC volleyball co-captain Guy Davis lives by his
play."
instincts and that has brought him from playing soccer in Calgary to the
Although Ohman had not seen him in a game,
brink of playing professional volleyball in Europe . TARA WESTOVER PHOTO
Davis came highly recommended by Adolphe,
and after a few practices at UBC, the team head- So Davis ventured out on his own and saw an ex-teammate who gave
ed over on a tour to Korea and Japan, and that
him some exercises to do with a big ball, and it worked.
is when Ohman says he really saw Davis—"a
"We thought it was a write-off," said his mother about his season,
self-confident, precocious freshman"—play in
"but he did [everything] in typical Guy fashion, and he recovered ."
competition.
He returned in late November, and the 3-5 team suddenly had con"What really blew us away . . .was that he could
fidence, and was suddenly winning . The team finished a final 12-10,
already serve-receive at the university level,"
but after the Christmas break, their record was 8-3 . Every point was a
says Ohman.
celebration, and teammate Jeff Orchard remarked to Davis that he
The skills that Davis had developed in high jumped even higher when he celebrated than when he actually hit the
school earned him a starting position as a freshball.
man . The starting passing power hitter, Mike
"He's the heart and soul of the team," said Ohman in January . But
Kurz, had two major operations after being diagin the end, although Davis' presence lifted the Birds into a playoff
nosed with a serious blood disorder and Davis
chase, it wasn't quite enough to get them into the postseason.
happened to be the only new player who could
And while Davis rose in the CIAU statistical categories to sixth in the
pass at the university level . He was named the country in kills and 13th in digs, he didn't have to look far for inspiriaCanada West rookie of the year . But even flies,
tron . He's surrounded by people he admires—assistant coach Ross
he was only a good player—not an exceptional
Ballard for his character, for instance, or Orchard for athletic ability and
one.
leadership.
Ohman thinks that the big step came this
As for his education, Davis is a cell biology and genetics major,
season after Davis decided to spend his summer
"again by default ." His first choice was an honours program, but he
concentrating on beach volleyball by training with
soon realised that he would not be able to handle the demands of both
a friend in California . It was a trip he planned for that program and a varsity sport . Instead of his first choice, Davis
a while and used his savings from the previous
chose the best option for him.
summers and took a student loan for school . He
"I'd say most of my decisions [are] based on instinct . I don't know
came back to UBC with an extra five inches in his
if I make a lot of decisions . . .Now I don't know what I'm going to do . But
vertical leap.
up until this point, for the past five years, it's been pretty straightfor"So suddenly this guy who was a good uni- ward . I attend school and I play volleyball ."
versity player—but not an all-star—came back
But in a few short weeks, he'll graduate and it will all be over . He
an absolute stud," says Ohman.
plays beach volleyball in the summer, and plays golf in his spare time,
But Davis faced yet another dilemma . After but from here, Davis has no concrete plans . He has before him, like
practicing with the team and playing in a tournaalways, a variety of options . He will apply for medical school, but there
ment, he suffered an abdominal hernia . He says is still volleyball.
he might have been able to play the entire sea"I mean volleyball, especially this year, [has] kind of really motivatson in a defensive position, but he thought it ed me, like the way our team played and the way things have gone for
best to make room for other players to step up
myself, it's inspired me to just try and see how far I can take it not
in his absence.
make a career out of it—but just see what point I can go to . I'm defiSo he sat and watched his team struggle,
nitely thinking next year to go over to Europe and play professional . . .l'm
with no idea when he could return . Some doctors
sure somewhere I'll be able to fit in there ."
said four to six weeks of recovery, others recHis plans are still being set, but Davis isn't too worried . He's always
ommended surgery. They told him to rest and do
standing and ready, and one thing's for sure . When the ball comes his
nothing. Davis rested and didn't get any better.
way, he'll hit it with everything he's got. v
A.;ch
i
10, 2000• page friday—the ubyssey magazine
o be honest, when I went to the Purple
Onion on Tuesday night to check out an
evening of Vancouver's newest and
brightest female musicians, I had my reservations . Although I enthusiastically support
female musicians and International
Women's Day, I couldn't help being cautious about an event which was unabashedly named Women Rock! Fortunately, my
fears were all for naught . By the end of the
night, the performers had not only proved
that women do rock, they had also shown
that Vancouver boasts an outstanding lineup of female musicians.
Both rooms at the club were scheduled
with non-stop performances, with the higher-profile acts featured in the club room.
Despite this, the female singers in the
lounge were by far the highlight of the
evening for me . Teena Davis, a petite
woman accompanied by a man playing
acoustic guitar, astounded the crowd with
her powerful voice and music tinged with
jazz, gospel, and pop influences . Shelley
Lennox, who accompanied herself with
crisp acoustic guitar playing, had a beautiful, full voice and a stark, honest sound
which made me wish for silence in the
crowd . Lastly, Jenny Galt, a young, dynamic,
and outgoing performer, wowed the crowd
with her sophisticated and strong music
and effortless voice . Playing acoustic guitar
herself, Galt was accompanied by another
guitar player and a bongo player, who provided just enough variation for Galt to avoid
some of the repetitiveness of the smaller
groups.
The performances in the larger of the
two rooms were, on the whole, disappointing, though it was mostly due to the numerous technical difficulties that were too frequent and too obvious to ignore . Despite
this fact, Chanelle Dupre and her dancers
were entertaining to watch while Carmelina
T
Cupo's deep, full-throated voice held the audience rapt until the last minutes
of the evening.
