at wreck since 1918 chilly climate freezes admissionsin an ,open letter to strangway, president of...

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Hanging at Wreck since 1918

Chilly climate freezes admissions by Chris Nuttall-Smith

UBC’s graduate program in the political science department is rife with racism and sexism, an independent report released June 21 concluded.

The report was commissioned by the university and written by independent investigator Joan McEwen. She found “a genuine basis” for systemic and pervasive racism and sexism in the department.

While McEwen did not name any specific complainants or faculty accused of racism and sexism, she did provide examples of several incidents. Allegations cited in the report range from a white male professor telling a Jewish female professor that feminism is a “Jewish-American Princess conspiracy,” to professors malung explicit sexual ad- vances towards female graduate students.

The department also used in- accurate or incomplete statistics “to refute those allegations” and “failed to listen to what the students were saying,” McEwen wrote.

At a press conference following the report’s release, UBC President David Strangway announced that the university will implement all seven recommendations included in the document.

At the top of the list, Strangway announced the sus- pension of admissions to the graduate program in political science. The department will not admit new students “until there are satisfactory provisions

I in place relating to educational equity and a learning and working environment which is free from harassment and discrimi- nation,” he said.

Although Strangway will follow the report’s recommendations, he stopped shy of prom- ising any action above and be- yond the recommendations. He said that he would not repri- mand any faculty or staff, nor would he speak with the department.

In an ,open letter to Strangway, president of the Toronto based Society for Aca- demic Freedom and Scholar- ship John Furedy attacked the

“It seems 40 me prudent that at

least those individuals in

particular reassess their usefulness to

the university.”

-CSS lawyer Anita Braha

report. Furedy wrote: “...this is an inquisitorial report which contains vaguely stated and un- proven allegations of racism and sexism, names no specific individuals, and permits of no defense by the accused collec- tivity.”

But representatives for students who allege the harrasment say that not enough is being

done to remedy the systemic problems detailed by McEwen.

“It’s my understanding that racist or sexist behavior is against: the law in this province and therefore, one would think that an employer who’s concerned about meeting his or her obliga- tion under the law would take steps to discipline their employ- ees’” said Anita Braha, lawyer for the Graduate Students’ Soci- ety, which also represented the complainants.

Students are also frustrated by the university administration’s reasoning in refusing to discipline any faculty member. Strangway said the university would not take such action because it was not specifically recommended in ~McEwen’s report. Ironically, the university’s terms of reference in commissioning the report specifically precluded any recommendations for discipline.

At least one student organiza- tion is adamant that the university must follow through in eradi- cating racism and sexism from the political science department. Robin Cox of the Alliance of Feminists Across Campuses warned: ‘We have no intention of allowing the university not to follow through with these recommendations.”

Graduate Students’ Society lawyer Anita Braha was more severe. “I think it’s clear that there are somc members of the administration and the department who are implicated in Ms. McEwen’s report. It seems to me prudent that at least those

President Strangway gives his take on the Poli. Sci. reportJune 21. Chris Nuttal-Smith photo

individuals in particular reassess dismissed complaints made their usefulness to the univer- about the department as early as sity.” 1992 and “prejudged the merits

The report criticized political of the dispute in favour of the science department head Don faculty.” Blake left his position Blake. McEwen wrote that he to go on leave July 1.

Steve Wilson (left) and Anita Braha, lawyer for h e GSS, slam UBC‘s Poli. Sci. Grad. program at a GSS press conference

Is the report fair? by Chris Nuttall-Smith Since the report’s release last month, letters and editorials in

he mainstream press have used words like ‘McCarthyism’ and witch hunt’ to describe the report.

A BCReport edltorial stated: “A sound feminist [McEwen] was lot inhibited by the folderol developed by the patriarchal soci- :ty, llke due process or the rules of evidence. She went straight o the complainants and found guilt everywhere.”

A close reading of the report, however, shows the investiga- ive process was not so simple:

McEwen conducted approximately 225 interviews of past md present students in the department, faculty, administration Lnd resource personnel.

Professors about whom allegations were made were informed I f the allegations and asked to respond.

When an allegation was disputed each side was asked to hear md respond to the others’ story.

McEwen also writes: “...students requested anonymity in only 1 handful of cases ... I informed the student that I could not con- ider hisher allegation unless he/she agreed to be identified to he ‘repondent’ faculty member.”

The investigator added: “Where he/she did not [wish to be dentifiedj;I discounted the allegation.”

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By Students = For Students ALMA MATER SOCIETY U B C STUDENT GOVERNMENT Prepared by your Student Socieiy

2 The Summer Ubyssey Thursday, July 13, 1995.

Students to pay as A M S goes over bu dget By Scott Hayward Students will be paying $50,000

per year for each of the next five years to cover overspending by last year’s A M s government.

According to documents presented to A M s council by Direc- tor of Finance Tara Ivanochko, last year’s government was over budget by over $182,OOO, the larg- est budget overrun in the AMs’s 79 year history. This does not ir- clude about $25,000 in possible losses from Asia Pacific Ventures, currently being investigated by the A M s Finance Commission.

