The Peak Election Special 2016

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FIRST PEEK

Picture your Monday morning. You drag yourself out of bed, question whether you really need this university degree (as per routine), and grudgingly prepare for your day. If you’re like most SFU students, you rush out your door to catch the bus or SkyTrain for your morning commute. And, more often than not, you run right into a friend or classmate.

SFU is notorious for its commuter culture. Going to a university where the majority of students disperse after class as they must endure a significant transit journey to and from school each day really puts a damper on organized social gatherings. Put another way: rainy 6 a.m. bus rides and standing for an hour on the SkyTrain have not helped defend our university against claims of being ‘anti-social’ and ‘depressing.’ But I have to disagree wholeheartedly.

Firstly, I admit that SFU’s culture of commuting is incredibly convenient for me. Living independently is currently out of my financial capacity, and if I had attended a different post-secondary

institution that wasn’t so keen on commuting, I’d be the sad, lone student commuting by my lonesome, day in and day out.

Instead, at SFU, I find myself surrounded with peers in the same situation. The common question then becomes not “what dorm do you live in?” but rather “what bus do you take down the mountain?” And in the year that I’ve been asking and answering that question, I’ve gotten to know a lot more people through commuting together than sitting in lecture.

At first I’d inwardly groan or dread the upcoming awkward encounter when running into a casual acquaintance on the bus with whom I’d only really ever exchanged a few words in lecture.

However, the multiple meaningful friendships that have arisen out of those seemingly tedious morning encounters have since made me a more social and cheerful member of the student body in the wee hours of the morning.

Morning commutes spent relaying your nonsensical dreams whilst still bleary-eyed turn into a morning coffee run, then a morning sprint to the math class for which you are now officially late. An evening train ride home as you discuss the hilarity or tedious quality of your day effortlessly results in a sushi dinner with friends. For me, transit

March 14, 2016

has only served to enhance, not quell, the unpredictability of university life, and truly emphasizes the notion that meaningful and enjoyable experiences can really be found anywhere.

And even if you’re left taking transit alone on a cold and dreary Thursday evening, a solitary, forced break in your day is not necessarily a bad thing. I had one friend remark that he finds his bus rides peaceful: they give him time to just look out the window and think. Another friend of mine swears that, if it weren’t for the hour break from school that transit forces her to take, she’d never be able to read fiction anymore, a hobby she greatly enjoys.

Our commuter culture, though it may brand us antisocial, is just that: a part of our culture. For me, it’s become a part of attending SFU, a routine in my day. Some days I find myself cursing my wretched fate as I shiver while waiting at the upper bus loop for the 145, but most days I genuinely appreciate the time I get to chat with unlikely friends I never would have bumped into otherwise.

For better or worse, our commuter culture is just another aspect that sets SFU apart from other universities, and something that will always be inextricably linked to my time here.

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NEWS

March 14, 2016

news editor email

Jamal Dumas news@the-peak.ca

associate news editor Nathan Ross

The March edition of Reel Causes will be taking place this week on March 17, with the film Siddharth being screened alongside the photo exhibit Betrayed: Portraits of Strength.

Siddharth is based on the true story of an Indian man who travelled across India in pursuit of his lost son, and Betrayed is a photo exhibit about human trafficking. Tickets are $15 for regular members, $5 for premium members.

women’s centre, and establishing a men’s centre, a controversial proposal that has been debated on campus for several years.

“The SFSS, although a wonderful organisation, has failed to do its job in connecting with students,” said Alam Khera, a candidate for the position of At-Large Representative.

Throughout the first debate in this year’s election for the SFSS Board of Directors, many candidates also stressed the need to engage students and suggested their own ideas for how to do so.

At-Large Representative is the most competitive race of the entire SFSS election, with five candidates running for two positions. When asked about their feelings on it by current VP Student Services Darwin Binesh, all five candidates notably supported the Build SFU project.

Binesh called it the “biggest project in the student society’s history.”

Candidates differed on what their main focus would be as an AtLarge Representative. While candidates Jaggy Kullar and Alam Khera stressed the need to listen with and engage with Departmental Student Unions (DSUs), Paul Hans argued that this might be impractical considering there are 73 DSUs [The Peak was only able to account for 53]. Candidate Moein Sharifi Moghaddam explained his main focus would be increasing awareness about the services already offered to students, supporting the

Khera questioned Hans on the promises he made when he ran for senator, such as increasing student engagement and decreasing the commuting time from Surrey. Said Hans, “If you just look at the election, sure, engagement has gone down,” adding that he did not call for reducing commuting time but instead advocating for transit services, which he argues he did by addressing pass-ups with the 145.

Alan Lee, a candidate for Applied Science Representative, asked competitor Prashant Verma about concerns that Surrey students were left out of the process out of the process of approving Build SFU. Verma argued that while there was a need for greater engagement with Surrey and Vancouver students, Surrey students will benefit from the project still and the project will make the university more competitive.

Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) Representative candidate Blossom Malhan asked rival Erwin Kwok how he would increase voter turnout in the FASS, given the importance of getting enough voters to pass the referendum questions. Kwok said he would use social media and liaise with DSUs, noting his own time

with Criminology student association. Kwok shot back with a question about Malhan’s absences when she was appointed to the Events Committee. Malhan replied that she withdrew from the committee because she didn’t have enough time: “I didn’t want to do something where I knew I couldn’t be there and it would be just for show.”

Jimmy Dhesa, a candidate for Science Representative, questioned his fellow candidate Tomas Rapaport about his success as a third year representative on the Science Undergraduate Society (SUS). Said Dhesa, “Since your term in the position the involvement of science students has decreased. [. . .] Since you

were unable to complete the fundamental and simple role of your position, how can students trust you to take on many other roles as a science representative?”

Rapaport called the premise of the question “false” and argued that he has increased participation in the SUS, citing 16 candidates running for 11 positions when there were six candidates the year before.

Dhesa said that while there was an increase, it was “not significant.”

All other Faculty representative positions had candidates running unopposed, except for the Environment Representative, for which no one is running. Notable highlights from uncontested seats include Education Representative candidate John Ragone speaking to his wish to create a faculty student union for Education instead of the current

On March 15, the final chapter of SFU’s 50th Anniversary Speaker Series will be taking place at Segal Room 1400 at the Vancouver campus. The evening is titled In Conversation with Anne Giardini: Women, Power, and Tools for Change.

Giardini will be talking about her experiences as a lawyer, business executive, and community leader while discussing issues and stigmas surrounding the relationship women and power in North America.

departmental student union, considering that Education is a faculty.

Health Sciences Representative candidate Raajan Garcha said that she would divert money from “unnecessary funds” to create more faculty scholarships, increase social events for Health Science students, and named mental health as a particular concern for her.

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NEWS

March 14, 2016

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The Academic Integrity and Good Conduct Office presented their annual incident report, covering the period from September of 2014 to August of 2015.

This report revealed that overall incidents involving student conduct decreased by roughly 33 percent, and “Damage, Destruction, and Theft” down by 78 percent from the year prior.

Student Conduct Coordinator Dean Diamond also stated that approximately two thirds of all reports that came to the office that year were deemed to not have been a breach of student conduct.

“Faculty, Students, and Staff of Simon Fraser University urge the Vice Chancellor of JNU to uphold the institutional autonomy and the democratic rights of the student community,” reads the title of an online petition started by SFU’s Director of Humanities, Samir Gandesha.

Dr. Gandesha created the petition in response to the recent arrests of students in Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India, on accounts of sedition (a charge involving speech provoking others to rebel against the state).

According to The New York Times , an on-campus rally on February 9 ended with the arrest of the president of JNU’s student union, Kanhaiya Kumar.

The rally was calling into question the trial and execution of Afzal Guru, a participant in a 2001 terrorist attack on India’s Parliament.

The issue further escalated when lawyers and supporters of the BJP, the party currently in power in the Indian government, assaulted students and journalists at the scene of Mr. Kumar’s hearing

on the basis of their supposed anti-nationalism.

In regards to the events that transpired, Dr. Gandesha told The Peak that this incident speaks to a “much larger problem in the Indian state, certain elements with the Indian institution, [that are] not prepared to accept points of view they disagree with.”

The concept of sedition is one that is strongly propagated by the current Indian government, something which Dr. Gandesha found particularly troubling: “[The charge of sedition] is being used by the government to deal with any kind of dissent that the government doesn’t wish to see or doesn’t like.”

Dr. Gandesha’s petition stands alongside similar petitions and protests internationally. Once the students were taken into custody at JNU, the twitter handle #StandwithJNU began trending as various academics and intellectuals internationally began to stand in solidarity with the students.

When asked why he started the

petition, Dr. Gandesha said, “The more this action is condemned by the international community, and not just by Indians living in India, the more pressure will be brought to bear on the Indian government, including the courts, to address this case impartially and according to the rule of law.”

So far, the condemnation of the international community has been proven effective, as the JNSU president, Kanhaiya Kumar, was recently released on bail.

However, other students arrested at the time still remain in jail. The petition for SFU students has a goal of 1,000 signatures, and at the time of publication has reached 179.

Dr. Gandesha hopes his petition will prompt the SFU community to “think about what is happening in India in relation to what is happening in Canada,” citing Bill C-51 as an example. “[Bill C-51] has been criticized by the BC Civil Liberties Association for criminalizing dissent. And this is exactly what’s going on in India — there’s a criminalization of dissent.”

Dr. Gandesha also emphasized the international implications of this pattern of suppression

occurring currently in India: “We need to see this attack on civil liberties, academic freedom, freedom of expression as part of a worldwide pattern, a global pattern.

