TSSU strikes back

July 20, 2015 • 150/11 • FREE one per person

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FIRST PEEK

When I was young, I would always dream about what my first kiss would be like. I hate to admit it now, but in my tween years I was consumed with the idea, eventhough I never was the teeny-bop kind of girl who read J-14 to figure out Zac Efron’s favourite breakfast food or Nick Jonas’s dream date. I didn’t start wearing make-up until I was 18, didn’t own high heels until I was 19, and, as of writing this, still haven’t been in a steady relationship at 20.

I was more the awkward teen who spent recess fawning over the latest fantasy Young Adult novel in the library. I watched anime in my room instead of going to the school dance. I put my schoolwork before my love life. Even so, my heart would flutter at the thought of locking lips with the boy of my dreams.

Wow, it almost physically hurts to write that, but it’s true.

July 20, 2015

I’m a closeted romantic. Even if my actions never seemed to indicate that I wanted young love, my entire being internally desired it. In my head, I pictured a shy, sweet kiss, me slightly tiptoeing to reach his soft lips, our hands intertwined as the sun set on a lazy summer evening.

However, life didn’t pan out like a Wes Anderson movie — at least not for me.

What I expected was a loving embrace from my soulmate.

What I got was a wet, drunken smooch on the dance floor in a nightclub from my intoxicated female friend. As much as I love her to bits, she is not my Ryan Gosling.

Though the events of that night are a tad hazy due to all the alcohol, I distinctly remember the feeling of her lips pressed against mine. She is shorter than me, so she had to hold my head closer to her

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face. And I could tell she was much drunker than I was, but not by a large margin. With ‘EDM-ified’ top 40 hits as our soundtrack, blue spotlights dancing around us to set the stage, and the faint smell of long island iced teas, we felt the moment and we kissed.

It wasn’t an unpleasant experience; it was quite the opposite. When I kissed her, I did not feel like I had lost anything, or given anything up. I did not feel like I had wasted my first real kiss, or that it had been taken from me. Although it wasn’t the type of romance I was anticipating, it was nevertheless a spontaneous expression of love and friendship.

Even if I am pretty straight along the sexuality spectrum, having my first kiss with a girl is something that I am not ashamed of. I feel as though there is too much hype attached to the notion of a ‘first kiss,’ and if you are going to kiss someone, it might as well be with someone you care about, and who also cares about you.

@Pe

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NEWS

July 20, 2015

news editor email

Melissa Roach associate news editor news@the-peak.ca

faith because of the preconditions it put forward before returning to the bargaining table.

The labour dispute between the Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) and SFU administration trudges on.

After calling off the job action in response to an unfair labour practice complaint filed by the university, the union is going through the motions once again and has passed a second strike vote by an 86 per cent majority.

The TSSU is to resume job action this week, beginning with reinstating an overtime ban, with the expectation that it will escalate as it did before, with the possibly of picket lines in the future. The union intends to implement these escalations until a new collective agreement has been reached.

The roots of this discord trace back to April of 2014 when the previous collective agreement between the TSSU and the university expired and new negotiations began.

In February 2015, after nearly a year without a Collective Agreement, the TSSU voted to commence strike action with 92 per cent of voting members in favour.

Reagan Belan, Chief Steward of the TSSU, listed “Seniority rights for sessional instructors, equity

for our ELC/ITP [English Language and Culture/Interpretation and Translation Program] members, improved access to work for TAs and TMs, and including the minimum standards of BC labour law for Occupational Health and Safety and payment of wages” as issues they would like the administration to address.

Belan explained, “What students need to know is that improving our working conditions improves their learning conditions.

TSSU members provide 50 per cent of the face time teaching and teach the majority of the distance courses offered by SFU.” SFU administration filed a complaint on June 25 to the BC Labour Relations Board on the basis that the union was bargaining in bad

students, 7.1 per cent of the undergraduate student body.

Build SFU sent out a member survey to SFU undergraduates in April, posing questions about the Student Union Building and Stadium projects.

The survey came on the heels of the spring Special General Meeting (SGM) of the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS), where students voted against allowing the society to pursue a loan that is essential in funding the projects.

Following the vote, the No to Build SFU movement continues to call for increased transparency and more student participation in the democratic process. Prior to the SGM, the group brought forward a petition to hold another referendum calling into question the continuation of the project.

The petition only obtained 628 of the 1000 signatures required to add the question to the agenda.

In an online post, they expressed, “The SFSS will not give students the opportunity to either affirm or deny continued support for this project.”

In the survey, Build SFU asked students to identify their main priorities and concerns around the Build SFU projects. It was completed by 1,879

As a result of the survey process, the SFSS came to the conclusion that a considerable amount of students are concerned about the consideration of satellite campuses in these projects, as both are to be built on Burnaby campus.

SFSS President Enoch Weng addressed the issue, stating, “I take concerns really seriously, especially

Samaah Jaffer

The university has contended that since the union did not re-file their strike notice after the Essential Service Order, the strike contravened the Labour Relations Code and was therefore illegal.

To this, the union responded by ceasing all job action and members promptly resumed releasing grades on July 2. In addition, the union agreed to approach the bargaining table without any preconditions. This was in return for the University not pursuing legal action against what was deemed to be an illegal strike.

The union then proceeded with another strike vote, which was held on July 15 and 16. In an online labour update, the university expressed, “We are disappointed that the Union also immediately announced their intention to hold another strike vote on July 15 and 16 with the apparent intention of reinitiating disruptive labour action.”

So where do the negotiations go from here? Both sides appear to be deadlocked. SFU reported that a meeting on July 8 resulted in “agreements on two minor changes, [but] there was no agreement on any of the remaining substantive bargaining issues.”

The University has applied to the Labour Relations Board for a mediator to help reach a collective agreement. The union, however, suggests the University has been stubborn on the core issues. The frequently asked questions section of the TSSU website stated, “There is no reason to expect that [SFU] would respond favourably to mediation.”

However, the TSSU raised issues with the possibility of mediation, citing laws which prohibit a union from striking during mediation unless their employer allows it. The union sent a letter to the university to protect their right to strike during mediation — however, the university rejected this offer.

When asked if the university would make concessions to prevent a full walkout, SFU University Communications responded, “SFU is committed to the principle of not bargaining through the media.”

The university also expressed disappointment over the union’s choice to reject their offer of mediation: “We continue to believe that labour action is detrimental to the entire campus community and that a new Collective Agreement can only be achieved at the bargaining table.

“Negotiation, rather than strike activity, is in the best interest of students and the campus community. To this end, we have asked the TSSU to confirm their availability for bargaining during the month of August, but have yet to receive a response from the Union.”

regarding the Surrey and Vancouver campus communities.”

He added that there seems to be a general confusion regarding some of the information being circulated about Build SFU. Weng looks at this as an “opportunity to clear up the mist, and to reach out to students with more easily accessible information.”

Overall, Weng says, it comes down to giving students what they want. “People want space to call their own, and they want a fair and just process, as well as having their voice heard.” Build SFU has attempted to incorporate student opinions along the

way, with numerous student consultations being held during the design process.

The design itself is complete and the SFSS is ready to begin construction as soon as the loan can be secured. Had the SGM vote turned out differently, construction would have begun this summer. Regardless of when it does begin, construction is expected to last for 24 months.

Weng explained that going forward, the society will need to ask students’ permission once again to pursue the debenture; SFU has already agreed to contribute $12.5 million. Weng added, “I am hopeful that ethical sponsorship can and will be a significant part of funding, and I am adamant on pursuing any avenues that can lead to decreased costs to students.”

NEWS

If you have ever taken a course at SFU, you can tell it is nearing the semester’s end when your instructor hands out the blue inked sheets that are meant to evaluate the course and the instructor’s teaching.

Soon, though, there will be less ‘handing out’ and more ‘logging in.’

SFU is joining a growing number of Canadian and international institutions in digitizing course and instructor evaluations.

