Decriminalizing Drugs

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COVER Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michelle Young eic@the-peak.ca

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NEWS WRITERS Natalie Cooke and Aditi Dwivedi

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Petra Chase arts@the-peak.ca

SPORTS EDITOR Isabella Urbani sports@the-peak.ca

SPORTS WRITER Simran Sarai

HUMOUR EDITOR Kelly Chia humour@the-peak.ca

STAFF WRITERS

C Icart, Nercya Kalino, Hannah Kazemi, and Saije Rusimovici

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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 xwməθkwəy əm (Musqueam), Səl ílwətaʔ/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.

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Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi speaks on COVID-19, public health, and preventive care

He emphasized education and clean air are key pandemic responses

“Scientifically and objectively, we’re really still in the midst of this pandemic,” said Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi in conversation with Protect our Province BC. “Emotionally, much of the population — I think to no fault of their own — is in a different place.” On February 3, the grassroots organization hosted an online seminar with Gandhi to discuss the current state of the pandemic and BC’s pandemic response. Gandhi, who specializes in pediatric heart and lung surgery, recently left the BC Children’s Hospital and joined the BC Greens as their deputy leader. In an interview with The Tyee , he cited his reasons for leaving the medical field as a toxic work environment and “the health authority’s positive narrative,” as a barrier to providing patients with proper care. He has been a vocal critic of BC’s current healthcare policies.

“Some would say we need to move past COVID-19 and ‘learn to live with it,’ but I think this thinking really demonstrates a fundamental ignorance and lack of education,” Gandhi continued. “That’s unfortunately been an approach that’s been encouraged by a government that hasn’t been honest with British Columbians about the virus, how it spreads, and how to protect ourselves.”

In regards to BC’s pandemic response, Gandhi said one of the biggest mistakes “can be traced back to a failure to adapt to a changing science, which should have been used to educate the public properly.” This includes lagging information on COVID-19 transmission, incomplete mask guidance, and a lack of recognition of long COVID from public health.

“Polls suggest that voters don’t particularly care about COVID-19 anymore, but it really needs to be science, not polls, that guides public health.” He cited the increasing death toll of COVID-19, noting more deaths have occurred from acute COVID-19 in 2022 in BC than previous years of the pandemic. Acute COVID-19 refers to the stage of infection that involves symptoms which would typically resolve on their own, rather than a chronic condition like long COVID. “Those numbers don’t include people who have suffered from other medical issues because of previous COVID-19 infections.”

Gandhi explained the importance of preventative care and acknowledging COVID-19 as an airborne disease. “‘Preventative’ means not getting the disease in the first place. Wear a mask before you get sick.” He described “spraying a can of mace in a room,” as a way to understand

the lingering nature of airborne disease. “It doesn’t leave immediately — you can walk into that room a few minutes later and your eyes are going to burn and your lungs are going to sting — and COVID-19 is just like mace.”

He added our ability to control respiratory illnesses will be dependent on our ability to “improve air quality.” This includes measures such as CO2 monitors and air filtration devices. Gandhi said the airborne nature of COVID-19 is a “fact not up for debate, the inability of the government to state that categorically is, I think, politically based. Acknowledgement of that fact would make them culpable for their inaction on measures.”

Measures to prevent airborne disease are not only applicable to COVID-19, but will also prevent the transmission of future outbreaks. “We stop waterborne diseases with clean water, so stop airborne diseases with clean air — it’s not just about COVID-19 — it’s about the nature of airborne diseases.”

to viruses, as the immune system wouldn’t become less effective over time “on its own.” Gandhi added this theory “doesn’t recognize the vascular nature of this virus and falsely concentrates on the acute respiratory symptoms.” Evidence for potential long-term health complications due to former COVID-19 infections has been quickly accumulating, explained Gandhi. Studies show long COVID can produce “dozens of symptoms across multiple organ systems.” This can include cardiac impairment in the heart, cognitive impairment, blood clots, erectile dysfunction, and irregular menstruation — among many other symptoms. A study in Nature reported that “symptoms can last for years.” Gandhi added, “The potential ramifications of repeated COVID-19 infections — for everyone — young, old, those with pre-existing medical conditions, and those that were previously healthy are significant.” Studies show repeated COVID-19 infections increase the risk of death, organ failure, hospitalization, and long COVID.

“We need specific clinics with experts knowledgeable about this disease,” he explained. “We have these clinics for disorders whose prevalence is far lower than long COVID.”

He said while the current pandemic response encourages people to “assess their own risk,” the public hasn’t been sufficiently informed on how to do so or understand the risk associated with a COVID-19 infection. If the BC Greens were elected, Gandhi said the party would first focus on “proper education, rooted in science, geared to empowering people to make informed decisions,” in addition to clean air, which Gandhi emphasized as a part of preventative medicine.

