Losted in B.C., Tuesday, February 5,1991 Vol73, No 34 ... · Losted in 1918 Vancouver, B.C.,...

Losted in 1918 Vancouver, B.C., Tuesday, February 5,1991 Vol73, No 34,

Tianan’men struggle continues

Protestors in front of the Chinese Consulate decrv the action of the Chinese government to pi t on trial the student of the-June 4, 1989 massacre.

~~

DAVID SWEET TATT LOH PHOTO

Chinese consulate site of protest by Huang Chen Chung

Flashing yellow ribbons, about 80 demonstrators protested the Chinese government’s treatment of those imprisoned for par- t ic ipat ing in the Tiananmen Square movement for democracy at the Chinese consulate on Sat- urday.

Cramped between a wall of bushes, iron grills and concrete, the demonstrators carried signs- one was wearing chains and a mock pillory-as they stood in front of the Granville Street mansion shouting slogans.

The yellow ribbons, a symbol of hope, have been waved by Vancouver demonstrators since June 4, 1989, when hundreds- possibly thousands-f students and workers p ro tes t ing a t Beijing’s Tiananmen Square were either shot to death or run over by People’s Liberation Army tanks.

Protestor Raymond Chan said, “This i:; to demonstrate to the government that the imprisoned dissidents still have support.”

Chan gave a n impassioned speech through a makeshif t speaker system as dozens of pass- ing cars and buses honked horns in support.

Chan, who is the chair of

Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement (VSSDM), recently visited Beijing but was barred from witnessing the trials of Tiananmen Square dissidents.

He said many of the student dissidents were sentenced to an unexpected and lengthy terms, but added, some of the workers who were not well-publicized received stiffer sentences.

“One architect got 14 years. We (the VSSDM) feel it’s because we did not publish his case,” he said.

“Right now, we are trying our best to assemble information on workers but it’s hard. The workers are intimidated and do not realize the media’s power.”

Another concern, Chan said, is the fate of Wang Juntao, deputy editor of the now-banned Eco- nomic Weekly. Wang is suffering from Hepatitis B in prison but governmentofficialsflatlyrejected his wife’s request to admit him into a hospital.

A spokesperson for the Min- istry of External Affairs said Ca- nadian officials are discussing the trials on a regular basis with officials in Beijing and the Chinese Embassy -in Ottawa.

In a telephone interview from Ottawa, External AfTairs spokes-

person Dennis Lalierte said, W e want to make sure the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are being upheld during the trials.”

But he said the ministry is not yet in a position to reveal details of the talks.

External Affairs minister Joe Clark last spoke with China’s deputy Foreign AfTairs minister Hua Qui in December during his visit to Ottawa.

In Vancouver, several protestors accused the Chinese government of speeding up the trials while international focus was on the Gulf War.

UBC student Mankit Cha.n said, “Canadians respect the rights ofhuman beings-I believe through this type ofaction, we can make those Canadians aware.”

“We want to let the Chinese government and Canadians know that there’s still much to do.”

Raymond Chan said that the Chinese communityinVancouver is united in its stance for the most part. “Only the people with busi- nesses in China have some reser- vations,” he said.

He added that the Chinese government is worried about financial aid and foreign recogni- tion and are making moves to improve foreign relations.

Geers’ Skulk Night targets peace camp by Paul Dayson

“he UBC Engineers went on the offensive to kick off Engineer- ing week with a Sunday night scavenger hunt which culminated with a number of raids on the Peace Camp on the Vancouver Art Gallery lawn.

Peace camp spokesperson Angus Adair said, “They came down here on a scavenger hunt and took a pile of our things.”

Among the items engineers took from the camp were all but one of the signs put up by the

peace campers, candles, a Cana- dian flag and two pylons. A small replica of the engineers’cairn was left on the top of a fountain.

W e a r e here expressing ourselves freely. They (engineers) came down here and took away our flags, our signs and anything that expressed what we are about. They might as well have tied us down and gagged US,” Adair said.

Many of the participants in thecamparehigh school students.

“I’m disappointed. I’m an- gered,” Adair said.

Peace camper Elenor DeVries

Hikes being ignored The demo planned to co-

incide with the Board of G o v e r n o r s meeting this Thursday is in disarray, according t o the AMS co- ordinator of External Affairs, Jason Brett.

“Right now nothing is planned,” Brett said. “We had our regular Fight the Hikes committee meeting, but only one other person showed up.”

The BOG meeting will s ta r t at 9 am on Thursday,

and Brett and AMs president Kurt Preinsperg will be speaking to the board at 10 am.

“I’m beginning to won’der how seriously UBC students are concerned about the fee hike proposa1,”he said. “We’ll have something planned.”

Brett said tickets were still available from t h e administration at 228-2172. “1’11 be scalping them at the door,” he joked.

said, “We want our flags and signs back.”

A scavenger hunt called “Skulk Night” is the traditional beginning of Engineering week.

According to Engineering Undergraduate Society president Darren Saunders, the list for Skulk Night is composed by an “anonymousgroupofindividuals” which is then screened.

Saunderssaidhedidnotknow who screened the list for the hunt.

Besides items from the peace

camp, also on the list were a vid- eotape of Mr. Rogers swearing, Kurt Reimperg’s briefs and res- ervations for a flight to Iraq.

AMs engineering rep Evie Wehrhahn said, “We don’t want to hurt anybody and we don’t want mindless destruction. We also try to ensure that anything that goes missing is returned.”

Some groups of engineer*; volved in Skulk Night were* sensitive to the peace c a w s . One group of e n g i n e e r s b k :

proached peace campers and asked for something from the camp-the campers responded by giving them a book.

As well as objects, a group of first year engineers scavenged a peace camper whom they took t,o the Cheeze Factoryand plied with beer.

The “kidnapped” peace camper Owen West said, “I fig- ured it was either me or a sign. Anyway, anyone who offers me beer has eot me.”

Engineers‘ ma& left on peace camp. NADENEREHNBYPHOTO

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Jean Chretien waffles to UBC students

Chretien speaks of patriotism. PAUL GORWN PHOTO

Abortions still legal after bill C-43 fails in Senate by Carla Maftechuk

Bill C-43, the proposed legis- lation which would have place abortion in the Canadian Crimi- nal Code, was defeated by the Senate last Thursday.

The bill had evoked unfavor- able reactions from people on both sides of the abortion issue.

A tie vote of 43-43, with more than 20 senators absent, meant that the bill failed. Although prime minister Brian Mulroney had de- clared a free vote on the bill, Pro- gressive Conservative senator Pat Carney voted against C-43 and has since been struck from a federal constitutional review committee.

First introduced to the House of Commons in November of 1989, Bill C-43 had passed its final

readingin theHousein May 1990. It went before the Senate for its final vote on January 24.

Bill C-43 required a woman to obtain the permission of a doctor before she could undergo the operation. A doctor would only be able to grant permission if the pregnancy was judged to threaten the woman’s “physical, mental, or psychological health.”

Under such a law, if the doctor’s diagnosis had been ques- tioned and determined to be inac- curate, both the doctor and the woman involved could have received prison terms of up to two years.

Jackie Larkin, spokesperson for the B.C. Coalition of Abortion Clinics, referred to the failure of the bill as ”terrific.”

“C-43 isn’t law, it’s history. It

won’t be easy for individual harassment (by third party inter- vention),” Larkin said.

”The .key battle now is for access. Forty per cent of the women who came to the (Everywoman’s) Health Cliniclast year had t o be sent to the United States.

“The clnly wa,y the Provincial government could hinder abortions is to refuse funding for clinics,” she said.

Larkin said that in Nova Scotia, a bill was passed would not permit the establishment of free standing abortion clinics. The law was subsequently struck down.

Currently, Vancouver has two abortion clinics in operation which are not being funded by the provincial government.

by Rick Hiebert

Federal opposition leader Jean Chrktien admits a Liberal government could not ensure that each province in Canada conform to national educational standards.

Following a speech Monday, the federal Liberal leader said he did “not know what could be done” if the Quebec Liberal party’s recent proposals to obtain provincial control over social programs and spending under a new constitu- t iona l agreement were implimented.

“Post-secondary education is a provincial area according to the constitution and the federal government is not usually involved in it,” Chrktien said.

“If you’re thinking about having national standards, then it should be, but as of right now, we wouldn’t have the power to do so. The federal government has its hands tied even now.”

Chretien spoke to almost 1,000 students in the SUB Ball- room about his party’s positions on the Gulfwar andnational unity. His pitch for unity appeared to get supporr, from the audience yet his comments on the Liberal party’s support for Canada’s participation in the conflict raised some vocal opposition.

