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The Independent Student Newspaper of the University of Lethbridge

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Page 1: The Meliorist, Volume 47 Issue 1
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CAMPUS LIFE 4

SCHOOL SURVIVAL GUIDEEntering university can be a stressful time, whether you’ve taken a couple of years off or you’re coming in directly from high

school. It is difficult trying to adjust to all the changes you face and sometimes you just need a bit of advice from people who have been through the same thing. We decided to ask some returning students around campus for helpful tips and advice they would

give both new and returning students. The advice is varied, and includes ways to walk up the stairs, tips for studying in the library, and even how to sleep on campus if

you must be there all day. We also talked to Aramark staff who told us how students can help make the food experience on campus better for everyone. The intent of this article is to help you navigate smoothly through your University experience.

The majority of students asked to remain anonymous, so the advice here is presented in one list.

When walking up the stairs: - Stay on the right, so that people can pass you on the left. - Don’t stop. People are in a hurry. - Don’t hold hands, because you are blocking the way.

Don’t stand in doorways.

Hold the door for others — it’s just plain courteous. (You can also press the automatic door-opening button as you go through; it will stay open on its own.)

Don’t text and walk. But, if you insist on doing so, watch where you’re going.

Pick up your own garbage, because no one else wants to.

Don’t be a “res-rat” by wearing your pyjamas or onesie to class.

Everything in moderation. Don’t drink and party all the time, or you will run yourself into the ground.

Be a good roommate and clean up after yourself. Help tidy around the house and respect the space, because you don’t have very much of it.

Also, get in the habit of doing daily chores.

Big eaters beware: your meal plan will run out. Try to plan your meals daily.

Get to know people by joining clubs, being involved in sports, or getting involved on campus in other ways.

Don’t be afraid to talk to other students — they don’t bite.

Remember, you are not in high school any more, so stop caring about what people think of you. This is your chance to be yourself.

ALISHA VANWIEREN

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CAMPUS LIFE 5

Don’t leave tests you must write in the testing centre until the last day, because there will be long lines.

If you are in the quiet study section of the library: be there to study and be quiet.

Put your phone on silent. The sound of your vibrating phone is just as annoying its notification.

Give yourself enough time to study for exams. Don’t cram the night before.

Be patient with the Aramark staff. It is very busy in their restaurants, and everyone is still trying to learn the ropes.

Say thank you. It can go a long way.

The plastic bowls and plates can be put in bus-bins on carts, or on the counter where the napkins are.

Know what you are going to order before you get to the cook.

Don’t rest in areas you know other people are trying to move through.

Give feedback!

Have your payment ready when you get to the cashier.

Treat the staff like you would want to be treated if you were working there. Remember that they are people too.

Don’t order eight Vanilla Bean Frappuccinos at the same time when there is a long line at Starbucks.

If you need to poop, go to the bathroom on the seventh-floor or the one tucked away by the scene shop.

If you have hickeys, cover them up. Nobody wants to see that.

Don’t show up drunk to write a test or quiz. Unless it’s the end of the semester — then bring enough to share.

If you fall asleep on the couches, security will make you leave. Set up a schedule to switch to different couches regularly.

If you don’t have a meal plan, try packing food from home. Buying it at the university can get very expensive.

If you are going to a night club a on popular night (i.e. Halloween), go early or you won’t get in.

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KJEL ERICKSONRIDER: BRENDAN MacARTHUR

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FEATURES12

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FEATURES 13

Things had already taken a bad turn for those in summer classes at the U of L, when on June 5, 2013, a main pipeline, which was marked incorrectly on blueprints, was struck by a backhoe, sending hundreds of gallons of water across the campus. The future home of hundreds of High River evacu-ees became, itself, hugely impacted by water damage. Reconstruction still goes on, impeding those who have returned or just arrived for classes.

The bigger issue however, came when, around June 20, 2013, severe flooding spread across the province. Thankfully to those living here, Lethbridge was spared the worst of the impact. However, the cost of the province-wide flooding was billions of dollars of damage, hundreds of thousands homeless and out of work, and four deaths as a direct result of the flooding. In response, places like Lethbridge rose to take on the responsibility of caring for those from the worst flooded areas. High River, one of the worst-hit areas, received help from the University of Lethbridge when it took in many evacuees.