Gandhi also spoke on the false theory of immunity debt. This theory claims the early pandemic response is to blame for the recent influx of respiratory illnesses, because measures such as social distancing and using masks “understimulated” the immune system. However, it’s not a theory formally recognized by immunologists. “Never, ever, have we promoted illness to promote wellness.”

In 2022, McGill reported that the idea of “immunity debt” largely stemmed from a single 2021 scientific paper, and has since been critiqued as lacking evidence. Global News also reported the paper as being misinterpreted. Other doctors noted immunity does not require constant exposure

“Clean air is not hard. You measure air quality, and when air quality is not up to snuff, you put air filtration devices in. There’s a variety of them out there.” CO2 monitors can measure air quality by providing a sense of how well-ventilated a room is. In spaces where there is poor ventilation, CO2 levels will be higher, and signify a risk of potential infection to airborne disease. To improve air quality, measures like ventilation and filtration can be taken. Ventilation allows fresh air to circulate into a space, whereas filtration can “reduce airborne contaminants including viruses,” by filtering the air already within a space. Masks, ventilation, and filtration all help to reduce the risk of COVID-19 and other diseases by providing better air quality.

Gandhi said those who are still concerned with COVID-19 are not “obsessed” with it. He added, “What I am obsessed with is caring about the health of people.”

DR. SANJIV GANDHI

BC GREENS DEPUTY LEADER

The potential ramifications of repeated COVID-19 infections — for everyone — young, old, those with pre-existing medical conditions, and those that were previously healthy are significant.

MICHELLE YOUNG // EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

PHOTO: Sora Shimazaki / Pexels

The effects of COVID-19 on sex workers

SFU researcher explores the risks and stigmas of sex work during the pandemic

Ahmed Al-Rawi, an SFU Communication professor, recently published a study outlining the effects of COVID-19 on sex workers, including their stigmatization in society and representations on social media. He said in an interview with The Peak, “I believe that the stigma surrounding sex work made many people overlook its true impact during the pandemic, despite the fact that sex workers are and should be considered frontline workers, too.”

By analyzing Twitter posts of sex workers from different gender groups, the researchers found sex workers “mostly expressed a variety of health concerns due to the lack of regulations on their work, even when there is no pandemic.” Further, “Concerns were also expressed about immunocompromised and racialized sex workers whose health has been impacted by COVID-19.”

Al-Rawi explained the challenges that were faced while conducting this research. “We had great difficulty finding sex workers on social media like Twitter.” This is because social media platforms will often restrict the activities of sex workers, which means that they must find other sites to use. He explained, “Sex work is often treated as a taboo topic that should be avoided in public discourses.”

Sex workers use social media to market themselves, just as entrepreneurs or artists do. Ramona Flour, a sex worker, told MTV, “Because of my visibility as a sex worker, companies have blatantly, without consideration for my business, removed

me from their platforms.” This ultimately affected her business, income, and livelihood. Al-Rawi noted deplatforming sex workers “only increases the risks involved in this type of work.”

Al-Rawi also discussed the widespread stigma associated with sex work and how it affects them. He shared, “Sex work has existed since the beginning of time, and it is part of human civilization. Hence, it is called the oldest profession. However, many religions tried to ban or restrict sex work, though this never worked.” Despite the long history of the sex work industry, the work is still associated with guilt and negativity.

something that sex workers urgently need to protect themselves from exploitation, security, and health risks.” While it is important that sex workers are being recognized, the risks they face are still prevalent.

Human trafficking and modern slavery are risks of the industry that sex workers do not consent to, but are continuously exposed to. They often don’t get to decide who they are having sex with, and their basic human rights are often ignored by clients.

Further, safe sex practices may not always be occurring during sex work, which can lead to poor health outcomes such as sexually transmitted infections or HIV.

While there is increasing social acceptance associated with sex work, Al-Rawi emphasized the need to combat stigmas surrounding the topic. “This should start with introducing some government policies that offer clear regulations of sex work and acknowledging the stigma associated with this profession.” As well, “NGOs can play another role in spreading awareness about the importance of regulating this profession to protect everyone.”

Al-Rawi shared that in recent years, “sex work is increasingly viewed as another profession that requires regulations,

SFSS Council launches breakfast program for students

The SFSS is looking for volunteers to support their breakfast initiative

On February 8, The Peak attended the Simon Fraser Student Society’s (SFSS) bi-weekly Council meeting. The highlights from the meeting include discussing the new SFSS breakfast program, the Applied Science formal, and the Computer Science Student Society Silicon Valley trip.

SFSS offers new breakfast program for students, calling for volunteers

The SFSS is starting a free, weekly breakfast program for all SFU undergraduate students. The breakfast will offer toast, fruits, and a beverage. The first breakfast will begin on February 17. Volunteers will work from 9:45 a.m.–11:45 a.m. and students can access this free breakfast from 10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. The program will be held at the Social Stage, which is the lounge on the third floor of the Student Union Building at the SFU Burnaby campus.

To volunteer for the breakfast program, email the SFSS vice-president of external and community affairs, Eshana Baran, at vpexternal@sfss.ca.

