Letter to the Editor – September 30, 2013

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September 30, 2013

Dear editor,

Earlier this month, Leah Bjornson wrote an article titled “Bright ideas for shifting your body clock” — an article discussing one individual’s sleep-related work.

What bothered me about this article is that it directs readers to a service and even provided the website of the service. My issue stems from my experience of not being permitted to include web addresses of activist groups — such as No One Is Illegal — in my articles written for The Peak. What message does this convey of what our student newspaper stands for?

The organization I just referred to helps provide resources to combat racist immigration policies. They are an organization that represents the other side of “the story” — that is the side of immigrants who are imprisoned, who will never have their own voice heard in the media, and who are stripped of their rights. However, the newspaper would privilege the voices of paying advertisers over a manifestation of their own voice.

I’m not saying newspapers don’t need money to operate, and that accepting money for publishing advertisements doesn’t help make this possible; but I expect a university publication to acknowledge that to refuse to “advertise” the website of an activist organization while advertising services and products either in their articles or in ads themselves presents not just a contradiction, but a political choice.

Now to be fair, I have written and read many articles in The Peak advocating support for one cause or another. In that sense, The Peak is “political.” It still makes no sense, though, that the paper should shirk away from “advertising” a political cause while publishing the website of a service and also publishing actual advertisements.

Newspapers often make decisions like this to remain “objective.” There is a point, however, when one must stop being “objective” and start being fair; that the paper spreads the word of a service in this way, and not a cause working toward the goal of making real people’s lives better, is evidence of a severe perversion of the paper’s concept of its responsibility to the public.

I’m not saying The Peak has somehow perpetrated this in a conscious way, or that the editors individually lack a sense of responsibility; I would simply like to see the editors prepared to ask themselves — and others — the hard question of what message they are sending, and to aspire to be even better journalists than they already are.

Those of us saying objectivity is an important value must also agree that news and opinions media — some would say especially opinions media — play an important role in our democracy. Furthermore, it’s the news’ responsibility not just to convey the news, but to keep those who could potentially abuse their power in check.

To the ends of resolving this contradiction, I recommend that the editorial board of The Peak take the necessary steps to evaluate its political responsibility, and to put into place explicit, accessible guidelines as to what this responsibility is or is not. Does this paper want to be respected for entertainment value — or for daring to make a statement every now and then?

Sincerely,

Joseph Leivdal
SFU student

Language forgotten, but my identity remains

By

Peak Web

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September 30, 2013

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It was late at night when an old friend from my hometown started talking to me through chat. She lives in the Philippines and I in Vancouver. At some point in our conversation, I started typing slowly, struggling to figure out what I was trying to say and how to say it in my mother tongue. Then an alarming realization hit me — I’m starting to forget my native language.

This encounter got me thinking how much my native language has slipped away from me in my eight years in Canada. Philippines is my motherland, I am Filipino, and our language is called Tagalog.

I grew up in a nation heavily influenced by Western culture, meaning that the English language was never foreign to me at all; so even though English is our second language, Tagalog is still the main language spoken around the country.

To isolate the English language as a form of assimilation is unjust.

At home, with my family, I speak my native tongue but English when interacting with people outside — the means by which one has a functional life as an immigrant in a city like Vancouver.

Though my situation can be considered a form of North American assimilation, I don’t want to claim that. Vancouver is a melting pot of diverse cultures, and to isolate the English language as a form of assimilation would be unjust.

One of the first things I learned in high school social studies when arriving in Vancouver was the term “assimilation.” It is defined as the amalgamation of a minority group to the dominant society or culture.

The term stuck with my immigrant self during that time. I was determined that I wouldn’t let myself be assimilated by North American culture; I would not willingly give up my Filipino identity upon moving here, and I think that any immigrant would protest against being purposely assimilated or giving up their identity entirely.

Language is said to be a huge identity marker, and once that is lost, many question one’s capability of claiming to be part of such identity. However, I believe that losing the ability to speak one’s native language, does not take away the ability to belong to such culture. There are many factors at play when defining an identity, such as race and tradition, language is just one of them.

We have to accept that we need to speak English to communicate effectively.

Many forget their native language after years of living in a foreign country, but remain deeply attached to their roots and culture in other ways. Language is just one of the ways in which individuals can express their heritage.

