SPORTS
Strength training
People of all ages have joined a
a Marpole gym to train in the
sport of powerlifting. P8
PRODUCED BY LANGARA JOURNALISM STUDENTS | WWW.LANGARAVOICE.CA
Langara
prepares
COVID
plan
The disease is
now a pandemic,
according to the
WHO
 By LINA CHUNG, KRISTEN
HOLLIDAY
A
s the World Health Orga-
nization (WHO) declared
the international outbreak
of COVID-19 a pandemic Wednes-
day, Langara College confirmed it is
preparing a contingency plan.
On March 10, Seth Abramson, an
American attorney and Newsweek
columnist, tweeted a list of over 100
American universities and colleges
that are heading to online-only
instruction immediately or immi-
nently because of the virus. The list
included Harvard, Stanford, and
MIT, among others.
“The College has convened its
Emergency Operations Centre and
is preparing for any eventuality,” a
Langara College spokesperson said
in a written statement to The Voice.
“We’re reviewing all events to be
held on campus in the coming weeks
and conducting risk assessments as
required.”
In a statement to media, WHO
director-general Tedros Adhanom
Ghebreyesus, said as of March 11,
there were over 118,000 cases of
COVID-19 in 114 countries, with
more than 4,000 deaths.
Please see COVID UPDATE, page 2
COVID-19 NUMBERS
CURRENT AS OF MARCH 11
B.C. cases
7 new cases were diagnosed
as of Wed. March 11, bringing
the total to 46 in the province.
Vancouver Coastal
Health cases
22 cases of COVID-19 are
within Vancouver Coastal Health's
boundaries.
Acute care
Only one patient is in acute care
at this time.
SOURCE: B.C. MINISTRY OF HEALTH
CAMPUS NEWS ONLINE SPECIAL
Satisfied or not? Get up and move
B.C. Student Outcome Survey Movement can counteract what
results show a drop in Langara some experts call sitting disease.
student satisfaction. P3 langaravoice.ca
MARCH 12, 2020 • VOL. 53 NO. 03 • VANCOUVER, B.C.
Walk-out
highlights
need for
education
Wet'suwet'en supporter
says Canadians must
inform themselves on
Indigenous rights
 By LUCAS JORNITZ
T
he media and educational
institutions need to do a
better job of informing the
public about the reasons why people
are demonstrating in support of the
Wet’suwet’en, said student organizer
Tanis Wilson.
Wilson was an organizer for
the March 4 walk-out demon-
stration on the Langara campus,
part of a national movement in
which students from post-second-
ary campuses like SFU, UBC and
the University of Victoria left their
classes to walk in support of the
Wet’suwet’en.
Speaking at last week’s Langara
Mairi Mallett, a nurse practitioner at Langara, holds various types of contraceptives. The most effective birth control protest, which attracted some 60
A high price to pay
can often have high up-front costs, making them less accessible for students. SAFOURA RIGI-LADIZ PHOTO demonstrators, Wilson told fellow
activists not to talk to the media. In
an interview with The Voice, Wilson
said Canadians should use resources
available to teach themselves about
the rights of Indigenous people.
“It’s Canadians’ responsibility to
MSP coverage would remove barriers faced take the time to learn the truth,”
Wilson said. “Indigenous people
can’t keep constantly trying to teach
by students when accessing contraceptives you guys about this.”
Rima Wilkes, a UBC professor
who specializes in the media and
 By SAFOURA RIGI-LADIZ feel comfortable with, it would create “Just because someone has a First Nations, felt media coverage
less barriers for accessing services.” uterus, they incur more costs in order of the Wet’suwet’en protests has
T
he recent motion put Marina Adshade, a UBC profes- to exercise choices over their body,” improved on past coverage. However,
forward by Vancouver sor specializing in economics of sex, Bondaroff said. “That’s a matter of Wilkes, who has researched Oka,
City Council to have gender and fertility, said she has been equality.” said there are still contentious issues
prescription contracep- lobbying the provincial government Coun. Christine Boyle, who around how reporting on the conflict
tives covered through MSP could to cover contraceptives for years. pushed for the motion alongside has been handled. She said while the
impact young people and students Adshade councillor protests are in the public interest,
by removing emotional and finan- said the most
cial barriers. effective types “Having birth control Jean Swanson,
said contra-
upholding one’s rights shouldn’t be
questioned.
Mairi Mallett, a nurse practitioner
at Langara, said
of contracep-
tives, such as
covered would give ceptive cover-
age would give
“Asking people what they think
about Indigenous rights is inherently
if contraceptives IUDs, have people more options.” people choice problematic because what they think
were covered high upfront over their own is irrelevant,” she said, adding the
— MAIRI MALLETT, NURSE PRACTITIONER AT
through MSP, costs and can bodies, regard- topic was difficult as the protestors
LANGARA COLLEGE
it would create be quite expen- less of age or are very courageous, but also that the
fewer barriers sive for students. income. issue raises tensions.
for young people “The most important change that “It’s a fundamental piece of repro- “If you have rights, whether the
to have access to could happen here is people switch- ductive choice that you should really majority agrees with your rights or
healthcare. Mairi Mallett ing from less reliable, intermittent have regardless of income or other not is beside the point.”
“Young people LANGARA NURSE contraceptives to more longer acting, barriers,” she said. Kesley Pepion, a supporter who
sometimes find PRACTITIONER more expensive contraceptives that Boyle said students who are vocal demonstrated last week at Langara,
it difficult to are more reliable,” Adshade said. about their support for contraceptive emphasized that the demonstrations
access health services. They may Teale Phelps Bondaroff is the coverage can really make a differ- were about more than just the pipe-
not feel comfortable going to their chair and co-founder of AccessBC, a ence. line route, there were greater impli-
family doctor, so having birth control campaign that advocates for contra- “Students can get involved in that cations.
covered would give people more ceptive coverage in B.C. way and tell their provincial MLA “It’s a bigger cause. It’s not just
options,” Mallett said. “If they could Bondaroff said the issue of equal- why this would make a real differ- the pipelines. It’s about Indigenous
go to any healthcare provider they ity is central to fair coverage. ence for them in their life.” rights and respecting our treaties.”
 2 THE VOICE | THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020 | EDITOR SOUBHIK CHAKRABARTI
Neelam Sahota (left), CEO of DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society, joined Mental Health and Addictions Minister Judy Darcy, NISA Helpline CEO Tanweer
Ebrahim and Surrey-Green Timbers NDP MLA Rachna Singh discuss the importance of lifting women up at the City Centre Branch of the Surrey Public Library
Feb. 29. MISSY JOHNSON PHOTO
A battle with loneliness
Activists encourage support to help bolster community-feel
 By MISSY JOHNSON
I
n light of International
Women’s Day, activists in
Surrey are encouraging more
people to support women who
have arrived in the city from a foreign
country and are vulnerable to social
issues such as loneliness.
Sonia Andhi, founder of the Shakti
Society, hosted an Awards Gala on
March 7 to honour women in the city
who are doing inspiring work.
The Shakti Society hosts wellness
days and community cafes. Andhi
says they want to bring women
together who might otherwise be
isolated and give them community.
More cars, but city unclear when to ban
Street parking in
New West over-