Faculty of Applied Science Formal

The SFSS has begun preparing for the Faculty of Applied Science Formal this year. This event has

not been held since before the pandemic, and Shariq Ahsan, the computing science councillor, said they are ready to “bring it back this year.”

The student groups participating in the event are the Computing Science Student Society, the Software Systems Student Society, the Engineering Science Student Society, the Mechatronics System Engineering Student Society, the Sustainable Engineering Student Society, and the Women in Computing Science.

This presentation was conducted in hopes to receive $10,000 to support the event. With adequate funding, the Formal can be hosted in a reputable venue, with the inclusions of accessibility needs. The motion to fund the formal was approved unanimously by Council.

This year, the event will be held at the Anvil Centre in New Westminster. The SFSS Accessibility Committee has a checklist of accessibility needs that will be met at the event. The venue is across the street from the New Westminster skytrain station to accommodate transportation requirements. Additionally, the venue is wheelchair accessible, the SFSS will regard dietary restrictions, and there are quiet spaces if people need to step away.

To read Al-Rawi’s study “Sex Workers’ Lived Experiences With COVID-19 on Social Media: Content Analysis of Twitter Posts,” visit JMIR Publications.

NATALIE COOKE NEWS WRITER

Faculty of Applied Science Silicon Valley Trip

The Computing Science Student Society is preparing for the Silicon Valley Trip in California to meet with technology companies. It is a four day trip, beginning on April 25, 2023, and students will meet with two tech companies per day.

Ahsan explained learning about the atmosphere, alumni, and employees of each company will give students the experience and awareness of what this career path can produce. This trip is ideal for students who are preparing for graduation and entering the workforce.

Google, Apple, Adobe, Oracle, and Zoom are examples of companies they will visit. Ahsan said, “Our students always seem to love the [company] selections.”

Ashan was requesting a $8,500 subsidy from the SFSS to lower the costs for the 30 students who will attend the trip. Vice-president finance Rastko Koprivica suggested the SFSS instead offered the Computing Science Student Society $12,000. Koprivica said the additional funds would allow more students the chance to go on the trip. The motion to grant the Computing Science Student Society $12,000 was granted unanimously.

NATALIE COOKE // NEWS WRITER

PHOTO: Gustavo Fring / Pexels

AHMED AL-RAWI SFU PROFESSOR

When sex workers have health and other types of protection, the society in general will be better off.

VANDU says Vancouver’s new drug policy is not enough

Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users continues to lobby for safe and regulated supply of drugs

ADITI DWIVEDI // NEWS WRITER

The BC government was granted an exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act by Health Canada, to decriminalize the possession of certain illegal drugs from January 31, 2023 to January 31, 2026. The decriminalization is a critical step in BC’s fight against the growing opioid crisis, homelessness, and overdose deaths in the province.

This exemption allows adults 18 years or older in BC to carry certain illegal drugs for personal use without facing criminal charges or being arrested. These eligible drugs include crack, powder cocaine, methamphetamine (meth), ecstasy (MDMA), and opioids — heroin, morphine, fentanyl. However, individuals carrying more than a combined total of 2.5 grams will be subject to criminal charges and the drugs will be confiscated.

The Peak had an interview with the Vancouver Area Network of Drugs Users (VANDU) to learn how this decision impacts people who use drugs. Since 2016, the overdose crisis has resulted in over 11,000 deaths in BC. VANDU is a collection of people in the Vancouver community who have formerly used or currently use drugs. They fight against stigma and work to improve the lives of people who use drugs through user-based peer support and education.

David Hamm, a member of the Board of Directors of VANDU spoke to The Peak about how they “have been lobbying for this move since the beginning of VANDU, 25 years ago.” Hamm added that while the step is long overdue for the ongoing

ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

The SFU Alumni Association votes to merge with SFU

SFU says the changes will produce a more inclusive governance model

ADITI DWIVEDI // NEWS WRITER

SFU’s Alumni Association held a vote on February 15 to determine the future of their organization. SFU was proposing to change the current Alumni Association from a legally separate organization, to an internal SFU entity, which would include an appointed Council. All registered members of the Alumni Association were invited to approve or disapprove the proposed changes.

On February 15, the Alumni Association voted to dissolve.

Former SFU undergraduate student Corbett Gildersleve posted to social media, “Well, the SFU Alumni Association voted to dissolve itself tonight and transfer their assets to SFU. It will now be replaced by a new association that has an alumni Council with members appointed by the SFU president, and no longer be independent of SFU.” The SFU Alumni Association was previously an organization with their own elected Board of Directors. They functioned as an independent link between SFU and its community of alumni.

According to a statement issued by Braden McMillan, director of media relations and public affairs for SFU, the intent behind the vote was “to align SFU’s alumni program with industry best practices and modernize the governance model, which has remained largely unchanged since its inception in 1969.”

opioid crisis, it is a step in the right direction. He said VANDU’s “efforts have finally been taken seriously [ . . . ] to do something that will help decriminalize the population of drug users, but we do find it woefully lacking.”

