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Articles by Abby J. Hansen
Is it really the damn phones?
Photos by Anjali Randhawa / The Cascade I come from a family of readers. Books have been a major part of my life for as long as I can remember. They have been a refuge in times when I needed strength, and a welcome distraction from the everyday stressors of life. They are a second home that I still cherish today. Considering this, it’s probably not surprising that I am extremely concerned about the literacy crisis.
Federal government pledges $100 million to Palestine
Screenshot via Oneindia News / YouTube On Tuesday, Sept. 22 at the 81 United Nations (UN) General assembly held in New York City, Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged to give $100 million CAD to help Palestine in an attempt to ensure “a durable peace for Israelis and Palestinians.” In his speech, Carney explained that of this money, $80 million is being allotted for humanitarian assistance.
The (He)Art of Gravity Falls
Interior artwork from The Art of Gravity Falls (Alex Hirsch and Rob Renzetti). © Disney; promotional image via Amazon. The year was 2012. On the TV, an animated gnome was barfing rainbows, and I was laughing so hard I was about to hurl myself. Four years later, I was crying in the lobby of my former music school as the same show’s series finale played on my phone. What could possibly inspire such a wide range of emotions?
Subscription hell’s exit is blocked by a paywall
Illustration by Hannah Bricknell / The Cascade It’s hard to find a person who is not subscribed to some sort of service — subscriptions have become a fundamental part of our lives. According to Made in Canada, nearly 90 per cent of Canadian adults rely on some form of online streaming and, on average, spend around 10 hours per week watching streamed content. But take a moment and ask yourself, how many subscriptions are you currently paying for? There’s a chance it’s more than you think.
Cascade Rewind: the cake is not a lie this time — Portal 2 turns 15!
Time to bake a cake and deploy some smooth jazz — Portal 2 (2011) has officially hit its 15th anniversary! Originally released in April 2011 by Valve Corporation, the developers had much to live up to. Its predecessor Portal(2007) was an unexpected phenomenon, now cemented as a modern classic. The sequel was highly anticipated, and safe to say, it lived up to the hype.
A word from a physical media enthusiast
Illustration by Iryna Presley / The Cascade I do not believe that physical media will ever die out. There will always be a need for it. Humans crave tangibility. The digitization of art and media has certainly made art easier to access, but physical books and film will always be necessary for archival purposes. In the era of streaming services run by multi-billion dollar corporations, the unchangeability of physical media becomes a shield. Scenes from stream-exclusive media can be cut.
Dolly Parton: the queen of kindness
Illustration by Thea Van Agteren / The Cascade When the passing of the iconic “Queen of Country” Dolly Parton was announced on Aug. 25, people of all walks of life shared their sympathies. From the Democratic Socialists of America hailing her a “hero of the working class” in an Instagram post, to United States president Donald J.
State of emergency declared over Summerland, B.C. wildfires
“Premier Eby visits Penticton-area communities affected by wildfires” by Province of British Columbia, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 On Thursday, Aug. 27, the Government of B.C. ended the provincial state of emergency which was initially declared due to the wildfires that have been raging through the province.
Hand-crafted art versus slop
Illustration by Thea Van Agteren / The Cascade Horror movies are taking centre stage this year, which is rather shocking considering that movie theatres are dead! At least, according to media conglomerates like Netflix’s co-CEO Ted Sarandos.
Canada to continue supplying IDF with weapons through U.S. loophole
On Mar. 11, Bill C-233, also referred to as the “No More Loopholes Act,” was defeated in the Canadian House of Commons by 295 to 22 votes. The bill was proposed by the New Democratic Party (NDP) on Sept. 19, 2025, and it aimed to close a loophole in the Export and Import Permits Act that enabled Canadian arms manufacturers to supply the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) with military goods by shipping them through Washington.