The final act of the evening was the Joyelle Brandt Trio . Their three-part
female harmony was eerily beautiful but, ultimately, quite boring, as each
song, accompanied by one of the three leads' guitar playing and
sometimes hints of their backup band's faint acoustic bass or
viola, tended to maintain relatively the same tempo and sound
in all of their songs . Joyelle Brandt's voice stood out as the
strongest of the trio with a fullness and style similar to that of
Natalie Merchant . Her singing was quite good, but it didn't
quite mesh with the styles of the other two women.
Women Rock! is a benefit concert for the newly-founded
Women Rock Scholarship Fund . The fund will award scholarships, which will include studio recording time and monetary
grants, to two deserving female grade 12 students who intend
to pursue a career in music performance as a contemporary
singer or singer/songwriter . The first scholarships will be
offered to two female students graduating this June from BC
high schools . Applicants will be judged by a panel of Vancouver
industry members on the basis of their demo tapes and their
outlines indicating their plans for the money.
Founder and coordinator Joyelle Brandt created the scholarship fund after noticing the lack of support for young aspiring female performers in British Columbia . "As a high school
student, I was disappointed that there weren't any scholarships for music performance. I promised myself that if I ever
had the opportunity, I would create a scholarship for people
ed .
Diret orHeald
a talks
by Julian Dowling
about the troubles of bringing up All Fall Down
or Andrea Heald, a fourth-year English student and the director of the upcoming production of All
Fall Down, theatre is not just entertainment—it should shake us out of our complacency and even
inspire social change.
.When Heald was approached last year about directing the play for the English Students' Society (ESS),
she jumped at the chance and hasn't looked back since . She found out during rehearsals that directing
a play is a labour of love.
"I don't think you can really appreciate how much hard work goes into putting on a play . I have so
much more respect for people in theatre now."
On a shoestring budget and working in a less-than-desirable venue (the large WISE hall), Heald had to
improvise. By staging the action on the floor, level with the audience, Head'to"k a chance that the human
contact would make the audience feel more involved with the play.
"When the actors can feel the audience, and the audience can feel the actors, there's communication . That's the joy of live theatre . . .it's a sensual experience," says Heald.
She says that although child abuse was a more controversial issue in the mid-1990s, she is sure that
the theme of Canadian playwright Wendy Lill's work is still very relevant . "It is about child abuse, but it's
F
The Ubyssey
is
like me ."
Brandt hopes that Women Rock!, the event which she developed
based on this idea, will become an annual event in order to continue
offering the grant. Judging from the substantial turnout and enthusiasm
for the event on Tuesday night, it looks as if Brandt's hopes for the event
will soon become reality .+
more about the abuse of power and authority," she elaborates.
One of the main issues raised by the play is that most people impose their preconceived,
media-influenced ideas onto the world around them.
It's difficult, Heald says, to be objective about issues like child abuse when you read the
headlines in the Province and jump on the bandwagon of accusations . Heald blames the media
for fuelling this mob mentality by sensationalising such issues as child abuse.
Ewan Grady (Paul Belsito) is the one character in the play who tries to be objective and stand
apart from the system.
"The social fabric is torn by fear-mongering, chaos, and alienation," says Ewan in the play as
he struggles to convince his wife that their son may not be a victim of the alleged abuse . Still,
the play never rules out the possibility that child abuse occured . The ending is ambiguous, and
that, says Heald, is what makes it a good play.
The characters in the play are also not as black and white as they first appear. "Ewan isn't
the hero we think he is," says Heald.
Belsito, who says he identifies with the role of Ewan, thinks that it's one thing to reject the
system, but another thing to try and change it. "[Ewan is] almost too antiestablishment, he
buries himself and that's what makes him a tragic hero ."
The idea of an individual's relationship to his or her surrounding community is central to the
play. In real context, Heald laments the transient nature of Vancouver's population : she feels
people here are more complacent about important social issues . "A lot of people come and go,
there's no real sense of community," she says.
This is 'a problem, argues Heald, because a sense of community is needed for people to get
together and make change happen . "We have our own groups of friends," say! Heald, "but
looking for a few good people to fill the following positions for the 2000-2001 publishing year
Position papers are due up by Monday, March 20 at 5pm . Voting will take place from
Monday, March 27 to Sunday, April 3 . Voters must be Ubyssey staff members in good
standing . Please contact Bruce Arthur at 822 .2301 if you have any questions
editorial board
COORDINATING EDITOR
ROCK THE ONION Some of Vancouver's most talented female musicians
joined the Joyelle Brandt Trio at Women Rock! Profits went towards a
new music scholarship for female students. MELANIE STREICH PHOTO
NEWS EDITORS (2)
COPY/VOLUNTEERS EDITOR PHOTO EDITOR
CULTURE EDITOR
SPORTS EDITOR
FEATURES EDITOR
PRODUCTION MANAGER
expected time commitment : at least 50 hours per week per position
WEB COORDINATOR
RESEARCH COORDINATOR
LETTERS COORDINATOR
expected time commitment : at least 15 hours per week per position
coordinators
page friday—the ubyssey magazine•friday, mart .
lush
beau-
tiful buto
X-ROADS BY KOKORO DANCE
AT THE FIREHALL ARTS CENTRE
UNTIL MAR . 12 by Regina Yllng
there's no glue that holds everyone together ."
Going to the theatre is one type of glue, but audiences in
Vancouver are notoriously small . Heald is disappointed
that the Ford Center folded due to lack of interest over
productions like Showboat.
Although opera productions at the Queen Elizabeth
theatre frequently sell out, Belsito bemoans that trying
to get the person with a traditional family of four to go
to the Fringe Festival is "like pulling teeth ."
