NEWS
OPINIONS
SPORTS
HUMOUR
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SFU Vancouver hosts Women’s Safety Fair
Tagouri’s hijab is a good omen for Playboy’s future
Secondary scoring finally here for women’s soccer
Un-expecto patronum: your true patronus quiz
Last-minute Halloween
first peek
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Fourth-year communication
It’s a nice Saturday morning: the weather’s good, you’re up to date with your coursework, and the bills are paid. Yet, there’s something nagging at the back of your mind. A cup of coffee in hand, you sit by your laptop and open your exhibitionist social media platform of choice. That nagging feeling remains, getting stronger by the minute. You come across a post with someone expressing their beliefs on their account, and it clicks. You haven’t mocked or insulted somebody’s religious views in over a month — a month! That’s, like, 30 or 31 days without you doing your selfimposed duty of informing people that what they believe is wrong and backward. “This is an outrage,” you say to yourself as you type up a 300-word post (or 50-point tweet thread, because dedication), exercising your right to free speech to ridicule the way someone leads their life. Your friends and family praise you for how enlightened you are. You can rest easy now, knowing that your job is done. If you relate to this, I feel that you might have some personal issues that go past simply disagreeing with alternate beliefs, and you might want to work those out. I try to avoid engaging in religious debates very often, especially with new people, mostly because they usually go nowhere. Typically, the point isn’t to reach some sort of answer or profound conclusion, but
to prove to the other party that your view is the right one. However, as a student, it’s become a regular occurrence to see people “woke” after some liberal arts lecture and berate others for following religion, without any backlash. This isn’t limited to university, though, and I just wonder when it became cool to hate on religion. Usually, the complaints directed at religious people are that they aren’t open-minded (regarding sexual orientation, for example) or that their beliefs are responsible for wars and humanity’s most senseless acts. This disregards the existence of narrow-minded atheists, and similarly heinous acts committed in the absence of religious views.
Furthermore, these complaints repeatedly forget to factor in human agency in these acts. If all religious people acted the way these stereotypes imply, we’d most likely all be dead or in constant war. This isn’t to justify hateful expressions of one’s beliefs, or the existence of extremists. On the contrary, I condemn them. But generalizing hatred or lack of open-mindedness as qualities of
a large group of people based on their religion is very problematic. Vile atheists exist in the same way vile religious people do. However, many non-religious people put themselves on the moral high ground and often don’t realize they exist within the same narrowminded rhetoric they’re supposedly fighting against. Do you park your “open-mindedness” just outside at the boundary of religion? Many non-religious people tend to view religious people as judgemental; while that may be true in some instances, non-religious people can be just as judgemental, and very often are, with little reprimand. Because of the negative associations they’ve formed with religion, some already have predisposed notions of religious people, and consider their disrespectful comments about their beliefs justified because of those notions. I’ve seen people urging religious people to commit suicide even after expressing their religious views peacefully, essentially bullying religious people into keeping their beliefs quiet. But free speech comes with a certain level of responsibility. If you can’t express your opinion or offer criticism in a respectful way, you’re part of the problem. Your outlook on life is influenced by your identity as a non-religious person; similarly, a person’s religious beliefs affect how they see the world. When you insult or mock someone’s beliefs, you insult who they are. The churlish individuals on both “sides” need to step off their respective pedestals, because they’re blocking the view for everyone.
4 News
Every day, lives are saved by the work that first responders perform. While vital to society, many first responders deal with extreme cases of trauma and sadness as a result of their occupation. That is why Larry White, director, career and professional programs for SFU Continuing Studies, was in complete support of Vince Savoia, founder of Tema Conter Memorial Trust, when he approached White about “the concept of a program to support the mental wellness of first responders.” Savoia and his foundation have “been reporting on what they call the epidemic of suicide of first responders, who are suffering from PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder],” said White. He also told The Peak that Savoia “felt there was something that we could do that would be significant to help offset the epidemic of suicide.” Advocacy groups have been formed by first responders themselves to raise awareness and support for first responders living
with PTSD. According to Tema, so far this year, 41 first responders and 10 military individuals have committed suicide throughout Canada. The high number of cases of PTSD and suicide has prompted provinces to change legislation to stop first responders having to prove that their PTSD is a result of their work.