According to Hamm, a survey conducted by VANDU concluded that 4.5 grams of each substance would be a more appropriate amount than the current limit of 2.5 grams of collective amount. He explained, “The reason people have larger amounts on them is because they only want to go out as little as possible to get their substances and also because [ . . . ] if you get more of it, then you get a better price on it.” He added, “Navigating through the community, and the drugs, for a person using drugs could be a very trying experience, especially for the elderly, and there are a lot of people that experience violence too.” By increasing the number of grams an individual can carry, it reduces the risks to their economic and personal safety.

According to Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner at the BC Coroners Service, toxicology data “confirms that the drug supply in British Columbia is increasingly volatile and life-threatening.” Hamm believes that decriminalizing toxic substances is not going to help the overdose crisis. Instead, he noted the resources being used for decriminalization should have gone towards providing a safe supply of opioid substances to save users from the “really toxic supply out there.”

While Hamm mentioned people who use drugs still have to deal with backlash and stigma from the community, there have been instances of support. “A heartwarming gesture was put out by the public when we heard about losing some funding for our art program [ . . . ] in one evening we received twice the amount of money that we were gonna receive from the city.”

The VANDU art program is a series of events which encourages vulnerable people who use drugs to engage with art projects, like making banners commemorating the lives lost to toxic drugs, with the help of a facilitator. This year the Vancouver City Council voted against the allocation of $7,500 as an art grant to VANDU citing the organization’s failure to “deliver what it promised when it was given a sizable grant to clean up East Hastings Street last year.”

According to Hamm, the overall lack of government action against the opioid crisis is worsening the crisis. “This emergency has been going on for over seven years now [ . . . ] I can’t picture any other situation where there would be such a lack of action [ . . . ] they would do anything, use any resources, to tackle any other kind of emergency, but because it’s drug users, they have not been willing to do what it takes, which is having a regulated safe supply by the government.”

For more information about VANDU’s community engagement activities, visit their website.

McMillan also stated only 10% of SFU’s alumni were registered as members of the association; the proposed changes will enable all SFU students to automatically become part of the Alumni Association upon graduation.

The university claimed this decision would “ensure an inclusive governance model.” An SFU alum, who chose to stay anonymous, spoke to The Peak about the possible negative ramifications of this decision. According to them, the association has a fiduciary responsibility which holds them accountable to the alumni, and ensures the usage of funds for the benefit of the alumni. With the dissolution of the association as a separate organization, “there will be no official accountability to alumni at all, for how funds specifically earmarked for alumni engagement are being used.”

Before the association’s dissolution, the university was required to pass all decisions relating to alumni engagement — use of funds, organization of events, and others — through the Alumni Association. In accordance with the BC Societies Act, the association had “made all of their financial statements and inner workings public.”

The anonymous SFU alum believes the vote on February 15 was a tool for the university to “handpick alumni that it wants from the society at large, and have absolutely no transparency in how anything is carried out when it comes to alumni engagement.”

According to the anonymous source, they believe the dissolution may affect the focus of funding priorities. They believe the SFU Alumni Association will stop focusing on alumni assistance and welfare, to only “extracting money from existing alumni” for the upcoming fundraising goals of the university. The association had normally focused on organizing career fairs, networking nights, discounted workshops for alumni, and awarding outstanding alumni for excellence in their respective fields.

In a survey conducted by the SFU Alumni Association in 2021, the alumni were asked about their expectations from the university. According to the anonymous source, the general overview of answers concluded the alumni were asking for ongoing career support — one on one career services for alumni and academic support. The anonymous SFU alum believes if the alumni realized that voting in favor of dissolution would mean a loss of what they expect from the university in terms of engagement, then the motion would not have passed.

However, they noted a major cause of concern is the lack of awareness about the vote amongst most SFU alumni. They noted the university had neither publicized it, nor posted about it on any of their social media channels, including the SFU Alumni Association website.

For more information on registering as a member of the SFU Alumni Association please visit their website.

PHOTO: Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson / The Peak

PHOTO: Angie / Unsplash

We need to recognize these barriers and actively work against the shame associated with drug use.

Providing MAiD without improving the living conditions of disabled people is not a solution.

There isn’t just one way to love or engage in relationships — there are many

The unforeseen woes of growing up

I didn’t expect growing up to be difficult

Written by Hannah Kazemi

A few weeks ago I was laying in bed, ready to settle in for the night, when I had an epiphany. I’m the type of person who plans everything, up to the last detail, and dreams of what my life might be like in a few years. Recently, I’ve been doing a lot of that.