The only problem surrounding the issue of losing or not knowing your native language is the shame of forgetting it and the guilt for not being able to preserve it. It may seem like a betrayal to your own culture, but it all boils down to the individual’s will of retaining his or her native language. As long as the individual recognizes the problem, it can be resolved in many ways.

I am now a Canadian citizen on paper, but I am also still Filipino because of my roots. Whenever someone inquires about my identity, I proudly identify myself as Filipino while delivering my response in English. Language is an important identity marker, but we have to take into account that it is also just a medium for practicality, and tool that can help when trying to have an efficient conversation in the new country you live in.

Engineering students show need for speed

By

EIC

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September 30, 2013

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For the first time in history, SFU students will compete in the Formula Society of Automotive Engineers West competition — an event organized by the engineering association, SAE International.

The SFU Formula club is taking part in the annual student race-car design competition, which includes competitors from approximately 200 universities across North America, including UBC, UVic and the University of Alberta.

The competition requires students to build a Formula One inspired car, which includes features such as four wheels and an open-wheel design, a small engine equivalent to that of a street bike, and an air-intake flowing through a 20 mm restrictor. These requirements limit the vehicle’s power, allowing students to focus on making it as light as possible.

“SFU didn’t have any big, competitive projects for engineers to take part of,” says George Ioannou, a member of the group. “We decided we could get it started so we could get students involved in something that’s more competitive, and not just for fun.”

The most prominent advantage of the club’s car is its aluminum chassis, says Ioannou: “Everyone else uses steel, so that will give us a little bit of an edge on weight.”

To become a true contender in the future, the club is vying for accessible space for students.

The team is composed of two four-person groups: one responsible for electronics and control, made up of students Ioannou, Spencer Steele, Batuhan Atalay, and Richard Douglas; and one for design and build, including Gustav Louw, Tyler Docherty, Michael Brini, and Colin MacDonald.

Most teams in the SAE competition are comprised of 20 to 30 students, according to Ioannou, and have about a year to work on the project; SFU’s team, however, is much smaller and only has eight months.

“We wanted to do this as a club when we first started,” explains Ioannou, “but people were hard to come by.” The car initially started as a capsule project for fourth-year engineering students, but is evolving to a club as more people begin to take interest in it, he said.

Being a first-time car, Ioannou said the group isn’t aiming to win the competition just yet. “We want to up the exposure, so people can know that we’re around and we’re here to compete,” he said. Ioannou believes this will bring the group more members, sponsors and funds, giving them more leeway to make everything “more customizable.”

To become a true contender in the future, the club is vying for accessible space for students. Steele’s family shop in Maple Ridge currently holds the vehicle, but it is a long distance from the Surrey-based engineering program.

The car initially started as a capsule project for fourth-year engineering students.

The group recently proposed using the former building for the Shell gas station on the Burnaby campus, which is currently being used as a studio for wood-carver Jackie Timothy and as a storage area for totem poles from Nahino Park.

According to Steele, the team has sent a proposal to SFU with the hopes of sharing this space with Timothy, SFU’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Club, and other student clubs with projects that are in need of space on campus.

Steele says that the Formula Club is asking for the space, at least temporarily as the building of the Student Union Building may interrupt their plans to use it, however, even if the Treehouse location is chosen for the new SUB project, he estimates the group would still have “a couple years” to use the area.

“We want to bring all these students together in one place,” says Steele. “We could have as many as four cars at any given time being built in a shop, and perhaps over a hundred students from different faculties being involved.”

The group’s proposal for the space is currently being analyzed by John Driver, SFU’s VP Academic and Provost, says Steele. In the meantime, the Formula Club will continue to work on their project and give it their best at the competition next June.

*The article, “Engineering students show need for speed,” incorrectly stated that totem poles from Nahino Park are stored in the former Shell gas station building. Phil McCoy from Facility Management clarified this point and explained that various facilities use the building for storage. The area has also been used for the softball team’s batting practice “for about ten years,” says head coach Mike Rennie.

Over $13,000 raised for annual Terry Fox Day

By

EIC

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September 30, 2013

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On the morning of Sept. 24, students, faculty, friends, and family gathered across all three SFU campuses to participate in the country-wide phenomenon that is Terry’s Cause on Campus. Waving banners, cheering, and flaunting school spirit, runners and walkers alike joined together in a 5km trek across campus to raise money for the Terry Fox Foundation.