SFU Continuing Studies announced in January that first responders could register for White and Savoia’s program, which began this fall. The program has
Ashley Fraser / Print News Editor
news@the-peak.ca
made strides across Canada, seeing 61 students enrolled in the first course. These students are made up of not only traditional first responders such as police, ambulance, military, and correctional workers, but also hospital employees, victims services employees, and members of search and rescue teams. The online nature of the 300hour, 10-course program allows first responders to work at their own pace with a few deadlines along the way. White explained, “We are making the program available online so we can reach the broadest possible audience, and make this opportunity for learning about how to support yourself and mitigate instances from jobs up to the broadest possible first responders audience.” He added that the program is probably the most “comprehensive program that supports first responders and their mental health that [he has]
been able to discover anywhere in the world.” The program's complexity aims to provide first responders with a “personal resilience toolkit.” White explained that the courses, taught by both first responders and clinical psychologists, will offer students the fundamentals to address some of the stigma surrounding mental illness that they may face in their field, as well as “how first responders’ jobs impact their mental wellness and the challenges they face up to and including post-traumatic stress disorder.” The two-year development of the program included a national advisory committee and consultations with first responders. These exposed how important it was for students to interact with other participants in the program. White explained that the online Canvas modules “allow ample opportunity to do that.” This Continuing Studies program also offers a 24/7 partnership with Morneau Shepell, the largest employee assistance provider in the country. This partnership includes a team of professional service providers who “work with first responders
With posters plastered around SFU, by-election season for the Simon Fraser Student Society is unofficially underway here at SFU. It won’t be official until October 17, when the nomination period begins for both candidates and referenda questions. However, the posters will hopefully put the idea of running into the heads of some potential candidates, as there were very few candidates for the original election. Only two candidates ran for president, which then saw winner Deepak Sharma step down because of failure to meet membership eligibility status. That was still two more candidates than the environment representative, which saw a grand total of zero candidates. Larissa Chen has been filling the role of interim president since May 19, but decided that she did not want to permanently take over the position. The nomination period will end on October 30, and the campaigning period will begin on Halloween. The vote will take place from November 15–17, and we will find out who has won the positions at 12:01 a.m. on November 18, assuming there are candidates this time around. As of publication time, independent electoral commissioner Vanna Lodders has not responded to The Peak’s request for comment.
News
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada's office closed its doors in December 2015. However, Simon Fraser University’s new mandate to oversee the work to put forward by the TRC is just getting started. The new Aboriginal Reconciliation Council of SFU (SFU-ARC) held the first of five public forums this semester on October 4 to decide how to implement the 94 recommendations going forward. The forums are also a discussion ground to figure out how to spend the $9 million they’ve been given, which needs to be spent over the next three years. SFU-ARC is being co-chaired by Chris Lewis, councillor of the Squamish Nation and member of the SFU Board of Governors, and Dr. Kris Magnusson, who is the dean of the faculty of education at SFU. Lewis is also an alumnus of SFU, graduating back in 2005. The first forum took place on Burnaby Mountain, in a packed
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Halpern Centre. Led by Lewis and Magnusson, it had a brief introduction of the project by them, including their hopes, which then opened up to the public for their input. From there, several members of the indigenous communities — including Elder Margaret, who opened with a traditional prayer — took turns sharing their stories of the injustices they’ve faced for being indigenous, and what they want to see moving forward with SFU-ARC. “This school has been open for 50 years, and we’re only just at this point,” said a man who identified his English name as Jim White. “You’re going the right direction, it took a long time. I’m so proud to listen to what this is about.” Another woman named Turtle, whose English name is Betsy Bruyere, talked about the difficulties she faced as a student pursuing her master's in education at SFU. She demanded that
SFU administration and teachers receive racism training, based on what she encountered during her time here. Among other suggestions were renaming buildings and rooms around SFU that are named after colonizers, such as James Douglas. All of this is what Magnusson outlined for what he wanted
to see from these forums. In an interview with SFU News, he said that “[he wants] them to share their SFU experiences — to tell us about issues or challenges they may have faced with regard to aboriginal and/or indigenous participation on campus.” All of this is designed to answer the big question he and Lewis posed at the start of the
forum: How might SFU-ARC best spend $9 million in the next three years to make it sustainable for future generations at SFU? The next panel will be taking place on October 18, again at the Halpern Centre from 2–4 pm. All faculty, staff, and students — aboriginal or non-aboriginal — are invited to attend.
The panel featured Chanel Ly, Doris Chow, Henry Yu, Gregory Borowski, and Carol Anne Lee, and was moderated by Bill Yuen. All the panelists were concerned with maintaining Chinatown’s heritage and increasing interest in the area, but each had different ideas about how to approach this. UBC Professor Henry Yu talked about the importance of heritage policy to preserve and protect historic businesses. But he also stressed that “having a place that has meaning does not mean being stuck in the past.”
