Over The Edge Page 4 ORIENTATION April 7, 1998 Live At The BBQ (IV) By Kevin Milos Apparently an over- whelming success, the fourth annual Northern Backyard Barbecue, produced by the Northern Undergraduate Student Society (NUGSS) had a full capacity crowd jumping and surfing. As usual, the beer gardens were packed, tickets were sold out and thanks to the clear night (there hasn’t been a rainy bar- becue yet) the concert was a full success. A five band showcase event, UNBC’s version of Art's county was a great deal for students, offering five bands, not to mention a full night of entertainment, for only fifteen dollars. After some initial obstacles trying to secure the headlining band, the event organizers were able to sign Calgary band Zuckerbaby, with the Orchid Highway, Touchtone Gurus, Smithers’ the Clumsy Lovers, and Resurrection Mary, respectively. While it was still light out and the crowd had yet to filter through the gates, Orchid Highway opened up with their Brit. pop psychedelic era beat to resurrect the sound of the Beatles, but with a taste of the nine- ty’s jammed in for the sake of our decades tastes. Now that people were starting to show up, and the grill was smokin’ for the sake of all with an appetite for fun, the Touchtone Gurus hurdled on to stage with a passion to deafen everyone. The stars were coming out and the stage lights were defining them- selves now. Beer was flowing freely by this time (free defined as four dollars a pint - you must eat first) and the crowd really started to get going to the enraged electric rock the Touchtone Gurus had to offer. Are they really gurus? No. But if they were, they would be playing right alongside Sonic Youth and crank- ing out some more tunes to remember. Does anyone remem- ber the Clumsy Lovers? They played at the Muckabout last year and © brought down the house then, apparently they can do it again. A ten piece band, with more instruments than there is time to progressively list off, their style is one that is either love it or hate it. Fortunately, the fun-lov- ing folk band pleased NUGSS as a Functional Society? Greetings, (That seems to be an awkward way to begin my letter, but it seems better than the normal saluta- tions of a business letter.) My wife and | are retired. We have been participat- ing in the University by taking courses and involving ourselves in the social life there since the campus first opened. We have watched as the University has become a valuable part of our com- munity and an important contributor to the culture of the Northern Interior. When the University was established, the founders had the wisdom to build-in the Northern Undergraduate Student Society to act as an advo- cate of and for the stu- dents. The NUGSS has the potential and, | would say, the obligation, to be an active participant in expressing to the University, our political representatives and the community the aspira- tions, needs and views of the undergraduate student body. | understand that the NUGSS is discussing your role in the University and to what extent you are to be a political body. | will make no bones about it: | see NUGSS as a political body. The description of the Society in the University Calendar Over The Edge welcomes all letters to the editor and attempts to print isis LO a Eee submission: a. _ Over The Edge reserves the right toedit ‘ _ for spelling, gratimar, content, withhold,” in whole ue ae 2 alte uy the” Editor. ae ety ‘concerned (page 230) is profoundly political. | cannot see-how the Society could fulfill the task of “facilitating) an awareness of the rights and views of each mem- ber of the Society and represent(ing) the con- cerns from their areas of study” without being a political body. Let me be clear on what | mean by “political” here. | do not think that any body within the University should become involved more than their fair share with an audible applaud leading to a timely encore. The crowd jumped, surfed, and generated more heat at its center than was comfortable, but in concert terms that means the audience was having a blast. Resurrection Mary. If you have ever listened to Noise Therapy, then you might be inclined to predict where they will be in a few years. The metallic grindings and frenzied sound of the Vancouver based band were a harsh change from The Clumsy Lovers but did anyone care? No way. The line up to get into the beer garden was out the door by this time. If there was any- one at this concert who wasn't under the influ- ence of something, then with any political party. Indeed, such involvement from within a body whose chief funding comes from governments would be suicidal in the long run. | think that NUGSS should be political in the sense that it should not be afraid to take a stand on issues whose resolutions are in the political arena. Taking a stand on contemporary issues and seeking to influence politicians of all parties is a function which | had yet to notice. The drawback to Resurrection Mary was the obvious state of their lead singer. Although his screaming occasion- ally drowned out the screaming of the electric Ressurection Mary Leads the Crowd into the Zuckerbaby -Photo by Dana Schwehr seems to be well within your mandate. Students have strong feelings on many issues (University tuition, the Multilateral Agreement on Investment, globalization of the economy, etc.) and the Society would seem to be a reasonable vehi- cle for them to express these feelings. If NUGSS denies its role as a “political” body, it rel- egates itself as an over- seer of clubs and renter Dusty Protest Lands Local Students Dear Editor: Two UNBC students were arrested’ early Friday morning, September 11th, on charges of mischief and obstruction for allegedly _ Chalking political graffiti on the Prince George . Civic Centre and sur- . The. rounding area.. chalk graffiti allegedity the’ right- wing organizing at the Civic Centre set to occur Friday, September 11th in the evening. We have heard that the students charged intend to fight the charges, claiming a right to free- dom of speech and a right to protest. Chalking has traditional- ly been used by activists “im protests and demon- strations to portray a message to the public. In the past year alone _ like chalking has been used at UBC during the APEC demonstration, at SFU Harbour Centre for a Free University protest, the Vancouver Public Library for a transgen- dered rally/march and even in the Fraser Valley against issues salmon habitat destruction and subur- ban sprawl. If indivduals would like to become involved in of lockers. | would think that you would aspire to more. And _ finally, if NUGSS denies a political role, it will be a matter of time before another body is created that will be political and which will not have the University man- date to keep it within stu- dents’ democratic control. Sincerely yours, James Loughery in Trouble the campaign to see these charges dropped please contact the PIRG office at 960-7474. The right to protest is a basic human right and a necessity in any democ- racy, we must not let: it fail in the face of right- Wing politics. PGPIRG