On the anxieties of a soon-to-be graduate

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July 25, 2016

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he end of university for me is nigh, and it feels like an impending disaster. For some reason, I assumed I would feel ready and excited for the future. Instead, my days have been filled with anxiety.

Will I find a decent job in my field? Will I find any decent job? What skills do I have? Am I qualified for anything? Have I just wasted the last four years of my life learning nothing?

Go to a good university and get a good job. That is the narrative I have always been fed. But as I look at job applications for the positions I’m interested in, all I see are qualifications that I don’t have. As my graduation date edges closer, my stress and fear increase.

Nobody wants to be that college graduate who couldn’t handle the ‘real world.’ Maybe I am an anomaly. Maybe I did not handle business the way I should have. Whenever I speak to other students like myself, the conversations highlight my anxiety and uncertainty. The underlying fear for me has consistently led to one question: “What if I’m not good enough?”

University is a security blanket. I know the classes I need and how to pass them. I am hitting something that society considers a major milestone. I am in an environment that nurtures my thoughts and ideas. I am the focus of a system. Once I leave that security blanket behind, I will no longer be nurtured. I will have to fight for my voice and my ideas to be heard. I will have to start from the bottom again.

So, if this is the true beginning of life — having to start a career from scratch — what happens when you do not know exactly what you want? You may have a vague idea of what you want your career to be. You may be overwhelmed by the many things you are interested in trying and the limited time you have to try them.

Personally, the former is the root of my anxiety. The reality is making itself clear: vague dreams do not help you. I am at a point where if I dream about doing something or working somewhere, I have to make a plan that is practical and reliable. I envy people who are sure of what they want and how to get it.

More than ever, I will have to face the kind of human being I really am. Will I take this fear and work hard to be a useful member of society? Will I fall into despair and let the uncertainty and anxiety rule my ability to dream? The truth I find may not be what I want to see, but this is all part of being an adult, I guess. It sucks.

Why I’m not jumping on the Pokémon Go bandwagon

By

EIC

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July 25, 2016

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[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ne of the fondest memories of my childhood is marathoning all 10 (at the time) Pokémon movies in a 24-hour period. I wept when Entei sacrificed himself for Molly and cheered when Latios and Latias rocketed over the city of Alto Mare. From the half-broken Pokémon Red cartridge I acquired at a garage sale to the Pokémon Diamond game that I bought two full guidebooks for, I have long been a Pokémon fan.

Now, Pokémon Go has swept over the world, but I remain skeptical. I have been in Europe for the past 11 days, so after hearing whispers of Pokémon mania sweeping Vancouver I thought that returning home would be like Jim waking up in 28 Days Later — the city barely recognizable. OK, so returning has not been that dramatic, but there has been a noticeable change. Many friends have downloaded the game, and I constantly see strangers chasing their next catch around campus.

Pokémon Go may require players to explore their surroundings in real life, but it would be a stretch to claim that this is actually encouraging social interaction or exploration.

Look at any picture of one of the many Pokémon Go meetups currently happening around the world and you’ll see large gatherings of players. One might even think that this is a positive thing. But a group of 100 people staring blankly at their phones while ignoring each other does not constitute a ‘social’ experience.

Look at the outrageous headlines about Go players getting run over by cars, wandering onto private property, or even onto SkyTrain tracks in Vancouver. This doesn’t seem like the behaviour of those who are truly experiencing the world around them in an attentive or meaningful way.

The game uses the world as its game environment, without any regard for the real world’s complexities and dangers.

Instead of living in the real world, Go players are stuck behind yet another screen. Moreover, exploration in the game isn’t about exploring new areas or things, and even if that were to happen it wouldn’t be a direct consequence of the game.

There are simply too many dangers and risks associated with this game for it to be excused entirely. So far there have been numerous incidents of individuals getting hurt while playing Pokémon Go, which include a sexual assault during a Go meetup, and even a teenager being shot and killed near Guatemala City. The game’s PokéStop feature has been exploited in many cases, with a memorial site for a toddler, the US Holocaust Museum, and cemeteries attracting large groups of ‘trainers.’

The danger with an augmented reality game like Go is that it uses the world as its game environment, without any regard for the real world’s complexities, dangers, and sensitivities. This is far from the sanitized and picture-perfect lands of Sinnoh or Kanto.