This year, SFU raised $13,441, with over 34 teams ranging across faculties and campuses. Teams went all out; some ran for fun, some for school pride, and others for loved ones and coworkers who had won or lost the battle with cancer.

One such team was the Geography Climatologists, who ran in memory of Owen Hertzman, an SFU co-worker who passed just three weeks ago. Each teammate carried an image of his face while they ran, and held it high as they crossed the finish line.

During the opening ceremonies of the run, Christine Tulloch, who is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English at SFU, received a Gold Medal Award for courage in the face of adversity. Participants watched as Tulloch was given three terms’ free tuition at SFU, a $1,000 cash prize, a gold medal, and a plaque in honour of all that she has done for youth and young adults facing the war against cancer, while winning her own fight against leukemia.

Following routine blood testing, Tulloch tested positive for leukemia at age 19. She underwent several medical procedures including bone marrow biopsies, blood transfusions, and chemotherapy. Tulloch went into remission one month later, but was administered two more years of chemotherapy to ensure the cancer would not return.

Tulloch still deals with the side effects of her cancer treatment, suffering from chronic migraines, high blood pressure, a weakened heart and increased risk of other cancers.

Like Terry, I believe that a world free from cancer is possible, and I promise to continue to fight for this dream.”

– Christine Tulloch, SFU student

Tulloch finished treatments in August of 2009, and is now on her fourth year of university and the path to graduate. Tulloch has volunteered for organizations such as Balding for Dollars, SFU Club for the Cure, and Camp Goodtimes, and has personally earned over $40,000 for the cause.

After school, Tulloch plans to major in clinical counseling, and become a counsellor for other cancer survivors. Diagnosed at similar stages in their lives, Tulloch said, “Like Terry, I believe that a world free from cancer is possible, and I promise to continue to fight for this dream, just as my hero Terry Fox did, until this dream is a reality.”

Since Terry Fox’s monumental Marathon of Hope began in 1980, over $600 million has been raised in his name. In 1999 Terry was voted “Canada’s Greatest Hero” and in 2004, he claimed “Canada’s Second Greatest Hero of all time.”

Terry’s Cause on Campus, which began in fall of 2012, has spread across Canadian universities, and colleges from SFU to the Memorial University of Newfoundland. During this event, students from all over work together to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients at home and abroad.

HUMOUR: Build SFU team abruptly stops SUB project, claims “it’s just not fun anymore”

By

EIC

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September 30, 2013

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BURNABY — Despite being really excited when they first got the idea and were just playing around with ideas, the Build SFU team has reportedly cancelled the SUB project to “do something else, something fun.”

According to those who have been watching the group closely, the SUB project seemed to be going along fine, as Build SFU members enthusiastically talked about all the things they were going to put into the space before things turned for the worse.

“Restaurants, comfy couches, arcade games” were reportedly talked about in their meetings just a few weeks ago by excited Build SFU members without taking breaths as they ran around the room jumping up and down, writing on the walls of their fort (nicknamed the Think Tank) with magic markers, making giant posters and playing with their ‘really cool model of SFU that has a little AQ and everything!’

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, everyone involved in Build SFU got tired and just quit.

“I don’t know what happened exactly, they were all smiles last time I saw them,” third-year student, Frank Danstro told The Peak in a disappointed tone. “I thought they really liked SUB building.”

According to sources close to the Build SFU students, the group did like SUB building until it took a sudden turn for the worst last week when they were joined by the architects they had hired, Perkins+Will.

“From the first question, it seemed obvious that this wasn’t going to work out,” said second year business student Tom Fergus who sat in on the meeting.

“The architects just asked what their vision for the SUB was and they immediately all starting wildly yelling all at once ‘THE SUB WILL BE MY PLACE TO THRIVE’, THE SUB WILL BE MY PLACE TO NETWORK’, it wasn’t a very good way start . . .”

Once the Build SFUers were calmed down and they started to discuss the more practical elements of the SUB, things started to get even worse.

“I remember Perkins+Will were trying to talk square footage but the students just kept asking if they could get pool tables, which then reminded one of them about air hockey tables and then foosball and on and on . . .” Fergus continued shaking his head, “I think they finally gave up on the SUB after they asked the architects ‘oh can we get a slide . . . UBC’s getting a slide . . . come on, please, please, please!’”