While council is still waiting for the results of the annual audit due sometime this month, prehinary findings show that the student government overspent last year while service organizations and revenue were on or near target.

Council spent $482,777 last year while they were only budg- eted to spend $331,728, an over- expenditure of 46%.

Similarly, the Student Admin- istration Commision (SAC) was

over budget by more than $35,000. In contrast, four of eight resource groups including the Student Environment Centre and Global Development Centre were under budget.

Last year’s D of F Randy Romero blamed the overspending on an overly ambitious executive who added new expendltures as the year went on. He said that executive believed the AMs’ Special General Meeting last November would pass, freeing up addltional funds, but it dld not.

“You have to remember that I wrote the budget for what I per- ceive those expenditures wdl be for

the whole year, starting from May first, but when [the new executive] took office, they started all these new things,” Romero said.

He cited items such as increased executive salaries and budget overruns in the Student Leader- ship Conference as being prob- lematic. “Our executive was really ambitious in wanting to change a lot of things, but at the same time maybe the financial realities weren’t there,” he said.

Romero adds that some of the changes in the SGM would have freed up reserve funds for use by Council, but the meeting failed to reach quorum. “We were thinking and [then A M s president Bill Dobie] was thinking, and the executive were feeling that this was

F c e BGle, AMS President

going to pass, and that we would be able to change the Bylaws so we would have access to some of the funds in reserve to pay for some of these new C O W changes, but that didn’t happen,” he said. AMs Council made changes to its Code of Procedure, but it was

unable to change its Bylaws after the failure of the SGM.

Former AMS GM Charles Redden left last December. Romero felt that the executive “didn’t think that there was enough support and guidance along the way without a general manages in place and I think that made a big difference in terms of what hap- pened.” A M s Vice President Namiko

Kunimoto says the budget prob- lem will tie the hands of the new council. “Our campaign promises are our priority and we will be able to do them, but in a scaled down form.” She acknowledged, however, that new student initia- tives will probably not get funded even if they are good ideas.

“The AMs would go bankrupt if it kept on spending so carelessly and haphazardly. That’s part of the reason why [the Action Now Slate] ran for office,” said Kuninmto.

AMS president Janice Boyle said the monitoring system failed. “The Director of Finance [Randy Romero] did not mention to the executive committee that they were overspending by that amount.”

Romero said, “I knew Coun- cil was going to go well over budget. Everybody else knew, I mean it was presented at the [h- nual General Meeting].” He claimed he had the A M s Busi- ness Office produce a report with actual expenditures regularly and “I would distribute that to the executive, so the executives were fully aware.”

Boyle also said the Business Office was not paying attention closely. “With clubs and constitu-

A

No limit to tuition increases: by Chris Nuttall-Smith

Student groups are crying foul at UBC’s Board of governors after they voted May 18 to raise tuition fees by any amount nec- essary to match shortfalls in fed- eral funding. Student leaders have several complaints. Future

increases are not planned. Tuition levels will mirror decreasing government funding. The policy has no expiry date and the university is not trying to cut operations costs.

“The board’s decision will create uncertainty for incoming students and will seriously limit UBC‘s ability to attract graduate students,” said Steve Wilson, director of student affairs for the

Graduate Student Society. Janice Boyle, Alma Mater So-

ciety president, said BOG is act- ing recklessly. “The university now has absolutely no incentive to cut operation costs because if they’re short of cash, this policy allows [UBC] to blame it on [government] funding and jack up tuition fees,” she said.

The A M s had hoped that BOG would adopt a policy similar to

encies, our business office checks their accounts every time they want to write a cheque or make a withdrawal. It was assumed and it used to happen a couple of years ago that the business office would do the same for the student government side of things.” A M s comptroller Gerry Wan

said, “It was not in my mandate to ask about the student government side of the operation.”

He was aware of overspending and approached Redden on several occasions. “I did talk to Charles about it and said ‘Look, they’re overspending like crazy,’ and that’s where my responsibil-

den said he would take it up with students. Redden was contacted by The Ubyssq, but declined com- ment on the matter.

Boyle claims this information never got to her and that last year’s president, Bill Dobie, was tight lipped in disclosing information. “There was a lot less information coming from the president’s office, to the other executives and to council, significant amounts less, far less group decision malung. The most surprising thing I’ve learned since becom- ing president is how much, after being vice president for two years, I didn’t know and it’s up-

itv ends.” Wan also said ;hat Red- setting.”

Budget problems mean big cuts

the suggestions Boyle delivered to BOG. Boyle said the three part proposal included moderate and planned increases in step with in- flation, an expiry date on any new tuition policy, and university efforts to cut operating costs.

But Boyle stated the recommendations and consultation process were a waste of time. “The dialogue was meaningless ...[ BOG] said ‘thank you for your submis- sion’ and pretty much ignored what you said or even refuted what you said ... they didn’t care,” Boyle said.

Steve Wilson also complained that student groups were not informed of when BOG would vote on a tuition policy until shortly before the meeting, and were allowed only five minutes each to address BOG.

