VOL. 171 ISSUE 5 JUNE 6, 2022
NEWS
O PINIO NS
ART S & C U LTU R E
H U MO U R
Racism in food systems
On the balance fallacy
Connecting to ancestors through cooking
Local student disappointed SFU isn't fanfiction fantasy
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P.0 6
P.1 2
P.1 4
Crossing oceans of grief Reckoning with loss of land, culture, and language features p.08
Volume 171, Issue 5 Drawing great illustrations since 1965
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Maggie Benston Centre 2900 Simon Fraser University 8888 University Drive Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6 (778) 782-5110
NEWS Board of Governors discusses policy changes
COVER Jiamin Bai
OPINIONS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michelle Young eic@the-peak.ca
A cancel culture caveat
COPY EDITOR Nancy La copy@the-peak.ca
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FACT CHECKER Gurleen Aujla factchecker@the-peak.ca BUSINESS / ADVERTISING MANAGER Yuri Zhou business@the-peak.ca 778.782.3598
FEATURES
PROMOTIONS MANAGER Jaymee Salisi promotions@the-peak.ca
Hybrid vs. blended learning at SFU
NEWS EDITOR Karissa Ketter news@the-peak.ca
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NEWS WRITERS Chloë Arneson and Pranjali Mann OPINIONS EDITOR Luke Faulks opinions@the-peak.ca
ARTS & CULTURE
FEATURES EDITOR Meera Eragoda features@the-peak.ca
Learn about Indonesian batik
ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Gem Yelin Lee arts@the-peak.ca HUMOUR EDITOR Kelly Chia humour@the-peak.ca
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STAFF WRITERS Nercya Kalino, Yasmin Simsek, Isabella Urbani, and Olivia Visser PRODUCTION AND DESIGN EDITOR Josh Ralla production@the-peak.ca
HUMOUR
ASSISTANT PRODUCTION EDITORS Megan Yung and Yining Zhou
Premier news on garbage, delivered by Mr. Stinks!
PHOTO EDITOR Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson photos@the-peak.ca
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We acknowledge that The Peak’s office is located and our paper is produced, distributed, and read on the Unceded Coast Salish Territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), Kwikwitlem (Coquitlam), Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo, and Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) Peoples. Unceded means that this land was never surrendered, relinquished, or handed over in any way. We recognize that the unceded land that we occupy includes not only the SFU Burnaby campus, but extends to the land occupied by the Vancouver and Surrey campuses as well.
CONTRIBUTORS Jiamin Bai, Emily Huang, Angela Shen, Jocelyn Stevens, and Alyssa Victorino PEAK ASSOCIATES Amirul Anirban, Max Lorette, Stella Nguyen, and Alyssa Umbal
NEWS
June 6, 2022
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PROTECT THE YOUTH
Activists are concerned about the lack of resources for youth in detox programs.
PHOTO: Devin Avery / Unsplash
Vancouver’s only social detox program for youth is closing Vancouver Coastal Health decides to switch its social detox model to home-based ISAB E LLA URBAN I // STAF F W RI TE R
On May 21, the Directions Youth Services (DYS) social detox program came to an end. DYS aimed to support youth dealing with homelessness as a result of substance abuse. Their detox program offered a safe space for youth under the age of 21 to stay while coming off drugs. They also offered drop-ins and safehouses, among other services. In 2020 alone, DYS had over 21,000 visits to their centre. But back in December, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) informed the organization they had decided to pull their funding. The Peak reached out to Emily Luba, Rainbow Dykeman, Katey Kincaid, and Kali-Olt Sedgemore, who helped plan a rally on May 22, to protest VCH’s decision after Becca Norris began the petition. “The youth are going to die without it,” said Dykeman, a harm reduction activist. “I think it’s a huge joke that VCH is not giving real answers about anything.” Sedgemore referred to the program as one of a kind. “This is the only service that really incorporates building connections and relationships that allows a break from street life if you don’t have a stable home,” they explained. Social detoxing is where detoxing occurs in a structured community based environment. Support services such as therapy and aftercare are offered. Home-based detoxing occurs in unsupervised settings where the individual detoxes alone. It is considered to be more dangerous because the chance of relapse is increased when unsupervised. Medical detox occurs under supervision of licensed medical professionals. They can administer medication to manage withdrawal symptoms and monitor the health of the individual. The Peak reached out to VCH to find more about the program’s closure. According to VCH, the current social detox model, which houses youth while they withdraw from drugs, is no longer the best option. “The landscape of substance use care has changed,” explained VCH. “For some clients, social detox as a stand-alone treatment can cause greater harm and put them at risk of overdose and being discharged.” VCH did not expand on why this is. Dykeman, who spent some time at DYS’ drop-in centre, believes this couldn’t be farther from the truth. “I was one of those youth who fell through the crack of every system ever,” Dykeman shared. “It’s one of the only places youth
have to be like, ‘I need help, everything else has failed, what do I do now?’” Luba said although VCH is abandoning the social detox model, they didn’t initially provide DYS with the adequate funding to host a medical detox. She said medical detoxing is “essential for people detoxing from specific substances which can cause death during withdrawal, such as benzodiazepines,” but don’t “delegitimize” a social detox. “It doesn’t make sense to close the social [detox centre] just because it isn’t meeting the needs of all youth,” explained Luba. She added during her time working at DYS, youth prefered to detox there instead of at other centres with older users which they found to be more “alienating.” Kincaid added the benefit of social detoxing is feeling more at home and less like you’re in a hospital. At DYS, each person has their own room, television, and access to a stocked fridge. Dykeman referred to the service as a map guiding youth in the right direction, hence its name. “Sometimes just knowing that you’re not alone is the only thing that keeps people alive,” said Dykeman. They were able to remain sober while “living on the streets for two years” with the help of DYS.
Dykeman, on the other hand, thought the rescheduling had more to do with the rally held on May 22. A lot of people were unaware of the program’s closure, said Dykeman. They think this is because media coverage has been minimal. Today, Becca Norris’ petition against the closure has nearly 8,000 signatures online. A template script for people to send off to VCH representatives has been used over 200 times, said Luba. There is still much to be done about BC’s ongoing opioid and drug crisis. Kincaid believes there should be at least two youth detoxes in Vancouver, one medical and one social, to cater to the needs of different people. She urged people to hold the government accountable instead of blaming people suffering from substance abuse.
It’s one of the only places youth have to be like ‘I need help, everything else has failed, what do I do now?’ RAINBOW DYKEMAN // HARM REDUCTION ACTIVIST
Instead, due to a “significant community engagement” research project, VCH has transitioned to a home-based detox method, ensuring youth without homes will have priority for VCH’s detox sites. This effort includes a new outreach team specifically designated to the Downtown Eastside.
“We have moms and dads and sisters and brothers. Sometimes, we even have children. We feel pain and sadness and grief just like everyone else,” she said.
Kincaid believed the more outreach the better, but not at the expense of the entire social detox program. “We need more services but it is not a replacement for a social detox like Directions.” She added youth in family homes or foster care would be less likely to be allowed to do a detox at home.
Luba wanted VCH to retract the program’s closure, allocate more money to pay for nurses, and give patients the opportunity to choose between a medical or social detox. She also calls upon the VCH to start listening to the voices of youth who “are in charge of their own healing” instead of dictating the decision themselves.
VCH moved the program’s closure from June 3 to May 21 due to staff shortages. VCH expressed that despite the earlier closure, they do not anticipate any gaps between the start of their new program and the ceasure of their old one. Luba doesn’t think this is attainable. “There will be a gap much longer than two weeks in services as it takes months if not years for youth to become familiar — let alone trust new services and service-providers,” she explained.
Dykeman believes the VCH and the government shouldn’t “make decisions about services for people without talking to the people who use those services.” They added if VCH “had spent [time] talking to ten youth about this, they would have understood this is not something to let go.” You can find the petition and open letter here, as well as Sedgemore’s co-authored calls to action about harm reduction.