Yu argued that new approaches to preserving history are needed, and that a balance must be found between the old and new. Echoing this was Carol Anne Lee, CEO of Linacare Laboratories in Chinatown. In 2009, Lee founded the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation. She is currently in the process of revitalizing her second restaurant in Chinatown, and believes that food is a vital part of the neighbourhood. Chanel Ly and Doris Chow work with Chinese seniors in the Downtown Eastside and Chinatown. Both look at more community-based approaches to neighbourhood engagement. Chow is the co-founder of the Youth Collaborative for
Chinatown, a group trying to increase youth engagement in the neighbourhood through intergenerational activities, such as mahjong socials. She sees a lot of young people who are “taking inspiration from their elders, and trying to get in touch with their roots” by learning more about their Chinese heritage. However, she said she worries about the sustainability of projects like hers without any formal sources of funding. Ly said that seniors, the people most impacted by the changes in Chinatown, are not being consulted. She pointed out that there were no Chinese seniors on the panel, and very few at the event. She said that this reflects the fact that although many people talk
about accommodating seniors, they are often not invited to the discussion table. Community member William Lim agreed. He expressed worry that, too often, decisions are made in favour of business rather than people. He said, “Any urban development must first be about the people that live in that community. They can’t be ignored.” Ly also runs a Youth for Chinese Seniors project, and she remains hopeful that positive changes can come through collaborations between these two groups. “The youth are more political,” she said. “They’re really trying to raise the voices of the people most impacted, and to be part of the decision-making.”
CITY PLANNING
For many citizens, gentrification in Vancouver’s Chinatown is an ongoing concern. As more and more expensive condos, boutiques, and restaurants are constructed, some worry that lower income residents will be displaced and the character of the neighbourhood will be lost. On October 5, many of those citizens gathered at SFU’s Goldcorp Centre for the Arts, for a panel discussion addressing the question: What is the Vision for Chinatown? The panel was presented by SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement and the Heritage Vancouver Society.
6 News
Ashley Fraser / Print News Editor
news@the-peak.ca
Embark is hoping to have a referendum question during the upcoming by-election which will see the levy they take from students increased. After doing the research, and concluding that grant money would not be sufficient for the projects they are hoping to do, they hope to ask students to approve a raise up to $3.50 taken per semester for each full-time student, and $1.75 taken for each part-time student.
On an overcast day, Semester in Dialogue took to the streets of Downtown Vancouver to launch its event “You Write We Listen” by Stadium-Chinatown: a one-day prototype to ask questions and engage with residents on creating a vibrant future for the Northeast False Creek redevelopment. Topics include improving park space, reinvigorating the waterfront, and addressing Vancouver’s need to diversify its nighttime activities. With the purpose of identifying and elevating the voices of community members, the cohort was comprised of 20 SFU and UBC students set out to directly inform their future work in the Northeast False Creek area. Inspired by Candy Chang, the result consisted of several panels combined to make a snakelike art installation asking the city three questions regarding the best thing about the current space, imagining what the space could have, and asking people what is the most fun they’ve had for free.
Standing at eight feet tall and branching off in three octopus-like directions, the street corner was transformed by the structure, inviting residents to interact with the different aspects weaving around the space. There was room to answer each question, draw something, or simply jot down whatever came to mind.
“The biggest highlight for me was watching the project finally come to fruition. When I spotted the structure from the SkyTrain as I was coming in, I was totally blown away, it looked incredible,” said Kelly Furey, a senior communication student at SFU. “There was a big group of people surrounding the form and engaging with it. We cultivated a space where people could share the memories that they had,
and share different and experiences.”
thoughts
In the end, all three questions garnered 85–120 responses. The most common response regarded what people wanted to do and see in the city, with lots of answers revolving around family and friends, playing, going to parks, and hiking. Many people also chose to engage with the space alternatively, drawing or doodling or just writing random thoughts. Some people even wrote their own questions to reflect on. One of the most crucial lessons Duane Elverum, one of the co-founders and directors at CityStudio, learned from the program is to “kill your darlings,” and not become too attached or caught up in one concept. “You don’t get pushed enough in traditional university settings to do something to the best of your abilities and then kill it right away,”
Mendonsa said. “That’s why it was so impactful when I saw it. It was living proof that despite coming to something you really truly believed in and then re-envisioning and prototyping it again and again that we are still able to tie it all together.” Other students appreciated what it took to get to the point of the event, but found the end result the most gratifying. “You can get a little lost in the process and theoretical project, but when you put paint to paper and bring the boards into the studio and built a tangible thing it was a really cool moment for me,” said Sarah Duggan, a third-year international studies student at SFU. Overall, the launch gave students skills they can use with their future larger projects, as they break off into smaller groups and address different themes within Northeast False Creek. Kathleen Belton, an SFU environment major, feels positive moving forward. “There are all these impacts and things come out of it that you wouldn’t expect, and it was overall very effective with what the instructors hoped it would do for us.” Alex is a member of the Fall 2016 Semester in Dialogue program cohort.