After Perkins+Will politely rejected the slide idea, it became clear that the students weren’t really all that interested in actually building a SUB building and their over-tiredness started to show.

“Oh, can we get a slide . . . UBC’s getting a slide! Come on, please, please, please!”

-Build SFU team to architects

“There were a lot of tears and a few temper-tantrums, but in the end they just decided that building a SUB was ‘stupid’ and ‘not fun anymore’,” explained an executive for Perkins+Will. “I’m not sure if any of them will be back, maybe they just need to sleep it off.”

While Perkins+Will and the university are fully prepared to go on without the students involvement — but still using their money — they’ve threatened the Build SFU team saying that if they don’t get their act together they won’t be building “the Treehouse” that they had been asking for.

Men’s soccer opens GNAC play with two wins

By

EIC

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September 30, 2013

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The SFU men’s soccer team battled for two big wins on the road this past week as they retained their perfect record in the young 2013 season. After a perfect 4-0 non-conference start, the Clan headed south to Montana and Idaho to open their Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) season with games against Montana State University — Billings (MSUB) and Northwest Nazarene University (NNU).

The two teams have proven difficult competitors in the Clan’s past, and this trip proved no different as the men were forced to finish both games in comeback style.

Against MSUB, the home team opened the scoring in the first half, something that didn’t sit well with the Clan, lighting a fire under the team’s offence as the men worked to return the favour. The reply came early in the second half as Chris Bargholz connected with an Alexander Kleefeldt pass to net SFU’s first goal of conference play.

The importance of the win was evident as both teams battled relentlessly throughout the 90 minute match: MSUB received seven yellow cards and the Clan were awarded four.

At the 75th minute mark the Clan took the lead as transfer Johannes Hallman scored unassisted to clinch the win for the visitors. It would be his first goal of the season, but not his last as he would be able to find the back of the net in the second game of the weekend as well.

Two days later after their conference-opening win, the Clan took on NNU, the only West Region team to have bested them in 2012. Again, the visitors found themselves down a goal in the first period, but fans saw history repeat itself as SFU was able to pull off another come-from-behind victory.

The Clan struck early in the second half once again, as only two minutes into the period Hallman struck a Robert Hyams pass for his second tally of the weekend. This time it was Carlo Basso that ended the scoring in the match, netting a ball from goalkeeper Brandon Watson, for his second of the season.

The freshman netminder recorded eight saves in the game to allow the Clan to improve to a 6-0 record.

Following the successful start to their GNAC campaign the SFU men have retained their top spot on the National Soccer Association of American NCAA Division II coach’s poll. It is their second consecutive week at the top of the rankings, after they opened the season ranked third.

The men will be aiming to improve to 8-0 as they host South Dakota School of Mines in their GNAC home opener then Saint Mary’s University two days later before returning to the road as they look to continue a fourth dominant season atop the GNAC and in the NCAA Division II.

University Briefs

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EIC

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September 30, 2013

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The president of UVic wants to chat

UVic’s new President, Jamie Cassels, plans on launching a campaign to create a two-sided dialogue between staff, students, community members, and the university. Cassel’s “Campus Conversations” will begin over the next few weeks, and will take place around campus as well as in the community to provide an opportunity to address some key issues.

The areas Cassel wishes to highlight are university priorities, strengths, and ways to improve the university. Although the locations of these conversations are unannounced, discussion has already begun on UVic’s website. As far as we know, there is no complimentary breakfast, so one point to Petter.

With files from The Martlet

U of C students help build solar house

As part of an Alberta-based team, the University of Calgary has designed and constructed an environmentally friendly solar house. Named Borealis, the house has twice the insulation value of a regular home and was built with 40 solar panels on its roof connected to the municipal grid.

In addition to powering the house, any extra unused power will be returned to the grid and go towards paying the power bill with its credits. Borealis will be entered in a competition put on by the U.S. Department of Energy that will take place in Irvine, California this October.

With files from The Gauntlet

UNB and St. Thomas initiate condom recall

The University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University officials are recalling free condoms given out during a welcome event, and advising students to throw them away. The Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre gave them out as a part of a plan to promote safe sex with messages attached promoting consent. These notes were attached with staples, potentially causing the condoms within the packages to be punctured.