Heald speculates that the reason why theatre is not
eived, more popular here may have to do with the fact that
live theatre engages the audience more than film or TV.
id the "Theatre is an uncomfortable environment ; it's not
-nedia
safe like sitting in front of a screen in the dark . Theatre
is more visceral, it's more immediate—so you're chalstand
lenged more . People just don't want to deal with it ."
However, even though All Fall Down is a play about
lay as
child abuse, Heald says that the audience should
. Still,
expect to be entertained.
and
"There are lighter moments in the play that I chose
to accentuate ."
isn't
Of course, don't expect to be rolling in the aisles
with laughter, because the play is, according to
ct the Heald, a tragicomedy.
it, he As for her first experience as a director, Heald is
already looking forward to trying her hand at a Fringe
to the
play. Having taken on an ambitious project with serifeels
ous subject matter, and having had to overcome
id go,
some limiting budgetary constraints, Andrea Heald
is ready for anything.
to get
"Once you get the bug, you can't shake it," she
, "but says . v
on't ask me why. I've known about Kokoro Dance for several years—
the butoh company started by Barbara Bourget and Jay Hirabayashibut I've never been to see any performances . I've always thought that
an evening of butoh would be really, really depressing . Characterised by
excruciatingly slow movement and bleak despair, I never imagined it could be
as lush and beautiful as what I saw Tuesday night.
The lights came up slowly, revealing a company of silent, white-painted figures standing statue-still so close that the front row could have reached out
to touch the first line . The beginnings of movement happened in silence and
were so gentle that I almost missed them : a subtle, vegetative growth of
arms towards the ceiling that spread through the company while the lights
went softly from green to gold . The grounded surety of movement, the confidence and strength in each step, would remain with the dancers till the end
of the piece.
What intrigued me throughout the performance was what I thought would
bore me most : the slow, ritualistic flavour of butoh . Instead of being an outside constraint imposed on the dance, it was integral to it ; moving faster
would have destroyed the botanically-flavoured choreography and awe-inspiring mood of the first scene and stolen some of the dancers' power and dig-
D
eB
OnT
f a
at the Panofocio Gallery
Mar 6
BY MICHAEL LISTON
The offspring of Downtown Eastside poet Bud Osbom's
spoken word, and the improvised poetry of West Coast
jazz luminaries Graham Ord (tenor and soprano sax,
flute) and Paul Blaney (bass), Lonesome Monsters'
debut offering highlights of a low life makes for some
intense listening . The group played about an hour's
worth of the album Monday night, surrounded by the artwork of Richard Tetrault (who has also provided illustrations for a number of Osbom's printed volumes).
As a pre-emptive strike against tired cliches of blackclad beatniks, Ord insisted before the show that "[w]e're
no-way 'cool' . . .we're trying for 'hot . – And indeed, the
group does seem most effective when they stay furthest
from laid-back hipness, and fully dive into the realms of
intense, and sometimes violent, texture . Live, this was
particularly evident ; Osbom's penchant for soul and
blues (Jackie Wilson's "Higher and Higher" ended the
evening) surfaces throughout his work, but the most
explicitly blues-based number, "dark road," left me feeling unconvinced . While Ord's playing is very lyrical, I
found both he and Blaney to be most exciting when they
played raw.
The personal "highlight" of the evening, "truth of community," saw Ord wailing a dirge in an Eastern mode on
his soprano (guest guitarist Tony Wilson rounded out the
trio on Monday, and put a violin bow to eerie good-use on
this number), while Osborn transfixed the room with an
equally haunting tale of self-sacrifice in Auschwitz .
~
nity. Not to say X-Roads was all slow—
the jumps, spins and kicks that eventually came were huge, high and impressively athletic . I especially liked the
aggressive, competitive duet, which
should be enough to banish forever the
image of the wussy male dancer.
There is no raised stage at the
Firehall Arts Centre, just a performance area at the bottom of the
stands, and it served the company
well ; its intensity had an immediate
impact on the rapt audience . The
choreographers
(Bourget
and
Hirabayashi) also borrowed from more
than one tradition, linking East and
West . Although never obvious, ballet
was everywhere, emphasised more
in details like the position of the feet
and having dancers come out en
pointe in an arm-linked trio or in several pas de deux . There was even a
short, comic send-up of the diva
prima ballerina who always wants
to be in front of everyone else.
The whole performance was
soaked in radiant feeling, but if
there was a single message for
everyone to take home, I missed it . The beauty of
the dance and the intensity of the changing emotions that suffused the choreography were
enough to make this an evening that blew open
my preconceptions about butoh . The next time
Kokoro performs, I'll be there. v
Osbom's words seek to draw us into "the
anguish, the pathos, [and] the black humour"
that have comprised much of his experience in
the Downtown Eastside, as well as in the various other places he has called home, including his birthplace of Toledo, Ohio . In "drapetomania we fly down the highway with a
"Mexican trucker" and his load of "shotguns . ..
and porn," only to careen into a chaotic and
schizophrenic city-scape . Against the unfettered angst, however, Osbom yet finds hope
for redemption ; throughout his poems, the
power of human relationships emerges as a
foil against the dehumanising elements of
civilisation . He is not above optimism.
Stressing "political and social activism"
as part of what it means to be a poet, after
the show, Osbom commented on the tendency of Western "First World" poets to
become alienated from their societies and
communities . For his part, Osborn has
been known to read at public functions and
openings—opportunities he would like to
see more of for the politically-minded . He
also cited the late Art Solomon as an
example of a particularly under-credited poet who was likewise
deeply involved in the life of his community.