So, where does the game go from here? Part of me believes that, like many crazes, the Pokémon Go fad will fizzle out in a couple of months. On the other hand, it is one of the most downloaded game apps of all time and may stay with us for a while yet. In this case, the developers need to improve the game to make it safer, and implement features that ensure players don’t engage in risky behaviour while playing. This will at least mitigate some of the harms I’ve mentioned.

I also wonder whether the game’s popularity is simply a sign of the times. While I err on the side of social networks making us more social rather than less, Go seems like an entirely different beast. Perhaps it may be time to accept that games like Go are the new status quo: technological innovations that promise social interaction, but instead provide only meaningless distractions.

Don’t give credit to Blue Lives Matter

By

EIC

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July 25, 2016

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[dropcap]L[/dropcap]et’s not allow the media to claim that this is a ‘race war.’

Referring to it as a war tells us that we should take sides and be divided; that at the end of the day, one side must win. Black people are not systematically aiming to kill white people. There is no ‘black side’ and there is no ‘white side.’

After five police officers were killed in Dallas, the New York Post published a headline in bold letters saying “Civil War,” and a smaller caption that read, “Four cops killed at anti-police protest.” Following the Dallas shooting, social media blew up with the trending hashtag #BlueLivesMatter, in support of the police officers.

The Blue Lives Matter movement assumes that police officers in America are disparaged and discriminated against. Blue Lives Matter may be meant to defend the importance of police officers, but it’s a useless movement — America has already made it clear that they matter through the power they are afforded in society.

Let me make myself very clear: what happened in Dallas was certainly not OK. I, too, send my condolences and prayers to those who lost their loved ones a couple weeks back. Micah Johnson, an African-American veteran, decided to shoot the police officers because he was angry and fed up with watching other African-Americans being killed by police with impunity.

Regardless of his reasoning, he should not have done what he did. He was legally killed by the state, end of story. However, the people responsible for the unnecessary deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, and so many others, have not been given proper punishment. In fact, the cop who murdered Castile in his car was then sent on paid administrative leave.

Yes, police officers’ lives matter, but their killer is now dead. The ones who take black lives essentially get sent on vacation. The Blue Lives Matter trend has been proliferating on social media even though an officer is only “blue” for up to 40 hours a week; a black person is black 24/7.

People are bothered by Black Lives Matter because it’s not inclusive of “all lives.” Yet, when people support Blue Lives Matter, the All Lives Matter people remain silent. All Lives Matter is used to derail the Black Lives Matter conversation, so why wouldn’t they oppose Blue Lives Matter, too? Where are the All Jobs Matter protesters?

I do not support Blue Lives Matter because America has made it clear whose lives already matter. After Dallas the world mourned over the lost blue lives, yet when blue lives take black lives, it seems no one sheds a tear.

#BlackLivesMatter seeks to protect black lives, while #BlueLivesMatter seeks to shield the guilty.

Five questions every Christian student has heard

By

EIC

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July 25, 2016

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Hi, I’m Bernice, and I am a Christian. I go to church on Sundays, read the Bible, and believe that a guy named Jesus loves me. Now, I get a lot of curious inquiries about my faith, and while I have some great conversations, some things come up that are downright hilarious. Here are a few things that people have said to me upon finding out I am a Christian:

“So, Jesus was a zombie since he rose from the dead, right?” I get it. Some dude rises from the dead and all we think about is whether he is comprised of rotting flesh and has an appetite for brains. The fact is, though, that Jesus knew he was going to die and rise again because he loves us. So, he’s a predestined zombie, which makes him way cooler. Take that, The Walking Dead!

“Wait, you’re not allowed to fuck?” There’s this magical thing that humans have — it’s called free will. I made the choice to not have sex until marriage and this vow was not forced upon me by some almighty deity who declared, “Thou shalt not fuck!” Hope you understand that, boo.

“Church must be so boring — how do you stand going every week?” While I would love to chug alcoholic beverages and hook up with strangers, I enjoy actually functioning on Sunday mornings. Also, my church sets up their service inside a SilverCity movie theatre, so I get to go to a free epic concert on a movie theatre stage every weekend — with free food, of course.#BurstingStereotypeBubbles2K16

“The Bible is bullshit!” [Proceeds to rant against Christianity for 30 minutes] Gee, I would’ve loved to have a respectful two-way conversation about my faith and listen to why you disagree with it, but I guess you took the “I’m going to tear your beliefs apart without letting you get a word in edgewise” route instead. Welp, OK then.