“A real driving force behind this transition is to focus more on how students learn,” said Corinne

July 20, 2015

Pitre-Hayes, leader of the Student Evaluation of Teaching and Courses project.

A survey done by The American Association of University Professors shows that there is a general dissatisfaction with the approach of the current paper form evaluation. “SFU is taking a leadership role in focusing course evaluations on teaching and learning,” explained Pitre-Hayes.

The new system will incorporate a formative approach, rather than just a summative one. In a summative evaluation, the form is used to evaluate the instructor’s overall performance, whereas a formative approach allows the instructor to receive feedback on particular teaching techniques to see how effective they are and how they can be improved.

The project also plans to experiment with ongoing feedback with a special tool that enables daily feedback to be given very efficiently.

SFU is also looking into ways to increase student participation in the evaluation process. Even though filling out the evaluation forms is not mandatory, consideration may be given to awarding bonus marks for students who do.

As the lead designer and technology developer at his company, Javaher has been active in the development of audio systems.

His expertise with audio speakers hints at his experience of “creating speakers for over four years.” Having “started with backpack style speakers,” he “slowly progressed in [his] designs” towards the final SparkBlocks product.

An SFU engineering student is Kickstarting an innovative way to create an efficient, customizable audio system that will be unique to the owner’s needs.

Yousef Javaher developed the idea for SparkBlocks four years ago when he was creating backpackstyle speakers. “The initial spark for the Blocks was when we realized that by separating difficult functions of a speaker into blocks [. . . they] could be connected together in any way the user desires,” he recalled.

Javaher, the co-founder of SparkAudio and a mechatronics engineer at SFU, also found his greatest motivation from his family. “My father has a master’s in mechanical engineering and has been the biggest inspiration in my path.”

The SparkBlocks are a system of customizable speakers and accessories surrounding a centre ‘Main Block.’ Javaher considers the different modules to be something many people would appreciate.

“The unique modular system has allowed us to specifically calibrate each block to carry out a specific set of tasks with considerable quality,” said Javaher. “Rather than weighing the trade-off between

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“The start of the project had nothing to do with people being dissatisfied. It was more to look at new understanding from educational research and take advantage of that. We also aim to move the focus more to teaching and learning, as opposed to student perceptions of their professors,” expressed Pitre-Hayes.

“Moving to online was also preferable because of the efficiencies of the system. [. . .] The system has a lot of flexibility and we can do a lot with it.”

Evaluation will open for the students in the first pilot of the system on July 27. There will be 35

participating courses from two faculties — Health Sciences and Education — involving both undergraduate and graduate students.

Pitre-Hayes mentioned that an additional benefit is ease of access from smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Students will be given a two-week window prior to the end of classes to fill out the evaluations.

For administration, one of the advantages of the online system is that students will be given more time to provide answers.

Professors will be able to select or create their own questions to get specific feedback on their courses. The results of those

questions will only be released to the instructors in order to help them modify the course and see how their teaching techniques fair according to the students.

“A really strong part of the overall SFU vision is being the ‘engaged university,’ and this is an example of how the university is engaging with students in a way that actually makes a meaningful difference in teaching and learning,” said Pitre-Hayes.

Due to the gradual phasing in of various faculties, the plan is for all students in the university to be using the online evaluation system by 2017.

form and functionality, we have strove to make form the functionality within a unique ecosystem of blocks that give users endless possibility for customization.”

There are many attachable accessories, ranging from specifically to generally useful. These include a battery pack, which will add an extra 12 hours to the four hour base power, and a bicycle mount. Javaher feels that the accessories are both practical and unique.

Javaher’s goal with the SparkBlocks was “to enhance user experience.” The interesting interlocking designs of the Blocks is to create “a fundamental component of user experience [. . . through] the visual impact of the speaker system.

“The biggest challenge for me was to create a speaker that can capture all the detail of music,” Javaher stated. “I wanted to create something that was truly unique and customizable it every individual’s needs.”

Javaher also considers his experience at SFU as helpful in the development of his innovative project. “Being at SFU really helped shape my path as an engineer and as an entrepreneur.

Not only have I gained knowledge about my field, I gained experience in facing challenges and pushing through those challenges.”

Javaher and his partner Ramtin Bidshahri have worked since 2014 to make the product a reality. Bidshahri earned a Bachelor

of Arts degree at the University of British Columbia, and is currently earning a diploma in accounting at UBC. “I would like to say that SparkBlocks is not just a speaker,” said Javaher. “It is an ecosystem of audio control, gadget and accessories that allows [everyone] to create their own unique device.”

Javaher concluded, “The main concept behind SparkBlocks is that people should have the choice of what their system should do.”

6 NEWS

Got an idea for a new business but don’t know where to start? Venture Connections offers free one-on-one consultations for SFU students and recent alumni.

The next drop-in session will be on Tuesday, July 21 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Mezzanine. Explore venues for starting your own enterprise and find out what support programs are available and which best suit your business.

Segal

Graduate School The Centre for Global Workforce Strategy is hosting a research presentation by Mark Harcourt. Harcourt’s research focuses on how minority unionism works in New Zealand.

The presentation will take place on Monday, July 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Segal Graduate School on 500 Granville Street, in room 2800.

There is no cost to attending the event, but those interested are recommended to RSVP on the website.

July 20, 2015

Simon Fraser University’s Trottier Observatory was alight with activity on July 14.

Dozens of people gathered late at night to celebrate the unprecedented close-up pictures of Pluto acquired by NASA’s New Horizons probe. The crowd was made up of professional and amateur astronomers, as well as families and students, all hoping for a glimpse of what was happening billions of kilometres away.

New Horizons finally arrived at Pluto nine years after the probe was launched in 2006. The close encounter provided new images and information about the dwarf planet, revealing striking patterns on its surface and removing layers of uncertainty about its size and mass.

During the same night, the Trottier Observatory showed visitors breathtaking views of various celestial beauties, focusing on Pluto.

Open to the public since April, the observatory has served as a staging ground for other telescopes to be set up in the courtyard. There were line-ups to see the ‘all-star’ cast of the night sky, which included Saturn, Mizar, and Alcor.

Kwantlen cuts athletics funding

Just beyond the circle of telescopes, the courtyard glowed with coloured light from LEDs installed in the benches. Each bench represented an element and had a unique pattern of light that corresponded to the spectrum astronomers use to interpret objects in space.

Howard Trottier, SFU physics professor, expressed his excitement over the event and the completed observatory.

“It transcends anything that I had imagined,” Trottier said, adding that it was “fantastic that people are getting so excited about [the Pluto flyby].”

The new information has raised many questions about the origin of Pluto and its largest moon, Charon, which are extremely

different despite being locked in orbit and sharing an atmosphere.

A dark spot discovered on the top of Charon has been termed “Mordor” by NASA. In an interesting and adorable twist, there appears to be a large feature on Pluto’s surface that looks like a heart.

Trottier explained that these mysteries remind people “that we know a lot about the solar system, but there’s still a lot that we don’t know.”

Aside from the historic event, Trottier contended that there is something else that Canadians in particular should be looking forward to next in the world of astronomy.

The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), currently being built in Hawaii, will have its mirror

Ontario students can redeem Aeroplan points for tuition

[SURREY] — In line with Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s strategic plan, the university’s varsity athletics program will receive a major budget cut, bringing its soccer, golf, and possibly basketball teams to an end within the next two years.

Their membership with PACWEST, the regional collegiate sports authority, will also be terminated and funding will be re-allocated within the university for “health and wellness opportunities to [all students].”

Varsity sports are currently only located at the Surrey campus. Student athletes were given a say at their town hall discussion on Thursday, July 16.

[TORONTO] — The Government of Ontario has announced the establishment of the Ontario Student Assistance Program and the Higher Ed Points program, which allow for Aeroplan miles to be used to pay tuition. 35,000 points can be exchanged and used to pay $250 of tuition, which would have required around $35,000 in purchases with Aeroplan partners to acquire as many points.