flowing due to
laneway houses
 By TAESA HODEL
A
s the City of New West-
minster encourages the
construction of new lane-
way houses, unregulated street park-
ing from increased density poses a
threat to the safety of the already-
crowded streets of the West End,
some residents say.
They say that after regular work
hours, it is common to see cars
parked solidly down both sides of the
residential roads, impacting visibility
for drivers.
“You have to look ahead to the
end of the block to see if there’s
another vehicle coming because you
can’t pass each other,” said Elmer
Rudolph, president of the West End
Residents Association.
“There’s only one lane down the
“When women are feeling like
they are a part of the community,
they will contribute more,” she said.
“If they feel that what they're
saying matters, of course, they'll
speak up more, so for us it's really
about creating those safe spaces and
showing women that what you say
really matters.”
Andhi knows first-hand how
immigrating to a new country can
cause loneliness.
“I was one of them, where you
come here, you don't know anyone,
you just know your husband,” she
said. “It can be very intimidating.”
Neelam Sahota, CEO of DIVER-
SEcity Community Resources Soci-
centre.”
The congested streets become
more dangerous in the mornings,
said resident Norbert Bisek, who
lives near Lord Tweedsmuir elemen-
tary school and has noticed drivers
speeding through his neighbourhood
early in the day.
“They cut through to avoid the 30
km/h school zone,” said Bisek. “I’ve
got a young son, most of this street is
full of young kids … It’s scary.”
As part of an initiative to create
more rental housing in the city, the
laneway and carriage house program
was launched in New Westminster in
2017 to encourage property owners
to develop small rental homes on
their lots.
According to the zoning bylaws,
laneway houses must provide a park-
ing space on the property to avoid a
traffic build-up from the new renters.
But the bylaw has little to no
effect in the West End where there
is almost no residential permit park-
ing. Without permits regulating
which vehicles are or aren’t allowed
to stay parked on the street, parking
is difficult to enforce.
If unregulated street parking
ety, was one of the Shakti awards
recipients. She said Surrey benefits
from women being lifted up in many
different ways.
“Once they feel like they have a
sense of belonging that anchors them,
that encourages them to be individu-
als that can contribute in many ways
from their areas of strength.”
Founded more than 40 years ago,
DIVERSEcity was one of the first
organizations of its kind in Surrey
to offer immigrant and refugee
women support to become integrated
members of society.
Tanweer Ebrahim, CEO of NISA
Helpline, which women can call to
talk about their issues and seek
were to cause a hazard for drivers,
it would then become a bylaw issue,
said Michael Nguyen, engineering
technologist in transportation for the
City of New Westminster.
“We'd have to … get a complaint
in and our bylaw officer would
either move it or tow it if it's block-
ing access.”
According to the city, 32 per cent
of development permit applications
for laneway houses are from the West
End, the largest amount by district in
the New Westminster.
It is unknown what effect this
influx of residents could have on
the neighbourhood, yet the city has
stopped monitoring the process,
stating on its website that it will be
“put on hold […] until 2022.”
Without active investigations
into the implementation of the new
laneway houses, the city is relying
on residents to send any feedback
through an online survey.
Whether emergency vehicle access
could also be impacted by the rows of
parked cars is uncertain.
The New Westminster Building
Division and Fire Protection Divi-
sion require a clear access width —
support, immigrated to Canada over
10 years ago.
She says although there have been
changes, women in Surrey are still
facing isolation.
“We have one woman who called
the helpline every day just because
she's lonely,” she said. “That proves
that this platform is needed.”
Between 2011 and 2016, Surrey
welcomed over 36,000 immigrants
and is home to 25 per cent of Metro
Vancouver’s recent immigrants.
“We each have our part to play,
and from the government, to the
city and in our local communities,
we complete each other by doing our
share,” Ebrahim said.
between cars on either side — of 24
feet for a firetruck.
Vehicles parked on either side of
the roads in the West End can use
up to 10 feet of that access width,
taking streets from the required 24
West End residents in New Westminster say their streets have become dan-
gerously crowded thanks to laneway homes increasing density and more cars
parking in unregulated areas. TAESA HODEL PHOTO
Atlarge
COVID UPDATE, continues from page 1
He said over 90 per cent of these
cases were in four countries, two of
which have “significantly declining
epidemics.”
“We have never before seen a
pandemic sparked by a coronavi-
rus,” Ghebreyesus said in his state-
ment. “All countries can still change
the course of this pandemic.”
As of The Voice’s publication
time, there were 46 confirmed cases
of COVID-19 in British Columbia.
Four individuals had recovered.
One person, an 80-year-old man
with existing health challenges, has
died from the disease. The Lynn
Valley Care Centre resident in North
Vancouver died March 8.
In a March 11 press conference,
Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provin-
cial health officer, confirmed she
has been talking to post-secondary
institutions about the importance
of taking “community distancing
measures.” Henry said she would
be having more detailed discussions
with post-secondary institutions
over the coming days.
“We must all at this time step up
our social distancing. This is not
forever, but for the coming weeks,”
Henry said.
In an emailed statement to The
Voice, the Ministry of Advanced
Education, Skills and Training said
the ministry remains in close contact
with post-secondary institutions to
monitor the impact of the outbreak.
“Institutions are advised to follow
their own emergency response plan-
ning and remain in communication
with their students, staff, faculty and
community,” said the ministry state-
ment.
Langara’s latest COVID-19
website update, posted March 10,
advised all students, faculty, staff,
and visitors to have been to Hubei,
China, or Iran to stay home or self-
isolate for 14 days.
During the first week of March,
Langara’s Food Services began stor-
ing single-use cutlery in a box at each
cashier’s workstation, only available
upon request. Patrick Villarama,
assistant director of food services
for Chartwells, said the decision was
made because of COVID-19.
As a temporary measure to prevent
virus spread, Tim Hortons and
Starbucks on campus have stopped
accepting re-useable cups.
feet down to 14 feet.
Assistant Deputy Fire Chief Rob
Dick of the New Westminster Fire
Department says firetrucks are 10
feet wide and can fit between parked
cars.
 Campusnews EDITOR KRISTIAN TREVENA | THURSDAY, MARCH 12 , 2020 | THE VOICE
3
Creating
student Student satisfaction dips
Recent survey results show slow decline from 2016 to 2019
housing
takes time
cial concerns are the dominant worry
for him and how his tuition fees are
being spent by the college.
“If the school focuses its resources
Several factors are on things that don’t benefit a major-
ity of students, it’s not improving
being considered their experience,” Cartagena-Sena-
nayake said. “You're putting in like
before residence a lot of money into the system, but
comes to campus you're not really getting as much
out,”
Despite student satisfaction drop-
 By DANAUCA DORY ping, students like Poole are appre-
ciative of the effort Langara is