“Christians are preachy and self-righteous AF.” Many people think that we are high and mighty and think ourselves better than everyone else, when we really aren’t. If you have ever met a Christian who has reinforced this stereotype, I am sincerely sorry, and I hope you whooped their ass off their imaginary pedestal.

Young adults who still live at home aren’t mooching

By

EIC

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July 25, 2016

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[dropcap]F[/dropcap]orty-two percent of adults aged 20–29 live with their parents, according to Statistics Canada. Of those, Statistics Canada found that 90 percent don’t contribute to household expenses. Now, everyone’s situation is different, but I do believe that adults in their parents’ home should be contributing to the household. However, I don’t think that contribution should necessarily be monetary.

The young adult doesn’t always choose whether or not to pay rent; it’s also a decision made by the parent(s). This means that the decision is a combination of socio-economic status and choice. There are also young adults who no longer live at home, but are still financially supported — through rent, food, transportation, or even spending money — by their parents. It could even be the kid’s choice to leave, and the parent(s)’ to fund it. Those lucky bastards.

To put it bluntly, wealth makes or breaks the kinds of decisions families can afford to make. Some young adults can afford to move out, and some can’t. Some families can afford to house their children rent-free, and some can’t. Sadly, there’s no real way around that.

There are also parental ideals involved. My family is by no means rich, but my mother doesn’t require me to pay rent, even though I have offered to many times in the past. For her, as long as I’m in school, she wants my money to go towards my education and my life after school. But just because I don’t pay rent doesn’t mean I don’t contribute. I pay for groceries sometimes, and I pay my cell phone bill. Lumping all of us who don’t pay rent into a category akin to ‘freeloading’ isn’t fair.

I do most of the cooking in my house, along with a lot of the yard work and some household cleaning. Those hours are not free. Sadly, many people see us as mooches just because our assistance doesn’t come with a dollar sign.

I have lived on my own, paid all the bills and rent, and bought all my own food. I know it’s not easy, and young adults who can do all of that are admirable. Moving out, finding a place, and becoming a ‘real’ adult are all worthy of appreciation for someone’s ability to survive. Working several jobs and piling on student debt in order to afford a roof and school are life paths that many of us walk, but they are not the only roads through adulthood.

There are many young adults who live at home out of financial necessity, and we pay for that not with blood or sweat, but in tears. We can’t choose our families. I know people with families that are horrible to them, but they have to stay because they can’t afford to live anywhere else. For many of us struggling to find work or focusing our efforts on school, moving out just isn’t realistic.

While I agree that everyone should have to contribute in some fashion to the household, we shouldn’t be so narrow-minded as to assume the only contributions that are valuable are those with a dollar sign attached. So don’t call me a mooch.

Newsies is a revolutionary new musical; Beauty and the Beast and West Side Story bring a summer of love to Malkin Bowl

By

EIC

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July 25, 2016

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CMYK-West-Side-Story-TUTS-–-Tim-Matheson — The smaller sized stage wasn’t a hindrance for the cast and crew of West Side Story

Newsies – Broadway Across Canada

July 5–10, Queen Elizabeth Theatre

When publisher Mr. Pulitzer (Steve Blanchard) raises the cost of papers overnight, Jack Kelly delivers an inspiring speech to his fellow newspaper boys: they won’t be working until Mr. Pulitzer lowers the price back to 50 cents per 100 papers. Their nascent union grows as newsies all over New York City hear about the strike.

The 1992 Disney film of the same name translated very well to the stage, and the production featured stunning staircase structures and incredible dance numbers. With newsboy caps and canvas newspaper bags slung over their shoulders, this cast leaped, soared, and flipped high above the stage in their quest for justice. The choreography incorporated their hats and bags well, and also had them run on the spot and seemingly travel great distances while only moving a few inches.

The multi-level platforms representing the fire escapes that the newsies climb to sleep on the rooftops served as a good frame for each newsie in their own section, as well as providing ample distance for a couple of chase scenes.

The plot didn’t pull me into this story right away. Infamous newsie Jack Kelly (Joey Barreiro) has a seemingly arbitrary dream of moving to Santa Fe, and he opens the show professing this. Once the strike starts and the newsies are in action though, it becomes much more exciting.

