The Halloween Issue — Attack of the Giant Raccoon by The Peak

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FIRST PEEK

I have always thought that there is more crossover than we might assume between art and science, and that interesting things happen when the two fields collaborate on a project. A couple of recent arts events have led me to revisit the idea that art and science aren’t mutually exclusive. I think that we all understand this in some way, but it’s not until you listen to a scientist and a cellist give you a genetics lesson that it becomes very apparent. At TEDxVancouver, Jennifer Gardy and Peter Gregson discussed the origins of culture and why we are genetically disposed to creativity, through the study of other species, such as the zebra finch. One would think that a finch raised in isolation, never hearing birdsong, would not be able to produce

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its own song. In fact, the finch is able to sing, but it doesn’t sound as good as his parents. However, as Gardy explained, after about five generations of raising offspring in isolation, the finch’s song sounds just like the that of finches raised in the wild. The birdsong evolves all on it’s own and it seems to be an innate ability in their DNA. The DNA responsible for this phenomenon used to be called junk DNA, but has since been renamed regulatory DNA, and it seems that this is what gives humans the ability to evolve complex creativity. It’s fascinating to think that this extra DNA, which performs no obvious function, is responsible for the most beautiful works of art.

Gregson — an accomplished cellist and composer — is interested in data sonification, the process of turning data into sound or music. He has taken genetic data, translated it into musical

notation, and has transformed it into a beautiful piece of music. This may all sound a bit bizarre, but he’s not the only artist working with science. Swiss choreographer Gilles Jobin recently brought his new work Quantum to The Dance Centre. This work was inspired by Jobin’s residency at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. The choreography explores forces such as gravity, time, and space, and American composer Carla Scaletti’s electronic score incorporates data from the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator. Jobin was part of the Collide@CERN artist residency program, where he spent several months immersed in the world of scientists at CERN and their study of the origins of the universe through the Large Hadron Collider. Inspired by particle physics, his work ultimately explores the idea that we are held together by quantum forces. Art and science are fascinating fields of study in their own rights, but when they come together, we can push our knowledge even further and make all kinds of amazing discoveries.

NEWS

The superpowers of heroes such as Spiderman, Captain America, and the Hulk have become a frequent sight in movies and TV shows, but new technology may mean that you could see them in your day to day life, sometime in the near future. A paper recently released by Stephen Hsu, a professor of theoretical physics at Michigan

news editor email / phone

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State University, asserts that by tweaking our genomes, we could make humans drastically smarter. He explained that by modifying gene variants, human intelligence could be increased to 10 times what it is now. The paper has inspired renewed discussion in the academic community around the issue of genetic modification and how it might be used to give people ‘superhuman’ powers. Last week, a man who had been paralyzed for two years walked again following a transplant to his spine. The treatment involved the injection of olfactory ensheathing glial cells (OEGs) into the man’s spine, which were able to create new nerve cells and repair damaged ones.

Michel Leroux, professor in SFU’s Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, acknowledged the uses of stem cell technology: “It’s simply

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basic biological principles that multicellular animals, such as us, employ to grow from a single cell to an adult.” However, he speculated that, “we will require 50 plus years to get closer to really understanding mechanisms at the molecular level inside our cells.”

Human engineering is not just limited to comic books anymore. John Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka, who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012, discovered that adult cells can be reprogrammed back into stem cells. These stem cells can then be pushed to develop into a huge variety of adult cells: skin, bone, muscle, or even nerve. The technique, called induction of pluripotency, has made previously impossible therapies a reality. A short list of examples includes repairing damage to the heart after a heart attack, creating new insulin producing cells for diabetic patients, and even constructing a kidney from scratch. Such advances in the use of genetic engineering are reminiscent of a ‘healing factor’ that allows superheroes like Wolverine and Deadpool to heal their injuries supernaturally fast. When asked whether reprogramming a human’s body like this would ever be possible, Leroux suggested that it represents a logistical challenge. “The main issue there is delivery,” he said. Currently, there are many methods for modifying cells’ behaviour, but most involve somehow getting foreign genes

Melissa Roach

into the cell. There is even a ‘gene gun’ currently on the market, which fires DNA-coated gold particles into cells. Despite the innovation, physically getting DNA into many cells in a living organism is extremely difficult, at least for now. Gene editing tools like CRISPR — clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats which take advantage of natural DNA repair machinery to engineer the genome — might mean that scientists are that much closer to giving humans supernatural healing or amplifying the abilities that we already have. For instance, infants under a year old that have lost a finger tip can regenerate the finger, much like how a salamander can regenerate a lost limb.

Leroux explained that the excitement behind CRISPR is due to its incredible versatility and that “remarkably, it works in everything that’s been tried.” However, with these powerful tools also come ethical challenges. Leroux had his own opinions on the matter. “Personally, I could say that if you know that your children will have a particular genetic disorder and you’re able to fix that, I think that’s ok,” he said. “So is that where you draw the line? You can pre-fix problems but you can’t enhance existing traits.” For good or bad, Marvel or DC, the capabilities to engineer superhumans are already here.

NEWS

Build SFU offered students the opportunity to take a nap on couches, hammocks, and actual beds in a makeshift ‘nap zone,’ which was set up in the Forum Chambers during the afternoon of October 20. Entitled Build SFU’s Nap Zone, the event was held in order to give students “a taste of what’s to come in 2017.” The Student Union Building, slated to finish construction in 2017, will contain a socalled ‘napping room.’ Build SFU has regularly referenced the planned space in their project documentation and promotional materials. “Students are one of the most sleep deprived demographics of the population,” said Ross MacMillan, consultation coordinator for Build SFU. “Part of our mandate for the [SUB] is to facilitate overall health and wellness, and students have been very interested in the idea of the nap room. “It was not us that proposed [the nap room]; it was SFU students. They have been bringing it up during consultations ever since we started the project,” MacMillan said.

At the Simon Fraser Student Society’s (SFSS) Annual General Meeting (AGM) last Wednesday in the SFU Theatre, students voted in favour of a special resolution which will allow the society to obtain a loan for the Student Union Building (SUB). The students also approved an addition to the by-laws that will ensure that the Build SFU levy, which will be used to pay back any loan

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Last Wednesday, October 22, SFU Woodward’s hosted a panel discussion on the book, Red Skin, White Masks: Rejecting the Colonial Politics of Recognition, written by Glen Sean Coulthard, an assistant professor in the First Nations Studies Program and the Department of Political Science. According to the event description, the book challenges the “now commonplace assumption that settler-colonization can be reconciled through a process of cultural recognition and accommodation.” Adam Potvin, VP finance for the SFSS, acknowledged that the event was designed to promote the planned SUB space, but added that it was also a mental health initiative. “The idea had stemmed from an initiative about getting enough sleep,” Potvin said. “We ended up collaborating with a bunch of people like HiFIVE and Health and Counselling. It was appropriate to pursue something, and what better way to do so than to create a nap room.” The napping space in the Forum Chambers during the event was unlit, with a projector displaying visuals of oceans on the wall. Relaxing music played quietly in an otherwise silent room. Build SFU personnel were on scene to manage the nap-takers. Although the room was configured as such for this event, the SUB nap room will be a little

related to the project, will not be cancelled before the loan is repaid. The AGM was the first since 2008 to reach the necessary quorum of 250, with over 400 students present and many more lined up outside the theatre. “It’s a huge accomplishment,” Chardaye Bueckert, SFSS president, said of the turnout. “I just want to thank all the students who came out. That was really fantastic to see.” This AGM was particularly important because, under the Society Act, the issuance of any debenture by the SFSS must be approved by its membership. If the AGM had failed to meet quorum, or if the motions hadn’t passed, the SFSS would have had to hold a Special General Meeting (SGM) in January to ask the same questions of the membership, delaying the construction of the SUB significantly.

different. “The nap room in the SUB will have furniture that is comfortable, but [it] will not be beds,” Marc Fontaine, general manager of the project, said. “They will be more like comfortable couches or day beds.” Despite the differences, Fontaine emphasized that the event reflected the spirit of the future napping space.

“Today’s event serves two purposes. First, to indicate that there will be a napping space in the SUB. Second [. . .] to promote the

Students had the opportunity to voice their opinions about the Build SFU special resolution and the addition to the by-laws. Most of the students who spoke asked for clarification regarding the student levy to be used to pay for the building, as well as how space will be allocated inside of the building. Clayton Gray, a fourth year criminology student, raised concerns that the finished SUB will be owned by SFU and not the SFSS. “I’d just like to make sure that everybody here is aware that, if it’s analogous to taking on a mortgage, then we’re taking on a mortgage for the university,” he said. After the discussions, students voted in favour of the special resolution with 328 votes in favour and 26 in opposition. They also voted in favour of the addition to the

fact that sleeping and proper rest is important for wellness,” said Fontaine. “The space in the SUB will be a bit different from today, but the motivation is the same.” Despite indications that the event was well received, some concerns were raised by students. Amelia Hill, a third year political science student, brought up the issue of hygiene. “I’m concerned that it will not be sanitized enough [. . .] People drool, they smell, and they don’t shower. It could be gross,” said Hill. “It could be wonderful; it has potential to be really great. But it has got to be clean.” On these concerns, Fontaine responded, “Just like lounges on campus are cleaned regularly, the nap room will be maintained by the custodial staff. I cannot comment on the details since the project is still under development, but it is something we are keeping in mind.

by-laws with 283 votes in favour and nine in opposition. The AGM addressed other regular business, including the receipt of reports from the board of directors, VP finance Adam Potvin on the society’s finances, and the auditor, as well as the appointment the same auditor for the following year. Former SFSS president, Jeff McCann, the proud father of the SUB and Stadium projects which began in 2012, had this to say: “The AGM turnout and margin of yes votes cast is an incredible demonstration of support for Build SFU. Credit to the current board and Marc Fontaine for their efforts and success at this pivotal moment in SFU history.” Smiling, Bueckert summed up how she felt the AGM went: “We’ve set a high bar, and we’re going to need a bigger room for next year.”

