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Election Mis-info Esports Injuries Winter Cycle

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PRODUCED BY LANGARA JOURNALISM STUDENTS | WWW.LANGARAVOICE.CA NOV. 19 , 2020 • VOL. 05 NO. 03 • VANCOUVER, B.C.

Safety
on
Campus
Recent assaults near
campus doesn't leave
students feeling unsafe
 By NORMAN GALIMSKI

T
here have been two sexual
assaults within blocks of
Langara College, yet students
feel safe being on college campus.
The majority of students at Langara
say they feel safe on campus, even
those who were unaware of the safety
programs and services that college
security provides. Since the college has
moved largely to remote learning, there
have been fewer people on campus.
Second-year art student Ysabelle
Santa Ana said she thought campus
security was doing a pretty good job
overall. “It’s good. I’ve never felt unsafe
on campus,” she said.
Daniel Ghoukassain has been
charged with a sexual assault that
occurred Oct. 19 on Main St. & 41
Ave. Ghoukassain is known to the
police.Police said there was a similar
sexual assault nearby a few days prior
nearby. The investigation is still ongo-
ing. The rising trend of mental health issues amongst students has been an increaing concern, with many experiencing increased stress due to the pandemic.
(PHOTO ILLUSTRATION TAKEN BY CHARLIE CAREY)
Mario Kalinowski, the manager of

Mental Health Strategy

security and emergency management,
said the Langara campus security desk
and security guards have been “busier
in terms of giving access” on campus.
“Things have definitely changed,”
he said. In the event of a safety emer-
gency on campus, Langara security

The Langara 2025 Strategic Plan may need to adjust to increased demand
partner Paladin Security would act as
the first responders to the situation,
Kalinowski said.Kalinowski said inci-
dents that take place on campus and  By CHARLIE CAREY The Voice, adding that November is is also providing extra access to online Cheung said it is an institution’s