Unions are cool, and you can’t change my mind
I’m pretty inflexible in my pro-union stance. I believe all megacorporations and government bodies are inherently corrupt, and unions are self-defence against exploitation and ensure fair compensation for the working class. I’ve heard the critique that unions destroy the opportunity to “reward” workers with pay raises, and strip competitive people of their competition. Honestly, that seems like an easy price to pay.
Tumbler Ridge shooting in B.C. recap
Illustration by Natasha Zilcosky / The Cascade Dr. Irwin Cohen is a professor in the department of Criminology & Criminal Justice at the University of the Fraser Valley. The small town of Tumbler Ridge in Northeastern British Columbia faced an unprecedented tragedy on Feb. 10, when a mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Senior Secondary claimed the lives of eight people and injured 27. The deceased shooter was identified as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, but her motive is currently still unknown.
Pattison cancels warehouse sale to ICE as Vancouverites protest at Hootsuite HQ
On Jan. 30, 2025, Jim Pattison Developments cancelled the sale of its warehouse in Virginia to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after learning that the DHS planned to use it as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. This announcement came after days of public pressure from B.C. citizens and politicians, with many calling for boycotts of Pattison-owned companies.
Has Canada truly earned its kind reputation?
We’ve all heard the stereotype that Canadians are friendly people. It’s a narrative that has pervaded the mainstream. Our country is not only rated as the friendliest in the world by World Population Review, but we are also ranked first in global reputation by RepCore Nations in 2025. The United States-based non-profit Freedom House even rates Canada as the fifth freest country in the world.
Advocates and lawyers warn Bill C-12 may lead to government overreach
On Dec. 11, 2025 Bill C-12, Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, was passed by the federal parliament in the House of Commons. The bill was proposed on Oct. 8, 2025 by Canada’s Minister of Public Safety, Gary Anandasangaree. The press release claimed that the bill seeks to maintain and strengthen border safety. Bill C-12 will allow Canadian authorities to cancel visas, including work and study permits.
The heart says yes, but the wallet says no
Earlier this year, my friends and I wanted to go to FAN EXPO Vancouver together, but it did not work out, and I ultimately went alone. Although we all love nerd culture and conventions, going to FAN EXPO was simply too expensive. Being unable to do something fun with friends because of price barriers is a recurring problem that I’ve encountered over the past several years.
Badgers Get Vitamin D
The sun is now out and the weather is getting warmer. This means outdoor activities are an option. Here is a list of the top 5 activities to try with friends. The first activity is pickleball. Want to pick up a new sport but don't know what to do? Try pickleball. Like tennis, pickleball can be played with two or four people. Head to Ephraim sports park or the Activity Center and grab some friends to play with. The second activity Badgers can try is picnics.
Potting and Painting
The ‘Let it Grow’ activity was the start of Bye Bye Badger Week. The event gained much traction for all students either passing through or there to stay and paint. Students lined the tables placed in the plaza to choose a succulent. Another station on the grassy area near the plaza had a variety of paint colors that badgers could use to paint the pots for their new plants. All colors of the rainbow were set out for students to choose from. Badgers enjoyed a brownie and water during the event as well.
Spring Cleaning at Snow
Ariana Mastin getting a head start on her Spring cleaning. Photo by Lily Larsen. Have students ever wondered where to even start when cleaning a space? Spring is here which means a fresh start in a room, apartment, or dorm. Here are 5 ways to spring clean when it feels like the space needs decluttering from top to bottom. First, make different bins for “keep” and “get rid of” items.
Learn to Set SMART Goals
Making goals is an important step to accomplishing what someone wants. A goal can be anything that may take a little extra work to get done. SMART goals, a way to set a goal, is an acronym commonly used to make goals that are achievable. SMART goals start with “S” for specific, “M” for measurable, “A” for attainable, “R” for Relevant, and “T” for timely. Making a SMART goal starts with making it specific. A goal has to be something specific that students want to achieve.