The university’s own flooding case was relatively under control by the time it opened its doors to flood victims. Though, much space once taken for granted, like the tunnel, is now indefinitely closed. Worse, many library books, and some of its services, were lost. Luckily, all the priceless artwork in the university was saved, as well as the majority of its costly musical instruments.

The university has already shown amazing tenaci-ty and generosity in housing the evacuees of High River. It has not only provided space and shelter, but access to services such as summer programs for children. Its food provider has also stepped up to feed victims. The response from both the university and volunteers across Lethbridge has been super-human.

Benjamin Goodwin, a housing worker and a student at the university, was called upon to help aid hundreds of displaced families. When services were set up, an unprecedented amount of work immediately piled up. A hectic, uphill battle ensued. As buses of people arrived, workers remained on edge, as little information about the impact of the flooding was available, and coordina-tion with the government to provide services seemed to drag on too long. Sometimes two hundred people would arrive in one day, then the next day zero arrived. It wasn’t uncommon for Goodwin to work over 40 hours in just one week-end. Every person that was guided to their own room in residence, though, clearly showed their appreciation.

The amount of support for victims — from volun-teer support, aid from organizations like the Red Cross and Alberta Health Services and the services provided by the university — was overwhelming.

Sometimes, the effort even seemed to be beyond the call of duty, though naturally better than too little.

For those who were not directly affected by the flooding, like Goodwin, to come out and provide much-needed help seems to me incredibly charac-teristic of Albertans. During the response to the flooding, like the response to the wildfire disaster at Slave Lake in 2011, there was a sense of pride and community as people worked together.

Despite an amazing effort from people like Good-win, there were still some difficulties. Communica-tion between affected areas and the head of the province-wide organizational response located in Calgary caused a feeling of disconnectedness and hampered efforts. Placing over two hundred fifty people was also trying on resources. Every effort was made to keep families together while maintain-ing the privacy of individuals.

Even the Sports and Recreational services of the U of L helped alleviate the oft-forgotten aspect of boredom. The university pulled no stops in its efforts to answer every problem.

In the end, it was an event that brought people together through tough times.

On campus, students are sharing with each other extraordinary tales of the flooding. Tales such as cars being used as boats, people fishing their pets out of roads-turned-rivers, and houses that once sat on prairie and that are now surrounded by water.

Natasha Fairweather, of the Red Cross, was glad to see the help that was given to the evacuees. Cargill, a major employer of those who came to Lethbridge temporarily, provided buses for those wishing to return to home. Even after the flooding crisis passed, some chose to remain in Lethbridge. Fairweather says that, when you’ve lost everything, sometimes where you end up is the best place to start.

The Red Cross also handled quite a bit. Though they prepare for such emergencies, the scale of the flooding was unexpected. Immediately after the first major floodings, for persons from Lethbridge and surrounding areas, including High River, the City of Lethbridge set up a headquarters for emer-gency services in the Fritz Sick Centre and a head-quarters for social services in the County Building. Families were placed in hotels before being transferred to the University of Lethbridge, which was chosen for its size, comfort, and ability to provide privacy, while temporary residences in Calgary, and other towns, could be set up. Working with Erin Crane and student Alex Fong, along with members of a committee representing the universi-ty, Fairweather utilised donations from locals, as well as the labour of over 40 volunteers trained by the Red Cross.

With many long days and nights of work,

Fairweather and her volunteers sent supplies and aid to the more affected areas. The efforts of people, volunteer or otherwise, were as Fairweath-er puts it, “heartwarming and wonderful.” Even after the flooding, people helped restock the Red Cross so that it would be ready for any further demand.

The community proved itself during its struggle. From helping those outside our county to coping with a city divided by a flooded Old Man River, the quickness of the community’s response proved that we can continue to count on the valiant efforts of our members when the chips are down.