He alluded to Canada’s history of support of the United Na- tions and the role it played #as a peacemaker” by refusing to get involved in the Suez and Vietnam conflicts.

Chrkt ien said sanct ions against. Iraq had not been given enough time to work by the United Nations. “You don’t crush a coun- t r y like Iraq in eight months. They’re used to suffering after their war with Iran.”

Yet, he said, now that Canada is involved in the conflict, tha t it was “our duty to protect and support our troops. I have no doubt about that.”

Chrktien implied i t was hypo- critical for Canada to disapprove of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait without being willing to fight as part of the UN alliance to remove

their forces. ‘When you’re playinghockey,

you go out on the ice, you don’t sit in the stands and applaud,” he said. “The CF-18 jets we have aren’t made to distribute milk.

“Pacifism is a noble position to have but it’s not too practical,” Chretien said. “A pacifist should carry their logic all the way and get us out of NATO and NORAD.”

Chretien also said he was confident that Canada could remain united, especially with constitutional change and perhaps a new sharing of powers between the federal and provincial governments.

“To be a Canadian is not to be an American. There are Canadian values that we all share, v a h s o f compassion built over the years,” he said, alluding to programs like medicare and equalization pay- ments.

He said a new constitution might be worthwhile, yet i t would have to be “negotiated with all provinces.

“We need national standards in many areas, such as the environment, but I am open to sharing powers with the proirinces,” he said. “If we start to have two classes of citizens, those born or living in one province and those born in another, then you don’t have a nation anymore.”

He said the federal government had to treat the recent proposals of the Quebec Liberal party as “something to negotiate from. If not, there will not be a deal.

“But we have to go into any negotiations knowing exactly what we want.”

During the question and answer session after the speech, Chretien was presented with a box of frozen waffles by two members of the UBC New Demo- crats.

UBC student Paul J. Gill said, “If the Liberal policy on opposing and then supporting the Gulf war is a reflection of the beliefs of . Canadians, then our national symbol shouldn’t be the maple leaf, rather it should be the waffle.”

Middle Eastern students united against Gulf war Peace is the main concern of international student groups by Roxane Pouiin

OTTAWA (CUP) -Thousands of miles from the Persian Gulf, students from different parts of the Middle East sit side by side in Canadian classrooms as warrages in their native countries.

Within the University of Ottawa’s international community, these students are tom between love for their homeland and a love for their new home, and must additionally contend with the frustration of helplessness. But, according to students contacted, conflictsbetween different Middle Eastern groups have not been aggravated by the war.

“The tensions are definitely there. It’s 100 per cent under- standable,” said Daniel Fine, president of the Jewish Students’ Union-Hillel, “but I can’t say things have really changed because of the Gulf crisis.”

According to one Palestinian student who wished to remain anonymous, Canadian universities offer the perfect forum for discussion and negotiations be-

tween opposing groups. “At this level you can talk in a

secure way; there is no fear,” he said. ”There is a possibility of ne- gotiation between Israelis and Palestinians; that’s what we are trying to show.”

Other attempts at open discussion in acalm setting are being made by students who wish to set an example. Fine is currently trying to coordinate a Jewish-Arab forum for this semester, “not to take any particular position but more just to sit down and talk and find out what makes each other tick; to put a human face to the different things that you hear about.”

Nawaf Madi, the Lebanese president of the Arab Students’ Association, said there is solidar- ity and cohesion among Arab students. Despite the fact that their governments are fighting each other, he said the Arab masses are united in their anti-war sentiment.

“The governments have taken positions contrary to what their people are expressing,” he said.

Religion also united the Middle Eastern students. Accord- ing to the Palestinian student, different individuals with different points of view will still gather at the mosque on Friday to pray for peace in the Middle East.

AccordingtoAndreBrossard, director of the International Stu- dents’ Office, different groups within the school have different political views and debates can become heated though they still find a strong common link in the Muslim faith.

““hey put their differences aside to look at religious dimen- sions of life,” he said.

Even the b a m e r of differing faiths seems to have diminished at the U of 0. Iraqi student Ahmad Yousif said he was touched by a non-muslim friend whoprayedfor his family in her own church.

On a similar note, Fine said that despite their ,religious differences with Arab students, members of the Jewish Students’ Union-Hillel are “extremely out- raged at the terrible backlash against Arab-Canadians.

“Our goal is to lay thrground- work so that we are first and fore- most Canadian students on a Ca- nadian campus,” he said. “Ethnic students have a lot of unifying characteristics.”

The Gulf war has also touched many of the international students on a more intimate level. Yousif has many close relatives in Baghdad. Several days after the fighting began he still had not heardany news about their situation.

“I cannot imagine what’s going on with them,” he said. :I only know from the news-and everything we hear is bombs, bombs, bombs--that’s it.”

The Palestinian student has family in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jor- dan, the West Bank and Kuwait.

‘Wherever you hit, you’re going to find part of my family,” he said.

Yousif also put into words the inner t.urmoi1 of international students as Canadians Forces are deployed in the Gulf.

“I have very nice Canadian friends who care about me and I

- care about them too, but at the same time the government’s decision might now be killing my family and I cannot do anything.”

Though he is pleased to see the support Middle Eastern students have received at the U of 0, Madi expresses a concern for the future of the international students’ relations as the war in.ten- sifies. He said there is already much anti-Arab sentiment in Canada and a lot of harassment from the government.

There is support now, but he fears the anti-Arab sentiment is not full blown yet and as the months go by, conflicts in Canada-possiblyon campuses- may be aggravated.

As time wears onand the Gulf conflict draws out, it remains to be seen whether or not the dia- logues these students are at- tempting will succeed in maintaining the present stability in the University of Ottawa’s international student community. Perhaps the greatest challerlges still lie ahead-to test the toler- ance of all.

January 22,1991 THE USYSSEV/S

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Student nurses support strike by C.A. Quast

WINNIPEG (CUP) - As the province-widenurses’strikedrags on, nursing students at the Uni- versity of Manitoba are feeling its impact.

As a show of commitment to the 9,500 striking nurses, U of M nursing students have organized pickets outside the Health Ser- vices Centre and the Victoria General Hospital.

Strikebound facilities are now off limits to students, including

the U of M’s director of nursing. Bev Anderson, president of

the Graduate Students Associa- tion, said that despite the cancel- lation of clinical experience, nursing students and the student council are in support of the strike.

“(Their demands) are reason- able,” Anderson said. “Manitoba isoneofthelowestpaidprovinces. It’s also a lot more than the financial aspects. There are a lot of other factors.”

Nurses are askingfora 27 per cent raise over a two-year period,

how the str ike, which began January 1, will affect their school- ing.

Clinical experience has been temporarily suspended as access is no longer available. This work experience is currently being replaced by in-university activities including computer-based simu- lation, seminar presentations, take-home assignments and extra essays.

Carol1 Thain, head of the Nursing Students Association,

Fh.2 mndom. .I u: dmr 4pm til it’s over

the university’s libraries and and want more input in deGrmin- said the university will offer clinical facilities. ing patient care. The province is nursing students the opportunity

strike is that we abide by the years and pay equity. “The university will try to unions’ wishes that we do not cross Although the students sup- makeupall clinical experience for the lines,” said Jenniece Larsen, port the demands, they’re not sure those that want to do so,” she said.

“Our commitment to the offering 20 per cent over three to make up the missed rotation.

Generator pioneered at U of T by Jennifer Morrow TORONTO (CUP) -The Univer- sityofTorontoisplanningtobuild an energy-saving cogeneration plant in a bid to saving money on heating costs and reduce pollution.

A proposal for a $10.4 million cogeneration facility-which in- creases the efficiency of burning natural gas-has passed the university’s Business Board and has only to wait for Governing Council (GC) approval.

If approved, U of T s cogeneration project will be the first at a university in Canada.

W e hope to start by late fall, 1992,” said Jorn Braches, director of U of T s Utilities Division of Facilities and Services.

Current ly , the univers i ty buys natural gas and burns it for steam at the St. George Campus. The university also buys electrb- ity, which costs about five times more than natural gas per unit, forlightingand other applications.

With cogeneration, the same quantity of natural gas burned would produce both steam for heating and electricity. This would reduce the university’s electricity expenses and cut pollution from coal and nuclear generated sources. I t would also more than double the efficiency of the natural gas burning.

At the next GC meeting in February, the BusinessBoardwill recommend that the GC approve the project and recommend that the university borrow the $10.4 million needed to build it. Ontario Hydro has promised to pay $6 million of the cost over a period of 20 years.