The Canadian Federation of Students is heavily criticising the government for turning the serious problem of student debt into a “loyalty program that asks [students] to spend money they don’t have.” The University of Toronto is not currently one of the participating institutions, but the program is aimed at all Canadian postsecondary institutions.

With files from The Runner

With files from The Varsity

and enclosure built by Port Coquitlam-based Dynamic Structures. The reflecting mirror, that will measure 30 metres across, is half the length of an NHL hockey rink. The Canadian government announced in April that it would contribute $243.5 million to the telescope’s construction, and that Canada will get 20 per cent of telescope time.

Trottier anticipates the TMT’s completion in the early 2020s, saying that it will “make the Hubble look like a toy.”

For now, anyone interested can take advantage of the Starry Nights group at SFU to glance upwards at the night sky. Somewhere out there is the little machine which showed us, literally, that Pluto has a heart.

McGill medical program on probation [MONTREAL] — McGill University’s undergraduate medical program has been put on probation by the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools due to a lack of women’s health and domestic violence education.

Based on a preliminary review this February, the lack of documentation and curricular planning on those issues led to the decision. While their accreditation is still valid, there will be further discussion and planning between McGill and the Committee, with the goal to have all problems addressed by 2017.

The school has acknowledged the lack of documentation, such as meeting minutes, as a reason for this probation. This was echoed by students, who have mentioned a lack of feedback for filed complaints.

With files from The McGill Daily

NEWS

SFU PhD candidate in the faculty of Resource and Environmental Management Brent Loken has coauthored a study which describes a new method for estimating orangutan density using camera traps.

According to psychology research out of SFU and UBC, random acts of kindness can be used to alleviate some of the symptoms of social anxiety.

Jennifer Trew, a postdoctoral research fellow at SFU who conducted the study, sees social anxiety as “the fear of social situations where you may be judged or negatively evaluated by other people.”

She elaborated, “This can include social interactions, and can also include performance situations, like giving a presentation or speech in front of people. This can lead to a lot of anxiety for some people, as well as avoidance of these types of situations.”

The study measured the effect of performing random acts of kindness on people with social anxiety.

Some of the participants engaged in the acts of kindness, some were engaged in social interactions that they would usually avoid, and then third control group were

July 20, 2015

According to census data gathered in 2003, there are about 45,000 to 65,000 of these apes remaining and are all found in either Borneo or Sumatra. The large margin between those figures is attributed to how difficult it is to count orangutans that are on the move, often monkeying around in the treetops.

To study the density of animal populations, researchers previously have relied on methods that convert nest counts to species densities.

These methods require a substantial effort for reliable results, and

participants who wrote down what was going on during their day.

Participants were not limited to any specific act of kindness. However, they were given a list of examples they could use, and many different kinds of acts ended with the same positive result. These ranged from something as simple as opening a door for a stranger to interacting with someone online or in person. Trew asked them to “go do things that would help other people out or make other people happy,” and let them interpret that however they chose.

In the end, though the results were as she expected, Trew found them impressive. What the study found was that the participants who performed the acts of kindness reported less avoidance of social situations in relation to the other groups.

Being kind helped them stave off negative expectations associated with those situations. They weren’t as focused on avoiding things that might make people look at them negatively, meaning they had decreased levels of social anxiety.

Trew concluded, “It helps to reduce their levels of social anxiety and, in turn, makes them less likely to want to avoid social situations and negative social outcomes such as embarrassment.”

researchers are especially challenged to study species which are endangered or in low densities.

Loken explained that obtaining more definite numbers will help with conservation efforts: “It’s extremely difficult to protect an endangered species if we don’t know how many are there.”

Over the period of the study, which lasted for six months, 70 cameras captured a sample of 7,320 trap days, which resulted in a total of 658 photographs.

There were some repeats of the individuals or groups of orangutans due to the fact that three photos were captured per trigger. The photos were analyzed to determine whether the orangutans captured were the same individual apes they had seen before or different ones based on a number of different indicators such as body size, facial features, and secondary sexual characteristics.

In addition to nest count surveys, data was collected using camera

trapping and spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models, which, although imprecise, allow for a better estimate of orangutan encounters.

The results suggest that with methodological adjustments, camera trapping and SCR modelling could be successfully used to estimate the densities of orangutans and, potentially, other elusive primates.

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Loken says that this is the first time this method has been used for orangutans and it has the potential to greatly improve our knowledge about the number of orangutans left in the wild.

“This is a big step forward in helping to better understand how many orangutans remain in the wild and where they live,” he said.

8 NEWS

After 25 years of service, former SFSS Executive Director Colleen Knox is to be replace

by Martin Wyant. Wyant has a history of work with nonprofit youth-focused organizations and is “excited to be joining the Simon Fraser Student Society.” In his new position, Wyant will be guiding and managing the operations of the society. President Enoch Weng expressed, “We are very privileged to have Martin join our team. [. . .]

Martin brings a good combination of experience and leadership, along with an excellent managerial and communitybuilding track record.”

SFU’s ombudsperson Jay Solman attended the meeting as a guest speaker, and spoke to the various aspects of his job and the services he provides within the SFU community.

Solman’s presentation identified one of the main challenges faced by the Office of the Ombudsperson as being the lack of student awareness and understanding regarding his role and the services provided. Although the office is funded by SFU, the SFSS, and the Graduate Student Society, the ombudsperson is completely separate from the university and only deals with SFU policy as it pertains to students.

To increase efficiency, a motion to explore a new governance model was put forward, sparking conversation on why a new model was not selected prior to seeking the board’s approval. A small committee has been formed to work with staff on developing a draft of the model, which would then be brought to the board table for review. In the presented “Roadmap to Policy Governance,” it was proposed “to segregate the operational policies from the SFSS Policy Manual, delete the Policy Manual, and institute its Governance Policies.”

July 20, 2015

The third annual Fall Kickoff concert will be taking on a new spin this year.

Put on by the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS), the event will be a part of the 50th anniversary celebrations, with a day-long festival experience on Friday, September 25.

The budget for the Fall Kickoff was recently revised to a smaller scale. SFSS business representative and Fall Kickoff director of finance Hangue Kim explained, “What we’re basically [doing] is underpromising, but over-delivering.”

Kim also added that they are only anticipating 1,300 to 1,500 students to attend this concert, whereas the expected number of attendees for previous Fall Kickoffs was between 1,800 to 2,200. This was done with the understanding that the previous Fall concerts garnered around 1,650 and 1,800 attendees.

The current revenue expected for the Fall Kickoff is $60,250, with $58,000 in expenses, anticipating a $2,250 gain.

The SFSS has budgeted $25,000 in sponsorship, of which at least $10,000 has been committed by SFU’s 50th anniversary project.

The final expenses for the Spring Jam 2015 totaled $80,295, and with a revenue of only $23,564, the SFSS

incurred a loss of $56,731. In their projections for the event, they only expected a deficit of $12,000.

The Spring Jam was likely less successful due to competing events on the same night. “What we’ve learned, especially from this past Spring [Jam] was that [. . .] the timing of it has to be very specific,” explained Sharma.

Concerts in the past have typically run from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. By starting earlier, organizers hope to create a “community experience,” engaging a wider audience and variety of students.

“One of our biggest priorities come September is going to be

SPRING Jam 2015 REVENUE

EXPENSES $81,500

$69,500

$80,295

student engagement,” said VP Student Life and Fall Kickoff project lead, Deepak Sharma. The SFSS plans to use the event as a means to inform students of the various services they offer.

During the day, there will be various activities in effort to create a festival vibe in Convocation Mall, and in the evening it will transition into a music event. The performing artists are currently being determined, and will be announced during the Week of Welcome.

The SFSS identified two main focuses for this concert: celebration and retention.

The celebrate aspect encompasses celebrating the 50th anniversary, while fostering a festive atmosphere to engage the community.