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NEWS
News Editor Karissa Ketter
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News Writers Chloë Arneson and Pranjali Mann
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news@the-peak.ca
SUSTAINABLE SUSTENANCE
SFU hosts virtual seminar on food systems The seminar discussed issues around racism within our food systems and sustainable agriculture CHLO Ë ARN E S ON // NE WS W RI TE R
On May 25, SFU hosted an online event to discuss the impact climate change has on food systems, farmland, and ecosystems. The session was hosted by Ione Smith, founder of Upland Agricultural Consulting, a cultural consulting company. She explained the flooding that occurred in the Fraser Valley this past fall led to significant erosion in topsoil. “This has a huge impact because these soils take hundreds if not thousands of years to develop. So as much as I’m concerned about a drought or a wildfire, I’m really concerned about the loss of our topsoil.” Smith had a plan to renew a sense of positivity and hope on the journey to protect our food systems, which she referred to as “the six R’s” — reconciliation, resilience, research, regeneration, redundancy, and radicalism. “It’s really important that we address racism within our food systems and we address food sovereignty right off the bat. Without dealing with these issues we are not going to get to climate justice issues or food system justice issues,” said Smith. Smith opened the conversation by explaining the challenges to the local food systems. “Most of us don’t only eat what’s coming out of our garden or from the local farms in our community. We are often eating products that are based and grown far around the world that have been processed and shipped to us,” she said. “In fact, what most of our food on a day to day basis is reliant on are things like cheap migrant
Among Ione Smith’s main concerns is the erosion of BC’s top soil. labour, tons of processing and added sugars, salts and fats. And at the end of the day, unfortunately quite a lot of waste.
As much as climate change is impacting our food system, our food system is impacting climate change. It’s a give and take relationship. I O NE S M I TH FOUNDER OF UPLAND AGRICULTURAL CONSULTING
“As much as climate change is impacting our food system, our food system is also impacting climate change. It’s a give and take relationship,” she said. The discussion highlighted despite the overwhelming issues presented by climate change and climate doom, there are a multitude of strategies that exist to preserve food systems and climate justice. Smith noted climate change is our new
PHOTO: Aboodi Vesakaran / Unsplash
reality — we need to accept our circumstances and do what we can to deal with it. Smith explained, “The weather patterns particularly around rain and snow events are changing. We’re seeing a hugely volatile system. We’re seeing a lot more droughts and then a lot more flooding. Nothing is consistent anymore with regards to our precipitation. Not just in BC and not just in Canada, but worldwide.” One of the projects her company worked towards was helping the Líl’wat Nation create an agricultural business plan. “They are creating a social movement out of it where they are feeding the families within the community first and foremost. The primary objective is community wellness and they’re selling excess food at the Pemberton farmers market and all of those funds go back into the farm,” said Smith. Smith and her team have no intentions of stopping there. “We’ve got close to 20 projects on the go right now,” Smith said. Their website states their goal is to work “collaboratively with land use professionals around the province to improve local food systems.” You learn about Upland Agricultural Consulting and their upcoming projects on their website or follow their Instagram for more updates.
DELICATE DEMOCRACY
SFU suggests new system of decision-making for its Board of Governors The new motion could allow one person to call the shots without majority approval CHLO Ë ARNE SON // NE WS W RI TE R
On May 10, SFU proposed new amendments to their policies on the Board of Governors (BoG) decision-making process. The general counsel and university secretary would be able to make amendments to university procedures without Board approval. The general counsel and university secretary would additionally have the power to approve and make changes to definitions applicable to university procedures and policies. These policy amendments have not been approved by the BoG. The BoG is the senior governing body of SFU. They are responsible for the “business of the university [regarding] property, revenue, and policies.” The Board consists of 15 members including SFU administration — chancellor of BoG Tamara Vrooman and president Joy Johnson — elected faculty, students and staff, as well as appointees chosen by the provincial government. SFU claimed this proposal would provide “improved efficiency and expediency, and better use of resources. Policy B10.00 describes the processes to create and revise policies so the university community has increased transparency into the process.”
The policy will consider community feedback before further discussion.
PHOTO: Allyson Klassen / The Peak
In an interview with The Peak, SFU said the Board will seek community input going forward. “Given the high degree of interest, the policy office will be reaching out to student, faculty and employee groups to offer to answer their questions about these proposed amendments.” They remarked. “Feedback will be considered in further amendments to this policy.
the decision. They encouraged students to email the university or message them on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to voice their concerns before May 25. Their action toolkit outlines the issue in more detail and provides more instructions on how to influence this policy decision.
“B10.00 is an existing policy that was created to provide guidance and support to members of the university community who are developing new university policies or revising existing policies.” They added, “The policy increases transparency on this process. It also helps reduce bureaucracy and increase efficiency for members of the university community who develop, oversee, and implement policies.”
It can affect policies on student misconduct, freedom of expression, sexual violence and assault, whistleblowing, and human rights.
Save SFU Democracy is an organization created as a result of this potential decision. In a press release, they stated that “giving unsupervised power to one individual at the university to make changes to the documents that guide SFU is a direct attack on the democratic structures that keep SFU running. “This proposal has far-reaching impacts,” writes the press release. “It can affect policies on student misconduct, freedom of expression, sexual violence and assault, whistleblowing, and human rights.” Save SFU Democracy produced several action items for staff and students to join them in speaking against
SAVE S F U DEMO CRACY P RE S S REL EAS E
The Peak reached out to Save SFU Democracy for more information, but did not receive a response by the publication deadline. You can follow Save SFU Democracy on Twitter for more information on their campaign. For further information regarding policy development, you can visit the FAQs on the policy development and revision website.
OPINIONS
June 6, 2022
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CANCEL CULTURE 2.0
WHAT GRINDS OUR GEARS?
The “Devil’s advocate” guy We’ve got enough going on to argue for the sake of arguing
Perpetual cancellation doesn’t help anyone.
P H OTO: Jeffrey Czum / Pexels
We need an addendum to cancel culture We have to start discerning between offenders and people who’re willing to learn YASMIN V EJS SI MSE K // STAF F W RI TE R
Content warning: mention of suicide and harassment Cancel culture at its core is a beautiful concept: if you’re found to be behaving in a way that hurts others, people stop supporting you. But what the cancel culture era needs now is a way of accounting for personal growth. The last half-decade has been vital for our collective learning. I cringe at stuff I said just five years ago, when I wasn’t as aware of ableist language. I’ve come a long way in unlearning things I used to think nothing of, but I still have ways to go. I never made public, less-than-woke comments — partly because of my socio-economic position — so I haven’t ventured close to cancellation. I’ve been able to learn and adjust my language without it affecting my reputation. As a result, I improved my speech and moved on. It’s that desire to learn and change that cancel culture needs to start identifying. Now, it’s important to say here that it’s often privileged people who get cancelled. When celebrities have a big enough platform, people feel they merit cancellation when that platform is misused. Right-wingers thrive in spreading the idea that lower-income folks will be afraid of being “cancelled.” They decry cancel culture as a way to make us believe that we’re going to be axed from society. However, if someone makes a mistake, it’s important that we offer the “cancelled” a chance back, because they’re human, too. Regret, and a sincere desire to learn, are fairly easy to identify. Let’s compare the cancellations of author J. K. Rowling and model Chrissy Teigan. Rowling has doubled down, time and time again, on transphobic remarks. That she continues to do so, in spite of widespread condemnation, even from the cast of the Harry Potter movies, justifies a continuous campaign. It also shows a lack of desire on Rowling’s part to learn from her mistakes. On the other hand, Teigan, who told media personality Courtney Stodden to kill themselves a decade ago, issued what seemed like a sincere apology. Despite Stodden accepting the apology, Teigen’s products were dropped by three department store giants in the US. What helped Teigan
come back, it seems, was that her apology suggested a sincere desire to learn, rather than just attempting to excuse her comments. By creating a perpetual cancel culture, we don’t allow for learning. And what are we as humans if we are not learning? YouTuber Jenna Marbles made some extremely problematic content in the early 2010s, where she did blackface (allegedly unintentionally) and removed that content as soon as she grew wiser. After apologizing, she held herself accountable by giving up her platform of 10 years. Does she deserve a second chance?