Theuniversitycurrentlypays about $9 million per year on electricity and about $2.3 million per year on gas, said Richard Criddle, vice-president of administr a t’ Ion. “It’s purely how can we bring the bills down.”

Frankie Wood, a member of the U of T’s summer Environmen-

tal Youth Core, said she applauds the move by Physical Plant even if i t is only for cost-effective purposes.

“Physical Plant is always concerned about money. I think it’s a very good route environmentally. You’re using energy that would normally be lost,” said Wood.

Criddle said environmental considerations were a factor.

“Within the system is a way of decreasing some of the emis- sions,” Criddle said.

Nab Mikhail, spokesperson of OntarioHydro, saidHydroiswil1- ing to help the project financially because it is a better use of resources for the same price.

Mikhail said the money Hy- dro is offering the university for the cogeneration project is “based on what we would have paid had we gone to a supply option.

“The alternative would be nuclear or coal, and each has its own disadvantages.”

Commission seeks student input TORONTO ( C U P t K e i t h Spicer is sendingout “commandosfor dia- logue” to get students talking, but his guerrillas are firing blanks.

The chair of the Citizen’s Fo- rum on Canada’s Future, or the Spicer commission as it is more popularly known, said he is trying to get Canadian students talking about the state of the nation. The commission is trying to get student newspapers to publish an article, for free, talkingabout their role in nation-building.

Apparent ly the youth of Canada have something unique to offer. “It’s time for students to take the lead again, because the older generations may have so fouled things up that the country needs an entirely new way of thinking about itself,” Spicer said in the article.

-- “I know what students can accomplish-their ideals and d r i v m n d , yes, even their Tnno- cence’-are powerful antidotes for the tired cynicism which clogs the brainscelfs(sic)ofeveryestaiblish- ment.”

Ontario Federation of Stu- dents chair Tim Jackson is not only cynical, he is downright hos- tile.

“I think (the article) is extremely paternalistic,” he said. “I think he’s way off base. The whole thingstinksofMulroneyandstinks of the Tory agenda.=

Jackson said the absence of students from the 12-member

commission indicates just how interested the government is in student concerns. And, he added, it is unlikely that the federal government will listen to what people have to say.

Meanwhile, charges of slip- shod work bear up under scrutiny. According to Tobie Myers, external relations officer at Simon Fraser University’s student council, SFU was given little notice about setting up a meeting. The commission amves in Vancouver today.

“we were only contacted a few days ago: Myers said.

As a result, the student council has refused to cooperate with the commission. W e don’t believe that the commission is going to accomplish anything,”Myers said. “We don’t think its a n effective means to voice our concerns.”

Not surprisingly, the commission is also getting a frosty recep- tion from Quebec students. Robert Fabes of the Federat ion des etudiantes et etudiants du Que- bec, an association representing 100,000 Quebec students, said FEEQ will help set up discussion groups for the commission, but it will not take a stand.

“A number of our schools feel like this commission is like a slap in the face, they feel that it indicates a lack of respect,” he said. The -government should have waited for the results of the provincial Belanger-Campeau com-

mission before striking a federal group.

The Belanger-Campeau commission was set up by the Quebec Liberals to determine Quebec’s future, and Quebec students seem to be in danger of being commis- sioned to death.

Despite the negative senti- ments expressed by student groups from across the country, Citizen’s Forum officials remain optimistic. Pat McKinna, a graduate student at the University of Ottawa and student liaison officer for the commission, said she thinks students will recover from their cynicism.

There were charges of poor student representation at the out- set, and she was appointed to her position in early January to rem- edy that, she said.

McKinna is confident that there will be a great deal of student input because of the work being done with student councils and youth groups. “CFS (the Ca- nadian Federation of Students) represents 400,000 kids across the country” and meeting with them was an effective way to hear about student issues, she said.

Evidently Spicer does. His article closes with this parting shot, ”Youcan,ofcourse, stayquiet now. If you do, then later you will have to endure without complaint the country others will have defined and decided for you. Canada is your country: Act for it today or pay for it tomorrow.”

4/THE UBYSSEY February 5,1991

MEPAC stresses education by Lucho van lsschot

Education will play a promi- nent role if the peace movement is to gain momentum, according to speakers at a conference on the Gulf War hosted by Vancouver’s Middle-East Peace Action Coali- tion (MEPAC).

More than 300 people turned up at VCC’s Langara Campus on Sunday for the conference which began with a series of speeches and concluded with workshops designed to formulate MEPAC’s anti-war strategy.

Mordecai Briemberg, a founding member of MEPAC, expressed concern about the general public’s access to information on the Gulf War. Education, he concluded, will play a key role in the peace movement.

On the subject of education, Simon Fraser University professor Mason Harris said, There is a

conspiracy to prevent u s from see- ing the people of Iraq as real.”

According to Harris, carefully chosen phrases such as “Desert Storm”and“DesertShie1d”create the image of Saddam Hussein s tanding a lone in an empty, unpopulated desert. Such phrases do not tell us that the port town of Bazra-a civilian target-was recently carpet bombed, Harris said.

Moreover, Harris said such phrases do not reveal that “a giant U.S.militarybaseisbeingbuiltin north-eastern Saudi Arabia.”

Arab scholar Emile Nuko said, “The history of the Middle East has been fraught with foreign interference, seeking to impose its own will.”

Nuko added that as such, the Gulf War is the most recent chap- ter in a saga of neo-colonial pen- etration into the Arab world.

In an ominous tone, Harris

Natives critique green by Mark Nielsen Atleo, a Clayquot from Vancouver

Whileitisaconceptthatmany u , I m not saying that Native Island, rounded out the panel.

environmentalists are still growing into, care of the land is a fun- damentalaspect ofnativeculture, a group of student environmentalists at UBC was told on Janu- ary 23.

According to Gary Merkel of the Tahltan First Nation near Telegraph Creek in north eastern B.C.: “It is an essence of who you (Native peoples) are. Even if you are what we would call an assimi- lated person, i t is an essence of who you are. You’ve picked it up somewhere.”

Many environmentalists, on the other hand, are “growing into it, possibly looking for a cause,” although there is an increasing number ofnon-Native peopleborn into similar philosophies.

”That’s a real bad generaliza- tion (about environmentalists) but a lot that I’ve worked with are,” Merkelsaid.“AndasIsaid,thisis

people can necessarily achieve the goals ofliving in that (philosophy) today, but I’m saying there is a fundamental difference there,” Merkel said. “It is either something you grow into or something you’re born and raised with.”

However, although he sees most environmentalists as being opposed to development, Merkel said most Native people are for it, so long as the pro,ject meets four basic principles: I t must be completely environmentally sound; i t cannot compromise or prejudice outstanding land claims; it must be respectful of t radi t ional lifestyles; and local people must be given preference for hiring in regards to both construction and servicing, once the project is com- pleted.

Merkel said theTahltans won an award for the environmental compatibility of a road that was

an essence of self versus an es- built through their lands in sence ofprocess where you evolve northeastern B.C. after the num- and you’re learning and you’ve ber of crossings was cut down to got this sense ofidealism and this three creeks from three major riv- sense of learning and you’re try- ers and 16 creeks. ing to grow into it.” “I’m not saying that Native

Merkel, also manager of re- peoples would never mess up, but source development for Indian and I am saying that in most instances, NorthernAfTairsCanada, wasone Native peoples would do a better ofthree panelists the Student En- job,” Merkel said. vironment Centre invited for a Atleo, meanwhile, said that forum on the Native view of the while Native peoples and envi- environment movement. Kate ronmentalistshave cooperatedon Zimmerman, an anthropology many issues, they have also been graduate from UBC, and Cliff at loggerheads on others, includ-

warned, “The news that isn’t being shown now will eventually have to be shown.”

Discussions over the Gulf War genera ted s t rong pass ions amongst those assembled.

Perhaps the most important question raised at the conference, one which must be answered im- mediately, was how can popular dissent be channeled into practical, political action.

This question hung over the conference as it broke into small workshops on topics rangingfrom ‘The Myth of Canada’s Role as Peacemaker’ to ‘Civil Disobedi- ence.’

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up with Seattle peace activists . .,

under the Peace Arch at the Douglas klorder crossing tenta- tively set for February 21.

movement ing harvesting seal furs in the Arctic.

A year after protests from groupsin Ehrope effectivelyended the hunt, Greenpeace apologized

Tempt Your Senses

a to the Inuit whowere affected for takingawayasourceoflivelihood.

“In a w r y small period of time, when employed, you can make up to $3,000,” Atleo said. “$3,000 is a lot of money to US.”

Given the high unemploy- ment rate among native peoples, Atleo said that Native peoples cannot be opposed to economic development. However, they are also in favour of resource management.