It has to do with global spread of neoliberal policies.”

SFU’s various strategic ties further link SFU students to the country and its controversial current affairs.

Recent advancements in SFU’s relationship with India include our partnership with Ryerson University and the Bombay Exchange Institute to develop an incubator and accelerator program in India in January 2014, as well as the expansion in the relationship between SFU and Indian Oil Corp.

Ltd. in fuel cell technology research in October 2014.

The university commented on SFU’s increasing links towards India in the face of the current events concerning academic freedom of speech in the country, in a statement sent to The Peak: “The current situation at JNU is concerning and is quickly evolving. SFU is committed to intellectual and academic freedom. We respect and protect the right to free speech [. . .]”

“Why should we have ties to a country where academic freedom doesn’t mean anything?” questioned Dr. Gandesha.

“We expect our students to be safe, even when they speak out and say things we necessarily may not agree with. We have to expect that from all universities we partner with. That, to me, is a given. And it’s a question of human rights.”

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) has a target headcount of 2,675 new students this fall; however, predicted intake is only at 2,160, which is approximately 20 percent short of their goal.

As the 2016 enrollment plan currently stands, incoming freshmen are required to average 80 percent in high school, and transfer students must have a 2.5 GPA. The Faculty’s Dean, Dr. Jane Pulkingham, explained that they would not decrease the standards for students.

Simon Fraser University international students currently represent 17.6 percent of the overall undergrad student population. The university’s goal is to increase this percentage to 20 percent in coming years, while simultaneously decreasing the number of domestic students so as to keep the overall student body number constant.

With this increase in international students will come an increase in tuition for them as well, in order to compensate for the stress on resources (such as English as Second Language programs, etc.) that international students create.

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March 14, 2016

DEBATE RECAP

BOARD SHORTS Notes from the latest SFSS board of directors meeting

Hi F.I.V.E. Expansion The Hi F.I.V.E. Movement for Mental Health recently submitted a proposal to become a department of the SFSS. The group is currently in correspondence with members of the board regarding matters such as what they envision the “bigger picture” to be, what sort of support they would hypothetically require, what their capacity would be, etc. With the conversation still underway, the board hopes to be able to discuss with more information available at the next meeting.

Lisa Dimyadi / The Peak Lisa Dimyadi / The Peak

Nathan Ross Associate News Editor “I kind of expected there would be a lot more people up here,” remarked Simon Fraser Student Society presidential candidate Darien Lechner during his opening statement. He wasn’t the only one.

After an intense debate at last year’s Burnaby campus debates for those running for executive positions, including president and vice president positions, no one candidate was able to stand apart as a clear front-runner in a debate that took much less time than was budgeted for.

The afternoon was a low-energy question-and-answer period, with nine candidates jostling for six positions. Three of the positions (VP Student Life, VP Student Services, and VP University Relations) were uncontested, helping to contribute to the lack of debating between candidates.

There was only one slate, Connected, with members running in executive positions. Anyone else running was doing so as an independent.

VP External Relations – Archit Bansal vs. Christine Dyson (Connected) In their opening statements, Bansal indicated his intentions to

focus on open textbooks and lowering student fees, while Dyson chose not to mention specifics.

Bansal argued that it was time for fresh faces on the board, springboarding off of members from the audience who questioned having continuity from current board members remaining board members.

Dyson responded by stating that she is currently working with open textbooks, an initiative which Bansal says he wants to get started with.

said answering how he felt the SFSS manages money. “The budget is created by the board before the new board is elected, and that’s not the way to go.”

He mentioned the desire to create something he called “The Opportunity Budget” which focused on incoming board members sitting down and determining a new budget that would reflect student wants and needs.

VP Student Life – Curtis Pooghkay (Connected) Running uncontested, Curtis Pooghkay touted his ideas, which consisted of building engagement across all the campuses, and eliminating the idea of SFU being a “commuter campus,” wanting students to want to come here for more than just classes and go home.

VP Student Services – Larissa Chen (Connected) Chen highlighted her student desire to have services be more accessible in person, and pointed at the U-Pass as the number one service that students depend on, noting the importance of this year’s referendum. She also gave a shoutout to the copy centre, which she feels is an underutilized service on campus.

VP University Relations – Arr Farah (Connected) Farah noted that while “the student society and the university have had a good relationship, [. . .] the student society has been taken

The afternoon was a low-energy questionand-answer period, with nine candidates jostling for six positions.

Bansal went on to campaign for his clear vision on the issues, and Dyson touted her experience and drive to find out “what students want.”

VP Finance – Ibrahim Hafeez vs. Hangue Kim (Connected) Kim’s big priority for his campaign is the restructuring of cheque requisitions. He believes that, “if we improve [cheque requisition], it’s kind of a domino effect for other services.” Improving this service makes getting money back to students easier, and Kim said this was an issue that several students were complaining about.

Hafeez took a stronger stance.

“I believe the system is broken,” he

advantage of by the university in many areas.” He pointed to Build SFU and maintenance as a couple examples, and said he would improve this relationship if elected, one which would allow the ability to advocate for these issues.

President – Darien Lechner vs.

Deepak Sharma (Connected) In the final debate of the day, the two candidates campaigning to be president got the chance to argue why they are worthy of students’ votes, with the two having to field so many questions from the audience that time had to be extended past the regulation.

Sharma pushed for the ideology of SFU to shift from a commuter school with satellite campuses to one that sees SFU as a “tri-campus university,” helping the connection between the three campuses grow.

As for Lechner, he made it clear that his main priority was to get students more involved in campus life, primarily through reducing the amount of money he was taking, and making it more obvious to student where the money that was being collected from them is going.

Both candidates were questioned by the audience about their evasive answers, with current VP University Relations Brady Yano going as far as to call some of their responses “fluff” on Twitter.

Current president Enoch Weng and VP Student Services Darwin Binesh had several questions for the candidates, and made sure to instill the notion that candidates could not agree to advocate for every issue brought their way, as the role of president is forced to make tough decisions.

Health plan fee to increase SFU insurance provider StudentCare projects an $11 increase in student fees next year for medical and dental plans.

StudentCare attributes the potential change to the high number of student insurance claims in recent months. However, they note that, this trend might not continue; insurance claims may “taper off” during the summer semester as they often have in previous years, which would mitigate the theoretical rise.

Currently, $15 from each student’s medical and dental fees enter a “reserve fund” for years that incur especially high coverage costs.

New app for insurance claims A mobile app released this fall allows SFU students to submit insurance claims electronically.

Ihaveaplan mobile, produced by the makers of the similarly-named website best known as the place to handle your medical fees, is designed to ease the process of receiving refunds. However, the app is not intended to replace the human interface: on-campus offices will continue to run, as will call centres.

Nearly 7,000 claims have been made through the app since its release; approx. 3,000 students have made profiles.

By Zach Siddiqui

NEWS

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March 14, 2016

CONCERT CONUNDRUM

SFSS rejects Spring concert proposal Proposed concert with YouTube artists and alternative music snubbed at Board of Directors meeting Cristina Agatep SFU Student When Simon Fraser Student Society President Enoch Weng posted on social media, “What YouTube artists would you like to see come to Vancouver?” it seemed like part of a larger plan that was yet to come.

However, during a tense SFSS board meeting a few weeks ago, plans to host an alternative music concert in April showcasing local talent and a YouTube star were ultimately shot down after a month of planning from Weng.

The idea was conceived before Weng assumed the role of SFSS President. He expressed interest in providing another genre of music to SFU, in contrast to recent EDM-centric SFU concerts.

Weng started researching in November and sought out quotes from YouTube artists, such as Andrew Garcia and Linda Dong.

The event, which would have potentially hosted hundreds of students at the Vancouver Playhouse, marked the first time SFSS considered an off-campus concert. Weng, along with Tiana Allinan, president

of SFU Vanstyle, produced the final proposal to the board on Feb. 26.

During discussions on whether the proposal should go through, criticisms were raised in regard to the timeline, resources available, and its benefits to the school.

Though the proposal ultimately did not succeed, the new idea wasn’t totally rejected by the board.

“The thing they really liked was that it was a shift from the old, so it was bringing in a new genre,” said Weng. “Largely, it was because of timing [. . .] I brought it up in February and the proposed event would have been in the end of April, giving us two and a half months.”

The proposal was rejected, though, because of the aforementioned problems, according to SFSS VP University Relations Brady Yano.

Erik Sagmoen / The Peak

2015’s Spring Jam (pictured) lost $56,731.

The proposal also raised the question on where the priorities of the society lie at the present time, according to SFSS External Kathleen Yang.

“Is this concert really in the Kathleen Yang, VP External Relations best interests of our 30,000 mem“There was concern with exe- bers?” asked Yang. “It’s really cuting the event so late in our terms, hard for me to know that we’re with the new board just beginning spending $25,000 per concert, to come into office,” said Yano. with the resources and time of “Also in terms of other projects that the staff and volunteers. There’s would be wrapping up at that point high risk, the safety of our stu[. . .] and due to the limited capacity dents, and a question of how of the board to participate.” many SFU students attend.

“Is this concert really in the best interests of our 30,000 members?”

“There are so many other campaigns we have to do, issues that students are facing. I personally would not devote my resources to a one-day concert, because there are too many issues that need to be dealt with.”

The main issue which delayed Weng’s proposal until February was the search for a proper venue.

“The West and East Gym were doing [renovations] at this time,” said Weng. “Convo Mall has horrible acoustics for a sit-down concert, and security costs were way too expensive. [. . .] There were many limitations in SFU Theatre, and it’s hard to throw a musical event in there.