Grayson Barke from the Environmental Resource Student Union came to talk about the potential Tank-Farm expansion, and the threat it could pose to students. Barke was adamant that the expansion could be deadly for students, and hopes to have the SFSS engage with students to inform them of the risks and get participation in preventing the expansion from ever happening.
The meeting, which was moved from the usual forum chambers due to convocation, went the distance, as they were in MBC 2294 until the room was booked by another group. However, the meeting wasn’t over, as they moved to the Build SFU think tank to have an in camera discussion, the subject of which was not included on the agenda. The Board declined to comment on the reason for this meeting.
News
October 11, 2016
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SAFETY FIRST Bite-sized news from around the world Written by Manon Busseron, SFU Student
ISRAEL Death of Shimon Peres Shimon Peres, former president of Israel (2007–14), died on September 28 at the age of 93. Many Western politicians attended his funeral and paid tribute to this founding father of Israel, and key negotiator of the Oslo Accord in 1993. The Oslo Accord was one of the most important steps in the peace process in the Middle East: it established a mutual recognition
of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization. Peres was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994. Nevertheless, many Arab leaders, except Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, remain critical of his politics and refused to attend his funeral.
With files from Lemonde.fr
BAHAMAS Bahamas Leaks scandal weakening the European Union A recent leak revealed that Neelie Kroes, former European commissioner, neglected to declare her interests in an offshore business in the Bahamas. This constitutes a violation of the code of European commissioners. Her nomination was already controversial, as she is currently associated with businesses like Uber and Bank of America. Kroes said this was an
administrative error, but her opponents have argued the scandal reveals a conflict of interests. This leak comes after José Manuel Barroso, former president of the European Commission, was recently hired by Goldman Sachs, the party considered responsible for the 2008 financial crisis.
With files from BBC News
ITALY Two former nuns married in discreet ceremony in Italy
The fifth annual Women’s Safety Fair took place at SFU Harbour Centre on October 5, and was hosted by the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) as well as other community agencies. The event was comprised of several dialogue-based activities, including community discussions on women’s safety, a VPD Women’s Personal Safety team demonstration, a Transit Police safety presentation, and information booths on women’s safety. “The dangers that women face are unique. It’s not OK for [them] to feel uncomfortable,” said Ben Stevens, VPD detective constable and one of the event organizers. “This event gets that message out to the community and offers a one-stop shop for services they can access.” For instance, as many students are daily users of the public transit system, Constable Bruce Shipley of the Metro Vancouver Transit Police Services talked about TransLink’s new emergency text line, 87-77-77. This is a discreet means of reporting criminal behaviour on transit, in comparison to pressing the yellow silent alarm. “We need to educate people on what resources we have,” said Shipley. “So many people still don’t know what we as transit police do.”
In addition to police departments, non-profits such as Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW) and BC211, among many others, were also present to speak about the support they can offer to women and survivors of sexual violence. “We provide counselling, support, a 24-hour crisis line, hospital accompaniment for survivors. We always give women agency on whether they choose to report an assault or not, [and] offer them the option of reporting through a third party as well,” said Ashley Teja, a victims services worker at WAVAW.
The event didn’t lack in SFU presence, either. Organizations like the SFU Women’s Centre and Consent Matters SFU also had representatives at the event. Leah Horlick, the SFU Women’s Centre coordinator said of the event, “More than just women’s safety, I’m interested in ending the systems that perpetuate violence against women. I think it’s important today to have all these support organizations together so we can connect about the work that we do and build more of a capacity [for it].” Hosting the fair at the university also brought up discussion about institutional change on the issue of sexual assault, and what students could do to bring about Leah Horlick that change. SFU Women’s Centre coordinator “We want to know how inKaitlin Warren, a representative stitutions are holding perpetrators from BC211, a non-profit funded [of sexual assault] accountable,” in partnership with United Way, said Teja. “It’s important to have also mentioned that they offer a dialogue with other organizations, 24-hour phone line for referrals to as it gives us an opportunity to community and social services. change the narrative.”
“I’m interested in ending the systems that perpetuate violence against women."
Federica and Isabel met when they were working at a centre for drug addicts. The two were married on October 5. Italy passed legislation to authorize same-sex marriage in June. As Federica and Isabel were nuns when they met, they both renounced their vocations and spoke out against the Catholic Church’s position on
same-sex marriage, but said they still have faith. This is not the first time members have left the Catholic church: in 2015, Krzysztof Charamsa, a Polish priest, was suspended after publicly proclaiming his sexual orientation.