SFU Surrey hosted its 7th annual Diwali event at Surrey’s Crown Palace Banquet Hall on Tuesday, October 21. The event celebrated Indian culture and attempted to engage with the local South Asian community. Over 300 South Fraser business, government and community leaders, as well as SFU alumni, faculty, students, and staff attended the dinner.

A lecture by Brown University’s Rebecca Schneider on October 22 discussed contemporary performance-based art alongside Paleolithic cave art, exploring performance as a historical artifact. Schneider asked questions such as: How long is the live? How live are the dead? And why are these questions surfacing now?

6 NEWS

Experts, innovators, and artists gathered at venues throughout the city last week to discuss the implications of innovation at SFU’s third annual Community Summit. Hosted by SFU Public Square, this year’s summit, titled, “Innovation: The Shock of the Possible,” explored the impact of new ways of thinking on the most important social, environmental and economic issues in British Columbia, Canada, and beyond. In an editorial published in the Vancouver Sun, SFU president Andrew Petter explained, “Innovation is not just about technological developments, although there are groundbreaking examples of technological advances to celebrate. Innovation also refers to new ways of imagining our

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Teams competed for a $35,000 grand prize, pitching their ideas to a panel of experts from the government, the media, and academia. On a similar topic regarding an uncertain future, Ray Kurzweil, director of engineering at Google, and Richard Florida, a worldrenowned urban theorist, joined forces at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Wednesday night for a talk titled, “Will Innovation Save Us?”

society, of reconfiguring our democracies, and of reinvigorating our social contract.” The week kicked off on October 19 with the Young Innovators Crawl, which invited community members to explore studios and open houses of local innovators under 30. “We didn’t want to have just another youth conference where young people are just discussing what innovation is,” Shauna

Sylvester, the executive director of SFU Public Square told the Vancouver Sun. “We wanted to look at how they’re innovating.” Later that evening, opportunities for innovation were explored at RISE, a competition addressing sea level rise in Metro Vancouver. Teams were invited to pitch their ideas for how people in the area can “adapt and thrive — faster than the waters that surround us.”

One of the talks that was most relevant to SFU students concerned the production, adoption, and use of open textbooks at post-secondary institutions. The province has already invested $2 million dollars to date in the BC Open Textbook project, which creates free open source textbooks for the most popular courses in the province.

Student residences hotbed for unsolicited form of trick or treating known as ‘break-and-enters’ UBC Theatre and Film sells old costumes for Halloween Students looking for unique disguises to wear this October 31 were invited to Freddy Wood Theatre last Wednesday for priced-toclear costumes, courtesy of UBC’s Film and Theatre program. From vintage bling to corseted Shakespearian dresses, all items were under $10; the sale helped to reduce the department’s inventory as well as raise funds for upgrades to their costume shop. Some of the more outlandish costumes — such as a ghost getup from their production of Ubu Roi that is supposed to evoke the sense of a “loutish royal glutton on the prowl” — were up for a separate silent auction during the sale. With files from The Ubyssey

Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) president Chardaye Bueckert, who was on the discussion panel for the event, spoke to its value: “It’s good to hear about the various developments that are going on in open source and what [students] can do to advocate for the use of them in their own classrooms, and how to engage in conversations with their professors in a way that’s productive and encourages them to get involved in the movement.” Other events included a discussion on how to make Metro Vancouver a zero waste city, and a presentation on the viability of values-based businesses. Overall, the week provided an opportunity to connect SFU students with faculty members as well as with innovators in the greater community and beyond, an effort that mirrors SFU’s commitment to being an engaged university. Bueckert commented on the significance of that effort: “Instead of having our university as a bit of an ivory tower, it’s more out there and engaging with the public.”

Being a video game ‘zombie’ could be healthy

Fanshawe College students are in danger of losing more than just miniature versions of candies this Halloween. According to London Police, there has been a 60.8 per cent increase in residential break-and-enters in the neighbourhood containing the school’s student residences in the past year. The main items that have been targeted by thieves have not been little Snickers or Starburst, but electronics such as mobile phones and laptops. Police have recommended that students keep their doors locked and windows closed, as those are the main points of entry for thieves, as well as humans in general.

A new study conducted at Ryerson University suggests that playing video games before meals contributes to lower calorie intake for teenage boys. According to nutrition professor Nick Bellissimo, when the subjects, who ranged from nine to 14 years old, played Angry Birds, they consumed, on average, 50 fewer calories than when they didn’t have any screen time. The study concluded that after 30 minutes of gaming, the kids both ate less and were in a happier mood, which further contributed to their desire to eat less.

With files from The Interrobang

With files from Ryerson University

NEWS

This year, Halloween night is going to look a little different for children in the Nunavut village of Arviat. The Hamlet of Arviat has issued a public notice advising against trick or treating, as there have been more than the average number of polar bears spotted in and around the village in recent years. As an alternative to the night’s door-to-door festivities, there will be an indoor event for children held at the community hall with activities

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such as face painting and a haunted house. They also hope to provide a shuttle bus to and from the event as a further safety precaution. The public notice read, “It was clear that the majority of

people liked the idea of providing a safer environment for kids to celebrate Halloween.” The village is located about 250 kilometres north of Churchill, Manitoba — another city that deals with

the dangers of bear activity in late fall, when the bears are waiting to start the seal hunting season once Hudson Bay is frozen over. “Picture 1,200 kids going doorto-door in Arviat in the middle

The group also acknowledged that it is not only women and girls, but people of all genders who are victims of this oversexualized holiday.

A feminist theatre company in Calgary is taking back Halloween from what they consider to be an oversexualized costume industry. The group, Urban Curvz, is holding an event on October 31 called Take Back Halloween, which “promotes the opportunity for all genders to make and wear costumes that are empowering, clever and diverse.” The organizers were inspired to launch the campaign after they spotted a sexy leopard costume geared towards three-year-olds in a costume shop window. “When we saw that [. . .], the artistic director of Urban Curvz and I thought, ‘You know what, this is a problem for all ages,’” said Pam Rocker in an interview with the Calgary Eyeopener. “And

this is something that we want to take back by having something like a feminist costume contest where you actually have to be creative and think about things that don’t gender stereotype and that maybe actually empower women.” Some of the plans for the event include a feminist costume contest and a patriarchy haunted house, which will illustrate the spooky side of gender issues.

In the description for their Halloween event, the organizers defined feminist costumes as costumes that do not appropriate cultures, are not racist, and are not misogynistic, while at the same time are not slut-shaming. “We are not saying that if you want to be a sexy nurse that’s bad, but we want to provide an alternative to something that isn’t gender stereotyping,” said Rocker.

“There is also a ‘mac pimp daddy’ costume for eight-yearold boys [. . .] I also saw a sexy Bert and Ernie and a sexy pizza slice,” explained Rocker. Gals and ghouls looking to don feminist costumes this Halloween can reference Suzanne Scoggins’ costume guide, Take Back Halloween, which markets itself as “a costume guide for women with imagination.” Created in 2011, the guide is divided into four categories: Glamour Grrls, Goddesses and Legends, Notable Women, and Queens. Costume ideas include Athena, Josephine Baker, Audrey Hepburn, and Jane Austen. In addition to providing viewers with ideas from diverse backgrounds, the guide offers

of polar bear season,” said Steve England, Arviat’s senior administrative officer. “It’s a pretty obvious conclusion of what tragedies could come out of that. We’re just trying to safeguard the younger population by offering an alternative.” Some have attributed the rise in bear activity near Arviat this year to the reduction of the polar bear harvest number — this winter, Cree and Inuit hunters are limited to 45 instead of 60 bears in Nunavut, Ontario, and Quebec. In the past, Churchill has managed to keep trick or treaters safe with a helicopter warning to scare the polar bears off, as well as with consistent bear patrols, equipped with noisemakers, cracker shells, and rubber bullets. These safety measures were even reflected in the costume choices in Churchill; mayor Mike Spence explained: “Nobody dresses up as seals. Nobody dresses up as polar bears here.”

tips for creating these costumes at a reduced cost. The guide, as well as the event, aim to deconstruct and dispose of the harmful gender stereotypes surrounding this holiday and to make it more friendly and accessible to the whole gender spectrum. Rocker concluded with her hopes for the event: “Awareness doesn’t have to be a drag and that’s really important to us, so we want it to be an exciting night for people.”