“I would say that’s what stalled the project,” he added.

While the concert proposal for this semester was rejected, that doesn’t mean it won’t ever happen, as Yano believes the proposal was the result of a good idea.

“The SFSS has heard lots of complaints from our members about the genre of the concerts, which are typically EDM-focused,” said Yano. “The concert would appeal to students that wouldn’t necessarily have been involved with previous concerts.”

Despite the failure of his proposal, Weng is still glad he brought it forward, and he sees it as a step towards one day getting a concert of this nature. “It was a big proposal, and a good step forward in creating future events,” he said.

UNIVERSITY BRIEFS Sexual violence policy passed at Queen’s

Difficulty coordinating harm-reduction efforts at UVic [VICTORIA] – A 2013 national survey on substance use by post-secondary students found the consumption levels of University of Victoria students ranked steadily higher than other Canadian universities. These results incited Changing the Culture of Substance Use in Residence (CCSUR) to launch through the university with the intention of encouraging moderation of substance use.

Concurrently, the advocacy group UVic Pride, which provides a space at UVic with clean tools for safer drug use, notes that many community members access their resources but express concerns for UVic administration’s lack of funding or involvement with immediate harm-reduction groups like itself.

[KINGSTON] – Queen’s Board of Trustees have approved a university-wide sexual violence policy. It is subject to future adjustments in order to align with anticipated new provincial legislation regarding sexual violence.

The draft was released in December to allow for a two-month feedback period. The policy has passed following a 2014 Toronto Star investigation stating that only nine of 78 Canadian universities had such a policy.

Ryerson and York University have also since passed designated sexual assault policies.

With files from The Journal

Dalhousie students protest proposed tuition hike [HALIFAX] – Dalhousie students are protesting proposed tuition increases from the university’s Budget Advisory Committee.

The changes being considered include an increase of 15 percent for engineering and pharmacy programs and 18.9 percent for agriculture.

Students have raised concerns about the high tuition fees already in place, the affordability of their education, and the feeling of not being supported by their university’s administration. The university’s Board of Governors are to vote on the approval of these increases on April 19.

With files from The Dalhousie Gazette

With files from The Martlet

By Maggie Li

Health Sciences

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THE TALLEST TOWER

FIRST OPPORTUNITY

“Loyalty initially, royalty infinitely.”

These are the words that inspired Joshua Jackai and Buk Nkosi, two SFU students and business partners, to build their brand Frontrvneers Streetwear. At a young age, Jackai would spend hours designing and creating clothing when his family couldn’t afford to splurge on it. In 2012, he and some friends launched World Class Frontrvnners in Hayward, California.

Jackai took a break from Frontrvnners in 2013 when he came to SFU on a football scholarship.

Nkosi arrived in Summer 2015 from Zimbabwe. When the two met in spring 2015, they teamed up, and have used their passions to build a streetwear brand they love.

I had a chance to sit down with Jackai and Nkosi to find out more about them, and learn how their experiences have been influenced by their time at SFU. The Peak: Obligatory icebreaker: when did you start at SFU; what’s your major?

Josh: I’m from Hayward, California, about 15 minutes south of San Francisco. I came to SFU on a football scholarship in spring, 2013.

I major in communications and I’m in my last year here.

Buk: I came to SFU from Zimbabwe in spring 2014, majoring in communications with a minor in business, and a certificate in entrepreneurship and innovation.

P: What made you decide on SFU? J: I wanted to experience something new here at SFU and try to grow. Back home, there wasn’t a lot around that was productive so it’s nice to experience another country.

And the scholarship of course.

B: I had no particular reason to decide on SFU. I talked to a rep back home and I liked him so I decided to come here.

P: And how did you two meet?

J: Buk and I met in spring 2015 and since then things have taken off for the company.

P: What was your inspiration to start the company?

J: Personal morals and principles. Growing up [in California,] I always told myself to succeed and get out of that environment [which] inspire[s] the message behind the company. One of my role models is Scott Sasso, from 10 Deep. He does

a lot of the work in his company and makes sure it’s done well. Of course, my mom inspired me too. She instilled perseverance in me.

P: Have you always had a passion for clothing?

J: It developed indirectly. Back in elementary school, we weren’t always able to buy the nicest clothes.

My mom would have to put stuff on layaway. I found myself trying extra hard to make my outfits look better than what they actually were. Me being self-conscious made me put things together [in a unique way].

Ever since then, I’ve been very interested in fashion.

B: Somewhat, I’ve always thought, “[I’ll] wear clothes anyway, so what will I be comfortable in?”

People have said I have a unique sense of style but it doesn’t just apply to fashion. I like to do things that I think are appropriate for me, not just what’s dictated or the “right way.”

P: How has SFU contributed to the company’s success?

J: Being a communications major, it taught me media and marketing and how to implement ideologies, mindsets, and identities, and how to build an image off that.

Before I met Buk, I did everything on my own but you can only get so far doing it that way. I’m more

of an introvert and I won’t go up to people and tell them about the brand, but Buk is the complete opposite and even if he doesn’t know you, he’ll go up and be friendly like he knows you. So definitely my education here at SFU, but meeting the right people [has been valuable as well]. Fashion week at SFU, too, forced us to step up our game and produce a lot of clothing and content for it. It allowed us to get the word out.

P: Aside from the company, what has your time at SFU done for you?

J: SFU showed me how to see the intellectual side of business.

Mindsets and how people think.

B: The knowledge from the business and communications courses I’ve done have helped me understand people in a business context, how people receive information. The most important thing aside from education is the opportunity to interact with different people. Like professors who are mentors, and interacting with different clubs like the ASA, Brooked Events, The Schedule, being a CA on residence; everybody you meet enriches your mind. It’s been amazing meeting different people from different groups. I definitely wouldn’t be the same person would I have gone to a different school.

P: Is it difficult balancing work, life, school, and everything?

J: Somewhat, but I find it just gives me less time to do unproductive things. Last semester was my most stressful term but also my most productive academically.

Being busy diminishes the unproductive habits. If you manage it well, it works fine.

B: If you’re doing something you like then it’s not really work.

My courses, this brand, and everything, it’s all things that I want to do. We do things like this brand not for money but for pure passion of it. We love it and we want it to continue.

P: What are your goals after SFU? J: I might do a certificate in entrepreneurship once I’m done my bachelor’s, but otherwise I’m done in the summer. I want to continue building this brand because I don’t believe in working [towards] something I don’t believe in. I want to be able to support myself, support a family, but also give back to the community.

Where I’m from it’s pretty much like the ghetto. People think the only way to get out is to sell drugs, play sports, or rap. They don’t know that you can get out through academics [. . .] so I’d like to be a role model and open up doors to show that there is another way.

18

OPINIONS

Bernice Puzon Peak Associate We’ve all seen the ads — the polar bears precariously balancing on blocks of ice for a Coca Cola commercial, the devastated ecosystems captured by Discovery Channel documentaries.

However, what we don’t see is input from indigenous peoples on the serious issue of climate change, despite being those who inhabited the land on which we currently live before settlers came to take it away from them.

On March 2, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and the Métis National Council were all invited to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Vancouver, to voice their concerns on a variety of issues concerning them. AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde said that indigenous peoples should be included on the development of plans to combat

climate change, as they are often among the first to feel its effects.

However, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and the Native Women’s Association of Canada were not invited to this meeting and are advocating to be a part of it.

The fact that Trudeau is even meeting with organizations that advocate for the interests of Aboriginal peoples is noteworthy in itself, for there has been a long history of silencing these voices in order to further self-serving colonial interests.

Maisaloon Al-Ashkar is a secondyear SFU student who is majoring in First Nations Studies, and while she is not a member of the First Nation, herself, she proudly advocates for indigenous inclusivity. She is also a board member of the Simon Fraser Public Interest Research Group (SFPIRG) and an organization called Fossil Free Faith, in which she uses her Muslim faith as a voice to advocate for climate justice.

Al-Ashkar had these powerful words to say on the topic: “Climate

March 14, 2016

change has developed because of colonial ideals of exploiting the land and those who rely upon it.

To nurture climate justice, we need to acknowledge that our well-being and the environment’s well-being are deeply interconnected, and this is knowledge that’s beautifully embedded in many diverse indigenous worldviews.”

Her words point to the long history of exploitation and oppression of Indigenous peoples in Canada, as well as alternative solutions and ideas for world issues that those who are currently in power may never even have considered.

Most importantly, more collaborative efforts between governments and Indigenous peoples would be an important step towards reconciliation. In working with them and valuing their input, the Canadian government would be doing more for Aboriginal reconciliation than an official apology ever could. Indigenous peoples are finally beginning to have their voices heard, but they need to be an integral part of every important conversation.

It is about time that we let their voices shine.

opinions editor email

Adam Van der Zwan opinions@the-peak.ca

We all know by now that Leonardo DiCaprio has been a strong advocate for climate change action for a number of years. His most recent attempt at environmentalism donned his Academy Award acceptance speech a couple weeks ago.

However, some people may have forgotten how Leo received some serious flak last December. The CBC identified various tweets from ‘environmentalists’ who stubbornly pointed out that the extreme weather conditions that Leonardo noticed in Alberta, while filming The Revenant, waere merely the result of a Chinook — a warm gust of wind that hits Southern Alberta on a regular basis. Albertans insist that, no, it wasn’t the dooming effects of climate change.

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However, what they call a “cringe-worthy” misidentification seems to be more of a manufactured distraction from the real issue here: climate change. The topic that no one really seems to want to talk about; the topic that could potentially have a direct influence on big business, oil, and even capitalism itself.