With files from The Guardian
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8 Opinions
Taryn Grubb SFU Student
Zach Siddiqui / Opinions Editor
opinions@the-peak.ca
Opinions
Theresa-Anne Clarke Harter Peak Associate
Antony Czeto SFU Student
October 11, 2016
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10 Arts
Jess Whitesel / Arts Editor
arts@the-peak.ca
FOOD FIGHT
On September 29, Field and Social on Dunsmuir opened its doors to the community to host one of its first events since launching this past February. Partnering with the Dallah Menu, the small, industrialmeets-homey space came alive with good food and lively company during its pop-up, the Lebanese Cafeteria. The man of the hour was none other than Abdallah El Chami, better known as Dallah. He’s the brains behind the Dallah Menu. He told The Peak how happy he was to bring Lebanese food to the community, since it’s a cuisine that’s not always readily available in Vancouver. After spending six weeks in Lebanon, he came back eager to share everything he had learned and experienced. “My big things are food, community, and charity,” Dallah said. “It’s a privilege to be able to share my food with so many people, and to bring them all together.” Dallah put his own modern and trendy spin on traditional Lebanese dishes, while still preserving the cultural significance found in particular flavours or methods of cooking. This was reflected in his menu, which consisted of three courses. Guests were able to pick between two salads (tabbouleh and fattoush), two mains (pulled beef shawarma and stuffed potato kibbeh), and two dips (hummus and jazar, a carrot dip). For your convenience, we took the liberty of trying all the dishes for you: Fattoush: A chopped salad that resembles a fancy Greek salad with tomatoes, radishes, arugula, cilantro, and lettuce in a tangy vinaigrette. It was fresh and delicious, the kind of salad you could eat all day. Tabbouleh: A parsley salad with a very sharp and tangy taste, made up of tomatoes, fresh parsley, mint, and bulgur. Stuffed potato kibbeh: A fried potato dumpling made out
of bulgur, but instead of being bland, the centre is filled with a vegetarian-friendly walnut imitation of the traditional meat and onion filling. Accompanied with a fresh cilantro garlic sauce resembling a pesto. Pulled beef shawarma: Shawarma on its own is already to die for, but the fact that it was pulled and super tender made this dish out of this world. Tender meat with an explosion of different complementary flavours. It was heaven on a plate. Hummus: Clearly freshly made, with the perfect balance of seasoning to keep it a mild, creamy dip to accompany the other flavourful portions of the menu. Jazar: A dip with an even smoother texture than the hummus (which we didn’t think was possible), resembling a much lighter version of something between sour cream and cream cheese. The carrot flavour was very mild, but went well with everything. Pineapple and anise soda: A near-spicy soda thanks to the anise. Although normally it would be the pineapple that makes it tart, the pineapple was actually the sweeter part of the beverage. Orange blossom and mint lemonade: The floral notes on this lemonade were super prominent, and made the overall drink quite refreshing. Though lemonade is usually sour, this upscale version of it was just the right balance of sweet and sour. Guests enjoyed these delicious dishes and each other’s company in the beautiful Field and Social space. The communal tables made the event feel like coming home to eat at the dinner table, while the volume level matched that of a big family gathering. The Dallah Menu and Field and Social are two innovative and unique purveyors to the Vancouver food scene, and definitely ones to watch.
Canadian-born and raised Andy Shauf has stunned both listeners and critics with his new album, The Party. An older, more refined sibling to his previous album, The Bearer of Bad News , this story-filled folk-pop album led him to a spot on the shortlist for the Polaris Music Prize. “That was super exciting,” Shauf noted regarding the prize. “I followed the Polaris for a really long time, so it was exciting. I was kind of surprised they found my album.” The album is really quite a standout — it features varying narratives from a number of perspectives at a party in a “city the size of a dinner plate.” His music tends to excel in capturing small-town vibes. “When I’m picturing the narrative I’m picturing it at home,” said the Saskatchewan native. “For The Party, for a lot of it, I was picturing different scenarios actually happening in my own living room.” Shauf elaborated that this storytelling style was inspired by Randy Newman: “A song that’s about him seems like it’s fictionalized.”
The particular theme of an album narratively taking place within a small-town party came from Shauf’s more focused approach to the album. His previous album, The Bearer of Bad News, was whittled down to the perfect 11 songs out of a whopping 100. The Party, on the other hand, was carefully curated to feature 10 out of 15 potential songs.