The goal of retention refers to acknowledging and retaining the

support of the volunteers. “We have about 110 to 120 volunteers working and volunteering for the event,” said Sharma, “and what we want to ensure is that these students are always [appreciated].”

The collaboration with SFU’s 50th anniversary project will include communication and advertising of the Fall Kickoff alongside the rest of the campaign.

They will also look into making involvement in the event a credited volunteer experience through SFU’s myInvolvement program.

Another change in this year’s concert planning is a shift towards outsourcing management positions, which were previously held

by SFSS board members, to student volunteers in order to allow the board members and staff to focus on bigger priorities.

Kim explained, “We’re planning on making it more efficient and effective this year, and that’s what we’ve been working on internally as an organization.”

FALL KICKOFF 2015 REVENUE

$60,250

EXPENSES

$58,000

$23,564

EXPECTED

ACTUAL

EXPECTED

ACTUAL

EXPECTED

EXPECTED

OPINIONS

Almost every young student lives the paradox of ‘needing experience before you get experience.’ Co-op programs present themselves as the ideal solution to this ‘experience’ dilemma, and as the ultimate way to begin in the working world. But there are many details about the process that they don’t tell you when you hand over your $125 application fee.

I saw a couple of co-op postings the other day that listed “extensive event management experience” and “at least two to three years in marketing” as requirements. I definitely feel like I missed the part where I was supposed to gain this experience while, like most other young students, I’ve been in university full-time since graduating high school. In my view, these job postings definitely don’t belong in a university co-op program.

If an employer has agreed to work with a post-secondary co-op department to hire a student, they are committing to hiring someone who has little to no work experience in the industry, but has the theoretical knowledge and eagerness to learn.

At first glance, co-op appears to be combatting classism; work terms are integrated into the school year and therefore it may be easier to pay off student loan debt with less

hmmm.. think this article is exaggerating a bit for the 135. I’ve been taking the 135 for the past 4 years and have always gotten a seat at the main bus loop. Even if I don’t, they come every 7-10 minutes, which is not that bad. 2041 is pretty far away.. after a couple years, most students are probably going to own a car anyways.

Seeing how the transit system been constantly changing

opinions editor email

July 20, 2015

Adam Van der Zwan opinions@the-peak.ca

Phoebe Lim / The Peak

Co-op doesn’t offer an easy way to get your foot in the door of the working world. interest. However, that doesn’t appear to be the case.

Sure, most of the positions listed pay over $11 an hour — however, many unpaid internships are also listed. Normally, this wouldn’t be an issue (aside from the fact that unpaid internships are morally questionable, especially when it’s from a corporation that can definitely afford to pay you), but SFU

for students for the past 10 years, (from permanent ID transit passes, to monthly dispensable passes and now compass card), I’m sure the currently suggested terms are going to change in the near future. The new compass pass system has been implemented for a couple years, and it’s still not functional with many flaws that have yet to be taken care of. Is this the kind of project

co-op explicitly advertises and emphasizes paid work experience.

I have also come across a posting that paid minimum wage and whose job duties involved ‘food pick-ups.’ That certainly doesn’t constitute ‘degree-related experience.’ In that case, I may as well go back to my job as a waitress, because I’d at least be making $20 an hour with the tips, and would probably enjoy myself even more.

Moreover, there have been many jobs that require you to have a class five driver’s license along with your own vehicle. When I had my one-on-one meeting with a co-op advisor, and I told him I

we are forced to throw money at? Probably in a couple years, these fare machines will just be as obsolete as the 4-10 upass dispensing machines at all the campuses have in the lower mainland... just saying.

— Bob

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didn’t have a car or the funds to buy one in the foreseeable future, he scoffed and said, “You need to have a car. At least get a scooter — like, you know, a Vespa.” Wow. If only it were that simple.

Another ‘great thing’ about co-op is that quite frequently, employers will send you feedback through the co-op office on how you performed at an interview. In fact, an employer once told me that I was indeed qualified for the position but “[my] handshake was not as strong as the other applicants’ were.”

I didn’t get a job I was apparently qualified for because of my handshake? Please. I’d rather you just told me you didn’t like me! At least make up some

excuse about other candidates fitting in more easily with the corporate culture or whatever.

However, such comments are to be anticipated in a corporate mindset where ‘fake’ is synonymous with being professional.

In the end I don’t want to discourage anyone from applying to co-op — who knows, you might be incredibly successful. But personally, I’m tired of reading articles that applaud the co-op program at SFU. There is always another side to the story; it seems to me that co-op programs no longer provide the “foot in the door” that they should, and that they are unable to offer any alternatives to the demoralizing demands of the corporate world.

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10 OPINIONS

Going vegan was the most challenging and rewarding decision I have ever made for my health. I can still remember, a couple years ago, being asked “would you ever go vegan?” with my response being, “No way. Never.” Ironically enough, after living a vegetarian lifestyle for a year, I made the decision to do exactly that.

Nothing says satisfaction like fresh cut fries, blanched and cooked to crispy perfection, sided with squeaky cheese curds and hot gravy in one big bowl. What looks like cheese and gravy chaotically tossed into a dish actually sings a quiet harmony if you listen closely. Delicious flavor aside, no one has ever finished a poutine and claimed to still be hungry. Can you ask any more of a meal?

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So what changed my mind?

A multitude of things. Not only do I feel a plant-based diet is beneficial to one’s health, but it is sustainable for the planet and merciful towards the lives of animals. Being used to a vegetarian lifestyle was definitely helpful in making the transition to going vegan, though it was still not a smooth one.

If you’ve ever examined the ingredients in processed foods, you’ve probably found that they contain either milk, gelatin or eggs. In other words, these foods most certainly cannot be categorized as ‘vegan.’

Finding vegan alternatives that were within my budget was a

bit of a fiasco, especially since it meant I had to prepare my food beyond just throwing instant noodles into the microwave on a regular basis.

Certainly Quebec has given the rest of Canada a few things to groan about, but all is forgiven when we consider this glorious gift.

There is no limit to the power this fine food holds.

World peace is only one international poutine party away.

I tip my hat to you Quebec! Sincerest thanks.

If there is one political leader that stands out from the rest as being a massive pain in the world’s diplomatic ass, it’s this guy.

He tries to fool us with some of his quirky stunts, like the time he dressed up as a bird and flew a hang glider south to take endangered cranes for their first ever migration, but that won’t distract us for long from his terrible human rights record — most recently being his “straight pride flag” that was launched (‘coincidently’) days after the US

After six months of being vegan, I can tell you that I still struggle with adjusting to this lifestyle. First of all, I’ve never been a huge fan of cooking for myself.

After a long day of work or school I feel tempted to eat something

that requires minimal effort to conjure, before lounging on the Netflix couch. Instead, I’ve developed a recipe book that includes super lazy recipes such as avocado toast and green tea smoothies.

In that respect, if you ever find an Instagram photo of my own gorgeouslooking homemade vegan dish, know that I’m incredibly proud of it.

Additionally, though I rarely crave meat, I do often crave eggs in the morning, or cheese on my pizza, and while at one point I was extremely restrictive of

Supreme court ruled in favor of same sex marriage.

But what can you expect from a man who was formerly part of the KGB? You didn’t read that wrong, Putin was indeed part of the KGB, a fact some Russians must certainly find mildly disturbing.

Maybe the cold Russian winters have him feeling bitter, but if you ask me, what this man needs is a good ol’ bowl of poutine and maybe a big Canadian gay kiss to help him start feeling the love.

these foods, I now allow myself to eat them once in a while. I figure that if a vegan lifestyle is a choice I want to maintain for an indefinite amount of time, I’ll have to be slightly lenient with my indulgences, according to the situation. For example, if I’m out with a friend and there is nothing vegan on the menu, I’ll allow myself to order the closest thing to it.