“We should have been given more time for such an important issue,” declared Wilson. Boyle added that because BOG‘S discussion and vote occurred behind closed doors, students may never know what led to their decision.

BOG member Tom Berger said, “I think the public would look upon you as some of the most privileged people in the country.

and not constantly strumming away upon the banjo of poverty.“

Janice Boyle mentioned she was angered by Berger’s com- ments. “This is not a campus of students who drive BMW’s, wear monogrammed polo shirts and ride horses on the weekend ... It’s appalling that anyone on the board of governors could have so much ignorance on this issue,” she said.

Steve Wilson had some opti- mism, though. “Demand for education is not quite as inelastic as they think.” Wilson prophesied, “When university enrollment plunges, and we can’t attract or retain any quality students that make UBC the respected institu- tion that it is, then the university is going to care.”

Only Wilson and Boyle made presentations criticizing unfair tuition increases before the discussion and vote, which were closed to students. True to apa- thetic UBC student style, only a handful of students showed up outside the meeting to protest any increases.

Boyle has heard from the pro- vincial government that tuition could exceed $15 000 by the year 2000.

Thursday, July 13, 1995. The Summer Ubyssey 3

FERRON RETURNS TO THE FOLK FEST Vancouver Folk Music Festival July 13 - 16 at Jericho Beach Park

by Jessica Woolliams

How many folk fests can a fe- licitous folkie fair if she fancied to fandangle her fastidious fans? Well ... quite a few actually. Ferron has been coming to the Vancouver Folk Music Festival on alternating years since 1978. One might say she’s become a fixture of this summertime festival, and that Vancouverites should be very proud of this.

A Canadian-born singer/ songwriter now living on an American gulf island, Ferron still holds Canadian citizenship. Born of the mid”70s women’s and folk music explosion, she started her career in the cafes of Vancouver, and she loves to come back. As an out lesbian now co-parenting a newborn child, she is still true to the spirit of political revolution. In a phone interview with The ubyssey, Ferron shared her sadness at the fact that lesbians are currently not allowed to adopt any of the 7000 foster kids living in King County, let alone in the many states and provinces with similar numbers.

Ferron believes that a person can’t be alive without being political, and that is the kind of role her politics play in her songs.

The politics are there, just as surely as there is a breath before she sings, but they never domi- nate to the point that one might describe her as a political singer. She is the writer of earthy, mature, and deeply moving poetry set to hauntingly sad melodies.

Or at least that’s what she used to be. In the two years since Ferron last played at the Folk Fest, she has released a new al- bum, Driver. In it, Ferron not only branches out musically, moving into both jazzy and zydeco styles, she branches out emotionally. She is more posi- tive. She can still be compared to the likes of Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and Holly Near. She describes her music now as contemporary folk, but she is much more than that.

Reflecting on the restrictive- ness of definitions and the fallacy of objectivity, she says, “As the light changes, you’ve got some- thing else.” And suddenly I feel llke the head nun in n e Sound of Music, singing about Maria: “How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?” Ferron’s music has a richness that is diffkult to define. She says she tries to write with the voice that has always been in her head, the same one that’s been there since she was

four. Well, I wish I had such a pure, articulate voice in my head. Maybe I can get an injec- tion.

With Driver now on a major label (Warner’s EarthBeat), hopefully she will start to get the recognition she has long de- served. She has long had a small group of devout fans, but failed to win the widespread respect that she so richly deserves. She has recently finished a tour with Indigo Girls, who introduced her every night as one of their big- gest influences. So go see her this Saturday before she is too big to frequent her folk fest fans. For the eighteenth year, it will be a .. . . .. . fabulous folk fiesta. Folk Fest favorite fixture Ferron feels fine.

STUDENT PRESS SHUT OUT OF LOLLAPALOOZA’S CAMPUS GIG Lollapalooza 8 days ago at Thunderbird

by Peter T. Chattaway

If one word comes to mind to describe this year’s Lollapalooza, it’s “malaise”. Whether it was Courtney Love staggering across the stage, showing off the ban- dages on her arm and cussing at her guitarist, or Cypress Hill run- ning through several phonetic variations of “are you motherfuckers cray-zee”, much about the one-day festival felt redundant, turgid, and stale.

Sonic Youth, thankfully, went from song to lively song without any dead air, and Sinead O’Connor redeemed both the afternoon mainstage and her much-tarnished reputation with a varied set - mixing rap, dance, and a cappella ballads - that was both empowering and vulner- able.

Unfortunately, Lollapalooza H.Q. in California denied The ubysrey official press access to the show, and freelance photogra- phers were unable to let The Ubyssquse their photos because

of six-page exclusivity contracts foisted on them by Lolla H.Q.

It’s sad to see a show that champions freedom of speech and access to the people get so anal about things like access to the student press - particularly when the show takes place at our own Thunderbird Stadium.

On the other hand, the ring- masters at Another Roadside Attraction have opened today’s Thunderbird jamboree to we tykes at “the vile rag”. Let the moshing begin.