OPINIONS

The rapid spread of the Ebola virus has undoubtedly become one of the worst epidemics in recent history, claiming the lives of thousands in West Africa. Ironically though, as victims fall prey to the outbreak thousands of kilometres from our borders, Westerners over here in ‘prosperity-land’ are left shaking in their boots. After all, it could be any day now that a weary traveller fresh from disease-ridden Sierra Leone steps foot on Canadian soil, thus sounding the alarms for terrified public health officials to race over and quarantine the hell out of that poor individual. Extensive media coverage has left frightened Canadians in a state of paranoia. But what we Westerners must realize is that the only outbreak we’ll be falling prey to is that of anxiety bordering on hysteria. In many respects, it’s become the media’s duty to shroud foreign epidemics in a certain melodrama. This isn’t to belittle the

fact that, since March, over 4,700 people have been killed by the virus, it’s to say that our nation’s perception of this issue, through the corporate lens of the news, has been vastly misinformed. Yes, Canadians should be worried about the possible introduction of the disease to the country — after all, it only makes sense — but what we should be even more worried about is how our news coverage is currently skewing the issue through too much speculation and too few facts. Currently, our nation’s precautionary measures regarding a Canadian Ebola outbreak are sturdy. Apart from sending out 800 vials of experimental vaccines to the World Health Organization last Monday, the Public Health Agency of Canada has placed two large groups of epidemiologists and other experts ‘on call’ in Winnipeg and Ottawa.

In addition, quarantine officers have been stationed at six major airports across the country, while Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently announced an

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intensive Ebola-preparedness plan with Nova Scotia Health. Needless to say, the only people at risk of contracting the virus would be those health officials in direct contact with a patient. Similar to the swine flu pandemic in 2009, our nation’s extensive security measures would ensure that such a patient is under quarantine within minutes, and everyone outside the quarantine zone would be kept safe. It’s a shame that the media has spewed out so much editorial commentary on how Ebola has the potential to wipe out our nation — a commentary further amplified by activists and politicians. It’s ironic

opinions editor email / phone

Adam Van der Zwan opinions@the-peak.ca / 778.782.4560

that, while Obama cautions his American herd to “not give in to hysteria or fear,” Harper proclaims to the True North that a great threat is upon us, stating that due to globalized travel, foreign issues “could arrive at our shores very quickly.” Apart from playing Mr. Obvious, Harper has needlessly ingrained a bloated issue into our collective Canadian psyche. Statements such as these have even influenced us to consider unnecessary measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Some officials have suggested that Canada close borders to people traveling from anywhere

in Africa — an enormous continent where those living on the Eastern side have even less a chance of contracting the virus than Europeans. These irrational notions could cause us to turn away almost an entire continent of comparatively healthy people. While it’s human nature to fear what we do not understand, our fears are simply a product of misinformed speculation. I hope I’m not the only individual who’d like a little more light shed on the realities of the issue, rather than some Hollywood drama concocted by corporate conjurors to make a dime.

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If there are 200 things that I love, razor blades and apples have got to be two of them. If you ask me, nothing keeps your face smoother than a razor and nothing goes better with a razor than a razor blade. Some might even say

that the blade is the most important part of the razor and you know what, I’m not going to argue with them. As for apples, they’re one of the best fruits out there. They’re sweet and tasty and, in my opinion, the best food

you’re going to find to bob for. They say having one a day keeps the doctor away, but if you’re like me you’ll want to see a doctor everyday, just so you can show off how healthy you are from eating wall of those apples!

Now, as much as I love both razor blades and apples individually, I absolutely hate it when they’re combined and given out on Halloween. I know that most people think it’s just a fun prank and will tell me to lighten up (“it’s trick-or-treat

not treat-and-treat, man!”) and maybe I’m just old fashioned, but if it causes internal bleeding, I think that’s going too far for a trick. Razor blades are for your face, not your stomach. There’s no hair in there that

needs trimming. So knock it off people who hide razor blades in apples — you’re disappointing every kid who can’t wait to bite into that juicy apple they see in their candy bag, next to all that awful junk food!

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OPINIONS

October 27, 2014

should be fun and creative. But, depending on the costume, Halloween has consistently shifted ‘dress-up’ from fun to unnecessarily critical. Nothing beneficial comes from the expression of unproductive and abusive opinions. With the potential to cause mental and even physical illness, comments such as this are an enormous issue for anyone who does not fit into mainstream ideals of beauty.

Surprisingly, Urban Dictionary provides the best definition of body policing, calling it “[t]he practice of policing one’s physical appearance because it does not conform to social norms, or is not deemed appropriate for a

particular setting.” Body policing happens constantly, especially to women. My first experience with body discrimination occurred while I searched for my current Ginger Spice costume. Without the tightest mini-skirt, the costume would not be perfect, and the search was much more difficult than I had anticipated. After searching two malls worth of stores, I still hadn’t found what I was looking for. My stress-levels were already a little too high, when I received a comment from a random stranger with regards to my body. The moment was quick and I smiled, nodded, then swore not so quietly under my breath. When a stranger tells someone that they are a little too chunky to be Ginger Spice, their implications are clear. Thank you, random woman, for implying that I am too fat to pull off my favourite Spice Girl. Thank you for ruining this costume for me. I have witnessed my body change over time, and I know how much chocolate I have consumed in my life. But, this does not give anyone the right to tell me how my body looks, or what parts of it I can show off. This practice is prevalent across today’s culture, and the fact that beauty is so narrowly defined does not help matters. To take on the identity of another person or character

Because climate change is a fairly recent issue, it has been difficult to arouse the public’s interest enough to reverse the trend. During my high school years in Hong Kong, students would occassionally be exposed to discussions on this issue. An article from Rabble suggests that “education about climate change must become front and

center in our curriculum at all levels of schooling and across disciplines” — a statement with which I agree immensely. As unpleasant as it is to admit, climate change is one of the most serious crises we face on this planet. It is no longer an issue that troubles only a few countries; the issue has now quickly come to affect almost every part of the world. If we do not act quickly, future generations will suffer. Climate change issues cannot be solved in a short period of time, therefore, the education of future generations is an essential element in building a sustainable future. One of the problems with current climate change

education is that it’s introduced too late in the school curriculum. In elementary school, these issues are barely touched upon, and only in high school is the subject really introduced. It is best to start educating students when they are young, in order to successfully encourage them to change their attitudes and behaviours. Unfortunately, I find that some teachers do not have adequate knowledge on the issue, and are therefore unable to enlighten students fully. Furthermore, educators must be passionate about what they teach their students. A real interest in a certain situation would do wonders in influencing students’ perceptions.

Halloween, the best holiday in existence, is officially upon us. As children, we would dress up, shout at people’s doors, and demand chocolate from strangers. Now that we’re older, dressing up for Halloween has changed ever so slightly. For many who wish to dress up, Halloween costumes are a source of body stress. There is so much pressure to have the perfect costume, and to have the perfect body to execute it. ‘Body policing’ is prevalent during Halloween, and can be very destructive to a person’s well being.

My body is not on display for random strangers, or even the people I love, to comment on. I understand what is right for my body and others should not feel so entitled to their opinions on it. While everyone has personal preferences as to what they find attractive, these preferences should not be forced upon individuals as the ‘proper’ way to be. Sooner or later, these ideals are internalized and become destructive. People become damaged, which causes them to monitor or change their beliefs about who they are. Halloween is about dressing up, being silly, and having fun, and isn’t about changing who we are and what we look like to appease others. I am confident with who I am, so please, let me let me rock my mini mini-skirt without feeling guilty about it.

Sadly, during my high school days, climate change talks could be dull. Teachers tended to bombard students with scientific research — statistics, graphs, charts, and quantitative facts — that did little to arouse student interest.

An interactive learning approach may be a useful alternative in educating students on climate change. Innovative, hands-on activities would be a decent method to use on children.

Point blank, while we may have yet to come up with some truly effective methods that will motivate people to participate in a viable climate change solution, education and awareness for our future generations is where it starts. Carbon dioxide levels have almost doubled in the past 60 years, global sea levels have risen about 17 centimetres in the last century, and extreme weather is occurring all over the world. As everyone is responsible for the environment, we must invest our time, money, and interest in raising our future generations to be globally empathetic, innovative individuals who will build our sustainable future.

Dear SFU Undergraduate Students, Thank you for making the 2014 Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) Annual General Meeting a success! We are ecstatic to report that this year’s Annual General Meeting was one of the most successful in its history. Students have resoundingly endorsed the financing of a new Student Union Building and Stadium. A total of 469 Society members attended this year’s Annual General Meeting, nearly double what is required for quorum. In years past, the SFSS has struggled to obtain quorum at this very important meeting. We are immensely proud of our members for taking ownership of the SFSS and the Build SFU project. We wish to thank the volunteers and staff who worked so diligently at making this year’s meeting such a success. Most importantly, we wish to thank all those students who attended! The attendance level was substantially higher than what we anticipated based on turnout levels from previous Annual General Meetings. Thank you to all those who waited patiently to enter.

Chardaye Bueckert

President - Simon Fraser Student Society

OPINIONS

Last week, Leader of the Opposition Thomas Mulcair announced a proposal to launch a nationwide childcare program that would seek to provide affordable and quality childcare services to families across Canada. Mulcair’s announcement looked to set up what will be the NDP’s key platform issue come election time next year. While the promise of affordable and universal childcare is an obvious boon to the Canadian economy and serves to only further gender equality, the true accessibility of this plan remains unclear. The issue of childcare is, at its heart, a gender equality issue. Too often, families are unable to either find or pay for daycare, and too often, women are expected to assume the responsibilities of primary caretakers due to

Almost every undergraduate, at one point, asks the following question: is university worth it? I myself have spent more than a few hours over the last several years pondering this. But what does it mean for something to be worth it? Monetary return? Experiential value? Or is it merely another check we all feel must be crossed off before entering adulthood? The answer to this question is all of the above. We’d all like a higher salary and to experience all of the joys of university life. Most commonly, we want to cross this task off our list, and move on. The question then is, does university actually get you any of these things? From a monetary perspective, let’s assume you graduate at the age of 25 and you work for at least another 40 years. Having

October 27, 2014

patriarchal cultural norms; thus, the government’s inaction to provide such care disproportionately burdens women. This is of particular concern considering the staggeringly high number of women pursuing postsecondary education and poised to take on leadership roles in all industries in Canada. However, the realization of gender equality will be stagnant until systemic barriers to employment and career advancement for women can be negated by an effective childcare system.