Vegan life is sometimes frustrating and inconvenient but it’s rewarding in more ways than one. While I passionately advocate this dietary choice for many reasons, it doesn’t mean that I’ll try to crush your soul for choosing to eat differently than me. The negative stereotypes that surround veganism is something I find quite astonishing, and even unnecessary.

Even vigorously passionate vegans have good intentions about the subject, even when it seems they ‘attack’ those that eat meat.

While at Boston Pizza with a friend a while back, veganism surfaced in the conversation, and my friend halted mid chickenwing, thunderstruck.

“Oh my goodness, I’m sorry.

Does this disgust you?” The answer for most vegans, I find, is “no.” A dietary restriction or preference does not change a person; everyone is free to respectfully decide what kind of diet they want to upkeep, and this is not as big of a deal as everyone makes it seem.

So continue eating your bacon and I’ll continue eating large portions of guacamole. Veganism is my lifestyle, my struggle, my reward, and to each their own.

OPINIONS

Stepping onto an airplane in France may never again be the same thrilling experience. Airline Zodiac Aerospace has filed a patent for an airplane seat design that would save space by forcing passengers to sit face-to-face with one another.

Though implementation is not yet in practice, the possibility has engaged public debate; many are seething with anger and anxiety at the prospect.

Last I checked, humans have never had wings. Our biological makeup confirms that we simply aren’t meant to fly.

Flight is pretty much as natural to us as a Quarter Pounder with Cheese. Naturally, flying can come with some anxiety.

Couple the fear of being suspended mid-air in a hurling death machine with the girl opposite you interpreting

July 20, 2015

your absent-minded gaze as a creepy come-on. Well, let’s see, I didn’t pay attention in social studies, but I’m pretty sure existential dread plus social faux pa equals projectile vomit on whoever is directly facing me.

CBC reports that the design would encourage real, human social interaction. Who knows, a little footsie could lead to more than just footsie, right?

Please. If I wanted to interact with people I’d go on Facebook. Is airline social interaction really even worth it?

I suppose, if introduced to other countries, this seat design is meant to include more seats on a plane, which allows more passengers to fit on board, which results in more profit for airlines like Air Canada, and hence cheaper flights for us all. However, given that so few airlines dominate the air travel industry,

there’s a chance they’ll collectively decide to not implement these blueprints to physical space. We’ll have to wait and see how things ‘plane out.’

Moreover, there are some logistic considerations. Though tests are still to be carried out, I’m skeptical of the evacuation procedures on such planes.

During loud and frantic emergencies, the seating placements could be disorienting and inefficient during potential evacuations where people look to flight attendants for directions.

A side note, will there still be space for those little personal entertainment systems that planes have nowadays? I’m doubtful, and this is a real shame, considering I love what airplanes have implemented entertainment-wise in recent years.

It’s important to note that these changes, if made, will not be made for a while. Control your uproar, people — these plans aren’t set in stone. Here’s to hoping I never have to sit face-to-face with any of you on my flight to France.

The latest O by Oprah magazine has come under fire by feminist bloggers, after it published a fashion ‘Q and A’ article telling readers exactly who should wear crop tops, and even more importantly, who shouldn’t: the average person.

The magazine responded to the question of how to wear a crop top by stating you should wear one “if (and only if!) you have a flat stomach [. . .] For more coverage, layer the top over a longer shirt.”

Since this particular magazine has a readership older than the average university student, why does it matter to those our age? The magazine, whether it meant to or not, is perpetuating the negative ‘fashion rules’ that serve to keep women viewing their bodies as inadequate against the ‘norm.’ Regardless of what magazine it appeared in, this is an issue we should not take lightly, as fat-shaming

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happens within other magazines far too often as well.

Advice like this is not a new phenomenon, and unfortunately, it’s unlikely to go away anytime soon. Women are constantly shown unrealistic standards the media feels they need to aspire to, and as a result can suffer from any number of medical and mental health issues. Eating disorders are a common and dangerous result of these body-shaming images and expectations.

Articles like these perpetuate internalized shame and oppression. We stop ourselves from wearing and acting how we feel most comfortable and beautiful, because we suddenly see from these sources that we should not look or feel how we do. We punish ourselves, we restrict ourselves, and it can become a vicious cycle.

Magazines such as O by Oprah, led by someone who has openly spoken about her own body image struggles in the past, claim they exist to empower the 21st century woman. If this is so, they need to watch the words they use and make sure they are propelling women to self-worth and selflove, not the opposite.

Magazines must monitor the language they use more closely, and avoid fat-shaming women who do not have a “flat stomach.” They need to understand that all bodies are meant to be appreciated and dressed how they so choose, and there is no reason to ever shame someone into covering up just because your beauty standards are less inclusive than theirs.

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ARTS

Since the resurgence of the superhero genre, Westerns have taken a back seat in the medium of comics. Audiences are more likely to see capes and colorful spandex uniforms then they are to see six-shooters and cowboy hats these days. However, with the debut of Image’s new science fiction Western Copperhead, we might yet see the brand ride back to its former glory.

Copperhead follows the story of Sheriff Bronson, a single mother starting a new assignment in the mining town of a distant planetoid. Before she can even settle in, Bronson is tasked with quelling a bloody family feud with hillbilly aliens.

Assisting on her assignment is an oversized alien deputy who harbours a petty grudge against his new boss. On top of this, Sheriff Bronson has to contend with a scummy mining tycoon and the

presence of “arties,” a resentful and dangerous race of artificial humans. Matters only escalate further from there when the Sheriff’s son, Zeke, goes missing into the badlands outlying the town of Copperhead.

Clara Bronson is a strong character who audiences can root for. She is a compassionate maternal figure with no tolerance for crime or corruption. For better or worse, Bronson does not back away from any fight — which, more often than not, leads to exciting situations for the character.

In a time when the cry for strong female leads is prominent, Copperhead is a strong name in this genre. But, those concerned that the character is a byproduct of marketing tactics can rest

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easier knowing that Sheriff Clara Bronson is the real deal. In the pantheon of strong female leads, this sheriff stands toe-to-toe with The Terminator’s Sarah Connor and Alien’s Ripley.

Jay Faerber concocts an enthralling serialized story, which is as entertaining as it is intriguing to see unfold. Copperhead is wellstocked with a rich and diverse cast of characters, each of whom harbours secrets and truths that are provocative to ponder.

Faerber makes all his characters, major or minor, interesting enough to invest in each of their personal stories. In almost every capacity, Copperhead leaves audiences wanting to know more.

Another great component of this science fiction Western is its limited use of dialogue; the story is a smooth read from start to finish. Where some stories are clamoured with unnecessary exposition, Copperhead succeeds in its succinct and polished narrative. Likewise, the story never leaves one confused. It strikes the right balance between art and dialogue.

Scott Godlewski brings to life the world of Copperhead with his bright and colorful panels. The art is always dynamic and jumping out at readers; in a comic already gracing readers with a fun plot and interesting characters, Godlewski’s action-packed artwork is the cherry on top of an already delectable experience.

Not since Joss Whedon’s Firefly was tragically cancelled have audiences been graced with such an enjoyable and widely accessible science fiction Western. This graphic novel has ridden into town and served notice to the whole superhero genre.

There is a new sheriff in town and it’s called Copperhead, pilgrim.

Tessa Perkins arts@the-peak.ca

In Indonesia from 1965 to 1966, union members, many farmers, and numerous intellectuals were branded as communists and executed. In that short span, close to one million people were killed, and the perpetrators have ruled the country ever since.

Oppenheimer’s genre-defying debut The Act of Killing, one of this decade’s finest films, chronicled some of the odious gangsters directly involved in the genocide as they bragged about and recreated their killings on film.

The Look of Silence has a significantly smaller scope — we follow one man’s search as he learns about his brother’s murder by interviewing those involved with the killing — but it is almost as powerful.

The facial expressions are convoluted and complex.

Sorrow is expressed with narcissism, and narcissism is expressed with sorrow. When the perpetrators are bragging about their killings, they hide their pain; when they express pain, they do so with insincerity and for their own sake.