Having served on the Vancouver-Richmond Health Board
for three years, Osborn himself has put his dictum into practice before, and—underneath the polyphony of despair—continues to do so through his current work . So, can Lonesome
Monsters make for good neighbours? Speaking of the "harrowing" quality of his poems, Osbom left me with this thought:
"What you least want to tell other people is what you should
write about. . .that way you may actually find that they actually
feel much the same way."v
Heaven, in the handy wallet size.
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Ambassador: nuclear
weapons still a threat
by Daliah Merzaban
Asian nuclear tests, the re-rationalisation of nuclear arsenals by
Evil . Lethal . Insidious . Destructive. both nuclear powers and the
Ghastly. These are words ambitions of some non-weapons
Christopher Westdal uses to
states (including Iraq and North
describe the continuing threat of Korea), and the links between
nuclear weapons and the Middle
nuclear weapons.
"Everything is at stake," Eastern peace process.
Westdal, who is Canada's ambasWestdal also cited the US
sador for disarmament to the
Senate's recent rejection of the
United Nations (UN), told an audi- Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty,
ence at a public lecture which binds states to stop testing nuclear weapons, as a deterWednesday at the Simon Fraser
University Harbour Centre, the last rent to disarmament.
stop on his cross-country consulta"There are a number of rocks
tion tour. "Nuclear weapons did in our path," said Westdal . But
he contends that the Canadian
not go away with the Cold War."
During his tour, Westdal dis- government is promoting disarcussed Canada's role in promoting mament with its leverage as a
disarmament and assessed the
member of the North Atlantic
BOOM! Westdal says nuclear weapons
outlook for next month's review of Treaty Organisation (NATO).
Penelope Simons, vice-presi- are not the bomb. DALIAH MERZABAN PHOTO
the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty (NPT) to be held in New dent of the Simons Foundation—a He said nuclear weapons are "a
York.
non-governmental organisation
huge, ongoing mistake," which
"The whole topic is very heavy (NGO) concerned with peace, glob- Canada should not condone . But
and a little ignored, but it won't go al security and human rights—said he disagrees with Westdal that the
away," Westdal told the Ubyssey. that the NPT has been effective in
Canadian government is doing
"I don't want to be an alarmist, but ensuring that the number of states enough to support disarmament.
I do want Canadians to have these with nuclear weapons capabilities
Canada has opposed a number
facts—that nuclear arms control is has remained stable.
of nuclear weapons resolutions,
faltering."
But she said that the NGO com- including the UN's New Agenda
Eight states in the world cur- munity would like Canada to come
Coalition (NAC), which calls on
rently possess nuclear weapons,
out more strongly in favour of dis- nuclear states to eliminate their
including the US, Russia, Israel, armament . As a non-nuclear nuclear arsenals more quickly.
Pakistan, and India . Over 40,000 weapon state and a member of
"We do need to scare people.
nuclear weapons exist in the world,
NATO, Canada, she claims, is in a We are running real risks . . .We do
of which over 21,000 are believed
key position to pressure nuclear
have to mobilise fear," said Ross,
to be operational.
weapons states to expedite disar- who recommended that Canada
mament.
According to statistics from the
use its membership in NATO to "be
Canadian Network to Abolish
a burr under the American saddle ."
Nuclear Weapons, the explosive
But Westdal argues that
"I don't want to be an
power of the world's nuclear arseCanada is supporting disarmaalarmist, but I do want ment in NATO.
nal is equivalent to over 500,000
bombs of the size of those that
"We're already accused of
Canadians to have
were dropped on Hiroshima and
being nuclear nags in NATO," he
Nagasaki in 1945.
said, adding that Canada will
these facts—that
While Westdal said that 1000
becoming a member of
nuclear arms control is reconsider
to 2000 warheads are dismantled
the NAC next month.
each year, he warned that the
Unlike during the Cold War,
faltering!'
bombs dropped during the Second
Westdal said there are now more
World War "are firecrackers by the
players in the nuclear game, and it
standards of modern arsenals ."
–Christopher Westdal is more likely that nuclear weapon
The NPT, which came into effect
Canadian Ambassador for capabilities fall into the wrong
in 1970, was extended indefinitely
hands.
Disarmament to the United
in 1995 and has been ratified by
"Nuclear weapons cannot be
Nations uninvented, but that doesn't mean
187 states in the world . Only four
states—Cuba, India, Israel, and
that we need to keep a lethal cupPakistan—are not signatories.
ful at every lip," he said.
Aimed at eventual nuclear dis"[Westdal] obviously put forWhile chemical and biological
armament, the NPT calls on states ward the government position,"
weapons are openly shamed,
to refrain from transferring or try- said Simons . "We would like Westdal said nuclear weapons are
ing to acquire nuclear weapons
Canada to push nuclear weapons too often linked to status and
technology.
states to come clean on their com- pride.
Westdal said that the NPT's mitments ."
"Surely we can do better than
effectiveness is challenged by a
Doug Ross, a political science this lethal legacy for our children
number of factors, including South professor at Simon Fraser, agrees . and theirs," he said .+
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page friday—the ubyssey magazine•friday, march 10
Criminal charges dropped in GAP incident ; civil suit pending
by Miriam Torchinsky
There will be no criminal charges pressed over
the incident surrounding the Genocide Awareness Project (GAP)'s appearance at UBC.
Crown Counsel has decided not to press
criminal charges against Jon Chandler, Erin
Kaiser, and Lesley Washington for pulling down
the GAP display set up in November by Students
for Life, a campus anti-abortion group.
The display, which used graphic images from
the California-based Centre for Bio-ethical
Reform, was torn down by the three students
shortly after It was put up . Students for Life then
asked the RCMP to bring criminal charges
against the students, and filed a complaint with
UBC administration.