Shauf explained that the varied approaches were due to a lack of time pressure for Bearer. He was “searching for a sound, trying to figure out what to do with it while writing. “During The Party I had an idea of what I wanted it to sound like and then eventually I came up with a theme for the songs.
I was more focused and knew what I wanted to do.” Shauf’s focused sound hones in on the clarinet and showcases the warm qualities of an often forgotten instrument in modern music. “I saw a show of a friend’s band that I was seeing and they were playing clarinet. I was like, whoa, that has such a nice texture, so I asked my mom to buy me one for Christmas one year. It was a super hard instrument to learn, but eventually I figured out. So now I just use it because it’s the most interesting instrument I play.” The clarinet compliments beautiful string arrangements, tinkling piano on top of charming guitar, and soft vocals that listeners can catch live as Shauf will be making an extended stop in Vancouver on October 14 and 15 at the Fox Cabaret as part of his North American tour.
Arts
October 11, 2016
PEP TALK
Nathan Ross Web News Editor There are a lot of differences between Canada and Australia. The list includes deadliest animals, which side of the road to drive on, and which country had a prime minister completely disappear while having a swim one day. However, if you ask Australian band Oh Pep! what it’s like being back touring in Canada, they don’t see much difference. “We’re in the habit of moving around so much, especially coming to North America, it’s weird that it feels like a coming home feeling — it’s very, very familiar,” said Olivia Hally on being back on this side of the Pacific Ocean. “It’s a weirdly calming feeling, which is a weird thing to say when you’re going on tour.” Hally is the “Oh” of Oh Pep!, along with bandmate Pepita Emmerichs, who is the titular “Pep.” The duo hails from Melbourne, and they're currently in the middle of a tour that will take them all around the world.
They recently put out their debut album Stadium Cake this year, and have already been in town touring it during the Vancouver Folk Festival earlier this summer. The fact that Oh Pep! recorded Stadium Cake here in Nova Scotia shows just how comfortable they feel here in Canada. They just finished playing in the United States, supporting the Mountain Goats, and are now opening for Polaris shortlist nominee Basia Bulat. “They’re both really wonderful to tour with,” said Hally. “The Mountain Goats have a very punk attitude and so do their fans, and then it’s more of like an adoration with Basia’s fans. “They’re all very, very lovely people.” While they’re just on opening duty right now, it isn’t hard to imagine Hally and Emmerichs securing a
headline spot once their names are more recognizable, as the response to Stadium Cake has been very positive. As the Vancouver Folk Fest said in its write-up on Oh Pep!, “There are great vocals here, stunning harmonies that make you pay attention. There’s also a bit of the off-beat, the singular, reasons why they’re already racking up noms and awards.” Awards like the Young Folk Performer of the Year at the National Folk Festival in Canberra, which the group won back in 2014. However, if you ask Oh Pep! what they would highlight about themselves or the tour when given the chance, they are quick to share the praise. Asked if there was anything she wanted to share specifically, Hally said, “Our album is out, and we think Basia is great.” When they were here in the summer, fans were treated to the group as a trio, as a drummer accompanied the women. However, it will just be Hally — who sings and plays guitar — and Emmerichs — who plays the violin and mandolin — on this leg of their tour. Afterwards, it’ll be back to the US for a show, and then travelling all across Europe before heading home for New Year’s Eve. Fans and Vancouverites who want to catch Oh Pep! will have their chance October 12 at the Vogue Theatre. Tickets are only $20, and are available for purchase via Ticketfly.