HUGH GRANT GETS HOOKED ON PARENTHOOD; IRISH POSTCARDS Nine Months opens July 14 at Cineplex theatns


In Four Weddings and a Funeral, Hugh Grant learned how to overcome his fear of marriage. Now Nine Months takes him to the next hurdle in the obstacle course of Commitment: as Samuel Faulkner, he must learn to overcome his fear of parenthood.

In some ways, Nine Months is a better continuation of the Hugh Grant persona than the recent Engltihman Who Went up a Hill, albeit toned down for the family crowd. Grant’s eyelids still flutter and his neck still jigs about when he has to stam- mer his way through an embarrassing white lie, but his “fuck fuck fuck” traffic- jam soliloquy is here tamed to a barely audible “shit shit shit”.

At least Julianne Moore knows how to act. As Rebecca Taylor, she has the screen presence and the emotional resonance to carry Faulkner’s baby and help carry the film, whereas Andie MacDowell could barely be counted on to carry her hat. Unfortunately, Rebecca is written out of the script halfway through - in a flat, non sequitur plot twist, she leaves Samuel because he’s not paternal enough - so that Grant can demonstrate that Limey charm that puts him, and him alone, at the top of the credits.

And Grant is certainly up to the task. Yes, the audience titters whenever his sexual performance enters the dialogue (and yes, one such discussion takes place in a parked car), but Grant is a truly with actor and he stutters with impeccable comic timing. Still, I can’t help question- ing the ktyed-up slapstick that consis- tentlyundermines the deeper attempts at characts ~ z a t ~ o r : . arc. [he Matchbox-style cx accidents at:ii the. bovlsl-1 fistfights (on? even happens in the blrthlng room!)

Hugh Grant and Julianne Moore discuss sex and babies (but not prices) in Nine Months.

meant to showcase male ineptitude, or do A Man of No importance they serve to hold the focus of comic en- opns J ~ ~ Y 14 at the Plaza ergy away from the female leads? Such puerile hijinks prevent Nine Months from attaining that degree of warmth that made English film makers have a knack for similar films so radiant Vunior comes to picturesque period pieces whose cham mind). lies in their ability to subtly expose the

Writerldirector Chris Columbus may complex realities that underlie their old be coasting on the family-values mayhem postcard simplicity. of his most recent ficks - Home Alone, Mrs. A Man ofNo Importance is one such pro- Doubtfire - but Nine Months betrays an duction, starring Albert Finney as Alfie unusual obsession with B-movie motifs. Byrne, a bus conductor who reads poetr) Halloween costumes, nightmares about to his passengers. His regular passengers womansized praiing mmhses, and the are joined by Adele h c e (Tara Flrzgeraldj, subtly ghoulish casting ofJeff Goldblum a young grl who is as sweet, lovely, and andJoan Cusack as siblings all seem to seemingly innocent as any vestal virpn suggest that Columbus wants to get back ever pretended to be. &fie invites her to to his Gremlins roots. join this odd assemblage of characters.

For sheer qi11ver potential, though, it who also form an amateur theatre troup would be hard tc lop the k:lsses that Tom for .Ufie’s attempts t o stage Oscar IYildc Arnold keeps pian!ing on Hughie Thank nla\rs G J ~ no babv’s cornlng out of thai reiz- /L!~!ICI~$~I thts st‘eila;:<> ,seeills 2 irliic tionship. ~ L : Z I S E I ~ , d~ :he IiLa ::>\.eiup :J!IC begins

by Andy Barham

1 to accept the lyrical possibility of such 2

unlikely premise. Modern mytholot paints the Irish as a poetic race of roma tic eccentrics given to just such exube ant excesses. It is, after all, the postca. picture of Ireland so beloved of Hol; wood.

Even the intrusion of an unpleasa official, in the form of authoritarian b inspector Carson (Patrick Malahide), da not initially disrupt the idyllic setting sin it highlights one characteristic that ti Irish have long shared with the Englia namely deep distrust and intense resel ment of authority. The evil ticket inspc tor is set apart from the rest of the ch: acters by virtue of his accent; his is ti harsh burr of Northern Ireland, not tl soft burr of the South.

Alfie casts Adele to play Salome Oscar Wilde’s intriguing interpretation of the ancient Christian fable about the ex- ecution of John the Baptist by Herod Antipas at the request of his beloved step- daughter.

Throughout this play the darker realities underlying the picture postcard im- agery of the film begin to be exposed. Re- ality intrudes subtly at first with the polished grace of an old rake turning up slightly inebriated at a dinner party, who, despite occasional lapses of taste, can still charm us with his lively banter.

But like the dinner guest who inevita- bly drinks to intoxication, the picturesque charm ultimately fades, exposing the big- otry and Intolerance that lie beneath.

11 1s worth noting that Oscar Wilde was himself the epitome of the urbane dinner guest who concealed a dark secret beneath the polished facade of outward, if somewhat outrageous, respectability. This story is a modern adaptation :d the p!a\uright’s H e - kind of a ciant nlcta- ohor, il y i i i ; xiii.