T
he demand for student
housing at Langara is being
explored as a part of the
college's 2025 Strategic Plan. The
steps to get there are more compli-
cated than students think.
The plan, which is currently in
its draft state, is an outline for how
the college intends to grow over the
next five years. One of these goals
is to see the feasibility of on and off
campus housing for students.
Viktor Sokha, vice-president
of administration and finance at
Langara, said while options are
putting to ensure students are happy.
“It seems like the school is taking
good steps from what I've noticed
to work with the students and make
sure they're as happy as they can be.”
SCHOOLS AT A GLANCE
2018/2019 SATISFACTION
A person waits at the Registrar & Enrolment Services office at Langara. RUI YANG XU PHOTO
86.8%
 By RUI YANG XU the level has declined over the last According to Langara’s 2020 stra-
year. tegic plan, the college has a target Langara student satisfaction in

being explored to bring student
housing to campus in the future, it
is still early to have a concrete plan.
“We recognize that housing
affordability is a challenging issue
in Metro Vancouver,” Sokha said in
“We recognize
that housing
affordability is
a challenging
issue in Metro
Vancouver.”
— VIKTOR SOKHA, VICE-PRESIDENT
OF ADMINSTATION AND FINANCE AT
J
oshua Poole went to college
in Alberta before transferring
to Langara. He finds that it’s
been a better experience here
than he’s had in other schools.
Poole, a second-year computer
science student, said other colleges
and universities had class sizes that
were too large and intimidating.
“So many people, so many classes,
and Langara is nice for that —that
it's just smaller,” Poole said.
While Poole has been satisfied
with his time at Langara, recent
reports from the school have shown
that while the college still has a rela-
tively high level of satisfied students,
Over the past few years, overall
student satisfaction has been slowly
dipping to 86.8 per cent in 2019
from 93.8 per cent in 2016, accord-
ing to Langara’s 2020 Strategic Plan.
The latest B.C. Student Outcome
Survey shows that 96 per cent of
students were satisfied with the qual-
ity of instruction at Langara College,
92 per cent with their education and
91 per cent felt prepared for further
studies, according to the Langara
website.
In comparison, in the 2018/2019
school year, UBC had a 94 per cent
student satisfaction rate. In 2019,
SFU sat at 82 per cent.
of 100 per cent student satisfaction. 2019
Ben Cecil, Langara’s provost and
vice-president of academics and
students, said in order to make sure
the college continues to provide rele- 94%
vant programs, the survey results are
vital. UBC Vancouver student
“We use the metrics of student satisfaction in 2018/19
satisfaction, transfer rates, and
graduate satisfaction to measure
our performance annually,” he said.
“The overwhelming majority of 82%
our students are satisfied with the
services, supports and education they SFU student satisfaction in 2019
receive at Langara.”
For Arjun Cartagena-Senanayake,
a first-year biology student, finan- SOURCES: LANGARA.CA, UBC.CA, SFU.CA

