Are you there, God? It’s me, a Camosun student: In a decade where Nirvana and Radiohead ruled supreme, God was an antiquated square. As such, the general religious landscape was undergoing major transformations. Camosun students had lots to say on the subject in our October 4, 1999 issue. Writer Sandra D. Pearce covered the changing views toward Paganism, newly embraced by the Camosun community. The Thorn & Oak Pagan club explored traditions of witchcraft and Wicca, gathering members for rituals of tarot, herbalism, and aura readings. Writer Wendi Davies expressed her own relationship with Him, diving into who God is, and emerging to the surface with a definition so satisfactory it reinstated her faith.
Hack the planet: As films like Hackers, The Matrix, and The Net established in the digital zeitgeist of the ’90s, computer viruses were the highest threat to mankind. It was not irregular for multi-coloured letters and numbers to explode against the searing screen in a frenzy, tapping into mainframes and so on. It was only a matter of time that these ceaseless viruses invaded Camosun. In this issue, an article written by Wanda Friessen claims that Camosun’s Computing Services was plagued with numerous concerns of new viruses every week. Luckily, the college was not dealing with Crash Override. Pesky viruses troubling campus computers were “simply a hoax, created by amateur virus-creating wanna-bes,” said Computer Services technical support consultant Tim Smoljanovic. Close one!
Who to expect when you’re expecting: Childbirth—the most painful thing one can experience, they say. Although I’ve never experienced the phenomenon, I believe the remedy is just under our noses: a second-year Camosun Nursing student watching the entire process. During October 1999, we covered the search for 60 expecting families to give students an in-depth look at the miracle of life. The Childbearing Family Project also offered student company during doctor’s visits, diagnostic testing, and prenatal classes. It’s a nice sentiment, but looking after one youngster might just be sufficient.