issue 01 / volume 41 Let's get a party going » DSU welcomes students with month of events «, Angela Espinoza F News Editor = q Minews @theotherpress.ca he Douglas Students’ Union (DSU) has a number of events lined up for the month of September. Each event is meant to welcome new and returning students to both Douglas campuses, and provide one last marathon of fun before assignments and exams start to kick in. “The DSU will be tabling from September 2 to 4,” said Nicola Carter, member-at- large for the DSU. “We'll be handing out agendas, free stuff, : prizes, things like that. There’s going to be a welcome-back barbecue at [both campuses]. We're going to be having a welcome-back pub night in the DSU lounge in New West. There’s also going to bea clubs day and OOHLALA (college app) treasure hunt at both campuses.” Tabling, like several of the planned DSU events, will be taking place at both campuses and be operated by DSU members. At free hot dog barbecues, students can also grab their 2014 day-planners. At both the New West (September 16, Student Union Building) and the David Lam (September 9, AB Building) campuses, the free lunch will run from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. : Night” will be taking place on : September u and run from 8 : p.m. until 12 a.m. As always, : students are required to bring : two valid pieces of ID, must : be over the age of 19, and are The “Welcome-Back Pub : allowed to bring one guest : (also over the age of 19). There’s : no need to RSVP, but be sure to : plan for wait times as DSU pub nights are frequently packed. For the respective campus club days (September 24 at : New West, September 25 at news // 5 : landmarks and upload them to _ : the app in order to take part in : David Lam), each will run from : 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Carter also : suggested students get familiar : with the DSU’s chapter of the : OOHLALA app, which will : prepare students for the digital : treasure hunt. Students will : be required to take photos of : the treasure hunt. “We also have the DSU : boat cruise, which I’m super : excited about,” said Carter. “It’s : something that we've never : done before. We're going to be : having tickets for $10. You are : allowed—if you're a Douglas : student—one guest, and it’s : $15 per guest. We're going to : have two floors, and have a DJ : on each with different music. : There’s going to be drinking, : that’s for sure, so you have to : be 19 or over.” As the DSU continues to _ } try and find opportunities : for Douglas-students, Carter : noted that, “The two DJ’s will ? most likely be students again. : We did that at our last pub night.” Carter added that tickets : will be on sale at the DSU : office at the New West : campus. Ticket sales began on : September 2, while the event : itself will be on September 18 : and run from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. : Students attending the DSU : Boat Party are asked to meet at : the Edgewater Casino prior to 8 p.m. for boarding. Keep an eye out for further : events from the DSU and : be sure to check out their : section of the OOHLALA : app, where you can access info about additional Douglas : clubs and collectives, keep : track of classes, and keep : up-to-date with school-wide : announcements. Breastfeeding ‘contract’ offends new parents » Handout information said to be dated, worded poorly ., Angela Espinoza News Editor M news a b a + @theotherpress.ca Fo Health is under fire after parents began posting on the website iVillage.ca about a breastfeeding “contract” typically introduced to parents with newborns. The two-page form, entitled “Did You Know...,” has been in use since 2007, but parents are just now reacting. The contract itself is not a mandatory obligation, but more of a personal goal outline for parents. “Did You Know” serves as a guide for new parents, particularly mothers, outlining the benefits of breastfeeding : newborns. However, people are : raising concerns with the choice : of wording and tone, which : condemns formula, suggests : an overwhelming likelihood : of diseases, and confusingly : pressures new mothers about their’s and their child’s weight. : “Babies who do not receive : breast milk are more likely to get significant illness and disease.” : The document then lists several : potentially increased health : risks, ranging from diarrhea : and colds to cancer and obesity, : along witha statistic stating the : probability of Sudden Infant : Death Syndrome would be : increased by 38.5 per cent. potential risks for non-breastfed : babies states, “children may score : The document states that, The final note on the list of : a bit lower on IQ tests.” Following the list of health : dangers to babies is a list of : health dangers to mothers who : do not breastfeed. The risks : section for non-breastfeeding : mothers included Type 2 : diabetes, breast cancer before : menopause, ovarian cancer, and : the line “mothers can take longer : : to lose their pregnancy weight.” One of the most-discussed : lines in the document is the : first statement: “Breastfeeding : is the normal way to feed your : baby.’ Critics assert that, while : it is true that breastfeeding is : generally the preferred—and : often lauded as the best—option : : for newborns (especially in : their first six months), there : are many parents who cannot produce enough or any milk. : Furthermore, feeding schedules : and diets can fluctuate with new : : babies and parents; the contract } : suggests a consistent schedule of ! : eight feedings every24hours. The handout lists options like mixed feeding and formula- : only feeding, but also reminds : the parent that they'll be increasing the health risks of : their children. The formula- feeding option also points out ; the expense of purchasing : formula as a negative setback. After a number of blogs and media sources responded : to the controversial handout, : Fraser Health maternity director Tamara Van Tent told the Province, “We sincerely : apologize to anyone who was : offended by the content of the : form. Major concerns with the handout are focused on the choice of wording and tone. “We recognize that this form : does not reflect our intentions, : which was to identify feeding : options, educate families, and : support decisions in a manner : that is compassionate and : supportive.” Fraser Health has since removed the handout and is : creating a new one with public : assistance in order to create a more inclusive tone.