Maggie Crain of the Crisis Centre stated, “Mistakenly, some of the staples pierced the air pocket that holds the condom.” Eighty of these compromised condoms were given out. The centre plans to try once more, but this time around, will use tape instead.

With files from CBC News

Women’s soccer earn best finish of the season

By

EIC

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September 30, 2013

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Prior to the season kicking off, Shelley Howieson, head coach of SFU’s women’s soccer team, prophesied a worst-case scenario: starting a defender in goal.

It didn’t take long for it to come true. However, with freshman defender Teagan Rae Sorokan in net, the Clan earned their best finish of the season last week, a 0–0 double overtime draw against Northwest Nazarene.

After last year’s starting goalkeeper — and Great Northwest Athletic Conference saves leader — left the team late in the offseason, Howieson was stuck in a bind with two freshmen netminders left to compete for the starting spot. After one went down with a freak concussion in practice, the veteran head coach was left with one first-year goalie.

In case you haven’t guessed where this is going, that lone keeper, Simone Tessler, injured herself, forcing Howieson to turn to Sorokan to guard the net.

And against the Northwest Nazarene Crusaders last Saturday, in her second consecutive start (the first was a 2–0 loss to MSU-Billings), she earned her first career shutout — and the team’s first of the season — making five saves through the double overtime match.

“Teagan played really well,” said Howieson after the match. “So many of our players battled their hearts out in this game. The second leg of this road trip is tough so full credit to our team for coming away with a tie. The back-line really held strong and played through some injuries. We’re pleased with the effort. Now we need to get home after a long road trip and get prepared for Thursday evening.”

Thursday marked the team’s home opener, ending a grueling opening stretch of the season where the Clan played four straight on the road. The result, unfortunately, was another loss — a 2–0 setback against Saint Martin’s University — but Sorokan again held her own, allowing only one of the two goals scored, and making a couple of impressive saves.

Sorokan has been a bright spot for the Clan, otherwise going through a tough transitional year. Despite being a concern for any Clan fan, starting the back-line player hasn’t been the team’s biggest issue. The Clan have scored only one goal this season, and until they figure their offence out, it likely matters little who’s between the pipes.

But again, this is a transitional season for the team, so struggles are expected. As evidenced by the team’s best finish of the young season, the team’s defence has tightened up significantly since being thumped 6–0 in the season opener. There have also been signs of improvement on offence as well (junior midfielder Ali Trenter hit the post late against Saint Martin’s).

The breaks haven’t been going the Clan’s way, but they’ll come. Until then, the Clan will have to roll with the punches, and with Sorokan in net.

Notes from this month’s Board of Governors’ meeting

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EIC

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September 30, 2013

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Revision of residence fees

Based on recommendations from Grover Elliot & Co. Ltd., the Finance & Administration Committee suggested a rent rate increase of between 2 to 4 per cent for residence buildings. The changes would help the buildings to remain at current market levels for the 2014-2015 academic year.

According to the Committee, Hamilton Hall rents are approximately $13 per month above market rates, however to pay for increases in providing cable television and internet to residents, a $12 per month increase in fees is needed.

Similar increases in rates would affect all residences, with prices at McTaggart-Cowan increasing by $16, Towers increasing by $17, Louis Riel increasing by $13 to $16, and Townhouses increasing by $18.

Professional and personal skills for graduate students

The Dean of Graduate Studies has developed a certificate program with the hope of enhancing graduate students’ and postdoctoral fellows’ academic experience through professional and personal development.

The 2013–14 pilot program will offer core programming that combines communication of strengths in professional contexts and understanding of career possibilities with electives that can be grouped into a series of themes: Management and Life Skills, Teaching and Leadership, and Research and Knowledge Translation.

SFU Surrey Expansion

During Other Business, the Board planned to discuss the expansion of the SFU Surrey campus, however moved into closed session before discussing the project. The description indicated that the goal would be to add 2,500 full-time equivalent students to the Surrey campus by 2020.

Starbucks

Board also discussed the possibility of a Starbucks on the Burnaby campus, which has been an issue because of Starbucks’ refusal to provide broad fair trade coffee options in North America. Being a Fair Trade Campus, SFU requires that the franchise provide a significant selection of fair trade coffee options.