Most importantly an effective childcare policy would be self-sustaining. The surplus of women who would be able to enter the workforce would not only significantly grow the economy, but their income would also provide crucial tax revenue for the government. In Quebec a similar childcare policy has been in place for quite

gone through post-secondary education, how much more money would you need to make in order to break even? Simply combine the cost of your tuition, the opportunity cost you incur by attending school, and the interest on your student loan repayment. By my estimate, if you’re an undergraduate, your total cost will never be over $75,000. Now you may find this number rather staggering. You may question what job you could possibly get upon graduation that could justify such an expenditure. The answer, surprisingly, is just about any.

Assuming you have the next 40 years of work to break even, and assuming that you will work full-time each year, you would need to make an average of 97 cents more per hour — than what you would have made without your degree

some time and the outcomes have been encouraging. Economist Pierre Fortin argues that “[the] ripple effect of [women’s] employment pumped an additional $5.2 billion into the Quebec economy, boosting the province’s Gross Domestic Product by 1.7 per cent” which easily pays for the “$1.6 billion annual childcare costs” the province incurs to pay for such a plan. One thing remains abundantly clear; the current status quo of childcare in the form of the Universal Child Care Benefit makes no economic sense. One hundred dollars per month is not nearly enough to cover the exorbitant price of childcare (which on average can surpass $1,000 per month). The NDP’s policy will cost $5 billion dollars a year by 2023. This policy not only subsidizes the cost of daycare to $15 a day, but also involves providing a million additional care spaces for just double that amount. However rosy universal childcare may seem, I remain concerned that the NDP policy will, like the troubling majority of social policies, only be enjoyed by the most privileged groups in

— post-university for your degree to have been worth it. Some might argue that you won’t even be able to make that much more, being perpetually underqualified due to your lack of work experience. My answer would be to wait. Take that BA designation off of your resume, get a ‘basic job,’ then apply for a proper one every week. Even if it takes you years to build up the work experience needed, it will still have been worth it. Remember, post-secondary education doesn’t need to make you a millionaire to have been worth it. It simply needs to make you better off than you would have been otherwise. These ideas do not even consider the fact that university is amazing on its own merits, regardless of any payback. It is a time for you to be part of a community of thinkers, to become politically active, and socially mobile. To use a tired cliché, it is a place for you to discover yourself and find your academic muse. This muse, whether English or statistics, geology or acting, will inform and enrich the rest of your life. What is more, the experiences you share with your peers,

our society. The policy seems to invoke a universal language but I am doubtful that such language is appropriate given the starkly different economic realities that Canadians face. An OECD study found that in Canada “low-income, singleparent families[. . .]pay, on average, 48 per cent of their net income” on childcare services. What has the NDP said as to how these families are to benefit under this new plan? Nothing. The waiting lists for these care

spaces will give no preference to families who need such subsidized services in order to subsist. The blind nature of such a policy will not necessarily help to ameliorate the conditions of the most vulnerable and impoverished people in our society, which is what a truly socially minded social policy ought to do. If it fails to do so, it takes its place as just another empty political gesture and we have plenty of those in Ottawa, Mr. Mulcair.

professors, lovers, and friends will stay with you forever. When you take all of these benefits into consideration, in

conjunction with the fact that the monetary payoff is almost certain, surely your answer to my question is obvious: university is worth it.

Finding its origins in the legends of the Algonquian peoples, the wendigo or windigo is an evil spirit who takes the form of a skeletal human. With thin, sickly skin and a wiry frame made partly of ice, the wendigo is best known for its insatiable hunger IRU KXPDQ Ă HVK ,Q VRPH YDULDWLRQV RI WKH OHJHQG humans who were particularly greedy or gluttonous could become wendigos themselves; other versions hold that wendigos grow larger with every human they eat, ensuring that the beastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hunger is never IXOO\ VDWLVĂ&#x20AC;HG 7KH\ÂˇUH VDLG WR LQKDELW WKH WXQGUDV RI northern Canada and Alaska, where the air is as chilly as their souls. Apart from being greedy, a human could become a wendigo by being possessed or by eating human meat â&#x20AC;&#x201D; thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even a psychological disorder called Wendigo psychosis which refers to a human with cannibalistic urges, though itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s often dismissed as pseudoscience by modern experts. Psychology aside, wendigos are terrifying. Many legends specify that the beast doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any lips, because â&#x20AC;&#x201D; you guessed it â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it eats them. Urgh.

In Inuit mythology, the qalupalik is a sea creature ZLWK ORQJ Ă&#x20AC;QJHUQDLOV DQG VDOORZ JUHHQ VNLQ ZKR UHsides deep within the Arctic Ocean. When venturing onto land, the qalupalik wears a traditional amauti â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a heavy parka with a pouch at the front â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which she uses to kidnap local children who wander off or disobey their elders. According to the legend, qalupalik steals children WR PDLQWDLQ KHU \RXWKIXO DSSHDUDQFH DQG ORQJ Ă RZing hair. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s afraid of adults, but that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop her from snatching kids who venture too close to the shoreline. This legend has been passed on from generation to generation, often told as a cautionary tale for misbehaving children.

Our very own Loch Ness Monster, the Ogopogo is a gigantic sea serpent said to live at the bottom of Lake Okanagan, just shy of Kelowna. The earliest sightings of the sea monster date back centuries â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the Okanakane tribe in the area called it Naitaka, which means â&#x20AC;&#x153;lake demon.â&#x20AC;? Oddly enough, the term Ogopogo is borrowed from the title of a 1924 music hall single which bears no mention of lake monsters or mysterious sea serpents of any kind. Despite its monstrous size (around 40â&#x20AC;&#x201C;50 feet long) and possibly prehistoric or paranormal origins, the Ogopogo is usually depicted as fairly benevolent, sometimes even friendly. It has become a local symbol in Kelowna and the surrounding areas, lending its name and image to restaurants, parks, corner stores, and even the logo for Kelownaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hockey team, the Rockets.

At the heart of the Rockies sits the Banff Springs Hotel, one of the oldest and most ornate resorts in Canada. Opened in 1888, the hotel is best known today for the many ghosts that supposedly haunt its hallways. The most famous of them is probably Samuel McCauley, a beloved bellman who worked at the hotel until his death. McCauley is said to have promised to one day haunt the hotel, and since his death, guests have reported instances of elevator GRRUV RSHQLQJ DQG FORVLQJ RQ WKHLU RZQ OLJKWV Ă DVKing on and off, and even a ghostly apparition helping to carry bags into hotel rooms. The hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s other stories arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite so pleasant. Among them is the mystery surrounding Room 873, which is curiously missing. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s said that a tragic murder occurred in that room many years ago. After guests repeatedly complained of hearing screams and VHHLQJ EORRG VWDLQHG Ă&#x20AC;QJHUSULQWV RQ WKH URRPÂˇV ZDOOV and mirrors, the hotel owners boarded up the room with drywall and instructed staff never to speak of it again. If you ever get a chance to visit the hotel, ask a bellhop about spooky Room 873 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; if the rumours are true, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll shrug it off with a scripted response thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as creepy as the story itself.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to think of a spookier spot than an abandoned mental institution, and Weyburn might be one of the creepiest of all time. Built in 1921, the hospital was among the largest structures in the British Empire at the time, and housed upwards of 900 patients from across the country. The institution quickly became controversial for its inhumane practices, including lobotomies, insulin and electroshock therapies, ice baths, and LSD experiments. In fact, the use of psychedelics on patients and staff alike was so common that the term â&#x20AC;&#x153;psychedelicâ&#x20AC;? was coined within the hospitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s walls. Though the hospital was closed in 1971 and remained mostly empty until its demolition in 2009, PDQ\ UHSRUWHG KHDULQJ JKRVWO\ ZDLOV DQG VHHLQJ Ă RDWing spectres within its decaying walls â&#x20AC;&#x201D; especially RQ WKH VHDOHG RII IRXUWK Ă RRU ZKHUH VRPH FODLP WR have seen a ghostly woman in high heels pacing back and forth. As the historic building has since been reduced to a pile of rubble, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll probably never know for sure.