We see the wrinkly, old faces of a mother and father whose son was senselessly killed. Adi’s teary eyes hint at a torment induced by never meeting his brother.

The film explores the pain on the faces primarily through a metaphor: an eyesight test. The examinations are performed by Adi, a middle-aged man who interviews those who were involved in his brother’s murder.

The reason behind this device in the film is twofold: from a practical perspective, it gives Adi and Oppenheimer the opportunity to talk with the perpetrators in a safe

context, and it is also a metaphor for the blurred vision that the people of Indonesia have towards their past.

During the first eye examination, a local woman who doesn’t appear to have any direct role in the killings tells Adi that he is “asking too many questions.”

The intense irony is that she is being prescribed a new pair of glasses, and yet she still fails to see the injustice that was done and is still being done.

As we meet the perpetrators, they have identical reactions: an unrelenting hatred that is disguised by present comforts and a blind eye to the past that their lifestyle is built on.

The eye exams are given metaphorical significance through Oppenheimer’s stylistic choices of framing perpetrators in extreme closeups when they are wearing the eye-testing apparatus. By highlighting certain aspects in the frame with color correction, Oppenheimer is not just documenting reality but commenting on it through the filmmaking process.

He is a poet and a journalist. Oppenheimer uses metaphors from true situations to affect us more deeply. He uses symbols in real life to unveil injustice.

The camera seems like a fly on the wall, but by juxtaposing images, creating visual motifs, and developing metaphors cinematically, he is directly intervening in the documentation process, while preserving the conventions that create the appearance of unmediated truth.

The excruciating irony that the perpetrators are blind to their crimes despite Adi’s eye examination, the agony caused by forgetting their crimes, and the unease created by the ghosts of the victims.

These images, faces, and metaphors in Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Look of Silence are the closest that we will come to understanding the pain inflicted by the senseless killings during 1965 and 1966 in Indonesia.

ARTS

Tragic narratives, heartwrenching songs, and some humour sprinkled in between.

These are the plot elements of Victor Hugo’s classic novel Les Miserables . While the novel has been brought to life on the Broadway stage for many years, and was made into a movie in 2012, the Arts Club in Vancouver brought the production to life on the Stanley Industrial Alliance stage with mixed results.

Set in 1800s France, the story centres on the journey of convict Jean Valjean (Kieran Martin Murphy) who is released after nineteen years of imprisonment for stealing a loaf of bread. He breaks his parole and tries to start anew and live an honest life. However, his past

In 2013, Bard on the Beach held its first ever book launch event for Shakespeare’s Rebel, by Christopher Gaze’s longtime friend C.C. Humphreys. Now, this world premiere adaptation of the novel brings to life the raucous, exciting world Shakespeare lived in while presenting the compelling story of his fight choreographer, John Lawley.

It’s London in 1599, and the city is preparing for a possible revolution. The threat of a rebellion in Ireland prompts Queen Elizabeth (Colleen Wheeler) to enlist her dear Robbie Devereux (John Murphy), Earl of Essex, to go and suppress the rebels. Wheeler spectacularly

July 20, 2015

always seems to follow him as he is tracked by the ruthless Inspector Javert (Warren Kimmel) throughout the years. Meanwhile, a revolutionary movement is brewing in France, and several young idealists have come together to make a stand at the barricades against the French monarchy.

While the size of the theatre limited their set capabilities, the cast was still able to convey the emotional depth of the story through their enthusiastic commitment to their roles. The blocking of ensemble numbers such as the rowdy “Master of the House” and the compelling anthem “One Day More” was strategic and purposeful. Never has a more surefooted crowd of people held command of such a small stage.

However, the placement of actors onstage didn’t allow for a set focal point for certain scenes, as, for instance, actors who were standing parallel to each other on opposite sides of the stage made the song “A Heart Full of Love” hard to follow. This was disappointing, considering it was a scene that had multiple narratives running

commands Essex and her secretary, Sir Robert Cecil (Robert Klein).

Cecil, in turn, attempts to assert his influence on the queen and always “happens to be passing by” when she summons him (he is clearly eavesdropping). Some of my favourite moments were her spearing Cecil with insults before telling him to get out.

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through the lyrics — one being the young love blooming between Cosette (Kaylee Harwood) and Marius (Sayer Roberts), the other being the heartbroken plight of Eponine ( Jennie Neumann) as she is in love with Marius herself.

Some of the transitions between scenes were also abrupt and sacrificed audience comprehension of events for the sake of musical continuity.

Yet the smaller theatre also had its benefits, as the intimate

venue allowed for audiences to see characters at their most vulnerable. Murphy gave an incredible depth to Jean Valjean, as the swells of his voice moved the story forward while depicting the moral struggles he had between his life as a past criminal and an adoptive father. Never too showy with his voice, his narration made for a compelling and resonant performance.

Another standout was Neuman’s heartfelt and forlorn rendition of the song “On My Own,”

which spoke of her unrequited love. Roberts also displayed his emotions with a trembling voice in the grief-laden tune “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables.”

All in all, Les Miserables was a captivating musical that successfully translated a traditionally large production onto a smaller stage. By bringing melody to tragedy, the cast’s performance transcended the limitations of their venue and made the audience feel right alongside them.

While this is a play about Shakespeare and his theatre company, the true protagonist is John Lawley (Benedict Campbell). Essex asks his old friend Lawley to join him in Ireland, but after giving up swordplay, all Lawley wants is to get back together with Tess ( Jennifer Lines) and spend time with his

son, Ned (Chirag Naik) who is a player in Shakespeare’s company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. The conflict comes when Tess is engaged to the impish Sir Samuel D’Esparr (David Marr), whom Lawley refers to as “despair.” Amidst avoiding the battlefield, fending off Essex, pleasing the Queen, and trying to stay alive, Lawley tries to win Tess back. Campbell performs this important role with the swashbuckling style his character is known for, and did one hell of a job (though I think his performance as King Lear on the main stage finds him at the top of his game).

Lawley’s old friend Will Shakespeare (Anousha Alamian) is struggling to finish writing Hamlet, while the Queen asks Lawley to convince him that the country needs a patriotic play. Some of my favourite lines are about Hamlet, such as when Lawley says, “If it lasts a week they’ll be lucky.”

The only thing I would have preferred more of in this play is the Bard himself. He wasn’t on stage very much, and when he was, I didn’t get the same sense of his character as when Bob Frazer played him in Equivocation.

While I may have quibbles with some of the casting, this play shines most in its plot development. Never did the action drag on, and that is due to Humphrey’s ability to successfully translate his novel to the stage. He also skillfully incorporates the language of the time in a way that is not contrived or obvious. And, importantly, there are some wonderful lines that stick with you, such as, “I hate the theatre. It encourages base appetites in men and ungodly desires in women. Worse, it encourages people to think for themselves.”

Shakespeare’s Rebel is presented

by Bard on the Beach from July 2 to September 19 in Vanier Park. For more information, visit bardonthebeach.org.

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July 20, 2015

Before adapting it to film in 2008, Peter Morgan wrote Frost/ Nixon as a play in 2006. It is based on the 1977 interviews between David Frost and Nixon that were broadcast on national television to the largest TV audience ever for a news interview.

The interviews set a precedent for exposés in journalism and changed the face of politics with Nixon’s personal revelations and discussion of Watergate.

Ensemble Theatre Company presents Frost/Nixon this summer at Jericho Arts Centre, and Artistic Director Tariq Leslie said those who are familiar with the film will see “the same story, but very different performances.”

Michael Robinson takes on the role of the besmirched former president, while Leslie sits across from him as Frost.

“You can create filmic scenes in the theatre,” said Leslie, explaining that they are going back to the roots of storytelling and that, in the theatre, “the story and performance has to be king.” Watching these interviews on stage as opposed to on film creates a different dynamic, and with the live audience, explained Leslie, “there’s more of a chance to be clever on stage.”