By creating a perpetual cancel culture, we don’t allow for learning. And what are we as humans if we are not learning?
This is in no way chalking cancel culture up to sensitivity. A little fear of consequence that improves behaviour towards marginalized communities is important. It’s also important on the part of the cancelled to acknowledge the privilege of being forgiven. But having a version of cancel culture that doesn’t account for growth on the part of the cancelled is problematic. To be clear, this emcompasses growth on learning about communities outside your own, and not things like blatantly violent sexism, racism, or homophobia. People should largely know better than that. However, by reflecting on whether post-cancellation apologies and comments show a sincere desire to learn about how people were hurt, we can start to provide a path back for the people who’re earnestly trying. I am all for cancelling the bad folks — let’s just make sure we don’t take some of the learning folks down with them.
I LLU STRATI O N: Alyssa Umbal / The Peak
“Just playing the devil’s advocate” is arguing for the sake of argument, and it helps nothing. I’ve had people tell me that white cisgender straight men are discriminated against in western societies, that hiring quotas are unfair, and that I wouldn’t know because I’m a woman. Never mind that I am doing a Masters in gender studies. It’s so ludicrous I can only assume people say this to wind me up. Why engage then? Who even gave these Luciferian advocates the autonomy to play their role? The only people that find pleasure in this concept are people from a privileged background who never had to argue and defend their identity or heritage to anyone. The same goes for men who feel the need to throw in a bit of mansplaining for good measure. Do we not have enough to fight about in our day-to-day lives? No, Gladys, we don’t need to hear you give the “other” point of view on LGBTQIA2S+ rights. And no, Bert, we don’t need to hear about your fake research into how global warming is a hoax. We’re still fighting a pandemic, witnessing a war that’s negatively impacting global trade, and hey! Monkey pox! Sure, some people want to argue the other side to things like the earth being flat and arguably it’s not hurting anyone directly per se. But the midway point between nonsense and sense is still nonsense. So next time you want to play Devil’s advocate, think about why. Is there a need for this discussion? Will anyone gain anything from it? Will I spontaneously combust if I don’t take on this role? If the answer is no to any of the above, practice silence and see your surroundings flourish. And so the Devil’s advocates can go straight to hell.
Written by Yasmin Vejs Simsek
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OPINIONS
Opinions Editor Luke Faulks
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opinions@the-peak.ca
MILK-LIKE
SFU’s explanation for the pandemicera tuition hike hasn’t aged well Turns out we maybe didn’t need to have our tuition raised
NE RCYA KALI N O // STAF F W RI TE R
Two years ago, SFU announced they’d be increasing tuition by 2% and 4% for domestic and international students, respectively. I felt stung. Apparently, so did others. And others still. At that point, in-person learning had been replaced for months by a patchwork of virtual classes. And looking back, the decision hurts even more. Thanks to SFU’s consistent surpluses, attempts by the university to explain the tuition hike haven’t aged well. As The Peak reported in 2020, SFU stated they “expect a decrease in income, resulting in $26 million less income than anticipated.” At the time, the school cited inflation as part of the justification for tuition increases. The Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) contested this raise, arguing that students were finding personal finances and work a strain on their studies — issues exacerbated by COVID-19. Both SFU and the SFSS’ arguments had some validity. Postsecondary institutions have been struggling in BC. While operating costs have been on the rise for years, the amount of money the government provides schools has been in relative decline. In 1997, government funds consisted of 80% of BC schools’ revenue. In 2017, that figure had dropped to 44.5%. The result of our government’s failure to keep pace with the needs of post-secondary institutions resulted, predictably, in overall revenue from tuition increasing from 15% in 1997 to 36.8% in 2017.
So, why raise tuition then?
In a 2018 article from The Peak on the tuition freeze movement, Matt McDonald, an SFU PhD student in economics, claimed SFU has always maintained that “tuition and fee hikes are necessary to maintain a balanced budget.” Interestingly enough, however, McDonald also said the school had posted surpluses for the last three years, which a review of SFU’s finances found to be true.
There are ways to reduce the financial burden on SFU students — extravagances that can be cut.
Now, that 2018 Peak article is before the pandemic forced a shift to virtual learning. Maybe COVID-19 precautions wiped out SFU’s annual surplus? Not so. During the 2020/21 fiscal year, the school enjoyed a $41
PHOTO: Piggybank / Unsplash
million annual operating surplus. During 2021/22, the first full pandemic fiscal year, the school recorded a $27 million surplus. The factors behind the 2021 surplus were reportedly more funds than expected from the provincial and federal governments, as well as more revenue from tuition than projected. There are ways to reduce the financial burden on SFU students — extravagances that can be cut. Take, for instance, the fact that president and vice-chancellor Joy Johnson makes more than the Canadian prime minister — $385,000 versus Justin Trudeau’s $379,500. Or the fact that we can’t opt out of things like the SFSS membership; the SFSS, whose annual budgeted expenditures have ballooned from $2.5 million in 2017/18 to $3.5 million in 2021/22. The school can’t keep hiding behind a fall in funding for higher education as the justification for increasing tuition. Announcing, year after year, increases in tuition and chalking them up to systemic factors is dishonest to its students. We have consistent surpluses that number in the tens of millions. We have extravagant salaries and a multi-million dollar student government. What we don’t have is a sensible reason to keep raising tuition on SFU students.
DEBATING UNREALITY
Listening to “the other side” is overrated if we can’t agree on a shared reality Performative civility prevents us from achieving real progress
O LIVIA V I S SER // STAF F W RI TE R
You’ve heard it before: “Both sides have their issues.” Or even, “Both sides of political discussions deserve to be heard.” Popular media often promotes the value of civility, which mostly involves an empathetic approach towards “the other side.” However, it’s not always appropriate to consider both sides of an argument. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t listen to others’ opinions. Listening to the other side can be valuable, but it’s meaningless if we can’t agree on a shared reality or values. As a direct result of discrepant facts, both sides of a discussion don’t always have equal value. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered conspiracy theories about the virus’ origins, vaccines, and its very existence. Both sides are not equally valid when one group’s argument lies mostly in falsehoods. The extensive peer-reviewed research conducted on COVID-19 is far more credible than fringe news sites that spout conspiracy theories. There’s probably no better long-term example of how distinct citizens’ realities are than the issue of climate change. It’s long been established by the scientific community that climate change poses a direct threat to humanity. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that increased climate events like “heatwaves, droughts, and floods are already exceeding plants’ and animals’ tolerance thresholds.”
Debating the challenges of our time is impossible without an agreedupon set of facts.
Climate deniers either downplay or outright deny reality. But climate denial, like COVID-19 denial, is not a harmless opinion. In part because weak facts underpin their worldviews, “listening to the other side” reveals a severe conflict of values. At the start of the pandemic, the lieutenant governor of Texas, Dan Patrick, pushed for a swift reopening of the economy. He told Fox News, “Those of us who are 70 plus, we’ll take care of ourselves. But don’t sacrifice the country.” That’s great for you, Dan, but some of us enjoy being alive more than working. On COVID-19, one side’s arguments directly affect some of the most vulnerable members of our society. Conspiracy theorists put the lives of immunocompromised people at risk by spreading disinformation discouraging mask use, vaccines, and social distancing. That’s more than just a difference in opinion, it’s dangerous. Much like COVID-19 conspiracies, the effects of denying climate change will impact the world’s vulnerable populations the most. Unsurprisingly, the richest countries are the biggest contributors to carbon emissions: China, the United States, and the European Union are responsible for 41.5% of global emissions, while the “bottom 100 countries” account for only
PHOTO: Liam Edwards / Unsplash
3.6%. Climate denial rhetoric in those countries prompts inertia when we should be calling on governments and corporations to decrease their emissions alongside the rest of society.
Climate deniers either downplay or outright deny reality. But climate denial, like COVID-19 denial, are not harmless opinions.