I still live at home, but not in my childhood bedroom. I went to IKEA this summer and spent my hard-earned money furnishing my room and making it fit the grown-up version of myself. As I laid in bed and looked around my room, I felt content. In that moment, I started to think about how when I was younger, I wanted nothing more than to be older. I dreamt of being 25 because I imagined I would be married and have a mortgage by then. I’m 22, and it’s safe to say I don’t think I’ll be at that point in the next three years. The thought of that made me sad; like I’m mourning an idealized version of myself that will never be.

There I was, in my perfect room, contemplating all of the things that aren’t how I want them to be. I want to move out, but there are so many things that I would rather spend my money on first. I want to live abroad, but I need to finish my education first. There were so many wants and wishes going through my head. I felt ungrateful and selfish because the life I’ve had has been far from difficult, yet I also felt stuck and unsure of myself at the same time. When we’re kids, we’re asked what we want to be when we grow up. We develop these ideas of what our life is going to be like when we’re older. And when we get there, oftentimes our lives aren’t all we thought they would be.

These thoughts have always caused me some trouble. I’m not sure if what I want is actually what I will want in the future. I wonder if all of this — the path that I’ve been on for four years — is for nothing. And then it turns into an existential crisis. Is it possible to have five existential crises by the time you’re 22?

Contrary to what we’re made to believe, it’s actually quite common to be afraid to grow up and start adulting. There’s a known and prevalent general fear of adulting that many young adults face. Effects of this include depression and anxiety, and often accompany three key developments in our journeys to becoming adults: accepting greater responsibility over ourselves, making decisions independently, and becoming more financially independent. It makes a lot of sense. As children, we’re dependent on our parents and other adults in our lives to help us navigate the world and make decisions. Slowly, the onus is placed on us to make those decisions independently. That can be a scary transition to navigate. The more we grow up, the more our choices have lasting consequences, from careers and post-grad studies, to getting our own dental insurance and how to smartly invest our money. As we age, the amount of guidance we receive decreases while our options and responsibilities increase.

Peter Pan Syndrome is not formally recognized as a medical term, but is another common psychological phrase used to describe individuals who are a bit more hesitant to take on “adult” responsibilities. Research has typically been focused

on men who lack the emotional and social maturity to “grow up,” but recent publications have started to include women and anyone who fits the syndrome’s description. Thus, its specific usage has shifted over time. The phrase refers to individuals who are more carefree and tend to have lower emotional maturity than someone their age should. They also might refuse to take on adult responsibilities and struggle to maintain romantic relationships and friendships due to their reliance on others.

I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing to be afraid to grow up and take on new challenges as adults; it’s really hard and confusing, which can be extremely overwhelming and even crushing for some people. But I do think that in order to mature and step into our independent selves, we have to be willing to face the fear — at least a little bit. I will always ask my mom to explain how credit cards work, and I will always ask her what I should say to the dentist when I call to make an appointment. Do I tell them my name first? Do I wait for them to ask? How the heck does dental coverage work and is my seafood allergy relevant when they ask if I’m allergic to anything?

Growing up and becoming an adult is not easy. It’s perhaps one of the most turbulent times in our lives. We go through so many changes and are faced with decisions that feel so heavy, which for me results in anxiety over making the wrong decision. Sometimes I feel like there’s a weight on my shoulders, and if I make one wrong move, things will crumble. Perhaps things will never be perfect. I’m starting to become more and more okay with this idea. I will likely be living a different life to the one I envision for my future self, in the same way that the life I am currently living is different from what I thought it would be like at age 16. Embracing imperfections for the pursuit of future happiness is a critical yet beneficial shift in the way I engage with the world and experience what it feels like to get older. I think this is the key to making adulting the most enjoyable experience that it can be: you need to acknowledge that your perfect vision of life may not be the key to your happiness.

PHOTO: Jannis Lucas/Unsplash

As we age, the amount of guidance we receive decreases while our options and responsibilities increase.

calling writers!

PAINTED PERFORMANCE

The performance allows for the audience to reflect on how mutual support can help guide us through the trials and triumphs of life.

There’s a political potency to what [comedians] can do.

SHANA MYARA // DIRECTOR

All the athletic action from February 21–26

AWAY GAMES

Women’s soccer team still fighting for equality

Pay ordeals highlight the culture of inequity rampant in Canadian soccer

Any young woman who grew up playing sports knows that getting society to take you, your teammates, and your competitors seriously remains an uphill battle.

The plight of women’s soccer in Canada is no stranger to this unforgiving landscape. Despite qualifying for eight of the nine Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Women’s World Cup tournaments since 1991, the reigning Olympic champions are once again fighting for equal pay and opportunity. This comes just months ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

So what exactly went down? Here’s a brief overview. In 2020, the Canadian women’s soccer team won Olympic gold for the first time ever. The momentous occasion can be attributed greatly to the successes of longtime Canadian soccer legends like Sophie Schmidt and Christine Sinclair. The latter of whom has 189 international goals — the most in internal competition as of April 2022.