It is incredible, in my opinion, to see all the people of Alberta step up and show the world our commu-nal strength. Calgary, which majorly impacted by flooding, focused on one event to show its spirit. Though the grounds were completely washed out, through an impressive “Hell and High Water” campaign, the 101st Calgary Stampede upheld its record — which has remained unbroken through the Great Depression and two World Wars, as current President of the Stampede Bob Thomson was happy to declare — and remained on schedule. Over 1 million attendees this year attested to the efforts of crew and volunteers who cleaned up and made ready the grounds.

The efforts across the province have been inspir-ing. But what about the federal government’s support? 2200 Canadian Forces troops helped across the province, as well as unknown amounts of emergency personal. The federal government has also promised to help cover the expected costs of the damages, which is in the millions of dollars. Outside the country, there have been major relief from the Red Cross to Samaritan’s Purse — even a personal letter from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who became enamoured with the province in 2011.

On a final note, it is worth mentioning a story from Fairweather that really showcases the kindness of the people in this city: A certain evacuee was expecting a child when she arrived at the university, so special care was offered to her to ensure a safe delivery, with care ready for her nearly-born child. The dedication and extra attention offered by an already hard working group really inspired Fairweather, because too often in her work, she is faced by tragedy. I feel it was the small efforts like this that illustrate just how much this province has become an example of cooperation between people — not only from the same community, but places far apart.

As we move into a new school year, we can look back positively on the efforts of Albertans this summer. It will remain as a source of inspiration to people across the world for a long long time.

GARETT BISHOFF

THE STRENGTH OF A COMMUNITYThis year, many Albertans came face-to-face with the phrase close to home. Some of the worst flooding in our recent history swept away homes, damaged communities, and affected thou-sands. From evacuees to volunteers, everyone in our own city seems to have been touched.

KJEL ERICKSON

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ARTs + ENTERTAINMENT 21

MEREDITH PRITCHARD

“My first car had an 8 track player in it, so I was into 8 tracks when I was 16 — and tapes. But then, my parents had a fairly decent record collection and I was like, what is that? Show me more,” says Curtis Goodman, a volunteer at CKXU.

Curtis has been helping with Love and Records since its creation in 2011. Love and Records was originally thought up as a way to fundraise money for CKXU and liberate excess records hanging around the radio station. “There’s record fairs sort of popping up all over Western Canada . . . it’s big, it’s the trend of the music industry — people collecting old records, collecting new records for whatever reason they have. We’re sort of riding that wave rather than just sticking to a record fair; we bring in some local bands, and it’s free.”

The first year was so successful that Aaron Trozzo, the station manager of CKXU, and Curtis decided to try and make this a yearly event.

“My wheels were turning. We can turn this into something,” says Curtis excitedly.

U of L student Lauren De Klerk attended Love and Records last year and became so excited by her experience that she signed up to help with organizing it this year. “I’ve kind of been like the Love and Records sounding board,” she chuckles. “It’s a lot of, ‘I need someone to bounce this idea off of — Hey Lauren, come here and let’s talk for an hour.’”

Love and Records isn’t just about selling records, “[it] is really just a fun day out. Even if you have no interest in collecting records, there are craft vendors set up and bands playing, and it’s really just a great day,” Lauren says, smiling widely. The live music, including bands from across Canada, will be starting in the park at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14.

Explaining how the day feels, Curtis says, “It’s a crescendo sound. It starts out relatively mellow, then it gets heavier, louder, faster — more tempo by the end. And it’s successful.” Curtis explains that CKXU really strives to have a diverse group of musicians perform at Love and Records; they really pride themselves on not having the same group play two years in a row. Each year, it’s a fresh line up with something everyone will enjoy. “We try and touch as many genres as we can. Maybe they don’t necessarily listen to singer-songwriter, but maybe you’ll like Alyssa McQuaid. [You] don’t like stoner rock? But hey, maybe they’ll like Black Mastiff.”

Love and Records isn’t just for hard-core record collectors; it's a family event as well.

