SS The Other Press Canada customs smells coffee November 2, 1994 Anal penetration no longer obcene, says Canada Customs by David Alan Barry TORONTO (CUP) — A recent change to Canada Customs guidelines remov- ing anal penetration as grounds for ob- scenity is little cause for celebration, say gay and lesbian bookstores. The changes to the guidelines took place Sept. 29, several days before a challenge to Customs Canada’s right to seize materials on the basis of ob- scenity got underway in the British Columbia Supreme Court. The case against Canada Customs, brought by Vancouver’s Little Sisters Art and Book Emporium and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, also says Customs unfairly discriminates against gay and lesbian material and book- stores. ; Jim Deva, co-owner of Little Sis- ters, says the removal of anal penetra- tion from the guidelines was timed to give Canada Customs a better case in court. “Tt’s quite clear that their lawyers pointed out that it was clearly homophobic and [to] get it out of the way,” Deva said. Canada Customs says the changes came about because of court cases over the past several years which have re- defined what obscenity is. Customs officials don’t deny that the timing of the changes was moti- vated by the approaching court case. “We wanted to make sure that our counsel was in the best possible [posi- tion],” said Colette Gentes-Hawn, a spokesperson for Canada Customs. According to Deva, this action on the part of Canada Customs is repre- hensible. “{It’s] a clear indication of how devi- ii Aviation 8:00 p.m. ~ 7:30 p.m: 8:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. e Are you at least 18 years of age? e Are you in good health? e Are you decisive? e Are you willing to work shifts? Name Transport Canada PUBLIC NOTICE TRANSPORT CANADA IS LOOKING FOR TRAINEES TO BECOME AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS. Transport Canada - Air Traffic Services Pacific Region is accepting applications for air traffic controllers for the Vancouver Area Control Centre, Richmond, B.C. Information sessions on career opportunities as air traffic controllers will be held in English at the following locations: © Coquitlam, B.C., Best Western, Coquitlam Inn Convention Centre, 319 North Road, Salon ‘A’, on Tuesday, November 1, at 6:30 p.m. and © Vancouver, B.C., Hotel Georgia, 801 West Georgia Street, York Room, on Tuesday, November 1, at 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. © Chilliwack, B.C., Best Western, Rainbow Country Inn, 43971 Industrial Way, Vedder Room, on Wednesday, November 2, at 6:00 p.m. and e Richmond, B.C., Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel & Marina, 3500 Cessna Drive, Nonsuch Room, on Wednesday, November 2, at 6:30 p.m. and e Langley, B.C., Best Western, Langley City Motor Inn, 5978 Glover Road, Conference Room #1, on Thursday, November 3, at 6:00 p.m. and e North Vancouver, B.C., North Shore Winter Club, 1325 East Keith Road, Jim Graham Lounge, on Thursday, November 3, at 6:00 p.m. and QUALIFICATIONS e Have you successfully completed secondary school, or the equivalent? e Are you a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant? © Do you have normal colour perception and good eyesight? ¢ Do you have excellent hearing and diction? e Are you good at basic mathematics? e Are you willing to dedicate a period of time to a training program that entails hard work, study, and short-term relocation? If you've answered “yes” to these questions and are interested in receiving more information about a career as an air traffic controller, simply fill out the coupon below and either bring it to one of the presentations listed above or mail it by November 16, 1994, to: Transport Canada, Regional Staffing Officer, 800 Burrard Street, Suite 620, Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2J8. 5 (PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY) Transports Canada Aviation Address City/Town Province Tel.( ) Postal Code Name of newspaper in which this ad appeared Transport Canada is an equal opportunity employer. Canada ous Canada Customs is. We’ve been fighting [these guidelines] for years but the fact that [they change] two days before the court case shows they’ll do anything to maintain their power over “We wanted to make sure that our counsel was in the best possi- ble [position]” censorship,” Deva said. Still, he does not think the move by Canada Customs will undermine Little Sisters’ case. “We knew that anal penetration was the first to be removed, so our case didn’t hinge on anal penetration. Our case is much more encompassing than just arguing the validity of anal pen- etration.” Despite the changes, Canada Cus- toms will continue to discriminate against gay and lesbian material, said Deva. “We don’t consider it in any way a victory,” he said. Toshiya Kuwabara, an employee of Toronto’s Glad Day bookstore, which stocks gay and lesbian material, says Customs will use other parts of the guidelines to stop material destined for _the store. “Anal penetration is one