Fast forward to 2022: the Canadian men’s team qualified for their second-ever FIFA World Cup, elevating soccer’s popularity in Canada. However, in June 2022, the men’s team refused to play in an international match, citing a lack of transparency around finances, and asking for increased funding as a result of newly acquired contracts ahead of the 2022 World Cup. The men’s team also asked Canada Soccer to deliver an equal pay contract for both them and the women’s teams.

The women followed up with demands of their own, but the issue would remain at large throughout the remainder of 2022. In early 2023, with five months left before the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Canadian women’s team announced their intentions to strike, just days ahead of the SheBelieves Cup.

On the same day, the men’s national team also released a letter of support, standing in solidarity with the women’s team and calling for intervention from the federal government should Canada Soccer fail to negotiate fair agreements. Canada Soccer responded to the women’s letter saying that they would consider legal action should the team decide to not play in the SheBelieves Cup. While this forced players to return to practice, they did so with their logos covered and jerseys turned inside out.

The women’s team was striking because Canada Soccer has cut the national program’s funding for the 2023 year.

On February 16, the Canadian Soccer Players’ Association told Canada Soccer to take down a previous statement of theirs on Twitter. The post in question referred to confidential details about the “retroactive pay agreement” between Canada Soccer and the Canadian women’s team. Both parties agreed to not disclose this information publicly without the permission of the other. The coming days and weeks will bring further information on what options players have to fight for fair compensation, but until then, the public has been weighing in on the issue.

SIMRAN SARAI // SPORTS WRITER

The women’s team was striking because Canada Soccer has cut the national program’s funding for the 2023 year — which happens to be a World Cup year. These funding cuts are affecting the adult and youth programs, and have already resulted in the women’s squad being trimmed from 28 players to 20. Adding to the same financial transparency issues present in 2022, players also shared that they had not received any payment for 2022 from Canada Soccer, in a letter released on February 10, 2023.

If the national soccer program’s fight for equal treatment didn’t say enough about the culture surrounding women’s sports in Canada, then the comments left on some of the stories covering the ordeal certainly do. Comment sections were ripe with misogyny and a lack of knowledge. Some commentators minimized the accomplishments of the women’s program. While others argued that the women’s team needed to see the same popularity as the men’s before being compensated. We might think we can solve the undervaluing of women’s athletic accomplishments by ensuring young girls are put in the same sports as boys. But those actions lose their meaning when our children grow up and find the systems they play within are perpetuating a culture of inequitable treatment.

SIMRAN SARAI // SPORTS WRITER

PHOTO: Jeffrey F Lin / Unsplash

Written by Maya Beninteso

WAYS TO RECOVER FROM SOMEONE SAYING “WELL, ACTUALLY” TO YOU

1. Retort with “I was just testing you”

People love to let the world know that they know more than you. Save yourself by asserting that you’ve merely lured them into giving the class the right answer. After all, you, the test-giver, must have known the right answer when you were “testing” your classmate. Bonus points if you give your classmate a sticker that says, “Well done!”

2. Excuse yourself from class and cry

There’s nothing more cathartic than just letting it all out. There’s absolutely no shame in going to your nearest bathroom . . . unless the person who said, “Well, actually,” comes running after you to bask in your shame. “I’m sure you’ll get the next question,” they fakely console you. And you will get the next question . . . wrong, of course. Side note: who actually does the readings, anyway??

3. Gaslight

Depending on the level of embarrassment your classmate has caused you, it might warrant a tad of gaslighting. Give them a taste of their own medicine and say, “Well, actually,” to them back. Quote or summarize an academic article that obviously didn’t come out of thin air and baffle them with your fake knowledge. Boom, checkmate.

4. Tell them they have won an up-and-coming reality TV show

Tell them, “Congratulations! You have won the first episode of So You Think You’re Smarter than Everyone Else! You have won bragging rights and a fleeting increase in self-esteem.” Chances are that they will be equally as embarrassed as you were when they corrected you. BEDMAS rules apply, so the embarrassment cancels out, of course. Who needs the futile ego boost of getting a question right, anyway? Imagine basing your self-esteem on getting Google-able questions right. *sighs* I can

5. Be the bigger person

By this, I mean show up to the next tutorial with an “I’m the bigger person” mug. What did you think I meant? Accept defeat? Accept being wrong? Never. Sip the caffeinated contents in your mug and await sweet revenge. Then . . .

6. Summon your competitive side

Never let this happen to you ever again. Do all the readings. Do extra readings. Become the expert and now . . . you wait. Wait for your moment to “well, actually” the “well, actually-er.” This is like number three, but for realsies! Watch their every contribution to tutorial discussion and patiently wait for your opportunity to pounce, to reclaim what you have lost. How the tables will turn.

7. Grieve the unimaginable loss with “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version)”

Listen to the masterpiece that is the “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version),” because you might be okay but you’re not fine at all after your classmate double-crossed your mind. The fact is this: your ego got broken like a promise and you’ll remember it all too well. Have a cry, or two, or thirteen, and emotionally prepare yourself for tutorial again next week. If all else fails, this song will be there for you, like it has been for me. Totally not just sneaking a Taylor Swift reference in here!