“Some cultures have a seven generation plan,” he said. “That is, as each generation comes along, it plans the management of i ts resources to ensure that Seven generations down the road, there will still be something in place to sustain our people.”

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maintaining those principles re- lated to the environment.”

Goddess to stand at UBC I ~ -

by Martin Chester Plans for a Goddess of De-

mocracy Statue, to be erected between the Student Union Building and the Aquatic Centre, are in their final stages, according to those involved.

The Goddess of Democracy, a variation on the theme of the Statue of Liberty, became the symbol of the pro-democracy movementin China when student pro tes tors e rec ted one in Tiananmen Square almost two years ago.

Richard Lee of the Vancouver Society in Support of the Democ- racy Movement, which is involved with the organization along with the AMs and the Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars,

”_ ” - - “I - “ said the plans were not finalized yet.

The sticking point has been the material the statue would be made of. The VSSDM originally proposed concrete, but the AMS rejected that.

“We have now proposed to use marble dust and an epoxy,” Lee said. This material has been used for the sculpture “Asiatic Head” by Otto Fischer-Credo which is adjacent to Freddy Wood theatre, the Lasserre building and the Music building.

The result of the marble dust and the apoxy is a bone white material with a hard, dull finish. From a distance i t looks somewhat like plaster.

He said the plans had to be

accepted by the President’s Advi- sory Committee on Art, which is headed by UBC professor of Civil Engineering Saul Cherry.

Co-ordinator of external affairs Jason Brett confirmed that the plans were not far from being finalized and the groups were wa i t ing t o hea r f rom the president’s committee.

“The proposedunveilingisfor June fourth, the second anniver- sary of the massacre,” Brett said. The final plans will be announced at a press conference in mid- March.

“We’ve got conditional approval to place the statue between SUB and the Aquatic Centre,” he said. “Now we’re just finalizing the technical details.”

1991/1992

application to room 238 by 4 pm, Feb. 8, 1991

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. . .

by Michael Booth Just when you thought things

could not get any worse for the Thunderbird hockey team they go out and suffer not two but three huge losses at the hands of the cellar-dwelling University of Lethbridge Pronghorns.

As well as absorbing defeats of 5-4 and 8-4, to extend their losing streak to ’nine games-the worst skid since 1980-81-they lost Grant Delcourt to a knee injury early in the second game. “he T- Bird captain and leading scorer may be gone for the season, deal- ing a severe blow to UBC’s playoff hopes.

On Saturday night, the T- Birds twice came back from two goal deficits and tied the score on forward Charles Cooper’s goal with but two seconds remaining in the second period. However, Lethbridge wrapped up the win in the third period when Pronghorn centre Brock Mura took a pass in the slot andbeat T-Bird goaltender Ray Woodley low to the stick side.

Alack offinish around the net hurt UBC as they outshot Lethbridge 51-28. Forwards Mike Kennedy, Jeff Crossley and Perry Neufeld rounded out the UBC scoring while centre Shane Mazutinec led the Pronghorns with a pair of breakaway goals.

On Sunday afternoon Lethbridge centre Dana McKechnie did all the damage, scoring four consecutive goals in the second period to wrap up the sweep for the Pronghorns. McKechnie finished the weekend with five goals and one assist and was named the Canada West player of the week for his efforts. McKechnie’s line-mate, Kevin Yellowaga, chipped in with five assists in Sunday’s contest.

The T-Birds s tar ted out strongly and led 2-0 after five minutes on a pair of goals by forward Dean Holoien but were un- able to hold off the Lethbridge attack. Centre Scott Fearns added a pair of third period goals but it was not enough to prevent Lethbridge fromsweepingapairofroadgames for the first time since they joined the Canada West conference seven i

years ago. Scott F e a m (14) take the shortest route between two points in Canada West hockey STEVE CHAN PHOTO

said the latest losses could result

rn

T-Bird coach Terry O’Malley action Sunday.

in some changes to the team’sline- stay on your game plan and you UP. start running around too much in

some (junior-varsity) players,” Next up for the T-Birds is a OMalley said. “The line-up that visit from the University of carried usin the first half,itshard Saskatchewan Huskies this nipped by Huskies to say, when things break down, weekend. Face offisat 7:30~.m.on

“I think we have to look at your own end.“ VolCey’Bird women

all parts of your game go with it.. Fr iday and Saturday At t h e by Gwen Parker “I think the thing that disap- Thunderbird Winter Sports Cen-

Dears first is the concentration to tre.

McKechnk escaped long enough to- score five goals to lead a Pronghorn sweep of weekend games.

T=Birds, Vikings stumble in weekend B-ball action by Mark Nielsen spot because they outscored the executing when they most needed

Remember when Jed Vikings by 11 points over the four to, as they fell 89-81 on Saturday Clampett, the less than introspec- games they have played against night after winning 84-83. tive father on the television com- each other this season. ‘We simply did not play up to edy‘TheBeverlyHillbillies,” would But hey Bruce Enns, coach of potential,” Vetrie said in a tele- hang his head after his nephew the Thunderbirds, what gives? phone interview on Monday. Jethro would say or do something “The first night we played re- As well, with the rest of the that showed a total lack of intelli- ally well, and ran a fast break Canada West playoff picture far gence? clinic,” Enns said of UBC’s 107-97 from being in focus, everyone is

Like clockwork, Jed would say win on Friday night. “But the next looking for an upset. Even the last “one of these days, I’m gonna have a talk with that boy.”

Well Jed, there are a couple of teams in Canada West men’s basketball that could use your wisdom-namely the UBC Thunderbirds and the University of Victoria Vikings. Despite being given ample opportunity to do so, it seems that neither team wants to finish in first place.

Take this weekendfor example. The Thunderbirds split a twogame set with the lowly University of Saskatchewan Huskies. The Vi- kings, meanwhile, dropped one of two against the not-much-better UniversityofAlbertaGoldenBears.

As a consequence, the T-Birds and the Vikes are tied for first place, with win-loss records of 12- 4, for the third week in a row. Fortunately, shouldtheyfinishtied with UVic at the end of the regular schedule, the Thunderbirds get top

night, they wenton a 22-4 run and we never recovered. Every single time it seemed that we would miss a shot and then they would go down to our end and either they would score, or we would foul them.”

Twelveminutesinto thegame, three starters were in foul trouble, and for much of the contest Enns was forced to put national team member J.D. Jackson alongside four second-stringers. And so, UBC fell, 116-94.

Enns mentioned, however, that starter AI Lalonde missed the trip because of an ear infection. No one can say for sure, but consider- ingLalonde’scompetitiveinstincts, especially when the Thunderbirds are lagging, UBC would not have fallen behind like they did if he were playing.

As for the Vikings, UVic coach Guy Vetrie said i t was a case of not

place University o f ~ a ~ g a r y stole a win from the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns to stay in the scramble for post-season play.

Scoring wise, UBC‘s Derek Christiansen achieved a personal season high of 29 points in the opener, while Jackson scored 27 and contributed seven assists and seven rebounds. Jason Leslie got 22 points and nine rebounds.

Jackson was top scorer ‘on Saturday night with 28 points, as well as nine rebounds and seven assists, while Jason Leslie drained 17andChristiansenchippedin 16. Two players, Brian Tait and David Williscroft, got five assists each.

Lalondeis expected to be back in action this Friday and Saturday evening, and the Thunderbirds hope to do much better against the last place University of Calgary Dinosaurs at War Memorial Gym. Tip-off is 8:15 both nights.

Gillespie was a standout all weekend, and was recognized on Friday

The top two teams in Canada with player of the game honours. West women’s volleyball went face Gil lespie a t t r ibuted to face last weekend and while the Saturday’s loss to poor service re- ‘Birds chipped away at ception, and pointed out that Saskatchewan’s lead, the Huskies Saskatchewan was not beatable reamained top dog in the confer- as long as UBC was forced to run a ence. high-ball offence.