Three Students for Life members have since
filed a civil suit at the BC Supreme Court against
the Alma Mater Society, Chandler, Kaiser, Washington, and former AMS Coordinator of External
Affairs Nathan Allen.
Constable Jeff Morley of the campus RCMP
detachment, said that Crown Counsel decided
not to press charges because it would not be in
the public interest .
GAP
uneventful at Simon Fraser
by Brooke Larsen
The Peak (SFU)
BURNABY (CUP)—Last week,
Simon Fraser University (SFU)
became the latest campus
embroiled in the controversy
over the Genocide Awareness
Project (GAP), a display that
compares abortion to the holocaust and slavery.
Natalie Hudson, president
of SFU Students for Life, said
that GAP's intention is to
"show abortion for what it is,
what it does and what it looks
like ."
But near the GAP display,
the Pro-Choice Action Network
(PCAN), a group that advocates women's right to abortion, passed out leaflets that
accused GAP and its USbased founder, the Centre for
Bio-ethical Reform, of producing hate literature against
women.
"When you say that abor-
tion is a form of genocide,
Kadish says that students
you're basically calling women involved in Hillel have mixed
murderers," said Joyce Arthur views on abortion, but says
of PCAN .
that he finds the use of Holo-
"They're just making this caust images "offensive and
assumption that a fetus is a inappropriate ."
full human being with full
But Hudson sees no probrights, and I find that indefen- lem in using the images.
sible," she said .
"In Germany at that time,
Hudson responded by say- Hitler denied the personhood
ing that the display is not of Jewish people . . .This is why
offensive to women .
we also use the lynchings of
"We are not pointing fin- African Americans," she said.
gers at women with unwanted "In both cases, it became
pregnancy, but at society in legally okay to kill this class of
general for promoting abortion people ."
as the only alternative," she
Although university adminsaid.
istration permitted the display,
The campus Jewish group concerns over space and the
Hillel also had objections to
possibility of violence forced
GAP.
the display to an outside loca"I didn't feel it was appro- tion.
priate to compare abortion to
The Simon Fraser Student
something so hateful," said Society also complied with
Hillel director Sam Kadish . "It putting up the display, said
really demeans the memory of Hudson, "allowing us to
those that were murdered in speak, as they would any other
the Holocaust ."
group."
"Basically, it was simply a minor property
crime, and there is a university process in place
to address [Chandler, Kaiser, and Washington's]
actions, and that's why the Crown has chosen
not to proceed," he said.
But Stephanie Gray of Students for Life is
appalled by the Crown's refusal to press
charges.
"It sets a precedent, because it says that if
you have an unpopular view on campus, you
can't express it without being subject to violence . And your own judicial system, your own
courts won't even protect your rights when it
goes that far," she said.
Ayman Nader, legal counsel for the
defence, explained that the civil suit may proceed more quickly now that no criminal
charges are pending.
And Chandler believes that since there will be
no criminal charges, his case for the civil lawsuit
is much stronger.
"The fact that the police have decided not
to do anything shows that we're in the right
on this, it shows that [the destruction of the
display] happened in an emotional moment,"
he said .:
Hillel feeds homeless
by Shane Bryant
Walking through the SUB Wednesday morning
reminded students of their elementary school
days and the peanut butter sandwiches they
ate for lunch . But a Hillel House event also
gave students an opportunity to help the homeless.
UBC's B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation and the
Quest Outreach Society hosted a "PB Jam"—a
sandwich-making program designed to help
feed the homeless in Vancouver's Downtown
Eastside.
The event, which began at 10 :00am, was
scheduled to continue until 3 :00pm, but sandwich makers had reached their goal by 12 :30.
"Our goal," said Hillel's Community Chairperson Harper Hadden, "[was] to make 500
sandwiches . But as soon as we got started it
was going at this incredibly fast pace, and we
had a couple hundred sandwiches done in an
hour."
The sandwiches were later taken downtown
to the Quest Outreach Society, which provides
various services for homeless people in East
_ Vancouver, the Tri-Cities, Burnaby and Surrey .
Each month, it feeds over 5000 people.
"It was a super event," said Shelly Wells, the
executive director of Quest.
"It really helped a lot of people," she said.
The PB Jam has been organised in a number
of universities across Canada and the United
States . This is the first year that UBC has participated in the event.
Hadden said that "the PB Jam is a unique
opportunity for students to help our community
in a fun and creative environment ."
And event organisers were pleased with the
support from students.
"The reaction from the students is very positive . It's great," said Lori Braha, Hillel House's
program director.
"Its helping people . It's like giving my time
for a good cause," said Alfredo, a fourth-year
history major who was helping make sandwiches .
"If I wasn't doing this, I'd just be hanging
out, talking with friends or something . Every little bit helps," he said.
Buns Master Bakery donated the bread for
the sandwiches, while Safeway contributed the
bulk of the peanut butter and jam . :
Come for an hour . . . come for the day
The one day event for BC's high technology community
March 14, 2000
10:00 am- 5:30 pm
Robson Square Conference Centre
Vancouver, BC
n
Visit our website for further information
presented by the
BC Advanced Systems Institute (ASI)
www.asi.bc.ca/asi/exchange
Who is going to be there :
High-tech companies
• schedule of events
• companies registered & displaying
• seminar & speaker information
Students
To Register
E-mail lisa@asi.bc .ca with
the following:
• name
• institution
• department
• e-mail address
• indicate if you are an
undergraduate, graduate,
faculty or staff
Research labs
Why YOU should be there:
Industry support groups
• everthing is FREE
• view over 200 displays
• meet company representatives
• enjoy the wine & cheese reception
• attend seminars & keynote addresses
• discover BC's leading edge technologies
• meet other students and faculty in your research area
• pick up the Industry and Academic Research Directories
• generate ideas, contracts and business/research collaborations
Investors
Faculty
Consultants
Government agencies
y«march 10, 2000 • page friday—the ubyssey magazine
SAME SEX MARRIAGES? I~
NEXT THING YOU -KNOW,
THEY ' RE GOING TO
GIVE COLOURED FOLK
THE VOTE!!