Clearly, there are discussions that require privileging one side over the other. “I hate coffee” is a difference of opinion, while “COVID-19 doesn’t exist” is a lie that can kill people. There is an important distinction between letting someone speak and actively engaging with their opinion. You don’t need to participate in conversations that compromise your values. It’s time we move beyond valuing all opinions equally and shift our focus toward upholding verifiable truths.
ARTS & CULTURE
June 6, 2022
7
ABILITIES AND ACCESSIBILITIES
The Expo reminded disability community members they don’t have to navigate difficult things alone.
PHOTO: The Disability Foundation
Abilities Expo 2022: Connecting community in the midst of a pandemic ConnecTra Society showcases events, speakers, and resources for the disabled community O LIVIA V I S SER // STAF F W RI TE R
Being disabled can be isolating. From having a limited capacity for events to experiencing accessibility barriers, disabled people often find themselves disconnected from community. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this disconnect for many disabled people, which is what ConnecTra Society addressed with their annual Abilities Expo, hosted on May 25 at Roundhouse Community Centre. Following a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the inperson event was themed “Reconnect.” It hosted vendors, speakers, and other various attractions centring people with disabilities.
You don’t need to give up on your hobbies when you’re disabled, you can just do them differently.
As a disabled person myself, I had never heard of the event before, which is perhaps a testament to the aforementioned disconnect. It was encouraging to see so many community members in the same space together. The event was also streamed online for those unable to attend in-person. Much of the Expo’s programming shared relevant resources to help people with unmet support needs: here are the ones that stood out to me!
Pain BC Not everyone realizes how hard it is to find adequate diagnosis, treatment, and support for pain-related conditions. Pain BC provides multidisciplinary resources
for people experiencing chronic pain. Among other programs, they offer a pain support line, which is so important. Speaking from experience, regular crisis lines aren’t always equipped to provide support for chronic pain because it often can’t be controlled at will. This is why chronic pain requires its own targeted approach, which the line offers by providing an understanding ear and specific information about pain-management and pain-related health services.
TrailRiders by British Columbia Mobility Opportunities Society (BCMOS) Another area where disabled people lack support is accessing outdoor spaces: for people with mobility aids, this can often feel impossible. To help increase this access, BCMOS provides disabled people with low-cost buying or rental options for TrailRiders (wheelchairs for backcountry). When I asked a BCMOS volunteer about how well the TrailRider performs in rugged conditions, he pointed to a photo of hikers on the trail to Black Tusk in Skwxwú7mesh. He said, “The sky is the limit: if you can push yourself, then you can go anywhere.” I think it’s incredible that BCMOS is expanding access to places that able-bodied people also struggle to reach. According to their website, TrailRider has helped disabled people reach locations like the Grand Canyon, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Everest Base Camp.
Disability Foundation’s Youth Leadership Initiative Despite existing resources, there is still a long way to go in terms of supporting young people with disabilities. One example of a project addressing this need is Disability Foundation’s Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI), a “three-year project led by and for youth with disabilities” as described in their brochure. The YLI has conducted research that
found only “56% of youth with disabilities are confident in their ability to perform tasks as well as colleagues without disabilities.” A national Youth Advisory Committee will be formed after the research is complete, aimed towards finding a solution “to support employers and youth.” YLI is currently seeking volunteers to assist them in their project.
“Road Trip Camping: How I Accidentally Regained my Confidence,” by Ryan Clarkson This speech by Ryan Clarkson, peer support program coordinator for Spinal Cord Injury BC’s GF Strong Centre, meant a lot to me. As a disabled backpacker who has had my fair share of difficulties in the backcountry, I often wonder how much longer I’ll be able to continue doing all of the activities I enjoy. Clarkson adapted his camping strategies after his injury in 2009 but does not dial back on adventure! He spoke about making the transition from traveling abroad to solo camping locally due to his injury. Since then, he has traveled around 160,000 kilometres by himself. Clarkson showed the audience a pop-up tent that unfolded itself into assembly and shared his “five-day-rule” for emergency supplies. What resonated with me the most was when he said, “I try and find where that line is, push it, go there, tip a toe over it, and just keep increasing that line.” I haven’t backpacked in a while for illness-related concerns, but I don’t think I’ll give up on it just yet. Hearing Clarkson speak reminded me that you don’t need to give up on your hobbies when you’re disabled, you can just do them differently. As a disabled person, I know there are services out there for me, but discovering and navigating them can be difficult. Abilities Expo 2022 was an opportunity to explore genuinely valuable resources. The event is expected to return next year, and until then, you can check out ConnecTra’s other initiatives and events on their website.
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ARTS & CULTURE
Arts & Culture Editor Gem Yelin Lee
·
arts@the-peak.ca
RECONNECTING ROOTS
“Tea-Chings” uses cooking as a medium for ancestral storytelling Siobhan Barker invites the audience to her kitchen in a fun cook-along From Barker’s living room to mine, the cook-along felt like a night in with a friend.
JO CE LY N ST EVEN S / / SF U STUD E NT
This year’s rEvolver Festival by Upintheair Theatre presented Harvesting Ancestral “Tea-Chings,” by Siobhan Barker in a live screening Zoom event and Q&A on May 26. The event featured cooking and storytelling intertwined to share experiences about cultural roots, intersectionality, and the Black/African diaspora. Despite it being a virtual screening, Barker made us feel like we were all present with her: it was a stunning and approachable experience. What intrigued me about this performance was that it interactively focused on reconnecting to cultural roots through storytelling and traditional cooking. Barker opened the performance with a call to her ancestors, where she rattled a shekere and chanted to them. Barker called in two helpers, Jahmira and Athena, who prepared the dish as Barker guided them onto the next ingredient. Barker then introduced the dish they were going to create, pepperpot callaloo soup. As a vegan, I was delighted to hear them say they were going to make a gluten-free, vegan version of the traditional soup. One of the stories Barker shared was about how the women on her mother’s side have deep connections with the land that
PHOTO: Upintheair Theatre
run generations back. These women know the importance of the “sights, sounds, smells, [and] tastes” of the land and how they can connect us to our past and present.
chosen family are not based on conventional ideas and “looks” but rather who they are as a person and the deep connection that we share.
Growing up, my parents had always taught us the importance of the land and appreciating all that it has to offer. Hearing Barker say these words reminded me of these lessons. The connection that Indigenous communities have with the stolen ancestral lands we live on now are very similar to Barker’s story, and people tend to forget this fact.
The different ways Barker would tell each story showed the care put into the performance. At one point, she sang a wonderful song from her culture called “Fanga Alaafia” to welcome us all into the space, and for another story, she had us close our eyes and just listen.
Another powerful story Barker shared was about living with and around disabilities. She explained she grew up with an understanding of disabilities because her father was someone with an amputation. Her father tended to try and bear the struggles around his disability on his own. Having grown up seeing this, Barker said she is now unlearning being silent while living with her own disabilities.
At the end of the performance, I found myself wishing I had the ingredients to join in on the cooking. The whole performance was casual and comfortable despite the serious messages it conveyed. Barker’s vivid descriptions, vulnerability, and sense of humour kept me in anticipation of what she was going to say next. The tidbits of humour amplified the relaxed nature of the performance and made you feel like you were in the room with them.
The last unforgettable story Barker shared was about her longing to connect with family roots and ancestral knowledge in Jamaica. She shared a quote that resonated with me: “Family was named and claimed not by how you looked, but by blood, bone, breath and body.” I loved this, as members of my own
The pre-recorded performance will be available to view online for the entire duration of the rEvolver Festival. You can learn more about Harvesting Ancestral “Tea-Chings,” along with more about the annually returning rEvolver Festival on the Upintheair Theatre website.