This Winnipeg legend begins on cold winterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s evening in 1926. In a ba skirts of the city, a power cable break Ă DPH WKDW VHQGV D JURXS RI KRUVHV UX lives into the snowy night. Galloping River, the horses eventually freeze so heads poking out of the icy banks, the pressions preserved by the ice and sno it that, for the remainder of that bitter would walk across the frozen Red Riv KHDGV KRVWLQJ SLFQLFV DQG Ă&#x20AC;HOG WULSV chilly equine statues. Though itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s incredibly unlikely th could possibly have frozen solid whil right, this legend has been passed on fr to generation in Manitoba, and was im SDUWLFXODUO\ EL]DUUH VFHQH LQ Ă&#x20AC;OPPDNHU Ă&#x20AC;OP My Winnipeg. Science asid a haunting image, those horse heads po frozen Winnipeg river.

n a particularly arn on the outks and sparks a XQQLQJ IRU WKHLU g into the Red ROLG PLG JDOORS eir frenzied exow. Legend has U ZLQWHU ORFDOV ver and visit the V DPRQJ WKRVH

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ARTS

Death is not the first subject that comes to mind for an animated film, yet Jorge R. Gutierrez’s adventure-comedy, The Book of Life, presents the dead (and also the living) in a manner that is appropriate and fun for families to watch. The film’s fascination with death makes sense in its Mexican setting, where people honour their dead ancestors on a holiday called the Day of the Dead. The movie opens on the Day of the Dead; the two rulers of the dead — La Muerte (Kate del Castillo) and Xibalba (Ron Perlman) — are wagering as to which of the two leading male characters will marry Maria (Zoe Saldana). The two young men in question are Manolo (Diego Luna), who wishes to become a musician rather than follow the traditional

If you haven’t heard of The Walking Dead , then you’ve probably been living under a rock for the past four years. The Walking Dead franchise has expanded into several mediums including a TV series and an award-winning video game, but it began as a comic book. The first compendium came out in May of 2009 and consists of single issues one to 48. The narrative is fairly close to the hugely popular television series, which just began its fourth season. The series begins with Rick Grimes — who wakes up from a coma to find himself in the

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October 27, 2014

path in his family of becoming a bullfighter, and Joaquin (Channing Tatum), a dashing hero with a cache of medals. Maria falls for Manolo, but the plot takes a turn when Xibalba cunningly gets Manolo killed in order to win the bet, prompting Manolo’s journey through the Land of the Remembered and the Land of the Forgotten. In the living world, Maria faces the hard choice of whether or not to marry Joaquin, who would protect their town from a group of bandits threatening to invade.

One of the most impressive things about the film is its visual presentation. Every character or object in each scene is drawn with such incredible detail and vibrant colours that it truly looks as though there is a Mexican fiesta taking place on the screen.

zombie apocalypse — and follows him as he finds his family and makes his way across the country; he finally finds refuge with an old veterinarian named Hershel at a relatively secluded and selfsustaining farm. Because the volume is so expansive, I won’t get into the nitty

Tessa Perkins arts@the-peak.ca / 778.782.4560

The depiction of the world of the dead is particularly noteworthy. While the Land of the Remembered is even more colourful and elaborate than the world of the living, the Land of the Forgotten provides a striking contrast with its grey colour scheme and lack of detail. The lead characters, specifically Manolo and Maria, are unlike the archetypes historically presented in animated films. Maria’s character is refreshing in its disruption of gender stereotypes. She is not a damsel in distress, but is often shown to be even more courageous and physically adept at fighting than the male characters. Manolo is not a macho hero; he wishes to win the heroine’s heart through music rather than demonstrations of strength. That is not to say that there are no problems with the film. The American accents of some characters sound a bit jarring in the Mexican setting. The plot also seems to be filled with too many conflicts, such as the question of who will win Maria’s heart, Manolo’s journey through the afterlife, Manolo’s

desire to choose his own life path, and the threat of invasion lingering over the town. Children, who make up a significant portion of the film’s audience, might have a difficult time following the film’s storyline.

Despite these issues, The Book of Life’s focus on Mexican folklore and its colourful visual presentation offer adults and children something unique and enjoyable to watch on Halloween.

gritty of the plot, especially since The Walking Dead is now such a far reaching franchise and I’d be likely to spoil some aspect of the story for someone. The series is written by veteran comic author, Robert Kirkman, who has worked on other major titles such as Invincible and Ultimate X-Men. On

paper, Kirkman hosts an impressive resume. He is a best-seller for multiple series, and he’s one of the five partners who own the popular publisher Image Comics. I have to admit that the one problem I have with this graphic novel is the writing — to be more specific, the dialogue. Characters often narrate their own actions, which slows down the pace of the book, making it drag on. Many of the characters recount events that have just occurred to each other, almost immediately after they happen. Even simple actions — like emptying out the bed of a truck before getting into it — seem to require vocal acknowledgment, usually in a dialogue between two or more characters. There is no reason for this; most readers are capable of making the connection through either logic or visual cues present in the art. The art itself is actually divided between two illustrators:

Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard. Moore did issues one through six, with Adlard taking over the rest. To be honest, the more dramatic and ink-heavy art of Adlard is a far better fit for this dark graphic novel, so the change was well founded. Adlard relies on dramatic light sourcing, something common among artists that specialize in black and white. This style of art provides an overall harsh aesthetic that helps to emphasize the danger and emotional turmoil present in Kirkman’s narrative. I found the art to be very impressive, and significantly less gory than the television series. Because of the problems with the dialogue, and how persistent these are from issue to issue without improvement, I probably won’t be continuing this series, but I encourage fans of the show, or of zombie and horror genres in general, to check it out.

ARTS

October 27, 2014

are behind the killers’ creepy animal masks.

5. Eden Lake (2008)

10. The Innkeepers (2011) Do you love staying up all night watching films like Night of the Living Dead, Resident Evil, or Zombieland? Do you eagerly participate in Zombie Walk every year? Are you a crazed fanatic about the things that go bump in the night, that don’t stay dead and subsist on human flesh? If your answer to any of those questions is yes, get your ticket to Virtual Stage’s On Death’s Door: Plague of the Zombie Syndrome now! An incredibly interactive show, you’ll get to experience first hand what being chased by zombies in real life actually feels like. On Death’s Door brings you on a whirlwind, high-stakes mission. All audience members are participants — part of a zombie fighting team — and are immersed from the get-go: no toilet breaks, no popcorn runs, and no intermissions. This is not just mindless zombie chasing and non-stop running either — there’s an actual plot behind it. You become a character in the story, and every action you make, every word you say, shapes the story’s conception and brings it to life. Numerous possible scenarios could happen, and they are dependent on the choices both you and your team members make. The talented actors must adapt to the group dynamic on the spot. While there is a general script, specific dialogue is invented in the moment to make the storytelling experience run smoothly. Participants are emailed their rendezvous point less than 24 hours before the show starts and the mission takes place on the very streets of Vancouver, amongst the uninformed, going-about-their-regular-business public. But how can zombies be prowling around on the streets, striking fear into participants’ hearts without scaring the bejeezus out of non-paying passers-by? I had the opportunity to interview Andy Thompson, the artistic director of On Death’s Door , who’s been bringing successful interactive zombie

Two hotel employees attempt to record evidence of the ghost of Madeline O’Malley, a woman whose ghost haunts the the inn. This movie is unique in that it plays with expectations of the horror genre in fascinating, frustrating ways that amp up tension. It leaves you anxious, and always on edge — like good horror should.

9. The Descent (2005) Six women explore an unmapped cave system in a film that draws on one of our most basic fears: the dark. The film is a claustrophobic, anxious ride that is pretty brutal as well. It’s not for the faint of heart.

8. Let the Right One In (2008) A bullied child befriends a young vampire in this surprisingly sweet, but also frightening film. It’s a perfect balancing act of tone, not just a great horror film, but one of the best films of the last 10 years period. productions to the streets of Vancouver for three years. Every year has featured a different plot and script, and the immense planning and preparation for each show starts more than a year in advance. Thompson is very interested in the metaphor of the zombie, using it in the show as a symbol for drug addiction. “Having been fascinated with the topic of addiction and its impact on our society, I was very keen to dive into it. It’s really scary to consider that alcoholism, and other addictions, are everywhere in society, from the top judges to the lowest bottom drunks on Skid Row and everything in between. That, to me, is horror.” The key to this production is to be low-key — Thompson would love to see excessively violent scenes with an overwhelming swarm of zombies, but such a

scene would call too much attention to itself. As it already stands, each zombie actor has a bodyguard or other cast member in the near vicinity to make sure that they are protected in case they’re attacked. Additionally, permits are needed to reserve sections of public space for the settings, and as always, safety for everyone — the performers, the audience and the public — is top priority. Thompson has to strike a balance between theatrical creativity and realistic limits, and from what I’ve seen, he’s a master at it. The show’s been a huge success, with participants showering the company with praise and requests for a bigger, better, and more badass show each year.

7. The Awakening (2011) A mythbuster in 1921 Britain is called into an all boy’s boarding house to disprove the children’s belief that a ghost lives there. A very old fashioned story reminiscent of some of Hollywood’s older horror films, a lot of time is dedicated to building up a bleak tone and racking up tension.

6. You’re Next (2011) This is a slasher with a twist: instead of a group of sexy teens being killed off one by one, it’s a family at a reunion at their large summer home. While family tensions cause drama at dinner, soon they must band together as they are picked off one at a time. It will leave you guessing at who’s next and whose faces

A couple attempt to camp in the English countryside and are terrorized by a group of young British hoodlums. While they start with some basic harassment and vandalism, the teenagers’ psychotic leader slowly starts to become violent with the couple. While not a traditional scary movie, it will leave you tense and ultimately horrified.

4. House of The Devil (2009) Set in the 1980’s, a babysitter is recruited out of college to take care of an ailing elderly woman who lives in a decrepit, old house. While the plot may sound basic, the film jumps between subgenres of horror with glorious abandon, featuring satanic cults, haunted houses, slashers, and a great ’80s soundtrack.

3. V/H/S (2012) This is an anthology film that features six creepy, inventive horror shorts, each helmed by a different director. While they fluctuate slightly in quality, they all offer something new to this often stale genre and are more than worth checking out.

