October 1, 2008
2
OCD no laughing matter
I am in agreement with SheilaPorteous’ stance on the Obsessive-
Compulsive Discorder (OCD) action
figure being sold in the Camosunbookstore.The makers of this product may be “a group
of people who have obsessive compulsive traits,”but they have meshed the traits of the fun-loving,
anal-retentive neat freak with people who arecrippled by OCD.
Think of the psychological pain of late billion-
aire Howard Hughes, who is mentioned on the
back of the package as being a famous Obsessive
Compulsive (what an honour, eh?).
This item is a slap in the face to a person with
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. As someonewith OCD, I can attest to this.
The creators of this product claim to be quiteaware of the differences between being obsessive-
compulsive and having Obsessive-CompulsiveDisorder.However, I feel the OCD movement is notunderstood well enough by indiscriminate con-sumers who are able to look at this silly toy and
distinguish it from the man with the chapped and
bleeding hands from repeated washing, or thewoman with the illogical fear of catching AIDSin the most unlikely of places.This OCD action gure does poke fun at a
serious disorder and is just mocking people tryingto manage their OCD who are desperately trying
to get over the stigma that has been associatedwith this particular condition for far too long.
roger youNg
CAMOSUN STUDENT
Bookstore action-figure controversy continues
As a student of Camosun College, I am proud
of the fact that we are a diverse community thatis respectful of other cultures. However, I washighly offended and very disappointed to see aJesus action gure being sold in our bookstore.I witnessed another student at LansdowneCampus questioning the appropriateness of such an item being for sale and her comments
provoked jokes and laughter from the bookstore
staff.
I respect the fact that not everybody is a Chris-
tian, and not everybody believes in Jesus Christ.But in the same manner that other religionsbecome offended when their symbols or proph-ets are mocked, it is completely inappropriatefor the college to be selling such an item and Iwould like to see it removed from the bookstoreimmediately out of respect.
DArryL WiLsoN
CAMOSUN STUDENT
And the bookstore’s response . . . sort of
The Camosun College bookstore did notsend in a response by press time as they said
they would, but they did respond directly to some
of the students who lodged the action-figurecomplaints.
Thankfully, one of those students copied the
bookstore’s response to us.It reads, in part, “The bookstore puts a lot of effort into our buying decisions and we are nottrying to offend anyone. We try to have a very diverse product mix that appeals to a diversemarket. It is important to remember that thereis education in humor, and by humor I do notmean laughing or mocking.”—Gillian Mann,manager, Camosun College Bookstore
Nexus too hard on parking attendants
Publishing opinion pieces with glaringfactual errors brings into question the Nexus’quality control. After reading
Welcome to the [parking] jungle, baby!
in the Sept. 17 issue Iwant to know how in the world this article evermade it to print.Two unfounded claims exist in this piece.Scooters and motorcycles must pay for parking
just like cars. Secondly, the “ve-minute leeway”
has been in effect for years now.But I forgive the writer for not knowingthis—she admits being busy “[trying] to cheatthe system by attempting to keep a watchful eyeon that expired meter.”However, the real issue is not a student’suneducated opinion. Rather, I am upset thatNexus would have the nerve to print an article
that targets a group of people in such a threaten-
ing manner.The writer ings numerous insults at park-ing attendants and her opinion is meant to fuelhatred towards a group of people who already receive enough of it on the streets.
But my major contention is with Nexus. As a
Camosun College student, I am appalled Nexus
printed an article suggesting “parking attendantsshould be obliterated” and how “it wouldn’t take
much to bring them down” by insinuating they could be run over. Printing a hateful, insulting,and threatening article like this one certainly appears to be the making of a libel suit. I hopeNexus will apologize to its readers for allowingthis article to be published.
coLLeeN thoMPsoN
CAMOSUN STUDENT
[Ed. note—Scooters and motorbikes pay half price for parking and there is a ve-minutegrace period for all downtown meters. Metersshould blink for ve minutes before a parkingattendant can hand out a ticket. Nexus regretsthe errors.] With the Oct.14 federal electionsright around the cor-ner, many studentsseem to know little ornothing about them.