NEED TO KNOW, NEED TO GO: SFU edition
Written by Gem Yelin Lee
Upcoming artsy events on SFU campuses to add to your summer calendar
P HOTOS: Amirul Anirban / The Peak
SACRED SKIN AND STORIES THAT TRANSFORM US / TALKING STICK FESTIVAL 2022
MINDFUL ART CREATION / MEET, GREET, AND EAT
NELLY QUEEN: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOSE SARRIA / SURREY PRIDE
When: June 12–July 3 Where: SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (149 West Hastings Street)
When: June 28, 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. Where: Global Student Centre, AQ 2013 (SFU Burnaby)
When: June 23, 6:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m. Where: SFU Surrey, Room 2600
Full Circle presents its 21st Talking Stick Festival this year! With two weeks of incredible programming in various locations across Vancouver, this event is the perfect way to celebrate Indigenous History Month. SFU’s Woodward’s Cultural Programs is hosting Sacred Skin, a visual exhibition and Stories that Transform Us, a film screening. Sacred Skin is an exhibition that “explores the resurgence of Indigenous tattooing practices as they relate to cultural revitalization.” It documents the cultural practices, creative processes, and aesthetics of seven Indigenous tattoo artists and their works. This exhibition will be available for viewing all throughout the festival. Stories that Transform Us is a documentary created to celebrate its 20th anniversary of creative shorts and theatrical works under the program since it’s inception in 2001. The film is being screened in-person on June 12 at 7:00 p.m. and streamed online for the entire duration of the festival.
So you’re stuck on SFU Burnaby campus on Tuesday for classes and have no one to eat lunch with because all your friends are out doing road trips or whatever? How about having lunch, making art, and chilling out with some new friends in the same boat as you? The Global Student Centre and Creative Collective have partnered up to present a free and inclusive series called “Meet, Greet, and Eat!” They have six events in their summer 2022 calendar, with one called “Mindful Art Creation” coming up. As the name implies, this event will help you de-stress through creativity. The crafts will use materials common to student living spaces, so if you have a great time, you can continue the practice at home. There is a graduate student version of this series as well, and you just need to fill in a quick web form to register for the event.
Surrey Pride 2022 has partnered with SFU gender, sexuality, and women’s studies Margaret Lowe Benston Lecture Series in Social Justice to present the Canadian premiere screening of this remarkable film! The film tells the story of Nelly Queen Jose Julio Sarria, a “WW2 veteran, a cabaret performer, a political activist, and the first out candidate for public office in 1961 all before Stonewall.” The event page writes that Nelly Queen is not only a history lesson, but “a triumphant story of the human spirit, a hero’s journey of a man fighting unjust laws and uniting a fractured community.” Come join me in celebrating pride this June by learning about the legacy of Jose Sarria through this momentous film screening. The event is free to attend, but make sure to reserve a ticket through their Eventbrite page.
ARTS & CULTURE
June 6, 2022
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TALES OF TEXTILES
Practicing and learning about Batik for the first time.
First Experiences: Batik The ancient art form of batik teaches us the immeasurable beauty of slowing down
GE M YELI N LEE // A RTS & CULTURE E D I TO R
As a part of explorASIAN 2022’s programming, The Batik Library hosted introductory batik workshops at the Indonesian Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) in Vancouver. When I attended the opening session on the morning of May 20, I had no idea what to expect. I walked in with the faintest knowledge of what batik was and left with a deep appreciation for the ancient art form and the cultural history behind it. Bernarda Antony from The Batik Library taught us that batik is a traditional Indonesian wax-resistant dyeing method used to make designs on fabric. This textile technique, she explained, is also practiced in other parts of Asia. However, artisans on the island of Java in Indonesia are considered to be experts in this practice, having developed a diversity of styles and techniques. Batik uses tools made of copper to apply a hot natural wax mixture (of beeswax, tree sap, etc.) to the fabric in a pattern. Cold-dyeing is used to colour the other parts of the fabric, and the dye-resistant wax is then removed by boiling the fabric in water, leaving a beautiful design behind. We worked around a small table in the centre of the room, surrounded by displays of Indonesian trade goods such as woodwork, food products, and of course, batik textiles. First, we practiced using a wooden stick with a copper application to hold a small amount of hot wax and drip it out of the pointed end. Depending on the angle of your wrist, the wax would flow out either in a controlled way or suddenly all at once causing big splotches. The cloth was so thin it was almost see-through, and Antony explained the thinner the fabric is, the easier it is to do batik on. This was because the wax had to seep through to the other side of the cloth in order to successfully imprint the design and resist the dyeing process. To make this practice easier and to prevent burns from the wax seeping through, we held up the cloth in an embroidery hoop while working. Antony explained that traditionally, Indonesian artisans would work balancing the fabric on their palms and that the heat transferring onto their skin was accepted as part of the practice. Whatever smidge of extra confidence I brought to this workshop as an artist immediately vanished while practicing. The experience I had with paintbrushes
melted away. I moved onto a batik pattern I had traced in pencil on a cloth with a “fuck it” mindset and promptly annihilated the symmetry and detail. The wax in the little applicator of my drawing tool cooled down about every 30 seconds — a lot faster than I expected — and I had to keep pausing to rest the tool in the melting pot. After attempting the repeating motifs of my traced pattern multiple times, I went freehand on a new cloth and on a bigger scale with less detail. I learned a lot from Antony about the history and cultural significance of batik, but I learned even more from doing — batik was a teacher itself. It taught me a deep understanding and appreciation of batik artisans and their works. I looked at the batik pieces in the ITPC with new eyes and was flabbergasted at the skills honed with patience and grace.
PHOTOS: Gem Yelin Lee / The Peak
This textile technique uses tools made of copper to apply a hot natural wax mixture (of beeswax, tree sap, etc.) to the fabric in a pattern
With the calming music playing in ITPC and the cozy smell of the natural wax mixture, I felt strangely connected to nature — the walls seemed to fall away into a peaceful, green utopia. Practicing batik meant being forced to slow down, take slow and deep breaths to steady my hand, and focus on the present moment with each careful stroke. As a person who vibrates to the fast-paced rhythm of the contemporary world, I felt soothed by the meditative ancient practice of batik. To learn more about The Batik Library and potential future workshops, check out their website and their Instagram. To learn more about ITPC Vancouver, check out their website or visit them in-person.
PHOTO: Fatma Azizah / Pexels
FEATURES
When homesickness feels a lot like grief Trying to keep my Filipino heritage alive in the diaspora Written by Alyssa Victorino Illustrated by Jiamin Bai
I learned what it meant to be homesick when I was nine. My family and I packed up everything we owned, said heavy goodbyes to family and friends, and boarded a plane from Manila. Our destination was Vancouver where we became permanent residents, and later, Canadian citizens. I left behind my sari-sari store toys and replaced them with the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic mascot plushies (my favourite was Mukmuk). I traded in my tank tops and flip-flops for rain jackets. My snow boots got used to the deafening silence at home. There was no more playful banter among extended family members in the house. During the first couple of months, family friends kept asking me if I ever missed the Philippines. I think they expected whatever disorientation I felt to dissipate quickly as I adjusted. But even after 12 years, the sting of homesickness lingers. When you experience a deep longing for something you know you can’t get back, you start to lose yourself in fantasy and memory. Every few months, I get an itch to go through photo albums, old journals, playlists, and past school projects to immerse myself in the comfort of simpler times. They bring back memories of Sunday dinners at my grandparents’ house where the grandkids would fight over who got the last KFC fried chicken. I can still hear the never-ending bustle in the kitchen where family members would cook, clean, and gossip; they were excellent multitaskers. In The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion describes the grief she felt after her husband’s death: the fruitless waiting for the past to show up at your door and the subsequent realisation that there is only forward — things change whether or not we are ready. My life has been riddled with a similar yet different kind of grief for the last decade, lost in the memory of another version of myself that got to stay home. I struggle to reconcile the reality that I will never be able to find out who she would’ve turned out to be, and I fear I will always feel split between two lives.
My life has been riddled with a similar yet different kind of grief for the last decade, lost in the memory of another version of myself that got to stay home.
And it isn’t just about me. My family lost our village. My mom, who had loads of friends unafraid to let out full-belly laughs in quiet restaurants, had to learn how to navigate her first winter alone with three kids. My dad, who once played the guitar and sang Filipino folk music freely, was bogged down by work, travelling for months at a time. My sisters, too, had to navigate university and high school alone, learning for the first time what it’s like to have to search for a piece of home to hold onto. I grieve for them, the versions of my family members who remained proud and sure, whose senses of belonging remained intact.
