hae aS Se EDITORIAL Welcome to the last issue of the semester, folks. Amidst late assignments, failed exams, and sleepless nights, we here at the OP wanted to do something special for this issue. We didn’t, however, just want to regurgitate the usual Holiday Cheer stuff, ‘cos you’ Il get plenty of chances to see that. Thus it was borne - the Non-Religiously-Associated- Commercial-Gift-Giving-Holiday Issue. It was conceived on a rusty couch, and perceived to be an accident. Seriously, it was originally thought to be a comment on the societal decay involved in this mercantile season. Society, in effect, taking a neat little concept (and there are so few) from the Christian faith, raping it, and packaging it as a marketable, packageable commodity. You be the judge; did we end up with what we aimed to get? If so, pardon the use, hallelujah! If not, well, there’s always next year. In other stuff, the DCSS is currently involved in an impeachment of one of their executive. This is not something that happens every day; something big is shaking down. Listen to this. The official ‘Impeachment Meeting’ was supposed to take place during a regularly scheduled DCSS meeting, here on campus, on a Wednesday afternoon. These meetings are open for any and every student to attend if they so desire, so that anyone can know what is happening with their governing body. For some reason, they voted to postpone the proceedings until another meeting. It just so happens, that meeting is during the DCSS retreat, which is decidedly inconvenient, and expensive, for students to attend. In fact, it’s being held on Bowen Island, on a weekend. It seems a little odd that the students the DCSS represents are not being given a fair chance to witness something as pivotal as the impeachment of one of its’ representatives. We hope there’s a good explanation why this decision was made. We sincerely hope that this was an oversight, or there’s a just, good reason why we’re being shut out of this event. If not, however, then something - somewhere - just isn’t smelling kosher. Douglas CollegeStudentNews The Other Press is Douglas College's (DC) autonomous student newspaper, around, kicking and screaming since 1976. Published by the Other Publications Society, a collective of DC students, we aim to be the foremost medium of student communication on campus. Our mandate is to provide the students of Douglas College with news and information with on-campus, local, provincial, national and global perspectives. The Other Press is a member of the Canadian University Press, a national union of student newspapers across Canada, and we adhere to its Statement of Principles and Constitution. We encourage submissions from all readers, including students, faculty, DC staff and the public. We'd love for you to join us down here in the basement for all the fun we get into. Drop us a line or just step right on in: The Other Press, Room 1020 - 700 Royal Ave, Douglas College, New Westminster, B.C., Canada V3L 5B2, Tele (604) 525-3542, Fax (604) 527-5095 COORDINATING STAFF Production + Jason Kurylo News - Ken Spittel Sports - Candice Lee Arts&Entertainment + Trent Ernst Photography - Zeebo Features - Holly Keyes Editorial & Opinion - Ronnie Bains (on holiday this ish...Jason acting) Graphics - Daniela Zanatta Creative - Jyoti Kapdee Distribution - Paul Andrew CONTRIBUTORS Mishondra, Elaine Leong, Mike Stiegelmar, Naleena Gounder, Bert C. Ennah, Niki Townsend, Marnie Kurylo, Feargal Sharkey, Tammy Coombes, Jim Irving, Byrun Steadmann, Mattitiyahu Subotnick, Rebecca Watkin, Chad Iverson, Sean P. Veley, Mike Mountain, Carol Feinder, Charlotte Holst EMPLOYEES Advertising & Accounting - Marion Drakos Production Resource « Scott Simmer Editorial Resource - Angela Chiotakos Subotnick The Other Press See So there... A response to a letter appearing in the November 2 Other Press... To Shad Brooks (Can’t say dear; could think of a couple other descriptive words) Regarding your letter to the editor discussing capital punishment: You describe people who commit horrendous and brutal murders as usually paranoid-schizophrenic- incurable fuck-ups. I would like to disagree. As a psychiatric nursing student, I have read numerous studies stating the opposite - people suffering from paranoid schizophrenia have a statistically lower rate of violence against others, compared to the general population. One would hope that you at least research your school work a little more. As to your next statement, that “their lives are miserable, why not end them,” I would like to answer that as a person with a family member suffering from schizophrenia, I can attest to the fact he is an extremely valuable member of society. He has many close friends