“The very first year we had Fist City open up the day. And you know, Fist City is a loud band, and I watched it happen. We had all these people in the park for about an hour, and the band starts playing, and the families were like ‘What the hell?’ and they packed up their kids and walked away. So that was a learning experience, and we’re not going to repeat that same mistake,” says Curtis, laughing.

The quickest way to get Curtis to open up is to ask him about records. Curtis’ face lights up as he talks about his experiences with records.

“Records are nice for a lot of reasons,” says Curtis. “They are totally tangible. You’ve got the cover art, the inner sleeve — you’ve got this massive black disc that’s interactive, you know, taking it out, inspecting it, cleaning it, setting it on,

setting the needle, even choosing your track and ten or fifteen minutes later getting back up and changing or interacting, flipping it over, repeating that side — who knows. A CD, you put it on and you can walk away. 60 minutes later and it’s done. So there’s not a lot of interaction. Not a lot of anything.”

What we think of when we hear the word record is usually a 12-inch vinyl record, either an LP or maxi-single. However, both 10- and 7-inch records are also popular, but they are usually shorter in song length.

The first record was made in 1857 by a gentleman named Leon Scott, and over time it eventually became the circular vinyl disc we know and love today. Howev-er, at the tail end of the 20th century CDs beat vinyl records out of the mainstream market. “Dash mounted record players aren’t as cool as they seem,” says Curtis. “CDs — they have a purpose. They are totally portable, fairly durable. You can leave them in the sun for 10 minutes and you’re not going to cry because they warped.”

The complete production cost of creating a record — including the cover art, the sleeve, and the record itself — is around seven dollars per record. Consider-ing this, your band had better have a lot of money floating around or enough talent and fan support in order to afford to release a record. Yet, after all of these costs, people are still releasing and buying vinyl. It’s not just old bands you find releasing on vinyl, it’s newer bands too.

“Is it kind of the hipster thing to do?” asks Curtis. “Totally. But if you look at international music sales, it’s predominantly derived from record sales, outside of digital — but you can’t compete with iTunes.” However, records are still up and fighting. People are still buying them and listening to them.

Lauren suggests that perhaps there’s a good reason vinyl is still around. “I think it’s still a pretty big demand because it is more of a physical sound, and some people still prefer records.”

Records are something that impact us on a physical level. It’s a raw sound. It’s music as close as you can get to hearing the band live. Perhaps records will be the one form of persistent media. “There were so many formats that were bunk and garbage and obsolete really quickly.” says Curtis. “I don’t think records will be obsolete.”

Love and Records will be in the Galt Gardens from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on September 14th. Entrance to the event is free. Food, craft, and record vendors will be set up throughout the park. Bring cash, as there are no ATMs in the Galt Gardens. Music is usually held in the amphitheatre near Fifth Ave. and Third St. South. Lethbridge Disc Golf will have a little course set up this year, in case you want to try your hand at some disc golf. There will also be beer gardens for those of you in the park over the age of 18 (I hear there will be beer pong and flip cup). CKXU will be holding a cash raffle with a grand prize of $1000. Twen-ty-five per cent of the proceeds going to the Girl’s Rock Camp to help support the next generation of upcoming musicians. The Owl and The Slice are holding after parties, which you can head over to after the music at the Galt Gardens is done. There are only 120 spots at The Slice, and entry is through donations. There will be three bands at each venue, playing until about 1 or 2 a.m. Remem-ber to bring sunscreen, a camera, and some good vibrations.

KJEL ERICKSON

LOVE AND RECORDS VINYL WILL NEVER BE OBSOLETE

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TLFs24

Need help with C/C++ or other languages? Email Lethbridge’s best code tutor [email protected]. I can help with assignments or when you get stuck studying!

Interested in learning about Greek life on campus or joining a sorority? Email [email protected]!

Regular Library hours for fall semester begin Wed, Sept 4. Hours are: Mon-Thu: 8am-11pm; Fri: 8am-6pm; Sat: 10am-6pm; Sun: 1-9 pm. http://bit.ly/zLDnFc

University Library tours from September 16th to 21st. Book your tour at http://www.uleth.ca/lib/tours/

Do you play Magic The Gathering?Looking for some people to play it with?Interested in booster drafts/tournaments?Email us at [email protected]!