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In elementary school, I used to count the number of Filipino students in each of my classes to anchor me and took every possible opportunity to make projects about Filipino culture. In grade four, I made a “Guide to the Philippines” handbook for my class, listing traditional Filipino clothing, games, and cuisine. Today, I flood my parents with questions at the dinner table about what their lives were like back home. I look up recipes for Filipino dishes — Filipino spaghetti for birthdays and arroz caldo for when it rains (needless to say, I have arroz caldo a lot). I make sure to watch cheesy Tagalog romcoms when they come out on Netflix like Isa Pa With Feelings and Love You to the Stars and Back. Most significantly, I decided to study social justice in university and took every chance to centre my assignments on memory, colonialism, or immigration. At some point, the grief turned into a deep curiosity for everything that I had lost and everything that I was feeling; the whys and hows of my being here. But I soon found it’s difficult to study economic inequality, globalisation, and racism as an immigrant in a western institution. I see my childhood unfold in some of the case studies — the unemployment and low wages, the degrading process of the immigration point system. Learning about the structural forces behind my immigration story — the greed behind poverty and the centuries of colonialism behind the desire to be in proximity to whiteness — brought with it a transformation of grief for land and community. I grieve in classrooms, among my peers. I leave classes with an empty feeling wondering, “Now what?” My mom still asks me if I would move back to the Philippines out of fear that she and my dad made the wrong decision by moving us all here. It used to be an easy answer: of course not. There are better opportunities here, more choice and freedom, and easier access to nature. For a long time, I felt so much pressure to just be happy and grateful to live here. Of course, I am, and I acknowledge my privilege in this. But I can’t ignore the constant waves of sadness and struggle I feel in trying to reclaim my cultural identity. I hate not knowing the places that my parents talk about when they reminisce, having family members’ names feel foreign on my tongue, and asking what certain Tagalog words mean. I should know all of these things. I should have gotten the chance to know these things. Home is something that I had to define for myself. It is not a place, but a feeling. I experience it now as fleeting moments that feel familiar: barbeques by the lake, loud Christmas parties with titos and titas I don’t know, and the warm and inviting smell of summer air. Losing the familiar to the unknown so suddenly 12 years ago taught me to cherish and live in these small, beautiful moments whenever they come along. And so, if someone were to ask me today if I’d move back to the Philippines, I’d want to say yes, if only to feel whole again.
F E AT U R E S
The hybrid learning landscape at SFU SFU professor Hannah McGregor shares her perspectives on hybrid learning WRITTEN BY OLIVIA VISSER What does the future of post-secondary teaching look like? Hybrid learning has been a hot topic since the transition towards temporary online learning due to COVID-19 and the subsequent return to in-person studies. Some have felt that pushing for permanent hybridization would be unreasonable or unfair to staff, while others believe in the practice yet critique its execution.
PRO-HYBRID LEARNING Between January 11 and 22, the Simon Fraser Student Society collected survey responses about returning to campus in the midst of the pandemic. According to their results, nearly 80% of over 5,300 respondents desired some level of remote instruction. On top of that, 66% of respondents reported different degrees of discomfort regarding the return to in-person learning, and 94% reported they would benefit from having recorded lectures. The SFU Disability and Neurodiversity Alliance (SFU DNA) also released a statement criticizing the return to campus in Spring 2022. They said forcing all students to return to in-person instruction is “deeply ableist and ageist” as it puts vulnerable community members at risk. SFU DNA writes online learning increases accessibility because of captioning and lecture recordings. It also allows students to avoid “physically inaccessible campuses” while providing “more flexible lecture and assignment schedules.” This is particularly important for disabled students, but can benefit many other groups. Their statement pointed to a report from the Stronger Together Party which found hybrid learning was the most desirable course option for respondents. This opinion is also reflected in the multiple
petitions created in favor of hybrid learning. SFU DNA created a list of demands to make the return to campus more accessible. Among the demands were calls to provide a mix of online, in-person, and hybrid classes, assist instructors in providing accessible content, and expand online course selection. Proponents of hybrid learning believe it provides the best of both worlds. Those who have long or complicated commutes, are immunocompromised, live with people who are immunocompromised, or have other responsibilities have the flexibility to attend from home. Students who have mental health concerns due to isolation, do not have proper access to the infrastructure necessary for at-home study, or don’t have a great study environment can attend in person.
AGAINST HYBRID LEARNING While some students have been enthusiastic about incorporating hybridization, not everyone shares these feelings. In a Facebook comment responding to one of the pro-hybrid petitions, one student wrote hybrid would mean paying exorbitant tuition fees for a reduced quality of education. Others have shared concerns about divided attention from professors and the logistics of translating courses that require labs or hands-on learning to a hybrid model. Additionally, SFU instructors have shared that hybrid learning would increase their workload without increasing pay or resources and make it difficult to organize classes and lesson plans. The hybrid learning petitions advocate for lecture recordings, but these may make it more difficult to address sensitive topics and
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add to concerns over intellectual property. Other professors like Orion Kidder echoed that sentiment. Kidder told Tri City News, “Remote learning has put an added burden on instructors and staff.” One instructor, posting on a Facebook undergraduate group, wrote that demands for hybrid learning without considering instructors “devalues teacher effort and reduces [them] to unseen, unpaid labour.” A student who had been enrolled in a hybrid class said of their experience: “The poor professor was sitting in front of a computer and trying to engage with students online and at the same time the students who were there in person.” They added they don’t feel hybrid is the “solution to this complex problem.”
HYBRID LEARNING IN ACTION I spoke with Hannah McGregor, publishing professor at SFU who recently self-hybridized two of her courses, PUB371 and PUB448, to find out more about her experience. McGregor clarified hybrid status can be set by SFU but her classes did not have that official designation. She made the decision to offer hybrid options to increase accessibility for students who might not be able to attend in-person. For her, this meant giving students the option to attend classes remotely. Her course used Discord for class communications, and took advantage of the microphones and video capabilities that SFU classrooms already have to livestream the class. For the type of conversation-driven classes McGregor was teaching, a hybrid model “wasn’t ideal.” However, she stressed that lecture style courses can allow for less dependence on in-person attendance: “I don’t understand why anybody would deliver a lecture in person anymore.” While the hybrid approach may sound preferable for students, McGregor said this meant “teaching two courses simultaneously.” She added this approach also put stress on in-person students who had to participate in the Discord and in-person discussions at the same time. According to her, keeping the online students engaged felt “really unfair” because it involved more labour from the in-person students. Because of this conflict, McGregor gave up her hybrid group work approach over the Spring semester. She said this resulted in the online students being “a lot less engaged” because they didn’t feel like they were “in a community” with their other classmates.
POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS According to McGregor, increasing resources is one of the ways hybrid learning can be expanded fairly into our institutions. Hybrid course delivery “requires some fairly significant redesign of your courses and creation of new materials,” which is a lot of work for instructors. An “ideal hybrid class,” McGregor said, would have two professors to engage the two groups of students. Moreover, before the pandemic, “there were resources in place to help instructors develop online courses, and that was considered to be work that one should be paid for,” she said. Due to the sudden transition to online, staff were expected to do a “significant amount of extra work for free,” she added.
“We do it because we care about our students [ . . . ] but I would really like to see hybrid course development being recognized as work because it can be done really, really well. You just need time and resources to actually figure out how to create those courses,” she said. McGregor’s experience speaks to the need for resources to facilitate fair course hybridization, which is still in its early phases.