Businessnews
LANGARA

an emailed statement to The Voice,

“We are also evaluating the feasi-
bility of other potential housing

Investing in emergency supplies

supports for students in the future,
with a range of possible partners,
but it is early in that process.”
Jenelle Davies, national execu-
tive representative for the B.C.

Sales for virus products soar while earthquake kits ignored

Federation of Students, said
providing housing on campuses
may be more complicated than
students realize, as student housing people. But if an earthquake hits, it
doesn’t fall under the B.C. Resi-  By JESSICA A. FROUD will be a heck of a lot more people
dential Tenancy Act. than that.”

“Students aren’t actually covered
under the tenancy agreements,
because you’re not considered a
renter,” Davies said. “You’re sort
of at the whim of what the insti-
tution is doing for housing at that
point in time.”
One factor listed in the plan is
Langara’s plan is to consult with
Musqueam, as the college sits on
unceded Musqueam territory.
An estimated 23,000 students
attend Langara annually, accord-
ing to the school website.
Nursing student Tahlia Velay-
Mah said she knows housing on
campus won’t happen any time
soon, but thinks it will be a prom-
ising option for students.
“There’s gonna be a lot of red
tape to get through. But I think
that it would be beneficial long-
term to kind of get the ball rolling.”
Other factors being considered
in Langara's plan include consult-
ing with the City of Vancouver and
other potential partners.
According to the plan, the
college is aiming to have a feasi-
bility assessment complete by 2025.
V
ancouverites are rushing out As of publication, B.C. has 46
to buy COVID-19 emer- confirmed COVID-19 cases, and
gency supplies — much one death, according to Dr. Bonnie
more than earthquakes kits despite Henry, B.C.'s provincial health offi-
being the high ongoing risk of the cer.
“big one” hitting the West Coast. According to PreparedBC, there
Businesses across Metro Vancou- is a one in three chance of a damag-
ver have been sold out of surgi- ing earthquake occurring within the
cal face masks, hand sanitizer and province over the next 50 years.
rubbing alcohol for weeks. Many Steven Taylor, an expert in the
don’t have a date for when they will psychology of pandemics at UBC,
be back in stock. said people shouldn’t buy items
Cheryl Petkau, owner of Krasicki because they think they have to.
& Ward, an emer- “The risk
gency preparedness of earth-
store in Vancouver, "The worst thing we quakes in
said emergencies like Vancouver is
earthquakes should can do right now is fairly low in A Superstore on Marine Drive is sold out of face masks. Many stores across
be the focus. These comparison Metro Vancouver have been sold out for weeks. JESSICA A. FROUD PHOTO
days, products that
act out of panic.” to getting
customers believe — STEVEN TAYLOR, UBC PROFESSOR, COVID- purchase items based on current First-year professional photogra-
PSYCHIATRY DEPT.
will help them fight 19,” Taylor concerns. phy student Sarah Flemming said
off COVID-19 are in said. “It will “People tend to put earthquake her family has been trying to find
high demand. be a self-fulfilling prophecy if the fears on the back burner because it hand sanitizers with no success.
“We will be bringing in boxes stores run out of inventory and I isn’t in the news as much as things “My mom was trying to find hand
of masks from the back door and believe most already have. The worst like COVID-19,” Wood said. sanitizer here in Vancouver but it
people will be waiting for us saying thing we can do right now is act out “When there was an earthquake in was totally sold out,” Flemming said.
they will buy them all,” Petkau said. of panic.” Haida Gwaii, we were running out “Our family went to Victoria over
“Once COVID-19 is finished it will Isabel Wood, a staff worker of earthquake kits because it was on the weekend and couldn’t find any
have taken out about half a dozen at Krasicki & Ward, said people people’s minds.” there either.”
 4 THE VOICE | THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020 | EDITOR LAUREN GARGIULO
Create Reuse Recyc
Set decorator turns left-over set pieces into abstract wo
 By MAX LECKIE
A
t Metro Theatre, a few
materials go a long way
thanks to a set decorator
who uses the left-over
set pieces of past plays to create
abstract paintings.
Tracy-Lynn Chernaske created
the Artful Theatre collection to
help fund the theatre after she
noticed how much material was
thrown out.
“I thought that’s such a shame
because there are beautiful things
that can be made out of those
things,” Chernaske said.
Metro Theatre, which is located
at 1370 Southwest Marine Dr., has
been in operation since the early
1960s and has faced many finan-
cial struggles in its half century of
operations.
The theatre supports itself mainly
through ticket sales and donations
from patrons, Alison Schamberger
president of the board of direc-
tors said, but those revenues aren’t
enough.
“It does make it extremely hard to
maintain two buildings,” she said.
Besides the building on Marine
Drive, the theatre company also has
ABOVE: Full Moon by Tracy-Lynn Chernaske. SUBMITTED BY TRACY-LYNN CHERNASKE
BELOW: The set of Metro Theatre's most recent play, The Gazebo. MAX LECKIE PHOTO
a second building, the Oak Street helping the publicity team. do, including the actors and direc-
Scene Shop at 8690 Oak St., where “Everybody who does work here tors, are also a big part of the cogs
most of the sets for Metro’s produc- kind of is willing to put in and do that keep Metro running, Danny
tions are created and stored. That’s a lot of work, which is awesome.” said, putting in hours before and
also where Chernaske’s main base In order to stay afloat, the theatre after to get their productions going.
of operations was set up for creating also has a range of fundraisers like “They put in so many hours
the artworks made entirely using the occasional garage sale to sell old into the show. You know, they
reclaimed materials from the sets of props and costumes, as start rehearsing literally months
former Metro Theatre productions. well as renting before and the rehearsal
The materials range from leftover the theatre schedule is at least
paint and extra lengths of plywood to other three days a week.”
to moulding, and even sawdust. Artists tend
“A lot of the inspiration kind of to be pretty
came from the colors or the shape of thrifty, and
the offcuts, looking at those pieces have been
and seeing something that wasn’t reusing
there yet,” Chernaske said. materials
In many theatre companies, for ages,
re-using materials is common Cher-
practice, said Debra Danny, whose naske
incharge of digital media at Metro. s a i d ,
“If we have leftover wood, we use and the
it for the next project,” said Danny. theatre is
“If we have leftover paint, we find no excep-
a way of mixing it with something tion.
else so that it works for a project, “ [ Yo u
perhaps even a year down the line.” take] some-
Because the work done at the thing that
theatre is broad in scope, every- compa- already has char-
one juggles a few different jobs at nies in acter and you’re just
once, Chernaske said. She’s a prime b e t w e e n making it a little bit better
example: painting and decorating seasons. or tailoring it or highlighting it,”
sets, working in the box office and Volunteers who love what they she said, “That’s what I love to do.”
CLOCKWISE: Chernaske and her dog Hudson in t
River which she created using paints and setpiec
from paints and materials from the play by the sa
Yard. SUBMITTED BY TRACY-LYNN CHERNASKE
BELOW: close-up of the set of The Gazebo. MAX L