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TAPHOUSE GRILL
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Arts
Jess Whitesel / Arts Editor
arts@the-peak.ca
Nicolas Jaar’s second LP, Sirens, does not break new ground with his stark, bass-heavy style. Instead, he incorporates all his previous efforts to create his most cohesive yet challenging record to date. This album moves fluidly through instrumentation, genre, and even language. Take a track like “The Governor,� which combines a breakcore drum beat with an Angelo Badalamenti-style piano riff before letting a solo horn wail freely. For the climactic finish, he reintroduces all these juxtaposing parts and produces one of the most exciting sections of the record. It’s his ability to take these seemingly opposing influences to create a sound that you never think would work — but it does, and it sounds effortless. Sirens further establishes Jaar as one of the most exciting musicians out right now. – CR
The Altar is Banks’ second studio album. It was produced by Tim Anderson and Al Shux, who both worked on her first album Goddess, and this time around I was hoping to see the Banks-Anderson-Shux team take more risks in terms of the musical accompaniment. There was a bit more pizzazz here and there, and certain songs like “Weaker Girlâ€? had violin arrangements which were cool. Most of it just sounded like your standard pop music, though: uncomplicated and neat. But more experimentation in accompaniment would take away from the best thing about Banks — herself. Her voice and lyrics definitely stand out from standard pop music. Her voice is refreshing, and her lyrics tell stories of personal insecurities and disappointing relationships, but not in an overly clichĂŠd way. You’d expect her to be the victim. In her lyrics though, she is both victim and antagonist, which makes for an interesting twist. – TH
Young as the Morning, Old as the Sea is the seventh album by Michael David Rosenberg (stage name Passenger) — or the eighth, if you include the sole record by the band he fronted previously, of the same name. Passenger hasn’t found any new strength to his voice, but I wasn’t expecting to find any; the soft raspiness of his vocals are a signature now. Nothing on this album will meet the popularity of 2012’s “Let Her Go,� but it has its moments anyway. “Anywhere� is lighthearted, uptempo, and — dare I say it — happy. It’s at the top of my list for this album. It’s a good album, it’s just not as good as it could be. A lot of the songs sound similar enough to run together, but it doesn’t feel purposeful. “If You Go� has a good horn section that’ll get you up and tapping along, but then it blends right back into the ordinariness of the record. – CM
In the best moments of her previous records, you could tell that Solange had a great album in her — but I didn't expect it so soon. Much like her sister BeyoncÊ, Solange dropped A Seat at the Table by surprise only three days after announcing it on Twitter. But unlike the vigour and ferocity that made Lemonade what it was, A Seat at the Table is quiet and contemplative, an album of measured clarity and soaring harmonies. Despite its more subtle touches, it's no less a powerful LP. Solange balances broader political commentary with personal struggle: "Cranes in the Sky" details her coping strategies, while "Mad" is a brave admittance of emotional toll that also features the best Lil Wayne verse in years. Punctuated by spoken interludes with her parents, Solange's opus is stunning in its openness, each song its own portrait of resilience and strength. If there's a seat at the table, Solange has more than earned it. – MJH
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Arts
October 11, 2016
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When vocalist and keyboardist David Ritter answered my call, the Strumbellas had just left the stage at the Austin City Limits Festival, and the band would soon be heading to an autograph signing. Such is the life of a band whose latest album, Hope , has seen huge success this past year. They’ve been touring for the better part of the year, both in North America and abroad, and they will soon be coming to Vancouver for two shows at the Commodore Ballroom on October 16 and 17, with the Zolas as openers. Ritter isn’t complaining about the band’s touring schedule, though. “It’s good to be busy,” he said. While they don’t get home to Ontario as much as they’d like, they are looking forward to returning home to Canada to continue their tour. Ritter said he’s quite familiar with Vancouver: his sister used to live here, and he had some friends who attended SFU. With the success of Hope ’s first single, “Spirits,” the band has been pleasantly surprised. “We certainly had no idea that
it was going to take off the way it did,” said Ritter. They were happy to find out people in Belgium and South Africa were connecting with the song. “You always hope for this, but it’s hard to tell with your own work,” he said. “Sometimes you think it’s amazing, and sometimes you think it’s terrible.” In an interview with iHeartRadio, lead singer Simon Ward mentioned that his favourite part of “Spirits” is the bridge, and talked about its creation: “One cool thing about ‘Spirits’ is the bridge. I wrote that right after I was watching Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and I was trying to write a song in the vein of that end scene when Indiana picks the right cup and when he pours it on his dad. So I went to the computer and was trying to write an inspirational movie theme-esque song, and it was a violin piece, and then eventually we were like, 'Oh crap, we don't have a bridge for Spirits.' I found that and plopped it in there.” Audiences can expect the band to interact with them a lot
during their concerts, and Ritter said their favourite thing to do is to get the crowd to sing along, not just to “Spirits” but, especially in Canada, to some of their earlier songs that fans will also know. While they have built up their Canadian audience slowly — touring to small venues like the Railway Club, and gaining a following along the way — their recent success has changed things. “Now we roll into a place we’ve never played and there are hundreds of people who know our songs,” Ritter said. When the band arrives in a new city, the one thing they always try to do is find some good food. According to Ritter, “We don’t get a lot of time to enjoy the sights, but we try to sneak away for an hour and have one good meal.” In Austin, he’s hoping they can find some good tacos or BBQ. When they’ve been to Vancouver in the past, they’ve usually eaten at Japanese restaurants suggested by Ritter’s sister. Fans can relate not only to the band’s music, but also their love of finding good food in a new city.