. \ ( J I ? h American fiirn , d i m c w : x >

.-

THREE PAGES LEFT IN HORATIO~ NOTEBOOK!

by Jim Rowley

Horatio’s Notebook surprised me, and it will surprise you. For the 30th Anniversary of UBC Summerstock, Tom Sholte and UBC Theatre students have created a fresh and potent work based on the DNA of English drama: Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Despite this, it ain’t quite Hamletitself - the title should tell you that. It centers on the four youths in Shakespeare’s play - Horatio, Hamlet, Ophelia and Laertes - but Scholte, who con- ceived and directed the play, has added the reality of youth living in a “Generation X” world “de- void of ‘good guys’” and full of anger, confusion and despair.

Unfortunately, major plot threads are dropped to fit all this in. Hamlet never meets his father’s ghost, so it falls to Horatio to shake him out of his lethargic woe. Unfair as it is to compare a new work to Hamlet, this play is weaker as a result.

Horatio (Peter Grier) sits atop the rickety scaffold of higher learning, so distracted by the horrific images on his TV that he must tum them off in order to concentrate on his reading. He encounters the Chorus as they slither through the tabloid

Horatio‘s Notebook at the Freddy Wood until July 15

waste of society, hungry for truth, searching for a Holy Grail, and finding only alcohol and snatches of misinformation.

Horato’s Notebook makes effective use of multi-media, music (Nirvana, naturally), movement choreography, half-mask, and the impressive resources of the UBC Theatre Department. Ian Patton’s set segregates and clas- sifies the characters into boxes, platforms and perches, empha- sizing their isolation and loneli- ness in an electronic age.

One resource the play ne- glects, however, is the text upon which it is based. Fraser Mackenzie as Hamlet has an impressive emotional presence, but he tends to speak down into himself, not out to the audience. Though Hamlet’s words are ca- pable of speaking to the soul of “Gen X”, the opportunity is lost if they can’t be heard.

Nevertheless, the cast is very strong. The members of the Chorus reveal their scars one by one, like jabs of a needle. Carriona Leger’s Ophelia, the very picture of innocence, re- veals the wisdom, sensuality and sadness that “pictures” are not supposed to possess. Her explo- ration of alcohol and sex in an encounter with the Chorus left

Horatio (Peter Gner) inspects a member of the Chorus (Rebecca Lee)

the taste of child pornography in enough. “I disagreed very vehe- my mouth. mently with a lot of the thmgs

To dissect and reassemble so that were done in that show. If great a play as Hamlettakes enor- what we’re trying to explore are mous courage. the things that are current to us,

“The show is not called Ham- let’s create a new play ... about let,” Scholte told ne Ubyssey, “so our relationship to the old play.” I don’t think you can criticise it Scholte compares Hamlet to on whether or not it’s a faithful the late Kurt Cobaixi, “a kind of production of Hamlet. We’re sort pop star of his own time” who of debunking the play, as the epitomised “this kind of cynical, Gen X like to take the piss out detached nihilism which, I think, of everythmg. ... What is this re- is a real symptom of our genera- ligious fervour over a work of tion. If you look at Kurt Cobain fiction?* as this tortured individual trymg

Scholte played Laertes in the to express himself and then, next UBC Theatre Department’s thing you know, he’s got the en- modernised Humkt B few years tire generation turning to him ago, but did not tL,izk it went far and holding him up as some

kind of icon - I mean, that was one of the things ... that led to his disintegration. I think it’s the same thing with Hamlet: ‘0 cursed spite,/ That ever I was born to set it right.’”

Horatio’s Notebook succeeds in entertaining and provoking its audience while exploring the undefinable illness of a generation. “Making sense isn’t the pri- mary goal of this production,” says Scholte, but that doesn’t mean the action is arbitrary and meaningless. It is a powerful, fas- cinating and mature work, perhaps because its themes are lived by its actors every day of their young lives.

)E IN N O IMPORTRNCE; ROBERT CRUMB DEFLECTS CRITICS AND FANS have difficulty understanding some of the dialogue, since the dialect is pretty intense. Also, I have gained the distinct impression, since returning to this side of the ditch, that North Americans are unable to appreciate the sort of banter to which Brits and Paddies are prone, and which the Irish have so mastered. Hence, audiences here might not get some of these odd moments of humour. This is a pity, because a lot of the Irish charm re- volves around their gift for repartee.

The Best of the Best from Britain at ?he Ridge July 14 - 20


In a typically commerciahzed summer, when Batman Former is as much a commercial as its McDonald’s spin-offs and Pocahontas exists as much to sell a fran- chise as it does to tell a story, one cannot help but find 75 minutes of in-your-face advertising a refreshingly honest alterna- tive to the usual theatrical fare.

Even better, this is British advertising. For scabrous wit and naughty punchliines, the Brits are as good as English-language advertising get. A few ads seem to have taken their cues from The Crying Game; one shows a happy woman driving into the sunset with a ‘Just Divorced’ sign tacked to her car; in another, a man shrieks at the discovery of his dark side when he sees his twisted reflection in a bottle of Smirnoff (and this is supposed to make us want to drink the stuff?).