The documentary Merchants of Doubt shows how the media plays an integral part in establishing doubt.

This was done in the past when cigarettes were proven to cause cancer; however, think tanks were able to generate enough controversy over the issue that scientific consensus was put into question during following decades.

This is the same science that we put our utmost faith and belief into. So how is it that as

soon as a corporation denies the findings, it becomes ‘junk science’ and we begin to have our doubts?

Think tanks are employed by the big oil corporations to use the same tactics used in the cigarette case, in order to maintain their relevance in the capitalist regime.

I’d be willing to venture a guess that the CBC article is influenced by the Albertan oil and gas sector, which makes up a significant amount of the revenue of this province. The fear surrounding a loss of jobs and income is very real for the citizens of this economy.

Another CBC article said that environmentalists themselves are the ones cringing at his environmental speech; however, Greenpeace, one of the strongest advocates of eliminating our impact on the environment, showed their support for Leo on social media. From this, I’d surmise that our very own CBC is perpetuating the doubt on climate change.

Albertans in the oil and gas sector are quick to defend their position in the economy. Especially with remarks to the extent of, “What runs your car? Who makes the plastic that your computer is built from?” While that may be enough to quiet some in their shame of hypocrisy, it’s time to place more value on that planet that we all share, rather than the commodities pushed by corporations.

Just like in a failed relationship, we have to let go of the past to have a future.

In the end, DiCaprio may not fully understand what a Chinook is, but that doesn’t matter. He is using his fame and prestige for good, by influencing record-breaking retweets in minutes, and by spreading the message to 34 million Oscar viewers, surely he is seen as an influential threat by big oil.

Ultimately, we need a big name like Leonardo DiCaprio more than ever to challenge the conglomerates and mainstream media that perpetuates the biggest pollution of all: doubt.

OPINIONS

March 14, 2016

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“I haven’t been on the SkyTrain in a long time — it’s so different.” His eyes drift forlornly out the window before locking onto my gaze with intensity, “I just got out of prison.”

My eyes widen slightly and my grip tightens around the corded straps of my school bag.

“I killed a guy.”

I slowly nod, trying to keep calm.

I can feel my cheeks begin to heat up and my pulse quickening. I had come to observe a chilling assortment of characters on transit over the years, but even the most abrasive paled in comparison to this man adjacent to me, and his resonating force of intimidation.

A shiver drifts down my spine.

I feel frightened. More than I have been in a very long time.

I start preparing contingencies in my mind. My eyes dart back and forth for the nearest exit.

Calculations swirl as I measure if my arms can reach the yellow security strip above the window.

Blood flows fast throughout my body. I have never been in a fight.

I dread to think my first might come at the hands of an incarcerated criminal. I go over every scenario — good and bad — in preparation for the events to come.

What happens next catches me off guard.

Around his eyes, glistening tears begins to materialize. He fights them back with what I can only imagine is all the willpower he can muster.

“When you’re in prison they tell you when to eat, piss, and shit,” his voice waivers as he speaks, like a worn out record. “Now, I’m out.

I’m free. But I’m not. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

My grip loosens on the straps of my back pack. My heart rate, once a Buddy Rich drumline, shifts back to its regular calm tempo.

With some hesitancy and just enough courage, I slide my phone into my pocket and turn my body to face the man. I put aside my fears and begin to talk with him, albeit cautiously.

It doesn’t take me long to realize that I have given the man what no one else had

seemingly given him in a long time: acknowledgement.

He confides in me his past, and the lifestyle he endured for 10 years behind bars. He tells me that he is remorseful of his actions and ready to take the first steps towards a brighter tomorrow. However, he confesses that he is lost in this world he has returned to. Even with a second chance, part of him still wishes he was in prison amidst order and routine.

After a heartfelt back and forth, the man stands up as the train halts at Surrey Central. His eyes, still lined with weariness, glint for a moment with optimism.

He clasps the top of my hand and thanks me for listening.

“Keep your chin up,” I call to him as the doors open.

As the doors close, I think back to the universe I was lost in only 10 minutes prior. Suddenly, two bombed midterms don’t seem to matter all that much.

In Adam Van der Zwan’s recent article published in the Feb. 29 issue of The Peak, “TransLink Shouldn’t Add Signage for Invisible Illnesses,” he states that we can only “properly accommodate those with physical disabilities, rather than invisible ones.” This opening assertion sets the tone for a misinformed and

problematic commentary on the roles that TransLink has in accommodating those with disabilities.

Firstly, the idea that in order for a disability to be physical it must be visible, is simply false. Many invisible illnesses are physical ones.

Examples range from illnesses such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, an illness that causes chronic joint pain, to fibromyalgia, a chronic disorder that creates muscular pain and fatigue, to many other possible combinations of pains, illnesses, and disabilities. For these people, a seat nearer to the front of the bus means the world.

The article continues to assert the claim that while asking TransLink to make an addition to the signage to include those with

invisible illnesses is a “safe request,” it is equivalent to asking customers to be considerate, something that Van der Zwan says TransLink already does. While having priority seating for those with disabilities is considerate, there is still improvement to be made. Metro, the primary public transportation company in Washington, already has signage that alerts customers to the existence of invisible illnesses.

“Who needs this seat? You’d be surprised,” reads the sign. This example demonstrates that the problem is not “out of reach,” as Van der Zwan claims. In fact, it would be simple for TransLink to create similar signage.

However, the article carries on, suggesting that people

with invisible disabilities carry signs displaying their illness, or, even more shockingly, tattoo an indicator of their disability on their bodies. This reaches an entire new level of ableism. To ask someone with a disability to visibly mark themselves as disabled so that others may recognize their needs is to perpetuate the idea that disabilities define us. For many, disabilities are personal, and it isn’t anybody else’s business what bodily malfunctions are affecting them.

This idea as an alternative to increased signage directed towards able-bodied people who have for far too long been sitting in seats not meant for them casts the blame in the wrong direction.

It is the combined responsibility of TransLink as a company to increase signage, and able-bodied customers to not sit in priority seating when they don’t need it. Yes, this includes even when the bus is full. Why? Because you as an able-bodied person are capable of standing on the bus, and should someone with an invisible illness come aboard who actually needs that seat, it should be available to them without risk of uncomfortable confrontation.

While ableism as a whole will certainly not end with an additional symbol on a sign, it is an excellent start to ending the coexisting cultures of ignorance and silence that surround invisible illnesses.

Lost in the wallows of two bombed midterms, I nearly miss the voice of a fortysomething Fijian-Canadian man beside me as he sparks a conversation on the Expo line.

“It’s so weird,” he says in what begins as a muffled whisper.

Worlds away, I look up from my phone, still orbiting the sphere of my own self-pity, “Pardon?”

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ARTS

arts editor email

March 14, 2016

FF

As the only unapologetic fan of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis in The Peak office, I’m frankly embarrassed by This Unruly Mess I’ve Made — not just for its piss-poor excuse for content but rather the name of the album itself, which seems less witty than it does aggravatingly precise.

This album is nothing less than an overdrawn reparation for the artist’s controversial Grammy win over Kendrick Lamar. Which could have been cool — if it didn’t

You’re a Man Now, Boy is the first full length album to be released

by Raleigh Ritchie following three EPs. While his musical career isn’t currently that well known, Raleigh Ritchie’s face and real name — Jacob Anderson — are. He is most well known for playing Grey Worm on Game of Thrones.

Don’t judge him based on the fact that he’s had a recurring role on one of the most well-recognized TV shows currently airing. He has

sound like a redundantly whiny whitewashed version of Yeezy’s MBDTF. Fuck. What the hell happened?

When the sole highlight of your album is a incoherently junky track featuring a verse by Idris Elba — it’s high time to take your ass back to the lab and start from fucking scratch again.

This cacophonous symphonic travesty of shoddily produced, ineptly written, rank amateur dog

the ability to become more well known for his music career than his acting career. You’re a Man Now, Boy sounds more like a greatest hits than a debut album. There are very few songs that aren’t radio ready, and even those ones sound better than some music that is currently topping the charts.

He can rap and sing equally as well, so keep an eye on him as he moves forward with his musical career.

Jess Whitesel arts@the-peak.ca

FOOD FIGHT

shit isn’t worthy of even propagating the lowest depths of a Walmart dollar bin.

Highlights include: “Downtown,” “Let’s Eat,” and The first 15 seconds of “Dance-Off.”

Vancouver is blessed with an assortment of wonderful food trucks, and every year more and more are added to the armada present on the streets. While most of these carts are definitely worth a visit, there are three stand head and shoulders above the rest and deserve special recognition.

Highlights include: “Bloodsport ’15,” “You’re a Man Now, Boy,” and “The Chased.”

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Live in the city.

One cannot simply speak of the Vancouver food truck scene without mentioning Japadog. This Japanese-inspired hot dog cart is what brought Vancouver street food onto the world stage, and its mixture of Western-style wieners and Asian toppings has given them a unique flavour that sets them apart from all other run-of-the-mill hot dog carts.

However, I have my reservations about Japadog. It makes my top three not due to flavour, but rather it international recognition. I, being Polish and all, am incredibly picky with hot dogs, and to be honest with you, Japadog’s value for the price is not exactly great. However, even with that knock against it, its international pedigree earns it a spot in my top three.

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Taco carts have been a staple of the mobile food industry since the time of the dinosaurs, and the competition for being king of the tacos has always been fierce. There is one cart that does stand out above the rest in Vancity, and it’s called Tacofino.