8. Shake it off

This was just one interaction that will equate to 0.0000001% of your collective life experiences. Perhaps your classmate needed to be right. Let them have their win, you will get yours too . . . eventually. Though you’ve been saying that to yourself for the last twenty years and you still haven’t won anything . . . What’s up with that, universe? WHEN’S IT MY TURN.

9.

Don’t

Don’t recover and ruminate on this experience, only for you to spend thousands of dollars in therapy years later. You’ll likely already be in debt from acquiring an expensive piece of paper we call a degree — what’s another few thousand in debt, right?

10. Take a nap

Put your head onto your desk and take a nap. You’ll likely think this ruthless exchange was just a dream. Not only that, you’ll also be sending a message to your classmate that you didn’t lose, but that their pettiness is simply a snooze! #SelfCare

GROUNDHOG SECRETS BY ANGELA SHEN

What bug are you?

We hope this quiz doesn’t bug you

Written by Hana Hoffman

Hello, fellow creatures! My name is Carlos Buzz, and I’m a graduate of entomology. I study similarities between human and insect personalities. A lot of habits and moods are surprisingly similar, and I thought it would be interesting for y’all to find your bug twin. Answer the questions, and find your match below the quiz. Enjoy!

If a bug from the same species as you decides to poke you annoyingly, what would you do?

1. Laugh it off and start a normal conversation.

2. Poke them back?

3. Give them a death stare and walk away.

4. Decide to teach them the history of poking. You’ve no time for them!

5. Fight them with your bare antennas!

Do you eat well?

1. I just eat whatever I have. No preference really.

2. I’m always snacking on something, show me the grub!

3. I like eating out sometimes, as I am a distinguished noble.

4. Yes, and I prefer to eat in peace. No noisy guests please.

5. I feed on homework. Yours, if you’re not careful!

Are you a chill person?

1. The chillest and coolest person you’ll ever meet!

2. For the most part. If I seem rude, it’s not intentional.

3. I’m a little judgemental, but I keep comments to myself.

4. If I’m frustrated with someone, I won’t hesitate to speak about it. Buzz, buzz, Becky!

5. No . . . I’m competitive, hehe.

From the following, which hobby interests you the most?

1. Drinking and snacking with friends while watching YouTube.

2. Doing anything that’s easy and effortless.

3. Finding activities to do in the city — I like exploring.

4. Playing a jazz instrument. You could never!

5. Coding and hacking top-of-the-line stuff, I can’t tell you about it!

Which of the following words best describes you?

1. Ayeee~

2. Rawr!

3. Adventures!!

4. Ugh.

5. Unbeatable, the best there ever was.

Hold music isn’t fun enough

Don’t worry though, I’ve got some ideas

Written by C Icart

Hear me out, we have seen a number of industries be disrupted, leading to unprecedented innovation. But there is one area where we have not seen much progress, which is a shame, and that is hold music. Do you think waiting in customer service limbo is a little annoying? Not as annoying as listening to boring music. Or not being afforded the opportunity to finish the dance party that inevitably ensues. This is a legitimate complaint I think Alexander Bell should have considered.

Mostly 1’s. Butter-fly

“I know I’m super fly~”

You’re the cool bean of the insect kingdom. A day in the chill life of butterflies: living right behind the trash cans in the food court and hanging out with your dawgs while eating dropped food from clumsy humans. Plus, you’ve got the trendiest wing patterns to flex and it all came naturally from your genetics. Who says you need to physically fly to look fly?

Mostly

2’s. Dragon-sigh

“More lit than a firefly!”

You’re a laid-back manager of the local Dragonfly Flying School and don’t like to waste too much energy talking. Like cruising in the air, you just go with the flow! The most useful feature about your dragon-sighs is that you sigh with fire! Whenever one of your employees tells you something you don’t want to hear, they get fired accidentally before you have a chance to think. This is great because it prevents you from overthinking.

Mostly 3’s. Phas-Mid

“Make use of your legs while you still have some left.”

You’re an average joe and you kinda fall in the middle of all bug personalities. Although you don’t like to jazz up your day too much, you’d much rather do some backpacking than stay in one place or else life gets boring. Observing different scenes is the best entertainment, unlike spending too much time on the web like spiders do. I don’t understand why some bugs would rather sit around all day sluggishly than go out and have an ant-tastic time at the flea market.

Mostly 4’s. Rantin’

Mantis

“Quit buzzing around and bugging me.”

You’re tired of society and just want some peace and quiet, because when another insect pisses you off, you can’t help but let out your frustration by ranting about them to your nearest neighbours. You live on a private property on Burnaby Mountain that’s off limits to humans. As long as nobody’s bothering you, you’re just living your best mantis life.

Mostly 5’s. Assassin Bug

“You can’t bee the best if you’re just like the rest.”