BLENDED LEARNING: SFU’S ALTERNATIVE TO HYBRID SFU’s solution to the hybrid learning debate has been to implement blended learning through the Centre for Educational Excellence (CEE). Project manager for online and blended learning, Brian Lorraine, had some helpful information about the program. Lorraine explained hybrid models usually involve the simultaneous delivery of a course to an in-person and remote audience. Alternatively, blended learning offers a set schedule alternating between asynchronous online classes and synchronous in-person classes. Simply put, blended learning reduces the “portion of the regular face-to-face class sessions in a given course,” Lorraine said. This option offers greater flexibility for students with scheduling conflicts, disabilities, and other considerations. According to the CEE webpage, blended courses are “associated with higher student satisfaction” because they allow for flexibility and community. As an alternative to full-scale hybridization, blended learning can be effective when thoughtfully designed, he said. Lorraine said the CEE “leads a 10-week blended learning design cohort of instructors every semester, with an offer to collaborate for an additional semester on building course components in Canvas.” SFU is “in the early stages of a 2-year pilot of blended learning,” having offered over 30 blended learning courses, Lorraine said. He anticipates “significant growth” the longer the program is in use.
MOVING FORWARD Universities can create a more equitable learning environment by providing choice surrounding in-person attendance. For students with accessibility needs and scheduling conflicts, the flexibility of hybrid learning seemingly offers a viable solution. At the same time, hybrid learning is not a perfect system and adopting it without proper resources can be stressful for instructors. Blended learning may be an effective alternative that supports the needs of both students and professors through its intentionally mixed course design. However, it’s not perfect either as it still requires some in-person learning. Another solution may be increasing the number of remote courses available. Online learning is a new and evolving field, and many of the practices we adopt will be through trial and error. While SFU students, administrators, and instructors have different perspectives on hybridity, a need for resources for students and professors should underline the continuing conversations about online learning.
An “ideal hybrid class,” McGregor said, would have two professors to account for having two groups of students.
Illustrations: Angela Shen / The Peak
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HUMOUR
Humour Editor Kelly Chia
·
humour@the-peak.ca
ANNOY YOUR PEERS
Top 10 ordinary things for your classmates to endure How to distract your classmates during this semester
YASMI N VEJS SI MSE K // PEAK ASSO CI ATE
1. A pineapple Why not bring this mystery to class? You could either rock your pineapple like a baby, bring it to the teacher like an out-of-the-boxthinking teacher’s pet, or whip it out of your backpack halfway through class and apologize for having to eat it. The future is clear (and tropical)!
5. A director’s chair Manifest your future career in the classroom. This item is great because it guarantees you a seat on the bus on your way to class as well. And you get to pick exactly where you will be sitting in class, obviously. Ideally you would sit in the back so you can comment on everything the prof says and make sure they improve for the next shot. For full effect, get one of the high director’s chairs, so you can overlook your whole film crew/class.
2. A full-sized cardboard cutout of Leonardo DiCaprio Bring a cardboard cutout of Leonardo DiCaprio to get your classmates talking — I speak from personal experience. You can ask Leo anything, like a Magic 8-ball. But a silent one you can dress up with anything, like a lei! Spice it up a little bit by feeding him during lunch break, or better yet, ask permission to use the bathroom, because Leo’s gotta go.
3. A really, really big hat
4. A human-sized teddy bear
Go all out and wear one that is simply just as high as you are tall. You might get some nasty looks from the classmates who made the fatal decision to sit behind you, but they don’t understand fashion. For the full effect, it is crucial that you sit in the front row. If, or more likely, when, someone asks you to take your hat off, pretend you have absolutely no idea about any hat supposedly on your head.
It’s imperative to treat this teddy bear as if it’s your life-long partner. Stage a meet-cute at the classroom entrance. Hold its paw and bat your eyelashes at it. Your classmates will be thrilled at this display of affection. Defend your love if anyone comes at you and invite them to the wedding in the fall.
7. An old PC computer An oldie but a goodie. Bring the computer, keyboard, and monitor in all its glory. The clickety-clack of the external keyboard will ensure everyone knows you’re into the classics. Remember to arrive at least 20 minutes early to set you your whole home office — wires and all.
9. A scroll of the 10 commandments An old-timey scroll roll with the 10 commandments written with quill and ink. Every time the prof asks a question, you roll out the scroll and find your answer there. When reading a commandment aloud, declare it with the same vigor that Moses would have done.
6. A giant sub from Subway This six-foot long beauty from Subway will feed your entire class. You’re not going to, though. You deserve this. You’ll probably need a hand carrying it into the classroom, the helping person can have a bite. Make sure you eat it as one long sandwich, no cutting it into normal-sized sandwiches. Bonus points if your sandwich has tuna and pickles.
8. A six-foot tall fern It’s bring-your-bestie-to-class day and who better to bring than your BFF, Fern, whom you’ve raised since the lockdown of ‘20. You’re so proud of Fern and you obviously want to give them the best impression of your studies. The two of you should get in the middle of the class, right in front of the projector.
10. Your mom This may or may not have been personally tested out. Bringing your mother to class is how you really make an impression on your classmates. To really go all in, ask her permission every time you want to do or say something like when you were a kid. Or exclaim with embarrassment “STOP IT, MOM!” every time she breathes.
ILLU STRATIONS: Alyssa Umbal / The Peak
FRISKY ACADEMICS
YA lover disappointed SFU isn’t like their books The world did not bless me with main character syndrome
E MILY HUANG / / S F U S T U D EN T
For many international students transitioning to university, the first year of school proves to be full of surprises, excitement, and disappointment. Mitzi Bitzy is among those first year students. A young woman passionate in literature and a selfproclaimed “average YA enjoyer,” requested to speak to The Peak, stating it was important she warned fellow YA enthusiasts about setting their expectations too high. “At first glance, it seemed that SFU had everything. A café situated in a charming little street, the goth-like interior architecture of the AQ building, and the chance to talk to the smart, quiet guy at the corner of a large theater,” Bitzi began hopefully. The freshman had even moved into the university residence area with hopes of maximizing her chance of living an “alternate universe (known to the fanfictioninitiated as AU) college/university” life. “The world unfortunately has its ways of reminding you that you are not the star of a school drama,” Bitzi said disappointedly. “So much for being the hero of your own story.” When asked about the experience that prompted this conversation, Bitzi said it was a culmination of disappointments starting from when she decided to use the wheel of names to choose her first semester courses. Seeing our crew’s confused expressions, she enthusiastically told The Peak, “In YA novels and fanfiction, the quiet, brooding guy would normally use this tactic because he wasn’t sure about what major he would declare himself into. He would then find a ‘sunshine significant other’ in the class and the two would get it on,” she said enthusiastically. Bitzi continued, stating that she used this method to test the theory, but to no avail. “This calls for a change in tactic. If you can’t join ‘em, ship ‘em,” she said, grinning ominously. “That reminds me, my roommate and I are taking the same class alongside her childhood friend.” The second incident that left Bitzi aghast was when her “found family ghosted her” after they were finished with a group project. Having used the wheel of names to pick her courses, Bitzi found herself in an introductory business course notoriously known for its dreaded final group project. “We’ve been through so much — prepared to succeed or fail gloriously together. I thought at this point that we were a found family.” Despite that, when Bitzi expressed her desire for their relationship to continue even after the semester, her eclectic group members did not remember her. “Hear that? That’s the sound of my broken heart.”
I L LU ST RAT ION S : Stella Nguyen / The Peak
The last incident, according to Bitzi, was a “funny, but not really” case. Upon hearing the many paranormal hotspots of the Burnaby parking lot, she and her roommate decided to explore the campus “Shane and Ryan style.” “My roommate, Ari, was like, maybe we can find sexy Lucifer or whatever,” she chuckled. Unfortunately, despite the gothic architecture of SFU, there were no spooks to be had. No magic cupboards, nor a magic wall that led to a wizarding world. Despite the numerous times that her hopes had been let down, Bitzi would still like to remind her fellow YA enthusiasts that there are still many precious moments waiting to be experienced. She left us with her final statement. “This might not be the AU life you expected to have, but it is still a university life. The fun is just waiting by the corner for the right spark.” Bitzi winked, and walked out of the office mysteriously, messy bun and all.