cle
orks of art
the Oak Street Scene Shop with her painting
ces from Hilda's Yard. Persuasion, created
ame name.Trekking, 2019. The set of Hilda's
LECKIE PHOTO
The abstract
art of creation
Paintings open
to interpritation
make for bold
expressions
 By MAX LECKIE
A
bstract art is sometimes
a divisive subject, but for
Tracy-Lynn Chernaske, it’s
the openness to interpretation that
excites her.
“Not everybody looks at River and
sees a river, right? Not everybody
looks at treeline and goes it’s the
Northern Lights, right? And I love
that. I love hearing what people have
to say about it.”
She of course has her own meaning
put into each piece.
River was created using setpieces
from Hilda’s Yard, a story about a
family changing over time as chil-
dren become adults.
The way that rivers ebb and flow,
and tributaries break off and recon-
News&Features 5
nect reminds her of family ties, Cher-
naske said. “When I look at River I
always think of ... how a family could
grow together but also could grow
apart”
That connection to nature is
common in her work, and Treeline is
no exception.
One of Chernaske’s favourite inter-
pretations was very personal to one
spectator, who saw it as the ridge near
her farm.
“I was like, ‘I’ve never been to that
part of B.C. But I love that you iden-
tify with it,’” Chernaske said. “It’s not
a crazy out there interpretation, But
she literally saw a very specific place.”
Check out
Metro Theatre at
metrotheatre.com
 6 THE VOICE | THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020 | EDITOR LINA CHUNG
Viewpoints
Can't get
no satis-
faction
L
angara needs to provide more
information on the outcome
of their strategic plan for
2020.
The results for Langara’s strategic
plan for 2020 are in, and it shows a
seven percent drop in overall student
satisfaction.
The four year plan was started
in 2016 and
wrapped up
at the end
of 2019, and
is meant to
outline strat-
egies and
b e n c h m a rk s
for success
and improved
OPINION
student expe- JACOB
rience. HOHEISEL
The full
report can be
found on Langara’s website and gives
statistics. The 95 per cent baseline is Some stores across Metro Vancouver have seen shoppers bulk-buying bottled water, toilet paper, masks, hand sanitizer and various food products in response
an aspirational “internal target” set to the developing COVID-19 situation. CRISTINA DOMMER ILLUSTRATION