that affect the Langara community are
“shared accordingly.”
Some students, though satisfied
with the level of safety on campus, still
had suggestions on what they would
like to see more of from campus secu-
rity. Polina Tannenbaum, a second-
year health science student, said she’d
like to see a security text service on
campus.
“If you’re not feeling safe and you
didn’t want to pick up the phone to
let them know,” she said, suggesting
someone could instead text security.
“Hey, I’m not feeling safe … I’m walk-
ing here.’”
Langara campus security offers
the Safe Walk service, where anyone
can call security to escort to where
you need to go. This can be done by
contacting campus security, or using
the blue emergency towers or yellow
call stations.
Timothy Seow, a second-year biol-
ogy student, feels there should be more
security features on campus, such as
more cameras.
L
angara College is currently
solidifying its 2025 Strate-
gic Plan, which will aim to
provide “effective emotional,
physical, and mental well-being
supports” for students and employees.
The college has said it is currently
in the consultation mode, leaving few
details.
Langara’s counselling chair Kerri
Janota said the department would like
to see continued “robust” support for
the current counselling services staff,
“to avoid any disruption or reduction
in mental health support and program-
ming for students.”
Counselling department see’s
noticeable differences amongst
students since COVID-19
Though always highly solicited,
the counselling department has been
particularly stretched since the start of
the pandemic, Janota said.
“We have experienced an increase
in appointments over the past few
months,” she said in an email to
typically the busiest time of year so support groups. responsibility to provide sufficient
students can expect to wait up to three Experts say support for students is support to students. He added the
weeks for an appointment. Janota said needed in campuses and beyond number of counselling appointments
the student body has been students make “is vastly
“noticeably affected” by dwarfed” by the number of
COVID-19.
“Some of the issues that “In an ideal world, students who actually need
assistance.
some of our students are we would have “At the very bare mini-
struggling with are isola- mum, there needs to be a
tion, financial insecurity, (counselling sufficient ratio of mental
concerns about their health health support providers
or the health of friends and services) and students,” he said. “It’s
family, transition to online more publicly all band-aid solutions before
learning,” she said. “And in this point.”
some cases onset or exac- SUBMITTED PHOTO accessible.” Tanysha Klassen, the Brit-
erbation of mental health — TANYSHA KLASSEN, B.C. FEDERATION OF ish Columbia Federation of
issues such as anxiety and STUDENTS CHAIRPERSON Students chairperson, said,
depression.” “There’s a balance that has
With no certainty when the global UBC psychology professor Benja- to be struck with counselling services
pandemic might end, the college may min Cheung said he has seen a similar that happen on campuses.”
need to adapt its 2025 Strategic Plan to increase in requests for support at the However, Klassen noted counselling
accommodate the current additional university. services are not meant to be an ongo-
strain. “I certainly have seen, at least subjec- ing, wraparound mental health service.
As Langara College shut most tively, an uptick in the number of “Because, in an ideal world, we
services on campus due to COVID, students who are needing support and would have those more publicly acces-
the counselling department must now who are expressing and experiencing sible for people in their day to day
offer consultations over the phone. It distress.” lives,” they said.
 Life&living
The constant refreshing of feeds and election news dominated most students' time during the U.S. elections earlier this month. COURTESY PHOTO
Social media feeds
Twitter, Instagram and Facebook often spread misinformation to youth
 By TYSON BURROWS
L
angara second-year busi-
ness management student
Kordan Do tries to avoid
social media when it comes
to the news.
Social media websites like Twitter
has begun marking claims of elec-
tion fraud as disputed in an attempt
to caution against the spread of disin-
formation. Despite the concern, many
students still turn to social media to
inform themselves.
“There are tons of misleading state-
ments and misinformation [on social
media],” said Do. “[It] drive[s] me
crazy.”
Paul Prosperi, a political science
instructor at Langara College, encour-
ages students to go beyond Twitter
and Facebook feeds when looking for
information regarding the news.
Virtual life can lead to physical injuries
Esports players
can face similar
health concerns
as traditional
sport athletes
 By CAROLINE EGAN
P
laying video games for hours on
end can be a great form of enter-
tainment during a pandemic,
but sitting down for extended periods
of time comes at a physical cost.
The former president of SFU
Esports Association, Derian Chow,
EDITOR LUCAS JORNITZ | THURSDAY, NOV. 19, 2020 | THE VOICE 2
CLAY BANKS ON UNSPLASH
rotten news
“They’re just using social media as a makes news more easily accessi- student Lindsay Stone feels as if social
way of finding out about […] the elec- ble but understands that it comes media narrows the scope of the infor- FAKE NEWS IN CANADA
tion and the counting,” Prosperi said. with problems. mation she receives. MAJORITY ARE WORRIED
“I would encourage people to check “On the whole, I know that I’m “I don’t even expose myself to
out some of the news sites, dive a little getting most of my news from the what anyone on the polar end of scale
deeper, beyond their social reads,” Stone said. “I don’t
65%
media feeds.” even know what their point
Prosperi highlighted news
“I would encourage of view is.”
and analysis site FiveThir- people to check out Both Crowley and Stone
tyEight as a “great resource” some of the news said that they tend to trust
and alternative for “some the sources that they follow
fantastic analysis that is
sites, dive a little and that they are more likely
...of Canadians have falsely
believed fake news.
being done in real time.” deeper, beyond their to fact-check information
Langara second-year envi- social media feeds.” that doesn’t necessarily
ronmental studies student agree with their positions.
87%
— PAUL PROSPERI
Emily Crowley has “been SUBMITTED PHOTO POLITICAL SCIENCE INSTRUCTOR But in the case of the
following the U.S. elec- 2020 U.S. election, Crowley
tion pretty closely.” Despite trying to sources I want to follow,” Crowley said she was surprised by the results.
balance her sources of information, said. “I tend to follow more liberal, “I was like is this real? Is it actually
she finds that she still spends more left-wing people, so that’s the opin- going well? So even the news that was ...of Canadians are not confident
time on social media than on news ion of everything that I’m getting.” giving me what I wanted to hear, I was in their ability to identify fake news.
websites. Similarly, Langara second-year still not one hundred per cent trusting
SOURCE: STATISTA.COM
Crowley thinks that social media library and information technology of it right away.”
has dealt with carpal tunnel, back and apist at Metrotown Physiotherapy to get up and move every day to help
neck problems as a competitive player. Clinic and coach of Langara’s men’s maintain their physical health. The
14 hours, not moving my legs. Just
posture and probably exercising would
“Carpal, I feel like, is the more soccer team, said he sees esports play- most common types of issues are back- help,” Than said.
important one, since some related injuries and carpal Aside from competing in League
people overlook the impor- “If you're stressed tunnel syndrome. of Legends, Than also participates in
tance of proper hand and
wrist placement, as well as out and you go for a
Rizzardo said mental
health is also important
rock-climbing and ultimate Frisbee.
He said being physical and getting
how long you're playing per
session,” Chow said.
run, all of a sudden, and emphasizes this with
the athletes he works with.
outside helps his performance in
League of Legends.
you're feeling
Other things like appro-
priate desk heights and better.”
"I think the mental aspect
is a huge component for us
With all the reasons to stay inside,
gaming and other forms of indoor
adjustable monitors are — MARC RIZZARDO every year. I try and make entertainment can prove to be a release.
beneficial as well. PHYSIOTHERAPIST AND LANGARA MENS sure I’m aware [of their With that, however, it is important to
SOCCER COACH
Staying physically active SUBMITTED PHOTO mental health].” remember to go out and get some exer-
can help players rehabilitate Maung Maung Than, a cise, especially in these stressful times.
and provide stress relief, but taking ers come in for treatment all the time. third-year biology student at Langara “If you're stressed out and you go
preventative measures is the best way “I see them in my office because of and competitive esports player, said for a run, all of a sudden, you're feeling
to help players perform and stay in their posture and their back,” Rizzardo he likes to balance his life with video better.” Rizzardo said. "I think most
good shape. said. games and physical activity. people get that especially the people
Marc Rizzardo, a sports physiother- He said it’s important for people “The main thing is sitting here for that do it."