The ‘Birds defeated the Uni- The Huskies are a well unified, versity of Saskatchewan Huskies communicative team that does not on Friday night in four games, 15- leave many holes on the court. A 12, 12-15, 15-12, and 15-11. UBC quicker offence was definitely took the loss in Saturday’s match, necessary to chal lenge which was closer, 15-7, 15-12, 11- Saskatchewan’s defense. 15, 8-15, and 14-16. Regard ing the loss,

I t was important to the ‘Birds Wachowski said, “We became that they win both matches, and in tentative when they started to aminimum numberofgames.Two challenge US.” Wachowski was wins wouldhave broughttheminto pleased that the ‘Birds defended a tie with the Huskies for first the Husky power hitters more ef- place in Canada West. Their in- fectively on Saturday, but added abilitytocapture the secondmatch “their middle blockers were a big- will most likely mean a trip to ger factor in the second match.” Saskatoon for the playoffs. Wachowski also pointed out

Impressive defensive plays, that this was the first pressure hard hitting, and plenty of stuff situation the ‘Bird’s have been in blocksmade both matches exciting without starting middle blocker forplayers,coaches,andspectators Sarah Cepeliauskas-injured for alike. the past month. Pat Voracek and

Despite the Huskies’ loss on Mary Stothard have proved to be Friday, their power hitters stole two good back-ups in this position. the show. Crystal Torgunrud Assistant coach Scott Handley pounded 27 kills, while teammate said, “The team showed a new level Leanne Sander came away with ofmaturitybyremainingpositive.”

The ‘Birds hitting statistics is maintaining a steady level of were more significant on Saturday good ball control. evening. Player of the game Sonya UBC will travel to Calgary Wachowski put away 17 kills and this weekend,andhostLethbridge played aggressive, intuitive de- the following weekend, as this fense throughout the match. Canada West season quickly draws

21. He emphasized that the next step

Power hi t ter Shei lagh to a close

Sheilaugh Gillespie digs deep against Saskatchewan Saturday.

S T M CHAN PHOTO

6/THE UBYSSEY February 5,1991

Thunderbird “rookie” has plenty of experience by Matthew Clarke

Although Randy Wagner is in hisfirstyearwith the Thunderbird men’s volleyball team, he is prob- ably the most experienced rookie in the history of Canadian university volleyball.

After six years as a member of Canada’s national volleyball team and five seasons competing in the European leagues, the 31 year old Wagner has come to UBC to pur- sue his education full time and to lend his considerable skills to the T-Bird volleyball team.

The decision to come to UBC this year was a natural one for the 6’4“ Prince George native.

“First of all, I always wanted to come back to school, and I knew my career was over overseas so this was the year to get back into i t ,” Wagner said.“Also, I’ve known Dale (coach Ohman) for a few years and we’d talked about this before.”

After high s c h o o l , Wagner spent two years playing volleyball and going to school at both Langara C o m m u n i t y College and the College of N e w ” .

nanced league in the world and says the level of play is very similar to international competition. In Catania he played with the setter of the Argentine national team as the two foreign players allowed on each team.

Returning home in the summer of 1986, Wagner had his last taste of international volleyball with the national team and re- turnedto Cataniain the fall ofthat year where he enjoyed what he calls the “professional atmophere” of being taken care of and having to worry only about performance.

Wagnertransferredtocannes of the French league for the 19871 88 season and planned to play in Lennik, Belgium the next year. Injuries forced him to miss virtu- ally all ofthe 1988/89 season, how-

C a l e d o n i a Randy Wagner a d m i t t e d l y before joining takes some the Canadian national team in the getting used to. summer of 1980. For the next five “School is so different from years he was a full time athlete, what my whole life has been,” training at the national team’s Wagner said. “(As an athlete) you headquarters in Calgary and rep- don’t develop your intellect. It’s resenting Canadain numerous in- the opposite end of the spectrum ternational matches as a play-set as far as the way I challenge my- hitter. self.”

The highlight of this part of Attracted to engineering be- Wagner’s career was the 1984 cause of the unique challenge i t Olympic Games in Los Angeles represents, Wagner has studied where the Canadian team placed part-time at four differentinstitu- fourth, narrowly missing the tions and currently finds himself bronze medal to Italy in the conso- between first and second year. With lation final. a new focus on his studies, Wagner

In the fall of 1985, aftera year hopes to complete his degree in of school at San Diego State Uni- Electrical Engineering. versity and another summer with “Volleyball is not my first pri- the national team, Wagnerheaded ority for the first time since high toItalywhereheplnyedforCatania school,” said Wagner. in the Italian league. He calls school his top priority

Wagner calls the I talian now and mentions the change in league the hest run and best fi- lifestyle can be difficult and that

T-Birds send Huskie by Matthew Clarke

The UBC Thunderbird men’s volleyball team kept their play-off hopes alive by winning two matches and leaving the visiting University of Saskatchewan Hus- kies howling at the moon.

On Friday night, the ‘Birds easily swept the second place Hus- kies 3-0 with scores of 15-12, 15-6, and15-11.UBCwasleadbyCharles Hebert who had 14 kills while Rob Hill chippedin with another 13 and Kelly Bukowski 11.

Saturday’s match was closer due to the Huskies improved ex- ecution of their offense. “he ‘Birds won the first game 15-11 but dropped the second by a n identical score when starting first year power-hitter Conrad Leinemann suffered a sprained ankle.

In the thirdgame UBC started quickly, gaining a 7-1 lead and won the match 15-6. The ‘Birds won the match in the fourth game thanks in part to a seven point run which took them from a 3-5 deficit

to a 10-5 lead. Statistically, Randy Wagnerledallhitterswith19kills, followed closely by Hill with 18. Bobby Smith, Kelly Bukowski, and Jason Bukowski all made eight kills each.

UBC coach Dale Ohman was pleased with the weekend results and, while crediting the offensive prowess of the Huskies, said the differencein Saturday’smatchwas his team’s depth. This depth was evident when Jason Bukowski ca- pably replaced Leinemann in Saturday’s match.

“Jason made a few errors but played really well,” said Ohman. “There was a lot of pressure on him.”

Veteran middle blockers Smith and Kelly Bukowski also received praise for their steady play as theyhad 13 stuffblocksbetween them.

“Both middle blockers had solid games,” said Ohman. “When they dig and keep balls alive it’s a bonus for US.”

Randy Wagner (3) is lending his considerable talents to the T-Bird cause this season. STNE CHAN PHOTO

“you have to be comfortable with what your doing.”

1njuriesm.dtimehavereduced Wagner’s ability to compete at the level demanded overseas and in international competition. When asked if he would prefer to be back with the national team, Wagner is honest but realistic.

“Yeah, I’d consider it. It was a lot of fun,” said Wagner. “At this point I don’t think my body would handle the work load very well.”

As for his contribution to the

Thunderbirds, Wagner believes he can compete well at the CIAU level and provide more to the team than just his on court performance.

“When I think something needs to be said, I say it. It’s gone really well up to this point, (Al- though) I can’t be totally happy with the way I’m playing,” he said.

So far this season Wagner has seen time at the power hitter, play- set hitter, and middle blocker positions.Althoughattimesfrustrated

by physical limitationsimposeclon him by past injuries, Wagner is cont r ibu t ing a l l he can and benefitting by getting a close look atuniversityvolleyballforthefirst time.

“This team gives me a feel for what coaching would be like at the university level,” Wagner said.

With his international career now over and a new focus on education to prepare for life after volleyball, sportisonce again ahobby for Randy Wagner.

s howling First year setter Kelly

Cooksley was named player of the game Saturday andafterthematch was relieved at the ‘Birds success this weekend.

“It’saloadoffmymind,alotof pressure off’,” Cooksley said. “It’s good to know we could play with those guys. We lost ,3-0 both nights last time we played them.”

The play-ofr pressure, however, is still on as the ‘Birds must win all four of their remaining leaguemntchestoguaranteeafirst place finish.

On the bright side, the team established this weekend thatthey can perform well under pressure. Dave Farrell should be ready this weekend and Leinemann’s ankle is not considered serious enough to keep him out of action.

The team visits the first place University of Calgary Dinosuars this weekend and their next home match is Saturday, February 16 against the visiting Hosei Univer- sity team from Tokyo, Japan.

Rob Hill (10) puts the ball past a leaping STEVE CHAN PHOTO Saskatchewan defense in volleyball action Saturday.

February 5,1991 THE UBYSSEY/7

* . , . . . / . , . .

“

. , .

Women fencers stay sharp by Greg Sivucha

The UBC women’s varsity fencing team is undergoing a major transition this year, but en- thusiasm remains high and the future of fencing at UBC looks promising.

Due to the loss of several graduating members from last year’s team, the women’s team consists of only three fencers. The team has remained active, however, competing in various open tournaments throughout B.C. since September.

F i r s t -year cap ta in Sarah Thornton has been particularly noteworthy, placing sixth in the University of Victoria’s Derek Tumbler Open in October. Al- thoughthisisThornton’sfirstyear as a member of the team, her experience includes fencing for Vancouver’s Vanguard Club for three years. Her teammates there included Canada’s Laurie Shong, a past winner of the world junior fencing title.

