TO FIND Our mogpe ae AND Te SIGN up Gallagher’ 904 40t 4973, 232 Newport BC Pore Moods } IE PF OTP © By Ashley Whillans Associate News Editor re you a musician who wants to take your talent further? Do you play in your living room, but dream about playing in front of a live audience? Well, Tri-Cities Open Gallagher’s Cafe is hosting a “super-cool” arts initiative in Port Moody, the Open Mic Night. The Open Mic Night is the first of its kind in the Tri-Cities area, and is welcoming singles, duos, and trios of all ages and skill level to play and sing in front of a welcoming café crowd. Started by singer/songwriter Mark Fossen, who longed for the fun open mic nights he discovered while travelling, the event will take place every Thursday between 7:30—10 p.m. at the café in Newport Village. Fossen, who had played at Gallagher’s a few times, started the open mic night in order to fill a void in the Tri-City music scene. boasts that it is the ‘City of the Arts,’ yet there is no real outlet for up-and-coming musicians,” he said. “An open mic night is always a good way to bring people together and help budding musicians hone their performance skills.” “It is a great way to build confidence in front of people. It’s hard to go out and get your first gig, and open mics are a great way for young musicians to build confidence.” With an open-minded director and enthusiastic crowd, the Thursday night Open Mic Nights provide all musicians the opportunity to show their stuff and to perfect their stage presence. Mic Night wants In the to give you an “Port Moody boasts that it is the ‘City of the Arts,’ yet there is no words of opportunity real outlet for up and coming musicians.” Fossen, the to grow asa first night performer. “There was really nothing like was a “screaming success” and Every Thursday night, this in the Tri-Cities. Port Moody — with the help of up-and-comings and local musicians, he hopes the night will continue to build momentum. For more information, contact Mark Fossen at 778.997 .627, or visit the Facebook group, “Open Mic Nights @ Gallagher’s in Newport.” SkyTrain gets new hours of operation... sort of By Matthew Steinbach, News ith the temporary closure of the Pattullo Bridge, Translink announced that they would now begin service of the SkyTrain system at 4:30 a.m., giving commuters about an hour of extra time to catch a train or bus. When asked why this was done, Dereck Zadel, media relations manager at the Coast Mountain Bus Company said this occurred because of an “anticipation of more traffic.” Translink expected there to be “extended rush hours,” and “buses had been stuck in traffic,” especially in Surrey and on the other side of the Fraser River. However, The Other Press also asked if Translink would continue with these new hours past the patching up of the bridge, and Zadel responded that he “couldn’t say specifically,” but that given the new statistics Translink has received, 6 Editor ; he explained that there was a good chance these new hours may be taken into consideration as a permanent fixture. Zadel said that when the trains opened up on the first day of the closure, there were many more riders than expected at the King George Station. Translink was also able to run more trains than ever before in its history, and the Millenium Line was far busier than normal, which was also unexpected as normally the Expo Line is the only gridlocked train line. But Zadel did also suggest that “if work and study hours could be adjusted,” travelling outside of rush hours were still relatively calm periods for commuters to use. In the meantime, commuters will have to plan accordingly and take the necessary precautions as Metro Vancouver works itself out of its recent transit predicament. Reduce student debt? By Matthew Steinbach News Editor n January 21", federal student debt hit $13 billion in Canada. The Douglas Students’ Union and the Canadian Federation of Students were out in the concourse and the atrium to ensure that students at Douglas, as well others, were aware. Their goal was to show mug shots of students in debt to Members of Parliament as well as Members of the Legislative Assembly so they can see these students’ faces. The two groups also are hoping to make this campaign an election issue in the upcoming provincial election, so they can gain some commitments from politicians before the election is over. $13,000, Christine Nieder, BC provincial executive with the Canadian Federation of Students (a coalition of some student unions within Canada) and member-at- large with the Douglas Students’ Union explained that this campaign was adopted because “it was one thing we could agree on [at the DSU]’ and because the number was so high and the union knew that this was something “that affects almost all students.” There will be further opportunities for students to join this petition; however, Nieder was unsure of when the next chance will be. OOO,000 On January 21, 2009, the amount of student loans owed to the Government of Canada will surpass $13 billion. E-MAIL YOUR MP Demand Action to Reduce Student Debt!