Keep calm. Wash hands.

by the college, according to Court-
ney Fabri, Langara’s manager of
institutional research.
The problem is that the 2020
report doesn’t provide any informa-
tion on why there has been a dip in
satisfaction year over year. And, from

2016 to 2019 although student satis-
faction is relatively high, there has
been a dip of seven per cent in satis-
faction among Langara students.
The survey outlines the satisfac-
tion levels of recently graduated
students approximately nine to 20
months after graduating.
Fabri states that roughly 40-50 per
cent of recently graduated students
reply to the survey. This is a good
“Financial strain
is one of the main
factors.”
D
espite cases of COVID-
19 reaching double
digits in British Colum-
bia recently, panic
buying is unjustified.
While most believe that the
bulk buying of everyday products
like toilet paper is due to fears of
an incoming lockdown in parts of
China, like Wuhan, there are other
considerations that people should
think about.  realistic f ear
The B.C government is providing
a strong, almost daily public update
and action plan on the virus situa-
tion from increasing the number of
testing sites, businesses and other
health facilities. So, the fear of a
total lockdown of borders, lock- would be a legitimately terrifying those who are actually in need of
down of public transit or a scenario situation. Having two weeks-worth resources, like masks, are able to
where the virus of necessities in advance would be a purchase what they need. This also
spreads out of great idea.  erases the fear of missing out from
control is defi- But instead of focusing on what other buyers who are simply worried
nitely unwar- might happen, the public should be about not being able to buy what
ranted. focusing harder on preventing the they need.  
Howe ver, potential of being infected in the At the end of the day, the public
many haven’t first place. will need to work together to ensure
c on s i d e re d a From constantly washing your our day-to-day lives are still normal.
OPINION more likely and hands or using hand sanitizer to That means helping educate others
resisting the desire to touch your on COVID-19 while avoiding false
RUI YANG which is that face, making sure you practise good information from various social
XU someone gets the
virus and needs
hygiene to prevent being potentially
infected is important.
media like Wechat.
Most importantly, people need
to quarantine themselves for two Through good hygiene practises, to avoid the desire to panic buy in
weeks. In such a situation, the lack the need for panic buying in bulk bulk and to simply practise better
of proper planning and resources would become unnecessary. Then, hygiene.

response rate and higher than what

I would have expected.
It’s unfortunate that more infor-
mation is not included on Langara’s
website about why there has been a
decrease in satisfaction.
Based on what I’ve heard amongst
students, financial strain is one of the
main factors.
Langara is already one of the more
affordable post-secondary schools
in B.C., but the increase in cost of
living in Vancouver and the addi-
tion of student fees, like the student
union fee, to tuition fees adds up fast
for students.
At the very least, a more compre-
hensive representation of the data
should be provided to us all in order
to better understand and work
together towards the 95-100 per
cent target that Langara says they
wish to achieve.
Universal, free contraceptives needed in Canada
A
ll provinces should provide all be affected by an unwanted preg- injections, and IUDs tend to be more person to talk to their parent about
free contraceptives to youth. nancy. costly. contraception in order to access their
The Canadian Paediat- Advocates for universal free Although contraceptive pills parent’s plan. Because some youth
ric Society esti- contraceptives argue that provid- are a popular method, it is not the may not feel comfortable doing this,
mates that in ing free, confidential contraception, preferred one for everybody. Allow- they don’t seek out contraception.
2014, there were including condoms, decreases teen ing people options when choosing The Canadian Medical Asso-
approximately pregnancies. birth control to find one that works ciation estimates that free contra-
59,000 unin- According to the Canadian Paedi- for them will help ensure that they ception coverage for all Canadians
tended pregnan- atric Society, youth are more likely will be used. would cost $157 million per year,
cies in Canada to use condoms when they are free. Ontario had free coverage for a but it would be outweighed by $320
among those In February, Vancouver city coun- variety of prescription drugs, includ- million per year saved in direct medi-
under the age of
25.  OPINION cil passed a motion to request B.C. to
cover the cost of prescription contra-
ing birth control pills, for youth
under the age of 25. Unfortunately,
cal costs related to unwanted preg-
nancies.
Unwanted ceptives under the Medical Services this was curtailed in the summer of The savings are even greater when
pregnancies can LINA Plan (MSP). 2018, by Doug Ford’s government. one thinks about the social support
d e r a i l yo u n g CHUNG Their argument is a good one. Youth were excluded from the free programs in Canada that would not
lives. Male contraceptive methods like coverage if they had extended health have to be relied upon.
Educational and career plans, condoms are low cost, but other care benefits through a parent’s The business case for free contra-
financial plans, mental and methods for people with uteruses private health care plan. Unfortu- ceptives for all Canadians, especially
emotional health, and families can like birth control pills, hormone nately, this change forces a young youth, is clear.