Generally, the women fencers compete individually in open tournaments sponsored by recre- ation leagues throughout the

province. The tournaments typi- cally draw fencers competing for community-based clubs from Washington , Alber ta , and throughout B.C.

Thornton acknowledges that this year “has been a transition year for the team,” however she is “optimistic about the future of fencing at UBC.”

Citing enthusiastic participation in the AMS sponsored Fencing Club, Thornton predicts a resurgence ofthe sport in future years. The Fencing Club-which providesinstruction andgenerous practice time for the members- has had consistently high turnout from its 30 members this year. The club alsoorganizes intra-club fencing tournaments to allow pract ical experience for the members.

Because a large proportion of club members are male, there has been speculation of the formation ofa varsity men’s fencing team by as early as next year. However, according to UBC director ofath- letics Joanne Jones, budget con- straints may delay or even prevent the funding of a men’s team.

Jones adds that realistically,

a decision about the formation of a men’s varsity team will not be made until next year. Jones added that she recognizes “the importance of a program on campus which allows students to continue competing in a community based sport.”

The women’s team, together with the Fencing Club, will be hosting the annual Lazar Open on February 16 and 17 at UBC’s Osborne Gyms. Traditionally, this event has been well supported by both the university and the community. The tournament is expected to draw teams and individuals from Alberta, Washing- ton, Oregon, and B.C.

T-Birds win four in a row by Mark Nielsen

Talk about coming through in the crunch.

The UBC Thunderbirds all but clinched a playoff spot in Canada West women’s basketball with a two game sweep of the Universi ty of Saska tchewan Huskies in Saskatoon on the weekend-posting victories of 76- 55 and 63-49.

Tack on two victories over the University of Alberta Pandas the weekend before , and the Thunderbirds sit in sole possession of fourth place with a win- loss record of 6-10.

And although the chances of moving into third are slim, the Thunderbirdswouldbeeliminated from the playoffs only if they lost all four of their remaining league games while Alberta, now at 4-12, won all of their’s.

“I don’t know what their players are thinking, but their coach is thinking we’re in the playoffs,” said UBC coach Misty Thomas.

Reaching the playoffs aside, Thomas was particularly proud of how they did it-by snapping a nine game losing streak at a time when, if they did not win their nextfour games, theseason would be over.

“They just started playingre- ally well, and won when they had to win,” Thomas said. “I think it would have been just as easy to say ‘well, we haven’t won all season’and buckle under andlose and just try again next year.

“And i t wasn’t just the se- niors-even the rookies, who have four more years ahead of them to win a championship, got the ball rolling when they could have just as easily given up.”

Neither win over the Huskies was what could be called upretty,” saidThomas,but“it’salwaysmore fun to win ugly than lose pretty.”

SecondyearguardLisaNickle led the scoring on Friday night when she sunk five of seven three point shots en route to collecting 22 points. Devanee Peterson followed up with 22 points, while Jana Jordan got six assists and Karen Borsutzky yanked down eight rebounds.

Nickle and Elissa Beckett shared top gun honours on Satur- day night when each canned 13 points. Nickle also chipped in five assists, while Lorraine Marken got 11 points and seven rebounds.

The Thunderbirds host the University of Calgary Dinosaurs thisFridayandSaturdayevenings at War Memorial Gym-tip-off at 6:30 on both nights.

8/THE UBYSSEY February 5,1991 . , .

Sweet offerings from the ESS by E f i e Pow

Sometimes you have to stretch your imagination and lose a little money to deal with apathy. In this case, the UBC English Students’ Society decided to put on a play. THEATRE A Taste of Honey Kitsilano House Hall February 6-9

“The past few years we’ve put on a few beer gardens, but never anything like this,” said Albert0 Rubio, the vice-president of the ESS.

Taste of Honey by Shelagh The ESS’s production of A

Delaney is a n effort to get students (particularly those in the English department) involved, according to Rubio.

W e held informal chats with professors and other such literary things, but they haven’t gone over very well,” Rubio said. “The English students-they’re an apathetic bunch. I’ve had some experience in theatre, so I know it can be fun, and it’ll bring students together and get them interested.”

As a first production, A Taste of Honey conveniently suited the ESS. “As i t happened, the play is about young people, written by a young person. The

English club was behind me from the star t when I suggested the idea last year. We expect to lose about $500, but it’s worth doing.”

And when you decide, to fight apathy, you reach a certain point when you can’t turn back.-We’re very excited-if not nervous- because it’s looming; we’re really going to do the show. The last preparations are coming together. We started in October and sometimes improvised along the way, but everyone pitched in to help,” said Rubio.

A Taste of Honey is a testing ground for the ESS. Rubio hopes there will be more productions in the future as a result.

US lured Iraq into war

Contrary to what most people might think the present conflict in the Persian Gulf is not without good reason, nor is it solely the work of Saddam Hussein. The events ofthelast decade that have led to the present situation are too well known to think that Saddam is simply some power hungry lunatic in an apoplectic rage. Saddam is no more than an actor with a big ego on a bigger stage directed by the US and Is- rael.

They were the ones who, fearing the rise of Islamic funda- mentalism,encouragedhimtoat- tack Iran, and, .along with the Europeans, supported him’ with weapons throughout that eight year war. At the same time they jointly sold weaponsto Iran. And when Saddam used chemical weapons on the Iranians and

Kurds no one raised a stink. But about this time last year

he threatened to ”consume half of Israel with fire.” Then came news of his plans to acquire a “super gun” and atomic bomb triggers. Clearly he was getting too big for his britches. Soon he would get his hands on some very destructive weapons and pose a serious threat to Israel and the entire oil produc- ing region. But how to get rid of him with the backing of the international community? Easy: feed his big ego with the idea of invad- ing Kuwait, and once he does use that as a pretext to wipe him out once and for all.

The US ambassador to Iraq officially told Saddam a few weeks priortotheinvasionofKuwaitthat “Wewillnottakesidesinanyborder disputes.” That was the official line, what was said in private is likely nothing short of outright ex- hortation to invade Kuwait and assurance of US neutrality.

The US and Israel now stand

__ in good position to achieve their objectives, namely: to destroy Saddam’s wilr machine in its en- tirety, including all the associated industries; to ensure a strong de- mand for western arms by the other rich gulf countries for at least the next decade or two; and finally, to keep Israel well funded and in pursuit of its expansionist policies. A war now, before any further proliferation of nuclear weapons, would enable them to realize their true ambition of taking possession “from the Nile to the Euphrates.”

As in the movies, the light, cameras, and stage are all set, then come the action. If only the movies hadreal blood, then maybe Bush and Shamir would be content with peac- prospect not inconceivable by way of continued economic sanctions or an Interna- tional Peace Conference on the Middle East.

Amir had Med 3

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Peace Pillage Pathetic

Welcome to Engineering week. Sundaynight,aspartofascavengerhunt,calledSkulk

night, groups of engineers pillaged the Peace Camp set up on the lawn of the Vancouver Art Gallery-they were instructed to bring back "anything" from this camp.

What they took were the symbols of peace that the protestors, mostly high school kids, who have battled the elements in the w v k s since the gulfwar started, had set up in protest of the Gulf War.

Theengineerstooktheirsigns,thecandleslitinvigilfor the dead and dying, and various other articles in the name of"fun".Theydestroyedsomeofwhattheydidnottakewith them.

The engineers involved must have thought i t was some sort of stunt-a prank. It wasn't. Just like the other actions that some engineers have thought were "funny" over the years and were not. Like the attack on Natives in last year's nEUSlettre. Like the homophobic remarks constantly pro- moted by engineering publications. Like the Godiva ride, and the other senseless attacks that some hateful engineers have inflicted upon women.

Amidst all of this, some engineers have been playing out an incredible farce. They pathetically cried out against the"discrimination"and"stereotyping"inf1ictedupon them and have claimed that their freedom of' speech has been silenced.

What about the women, gays, natives, people ofcolour, or members of other minorities, who have been silenced through the actions of people acting under the bmners of engineering and other socially regressed groups? People have been punched, kicked, raped, fired and hated for being apartoftheminoritiesthatsomeengineerschoose toattack and display intolerance towards.

For the most part, the outspoken engineering "prank- sters" are straight, white males. What do they know about discrimination? What do they know about being raped, or having the shit beat out of them for no reason other than their sexual orientation or the colour of their skin? Who are theytodemandoursympathybecausethegeneralpopulation is disgusted by their antics? They have a choice, but the groups they choose to attack do not.

It is true that not all engineering activities are hurtful. Engineering food drives and fundraisers are some of the most successful of all campus groups. But this does not justify the pain and humiliation that some engineers choose to inflict on others for the remaining days of the year.