The Report of the Vice President Finance and Administration stated that that since students expressed interest in the opening of a Starbucks 18 months ago, “Dining Services has made significant progress pressing Starbucks to begin offering fair trade coffee.” They are hoping that a “significant announcement will be made by Starbucks in the next few days that will have repercussions across the country.”

Watching the Watchmen

By

EIC

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September 30, 2013

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There was once a time when the use of photography and video recording was exclusive to media outlets. This day has come and gone. We live in a society where virtually everyone has access to at least one recording device, some of which have the ability to post pictures and videos directly to the Internet, even as images are simultaneously being recorded.

This means every action can be made available immediately for public judgement and scrutiny, and one of the most controversial uses of this new technology is in regards to law enforcement.

Law enforcement professionals have always been under a great deal of public scrutiny. As the son of a now retired 23-year veteran of the Vancouver Police Department, I grew up hearing about how much officers were responsible to the citizens they served and protected — at least as far as my dad was concerned.

I have also spent the last six years working as a security officer at Rogers Arena, the home of our Vancouver Canucks. While I am not officially considered law enforcement, I am in charge of enforcing the rules of the building, so there are some relevant crossovers.

I have been videotaped and photographed numerous times at the arena during the course of my duties. We were taught to expect this, and trained to respond in an appropriate manner. Like the police, we have no legal authority to prevent recordings of incidents, and we did not attempt to do so. Instead, we were trained to shape the narrative being created in a way that would help the audience comprehend what was happening.

Video recordings can provide a valuable perspective when evaluating police conduct.

Unfortunately, one of the problems with the widespread use of video and photography by the public is that it very rarely paints the whole picture. In most cases, the cameras rarely capture the individual we are dealing with has throwing the first punch or making the threatening remark that requires us to intervene in the first place. The only way to measure if the level of police force is appropriate is to have all the information, which we do not get from many of these videos.

While I will not deny that police brutality does happen, in many instances the accusation stems from a lack of knowledge or understanding of the situation. Viewers do not get the full picture and, as a result, make assumptions that do not always reflect reality.

I feel that we need to have an understanding of why some officers react negatively to being videotaped while making an arrest or during other incidents. Imagine yourself at your own workplace. It is an average day when, out of nowhere, something goes horribly wrong. Now imagine yourself trying to deal with what is now a highly stressful situation, while 20 people you’ve never seen before show up and start recording you.

I’m guessing you would be pretty upset, and would probably ask them to turn their cameras off despite having no legal right or authority to do so. This is not an attempt to excuse the behaviour of officers who have threatened arrest for such things; but it is important to put yourself in their shoes and imagine what it must be like to have the most stressful and tiring portions of your work day filmed and posted online for public consumption.

Having said that, I do not believe that it is a bad thing for officers to be videotaped by the public. This practice can greatly improve the safety of our police force; after all, very few people are willing to commit a crime when they know they are on camera.

In many instances, accusations of police brutality stem from a lack of knowledge or understanding of the situation.

Ironically enough, controversy has risen in recent years over proposals that police officers should be allowed to carry pocket sized cameras to record interactions with the public and arrests from the officer’s point of view. Such video recordings can be extremely helpful in the prosecution of cases, and can provide a valuable perspective when evaluating police conduct.

Of the large body of evidence brought forth for the trials of the participants in the Stanley Cup riots of 2011, much was video and photographic evidence taken with smartphones and tablets. In my own experience, video footage of an incident that took place at Rogers Arena one night helped us defend against a legal suit for use of excessive force, as the video taken captured the entire interaction.

Furthermore, such videos — if used properly — can be highly effective training tools. I know during my training as a security officer, and also during my father’s time with the Vancouver Police Department, we would watch videos of different situations, both where things had gone right and things had gone wrong.

It is useful to be able to analyze situations secondhand and figure out how things could have been improved. Sometimes it can be helpful, especially for new recruits, to see what happens when things go wrong and how easily a dangerous situation can be avoided.

Easy access to recording devices is the reality of the world we live in. Since there is no legal recourse for officers, or anyone else for that matter, who are being recorded, it is important to respond appropriately. Telling people to stop filming or threatening to take cameras away will only make them want to film more.

New training is required for today’s officers. They need to be made aware of how to use these recordings to their advantage, and shape the story in such a way that the audience understands what is happening. And for all of you would-be documentarians out there, keep in mind that the people you are filming are doing a job that is difficult at the best of times. Take your recordings for the right reasons.