To my bro’s back home, have a great year guys!Missing all my ladies too!Cheers, From Japan! Kampai!

Thanks to Taylor for the lift home when I was struggling with ridiculous amounts of veggies from the farmer’s market on campus! Best ‘friendly stranger’ moment ever :)

Good fishermen are Master Baiters —Feb. 1/90

Hey Vern, Disco, like Elvis, is dead. Time to give up those bellbottoms. Pick up the pace you freeloader!

—Jan. 25/90

Meliorism means getting horny at 1:00 am

—Apr. 5/90

Anarchy lives ! Die gravy sucking pigs! Free thought rules! Down with organized rule! Destroy Feudal politics!

—Mar. 22/90

Death is the greatest kick of all. That’s why they save it till last – The Karma Yogi

—Sept. 10th/92

To all you poor mindless worker ants and oppressive minded people, beware, I am returning to wreak havoc again! Ice!!

—Sept 17th/92

Life is like a fart in the wind… Suddenly the wind changes and you can smell your own fart. – David Plaquin

—Sept. 17th/92

People who whistle loud at cabs should be slapped!

—Sept. 24th/92

Where can “old ladies” (too old for cabs & too young for retirement) hang out?

—Oct. 29/92

Does negativity not stifle the soul? Deeper meaning exists alongside truth and beauty when we reach for freedom.

—Oct.29th/92

Gemma (aka Spandex Princess): why even bother wearing a dress?

—Oct. 29th/92

You can call me wench – but can only call me wench.

—Mar. 21st/91

Yo yo yo homeboy: do ya still have clean sheets? Get busy brother! Word up!

—Mar. 28th/91

Is SKA a vegetable? —Sept. 5th/91

Oedipus, Your mother phoned. —Sept. 26th/91

To all you virgins… Thanks for nothin’.

—Apr. 12th/90

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TLFs 25

If Doug doesn’t come back, I’m going to need a roommate. Any tall blondes interested? – Barry.

—Sept. 17th/92

Barry: You had me, but you gave me up! I could have lightened my hair. Eat your heart out big guy – Tall Brunette.

—Sept. 24th/92

Barry: How can such a sweet guy be such a bad influence? – Thursday.

—Oct.29th/92

Barry. Barry. Barry. Just what does go on out there, anyway? – Roomie

—Nov. 25th/93

I found a roommate. Don’t worry anymore – Barry.

—Dec. 3rd/92

To my little blonde roomie: You’ve been so emotionally controlled lately. Are you sick or something? Just checking. – Barry.

—Mar. 25th/93

To the lonely blonde roommate of mine- life does always get better. At least women always tell me that. – Barry.

—Apr. 1st/93

No, I’m certainly not sick. I have a great “therapist” – Blonde Roomie.

—Apr.1st/93

Happiness is a choice. Reach out for it the moment it appears – Like a balloon drifting seaward on a bright day.

—Dec. 3rd/92

And then one day the Jetsons invaded the U of L and everything was fine.

—Jan. 21st/93

Why do men have nipples? Are they breast-feeding and not telling us? – Curious Female

—Apr. 1st/93

Why is pubic hair curly? If it was straight, it would poke you in the eyes.

—Sept. 16th/93

Alcohol is addictive. Marijuana is not. One is legal. One is not. Decide for yourself.

—Sept. 30th/93

Is the U of L a liberal university? Let’s get together and fight these increases in tuition and cuts in education.

—Nov. 18th/93

Belinda: Dinner? Drinks? Coffee? Carry your books for you? Rub your feet? Take out your garbage?

—Sept. 20th/90

Belinda: Forget the others. They only want you for your mind. I want you for your nails.

—Sept. 27th/90

Belinda: What now? Cookies? I can’t believe that you’d favour my roomie. I hear he’s impotent.

—Oct. 4th/90

Belinda: They’re all scum! Forget the jealous morons and have lunch with one who really cares. A friend.

—Oct. 18th/90

Abstinance? Ha!—Nov. 1st/90

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