The production will give the feeling of being in a live studio audience, with seats on all four sides of the theatre and the farthest seat only about five feet from the actors. With the configuration of the stage and audience, Leslie said he views it as akin to a boxing match. “These interviews were to politics, in terms of journalism, what the Ali–Foreman rumble was to boxing,” he said.

The stage design does a good job of recreating the era of the 1970s, said Leslie, but he laughed, saying “It makes one feel old that a play set in an era when you were growing up is now a period piece.” But that was a very different era. As Leslie said, “TV hadn’t become as savvy; politicians weren’t as aware of the power of TV.”

With the mandate of “illuminating queer lives through film,” Out on Screen’s Vancouver Queer Film Festival plans to celebrate its 27th year of building inclusive space in the city.

From August 13 to 23, thousands will gather in Vancouver to experience the power of film and community at the largest queer arts event in western Canada and the second-largest film festival in Vancouver.

Showcasing an array of performances, workshops, panels, and parties, the 11-day festival

will feature over 80 films from 20 countries, with themes ranging from transgender trailblazers to spectacular queer con artists.

The festival will take place at various theatres, including the Vancouver Playhouse, Cineplex Odeon International Village, and SFU Woodward’s.

Since its inception in 1988, the festival has been a key player in the expansion of inclusive community in Vancouver.

Not only were they the first to adopt the inclusive term ‘queer,’ but they have constantly paved the way in the arts community through their approach to film and social change.

Shana Myara, Director of Festival Programming, noted that over time, change is inflected in the stories, and that the festival producers “are always trying to be mindful of whose stories are still not being told.” She also noted that much of the power of the festival is the act of bringing people into common spaces

The interviews didn’t go as planned for Nixon and his advisors, and many didn’t expect Frost to be a shrewd interviewer. “Frost was thought to be outperformed,” said Leslie, “but they were each using their own skill sets.” In that sense, the interviews are a battle of wits, and it is very interesting to see what resulted when guards were let down and the truth was set free.

The three plays that Ensemble is presenting this summer (’Tis Pity She’s a Whore and The Children’s Hour being the

that might not exist otherwise.

As she stressed, “it sounds really simple, but that’s community development.”

When asked about the power of film as a medium for social development, Myara said, “film is unique, enticing, and

other two) have some connecting themes according to Leslie: truth, lies, and consequences.

Frost/Nixon also deals heavily with abuses of power.

“The Canadian equivalent of Nixon is our Prime Minister,” said Leslie, explaining that “unless we move towards a utopian world, these themes will be relevant.” That being said, it’s hard to imagine Harper participating in a similar interview, especially given his unwillingness to even participate in the primary leader’s debate. When asked whether he thinks these

spiritual. It’s got a magic unto itself to transform the viewer.”

The festival can be described as respective and inclusive, but also like a giant house party with a heavy dose of energy and fun. This year, the festival draws upon unique inspiration

kinds of lengthy interviews would happen in this day and age, Leslie said, “Could I see it happening? Yes. With [Harper]?

No. I’d be shocked.”

Politics is one of those timeless themes that make a play relevant long after its era, and Frost/Nixon is a must-see classic for anyone interested in journalism or politics.

from Peter Greenaway’s latest film, Eisenstein in Guanajuato, and its theme of personal revolutions.

In our current society, we approach the world as consumers. However, art can unite us in ways that open our minds to questions that challenge the status quo. “Bringing people together through art is community development, but it is also transformative, especially in big cities,” explained Myara.

In addition to hosting an 11-day event every August, the Vancouver Queer Film Festival community knows that its real value is acting as a catalyst for something greater. As Myara stressed, “We don’t pretend to have all the answers — that is where many of our community members take over. What we do know is that we are here to illuminate. What we want is for our work to transcend our immediate communities and bring us together into action.”

ARTS

Dani Randle SFU Student Shorefest is back with a wideranging lineup that is sure to please any festival goer. Set in one of the most picturesque settings in Vancouver, English Bay, Shorefest promises not only great scenery, but great music, good food, and even the Celebration of Light firework display.

I was able to catch up with Shawn Hall, one half of the BC blues duo Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer. For those who don’t yet know of this band, Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer released their fourth album last year, and we are sure to see more from them in the near future.

Matt Rogers and Shawn Hall inventively combine an old school blues sound, harmonica, and their own original, grittier style with wonderful guitar riffs and unique vocals.

Matt Hall, the man behind the microphone and the harmonica stated that being a part of a band was the route he had imagined for himself.

After receiving a harmonica as a Christmas present when he

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was young, he began to play and develop a deep curiosity and respect for the instrument and those who played it. Playing in the orchestra, he said he was drawn to the fact that the blues scene was the polar opposite of what he had been accustomed to.

Going to speakeasy-type joints in the Toronto area, Matt painted a picture of the dark and mysterious men and women playing their bluesy tunes at night in the dim pubs, providing that gritty, blues inspiration for his future band.

Believing at first that the harmonica’s old-school sound couldn’t hold its own in a band, Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer started as a “project” to prove that the duo could cut it in the merciless musical world.

Today, after many awards, and much recognition, including a Sirius XM indie award for Blues Artist of The Year, the band has proven they are more than a project and a serious contender in the modern blues scene.

Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer hit the Shorefest Sunset Beach stage on July 29.

They are joined by many other celebrated artists such as Daniel Wesley, Bend Sinister, and Platinum Blonde.

Shorefest is a free music festival, preceeding the Celebration of Light fireworks, presented July 25 and 29 and August 1 at English Bay. For more information, visit lg1043.com.

Vancouver’s Food Cart Festival blasts groovy, retro tunes and really brings the beach to you.

With False Creek only a stone’s throw away, there’s a manmade beach where you can kick back, relax, and enjoy one of the many delicious items from one of the dozens of food trucks parked at Olympic Village.

There are so many enticing smells it’s hard to choose between famous meals like Tacofino, Mogu Japanese Street Eats, or Mom’s Grilled Cheese. With over twenty local food trucks each week to choose from, you’d better come hungry. This is Vancouver’s largest celebration of street food offering everything from Indian to Thai to French cuisine, and it is guaranteed to leave you satisfied.

Every year Arrival Agency, Streetfood Vancouver, and Vancity put on this amazing event.

Last year over 5,000 people attended, and a similar crowd is expected this year. On top of the festival featuring food trucks that are members of Streetfood Vancouver, a non-profit association that showcases the best food trucks in our city, it also boasts plenty of other great activities.

Have some fun in a ping pong tournament or just play a casual game, hosted by Ping Pong Club’s Michael Unger. If you have to bring a younger sibling along, or are taking the whole family out, there is a kids’ recreation zone put on by Bricks 4 Kidz. The latest feature in entertainment this year is the licensed live-music patio with a 400-person capacity. Enjoy local talent alongside BC’s best craft beer and wine.

With this crazy summer heat, anything that can cool you down is bound to be popular and yield a decent sized line.

Whether you’re in the mood for some freshly squeezed juice or a homemade freezie, they’ve got it.

At my recommendation, head over to Johnny Pop’s, who claim to have the best popsicle you’ve ever tasted (and I would have to agree). With flavours like Blueberry Mojito, Avocado Lime, and Blackberry

Cheesecake it’s hard to choose; if you have the chance, though, try them all. It’s a perfect summer treat.

For all those environmentally conscious people out there, not to worry; this is one of Vancity’s Zero Waste Events.

Only compostable or recyclable packaging is used by the food trucks, and ambassadors from United We Can will be on standby to help direct people and assist in the efforts of maintaining a litter-free zone. Last year 93 per cent of the waste was diverted, and this year hopes to see the same level of

environmental responsibility.

If you thought you missed this tasty event, fear not! It takes place every Sunday from June 28 until September 6, which gives you plenty of prime chow time. Come on over to 214 West 1st Avenue between 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to grab lunch, dinner, or just a snack. Admission is $2.50, but is free for Vancity Members or for those who donate a nonperishable item to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

Try something new every week, and find your new favorite food truck to hunt down in Vancouver.