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16 Sports
Rachel Wong Peak Associate
Nick Bondi / Sports Editor
sports@the-peak.ca
Sports
Austin Cozicar Peak Associate
Austin Cozicar Peak Associate
October 11, 2016
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18
Anson Lee SFU Student
Nick Bondi Sports Editor
Sports
Nick Bondi / Sports Editor
sports@the-peak.ca
Humour
Janis McMath / Humour Editor
October 11, 2016 humour@the-peak.ca
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20 Comics
Janis McMath / Humour Editor
humour@the-peak.ca
Humour
October 11, 2016
T
he beginning of autumn can mean only one thing: the emergence of pumpkin spice. Starbucks rolled out its pumpkin spice latte on September 1, even before we could sober up from our summer mojitos and margaritas. But don’t be basic and succumb to the over-commercialized, mainstream pumpkin spice products! Here are five pumpkin-y things that will get all the basic girls asking, “Where can I buy that?!”
Because nothing says gum diseasefighting, cavity-reducing super toothpaste like pumpkin spice toothpaste. Fight sugar with more sugar! That cinnamon toothpaste shit is nasty anyway.
OK, confession time: you have something funky going on with your feet and you are uber self-conscious about it. Not to worry! These cute pumpkin socks (patterned with your choice of happy or scary jack-o’-lanterns) thrive on foot sweat. The more sweat, the more pumpkin smell you get. Soon, you’ll have people asking if you stepped in pumpkin pie!
Why should your drink get all the fun? This mug is lined with layers and layers of pumpkin-infused chemicals. Fill your mug and let the chemicals mix with your coffee or hot water! Also available in pumpkin-lined solo cups, for all of your frat party needs.
Victoria’s Secret ain’t got nothing on this sexy new lingerie line. Slip into something that makes you feel like the badass warden of the pumpkin patch that you truly are on the inside, while smelling exactly like a freshly baked pumpkin pie from grandma’s oven. Give him that sugar and spice and everything naughty!
This is the ultimate pumpkin experience for all you pumpkin enthusiasts out there! Pumpkins of today are not at the calibre of pumpkin-ness that our ancestors used to eat hundreds of years ago. These pumpkins have two times more seeds, two times more inner gunk to scoop out, two times more pumpkin potent, and five times more orange. Trump gives his seal of approval on this one, and now you know what he bases his spray tan off of!
ADULTING
2. Pay your bills when you feel like it A blasé attitude is highly recommended here. Better yet, wait until the eviction notice arrives before making rent. It'll give you a rush of excitement that your soul-crushing job and cynical partner can't. Hello darkness, my old friend.
child when you can instead spend your adult life wondering if that 22-year-old political science major from Ohio is going to look favourably on your “super like”? (You're 35 in this scenario, and you also still listen to Nickelback. Bathe in that sadness for a second.)
3. Believe that your youthful fitness will never fade You took a biology class in the eighth grade, so you've got a pretty airtight knowledge of the human body. You played (insert sport here — hockey, netball, competitive darts) in high school so you're going to be a prime specimen until the grave. Except you'll never die because you're just that healthy.
6. Learn what a mortgage is It's kind of like wearing sandals and trying to be sexually active: pretty fucking pointless.
4. Rely on John Oliver as your only source of news This one's just stating the obvious.
So you're about to enter the real world and you’re looking for some guidance. You're not on BuzzFeed for this sage advice, so that's a victory in itself. This is going to be addressed in the same vein as the criminally
underrated film, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and this leads us nicely to tip numero uno. 1. Make incredibly outdated references
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When in doubt, always go for a Kate Hudson rom-com. Katherine Heigl is an equally viable alternative. This will be a godsend when you're trying to be topical at dinner parties. Of which there are approximately 213 a year when you're an adult. The only thing in greater abundance than intellectual conversations is cheese. Why is there always so much fucking cheese\
5. Keep playing the Tinder game Settle down with a family that loves you and gives you a sense of achievement not quantifiable in words? Thanks, but no thanks. Instead, insist on alternating between multiple dating apps simultaneously — we're talking four, minimum. Why relish the thought of leaving your imprint on the world with a
7. Pimp your wardrobe Gone are the days of experimenting; no more burgundy blazer and felt trousers. Pick a look and aggressively adhere to it. Buy five shirts in slightly different shades of blue — to the point where people are convinced that you only have one shirt that you wear every day. How else are they going to remember who you are? 8. And, finally, invest in some chalk. Take said chalk and every night before bed, inscribe a line on your bedroom wall. That's another day done of being an adult. At least in prison you're working out. Now go, put on your big (gender neutral) pants, and embrace the sweet, sweet nectar of adulthood.
22 Diversions
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Photos
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October 3, 2016 photos@the-peak.ca
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24 Last Word
THE QUIZ
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