2. REC. (2007) A reporter is quarantined inside an apartment building infected with a zombie-like virus. The discovered-footage style of the film is used to great effect, racking up tension and giving the viewer the terrifying point of view of the reporter. Bloody and relentless, the scares come fast and never stop.

1. Oculus (2014) Mixing flashbacks with the present day, a brother and sister attempt to understand what really happened when their father murdered their mother 11 years ago, seemingly under the influence of a supernatural mirror. The film effectively blurs lines of reality, time, and perspective. It’s a real mind bender that will leave you with a sick feeling of dread in the pit of your stomach.

16 ARTS

Judge Dee’s Chinatown Haunted House, presented by Seven Tyrants Theatre, is a theatrical experience through the Dr. Sun YatSen Gardens in the dark bluish hue of night. Revolving around the life and death of Judge Dee — the Chinese equivalent of Sherlock Holmes, a detective who had a penchant for putting criminals behind bars and upholding justice — this Halloween attraction is definitely not your typical haunted house. Whereas in a standard haunted house you merely walk, stumble, or scream your way through tight, indoor spaces designed to psychologically torture you, this Chinatown haunt features the extra element of storytelling. Besides having to concentrate on not tripping over your feet — which your fright has suddenly turned into violently flopping fish — and

It’s that time of month. Halloween is just around the corner, and people are doing last minute runs for fake tombstones, multi-pack candy, and pumpkins. For those who don’t fancy staying at home handing out candy to children, there are certainly the scary attractions, such as PNE’s Fright Night or the Metrotown Haunted House. But if you’re looking to tone down the fear factor and add a bit more comedic spice to this chilly October air, Evil Dead: The Musical is right where you want to be. Evil Dead: The Musical, presented by DSR Productions,

October 27, 2014

making sure nobody’s sneaking up behind you about to cut off your kneecap, your already short-circuited brain has to go into overdrive and focus on an unraveling storyline as well. It was certainly interesting to see the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden bathed in such a dark halo and mist. This experience gives participants a different perspective on the gardens than what its normal daylight hours allow. I visited the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden earlier in October on a lovely sunny day, and it was a classical vista taken right out of China, authentic in every way; you felt as if you’d traversed the space between Vancouver and China in one footstep. The real world dripped into the pond and cast a parallel universe into its depths, where koi spun and weaved languidly. Transformed into a haunted house though, with cackling creatures around every corner, it is infinitely more creepy than tranquil. Judge Dee’s is a unique Halloween attraction, but as much as I appreciate the fact that actors actually have to enact a script rather than just drool and growl

returns to Vancouver this Halloween for some frightful delights. Inspired by Sam Raimi’s cult movie series of the same name, it plays out the story of five college students who spend what is, for most of them, their last, fateful night in a cabin in the woods. The entire world’s fate rests on the shoulders

and shriek, I think it is not entirely accurate to advertise this attraction as “Vancouver’s only haunted house not suitable for children,” or even as a haunted house for that matter. While it did have its scares, I definitely would not peg it as a goosebump-inducing, kneequivering, lip-biting, terrifying experience — and this is coming

from a girl who loves scary movies but cannot watch them alone. I’ve been to my fair share of haunted houses and this is by far one of the mildest I’ve seen. I suppose the scares lie more in the evocation of Judge Dee’s adventures, which eventually ended in his assassination, and is thus a decidedly more sophisticated

Halloween experience for the discerning individual.

encourages people to come to their show decked out in full costume and live it up just as much as their dancing dead. For audience members who don’t mind getting wet and dirty, this is definitely for you. If you’ve ever wanted personalized attention from a bunch of zombies and their flying guts, snatch up those splatter zone tickets now — it’s only for the first row in the theatre. Don’t make the mistake of settling for general admission like I did; I had to watch enviously from the fourth row as people in the front were bombarded by zombies and soaked with zombie blood.

of Ash, a simple, apparently very horny, S-Mart Housewares employee. No pressure, man. Evil Dead takes a lot of the common stereotypes that we see in horror movies, especially the bad ones, and makes fun of them very blatantly, effectively subverting these cliches. That’s part of what

made the show such a riot for everyone — it addresses completely ridiculous tropes in horror movies that don’t often fool us anymore. The running joke lies in the characters’ simultaneous awareness and obliviousness of themselves and their situation. On top of an ambitious script, the show’s slapstick humour is spot on. It is pretty obvious that this was not a Broadway show, and isn’t supposed to be. Some of the dialogue that was supposed to be funny fell flat, and certain scenes of acting and dancing were borderline sloppy. Nonetheless, it was clear that the actors and actresses had heart and were genuinely dedicated to putting on a great show. With songs like “What the F*CK was that?” and “All the men in my life keep getting killed by Cadarian Demons!” the show pretty much speaks for itself. The show is fabulously unique in one aspect — its famed Splatter Zone. DSR Productions

SPORTS

sports editor email / phone

October 27, 2014

Austin Cozicar sports@the-peak.ca / 778.782.4560

SFU marched to their second victory of the season off of a dominant second half, defeating Great Northwest Athletic Conference rivals, the South Dakota School of Mines (SDSM) Hardrockers, who are ranked seventh in the conference. Quarterback Ryan Stanford had his first start in three weeks, as head coach Jacques Chapdelaine started backup Tyler Nickel the last two games. Throwing for 372 yards, and going 28 for 36 on pass attempts, Stanford proved that he is still the team’s go-to quarterback. In spite of the end result, the first half exposed some Clan weaknesses, with the team down 31-26 at halftime. Scoring was not an issue, but defensive lapses were. SFU won the coin toss to start, and elected to receive. However, a fumble gave the ball to the Hardrockers, who promptly opened up the scoring with a touchdown. Although they answered back quickly with a field goal and touchdown for a momentary lead, the Clan never seemed in control. The tide began to turn for SFU at the end of the second quarter, as Cole Tudor ran the ball in for

a touchdown with 39 seconds left in the half — only down by five points, this play set the tone for SFU’s second half teardown of South Dakota. The beginning of the second half mirrored the start of the game, but this time in the Clan’s favour: SFU middle linebacker Jordan Herdman sacked Hardrocker quarterback Trenton McKinney, forcing a fumble, which led to a Clan touchdown 1:04 into the half. With the touchdown, SFU took the lead, at 32-31, which they would keep for the rest of the game. The Clan did not allow the Hardrockers a single point more, shutting them out to a score of 27-0 in the half. In the third quarter alone, SFU scored 20 straight points, with wide receiver Lemar Durant taking in the second and third touchdowns of the quarter. He nearly made it three straight touchdowns at the start of the fourth quarter — catching a 30-yard pass from Stanford — but SFU took a penalty on the play and it did not count. As a testament to the Clan’s play, Justin Buren made up for the mistake, catching a 35-yard touchdown pass, notching the final points of the game, with the score at 53-31. The Hardrockers did not throw in the towel, though, and appeared to be making their way to their first touchdown of the half with 60 yards in a single drive, but Tolbert forced a fumble, which Jordan Herdman recovered, sealing the win.

Jordan Herdman once again led the team in tackles with 12.5, while Tudor and Stephen Spagnuolo led the team in rushing yards with 96 and 86 yards respectively. One of the highlights of the game was Justin Buren, who replaced injured wide receiver Kyle Kawamoto the previous weekend; he put up a stellar performance, notching 123 receiving yards, and two touchdowns, leading the team. “We knew Justin [Buren] was a very capable player in training camp, he just didn’t have a lot of experience, which he is gaining rapidly now,” said Chapdelaine. “The last couple of weeks have been very good for him.” Chapdelaine attributed much of his team’s second half resurgence to the previous weekend’s loss to Division I Idaho State Bengals.

“We just executed honestly,” he explained. “We played a very tough opponent last week, and although the score did not flatter us, we learned a lot of things in that game that we did not apply in the first half. In the second half, it was important for the guys to apply what we had learned, how we had gotten better.” Chapdelaine stressed the need for greater consistency from the team: “We need to be better at understanding the little details of the game. This is not high school football; guys have got to prepare in a way I don’t think they have [. . .] in the past.” Although their overall record is 2-5, the Clan are now 2-1 in the GNAC, and move to third place in the conference.

score to 21-14, and looked primed for the victory. The Falcons would claw back, however, and with the help of a five-point streak, win the set, forcing the fifth set. The Clan once again jumped out to the early lead, up three points 13-10. SPU fought back once again to tie it 13-13, but SFU finally mustered up the strength to finish the game with a kill by Christine Howlett, which ended the set 16-14. “I was very relieved when we pulled that one out,” said Dunham, who had 12 kills, tied with Howlett for the second-most kills to Robinson’s 19. “We worked very hard as a team and sometimes you just need to give it a little more just to keep ahead.” With the victory, the Clan move from fifth place to fourth place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) with a conference record of 7-4 and 13-6

overall. The seven conference wins are a best for the Clan — whose record was six last season — and they still have seven games left to improve that tally.

SFU ended up with the victory on Thursday night, but it was a nail biter right down to the last second. Playing against the Seattle Pacific University (SPU) Falcons, the Clan had many opportunities to end the game, but they had a hard time finishing, and the Falcons were relentless. “[SPU] played very well actually. They kept going and they were doing everything right and blocking us, so props to them, but I’m glad we came out on top,” said outside hitter Mackenzie Dunham.