HUMOUR
June 6, 2022
Your Weekly Horoscopes The future is not yet clear . . . Perhaps I need to clean my glasses
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June 6–12 Max Lorette Peak Associate
ARIES — Mar 21–Apr 19
LIBRA — Sept 23–Oct 22
The stars have informed me that it is a good idea for you to stay
Nature has been calling you! You have been evading nature’s call! They’ve
inside as much as possible this week. The cosmic forecast is calling
left, like, 10 voicemails now. You’re running out of storage! You should really
for a killer sunburn on your horizon, and God knows you haven’t
call them back. Go touch some grass and hug a tree or something. Maybe go
been keeping up with your SPF routine. Maybe try beating your
smell a flower or two. Change your phone background to some trees, maybe?
Guitar Hero high score instead of suntanning.
I don’t know, dude, I’m just the messenger.
TAURUS — Apr 20 –May 20
SCORPIO — Oct 23–Nov 21
When was the last time you cleaned your bedside table, Taurus? The
Next time you’re invited out to a bonfire, whatever you do, DO NOT play
number of mugs, bowls, and spoons makes me very concerned. Is that
“Wonderwall.” The forest spirits have become restless, and the stars
mould growing in your half-empty teacup? Yuck! I promise you will feel
have informed me that they are NOT Oasis fans. Instead, try mixing your
much better after you take care of the mess. It might not declutter your
setlist up with some Taylor Swift. The spirits are totally Swifties.
overactive mind, but it also couldn’t hurt.
GEMINI — May 21–Jun 20
SAGITTARIUS — Nov 22–Dec 21
Do you feel as though you’ve been missing something from your life, my
When was the last time you did some self-reflection? Take a good, hard look
dearest Gemini? Do you feel an aching emptiness inside of you? When
in the mirror. Remember how far you’ve come. Remember to be proud of the
was the last time you saw your wallet? Or better yet, when was the last
person you’ve grown into. You’re doing amazing. Mwah! (Also, I think you
time you saw your appendix? I’m telling you, the government is totally
might have something in your teeth).
harvesting that organ for some reason. I’m onto them. You should be, too.
CANCER — Jun 21–Jul 22
CAPRICORN — Dec 22–Jan 19
The stars are telling me that you have been looking for love in all
The stars have informed me that they are incredibly disappointed that you
the wrong places. Have you tried looking under the couch? In the
haven’t been keeping up with your silent reading time! What, do you think
dryer? Perhaps in the back of your closet? Oh wait, I think I got your
because you’ve exited the public school system you can just quit silent
soulmate mixed up with that pair of socks you lost three months ago.
reading? Go to a used bookstore, get the oldest looking tome you can and
Good luck anyway!
get back to it. The book probably isn’t cursed.
LEO — Jul 23–Aug 22
AQUARIUS — Jan 20–Feb 18
Have you been looking for a new way to be the life of the party this
Have you been feeling stuck in your music taste lately? Have you tried discovery
summer? Leo, this season is all about you. Next time you get invited
weekly? If that doesn’t help, maybe try listening to some classical music. I’m
to hang out in a group, the stars advise you to learn how to do the
pretty sure that blasting “O Fortuna” at full volume while you strut your stuff this
worm. Trust me, it will bring your adoring crowd to their knees.
summer is the vibe that the stars have in mind.
VIRGO — Aug 23–Sept 22
PISCES — Feb 19–Mar 20
The stars have informed me that this upcoming week is the best
Take a deep breath, Pisces. Straighten up that spine, roll your shoulders
time for you to change up your style! Why wait until the new year
back, and correct your posture. Your back literally looks like a lowercase
to be a whole new you? Go buy a cowboy hat! Get a pair of crocs!
“r” right now. Maybe it’s time to visit a chiropractor again. Crack my bones,
Go nuts!
Posture Daddy.
RACC OON REPORT
What’s on the Menu: Weekly reports with your best pal and racoon, Stinks Bigger bins don’t always mean bigger treats Welcome back to What’s on the Menu. I am your best pal, Stinks the Raccoon, with the weekly report on what the students are tossing in the trash. Thanks to your readership, this has become the top raccoon newsletter. We have a treat for you. In the past month, a number of students have moved off the SFU residence area, and what was left behind was a feast! Tune into my report to hear more. The amount of garbage left on the sides of the flooded bins was impeccable. Just prime stuff. I’m talking Cheeto dust, Maruchan ramen packs, and beautiful SPAM. Even some whole packages of spinach! I guess humans buy produce to watch them wilt. so we’ve been lucky lately, but I’m no scientist.
Next on What’s on the Menu is the top five foods the community has voted on. At number five is cracked eggs. Whilst these are gems hard to find, the sweet yolk and the crunch of the eggshell makes it worthwhile. At number four is the frogs. Chewy and puffy, the elastic skin is good for a long munch, especially if food is scarce. With the rain coming in and out, these snacks have become rare, so look out, folks. At number three and two we have the rotten mangoes and watermelons. If you are lucky you might find tomatoes, too. The humans are definitely getting back on the summer fruit wave.
If you missed it, do visit our website where you can buy your favorite snacks and check the countdown clock on when the next treasures will be flooding in the Garbage Disposals of Glory. Of course, you will need to turn your alerts on and pass this information along to your families.
At number one is our all time favorite and is still holding its position: the canned and jarred food. We have the old moldy beans, tangy jams, and beef cans. Mushroom soups too, yuck, but it is on the list. While sticking our little paws into the cans is most definitely unsafe, it’s always worth the risk.
And now, it is with great sadness to announce that Mr. Slow Paws’ son, Sticky Paws, got himself stuck in the garbage disposal. What pushed him to go this far, we do not know. Our top sources indicate he wanted to find the most priced junk in order to sway the ladies.
In other news, the president of racoon watch, Mr. Scraps, has announced that the local humans in our area have decided to change the bins. While the bins signify more supply, we ought to watch out for the composite bins with the new locks that trap everything inside. Our composite stealth missions are currently halted until further investigation.
We are deeply saddened by this news. We were not able to recover him because it was garbage pick up day. Goodbye, sweet prince. May you eat lots of garbage, whatever garbage disposal you visit next. NE RCYA KALI N O // STAF F W RI TE R
Thank you for tuning in on What’s on the Menu, I’ve been Stinks, and that is all for the news today. Remember to travel in packs and always hiss if a human thinks you are cute.
ILLU STRATION: Megan Yung / The Peak
16
DIVERSIONS
Business Manager Yuri Zhou
·
business@the-peak.ca
CROSSWORD Across 1. Pretended 6. Bad actors 10. Male offspring 14. Monte ____ 15. "____ dead people!" (2 wds.) 16. Grub 17. Author ____ Asimov 18. Singer ____ Turner 19. Fee 20. Fender nick 21. Walked leisurely 23. Ooze 26. Brie, e.g.
27. Recipe abbr. 29. German, e.g. 33. "The Greatest" 34. Andes animal 35. Singing voice 39. Insult 41. Those who fib 43. Idiot 44. Pointed weapon 46. Clip 48. Hollywood's ____ West 49. Practice a performance
51. Kind 52. Off the path 55. Reach across 57. Ferocity 61. Tie firmly 64. Censor 65. Roman fiddler 66. Slogan 67. Lease 68. So be it! 69. Laker Shaquille ____ 70. Elm or pine 71. Female pigs 72. Pie slice
24. Slippery fish 25. Haul 27. File labels 28. Smack 30. Elevate 31. D-Day beach 32. Kitchen gadget 36. Proposed as a candidate 37. Colorful gem 38. Smell bad 40. Hair clasp 42. Fresh talk 45. 500 sheets 47. Congressman (abbr.)
50. Doglike scavengers 52. Ward off 53. Passover feast 54. Old pronoun 56. Solo 58. Disney clownfish 59. Personnel 60. Long periods 62. Deer 63. Cavity 66. Cut grass
Down 1. Amino ____ 2. Instance 3. Happen 4. Thrill 5. Trumpeter ____ Severinsen 6. Strikes 7. Japan's continent 8. Diner list 9. Otherworldly meeting 10. Showed (a movie) 11. Midwest airport 12. Short messages 13. Stockholm native 22. Not this
SUDOKU
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