Pros and cons of GMOs: In the March 19, 2001 issue of Nexus, we covered the subject of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). GMOs were becoming more well known and research was still being done on risks and benefits. Some people were immediately skeptical and concerned about these new foods, protesting that they were no longer natural and shouldn’t be given to people. Nexus writer Shane Berkholtz quoted a protester who had said, “Don’t force-feed us your Frankenfood!” People on the other side of this issue were fascinated by all the possibilities GMOs had to offer: higher yields of farmed crops, hybrid plants that are more resistant to famine, higher nutrient densities. Humans have always manipulated crops and livestock via selective breeding; now they were taking it a step further, into a biotechnology lab. Since 2001, there has been a lot of new developments in genetically modified vegetables; there’s still so much more that could be tweaked. Who knows what it will look like in another 25 years?
Mature students career fair: The idea of finding one set career path that you’ll follow for the rest of your life is completely unrealistic, but that still feels like how it’s supposed to be. Nexus writer June Holland wrote in this issue about a career fair that she and several other mature students attended when they arrived at Camosun later in life. Holland referred to this journey of self exploration as The Adventure of Being Alive and described how everyone had to dig down and ask themselves what they were passionate about and what their values were. Nowadays there are so many mature students at Camosun, and it’s well understood that a career is not a constant but an ever-evolving part of The Adventure of Life.
Indigenous protest at Sun Peaks: When MuchMusic planned on holding Snow Job, an annual winter concert series, at Sun Peaks in Kamloops, Indigenous groups protested the event. As we reported in this issue, they claimed that it was their land since the resort was set aside for exclusive Secwépemc use back in 1862, and the land continued to belong to them. Eventually, the protestors were cleared, but their activism certainly raised some awareness on issues regarding stolen Indigenous land.