There’s a variety of Mexican-inspired options available from this glorious truck, and if you’ve never been before then it is mandatory that you try their fish taco first. Made with perfectly seared ling cod and complemented with delicious homemade salsa and chipotle mayo, the fish taco is bursting with flavour, yet light enough that it leaves you longing for more. And at six bucks each, getting more isn’t a problem.

If fish isn’t your cup of tea, then give their pork burrito a try: it’s made with delicious slow-cooked pork tangoes with tasty refried beans and a healthy dose of cheese. If this isn’t good enough for you, then frankly, nothing ever will be.

The key to a good food truck meal is balance. Is it the perfect size, the perfect price, moist and crisp, served at the perfect temperature, easy to eat, beyond incredible to taste?

Mr. Shawarma’s chicken pita wrap is all of these things, and for that it wins the prestigious “Bart’s Fave Street Eat” prize. The chicken is cooked and marinated to absolute perfection, and is moist all the way through. The vegetables inside are excellently grilled, and the whole thing is topped with a delicious spicy sauce that, while it tantalizes your mouth it doesn’t go overboard and make the wrap inedible.

The pita in which the wrap is served should not be overlooked. A good meat container is vital for excellent street food, and their flatbread wrap is both crisp yet flexible. The $7 price tag for this pita is a bargain, and once you’ve had one, you’ll definitely be back for more.

ARTS

ears usually aren’t busy. I use my hands to hold things and my eyes to see if there are any seats on the 145; but my ears? They usually have a lot of free time. That’s where podcasts come in.

If you’ve heard of podcasts, you’ve probably heard of Serial, whose first season shot to the top of the charts almost overnight in late 2014.

If you’ve heard of podcasts and are a nerd like me, you’ve also probably heard of Welcome to Night Vale, the podcast that made America weird again. Podcasts are a relatively new form of digital media that embodies the mobile and electronically accessible world in which we live, while also harkening back to the radio programs from when the world dreamed in black and white.

The word “podcast” is a combination of the word “pod” — as in iPod — and the

March 14, 2016

word “broadcast” and refers to a category of episodic programs that are distributed online. The whole process used to be more tedious, but these days you can just subscribe to one and you’ll receive episodes as they come out. They’re like Netflix for your ears. Some are scripted and have a single host, while others are free-form discussions between a group of people. Most importantly, however, is that they cover a wide range of topics.

From fact to fantasy, video games to historical literature, photography to cooking to self-help — even one about that book series you adored in the ’90s. There’s one designed intentionally to put people to asleep. And another explores ideas of social science by looking at contemporary pop music.

The popular ones get enough press as it is, so here are five great podcasts you probably haven’t heard of.

ILLUSTRATION BY KONSTANTIN RABINOVICH

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Looking for something spooky? Hosted

by Aaron Mahnke, Lore focuses on particular spooky historical objects or occurrences and the facts and rumours surrounding them.

One episode discussed Robert the Doll, a doll which is said to have murdered its owner. Another episode talked about Spring-Heeled Jack, a mysterious figure with clawed hands and fiery red eyes sighted in London during the

Victorian Era. Another discussed the legendary Pied Piper of Hamelin.

What makes Lore a podcast different than someone simply telling ghost stories by the campfire is how Mahnke is able to tell these stories clearly and compellingly, while also doing his best to explain the truth behind the myth.

To quote Mahnke, “sometimes the truth is more frightening than fiction.”

New episodes are released every other Monday.

Hosted by comedian/actor Paul F. Tompkins, Spontaneanation is “a completely improvised show, from monologue to interview to narrative sketch.” It features Tompkins, guests, improvisers, and accompanist Eban Schletter to provide “an hour of comedy that none of them ever see coming.” The improv sketches are based around a location, chosen

by the guest, which in the past have included “paediatrician’s office,” “pet store, post robbery,” “Dracula’s bedroom,” and “a clown cemetery.”

Each episode is a joy to listen to. I’ve often found myself laughing out loud on the bus, much to the concern of my fellow passengers. Tompkins and his guests are very skilled in improvisation and in constructing the absurdly hilarious stories that the form allows.

New episodes are released every Monday.

A spin-off of the London based panel quiz show QI, the three hosts follow the pattern of their parent show by sharing obscure facts and correcting widely believed misconceptions. In each episode the hosts take turns sharing a broad and interesting fact, while the others share smaller facts that are vaguely related.

Notable facts have included: “parrot fish eat

their own pyjamas,” “Albert Einstein has a social media team,” and that “Gary Numan is slightly older than Gary Oldman.”

If you’re someone who likes learning one new thing every day, then you’ll find each episode to be an embarrassment of riches.

Learn new facts! Impress your friends! Become slightly more interesting at parties!

New episodes are released every Thursday.

Hosted by Jamie Madigan, PhD, this podcast resides at the multifaceted intersection between psychology and video gaming. The website describes it as a discussion about these two topics, featuring an expert on a specific topic: “Guests include those working in academia, [or] the gaming industry, or as consultants.”

Topics have included micro-transactions, the effect of violence in video

games, the idea of “flow,” how games are different from other forms of media, and if video games can make people smarter.

As video games grow in popularity, and given the increasing ease with which individuals can create games, the moral panic surrounding games has increased primarily through gut-feelings and assumptions rather than science and data. This podcast brings the latest research to the table to better inform people of which concerns are legitimate and which are not.

New episodes are released around the middle of each month.

Do you remember the Animorphs book series by K.A. Applegate? Of course you do; it was the best series of kids’ books in the ’90s.

That’s right, better than Goosebumps. In this podcast, hosts Hannah and Kelly go through each book in the series and discuss the plot, character development and motivation, and the surprisingly dark and complex themes present at every level of the text.

The hosts do an excellent job of analyzing each book and of discussing how they

relate to topics of linguistics, or psychology, or identity, or how awesome it would be to turn into a red-tailed hawk. By returning to the series as adults, they are able to better notice the depth of the books and how their own lives have been shaped by the characters and lessons within.

So, if you’re a fan of the books, or just want to hear people do a very intelligent and well-informed close reading of a text, then I strongly, strongly recommend subscribing to this podcast.

New episodes are released twice a month.

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March 14, 2016

Origins is the debut EP from 21-year-old North Shore native Colin Weeks. A two-time college dropout from music programs at Capilano University and Selkirk College, Weeks proves he doesn’t need a degree to make great music.

The base of his sound is solid, with creative and masterful guitar riffs. His voice, gentle and optimistic while languidly powerful, fills out the soundscape. Weeks and his guitar are exactly what you get from his music. Although tracks like “Lady in the Sun” has some gentle drumming, his tracks don’t need snares or kick drums to be enjoyable. All five songs on Origins are well-written and executed, and the EP is a great soundtrack no matter what’s on your to-do list.

Currently a solo act, Weeks said that he’s “desperate to find a permanent band.” However, this may have to wait until after the summer, when he hopes to go on a short tour with Isaak

Salomon — another local musician — to Whistler and Vancouver Island.

The Peak got to talk with Colin before the official release of Origins to discuss his music, inspiration, and where he goes from here.

P: When did you start getting involved with music?

CW: I bought Rock Band [the video game] when it first came out. After mastering the guitar on screen, I decided it would be cooler to learn the real thing instead. My parents graciously agreed to rent me my first guitar after that!

P: What different instruments do you play, and for how long?

CW: I mostly just play guitar and sing. I pluck around a little bit on the piano, and I can stumble through bass. . . but that’s mostly it. Someday I’d love to learn the sitar or maybe the erhu.

P: Which musicians influence or inspire you?

CW: Jack Johnson takes the cake on this one. He’s my hero both as a person and a musician. John Mayer is right there, too. I’ve learnt more from those two than I probably even realize. Aside from that I’m obsessed with movie and video game soundtracks!

P: What’s the story behind the name Origins?

CW: I was really into human evolution at the time, and felt intrigued over how disconnected we are from our roots.

We always seem to forget that we’re just as much a part of the animal kingdom as any other creature. Once I settled on Origins I just couldn’t change it, even though it’s got nothing to do with the songs.

P: Your first track on the EP, “Sunset Kingdom,” is my personal favourite. Anything you’d care to share about it?

CW: “Sunset Kingdom” is incredibly fun to play, and usually garners the most attention from people as well. I think the

reason everyone connects with it so much is because the lyrics are personable. . . the feeling of wanting to leave home and spread your wings.

P: Which song is your favourite?

CW: “Lady in the Sun.” I’m a huge fan of Harry Belafonte, so writing a song with his style was a lot of fun for me.

P: Any tips for somebody thinking about starting up on their own?

CW: Play music that you have fun playing, not what you think others will enjoy. If you’re having a good time, people will always be drawn to that.

When asked if he sees music as a long-term career, Weeks affects a jovial and devil-maycare attitude, typical in early adulthood. “I have absolutely no idea what my future looks like,” he admits. “If I’m fortunate enough to be able to make music for the rest of my life, I certainly won’t be complaining.” That’s not to say he doesn’t have other ideas, though. “If music does burn out for some reason, I’ll be doing some sort of environmental work.”

Download Origins by Colin Weeks on iTunes and Spotify, and look out for him on tour this summer.

It is a brave endeavour that Dunn, Kushnir, and Atkins have set out on. They have asked a truly important question, and explored ways to answer it without being exclusive to any community. And when moments of questioning did arise, it was nice to see that they addressed it themselves. After all, these are three gay, white, male actors attempting to represent a diverse group of people. However, moments like these added comic relief.

What will really blow you away is the actors’ versatility.

Every time one of them took centre stage, they simultaneously played multiple characters. This made it impossible for you to get lost about who

was who. Whether it is Dunn’s portrayals of an imprisoned gay man speaking with a researcher from the present; Kushnir’s re-enactment of his

Whether you identify within the LGBTQ+ spectrum or not, The Gay Heritage Project will speak to anyone’s sense of what it means to create a sense of belonging.