Snow College's Adventure Program
Members of Snow College’s Outdoor Leadership Program radiate the joy and emotion they get from being in the outdoors. Photo courtesy of Snow College’s Outdoor Leadership Program. Love adventure and outdoor activities? Check out Snow College’s Outdoor Leadership and Entrepreneurship Program. There are different classes each semester like rock climbing, Introduction to Outdoor Leadership, kayaking, and backpacking. Badgers will get to go on adventures all over Utah.
Geocaching Around Snow College
Brooklyn Atkinson, Marylee Giddings, and Julie Wells exploring the many Geocaches hidden in Ephraim. Photo by Marylee Giddings Feeling bored? Grab a friend and go geocaching! Geocaching is a free and fun activity that any Badger can do, and has a community all over the world. First, get the Geocaching app on the app store for any phone.
Swipe for Soulmates on Dating Apps
Maddie Geldmacher swiping through tinder with friends to find a fun date. Photo by Savanah Orgill. Being lonely in a world full of rom-coms, sappy love stories, and hardly any attention from the preferred gender can be hard. That’s why dating apps have helped young adults find love. Dating apps are not only a great way to help meet people, but they can also potentially help students find a lover to spoil for Valentine's Day.
SPRING SPORTS TEAMS - ACGC and Riverside
ACGC Boys’ track: Griffen Ayers, Lance Bunde, Ashton Carrick, Tucker Carroll, Gavin Cornelison, Charlie Crawford, Justin Davis, Owen Dikla, Jacob Fox, Victor Gonzalez, Hogan Grubbs, Joseph Hayes, Cael Hoing, Payton Jacobe, Cayden Jensen, Miles Kading, Zander Kenyon, Austin Kunkle, Dane Lacey, Brock Littler, Andrew Mahaffey, Ben Marsh, Lucas Marsh, Jarrett McClain, Zach Moon and Dawson Muller.
The life of a controversial German war hero
By Michael Dirda | Washington Post As a teenager hungering for adventure, Ernst Jünger ran away from school in 1913 and joined the French Foreign Legion. His father eventually retrieved his delinquent child from North Africa, just in time for the 19-year-old to enlist in World War I. Over the next four years, Jünger would be wounded in action 14 times and, in 1918, be awarded the Pour le Mérite, Germany’s equivalent to our Medal of Honor. He remains the youngest man ever so honored.
The life of a controversial German war hero
By Michael Dirda | Washington Post As a teenager hungering for adventure, Ernst Jünger ran away from school in 1913 and joined the French Foreign Legion. His father eventually retrieved his delinquent child from North Africa, just in time for the 19-year-old to enlist in World War I. Over the next four years, Jünger would be wounded in action 14 times and, in 1918, be awarded the Pour le Mérite, Germany’s equivalent to our Medal of Honor. He remains the youngest man ever so honored.
A GERMAN OFFICER IN OCCUPIED PARIS
The wartime notes of a German officer and writer. In 1920, Jünger (1895-1998), who had emerged from World War I as a decorated hero, published Storm and Steel, recounting his experiences as exhilarating and the war itself as mythic.
A German Officer in Occupied Paris | Columbia University Press
Main Reviews Contents Excerpt Links Awards Ernst Jünger was one of twentieth-century Germany’s most important—and most controversial—writers. Decorated for bravery in World War I and the author of the acclaimed western front memoir Storm of Steel, he frankly depicted war’s horrors even as he extolled its glories.
A German Officer in Occupied Paris
ISBN: 9780231127417 496 Pages Format: Paperback List Price: $26.00£22.00 Purchasing options are not available in this country. ISBN: 9780231127400 496 Pages Format: Hardcover List Price: $42.00£35.00 Purchasing options are not available in this country. ISBN: 9780231548380 496 Pages Format: E-book List Price: $25.99£22.00 Main Reviews Contents Excerpt Links Awards Ernst Jünger was one of twentieth-century Germany’s most important—and most controversial—writers.
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