There is of course a love story here as well: Kelly falls for aspiring journalist Katherine (Morgan Keene), though little does he know she is Pulitzer’s daughter. A bit of a cliché romance, but it was a nice addition nevertheless. Katherine’s character also provided a refreshing break from all the male energy in the show.

For any writer, it doesn’t get much better than a musical about journalism and labour rights. By the end of it you’ll be wanting to rise up, “Seize the Day,” and create your own union wherever you work.

Beauty and the Beast – Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS)

July 6–August 20, Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park

The cumbersome group dance that opened the show didn’t fill me with confidence in what was to come, and if you’re going to include ballet in a musical — especially if it’s going to be en pointe — it had better be good. Unfortunately, the couple of times the pointe shoes showed up, they didn’t add much and seemed out of place with the musical theatre style choreography.

After seeing the Broadway Across Canada version of Beauty and the Beast, it’s hard not be underwhelmed by this less opulent production. The “Be Our Guest” scene, although well done, just didn’t have the same level of pizzazz and bravado that the larger production did. Nonetheless, TUTS did include some pyrotechnic effects which were unexpected and met with great approval from the audience, even if they were a bit out of place on the otherwise lacklustre stage. Once the stage was a bit busier with more plates and cutlery dancing around, the scene looked a lot better and somewhat redeemed itself.

Lower production values aside, a few of the characters really held the show together with their comedic talents. Lumiere (Victor Hunter) and Cogsworth (Steven Greenfield) made the perfect pair with their hilarious banter and silly puns. Belle (Jaime Piercy) and the Beast (Peter Monaghan) had decent chemistry, but there could have been more of a spark between them. Gaston (Dane Szohner) was appropriately self-absorbed and seemed to be an audience favourite.

In the end, if you are a fan of this Disney classic, you’ll enjoy the show. If you’re looking for an amazing night of musical theatre, I would recommend the other show in the TUTS lineup this summer.

West Side Story – Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS)

July 6–August 20, Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park

Vibrant choreography by local contemporary dance giant Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg, a simple yet effective set, and a Maria with a voice of gold make this show a must-see. Theatre Under the Stars’ “Summer of Love” is in full display as this tragic Romeo and Juliet story unfolds.

While this story of rival New York City street gangs is a bit exaggerated, its themes are eternally relevant. I loved the way director Sarah Rodgers used an innocent little girl to highlight the importance of love and acceptance. The girl appears to open the show with a short song, returns during the tragic fight scene, and is back at the end to spray-paint the word “Love” on the back wall.

Adding to the poignancy, the finale included a beautiful solo rendition of “Somewhere” as the entire cast stood almost in reverence. A flashy encore would have been out of place after this melancholic ending, and I was glad they left it at that.

Though Maria (Jennifer Gillis) and Tony (Matt Montgomery) were mismatched in terms of their vocal talents — Gillis upstaged Montgomery in each of their duets — their chemistry was much more impressive, and both had the acting chops necessary to sustain their roles. The rival gangs provided plenty of exciting scenes with acrobatic dance numbers that cleverly utilized the set while moving the plot along.

While this production wasn’t quite as impressive as the larger Broadway version, that didn’t matter. Rodgers was able to translate the show to a smaller, more intimate stage, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is a show well worth your time.

If SFU were like an RPG . . .

By

EIC

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July 25, 2016

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1) Research assignments and expeditions would be all the more adventurous to take part in!

2) Costly building renovations could be completed simply by getting the school a new graphics card.

3) Stealing people’s belongings would become even easier (especially in the men’s locker room).

4) The collection of classroom credits would still be exhausting, but you would finally be afforded the opportunity to duel that asshole from calculus tutorial.

5) Even with different options to choose from, dialogue between classroom peers would still probably feel very one-dimensional and contrived.

6) Skipping through a terrible lecture could be achieved by pressing “A” repeatedly.

7) Map waypoints would save you the trouble of getting lost all the time.

8) Instead of starting your undergraduate degree with money and having debt by the end, you could start your degree with nothing and accumulate a fortune as you go.

9) All the egregious mistakes and glitches caused by the course selection process could be fixed with a patch from the main architects themselves (that is, if they feel like releasing one).

10) In one fashion or another, an old white guy would still probably end up being your main antagonist.