Actors Paul Dunn, Andrew Kushnir, and Damien Atkins have embarked on a nationwide tour with their production, and it has already received critical acclaim. With just the three of them on stage at all times

— playing over 50 characters collectively — they use their personal and cultural histories as jumping points to connect with important (supposedly) queer historical figures, to answer the question: is there such thing as gay heritage?

An imaginative, intelligent, and funny production, The Gay Heritage Project presents discovered anecdotes — through research done by the three actors — from ancient Greece to the AIDS epidemic of the ’80s, and puts them in dialogue with one another. What results is a witty creation of a near-succinct narrative of how LGBTQ+ individuals have been represented throughout history, and how it affects contemporary culture.

Atkins re-interpretation of Dorothy finding out the Wizard of Oz is the one and only Michel Foucault, the play definitely entertains.

The Gay Heritage Project dives into some deep questions around creating a sense of belonging. It is definitely something worth seeing. You will be moved again and again each time someone takes the stage.

Get your tickets soon, because it’s only in Vancouver at The Cultch Historic Theatre until March 19.

younger self looking up “gay + Ukraine” in the library, interacting with a very humorous search engine program; or

ARTS

While Republicans and Democrats debated for Super Tuesday votes, another battle was about to be fought at the multiplex.

Few weeks at the cinema have reflected America’s ideological divide more than March 4, which saw the release of Zootopia and London Has Fallen.

America is in the midst of a struggle between two polaropposite identities: Donald Trump’s nationalism and Bernie Sanders’ democratic socialism. The rise of Trump and Sanders are the effects of identical causes — a post-9/11 and post-subprime mortgage crisis America worried about terror threats and economic disparity. While Bernie talks about inequality and the need to bridge the wealth gap through government intervention, Trump appeals to patriotism — exemplified in his slogan “Make America Great Again.” Trump has discussed building a wall along the Mexican border and closing off the country to Muslims. Bernie has spoken against dangerous stereotypes and ruling by fear.

Popular cinema is a reflection of the concerns, ideology, and morality of a society, and although Zootopia and London Has Fallen are big studio productions designed for “escapism,” neither film transcends politics.

Zootopia, an animated Disney film, is a commentary on intolerance and prejudice in a supposedly utopian society

March 14, 2016

where all animals, including predator and prey, live in harmony. Although all the animals no longer rely on primal impulses to devour each other, stereotypes and divisions are drawn between them: foxes are dishonest and sly, bunnies are weak and cute, water buffalos are tough, and so on.

Judy Hopps is a bunny who dreams of being the first of her species to become a police officer. After graduating at the top of her class, she is hired by the Zootopia Police Department, where she encounters prejudice despite her ability and work ethic. To prove herself, Hopps makes a deal with the police chief to find a missing animal in 48 hours. With her job on the line, a classic noir plot is set: detective Hopps and Nick Wilde, a fox with dubious trustworthiness, investigate how the missing person is linked to recurring incidents of predators going “savage.”

Sudden outbursts of predator violence lead to basic explanations based on prejudice. It’s in their “biology,” we’re told, something akin to “it’s because of their race” or “it’s because of their violent religion” that they are more prone to act out criminally. Fear is constructed by those in power as a way to control, not as a method of precaution or preservation.

The impact is also economic as certain species are typecast into certain jobs, and are thus given more privilege and opportunity.

As we discover more about the case, vested interests by the government, media, and Zootopians’ own perception of the world contribute to representations of the predator breeds as dangerous, purely based on their species.

London Has Fallen, the sequel to the Die Hard -esque Olympus Has Fallen , revolves around a conspiracy and terror plot, which is somewhat similar to the one in Zootopia. The president and his secret service

bodyguard attend the British prime minister’s funeral after his suspicious passing. Highlevel security precautions are taken. The police have a strong presence and surveillance is tight — necessary for an event that could be at a high risk of a terror attack.

In a scene of strained logic and blatant fear-mongering, terrorists infiltrate the funeral as members of the institutions in charge of protecting the country. Police officers turn on their own people. A man at the very top is working for the terrorists. Our response

to acts of terror, London Has Fallen claims, should be more violence, more surveillance, more policing.

Fear is supposedly a natural reaction to our unstable world, not a construction by the powerful to consolidate their control. Racial stereotyping, where the representation of Arabs as corruptible and by nature more violent, is simply “telling it like it is.” It’s a film that takes pleasure in slaughter. A drone strike, which kills the terrorist and saves the world from any more attacks, is justified without any reference to its effects

23

and the cycle of violence that is being perpetuated.

Underneath their genre conventions and capitalist construction — both films are made to be palatable and consumable to mass audiences — are opposing stances on race and how we should approach terror threats. If you think going to a dark cinema is a shield from the paranoia outside, London Has Fallen and Zootopia pierce through the guise of escapism, making us decide between two identities and two courses of action to fix our broken world.

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Summer 2016 Courses GSWS 210-3 Contemporary Reproductive Politics from “Womb to Tomb” Instructor: Dr. Yoshizawa

Tuesdays: 14:30 – 17:20

Reproductive politics refers ongoing struggles to define, constrain, medicalize, technologize, spur, and/or prevent reproduction. This is an introductory course that builds interdisciplinary and feminist tools to analyze narratives, issues, practices, and arguments regarding reproductive politics as they manifest through out the lifecourse, from preconception to end of life. Topics include reproductive choices, fertility, non-normative kinship, childbirth, child rearing, menopause and andropause, and the developmental origins of health and disease. Recognizing the topical and controversial nature of reproductive politics as well as the role of GSWS in transforming students into critical advocates for social change, assignments encourage students to engage in public dialogues on reproduction.

GSWS 320-4 ST: Feminist Television Studies Instructor: Dr. Patterson

Mondays 13:30 – 17:20 Harbour Centre

This special topics course introduces students to some of the key debates and issues in feminist television studies. Television continues to be a major cultural force and communicator of ideas about gender, race, class, sexuality, and so on, in our everyday lives. Feminist television scholarship offers an important and much needed critical lens through which we can better understand its enduring cultural appeal. Specifically, students will learn how to critically analyse the construction of gender, sexuality, and race via various TV formats (soaps, dramas, reality TV), and will also consider television’s role in mediating contemporary ideas about feminism in a postfeminist media culture. We will also consider the changing landscape of television, and what this might mean for the politics of representation.

New Distance Education Course!

GSWS 319-4 ST: Crippin’ the Norm Instructor: Dr. Garner The dominant way of thinking about disability is as a medical or health “problem” that requires “correction” if possible. This course provides a fundamentally different perspective on disability and challenges these notions at the heart of medical and scientific knowledge, as well as multiple forms of cultural production. This course is grounded in critical feminist disability studies, which defines disability as a product of relations of power and privilege. Within this framework, disability is not understood as a physical deficit or defect inherent in certain bodies or brains, but as a fictional ‘other’ to the equally constructed ‘norm’ of ability. This perspective provides a way of thinking about bodies rather than describing something that is wrong with bodies.

All GSWS course outlines available at: www.sfu.ca/gsws

24

SPORTS

March 14, 2016

sports editor email

Nick Bondi sports@the-peak.ca

SFU finished in eighth place at the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout. Emily Leung finished tied for second with an even par score.

Breanne Croxen finished in 17th, but got a hole-in-one on the par three, 126 yard, 13th hole in the first round.

SFU Director of Football Operations Michael Lionello has joined the BC Lions in charge of quality control. Lionello also held the position of Recruiting Coordinator, Running Backs Coach, and Video Coordinator. He joins former SFU Offensive Line Coach Adam Blasetti on the Lions.

Baseball is an extremely team-oriented sport. Each player on the field must be at their physical and mental peak in order to achieve success.

On top of that, all outfield players must be just as good at defending runs as they are at creating them.

Senior Rachel Procter is a shining example of that skill. The Health Science major plays out in right field, and last season she led the team in batting average.

“I started probably at the age of five or six,” explains Proctor. “[I] started with teeball, and worked my way up to play Club A ball at White Rock Renegades, and eventually came here.”

After the age of 12, at the insistence of her coach, Proctor switched from being a pitcher to playing in right field, a role she now greatly enjoys.

“I think that [in the] outfield you can make some really big plays compared to an infielder. If you make a mistake in the infield, it’s

only a base hit, but if you make a mistake in the outfield, it’s huge. So [you’re able to] make some gamesaving catches.”

From there, Proctor came to SFU where last season, she led the Clan in batting average, with .354. A tireless worker, Proctor has spent countless hour over the course of her time at SFU trying to perfect her swing.

“We have a coach who will help us correct [and] we do some video analysis on your swing [. . .] I know over the summer I used the video analysis and identified things I need to work on. So you just have to do repetitions on things that you know are your weaknesses and eventually get better at them.”

So how does she approach hitting once he gets to the plate?

“It depends on the pitcher,” she said. “From the sidelines, we watch what the pitcher is throwing and what her tendencies are. So then you can kind of go in there thinking what she’s going to be throwing.

[For example,] if I know she throws a first pitch strike, then I’m thinking to be more aggressive on first pitch.”

In addition to hitting, a major part of softball is the mental aspect.

Players have to cope with the doubleheader — when two games are immediately played back to back on the same day.

“At first it was really hard adjusting [to doubleheaders], just because

win or lose in club ball you can just go home. But now, win or lose, you have to realise that you’re playing a game right after. So if you lose, you have realise how to bounce back, and if you win, you have to realise that you need to stay with the momentum, and that momentum is on your side.”