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It’s that time of year again: the season made for exploring the great outdoors and going camping. (At least that’s what Canadian Tire commercials have taught us.

No one currently employed at The Peak has ever actually been camping.) If you’re one known for not thinking for yourself and need help

from a guide written by some hack, you’re in the right place; allow me to introduce you to The Peak’s guide to camping.

Fire: The first step to any successful camping trip is a big roaring fire. Lucky for you, British Columbia’s currently experiencing a severe drought and most things will catch fire with little to no effort. To be safe though, pour some gasoline over the area you intend to light.

As for types of firewood, nothing screams old-fashioned like going out and chopping down your own tree — really, though, the ground around you will light easily enough.

Clothing: So at this point, you’ve probably started a forest fire. If you really want to rough it out, you’re going to need to wear something

With over 200 wildfires (as of print time) currently blazing across British Columbia, the provincial government has called Ash Ketchum’s Squirtle out of retirement to help combat the growing numbers.

A once prominent member of the Pokémon trainer’s roster, Ash’s Squirtle was last used in a trainer battle over 14 years ago. The Squirtle will first be deployed to Puntzi Lake, and then to near Bobtail Mountain Provincial Park, where

two of the largest fires in the province are currently raging.

“In 2015, we’ve already doubled the number of forest fires we had in all of 2014,” Forests Minister Steve Thomson said in an announcement this week. “Ash’s Squirtle isn’t a last resort, but we are certainly exploring all of our options in order to get these fires under control. “ Squirtles are small water-type Pokémon that closely resemble turtles, but are substantively larger in size. In particular, Ash’s Squirtle was used to help control the devastating Garnet fire in 1994 and the Salmon Arm fire in 1998 — after which Ash’s Squirtle grew to level 13 and learned the special move Bubble.

News of Ash’s Squirtle returning to the fold brought nostalgiainduced praised from BC Wildfire Management spokesperson Kendrick Mackenzie, suggesting that

fire-proof. Some sort of fire-proof suit; and considering you’ve gone this far in making bad decisions, why not make it asbestos?

Food: If you’re a normal human being, you would bring some hot dogs, marshmallows, maybe some potato salad, and that would be good enough. But if you’re in the mood for something extra special, try hunting for your food (assuming you haven’t scared away all the wildlife with the forest fire). See a bear? Yeah, go take it down. If you need to, maybe bring a stick or some kind of blunt object, but this is a job best done with your bare hands. Bear carcass will taste fantastic after just a few minutes of cooking on the forest fire.

Funeral arrangements: Truth be told, I don’t think you’re cut out for the camping life; you’re starting forest fires, hanging around afterwards to make a light snack, and even fighting bears with your bare hands. Chances are slim you’ll make it out of camping alive, so it’s best to prepare beforehand. Take care of funeral arrangements and find a life insurance policy that doesn’t discriminate against selfimmolation, or fighting bears, or following the advice of poorly-written camping guides. Whatever you do, don’t leave the burdens on your loved ones — though, knowing you, you probably will.

it might be the return to form that BC needs: “Nothing against the province’s new methods of fighting forest fires. I’m sure they’re perfectly adequate, but you just can’t compare them with the original 150 methods.”

Jacey Gibb humour@the-peak.ca

• • • • • • • • • •

Since the beginning of April, the provincial government has spent about $108-million on controlling and extinguishing the fires ripping across the province. According to statistics from the BC Wildfire Service, lightning is still the number

one cause of forest fires, while people-caused fires hovered around the 44 per cent mark last year. The third starter of fires in BC, trailing by a large margin, is from wild Charizards carelessly wagging their flametipped tails around in dry forested areas while hot-headedly ignoring their trainer’s commands.

BC Wildfire Service is reminding residents to never leave fire Pokémon unattended and to always make sure to keep at least one water Pokémon in your party, partly for safety reasons but also because that’s what any half-decent trainer should already be doing.

When asked how he felt about leaving retirement to help deal with BC’s forest fires, Ash’s Squirtle was humble yet proud, saying that he was more than happy to be helping the province and that, “Squirtle, Squirtle! Squirtle!”

HUMOUR

July 20, 2015

19

20 LAST WORD

“It’s nice to meet you, man,” Dino Archie smiles at me from across the table, then pauses before asking a follow-up, “I haven’t met you before, right?”

Archie and I are seated in the back patio of a Cambie Street bistro, the meeting place he suggested. Archie likes the restaurant, if only because it’s nearby his house and usually pretty empty, as he explains. We both skip the menu anyways; Archie orders an Americano and I order a pint of 1664 Blanc.

He’s right in that we’ve never met before (though I’ve been lucky enough to see a few of his live performances). His question seems like a valid one, considering a large part of breaking into comedy is a neverending game of handshakes and getting to know the right people and promoters. But Archie’s introductory double-take stands out to me for a different reason: his potent combination of humour and a laid-back attitude make Archie such a relaxing person to be around, our interview runs nearly twice as long as most of the Laugh Track ones I’ve conducted so far. It’s a demeanour that inevitably translates nicely into Archie’s live performance as a comedian.

They say you can’t be in two places at once, but Archie proves to be a defier of physics: while born in Fresno,

Editor-in-Chief email

Max Hill eic@the-peak.ca

California, he has spent the last four years split between Vancouver and Los Angeles, simultaneously carving a niche for himself in both cities and both comedy scenes. As for local accolades, Archie’s been featured on Vancouverite Graham Clark’s popular podcast Stop Podcasting Yourself, done sets at home-grown favourites like Talent Time and Kings Head Comedy, and even took over for a night of The Sunday Service while the rest of the troupe was away in New York this past June.

Wherever there’s comedy in Vancouver, there are traces of Archie.

But few local institutions are as intertwined with Archie as downtown’s The Comedy Mix, where Archie used to produce a monthly show called Simply Dope Comedy and even filmed five different shows for his debut comedy album, Choosy Lover . Recorded over three nights at the stand-up club, Archie recalls the experience as a mixed bag. Highlights included a packed show on Halloween night and having someone leaving the bathroom while dressed as Captain America asking Archie to “zip him up”; lowlights involved a show where Archie accidentally burned through his entire set’s worth of jokes in his first 10 minutes.

And while Archie’s content with the final product of Choosy Lover

July 20, 2015

(which was released online this past February), he admits that some of the jokes don’t match up with the comedy he’s performing nearly a year after Choosy Lover was recorded. Archie’s in a relationship now and doesn’t get as “turnt” as he used to, but that doesn’t mean his comedy’s suffered because of it. It just means he’s less likely now to make jokes about being someone’s prison girlfriend than he might have been back in 2014.

Regardless, his relentless performing and craft-honing seem to be paying off; the week of our interview in particular seems to be a busy one for him. In addition to headlining three consecutive nights at The Comedy Mix ( July 16–18), Archie is sharing a time slot with fellow Vancouver comedians Ivan Decker and Levi McCachen at this year’s Pemberton Music Festival. Because of

the time delay between The Peak ’s editorial cutoff and when the article comes out, I ask Archie to brazenly predict the future and name for me three things that will happen during his time at Pemberton: “Festivals are weird, so I’ll probably say something extreme just to see if the audience is paying attention, maybe drop an n-word or the rword,” Archie anticipates the limited attention of a crowd who’s spent the last several days taking in way too much sun, among other things.

“I’ll also run into Missy Elliot and get to hang out with Kendrick Lamar. Probably.”

So whether it’s bouncing back and forth across the 49th parallel or prophesying an encounter with Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott, Dino Archie’s a welcome comedic presence to any scene he comes upon.

To stay up to date on all things Dino Archie, check out his website www.dinoarchie.com. His debut live album, Choosy Lover , is also available on iTunes and Soundcloud.