that he enjoys participating in activities with. He shows caring toward others in ways that are becoming very uncommon today - ie: On his very limited budget he will buy milk for a neighbour who doesn’t have enough for her baby; seeing an old person pushing a heavy grocery cart up the hills of New Westminster he will go out of his way to offer to push it home for them; knows popcorn is my favorite food so if I’m coming over on a break will have some ready for me, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc!! Of course some parts of his life are troublesome. While he is extremely intelligent in many matters, he has difficulty in some day-to-day needs - driving a car, some times reading (due to side effects of medication) holding a steady job (due to an inability to concentrate sometimes) etc. Worst of all are the effects of preconceived ideas of ignorant idiots who simply spew words without thinking (I didn’t have anyone in particular in mind. Really.) THE SMURF WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS buy you coffee.) we want to know about it. Try words. and depending on spice Thinking before you speak is a real positive.Thinking before you get something down in print is an even better attribute. Sincerely Dawn Petras So, you mean, if we work for it...? Dear, Ms. Townsend, This is in reply to your article “Taking a bite out of the big bad system” on October 19. Until quite recently, I have assumed that A+’s were virtually impossible to receive. This is not going to be a “brag about my academic standing’’, because I am not an “A” student, but just an average “B/B+” one. If you asked me a month ago if it was possible to get an “A+” on an essay, I would have laughed in your face. But not any more. I have since then received an “A+” on my first philosophy 250 paper. My instructor for this class is extraordinary. He is one of the best teachers I have had at Douglas, nevermind, in my life. He cares about his students: he listens to them, and tries to give constructive criticism and encouragement. Each class is great because he makes the material so interesting, and doesn’t drone off like so many of the instructors here. No, he’s not the type to let his students freeload off of him. Heis quite demanding and challenging. The Highest marks I have ever received are “A-”’s and “A”’s, so when I received this “A+”, I was totally blown away. So yes, Niki, there really is a thing called an “A+”. Yours truly, Vivienne Wong Ut Business Admin. Student 3 cheers for Holly Dear Holly, Iam very glad to see “Walking the Razor’s Edge” in the “the Other Press” newspaper. It is great to make public awareness of this cruelty right in front 2 first time 2 we print z 7 one of g your * cartoons, § Jason will We want your letters. If you've got something to say Nie eeetia November 30, 1994 Hey! The OP needs cartoonists! If you can draw, or if you've just got a wicked way with humour and stick figures, come on down to room 1020. We'd love to hear from you. (And the ‘ oem tS hk e RAS ae The Other Press Room 1020 - 700 Royal Ave Douglas College New West, B.C. V3L 5B2 oe aterm) of our nose. Please carry on writing about this topic or related topics on cruelty on animals. ’ Thank You, Computer Science Student Jamil Majlesi Holly: one for, one against... but who's counting? Dear Other Press, This letter is in response to the dissection feature in the November 16 issue. I found that the “live and let live”, cons of dissection article, by Holly Keyes, was almost as scalpel-happy as the bloodthirsty pro-dissection article. She seemed to suggest that dissection was an acceptable practice, as long as it was not done by first year students. She maintains the anthro- pocentric ideal that all species are ours to use and abuse. Both the pro and con articles imply that discoveries can be made that can be applied to benefit human (not so) kind through animal experimentation and’ dissection. Animal experimentation is a complete sham, as it is impossible to re- create naturally occuring diseases in a test subject because once it as been re- created, it is no longer the original naturally occuring disease. Animals are totally different genetically, his- tologically, anatomically, physio- logically, immunologically, emo- tionally, psychologically, sexually, and socially. Likewise they also react differnetly to drugs and vaccines than humans do. On top of all this, what gives us the right to inflict suffering and death upon animals for any benefit? Would the same practice that Carolina Supply uses be acceptable on humans? Does holding a woman captive, raping her whenever she is capable of having children, aborting the fetus late Letters continued on page 4. Read on, man...