What goes through her mind after a tough loss in a first game?

“The thing I really think about is we really have nothing to lose,” she explained. “If a team has beaten you, they might think that they have the upper hand or advantage, so it’s really important to be resilient and bounce back with the most positive attitude that you can.”

A large part of Proctor’s senior year has been leading by example. Back in February, Head Coach Mike Renney told The Peak that he expected the seniors to lead not only by example, but by performance as well, and to help guide the younger players.

“I think one thing is definitely showing hard work and trying your best,” Proctor said. “It’s not always

about succeeding, as much as we’d like to succeed, but I think if you put hard work in, your probability of succeeding is higher. I think myself and the rest of the seniors always just want to show maybe the freshmen and the sophomores that hard work pays off in the end.”

Success has come early this season for her team. They are currently 14–10 at the time of writing, with a four game sweep of Montana State UniversityBillings a impressive early highlight.

“So far I think the season’s gone really well,” said Proctor. “I think we’re off to the right track [. . .] We’re still pretty early in the season, but if we’re going game by game, I think we’ve done really well. We’ve shown that we can play as a team, and compete in GNAC.”

Sophomore Adrian Vanderhelm broke an SFU record and finished third at Nationals in the 200 Freestyle.

Vanderhelm finished with a time of 1:35.18, finishing just 7/100th of a second off second place. The day before, he broke an SFU record in the 200 Individual Medley, finishing with a time of 1:47.07.

SFU beat Washington State by a score of 45–0, breaking an unofficial school record.

Greg Lunde led the team with 10 goals on the night.

Their next home game is Monday, March 14 against Chico State at 6 p.m.

2016 GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATES PRESIDENT Darien Lechner Deepak Sharma (Connected)

VP EXTERNAL RELATIONS Archit Bansal Christine Dyson (Connected)

APPLIED SCIENCES REPRESENTATIVE Alan Lee Prashant Verma (Bridge The Gap)

ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE Erwin Kwok Blossom Malhan (Connected)

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BUSINESS FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE

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VP STUDENT LIFE

COMMUNICATION, ART AND TECHNOLOGY REPRESENTATIVE

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EDUCATION REPRESENTATIVE

Larissa Chen (Connected)

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AT LARGE REPRESENTATIVE (2)

HEALTH SCIENCES REPRESENTATIVE

Mudiwa BK Bwakura (Connected) Paul Hans (Connected) Alam Khehra (Bridge The Gap) Jaggy Kullar (Bridge The Gap) Moein Sharifi Moghaddam

Raajan Garcha (Bridge The Gap)

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VOTING WILL OCCUR BETWEEN MARCH 22 AND 24 Vote online at bit.ly/SFSSelection2016 Inquiries can be made to Vanna Lodders, Chief Commissioner at elections.chief@sfss.ca

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26 SPORTS

March 14, 2016

The season didn’t start off too great for the SFU Women’s Basketball team. Meg Wilson was lost for the season before it even began, and by the end of November, the team was down to only six healthy players.

Despite the challenges, the team finished with a 13–7 conference record, 16–11 overall, and made it to the GNAC semifinals, before being knocked out by eventual champs Alaska Anchorage.

“I was pretty pleased with the season,” said Head Coach Bruce Langford. “I thought we improved steadily over the course of the year.

I thought that players got a lot out of themselves, and met their expectations. At the beginning when we lost Megan, it looked like it could be a nightmare in some ways. But it worked out okay.”

With Wilson down early on, the team could have easily fallen off the rails.

“She’s a big piece of our puzzle,” said Langford. “She was one of our two seniors, and [then] we had one senior, one junior, and all the rest young kids. And I was certainly very nervous of what was going to happen.”

The team relied heavily on the three pointers this year, with the trio of Elisa Homer, Ellen Kett, and Alisha Roberts leading the Clan offensively throughout the season.

Homer finished fourth in the GNAC

in scoring, averaging 16.5 points per game, and making the second most threes in the conference with 99. Kett finished first in threepoint percentage (49.5 percent) and assists per game, and Roberts finished fourth the free throw percentage.

“I think we’ll be a better shooting team next year than this year,” exclaimed Langford.

“The kids we’re bringing in can shoot the ball, a couple of them can really shoot the ball. I’m counting on Homer putting in a few shots [over the summer] and improving her shot, and I’m hoping Ellen will do the same.

Those kids are Claudia Hart, Ozioma Nwabuko, Jessica Jones, Tia Sang, and Tayler Drynan, a group which Langford described as one of the most talented recruiting classes

in his 15 years coaching the Clan according to a SFU Athletics report back in December.

The SFU Clan Women’s Softball Team exploded for 27 runs this weekend, sweeping a four-game home set against the Montana State-Billings Yellowjackets. The Clan is now on a five game GNAC win-streak early in their Conference Schedule. Not only was the offence

clicking this weekend, the pitching and defence were also fantastic as SFU yielded only six total runs.

In the first tilt of Saturday’s double header, the Clan prevailed in a competitive 4–2 victory. The teams played scoreless baseball for the first four innings before Montana State-Billings notched two runs in the top of the fifth. SFU did not panic, though, and promptly scored four runs in the bottom half of the frame. Leadoff hitter Taylor Gillis knocked in the Clan’s first run and then managed to steal home for a 2–0 advantage. Slugger Nicole Ratel then came to the plate and belted a two-run home run to round out the scoring. SFU ace

“I think all of them are able to contribute something right now. [. . .] But I’m open to any plan, we’re just very excited with who we have coming back, the strength we have coming back, and the strength we’re adding, it’s very exciting.”

A couple of players are expected to redshirt, but Langford is excited for more players at his disposal on the bench, which will allow for a wider array of tactics to be used, as well as keeping players rested throughout the season.

“I’d like to see us pick up full court defence a little more,” explained Coach Bruce Langford . “I think I’d to see us get out and be more athletic defensively a little more, press, deny the ball.

“This year we really counted on three kids to get a lot of minutes and down the end, as we got close to the end. Like the win in Alaska

[Anchorage on February 27], we had 35, 35, 35, 35, and 38 minutes in five kids. That’s tough. It’s hard to play certain styles that way. It be nice to get everybody’s minutes down, where they can harder, and shorter.”

Langford hopes that next season they can improve on their fourth place position this year.

“Between now and the end of the year, we [need to] be certain that people are on board for the same goals and mission, and that goal is to win a GNAC championship on our way to a regional championship, and that people recognize the time needed to do that [. . .] We have some very talented kids [that are new], coming to some very talented kids that are here. But the talented kids here each have pieces they need to grow on.”

Alia Stachoski pitched a complete game four hitter, raising her record to 6–3 on the season.

In the second game on Saturday, the Clan bombed Montana State-Billings with seven first inning runs en route to a 10–1 victory. A balanced offensive attack saw Stephanie Caron scored a run and post two runs batted in (RBIs), Rachel Proctor scored two runs and had three RBIs, and Alex Baylak also scored and knocked in two. Tori Belton and Jessica Goulet combined to yield just the one run on five hits, with Belton securing her fifth win of the season.

Sunday was all SFU, with the Clan building a five run lead on the

way to a 6–2 victory in game one.

In the opening matchup, Taylor Gillis continued her fine play with a two-run homer. Marina DeAngelis scored two runs and had one RBI. Nicole Ratel added a clutch single which cashed in two big runs.

Pitching on no rest, Alia Stachoski notched her seventh win on the season by yielding just one earned run in 5 1/3 innings.

The Clan’s strong play concluded as they took out the brooms and sent the Yellowjackets on the bus home to dusty Montana with a 7–0 shellacking. SFU managed to score seven runs despite not having a single extra base hit in the game.

Stephanie Caron gave another

solid performance, recording two RBIs and scoring two runs. Kendra Goodman was two for three with a run, Alex Baylak was two for three with an RBI, and Jessica Goulet got the win pitching 4 1/3 scoreless innings.

The sweep was particularly impressive and satisfying for the team.

As Head Coach Mike Renney said, he “suspect[ed Montana-Billings to be] a stronger team than we have seen in the past.” Coach Renney also explained that Montana State was a “team we have had trouble with in recent years.”

SFU is now 14–10 on the season and 5–3 in GNAC Conference play.

SPORTS

Back in October, I wrote an article highlighting some draft eligible players to watch out for over the course of the hockey season. Now, with the NHL and various junior leagues winding down, It is a good a time as any to go back and re-evaluate how right — or how wrong — I was on them.

March 14, 2016

defenseman so far this season in the Ontario Hockey League, yet his draft stock may have slipped. In October, I called him the consensus number two pick, but now that’s very unlikely. It’s not that he hasn’t played well; it’s just the two Finns below have played so well. I can see him going to a team in the top five that lost out on the top spot, and has a pressing need for defence (the Oilers, anyone?).

October Prediction: 2nd Overall March Prediction: Top 5

Auston Matthews Back in October, I said that barring a big drop off in his play, Matthews would go number one. Well, not much has changed since then, as he remains the clear-cut favourite to go number one overall. He has 46 points in 36 games playing against men in the Swiss-A league this year, and I still see him being the consensus number one pick.

October Prediction: 1st Overall March Prediction: 1st Overall

Jesse Puljujarvi To say Puljujarvi had a good World Junior would be an understatement. Not only did Finland win Gold, but Puljujarvi was named tournament MVP, top forward, and finished with the most points — 17 in just seven games. This has catapulted him up the rankings, so much so that he could challenge Matthew for top spot. He and fellow Finn Patrick Laine are very close, but I’m going to put Puljujarvi third because he has less points than Laine in more games played.