Equality shouln't be a dirty word
Pierre Elliot Trudeau, back when he was only the Justice
Minister, once said that "the state has no business in the
nation's bedrooms ." He was talking about opposition to proposed changes to the Criminal Code that included the decriminalisation of private homosexual behaviour between two consenting adults, and it was a masterful quote . It disarmed the
opposition, and it has resonated ever since . But of late, the
state, both in Canada and in the United States, has made
numerous forays into the bedrooms of the nations . And it still
reeks of the same damn bigotry that Trudeau so ably disarmed in 1967.
On Tuesday, Californians voted by a nearly two-to-one margin to approve the following referendum statement : "Only
marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognised in California ." The campaign for the measure, called
Proposition 22, was heavily backed and financed by the
Republican right, church groups, and Hispanic labour unions,
but it was supported, according to Associated Press exit
polls, "about equally by men and women and all races and
income groups ."
It's nice to know that in sunny California, all races and
income groups can band together in solidarity and bash a
minority group.
On first glance, you'd think California would be a little
more liberal and open-minded than this . But it's by no means
unique—since 1993, 31 states have passed legislation pro-
PAGE FRIDAY
O
M
COORDINATING
NATIONAL/COPY
Bruce Arthur
Cynthia Lee
DESIGN
SPORTS
Todd Silver
Naomi Kim
FEATURES
PHOTOS
Tom Peacock
Tara Westover
CULTURE
NEWS
Duncan M. McHugh Nicholas Bradley
Jaime Tong
Daliah Merzaban
O
COORDINATORS
cup Nyranne Martin
web Flora Graham
research Daniel Silveiman/Graemee worthy
letters Lisa Denton
hibiting same-sex marriages . Why, all of a sudden, is the
threat of gay marriage such a huge problem? Are gays and
lesbians running rampant through the churches and reception halls of America in tuxedos and wedding dresses? Is it
time to call out the National Guard?
All this no-gay-marriage hysteria is largely due to two overriding factors : one, the Hawaii Supreme Court raised the
possiblity of same-sex marriage in 1993, and states rushed
to issue a pre-emptive strike against the chance that it would
become a reality . The second is that America, like a few other
places we know, is rather less than tolerant . Republicans are
more anti-gay than the Reform Party, and the religious right in
the United States is just as hardline as ever . Of course,
Canada is in no rush to allow same-sex marriages either.
The biggest question we'd like to ask about all is this is
why not?
Why not allow same-sex marriage? Why are same-sex
couples any different than heterosexual couples? In many
ways, they're probably better. When columnist Dan Savage
came to UBC to give a talk during Outweek, he pointed out
that same-sex couples that want kids must jump through
hoop after hoop to adopt a kid, and in so doing they prove
that they really want to raise a child . Meanwh'tl 4 allrhe#,ertosexual people need to have a kid are functional gonads and
a working egg. As Savage pointed out, "you can't get drunk
and adopt a child ."
The Ubyssey is the official student
newspaper of the University of British
Columbia . It is published every
Tuesday and Friday by The Ubyssey
Publications Society.
We are an autonomous, democratically run student organisation, and all
students are encouraged to participate.
Editorials are chosen and written by
the Ubyssey staff. They are the
expressed opinion of the staff, and do
not necessarily reflect the views of The
Ubyssey Publications Society or the
University of British Columbia.
The Ubyssey is a founding member of
Canadian University Press (CUP) and
firmly adheres to CUP's guiding principles.
All editorial content appearing in The
Ubyssey is the property of The Ubyssey
Publications Society. Stories, opinions,
photographs and artwork contained
herein cannot be reproduced without
the expressed, written permission of
The Ubyssey Publications Society.
Letters to the editor must be under
300 words . Please include your phone
number, student number and signature (not for publication) as well as
your year and faculty with all submissions . ID will be checked when submissions are dropped off at the editorial
office of The Ubyssey, otherwise verification will be done by phone.
"Perspectives" are opinion pieces over
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are run according to space.
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Ubyssey Publications Society fails to publish an advertisement or if an error in the
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The UPS shall not be responsible for
slight changes or typographical errors
that do not lessen the value or the
impact of the ad.
Eventually, same-sex marriages will happen (legally—they
do happen already), just as interracial marriages happened,
just as women got the vote . But it's ridiculous that we aren't
ready and willing to just do it now. For god's sake, if we as a
society haven't accepted that homosexuality is not only a
fact, but just as natural as any other sexual orientation, then
when will we? Haven't we figured out that gays and lesbians
and bisexuals and everyone else pays taxes like everyone
else and work like everyone else and are, for the most part,
just like every other damn person . And frankly, those who
condemn homosexuality on moral grounds can go to hell as
far as we're concerned.
One would hope that the situation in Canada would be a
little better. Well, it is . A poll conducted for Ottawa in 1998
found that two-thirds of Canadians believe that same-sex couple who have lived together for a year or more deserve the
same benefits and obligations as common-law couples . And
sweeping legislation has just been tabled that would give
those same benefits to gay couples . Bill C-23, as it's called,
is omnibus legislation that will affect some 68 pieces of legislation . And it's about damn time.