HOW TO DROP-IN INSTRUCTOR PAGE 6 MANAGING WEB Ryan Ng WE WANT TO

REACH US Room A226 Erica Bulman Lina Chung EDITOR Safoura Rigi-Ladiz HEAR FROM YOU CONTACT
Langara College PAGE 7 Steven Chang Rui Yang Xu Have a different point
PHONE PAGE EDITORS Gina Rogers of view? Write us
US
The Voice is pub- government and 604-323-5396 SNAIL MAIL PAGE 1 PAGE 8 REPORTERS
lished by Langara administration. We E-MAIL The Voice Kristen Holliday Anita Zhu Danauca Dory Journalism instructor Online at
College’s journalism welcome letters to thevoice@langara.ca 100 West 49th Ave. PAGE 2 Jessica A. Froud Erica Bulman oversees langaravoice.ca
department. Editorial the editor. They may WEBSITE Vancouver, B.C. Soubhik Chakrabarti MANAGING Jacob Hoheisel The Voice.
opinions are those be edited for brevity. langaravoice.ca V5Y 2Z6 PAGE 3 EDITOR Lucas Jornitz Twitter
of the staff and Your letter must in- Kristian Trevena Lina Chung Max Leckie Email: ebulman @LangaraVoice
are independent of clude your name and PAGE 4 & 5 Christopher @langara.ca
views of the student phone number. Lauren Gargiulo MacMillan
 Arts&life EDITOR GINA ROGERS | THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020 | THE VOICE
7

Small press realizes big dreams

Erica Wilk of Moniker Press gets creative with local risograph printing
 By JACOB HOHEISEL graph printer in Washington, but
upgraded to a larger version with

E
mily Carr grad Erica less restrictions.
Wilk is using what was The new MZ790 printer wasn’t
once a popular household, tied down while being shipped
church, and office staple from Edmonton, so Wilk repaired
in Japan to print unique works of it and learned how to work with the
art. damage restrictions over four years.
She has a Risograph printer, Moniker Press offers local artists
1980s Japanese technology, used the accessibility to publish and
in the production of original works print their materials with volun-
and publications with local artists teer help. Wilk consults on proj-
a n d v o l u n - ects, as well.
teers through “Erica is the monopoly for good
her Moniker reason. She knows more about riso-
Press, based in a graph printing than most people,”
studio space in close collaborator and fellow
Vancouver. publisher Christian Hernandez
R i s o g r a p h s said.
are printers Hernandez said independent
Erica Wilk that use a sten- publishing and risograph printing
OWNER/OPERATOR
MONIKER PRESS cil made from are growing niches.
a digital scan, Anna Firth, who runs Swamp-
which is then wrapped around cone Magazine, said “I feel like
an ink drum. As the paper runs Moniker Press is a staple in the
through the c o m m u -
Swampcone Magazine
machine, the nity. All of us
soy-based ink “Erica is the monopoly have probably and Veins + Arterys
is imprinted printed some- Book Drop attendees.
directly onto for good reason. She thing there or Close up of risograph
prints by Moniker Press.
t h e p a p e r. knows more about participated in
Event banner. PHOTOS BY
It’s this ink her projects.”
on paper risograph printing F i r t h
JACOB HOHEISEL

aesthetic that co-organized a

risoprinting is than most people.” publishing fair
known for. — CHRISTIAN HERNANDEZ, DD00GG called Book
About six Drop last
years ago, Wilk was working on Saturday for printed matter and
book project called Duality with small press. The fair featured local
other artists and writers when talent, including Moniker Press.
she had the idea that it would be Wilk recommends anyone inter-
cheaper to print and do everything ested in starting a business in a
herself in her own studio. creative or artistic field or pursuing
“It ended up not being cheaper art as a career to get out to events,
… I had to make 400 books by talk to people, network or volunteer
hand, but that’s how it started.” to showcase their work.
Wilk said she found a RZ220 riso- “It’s OK to start small,” she said.

UBC seed libraries cultivate connections

Saving seeds for community gardens at the university allow education program to blossom
 By DANAUCA DORY the seed saving will help children
learn about their community impact.

S
eed libraries have taken root
in UBC, growing into educa-
tional resources as seed saving
becomes popular in Vancouver.
UBC has one of the few seed
libraries located in Vancouver, with
many students, faculty and residents
using them for their own use, includ-
ing personal and scholarly.
According to UBC’s website,
librarians Helen Brown and Wendy
Traas started the seed libraries
in 2017. A year later, the library
reported a 240 per cent increase
in borrowing and an influx of seed
donations. The vegetable and other
seeds are available at two locations
on the Vancouver campus.
Wendy Traas, an education librar-
ian at UBC, said one of the main
focuses for the seed gardens is for the
Faculty of Education to have addi-
tional resources for outdoor educa-
tion.
"We really wanted to support well-
ness and community connections,"
Traas said.
Teacher education student Wen-
Ling Liao has been using the seed
UBC seed libraries carry easy-to-cultivate varieties of vegetables and herbs, and the campus libraries which house library to help with her elementary
them have collections of reference materials for growers. PHOTO BY DANAUCA DORY school practicum. Liao believes that
“They can have this sort of expo-
sure to be part of the community
and then recognizing that their
little action can have consequences,
really positive consequences on the
community,” Liao said.
Liao said she enjoys using the
seed library and wants more people
to know about the resource.
UBC is not the only seed library in
Vancouver, as the Vancouver Public
Library also has a few seed libraries
at some of its locations. VanDusen
Botanical Garden has a for purchase
seed collection store.
Gillian Drake, director of educa-
tion at VanDusen Botanical Garden,
believes more people are saving
seeds.
“I think as people are becoming
more active gardeners and more
active in terms of their own personal
efforts for environmental activism,
I think there is an uptake in seed
saving in general,” Drake said.
UBC seed libraries are open to
the public and Vancouver has 110
community gardens — including
one at City Hall — with some plots
going to waste and in need of plant-
ing.
 8 THE VOICE | THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020 | EDITOR ANITA ZHU
Sportsnews

