% Mi A J Election Mis-info se Social media has acted as a hot- spot for misinformation during the U.S presidential election. P2 Esports Injuries Virtual athletes often endure a variety of physical injuries from playing Esports. P2 Winter Cycle Despite colder weather, bike sales aren't slowing. Tune in on The Voice weekly podcast. PRODUCED BY LANGARA JOURNALISM STUDENTS | WWW.LANGARAVOICE.CA NOV. 19,2020 > VOL. 05 NO. 03 > VANCOUVER, B.C. Safety on Campus Recent assaults near campus doesnt leave students feeling unsafe By NORMAN GALIMSKI here have been two sexual assaults within blocks of Langara College, yet students feel safe being on college campus. The majority of students at Langara say they feel safe on campus, even those who were unaware of the safety programs and services that college security provides. Since the college has moved largely to remote learning, there have been fewer people on campus. Second-year art student Ysabelle Santa Ana said she thought campus security was doing a pretty good job overall. “It’s good. Pve never felt unsafe on campus,” she said. Daniel Ghoukassain has been charged with a sexual assault that occurred Oct. 19 on Main St. & 41 Ave. Ghoukassain is known to the police.Police said there was a similar sexual assault nearby a few days prior nearby. The investigation is still ongo- ing. Mario Kalinowski, the manager of security and emergency management, said the Langara campus security desk and security guards have been “busier in terms of giving access” on campus. “Things have definitely changed,” he said. In the event of a safety emer- gency on campus, Langara security partner Paladin Security would act as the first responders to the situation, Kalinowski said.Kalinowski said inci- dents that take place on campus and that affect the Langara community are “shared accordingly.” Some students, though satisfied with the level of safety on campus, still had suggestions on what they would like to see more of from campus secu- rity. Polina Tannenbaum, a second- year health science student, said she’d like to see a security text service on campus. “If you're not feeling safe and you didn’t want to pick up the phone to let them know,” she said, suggesting someone could instead text security. “Hey, I’m not feeling safe ... ’'m walk- ing here.” Langara campus security offers the Sate Walk service, where anyone can call security to escort to where you need to go. This can be done by contacting campus security, or using the blue emergency towers or yellow call stations. Timothy Seow, a second-year biol- ogy student, feels there should be more security features on campus, such as more cameras. The rising trend of mental health issues amongst students has been an increaing concern, with many experiencing increased stress due to the pandemic. (PHOTO ILLUSTRATION TAKEN BY CHARLIE CAREY) Mental Health Strategy The Langara 2025 Strategic Plan may need to adjust to increased demand By CHARLIE CAREY angara College is currently solidifying its 2025 Strate- gic Plan, which will aim to provide “effective emotional, physical, and mental well-being supports” for students and employees. The college has said it is currently in the consultation mode, leaving few details. Langara’s counselling chair Kerri Janota said the department would like to see continued “robust” support for the current counselling services staff, “to avoid any disruption or reduction in mental health support and program- ming for students.” Counselling department see’s noticeable differences amongst students since COVID-19 Though always highly solicited, the counselling department has been particularly stretched since the start of the pandemic, Janota said. “We have experienced an increase in appointments over the past few months,” she said in an email to The Voice, adding that November is typically the busiest time of year so students can expect to wait up to three weeks for an appointment. Janota said the student body has been “noticeably affected” by COVID-19. “Some of the issues that some of our students are struggling with are isola- tion, financial insecurity, concerns about their health or the health of friends and family, transition to online learning,” she said. “And in some Cases onset or exac- erbation of mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.” With no certainty when the global pandemic might end, the college may need to adapt its 2025 Strategic Plan to accommodate the current additional strain. As Langara College shut most services on campus due to COVID, the counselling department must now offer consultations over the phone. It SUBMITTED PHOTO is also providing extra access to online support groups. Experts say support for students is needed in campuses and beyond (counselling services) accessible.” — TANYSHA KLASSEN, B.C. FEDERATION OF STUDENTS CHAIRPERSON UBC psychology professor Benja- min Cheung said he has seen a similar increase in requests for support at the university. “I certainly have seen, at least subjec- tively, an uptick in the number of students who are needing support and who are expressing and experiencing distress.” “In an ideal world, we would have more publicly Cheung said it is an institution’s responsibility to provide sufficient support to students. He added the number of counselling appointments students make “is vastly dwarfed” by the number of students who actually need assistance. “At the very bare mini- mum, there needs to be a sufficient ratio of mental health support providers and students,” he said. “It’s all band-aid solutions before this point.” Tanysha Klassen, the Brit- ish Columbia Federation of Students chairperson, said, “There’s a balance that has to be struck with counselling services that happen on campuses.” However, Klassen noted counselling services are not meant to be an ongo- ing, wraparound mental health service. “Because, in an ideal world, we would have those more publicly acces- sible for people in their day to day lives,” they said.