It is also true that there are engineers who do not participateindestructiveengineeringactivities, whorefuse to promote hateful attitudes. Still, those engineers have to accept a responsibility for the actions of the few who are their leaders and spokespeople. By wearing the Godiva patch on their chest, other engineers support the discrimination and hate-mongering. By not voicing their opposition to the promotion of these injustices, other engineers must alsobeartheguilt. They must accept that the public will see the actions under the EUS banner as representative of' all engineers.

Duringengineering weekhordes ofenb.ineers come out and band behind the EUS flag. During engineering week the campus become increasingly dangerous for women. for the openly gay, and for those of colour.

L

THEUBYSSEY February 5,1991

The Ubyssey is published Tuesdays and Fridays by thc Alma Mater Societyofthe Universityof British Columbia Editorial opinions are those of the staff and not neces sarily those of the university administration, or of the sponsor. The Ubyssey is published with the prouc support of the Alumni Association. The editorial office i: Rm. 241k of the Student Union Building. Editorial Department, phone 228-2301; advertising, 228-3977; FAX# 228-6093

And our Lord, the A.M.S., spake unto the honourable staff of the voice of lethargy. His sentences were full of wisdom and psychobabble, 'I curse you loathsome drabs to psychiatric treatment" spake the lord unto Yggy King. Yukie Kurahashi averted her gaze and wailed mightily, MartinChesterattemptedtostemherkeeningdirge.Tascist bastard" intoned a gmvelling Paul Dayson beside a bush that spontaneously combusted reducing Matthew 'I'm ob- noxious loud, vulgar, ill-kempt with a problem penis, Tigger, the original and only Ugly American" Johnson to a cinder. Gwen Parker gagged on the ashes that Michael Booth was unceremoniously shovelling intoher mouth. Tim and Matt flogged each other hoping for redemption. Rebecca Bishop crushed the golden cow, Mark Nielsen, that Chung Wong worshipped, shouting, Thou shalt not orelse!"Rick Hiebert (spelt with a silent P)'s cup ranneth over Carla Maftachek causing Eflie Pow to genuflect furiously. Nadene Rehnby exhausted her indulgences again whilst Lucho van Isschot was sorcly tempted. Don Mah, Ernie Stelz.cr and Matthew Clarke partook in a crusade against the Anti-ChrEUSt but only managed to disembowel Elai3ne Grillith and Andrew Epstein. Ra61Peschiera was crucified with guilt over David Loh's premature ascension. Pad1 Gordon uttered a throaty 'god's wounds." Greg Sivucha went home to share his stigmata with Steve Chan. Colin Maycock lit another ciga- rcttc causing irreparable damage to the God child within.

Edlton Rebecca Bishop Mlchael Booth Martin Chester

Paul Dayson Mark Nlelsen

lO/THE UBYSSEY

OOPS. Our apologies to Maurice Brcnnink, whose letter in The Feb. 1 Ubyssey was unceremoniously butchered, yea, hacked to a mere shadow of its original being. Also, The Ubyssey rechristened Frank Kennedy. He was not interested in being Pctcr, and the culprit is burning eternally even as you read this. And Ajay Agrawal is not, nor has he ever been a member of the EUS executive (bless him).

which is juclged to be libelous, homophobk, sexist, racist or factually incorrect will not be published. Please be concise. The Ubyssey welcomes letters on any issue. Letters must be typed and are not to exceed 300 words in length. Content

Letters may be edited for brevtty. but it Is standard Ubyssey policy not to edit letter5 for spel l ig or grammatical mistakes. Please b r i g them, with identification. to SUB 241k. Letters must include name, faculty. and signature.

Sports? Inane?? Never!

To Mr. Maycock I feel compelled to ex-

press my opinionsregarding the subject of your January 15 Ubysseyarticle: "themost asinine of all pursuits- sports." I completely dis- agree with your statements depicting sports as inane, useless human endeavours. Organised sports serve many useful purposes for their numerous participants, not the least of which are physical fitness and a harmless means of venting one's accu- mulated frustrations. You are grosslyoveremphasizing . thenetresultofanorganised sporting contest and completely ignoring the efforts and achievements which contribute to this result. To a certain extent, it is in fact 'how you play the game.'

Your description of organised team sports as "revo1ting"and"demeaning" is completely ludicrous. A team sport teaches its participants, especially young people, about sportsmanship and teamwork in addition to the valuable lessons obtained from being an inte- gral part of a group in pursuit of a common goal. Each of these lessons are useful for a human being expected tofunctioninthecompetitive society we find ourselves members of.

Your reference as teammates as "merely part of the production process" shows a complete misunderstanding of the team concept. For example, organised UBC Intramural team events such as the A r t s '20 Relay are primarily entered by groups of friends, like the team I have run on in the past few years. Granted, we want to win, but in no way

do we expect our teammates to act as mere members in this production process, sac- rificing life and limb for a singular goal. Instead, we wish to funciton as a team of friends, working together to achieve the best result pos- sible, while having fun and getting some exercise.

Participation in sports, and team sports in particular, is an important human endeavour, teaching about competition and participation as a member of a group, while improving personal fitness. In addition, the mental release provided by participation in sports could possibly eradicate your apparent frustration at your inability to apply math- ematics.

Mike Slessor Engineering Physics 4

Youth dominate protests

"I do not like to have anybody say, 'hey, he is willing to sacrifice lives.' I do not want to see one kid lose his life. Not one."

"George Bush, 7 Jan '91

The Cloud of doom on the morning of January fif- teenth parted momentarily in Vancouver, and a human warmth displaced the frigid winter air. It was the student walkout and rally at Burrard and Broadway to protest Canadian policy in the Persian Gulf.

Young students came from all corners of Vancouver, making up the bulk of the crowd, and joined with peace groups and others to remind policy makers of their responsibility to hu- manity.

The banners, placards, and flags, hung from roof- tops, and paraded in the streets, reading "Blood is thicker than oil" and the

masked "Bush" figure leading a "Mulroney" figure on a collar and chain, revealed that the crowd did not buy the government's pro-war rhetoric.

As the rally made a move downtown, the army of youth, aptly and literally stopped the traffic,and tri- umphant cries of "we've taken the bridge!"resounded in and amongst the steel arches.

The black cloaked, scythe-bearing figure of death parading amongst the children made me reflect grimly on Bush's quote.

For a handful of my friends and me, the rally was almost more significant as a protest against apathy, but right away, the most notable aspect of the rally was the youthfulness of the march- ers. Most of them were in the category of about thir- teentoeighteenyearsofage. We marveled at the deter- mination and the willingness ofthese young to participate, as highschools from all over Vancouver were represented

in large numbers. They cam from as far away as Surrey and Port Moody.

At the same time, we were saddened by the seem- ingly negligible presence from UBC. Apparently Tuesday afternoon classes took precedence.

What is it that sets our student body apart from students in other parts of theworldandinothertimes?

Perhapsit is because as children of the generation with a cause, we were ob- servers of that same generation abandoning conscious- ness for the material free- for-all for the eighties.

O r , perhaps i t is because we are detached from the realities that affect places like Korea, China, and East- ern Europe directly.

Whatever the answer may be, I have no more time to contemplate how the voice of our unbiased centers of higher learning have been silenced; I have an essay due tomorrow.

Kevin Brett Arts 2

JEFF WILSON PHOTO

February 5,1991

t

“DO VOU See him be drawn between this example w

oppressing me?? That’s what I’m on

about!” President Strang(1e)way:

In the Jan. 8 issue of The Ubyssey, Kurt Preinsperg, AMs president and PhD candidate in political philosophy attributed an argument to you. I will repeat it. W h e n they abolished tuition fees in Australia, the mix of student backgrounds didn’t change.” Do you really believe a n analogy can

and your continuing raising of our tuition? Lowering tuition fees will not force poor people to go to university, but raising them will force poor people not to go to university. Keep the poor uneducatedand keep them forever oppressed. Return us to the Middle Ages. Perhaps King Brian will even knight you once you have succeeded in turn- ing UBC into an upper class prep school.

Grant Sparrow Biochem 3

Marley is dead!

Anniversaries have never been ofgreat importance to me. I have always tended to view demarcations of passages of time, like birthdays, as cynical attempts at forced happiness. However, being the creature of inconsistency that I am (read as a “human being,”) I find myself having to abandon this stance on this occasion, what would have been the 46th bir thday of Rober t Nes ta Marley,better known asbrother Bob Marley on Wednesday.