Canadian politics have always been,well, a bore, to say the least. There’s
hardly any trash talk, scandals, ormedia coverage, and the electionsare all over and done with in aboutone month.Many Canadians follow US
politics more than Canadian politics
due to the entertainment value and
the two-year media spotlight the US
candidates receive. All we’ve seen on the news andshows like
The Colbert Report
thepast two years have been ongoing jokes about George Bush, rumorsthat Hillary Clinton might actually have a penis, and sarcastic com-mentary on who will take over asUS president in November. We hate to say it, but this is thekind of election coverage that ap-peals to young adults.
If the election process in Canada
was drawn out more, we would get
to know the candidates more and see
their point of view without havingto research it all within a month.Because, let’s face it, a majority of young adults are students with
part-time jobs who don’t have time
for politics.
The Rick Mercer Report,
Can-ada’s version of
The Daily Show
or
The Colbert Report,
is a ray of hopewhen it comes to making politicsentertaining. Although Mercercovers quite a bit on Canadian pol-itics, he also focuses on Americansnot knowing anything about ourcountry.In one episode he travels downto Arkansas to ask some good folksabout Canada’s efforts to protectour national capitol building from
the effects of global warming. A for-mer governor offers his congratula-
tions on the efforts to preserve our“national igloo.”On an earlier episode, Mercerspoke with George Bush and con-
vinced him that our Prime Minister’s
name was “Jean Poutine.” With the majority of Canada’shighest rating television programs
coming from the United States, and
the Canadian-made ones having
some sort of tie-in to our neighbors,
it’s no wonder why young adultsknow little about our own politics. And the Americans don’t have aclue either. Although Canadian politicsmay be a bore and the election
process is fast, at least we’re gettingthings done quickly! What takes the
United States two years, Canadagets done in one month. That’spretty efcient.Let’s just hope our candidates
for the next federal election try hard-
er to distract us from our textbook
concentration with more entertain-
ing media coverage and personal
appearances. If we actually had MPscoming to our campuses and gettingto know students, maybe we would
give a damn. We hope our Canadian elec-tions feature story on pages 8–9will help to get students interestedin political issues and out to thevoting booths. Or, at the very least,provide some entertaining readingbetween classes.
Next publication date: Oct. 15, 2008Deadline: noon Oct. 8, 2008
Address: 3100 Foul Bay Rd., Victoria, BC,V8P 5J2Location: Lansdowne Richmond House 201Phone: 250-370-3591Email: nexus@nexusnewspaper.comWebsite: www.nexusnewspaper.comPublisher: Nexus Publishing Society
NEXUS PUBLISHING SOCIEY
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Kyla ernsKelly arioniz crthurhris al
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Jason chreurs
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aila Brown
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Breanna areyJason chreurs250-370-3593ampus lus 416-966-8811
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Guy laimolivia Bertranddrian Binakajourtney Broughtonhris Burnettlisha harmleyBreanna areyDaniel arranzaKait aversessa ogmanom owleraelina de Grassehristopher GillespieJared Gowenlexander JonesBrendan KerginDonald KennedyJen eercierKelly arioniz crthurhantelle usselllan iferhane cott-ravisJenna edmakhea milowskid umarlie an oyJustyne allace
he views and opinions expressed herein are thoseof the authors, not of the Nexus Publishing Society.One copy of Nexus is available per issue, per person.Nexus is printed on a mixture of 100 and 40percent recycled paper. Please recycle yourcopy. Tanks!
Editorial meetings
Come out to our weekly Nexus editorial meet-ings, where all Camosun students can getinvolved in their student newspaper. Meetingstake place every Tuesday at 11:30 am in theNexus ofce, Richmond House 201, Lansdowne.Call 370-3591 or e-mail nexus@nexusnews-paper.com for more information.
Send a letter
Nexus prints letters that are 250 words or lessin response to previous stories. Nexus reservesthe right to refuse publication of letters. Lettersmust include full name and student number (notprinted). Nexus accepts all letters by e-mail tonexus@nexusnewspaper.com
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L e t t e r s
Election schmelection... who cares?
If we actually had MPscoming to ourcampuses and gettingto know students,maybe we would givea damn.
This is Open Space, a forum for Camosun students to shareopinions and thoughts.Open Space accepts submissions from Camosun students.Submissions to Open Space should be 400 words or less.Responses to previous articles in Nexus should be 250words or less.
E-mail submissions tonexus@nexusnewspaper.com andinclude your name and student number.
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