Steve Pritula practises powerlifting at The Bar Strength and Conditioning in South Vancouver. ANITA ZHU PHOTO

Powerlifting for young and old

A good alternative to other forms of weightlifting without the same injury risks and technical challenges
 By CHRISTOPHER who practises weightlifting, believes Over five years, the weight he can trying to lift hundreds of pounds or
 MACMILLAN
powerlifting is a good alternative to lift has more than doubled from break records. POWERLIFTING FACTS

O
ver the five years since
opening, a S outh
Vancouver weightlift-
ing gym has cemented
the city’s powerlifting culture among
athletes of all ages — from six to 86.
Powerlifting attracts competi-
tive athletes from a broad age range,
said the owner of the club, because
is it less technical than competitive
weightlifting and has remarkably
good health benefits such as build-
ing muscle mass and bone density.
“We have high-level lifters … and
then we have a mom and grandma,”
said Shawn Adair, who is the CEO
and co-founder of The Bar Strength
and Conditioning. “Even age isn’t
an issue.”
Dominic Lu, a trainer at the gym
other forms of weightlifting as it under 100 kilograms to over 200 Most importantly, for beginners,
builds muscles and improves body kilograms. is “not to rush to the big weights,”
coordination, without the same “Everyone in the gym is goal- he said.
injury risks and technical challenges. oriented. Not only are you pushing Lu explained to The Voice in World championship
Power lif t- yourself, you Mandarin that even an 86-year-old In 1973, the first world champi-
ing focuses are also help- person is also capable of powerlift- onship was held in Harrisburg,
more on three
“Age isn’t an issue.” ing others to ing over time because it “increases Pa., United States.
heavy lifts — SHAWN ADAIR, CEO AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE push them- muscle mass, endurance and explo-
known as the
BAR STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING
selves,” Pritula sive power.” The squat
squat, bench said. “It could increase people’s cardio- Originated in Austria 130 years
press, and deadlift and is less tech- Pritula said anyone new to the vascular system, bone mineral ago.
nical than Olympic weightlifting, sport should consider working with density and body coordination,” he
which requires athletes to perform a professional trainer. added. Contests
two overhead lifts called the clean “It’s beneficial to work with some- Since they’ve been operating, the There are 11 weight classes for
and jerk and the snatch. one to develop that motor pattern gym remains the only one in South men, 10 for women.
Steve Pritula, a 31-year-old and learning to do the movement Vancouver dedicated to powerlifting
former bodybuilder, said he started efficiently.” with faithful members from across
powerlifting because he went to Starting off, Adair cautioned, the the city. The fitness centre celebrated
see a coach’s competition and was first goal is getting a client used to its five-year anniversary last Sunday SOURCE: BC-POWERLIFTING.COM
intrigued by the atmosphere. moving their own weight before with a party for its members.

New start for women's soccer team

Falcons' new head back to the Falcons who finished last
in PacWest standings last year, with
coach ready for Pac- a 1-11 record.
“I think anyone in the game has
West season in fall a passion for being a head coach,”
Eckerle said. “Hopefully I can
 By RYAN NG support the program and lead the
program to provincial and national
an assistant coach for the Vancouver
Whitecaps FC U19 Development
Squad.
Originating from Chicago, Illi-
nois, Eckerle has spent over a decade
gaining coaching experience from
time spent in Ghana, the United
States and now Canada. After
growth and experience to Langara.”
Team captain Carly Dhanda, a
midfielder, said their new coach
offers knowledge and new ideas. She
said he has “changed the tempo and
intensity” of the practices.
“I’m looking forward to seeing
what we can do,” Dhanda said. “I
Beaubien said. “We’re having fun in
all the drills while also keeping our
intensity up and work ethic levels
high.”
Along with his vast coaching
background, Eckerle has athletic
experience competing in the NCAA
Division I in both soccer and track

T
his coming fall, the Langara
women’s soccer team will be
playing under a new head
coach, who brings his extensive expe-
rience to the women’s soccer team.
Mark Eckerle, a Chicago native,
will try to bring winning formula
successes.”
On Feb. 24, Langara announced
the arrival of Eckerle, who soon
began training the women’s soccer
team for the 2020 PacWest season
taking place next fall.
At the same time, he also works as
moving to Vancouver nearly eight
years ago, he started as an assistant
coach for UBC’s women’s soccer
program.
“I want to believe that I’ve learned
valuable lessons along the way,”
Eckerle said. “I’m ready to take that
think we got a good coach to lead
us.”
Kayleigh Beaubien, a forward, is a
third-year player who is also excited
about the changes and insight that
Eckerle brings.
“His coaching style is a lot of fun,”
and field.
Beaubien said that having their
coach play with them during a few
drills makes him a lot more involved
in the practices.
“It’s a lot of fun having our coach
playing with us,” she said.