In the eleven or so years that I have been listening to Bob’s music, I have come to ap- preciate andlove his songs more and more. Like a fine vintage, his tunes have aged gracefully, the potency of the lyrics growing with each year. Songs like “No Woman No Cry,” still provide me with spiritual suste- nance in times of distress, with their ability to touch that body of emotions that exkts in us all, Very few artists can speak in such universal terms. And rest assuredthatBob‘smusicisalive and wel l f rom Canada to Katmandu!

This past summer, I was able to fulfill a double-fantasy of mine, that of attending the reggae SUNSPLASH in Ja- maica as well as making the journey to the birthplace of Bob in Nine Mile, St. Ann’s Parish. My route took me from Kingston all the way upintothe gorgeous “Garden Parish,” with its lush vegetation and fertile red soil. This trek was the approximate reversal of Bob‘s journey, yet his was most certainly fraught with many more obstacles than was mine.

Sitting in the cloistered comfort of the hills which sur- rounded Nine Mile, I was able

The Ubyssey will be honouring .the impending

visit of the SDicer Commission

with a combined “bzzr garden”

& “jardin de bizre”

When? Friday, Feh 8 at 4t00 pm

Where? SUB241k Why? So we can all do our

bit for Canadian unity

Who? No Fun (the band)

Long live Marley! to get a small sense of the roots from which Bob sprung. Children here, from a very young age learn to swinga machete and work their “bush” (which is how Jamaicans refer to their plots of land). Bob was no exception, I am told by Tauter, a gap-toothed local, who quicklypointed out that Bob, even at the height of his success would come back to Nine Mile to farm his bush. When asked what Bob grew, Tauter tells me with a smile, “everything: yam, potato, herb. Soil here cana grow anyt’ing.” I slowlystart torealize thatleaving Nine Mile was not a simple physical act but rather a psychological undertaking requiring a separa- tion from the security of the land. In reality, Bob never left Nine Mile, as reflected in his song “RunningAway”in which he sings

of planting his corn, and his re- peated references to himself as a farmer. When I would hear Bob say this, I would dismiss i t as an attempt at contriving an “earthy” image for himself. However, the soil of Nine Mile proved me dead wrong.

The person of Bob Marley is verymuch alivein NineMile, It is not to be found in the “touristy” tomb where Bob is laid, nor can i t be found in the gift shop which stands amidst the rustic scenery likeavisual distortion. The spirit lives with Bob‘s “uncle,” who gra- ciously rented u s a room in his home. ItliveswithBob’soldschool teacher who remembers him as a quiet boy who craved attention, yet who was so soft-spoken that “you had tocrawl inside his mouth to hear him.” It is alive and flour-

ishing in the herb patch which grows behind his tomb, tended to by local youths. There is no need for Bob’s music here for it surrounds me. An artist can be defined as one who clornmuni- cates that which is mundane, yet who does so in such a way as to bring significance to it. Bob Marley is an artist of this me- dium.

Bob Marley died in 1981, at the young age of 36. He died not of a “drug overdose” as some are inclined to believe. He died of a malignant cancer which proved unresponsive to treatment. As his death approached and all hope became exhausted, Bob expressed his desire to return home to Nine Mile to pass on. The circle was ,complete--from the soil sprung, in death returned.

I t is extremely apt that Bob’s birthday follows on the heels of Development Week at UBC. Ifanythingcanbegleaned from Bob‘s music i t is a cry for universal justice and freedom for all. Unfortunately for Ja- maicaandmanyothercountries this state has yet to be realized. Jamaicais symbolized for me by the bent man I encountered one night in Port Antonio. As I passed, he straightened up, teeth protruding in an odd grin, and thrust his hand toward me in expectation. This is Ja- maica-a somewhat cr’ooked country trying desperately in one way or another to stick her hand out in hopes of anything- only to be many times ignored. Perhaps we in the ”developed world” might pause on this day for a brief moment, amidst our comfort, and ponder our notions of what is truly just.

Paul Waxman Arts 3

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Experience weirdness as a n artform in SUB 241K

Wednesday, feb. 13th, 12PM

Room 2U6 (Council Chambers) SUB

Persuant to Code & Bylaws, Bylaw 3, Section One (1) the following shall be dealt with: 1. receiving the financial statements of the

AMs, 2. receiving &approving the preceding fiscal

year‘s financial statement duly approved and reported on by the auditors,

3. appointing the Auditors of the Society for the ensuing fiscal year, and

4. receiving the Report of the President and the General Manager with respect to the activities of the Society of the present school year.

All AMS members (yes, that means you) invited & encouraged to attend.

February 5,1991 THEUBYSSEY/ll

Education svstems alienate Natives When Robert finished grade dence. But once they enter a non- against high drop-out rates.

well-prepared and full of confi- the biggest problem in the battle school will have a greater success rate, said Gilbert Whiteduck, di-

at age 13, he and a dozen of his friends were Native school,they’llgothrougha “Nativesquite simplylack the rector of Education Services for

bussed from their small northern Quebec Native reserve to the nearest high school. even the teachers who will make schools,” Sioui said. the doors to its Native-run high

kind of culture shock, she said. material means to fight the rac- the Maniwaki reserve. “It’s the other students and ism and segregation that exists in In 1980 the reserve opened

that child ill at ease because they Native children who leave school and has seen the number of

BY HEIDI MODRO before getting their diploma. don’t always un- graduates in- derstand that they

Only one in 12 Native stu- must deal differ- crease yearly.

Montreal (CUP) dents in Quebec will get to the ently with some- Although the school is constantly adapting come a “We’ve long

one who has adif- to the needs of its population with special way in thelast

whose first Ian- sessions, one out of every three students “We now do

post-secondary level, while 25 per But two Years later, the 30- cent of non-Native students will ferent cul tural

kilometre daily trips came to an be able to go on to university. background and basic literacy courses and career counselling W h . 10 years,” said

end. Native leaders say many l t e d u c k .

“I dropped Out,” Berube said. forces within the education sys- guage is often not “I hated it; I hated the travelling, tem-such as underfunding and French,” she said. still drops out before graduating. e v e r y t h i n g

I hated the school, the t e ~ ~ h e r s institutionalized racism-are at It would help, ourselves a t

and the students. Everything. 1 the root ofthe crisis. our h igh

never felt right being there.” she said, if course school. We de- “1t’sasYstembuiltforwhites7” curriculum would put more em- their reserve to go to high school sign our course curriculum, doour

was One Of thousands said Lise Bastien, President for phasis on teaching about the his- only get $12 a month in allowance administration work and hire our Of Quebec Native students who the First Nations Education tory of Canada’s Native people. and $150 a year bursary from the own teachers.” drop out of the Province’s high Council. “The curriculum, the “People end up knowing more provincial government to buy schools every year. Although the school is con-

Native leaders Point to the history of the First Nations, their than about canadian Indians,” stantly adapting to the needs of

Parents are expected also to its population with special basic 85 per cent high values, and their specific needs-” she said. “It doesn’t make sense contribute to a child’s education, literacy courses and career coun- drop-out rate in some Native com- Bastien said a restructuring that many Canadianslive close to but i f they are poor the children selling sessions, one out of every

munities as proof that the Of the education system would a without knowing what quickly fall on hard times. system, which is three students still drops out be-

largely controlled band l ives “You can be sure that if a fore graduating.

by non-Natives, there .” Native student goes to school “Our students only spend 14

does not suit their B u t wearing an old dirty pair of pants per c e n t of their time in school,” Native leaders say many forces within the f i g h t i n g and a pair of running-shoes with he said. “The impact that a needs.

On average, education system”such as underfunding highdrop-out excluded by the other students,” munity is greater than that ofthe against the holes, s h e will automatically be student’s family and hisher com-

two-thirds of Que- bec Native students leave high-school root of the crisis. not only tak- “Native kids are 10 times Whiteduck said an unstable

before graduating, i ng on t he more sensitive to being excluded familylifeandpovertyoftenmake

according to the e d u c a t i o n by other students because they’re i t impossible for a student to pur-

First Nations Education Council. also have to educate non-Natives system. not living in their communities sue their studies.

“he QuebecMinistryofEducation about aboriginal issues. Konrad Sioui, Quebec re- where they would normally feel “Some students just can’t af-

reports that only 19 per cent ofthe Children will very often leave First Nations, said poverty within gional chief of the Assembly of more secure.” ford to go school because their

But Native communities that family needs them athome to help non-Native population drop Out the grade on theirreServe Native communities is the still run every aspect of their high out,” he said.

teaching materials, all ignore the about South-American Indians supplies such as books.

and institutionalized racism-are at the rate requires he said. school very often.”

Losted in B.C., Tuesday, February 5,1991 Vol73, No 34 ... · Losted in 1918 Vancouver, B.C.,...

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