A handful of British comedians are on hand to peddle various wares, but for sheer aggression, John Cleese’s pointed anti-Smoking ads and Rowan Atkiuson’s Bean-ish Barclaycard spots are no match for seconded American D e n ~ r 1,ear);’s “no shit” pitch for Holsrcs Pilb,.

Regrettably, some ads still displav a

tendency to sail corporate logos upon the waves of human sentiment. Hear our noble song, let the cockles of your heart glow in the warmth of the human spirit, and do please buy our product. The worst offender in this regard is British Telecom’s smarmy, visionary pitch (starring Stephen Hawking!) to “keep the world talking”.

And some ads try too hard to grab your attention. In direct counterpoint to the frenzied quick-cutting of these orgiastic opuses, Bella Pasta wins The Ubyssey’s unofficial prize for pure sublimity: no actors, no sets, no hasty cuts -just a lei- surely operatic score and softly fading titles that are guaranteed to make you chuckle. Sometimes simplicity is best.

Crumb opens July 14 at the Varsity

by Charlie Cho

During the free sex 60s, Robert Crumb (Frik the Cat, Mr. Natural) was the hippie comics king. But Crumb, a geeky awk- ward man, was never very popular with the subculture he influenced. Crumb is as much about the artist and his family as it is about his work.

Robert’s brother Charles lives in limbo at home with his mother, controlling his depression with tranquilizers. As one scans the neatly pencilled comics that Charles drew as a kid, one wonders why he didn’t share Robert’s success. Consid- ering the rare opportunity to see these early works, one wishes they weren’t filmed over someone’s shoulder as they flipped the pages.

The viewer may feel like a voyeur of “wimpy nerdy weirdos” while hearing the tales about Robert‘s family and thcir sad, pathetic iives. Tilough Robert Crumb ap- pears as the mosf mteliigenr and a C C ( J m -

piishcd person in :he movie. this may be

because he avoids those that make him look bad.

As much as Crumb broke the sexual taboos and drew women in realistic pro- portions, he did disturb some readers. Valid concerns about his portrayals of women as objects of lust and Africans as half-witted servants are not dealt with in much depth. He claims they were “ex- pressions of my id ... reflections of a cor- rupt society ... and from my LSD trips in the 60s.”

While he deflects criticisms, Crumb is also uneasy around gushing fans. He demonstrates his keen ability to produce

stunningly realistic and expressive sketches on the spot. He talks candidly about his fixation for large legs and twenty-year-old girls. While Dian Hanson, the editor of Leg Show Magazine, defends pornography. Crumb inspects the bodies of young grrls lined up for his approval. Though hardly indicative of the movie, ths sexist and out-dated behavior is featured in the movie’s ads.

Covering a period of over six years, the movie is structured like a disorganized file folder. Insightful scenes are mixed in with navel gazing and non sequiturs, resulting in an unsatisfying combination.

Okay, everyone who noticed we were gone, raise your hand. One, two, three ...

Gratlfymgly, several thousand of you not only raised - your hand, you used that hand to cast a vote in last

January’s referendum that resurrected B e Ubyssey, for which we thank you. However, just because we’re back doesn’t mean that everything’s well.

For starters, there is a year’s worth of news on campus that we weren‘t around to cover. And in the last few months, things have gotten really interesting on campus. The A M s discovered that they were about $200,000 in the hole, completely blowing their budget, depleting their reserves and damaging their ability to react quickly and immediately to both present and future demands on the Society. For 5 years, the AMs will be paying $50,000 a year into a reserve fund to pay back what they’ve blown in the last’ 12 months. Talk about leaving a legacy for the future.

But if the worst thing to happen on campus was a $200,000 shortfall, everyone would be happy. Joan McEwen, the lawyer investigating claims of sexual harassment in the UBC political science graduate program, released her report in June, as you no doubt heard. No

dom or sexual harassment, UBC‘s image has been badly tarnished by this debacle. And so, coincidentally, has the reputation of the mainstream press.

One of the worst things about the Political Science scan- dal has nothing to do with the report itself, or with the department. The big story is how everyone seems to use UBC Political Science to name drop when they try to exorcise demons of political correctness.- and most of these people obviously haven’t read the report. The University set out terms of reference for the enquiry that

disciplinary action and then used the lack of such findings to justify taking no action. Why did no one call Strangway out on the terms of reference? Because the mainstream media don’t have time to cover campus is- sues effectively. Only a paper that is published by students, for students and on campus can truly get a feel for what people are saying and thinking. Not many mainstream papers meet those criteria - none, in fact.

Luckily, we do. That’s what we’re here for. You wanted us back, so we’re back. And if you want us to reflect your opinions and viewpoints, the only way we’re going to be able to do that is if you tell us what they are. So join the staff. Write letters to the editor. Vote.

And if you aren’t interested or can’t do any of those things, at the very least read Tire Ubyssey. You might not get politically involved, but everyone should be politically aware.