October Prediction: Top 5 March Prediction: 3rd Overall

Jakob Chychrun Chychrun has put up 46 points in 59 games as a

Patrick Laine Laine finished as the top goal scorer in the World Junior

the tying goal coming with just 44 seconds left in regulation.

They then scored just over 30 seconds into the extra frame to win it 4–3, stunning the home crowd and leaving SFU with a very bitter taste in their mouths.

SFU played host to the visiting University of Victoria Vikes in a game that really didn’t mean anything in terms of the standings. SFU was locked into second place, and UVic in fourth. However, it was important to the Clan to head into the playoffs on the right foot, after a disappointing loss to Selkirk the week before.

It didn’t work out that way.

With a 3–1 lead halfway through the third period, UVic scored two goals sending it into overtime,

27

The first period started with some solid hits from SFU’s fourth line, particularly from Matthew Luongo. However, it was UVic that held a 1–0 lead after one, with Bo Sigurdson finishing off a nice play from Shawn Mueller. In the second,

Championships, averaging a goal a game with seven in total.

I said back in October that his draft position would be determined mostly by his success at the WJCs. Well, with his performance, he’s certainly cemented his top three ranking, and I think he will go second overall.

He’s also scored 33 points in 46 games in the Finnish Liiga, the top professional league in the Country.

October Prediction: 5th to 7th March Prediction: 2nd Overall

Tyler Benson With news that Tyler Benson is going to be shut down the rest of the season, it’s safe to say that his draft stock is going to fall as a result. After being highly touted coming into the WHL, he has disappointed thus far, only putting up 45 points in his first season and 28 in 30 this year.

I don’t think he will be a first rounder anymore, but I think he will be a great pick in the second round.

October Prediction: 18th to 23rd March Prediction: 2nd round

SFU came roaring out, outshooting the visitors 14–4 and scoring three goals. Jaret Babych scored the third off of a redirect, which must have been a boost of confidence for him after a tough second half to the season with injury.

Penalties were one of the main reasons for the downfall of the Clan in this one. A total of 12 penalties were called against SFU for a total of 28 minutes, close to a period and a half’s worth. UVic was able to score on two of them, including the game winner in overtime. UVic was called for their fair share of penalties as well, with nine going against the Vikes.

“You never want to criticize any officials [. . .] but I would just say that it wasn’t the best officiating game that we’ve seen, and I think overall the league has addressed that throughout the season” remarked SFU Head Coach Mark Coletta afterwards. “They’re like us, they make mistakes, we make mistakes. Maybe he just had a bad night.”

Coletta also remarked on the game as a whole, stating, “We wanted to see if we could get off to a better start and we didn’t, so that’s on us. I thought we battled back in the second nicely, and I thought the third we were kind of vanilla. There was just a middle area there where I thought we rested on a 3–1 lead and again — not the referee’s fault there, either.”

Matthew Tkachuk The son of former NHLer Keith Tkachuk, Matthew is having an incredible season for the OHL’s London Knights. He has 100 points in 52 games so far this season, 75 of which are assists. Some may wonder if he’s just riding the coattails of last year’s fourth overall pick Mitch Marner, but after seeing him at the Top Prospects Game without Marner, I think he’s still the real deal. Any team would be lucky to have him.

October Prediction: Top 5 March Prediction: Top 5

UVIC

SFU

4 - 3

First Period: UVIC Bo Sigurdson (Mueller, Enns) 6:50

Second Period: SFU Brandon Tidy (Smerek, Ceci) 18:25 SFU Mathew Berry-Lamontagna (Callegari, Ceci) 7:22 (PP) SFU Jaret Babych (Jang, Tidy) 1:16 (PP)

Third Period: UVIC Linden Horswill (Rowat, Mueller) 1:53 (PP) UVIC Evan Warner (Enns, Sigurdson) 0:44

Overtime Rowat (Willans, Horswill) 4:27 (PP)

Goalies: Jordan Liem (SFU): 10 saves/ 11 shots .909 SV% (40 minutes played) James Prigone (SEL): 32 saves/35 shots .914 SV%

28 DIVERSIONS / ETC

March 14, 2016

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

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HUMOUR

March 14, 2016

humour editor email

Justin Stevens humour@the-peak.ca

29

Hey, SFU! I’m a little unsure of these new school rules. We’re not allowed to write anything; SFU reps are taking my dictation right now, and it’s easy and makes me feel connected to the community!

I’m wondering if you can clarify the rules established this week, and I’m really excited for them!

Yours, Amnita Chanda, gender: f, History/Anthropology, BT O+, good standing Hey Amnita!

Here’s a list of the new SFU school rules: 1. All clothing must be either blue, red, or grey, same as the official school rations.

On Wednesdays, students may wear any plaid dancing shoes, in spirit of SFU’s Scottish heritage! Dancing remains prohibited.

2. Communicating with the levitating bear is permitted in the RCB Hall only.

3. Surrey and Vancouver students are reminded that classes no longer exist in those campuses, as those campuses no longer exist. All AWOL students will be forgiven once tallied at SFU Burnaby.

4. No hard-soled shoes on any gym floor.

5. Communication with the infected Dr. Torsten Kehler is to be done at a safe distance of five metres, minimum (though nothing will stop those dad-jokes!). Same applies for all animated, recently infected professors. SFU is working on a reversal.

6. Members of the Egyptian League of the Undead are a valued part of this community and will be given students’ sympathy and any available ankhs.

7. Have fun!

Amnita, we’ve never been closer to understanding the complexities of Ursa Major, or the inner workings of Burnaby Mountain.

Just today, in the mountain, we’ve reached lava! Neat!

Our hearts go out to the four archeology students lost in the excavation.

Sincerely, A transparent figure, SFU Communications

30 HUMOUR

March 14, 2016

(Reuben Newton)

Creator’s Pet (Leslie Lu)

Creator’s Pet (Destiny Hsu)

h

humour@the-peak.ca

HUMOUR

Moving from Oregon, I hardly expected to have a culture shock upon arriving in British Columbia. Belonging to the same stretch of Cascadia, I assumed that Portland and Vancouver would be very similar aesthetically. And if the nearly constant drizzling rain and the fresh air didn’t do the trick, the abundance of beer snobs, the locally owned vegan cafés, and the plethora of cute girls with pierced septums and unnaturally dyed hair would make me feel at home. But there are a few things that this vegetarian, Oregonian girl with a pierced septum and dyed hair simply can’t ignore.

A few things that, quite frankly, confuse the shit out of me.

1. Toques: They’re called beanies, you guys. What even is a toque? It doesn’t make sense.

Beanies got their name from heads being nicknamed beans.

That makes perfect sense. ‘Toque’ doesn’t even sound like a real

March 14, 2016

word, it sounds like someone is trying to cheat at Scrabble.

2. Loonies and toonies: You know your currency is basically just a ripoff of a popular children’s cartoon show, right? And what’s the point in not having $1 bills if you’re just going to replace them with coins? The only difference is that I feel guiltier paying for things with a bundle of coins than with a wad of cash which weighs five pounds and destroys my change purse.

Thank you for that. The only real advantage is that your money doesn’t have crusty, problematic, old men on it.

3. Pasta: I have yet to meet a Canadian who pronounces this word correctly. It’s pronounced paw-sta, not pah-sta. Who hurt you?

4. Kraft Dinner: On the topic of paw-sta, it’s called mac ‘n cheese, not Kraft Dinner. Just like toques, you’re just using words that don’t belong. Macaroni is the type of noodle; cheese is the sauce. What’s Kraft Dinner? The brand. Hardly specific. Try again, mates. It’s like calling Beef stroganoff ‘Hamburger Helper.’ Who does that? Heathens.

5. Curling: Every morning when I go to the dining hall, the TV either has hockey on or curling. At that rate, if a third TV were installed, it would probably show a herd of moose eating at

Tim Hortons. But honestly, curling is the most ridiculous looking sport. There aren’t beefy men pummeling each other and getting concussions on the daily, so can you really call it athletic?

Congratulations on making

“physics on ice” a way bigger deal than it should be.

6. Free health care: In ‘Murica, we handle those concussions on our own. Pain is just weakness leaving the body anyway. No pain, no gain, and America is all about

gains, baby. American health care is being charged hundreds of dollars for a bald eagle to tell you that soldiers have it worse than you and that at least you’re experiencing your pain in a free country.

That shit builds character.

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[BURNABY] – SFU Burnaby recently became a battlefield between SFU’s very own McFogg the Dog and Marvel anti-hero Deadpool. The two engaged in a verbal dispute, with Deadpool expressing his desire to become the school’s newest mascot. Tensions escalated when McFogg argued that Deadpool was not qualified enough for the role. Deadpool responded in kind, saying that he should be the new mascot because he’s more Canadian than McFogg. After a tense argument, a fight became imminent. Campus security came and separated the two. Surprisingly enough, Deadpool backed off, only to say that he needed to hurry back to his movie before the post-credit scene began.

[SURREY] – SFU Surrey recently offered a chance for students to attend a field school in Antarctica. This school offers something for everyone. Interactions with polar bears, workshops that teach you how to boil water from ice, lectures on ice fishing, field work on how to survive a snowstorm that will most likely kill you in seconds, and exploring Antarctica’s great landscape. All fees are covered, including hotel reservations, tuition, plane tickets (one-way only), and great meals at the banquet hall of ice. The school also features the top penguin professors, whose office hours are flexible and accommodating for everyone — but held underwater.

31

32 LAST WORD

Features Editor email

Tamara Connor features@the-peak.ca

March 14, 2016

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IMPORTED

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