But same-sex marriage isn't on the table yet, and the government has assured us that it won't be anytime soon . So
we're not exactly a gay and lesbian Xanadu yet. But at least
we're making steps.
Equality isn't a dirty word . And nor should it be.
EDITORIAL OFFICE
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CONTRIBUTIONS
Flora Graham asked out Todd Sliver who was dating Tom Peacock who
had a crush on Naomi Wm who moved in with Dalian Meraaban who
broke up with Jeremy Beaulne who was still getting over Cynthia Lee who
turned down Jaime Tong who kissed Duncan M. McHugh who was haw
ing -dinner with Grdeme worthy who mewed Daniel Silverman who
divorced Michelle Mossop who was having an affair with Miriam
Tomhinsky who confessed to Shane Bryant who sad that Bruce Arthur
had done the same thing with Julian Dowling who secretly admired Laura
Blue who swore she only hugged Alicia Miller who blamed this whole
marriage thing on Regina Yung who started it all with Michael Liston—
and Jeff McIntyre. Tara Westover just did it to save money. Nicholas
Bradley did it for money. but let's face e—A wasn't worth the trouble .
0
PAGE FRIDAY c.+
page friday—the ubyssey magazine•friday, march
Coach search wide open
by Naomi Kim
While the high school, college and
university men's basketball playoffs are coming to a close, another basketball race is underway.
But instead of the players, it's the
head coaches who are now in the
spotlight.
Since the announcement of
UBC head coach Bruce Enns' resignation last Wednesday, speculation has run rampant in BC basketball circles about who will fill
the coveted position . Names
from all levels of basketball have
been dropped, and it comes as
no big surprise.
"[It's] probably most prestigious job in the country," said
Rich Chambers, co-coach of the
Terry Fox Ravens, who had a
taste of the position when he
filled in for Enns during Enns' oneyear leave of absence in 19971998 . "I think it will attract applicants from all over Canada and
it's a wonderful university. . .If it's
not the best, it is definitely one of
the best coaching jobs in
Canada ."
Enns has held the position for
the past 15 years after coming
from Winnipeg in 1985 . During his CAWNGAILCOACHES: Rich Chambers, shown here during the playoffs against the
time, his overall Canada West reg- UVic in 1998, filled in for Bruce Enns during Enns' one-year sabbatical . He has
ular season record was 159-101 . been mentioned as a candidate to succeed Enns at UBC. uarssEr FILE PHOTO
The job will be posted within
the next few days and applicants will be considered letics and academics programs as well as a favourable
based on two main factors : firstly, coaching ability and
location . The position will also likely garner interest not
technical skill, and secondly, the ability to recruit new only from within BC, but from other provinces as well.
local and national talent to UBC.
University of Alberta head coach Don Horwood and
"In Canadian universities, head coach is a tough job
University of Lethbridge head coach Dave Crook are
because you don't have that big recruiting network,"
busy these days as their teams head to the CIAU
explained UBC Athletic Director Bob Philip . "You've got national championships, but both are aware of the
to do a lot of that yourself . Somebody that's technical- opening.
ly qualified and somebody that can recruit and that can
"I think it's one of the most sought-after jobs in
get along with people and put together a good program.
Canada and whether I'm going to apply for it myself, I
There's a lot of factors that go into it ."
have no idea," said Crook . "At this time I'm taking my
As well, candidates with university degrees will be
team to Halifax in a week and I'm not really sure what
preferred, and a level three basketball coaching certifi- my future lies ."
cate with be required.
"I'm pretty happy at the University of Alberta," said
Potential local candidates include Chambers, who
Horwood . "They 've treated me quite well here and I'm
held the reigns of the UBC basketball program two sea- quite happy with the circumstances . However, if anysons ago . He said he is "considering it, but still wound
body were to talk to me about the UBC job, I'm obviup with [high school provincial championships] ."
ously willing to talk to anybody. But I will not be applying ."
"I will sit down with my wife and my family and probPhilip said he would not "rule out somebody from
another school," but acknowledged that it is easier for
ably discuss it at more length this weekend when I have
time," said Chambers . "I thoroughly enjoyed the experi- coaches to recruit locally and that there are many good
ence [at UBC] but I love what I'm doing now, too . So it's coaches already available in BC.
Athletics did give preference to a local candidate this
a tradeoff."
past year when they hired Windsor Secondary School's
UBC basketball alumnus and coach of the Langara
Jay Prepchuk as the head coach of the UBC football
Falcons Kevin Hanson, whom Chambers considers to
team over renowned University of Saskatchewan head
be a top candidate, is also thought to be in the running.
Bill Disbrow, the head coach of the perennially power- coach Brian Towriss . Prepchuk's inaugural season
ful Richmond Secondary School Colts, is also competing
proved reasonably successful, as the team went 8-1 in
in the BC high school provincial championships and has the -regular . season - before losing to Towriss'
also reportedly expressed interest in the position.
Saskatchewan team in the Canada West finals.
Enns, however, first came to UBC as a coach from
Scott Clark, the head coach of the Simon Fraser
Winnipeg.
University men's basketball team, found out about the
The small selection committee will consist of a curposition through some of the players that he was
rent UBC basketball player, a basketball team alumnus,
recruiting in common with Enns—Enns had let the players know that he would be resigning . Clark said he will Coordinator of Interuniversity Affairs Kim Gordon,
Philips, and possibly others.
wait and see the job posting for specifications.
"I'll look at it," said Clark, adding, "I really have no
After receiving applications, selected candidates for
idea what the position looks like or entails or what the the position will be interviewed . Philips said he hopes
offer is like ."
that a selection will be made by mid-April.