excuse that Canada Customs can use for seiz- ing material. Now that this excuse is gone, they will use another,” Kuwabara said. The arbitrary nature by which cus- toms officials can apply the guidelines compounds the problem, he said. “Everything at the border is entirely at the discretion of Canada Customs.” Gentes-Hawn says, however, that Canada Customs, while not be- ing arbitrary, does have to exercise judgment at the border. “All law en- forcement has some sort of judgment attached,” she said. She added that Customs officials do not, nor will they, discriminate against gay and lesbian material. “The department makes every attempt to be fair and consistent and to look at all material in the same way,” Gentes-Hawn said. She said the homosexual com- munity only sees one side of the story and is not paying attention to the fact that heterosexual material is seized as well. , “They don’t see the material that leans towards the heterosexual com- munity that is stopped,” Gentes- Hawn said. Ski, party, chickens Ski club is holding a fundraising bash by Kenny Spittel “Yesterday.”, the bald-cigar- smoking-belly-sticking-out editor said with a smile, This could mean anything, but this time it means deadline! That puts my article in jeopardy; the interview was done 30 minutes ago and the picture in ten. So here we go: 1) Its the ski club, yes they do have snowboarders, it’s only a name. 2) Tom and Rob, They run the thing. 3) One buck gets you in. Then you can get Whistler tickets for $9.00 off (more mountains will be avaliable when the season starts.) 4) They’re holding a pub night at the Steel Monkey, Thursday Nov. 10th. Tickets are almost sold out. Tom is going to have to sell the tickets that are on hold if people don’t buy them soon (hint). 5) Why Go? Ski Babes (men and women) and alcohol are both going to be at This would be Tom Suder, President (he's single...) the bar. (That’s | worth it.) 6) They are selling chick- ens too. 7) Buy them. Great ice breaker for picking up the chicken seller. 8) Ihave said enough. Look at this picture. What a Babe (he’s single too.) The girls are twice as good. Toy Bank requires deposits Local organization helps poor children by Holly Keyes The Toy Bank is a local organiza- tion that receives donations of children’s clothing and toys, cleans and fixes them to look like new and gives them to the poor children of the area. The workers at the Toy Bank make sure that the cloth- ing is all stain free so the recipiants can feel proud and comfortable. Having moved recently from the building next to the firehall on Royal Ave. to the old Nixon's Bookstore on Co- lumbia St. the Toy Bank is a very local organization. The main objective is to provide children with clothes and toys that they may never otherwise aquire with the family's financial situation. New, store- bought toys are given to each registered child on his or her birthday. Young and expectant mothers are provided with layettes, maternity clothes and baby clothes. The Toy Bank is espe- cially interested in helping expectant high school students who may have no where else to receive these goods. The Toy Bank relieves some of the strain on Social Services by providing articles that don't have to be purchased with government money and providing emergency grants. Proof of low-income is required to become a registered member at the Toy _ Bank. The Other Press is hosting a dona- tion drive for the Toy Bank. Please drop off any and all new or old toys or chil- dren's clothing to the Other Press office in room 1020. We will be giving all arti- cles donated to the Toy Bank to help with the Christmas demand. Volunteers are welcome to go to the Bank and help the community. By C. Louis lverson The College Bookstore will have the following hours for the next few weeks: Friday Closures: Oct. 21,28 & from Nov. 4 to 9. The bookstore will re- open Nov. 10. Temporary Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday - Thursday The Bookstore will be closing on Fridays to allow for the installa- tion of updated accounting and cash register systems. The changes have It's Closed! Aaarggh!! Douglas College Bookstore under construction been in the works since 1990, with three years of research and investi- gation by Bookstore manager Linda Valecourt. The initial benefits will make ac- counting and inventory procedures easier and more accurate for the Bookstore staff, as well as other spin- off advantages. The problem of pil- ferage and theft can be more ad- equately controlled with the compu- ter systems. There is no word as of yet if this might translate into lower textbook prices. The new hardware will include cash registers equipped with UPC scanning wands, a mini-mainframe to catalog inventory, and a software package. Douglas College adminis- tration and Bookstore management has made efforts to incorporate equipment and hardware already uti- lized by the College. A long-term benefit of the up- grade will include better communi- cation and co-operation between the Bookstore and other College compu- ter systems.