I matter your stand on political correctness, academic free-

c specifically excluded recommendations of punitive or

I

the summer ubyssey 13 luly 199# -

ing. The apes slowly crept towarda the hll, black object. Jessica Wooliamr liRed her head The sun began to u’rrp o m the eastern mountains PI a new day was emerg-

to stare at its intensity. C h r i s Nuttall-Smith, Pada Bach and Pat McGuie began an undulating dance to honour the new arrival. Out of the bushes dashed Andy Ferris hell- bent on joining the merriment The apes wondered what wodd O C N ~ if the object was

touched. Only the wisest of the tribe should face such a dilemma Who eke but James Romn could have pauibly been the first to touch the object? There were no blinding h h e s of l i i t , no blasts of no&. nor any deep revelations. Only frustration. a deep, agonizing feeling of hshation. Andy Barham beat his chest in rapturous joy. Bureau Boy yawned as hter T. Chattaway picked the knots out his hair. Rick Hiebert watched enviously from auos the river bank, longing to be with hk brothers and sisters What was to be done with the monolith? What did it stand for? Siobhan Roantree and Sarah O’DonneU were called upon to debate its philosophical significance. The debate raged.

understanding. Charlie Cho took action and killed everyone including himuelf, or so he Matt Thompson fell ill. Jim Rowley and Stanley Tromp went mad in their quest for

thought From the top of a cliff, Scott Hayward and Christine Rice had watched the madness unfold. They smiled to themselves knowing what they had done. A new objecl had been created, one which would anger and annoy even the calmest creature in the universe and it was good.

Coordinating Editor: Siobhain Roantree News Editor: Matt Thompson

Culture Editor: Peter T. Chattaway Sports Editor: Scott Hayward

Photography Coordinator: Chris Nuttall-Smith

2e Summer Ubyssey is a publication of ‘he Ubyssey Publications Society 138 SUB Blvd. R m . 241K Vancouver, B.C. V6T IZ1 ditorial(604) 822-2301 usiness/Advertising (604) 822-6681 Fax (604) 822-9279

Life without The Ubyssey

Dear People:

the staff of The Ubyssey, a newspaper that dares speak in a critical voice of affairs on campus.

absence of this student newspaper UBC administration has kept a swift pace in its . building program: monuments to rich men and their money have risen everywhere. In contrast, the academic. campus has become more derrelict in appearance and more depleted in human energy.

Welcome back to

In the 15 month

The next phase of building, defined in their 1993 Greater Campus Plan, received the go- ahead at a March meeting of UBC Board of Governors. A frame- work for this second phase of University expansion was published in UBC Reports, February 9,1995. It calls for destruction of 100 hectares of south campus forest for the erection of more market housing.

Meanwhile, the main campus has endured another year of neglect, of burst pipes, stopped toilets, broken doors, cracked ceilings. In winter, flooded washrooms and “out of order” signs are com- monplace; litter and garbage take on a life of their own; potholes and loose pavement make

walking hazardous. UBC administra-

tion has closed the Faculty Club, and now plays an advertising game through its media publication, UBC Reports (see June 15, 1995), to decide what shall be built on the site. The thrust of the men at the top seems to be for a hotel/convention centre.

The new UBC recreation building, turned down by an earlier AMs referendum, nears completion. A senior staff member reports that 17 ceremo- nies are planned around opening of the new centre and closing of older facilities.

Students who appeared before the May meeting of BOG in order to protest almost certain, and large, tuition fee increases, were admon- ished by one Board member for their insensi- tivity. Students were told they “should consider themselves privileged” to attend university, espe- cially one that is fast approaching international status (i.e. money and riches).

The events of these 15 months show UBC ready to trade an academic past for a corporate future. Power on campus has become heavily centralized in the President’s Office, where the main officer has taken on the role of CEO in a business enterprise. Just as the corporate CEO now drives toward success in the transnational market, so

the University’s CEO pushes toward the same market and the President’s Office, where the main officer has taken on the role of CEO in a business enterprise. Just as the corporate CEO now drives toward success in the transnational market, so the University’s CEO pushes toward the same market and with the same greedy anticipation.

for only money, it abdicates its role as defender of academic freedom. When it joins the gut-and-get world of commercial exploitation it puts fences and private ownership above access and public freedom.

When UBC looks

So welcome back to all of you at the outspo- ken Ubyssey. When you write, remember always that you are not the privileged of the Univer- sity - your voice was stopped once, and can be again, though not necessarily €or the reasons given.

Nancy Horsman

Man in pen needs a friend

Dear Students: I am presently con- fined at the Hiawatha Correc- tional Facility. And I would be very grate- ful if I could perhaps establish a corre- spondence with anyone wishing to do so. Please under- stand, just because I am in prison that

doesn’t necessarily mean that I am a criminal. We all can make a mistake, because imperfection is due to anyone who’s not perfect. But nothing can change a particular situation, unless there’s a will to do so. Is God the only one who forgives? I hope it hasn’t been accounted presump- tuous if a man of low and humble station has ventured to have a friend. Thank you for your time and consider- ation. Alphonso Hayes # 179535 Hiawatha Correc- tional Facility Kincheloe, Michegan, 49786- 0001 USA


r I

Enrolment plan ups number in arts by Paula Bach

The faculty of arts could accept 100 more students for next year if they follow the recommendations President S trangway made to the Board of Governors.