SFU started out the game with four straight points, including two back-to-back kills by Kelsey Robinson, and won the first set 25-17. Robinson had seven kills in just the first set. The second set did not go as smoothly for the Clan, with the Falcons notching the first two points. SFU had a hard time defending against SPU’s attack, as they often seemed to be too spread out. The Clan would surrender the set to the Falcons, before taking the third by a score of 25-17. Now leading the game two sets to one, SFU jumped out to the early lead in the fourth, with Robinson’s 13th kill opening the set. SPU, however, took the lead quickly, eventually gaining a fivepoint lead to make it 10-5. The Clan took back the lead, however, by scoring six straight points. SFU eventually took a sizable seven-point lead, bringing the

SFU Hockey won in a shootout 5-4 against first place Trinity Western University (TWU) at home Saturday, October 18. SFU outshot TWU 42-27, and scored three straight goals after surrendering the first goal of the game. TWU battled back to tie the game and take it to a shootout. The Clan are second in the league, sitting at 3-2-0, with one of those losses against TWU the night before.

SFU’s men’s soccer team defended their way to a 1-0 win over the North Nazarene Crusaders. Captain Jovan Blagojevic scored his 13th goal of the season in the eighth minute, which ended up being the game winner. Callum Whittaker was ejected from the game in the 53rd minute, which forced the team, already under pressure from the Crusaders, to play with one less man. The Clan are now 7-4-2 overall, and 5-3-2 within the conference.

The Clan women’s wrestling team opened their season with a 36-9 victory against Wayland Baptist University in a dual meet held in Plainview, TX. SFU won eight of the 10 matches to notch the victory.

SFU’s golf teams played on October 20 and 21, as the men headed to Monterey Bay, CA, while the women headed to Victoria, BC to play at the Vikes Invitational. Both teams placed third, with freshman Kylie Jack leading the women’s team, coming in seventh. These tournaments wrapped up the teams’ fall seasons.

18 SPORTS

r When you think of quidditch, you probably think of the fictional game in Harry Potter, with magic and flying brooms — a difficult, if not impossible, game to play in reality. But it’s real, having been adapted into an ac sport sometimes referred to as muggle quidditch. Although it deviates slightly from the game in the books and movies — primarily in that you can’t fly and that the snitch is carried by a person, a snitch runner — it’s actually fairly faithful. Players still carry around broomsticks, for instance (even though they are clearly not used to fly). For some, the game’s basis on Harry Potter and the whole running around carrying a broomstick between your knees thing scares them off, or they dismiss it as ‘nerdy.’ Da Huang initially had some of these reservations: “At first I saw their club days [booth] in the AQ and I thought that this might be some kind of Harry Potter fan club, because there was [. . . a] guy carrying a broom and walking around.

“I do really like Harry Potter myself, but at the beginning, to be honest, I was kind of worried about how my friends [would] look at me because it sounds a little bit nerdy.” However, it didn’t take him long to get into the game, and see it as a legitimate sport: “After a scrimmage, at the end of practice, this idea was just wiped out of my mind, as [I thought], ‘Oh damn, I’m almost dead from that game.’ I was taken down to the ground by another bulky player, like in rugby [and] the broom I was using back then broke into two pieces. “It may look silly at first, when you’re running around riding a broom, but later people realize how intensive and competitive it is.” He explains, “Fifty per cent of the reason I play this sport is

October 27, 2014

because I’m a Harry Potter fan, the other 50 per cent is that, as an athlete, I really enjoy competing with my teammates and other schools. “[It’s] competitive, it requires a lot of teamwork and that’s why I like this sport.” Da admits to some difficulty when explaining the sport to his friends, saying, “A typical conversation would be like: ‘I have a practice today,’ ‘What practice?’ ‘Quidditch,’ ‘What’s that?’ ‘I just told you last week!’ ‘Oh yeah, that Harry Potter thing,’ “You should come with me,’ ‘Alright, I’ll try [sometime] later.’” Despite the initial challenge of encouraging his friends to try the sport, after actually watching him play, their attitudes changed. “I convinced some of them to come and watch our game against UBC in the summertime and after that they were all like, ‘Wow, that’s way more intensive than I imagined.’” In the game itself, Da is a chaser — the quidditch equivalent of a forward. His job, more or less, is to score. He describes himself as a high energy player; he refers to his intensity on the field, saying that he “yells all the time” to help motivate the team. He explains that his teammates sometimes say that another ego comes out of him when on the field. He fits into SFU’s balanced game plan — in contrast to that of UBC, which he alleges focuses more on size and tackling — as a more agile and sneaky scorer, who uses speed to outwit the competition and put the quaffle (the ball) in the hoop. Da’s athletic interests are not limited to quidditch, though; he enjoys playing many sports, in particular soccer and basketball, and these games often seep into his quidditch play: “I found that I can use my experience from other sports [. . .] to use in quidditch. “[For example] I use the post move from basketball in quidditch to get rid of a defender,” he explains. “The overall size of the [field] in soccer [helped me realize] that I need to be aware all the time where my teammates are, where the defenders are, where the golden snitch is.” Although he was not one of the founding members of the SFU’s quidditch team, the SFU Marauders, he is now one of

the more senior players on the team, and in a position of leadership. Looking at the team, which started only one year ago, he sees a bright future. “We are a new club compared to other universities in North America and in Canada, such as UBC — they all have longer histories than us, but we have been improving very rapidly,” he said. “We’ve been to several tournaments and actually did not bad. “I’m proud of my team and happy to be a part of it.”

SPORTS

October 27, 2014

Mackenzie Nolte, who easily put the ball into the back of the net. In the 30th, SFU’s Mikaela Guerriero was left unmarked near the penalty spot, and had a glorious chance to tie the game, but her shot just missed the right post.

The women’s soccer team suffered a 2-1 defeat last Thursday night, at the hands of the Central Washington Wildcats (CWU). The Clan

A recurring theme in SFU athletics is that of a team steadily working to become championship contenders, after having to rebuild for the NCAA; the men’s basketball team can be counted among them. However, according to head coach James Blake, they are not looking to recapture past glory, as many other SFU teams are, but are looking towards new territory — simply to make the playoffs. “Our journey has been different than [that of] a lot of teams at Simon Fraser; we’re a program that in 50 years has never won a conference title,” explained Blake. “So our goals are maybe not that of the swimming team that has won national titles, or of the softball team that has won national titles, our goal is to get to that conference tournament.” The coach notes that this is not a fast process, and must be approached with patience: “What people do a lot of the time is skip steps, and we really haven’t skipped steps. We take little steps and make sure

were looking to improve on their 2-8 conference record, seventh in the GNAC; they were up against a Wildcat side that was 5-3-2 in conference play so far this season, good for fourth in the conference. Needless to say, it was an important game for SFU, as Central Washington is one of the teams that they are chasing to get into the top four and qualify for the year end GNAC championship tournament.

The first half started off great for SFU. In the fifth minute, Sierra Leung had a perfect chance at the side of the six-yard box to give SFU an early lead, but missed the net. It would be Central Washington who would get on the board first on a strange play. Goalkeeper Priya Sandhu charged out to play the ball, but as she did, it bounced off of her and right to Wildcat midfielder

we’re competing, and evaluating our talent properly in the offseason.” Those steps include recruiting, especially as the team only has three returning seniors this year. Blake hopes to continue to develop the Clan’s offensive game, having been outscored on average by 2.3 points per game last year.

the game up, shoot more three point shots, spread the game out even more.” Returning seniors and team captains Sango Niang and Justin Cole will help drive this offensive shift. Niang led the team in scoring with 392 points last season, averaging 16.3 points per game, while Cole led the team in both field goals attempted and made, making 135 out of 279 attempts. “Their primary roles this year as seniors are to be leaders, as captains, not only in scoring, but [. . .] they’ve got to do all the things in practice, in the weight room. They need to show they can [. . .] lead this young team to where we need to be, to get to that next level,” said Blake. Rounding out the team is a sizable number of freshmen and sophomores, making for a notably younger team than last year. Joining them are a number of Division I transfers, including Hidde Vos and Michael Harper. The team will look to improve on their conference record, in which they went 3-15 last season. Despite the low number of conference wins, they performed well outside of conference, losing only one non-conference game, excluding their exhibition games against Division I teams.

“We [want] to bring in other players who are able to close that gap, that point differential, we had two losses last year by one point,” he said, referring to losses to Western Washington University and University of Alaska-Anchorage, who were first and second in the conference. “We’re right there, we’re two points away, and this year’s job is to close that gap. “The emphasis in recruiting this year was that we need to shoot the ball a little bit better from the perimeter, we’re really going to speed

The second half started off well for the Clan, courtesy of midfielder Elishah Jilling, scoring within the first 10 minutes, with a great shot from just outside the box that curled into the top left corner. There was hope at this point that SFU could muster a draw, or even a win, but it was short lived. Off of a long free kick, the ball sailed towards CWU’s Nolte, who

got a free header that hit the right post. She then collected the rebound and shot it into the empty net for a goal that turned out to be the game winner. You can chalk this loss up to SFU’s lack of composure with the ball, which was needlessly passed right to an opponent too many times. In addition, the ball was also kicked up the field to where the Clan were outmanned when the easy pass was available, far too often. Assistant coach Lee Tregonning believes that this can be fixed, but it will take time: “[Composure] comes with confidence. We’re a new coaching staff and almost half of a new team. The season is only three months long and it’s going to take a lot longer than three months to get [the team] set. The more they play together, the more they train together, the composure comes then.”