The attraction of the job includes UBC's strong athEnns will remain at UBC until a candidate is selected . v
'OI
10.200':1'
WEST 10TH OPTOMETRY CLINIC
PATRICIA A. RUPNOW, B.Sc., O .D . *
STEPHANIE BROOKS, B.A., O .D.
MEG SEXSMPFH, B.Sc., O.D.
DOCTORS OF OPTOMETRY-DEDICATED TO EXCELLENCE
Phone: (604) 224-2322
4320 West 10th Avenue Vancouver, B .C. V6R 2H7
GENERAL EYE HEALTH AND VISION CARE
* Denotes Optometric Corp .
Email : info@westlOthoptometry .hc.cs
Student (Peer) Advisors, ARCS
In a continuing effort to increase the level of service provided by
the Faculty of Arts Academic Advising Office, the Faculty intends
to hire three to five students to serve as the first point of contact for
students attending the Academic Advising Office.
Successful applicants must be entering their third or fourth year in
the Faculty of Arts and have completed at least thirty credits at
UBC . They must possess good communications skills, and be
reliable and conscientious workers . Their duties will include
offering assistance to students in finding the correct path to
resolution of their inquiries, referring students to appropriate
Academic Advising Office staff, and scheduling appointments for
Faculty advisors. Pre-employment training is offered and required.
Employment will be 3 to 10 hours per week on regular shifts of
between 3 and 3 .5 hours, morning or afternoon . Payment is at the
rate of $12 .45 per hour. Term of employment is September 2000 to
April 2001.
Applications, including a resume, two letters of reference, and a
statement indicating the qualities the candidate would bring to the
position must be submitted to:
Ms. Wendy Trigg, Associate Director
Arts Academic Advising Office
Buchanan A201
THE DEADLINE FOR APPLYING IS MARCH 31.
ATTENTION : STUDENTS
IN THE FACULTY OF ARTS
Waives BEY+PND LPID YEAR???
INfInt Avew FAIR
adaasda~, March 15th, 2000
12pm - 2pm, SUB Ballroom
Thinking about a Major?
Thinking about Honours?
Thinking about a Minor?
Thinking about a different Faculty?
Thinking about a Professional School?
Thinking about Graduate School?
Thinking about requirements?
Thinking about a Year Abroad?
SPONSORED BY THE FACULTY OF ARTS IN COLLABORATION
WITH THE ARTS UNDERGRADUATE SOCIETY
Ma, march 10, 2000
THE
TRUE
FAC E
0
page friday—the ubyssey magazine
They are the Elohim, the God of the Bible
• They are eternal
• They come from another planet
• They created humanity scientifically
• They have sent their last prophet : RAEL
• They are coming !
Wednesday,
March 15 at 7 pm
at Woodlands Restaurant
2582 W . Broadway, Vancouver
www .rael .org
info . : (604) 669-4797
CAMPUS LOST & FOUND SALE
Thursday, March 16th
11 : 3 Dam-2 : 3 0pm
War Memorial Gym Foyer
Cheap prices!!
Co'iies
C O P Y
4
Plus
C E N T R E
SELF SERVE COPIES
4
ea.
81 /2 x 11,
each side
Featuring easy to use, fast Konica Copiers
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Also available 81 /2 x 14 and 11 x 17 at extra cost.
Sale from March 1 - March 31/2000
@ 2nd
STOP! DON'T GO ELSEWHERE
Discover the Friendly Competition!
Floor, 2174 Western Parkway (above UBC Pizza)
tel : 224-6225
Women target poverLy violence
by Michelle Mossop
Chanting slogans celebrating
women's unity, approximately
500 women took to Vancouver's
streets Wednesday afternoon in
celebration of International
Women's Day and the official
launch of the "World March of
Women 2000," an intemational
movement to end poverty and
injustice against women.
After congregating on the
steps of the Vancouver Art
Gallery, various unions and
women's organisations from
across the Lower Mainland
marched down Georgia Street to
the federal government buildings
at Library Square.
Celebrations started with an
opening prayer given by Harriet
RALLY : Women gather at the Art Gallery on Wednesday . MICHELLE mossoP PHOTO
Mahaney, an elder from the
Squamish nation . Speakers urged the provincial and fedagainst women.
eral governments to address women's poverty, not only
The eight month-long campaign, with over 3500
around the world, but also closer to home.
organisations from more than 146 countries participat"A women's march is still needed in Canada because
ing, is demanding that national governments and interwomen are still getting the short end of the stick econational bodies become proactive in the fight to end
nomically, socially, and politically. We still don't have the
women's inequality and to imrove the status of women
presentation, we still don't have rights, and we won't stop
around the globe.
until we change that," said Judith Radovan, an event
"Today's action is an exciting start to an important
organiser from the International Women's Day Committee.
movement this year. Women from around the world are
Others emphasised the need to end violence against
coming together to demand action on poverty and viowomen.
lence against women," said Angela Schira, secretary"This is necessary because even in this new millen- treasurer of the BC Federation of Labour and Chair of the
nium a man rapes a women every 17 minutes in
Women's Rights Committee.
Canada," said Tina Beads from the Vancouver Rape
The campaign will conclude in October at the steps of
Relief and Women's Shelter. Beads added that more
the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York with
than half of Canadian women are hit by a man at some
an official appeal to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to
point in a relationship.
improve the conditions endured by women everywhere.
"Male violence against women affects all of us,
At UBC, campus radio station CiTR celebrated
regardless of our race, class, age, sexual orientation,
International Women's Day with "Thundergrrrl"—a womenand ability, " she said, noting that governments must be
only broadcast that had phone-in updates from the
held accountable for their responsibility to end violence
International Women's March 2000 .+