You are a deadly insect and a threat to everyone else in the class as you raise the expectations a thousand times higher. The type of bug that enters every exam and kills it. No, like I don’t mean killing it as in achieving the highest marks. I mean hacking the system — living as a bug in the school computers to change the grades of the human version of you to A pluses. Assassin bugs feed on other people’s percentages and gnaw down their delicious GPA’s.

First, we should bring back the TikTok trend of vibing to hold music. For one brief time in history, all the cultured people like me who enjoy being subjected to tunes instead of timely service were highly visible online. Where have all my people retreated to? I need to reconnect with them.

Second, the music needs to be better. If I can press one for English and deux for Français, I should also be able to press three for hyperpop and four for escape room (yes, that’s a music genre! It was on my Spotify Wrapped, go argue with the wall). Also, where are the visuals? I’m looking at you, Beyoncé. Do you mean to tell me we’re in 2023 and hold music does not come with visuals? Everyone is talking about AI and ChatGPT but all I want is a good old-fashioned hologram coming out of my cellular device. Why is it even called a smartphone if it can’t animate my Pixel Perfect fantasy?

Hold. Music. Karaoke. I know it was very brave of me to express such a revolutionary thought. You’re welcome. No, no. Forget everything I have previously said. I was young and silly. Hold music lip-sync for your spot. That’s the next big thing. People love asinine competition. If you disagree, go check out all the new Netflix originals reality shows and then come back to me. Presumably, I’m on hold because there are people ahead of me in line. I should be able to compete in live lip sync battles to move ahead in line. This is a genius idea! I will salsa to very neutral jazz music! How wonderful would that be; to showcase my best moves and talent as an entertainer, destroy the competition, make it to the front of the line, get rewarded with being able to talk to a real employee and not a robot voice, all to be told I can only cancel my gym membership in-person! That would be so slay.

ILLUSTRATIONS: Hailey Gil / The Peak

Your Weekly Horoscopes

We divine your perfect Genshin partner

ARIES — Mar 21–Apr 19

Hu Tao. Maybe your friends worry that you are burning both ends of the candle, but you always make it through (looking a little haunted) in the end! She is the perfect, fiery, highenergy date for you — even though you are a meta-slave who shit-talked Kokomi before her release, and now you refuse to acknowledge your struggle with corrosion.

TAURUS — Apr 20–May 20

Itto, duh. His elemental skill is literally a bull and he is a grown-up version of Naruto — nurture your childhood anime crush. You find his bullishness . . . rather charming! Catching bugs can be cute, I promise. Also, you should really lean into mono geo teams.

GEMINI — May 21–Jun 20

We think the graceful Ayaka is just right for you. The princess of the Kamisato Clan is known for her dancing — and wet socks — you two are going cherry blossom viewing together! A small word of advice, there are other team comps besides freeze teams.

CANCER — Jun 21–Jul 22

Childe. Sorry. I know, I know, you just wanted Layla. That’s what happens when you “build pity.”

February 20–27

Michelle (Megistus) Young Editor-in-Chief

LIBRA — Sept 23–Oct 22

Mona. You will have to pay for her, but she is an astrologist who can see your fate. Fair trade. Also, as a fellow student, you probably feel some pity for the eternally poor young lady.

LEO — Jul 23–Aug 22

You literally always want attention and someone needs to keep that in check. The obvious answer is to go on a date with Kaeya! There is no way you can continue your arrogant ways after going out with someone so fabulous.

VIRGO — Aug 23–Sept 22

I know deep down inside you are a furry, so this one is easy — Gorou.

SCORPIO — Oct 23–Nov 21

Xiao. I can hear the angst teen phase you had/are still going through. Two negatives make a positive, right? Besides, conquering demons is what he does, so maybe he can get rid of some of those inner demons for you.

SAGITTARIUS — Nov 22–Dec 21

You are a believer in women’s rights, and women’s wrongs, so of course your brain shut down when the Raiden Shogun was introduced. You refuse to learn anything about team comps, but it doesn’t matter ‘cause you main Raiden, apparently? Idk, maybe you should update those mismatched artifacts.

CAPRICORN — Dec 22–Jan 19

Keqing. Oh, you thought it was going to be Ganyu? Sorry, I’m not that predictable. You are loyal. You pulled for Keqing when she was on the Limited Event Banner, and have been maining her since. Now you can laugh at everyone who called her “the worst five star,” since the abyss is an easy clear with your new aggravate team.

AQUARIUS — Jan 20–Feb 18

Ayato. You are so good at convincing everyone you are a gacha dolphin, not a whale, even though you used all the one-time offers in the shop. Ayato is the perfect match for your conniving ways.

PISCES — Feb 19–Mar 20

Yoimiya. As a fish sign, you probably expected a character with a hydro vision. Yoimiya’s signature dish is a festival fish though! You need a little spark in your life, not everything needs to be dramatic and sad. Maybe ifyou stopped pulling on the weapon banneryou wouldn’t be so sad.