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20 DIVERSIONS / ETC

October 27, 2014 FREE CLASSIFIEDS are available to SFU students for personal use. 30 words maximum. Drop by The Peak offices in MBC 2900 to submit your ad, or go to our website: www.the-peak.ca or email: classifieds@the-peak. ca. One ad per person. All others: $12 + GST per week, prepaid, for 30 words. Each additional 10 words: $1 + GST. Five ads or more for the special price of $8 + GST per ad. Cash or cheque only please. Make cheques payable to: Peak Publications Society, mail with the ad, attn: Business Manager.

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HUMOUR

October 27, 2014

humour editor email / phone

Jacey Gibb humour@the-peak.ca / 778.782.4560

honest songza playlist

Then: Pumpkin from the supermarket: $3. Carving knife and scooping spoon: $6. Runny, halfworking Sharpie felt pen from your enterprising older brother: $10. Seeing how innapropriate you could make your Jack-o-Lantern before your friend’s mom yelled at you: Priceless.

Now: Enter the ‘Drunkin.’ This fratboy-meets-Pinterest innovation involves a hollow mini-pumpkin and cheap, watered-down lager. Thought to be invented by a health conscious Quidditch player, this trend is typically employed by individuals who want to get their daily recommended amount of Vitamin A while they party.

Then: The one day of the year where the rules just didn’t apply. You dressed up as your favourite Star Trek captain (or whatever normal people dress up as) and went around your neighbourhood knocking on doors demanding candy/chocolate/chips from people you barely knew.

Now: This one’s actually pretty much the same as when you were a kid. Except the trick is that the club you just waited outside of for two hours isn’t going to be fun. And the treat is food poisoning from the McDonald’s you visited on your way home. Happy Halloween, everyone!

22 HUMOUR

Police are warning trick or treaters about a particularly uninspiring batch of candy corn that could pose a risk to children’s taste buds. “No one is in immediate danger of being disappointed,” police announced to candy enthusiasts earlier this week, “but we are monitoring things closely. We’re taking a ‘better safe than bummed out’ approach to the situation. Anyone with any information about the subpar candy corn should contact us immediately.” The candy has already disappointed Vancouver teens Trevor Smith and Todd Chan, and police are saying similar incidents could be on the horizon. According to a police report, Smith and Chan purchased the

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alleged candy corn from a bulk aisle at Superstore. Instead of just being content with how average the candy was, the youth told police that they were unsatisfied with how bland it tasted. “At first we thought it tasted like regular candy corn, which I guess tastes like sugar but not as good,” Smith recounted to The Peak. “After a couple of pieces, neither of us were really feeling it though. I still have most of the bag so I might just give the rest to my parents. I’d feel bad just throwing it away.” A junk food belonging to the ‘sweet’ family, candy corn is a popular treat for this time of year — which police say makes it especially prone to disappointment.

“People get excited that they can buy candy corn in stores again and

they immediately think back to eating it when they were kids. When people are nostalgic, they’re more susceptible to be underwhelmed by something. Just because a candy is seasonal doesn’t mean it can’t be mediocre. “It’s Halloween, so of course people are going to be hopped up on Tootsie rolls, miniature chocolate bars, and anything

else they can get their hands on. It’s important that people are aware of what kind of candy they’re ingesting so this doesn’t happen to them.” The situation is similar to an incident in 2012, where police issued an advisory on all Sun-Maid Raisins, after reports flooded in about raisins that were drier and more stale-tasting than usual. Sun-Maid

or alcohol to the mix. Remember to have people blame you more for inviting the attack on yourself. Terrifying! Prank #3: Dismiss someone based entirely on their age. If they’re younger than you, say they just don’t know any better. If the person is older than you, tell them they’re out-of-touch with the world and imply they might be senile. Blind ageism in

an otherwise progressive time can be downright bone-chilling. Prank #4: Remind someone, preferably one of your single friends, that no one loves him or her. Dying alone and forgotten feels fan-flipping-tastic. You can emotionally cripple and terrify anyone with the strike of a single sentence. Prank #5: Make any coffee or tea drinker believe that their drink of choice has been outlawed, then watch the life drain from their eyes. The coffee and tea addicted generations of today need something in their lives to help them function. With the temperatures dropping and rainy days becoming more frequent, the need for comforting warm drinks will increase their petrified reaction. For those master pranksters out there, wait until finals start and caffeine is at its highest value. These are just some of the things you can use to instill fear into the heart of any millennial. Your victims will not just be momentarily horrified, you’ll get to the heart of any person. Their current anxieties and fears will run rampant for much longer than just Halloween. So, go forth and frighten!

There’s no doubt about it: October is the scariest time of year around SFU. With the fog rolling in and Halloween drawing near, the time to affright the people you love is optimal. Ghosts and ghouls might do the trick, but drawing on some utilitarian fears works even better. Here are a couple of soon-to-be classic pranks you can try out yourself!

Prank #1: Have a person spend four to five years of their life in postsecondary and then release them into the job market. There’s nothing more petrifying than not being able

to find a job in your field of study. For bonus marks, make sure they’ve accumulated a lot of debt in the process. Spoooooooky. Prank #2: Be a woman walking alone down the street, preferably at night. Nothing says terror like having to always be aware of your surroundings in case someone tries something. Try adding revealing clothes and the consumption of drugs

representatives responded by saying that that’s just how raisins are supposed to taste and the allegations were eventually dropped. Until more is revealed about the dispiriting candy corn batch, police are advising trick or treaters to stick with candies that they already know will be disappointing, like Almond Joys or those little suckers with the shitty gum in the middle.

HUMOUR

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24 LAST WORD

hen was the last time you rolled up your sleeve and gave blood? Just recently? Back in high school? Never? Don’t feel badly if you’re not a regular donor — Canadian Blood Services reports that only about four per cent of eligible donors in Canada give blood, and Vancouver’s track record is even worse at just two per cent. These statistics are indicative of our current predicament: Canada is experiencing its biggest blood shortage in six years. Canadian Blood Services (CBS) is urging anyone able to donate blood to do so, in order to build their stock. But even when the donation rate isn’t this low, the CBS is always in need of a little extra red. After all, blood can only be safely stored for 35–42 days after collection; that means new donors are always needed to keep stocks full. If all Canadians stopped donating blood entirely, the existing stock would only last for about four days. Blood donation has a long and interesting history. In terms of public health as well as scientific progress, transfusion is among the most important discoveries of the past few centuries. The

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Max Hill features@the-peak.ca / 778.782.4560

first successful transfusion was performed in 1665 by physician Richard Lower, who saved his ailing pet dog by transferring blood to it from other canines. Though later transfusions were performed between humans and animals such as sheep, the first successful human-tohuman blood transfusion did not happen until 1818, less than two centuries ago. Almost 100 years later, the three basic human blood types — A, B, and O — were first identified.

This was a game-changing discovery — knowledge that blood could be classified by its antibodies (ABO) and antigens (positive or negative) dramatically increased the success rate of transfusion, and led to the saving of thousands of lives. If you

don’t know your own blood type, ask your doctor (or your mom). It might just save your life one day. So why is blood transfusion so important? Statistics show that someone in Canada needs blood every minute, and around half of Canadians have reported either themselves, family members, or friends needing blood at one point in their lives. A normal human body contains about 10 units of blood at 500 ml, or just under one pint, per unit. Just one unit of blood — the standard amount donated — can help save three lives. As an added cool factor, the donated ‘blood’ which modern doctors use is actually just certain components of blood, namely red cells, plasma, and platelets, each of which is used to help patients suffering vastly different ailments. This is the reason that three different lives can be saved with each single donation. So, who is being helped by the blood you give? As it turns out, pretty much everyone. Among the more common recipients of blood transfusions are car accident victims; premature infants and children being treated for cancer, anaemia, or heart surgeries; women suffering complications from pregnancy; severe burn victims;

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surgical and cancer patients; and those with blood disorders, who often need to receive new transfusions every month. People who know very little about the process often ask whether or not it’s complicated. It isn’t — the whole process, from the moment you walk into the clinic to the moment you leave, takes about an hour. When you arrive at the clinic, you will go through registration, a medical history check, and after a quick physical, the blood donation process will begin. The actual donation usually lasts around 10–12 minutes. After that, you can help yourself to snacks and refreshers in the clinic! If you’re feeling really generous, a healthy Canadian can legally give blood up to seven times in a single year. That’s 21 saved lives per year, making you pretty much an unofficial superhero. To debunk a few common myths about the donation process, read on: it’s absolutely safe and only sterile needles are used; it doesn’t pose any significant risk to your health; and no, it doesn’t hurt that much. Barely as much as a pin prick. If you’re at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds,

you’re allowed to donate blood about once every two months. The best place to donate is the Canadian Blood Services; you can either book an appointment or just walk into the clinic during their open hours. The two clinics closest to SFU are located in Surrey near Guildford Town Centre and in Vancouver next to the BC Women’s Hospital. While most of us are keenly aware of the importance of blood donation, many people remain reluctant to take action — we’re lazy, busy, or just too nervous around needles. To be honest, I’m not a regular donor myself; the first and last time I gave blood was in high school. However, writing this article has reminded me of the feeling of reward that comes from doing a good deed for others. I’m encouraging everyone like me to stand up and donate blood again. This Halloween, why not do away with the fake blood and give donation a shot? It’s one of the easiest and most painless ways there is to save lives, and it feels good to know that you’re making a contribution to the health of those across the country. It doesn’t matter what your blood type is — only that you’re the giving type.

Why you should give blood this season