There were 772 full- time spaces in the faculty of arts left empty last winter session, resulting in a $1.5 million tuition revenue shortfall. The shortfall is mostly the result of fewer applicants accepting admission offers and a reduced credit load of upper level arts students.

The administration recommended the faculty compensate for lower 1994/ 95 student course loads by accepting more transfer students into arts.

Strangway also recommended the faculty offer unconditional early admission to outstanding students, rather than risk losing them to other institutions.

Landscape architecture, home economics and dietet- ics are among the undergrad

ments will retain their past enrolment levels.

Among the professional programs, architecture plans to reduce enrolment in its bachelor’s program and replace it with a master’s program. The law admission will continue

“The shortfall is mostly the result of fewer applicants acce-pting ad-

mission offers and a reduced credit load of upper level arts

students.”

departments increasing reducing their quota, while admissions quotas for next the other professional year. Nursing and social programs maintain their work will cut admission enrolment quotas. quotas, while other depart- Quotas in the graduate

programs mostly increase. In graduate arts programs, there will be either an increase or a decrease in enrolment, depending on the department. Commerce, dentistry, education, and sciences are among those that plan to maintain enrolment at current levels.

Also in the new plan is an attempt to establish, with the Ministry of Skills, Training and Labour, the value and importance of funding additional graduate enrolment.

Minister Garry Waters, Strangway writes, “The research and development carried out at the universities is an absolutely essen- tial element of job creation in our knowledge intensive

In a letter to Deputy

society ... It is important to focus on the need for more places at the entry level to colleges and universities”.

lent of 1,115 graduate students (actual enrolment: 4,983) were left unfunded. The ability of the Ministry to fund graduate enrolment will help fulfill The Mission of the University of British Colurnbiu set out in 1979 to achieve a graduate enrolment of at least 6,000 by 1990. Endorsed in 1989 as Second to None, the Senate reaffirmed the goal. The new enrolment plan hopes to align Ministry -plans with UBC’s Mission.

In 1994-95, the equiva-

Welcome to the Feeding Frenzy - Janice Boyle, AMS President, in her first media scrum following the release of the report of the enquiry into the UBC political science department. Photo by Chris Nuttall-Smith.

1 I

at

Ubyssey

here

Join the Ubyssey’s production team. SUB 241 K. Any time, day or night.

The Summer Ubyssey 7 Thursday, July 13, 1995.

Grizzlies promote UBC sports By Scott Hayward

UBC Athletics and The Van- couver Grizzlies have joined forces to raise $2 million to promote sports and education in BC and raise the profile of their teams in the process. However, their efforts may be hampered by the current labour dispute

between 6.5 and 10.5 per cent of what they make from all season ticket sales to UBC alumni, faculty, staff, and students. Both - organizations will be holding different events during the year to raise funds, and other corpo- rations in BC will be invited to join the program.

There are also other programs in the works to support the fund. According to Griz- zlies’ spokesperson Debbie Butt, the team is “working on deals with TV and radio sta- tions as well as other charities”.

The Grizzlies will not be the only team to help promote UBC sports this year. The UBC Thunderbirds hockey team will play two exhibition games against the University of Maine Black Bears during the Christ- mas break. The Bears won the

and were runners-up in 1994. Onegame w i l l be p l ayed a t Thunderbird Arena while

” 1993 NCAA Championship

the other will be at GM Place, and proceeds will go towards the Grizzlies Futures fund. The Grizzlies will also play an intersquad preseason exhibition game at War Memorial Gym, and other events are currently being planned.

Don Wells, UBC Sports In-

Coordinator, is looking forward to high attendance at these games . “We’ l l have the Grizzlies/Canucks marketing machine helping to promote the game [at GM Place]” he said, noting that community attendance at T-Birds games was up last year during the NHL owners lockout. He hopes “the event will help promote UBC teams.”

Part of the Grizzles Futures fund will support charities like Sport BC and Kidsport, which provide financial aid to children who might not otherwise be able to participate in sports. It will also be used to fund the Stay In School program which pro- motes completion of secondary school by high school students.

Athletic and academic schol- arship programs for post-secondary students will also be developed. The endowment will be administered by a committee of representatives from both UBC and the Vancouver Griz-

POSITION OPEN &%2%!:JME Director. of Services

g~~+,py~e~: the Graduate Student Society Nomination forms are available

at the GSS Office at the Grad Centre and must by submitted by

Spm, Wednesday, July 19th.

zlies. The current labour dispute

between the NBA owners and players may have a profound af- fect on the first year of the Griz- zlies Futures program if it delays the beginning of the season, yet Grizzlies spokesperson Butt as- serted that Grizzlies Futures is

“a massroots c o m m ~ ~ n i t v

June 21. The owners ratified Ewing went before the U.S. Na- the deal, but players tabled a tional Labour Relations Board to vote on the contract because try to have the players union some of their members op- decertified. A decision on the posed the agreement. case is expected next week.

Then on Wednesday, July 5, a group of players lead by Michael Jordan and Patrick


at wreck since 1918 chilly climate freezes admissionsin an ,open letter to strangway, president of...

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