Issuu

VOL. 168 ISSUE 11 JULY 19, 2021

NEWS

OP INIONS

F EAT U RE S

H UM O UR

Students express concerns about SFU reopening

Canada needs Disability Pride Month

Rumneek Johal: A Peak success story

Which of these chaotic potential roommates will you choose?

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Finding home in poetry Isabella Wang on rediscovering cultural connections through writing — P.11

Volume 168, Issue 11

Maggie Benston Centre 2900 Simon Fraser University 8888 University Drive Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6 Phone: (778) 782-5110

04 07 10 12 14

COVER Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTORS Craig Allen PEAK ASSOCIATES Charlene Aviles, Tiffany Chang, Clarence Ndabahwerize, Paige Smith, Alyssa Marie Umbal STAFF WRITERS Kelly Chia, Carter Hemion, Nancy La

NEWS SFU study highlights which bee populations are in decline

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Meera Eragoda eic@the-peak.ca COPY EDITOR Paige Riding copy@the-peak.ca NEWS EDITOR Michelle Young news@the-peak.ca

OPINIONS Olympic athletes have a right to protest

NEWS WRITERS Karissa Ketter, Jaymee Salisi OPINIONS EDITORS Dev Petrovic, Marco Ovies opinions@the-peak.ca FEATURES EDITOR Marco Ovies features@the-peak.ca

FEATURES Where do mixed people fit in?

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Sara Wong arts@the-peak.ca HUMOUR EDITOR Kyla Dowling humour@the-peak.ca PRODUCTION AND DESIGN EDITOR Siloam Yeung production@the-peak.ca

ARTS & CULTURE Vancouver galleries to check out this summer

ASSISTANT PRODUCTION EDITORS Brianna Quan, Josh Ralla PHOTO EDITOR Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson photos@the-peak.ca MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Karla Salazar multimedia@the-peak.ca

HUMOUR Stephen Fry University and other potential name alternatives for SFU

ASSISTANT MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Rashi Sethi BUSINESS / ADVERTISING MANAGER Yuri Zhou business@the-peak.ca 778.782.3598

Get involved!

How it works!

All SFU students can contribute to The Peak and get paid for their work! Contact an editor or come to our weekly pitch meetings over Zoom at 3 p.m. (the link can be found on our Facebook page).

The Peak is the official weekly student newspaper of SFU and is published every Monday. We're funded by a student levy and governed by a board of directors. Any SFU student can become an editor, and we hire an editorial team every semester.

We reserve the right to edit submissions for length, as well as style, grammar, and legality. We also reserve the right to reprint submissions at any time, both in print and on web. We will not publish content that is sexist, racist, or otherwise prejudiced.

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.

PROMOTIONS MANAGER Julie Vu promotions@the-peak.ca WEBSITE MANAGER Reza Shariatzadeh web@the-peak.ca DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Deby McIntosh BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kelly Chia, Pablo Clairmont, Emma Dunbar, Jacob Mattie, Angela Wachowick, Yuri Zhou

NEWS

July 19, 2021

BREATH OF FRESH AIR

STUDENT ANXIETIES

SFU improves ventilation across campus to reduce COVID-19 transmission

Ly noted concerns regarding SFU’s disabled community.

PH OTO : Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson / The Peak

Students discuss SFU’s reopening plan for the fall

The virus is less likely to spread in areas where air is circulating.

P HOTO : SFU

There are mixed emotions as students face excitement to return and concerns for safety

Last year’s ventilation audit prompted heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning improvements

KA R ISSA KET TER // NE WS W RI TE R

JAY M E E SA L I S I / / NEWS WR I TER

Following the provincial government’s announcement of reopening measures, SFU released a reopening plan for the Fall 2021 semester. SFU anticipates 70–80% of courses will be taught on campus. Reopening protocols include enhanced cleaning practices and reimplementing student amenities and programs. The Peak reached out to various student groups for their thoughts on the return to in-person classes. “It feels like again and again, SFU fails disabled students,” said SFU Disability and Neurodiversity Alliance executive member Vivian Ly. Based on personal conversations with SFU students, Ly reported many feel SFU needs to better balance remote and in-person classes. Ly added those with priority access are also having trouble enrolling. Course enrolment for the few remote fall courses gives priority access to the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) registrants. Ly said, “It’s certainly not enough. For one, not every disabled student is registered with CAL, often due to a myriad of ableist institutional barriers. There are disabled students who need priority access but cannot access that because of existing and enduring inequities and institutional barriers. “While SFU is ‘moving forward’ with re-opening, we are leaving our most vulnerable behind.” SFU Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry (SOCA) president Balqees Jama stated that SOCA shares the same concerns as the Access for All campaign. The campaign highlights accessibility and safety concerns regarding the reopening. It notes the pandemic has allowed for new norms to be established — particularly for disabled students — but returning to in-person status will “reinstate the same barriers to education numerous marginalized students faced prior to the pandemic.” SOCA noted concerns regarding financial challenges and travel restrictions for international students to return to campus. Jama said there is a “lack of equitable access to receiving the vaccine in Canada as well as our membership’s many countries.” She highlighted their membership is also experiencing “racial anxiety around returning to face daily anti-Black microaggressions and ongoing systemic racism.” President of the Data Science Student Society Dustin Jorgensen questioned “how quarantine, vaccinations,

and travel arrangements will work for international students.” Jorgensen noted concerns surrounding the dangers of the COVID-19 delta variant emerging in Canada. “If BC experiences another wave of cases due to a variant, are we prepared to return to remote learning?” Ly said, “Despite many of us wanting the pandemic to be over: it isn’t. Caring for our communities and our collective safety means that SFU should be recognizing this reality and not rushing into policy decisions and reopening plans. “Even when I’m fully vaccinated, I’m going to mask up to protect myself and others. I hope that other students, staff, and faculty will do the same.” “The prospect of going back to classes in person is exciting,” Jorgensen acknowledged. “For many students they've completed an entire year of university without seeing the campus!” In their statement to The Peak, the English Student Union (ESU) echoed this sentiment, saying they “are excited to be returning to on-campus classes and activities.” However, the ESU said their activities and events in the fall will use a hybrid model to accommodate students. “[We] also want to acknowledge the barriers faced by marginalized students in this plan. We are in support of the Access for All campaign.” SFU announced plans to encourage professors to continue recording and uploading lectures, as well as not penalizing students for being absent. This is in effort to keep students away from campus if they are feeling ill. Ly noted how important it is that SFU is “re-thinking workload, absence policies, and participation policies, which are traditionally rooted in ableist and exclusionary frameworks.” Ly suggested SFU have dedicated and widespread consultations with students regarding their concerns and then take action. “SFU is making all these decisions impacting students without doing broad consultations and without specifically consulting marginalized students such as disabled and neurodivergent students,” said Ly. “Our school should be doing more to protect immunocompromised and unvaccinated folks by retaining strong COVID-19 safety practices, not relaxing them [ . . . ] There is simply no safe space on SFU for [a] student that is unvaccinated because they are immunocompromised.”

As SFU prepares to reopen campus in the fall, Facilities Services is improving the university’s heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. This is to meet indoor air quality standards set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Developed with guidance from the Provincial Health Office, Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training, WorkSafeBC, and ASHRAE, SFU’s new ventilation measures include: • Regularly reviewing standard ventilation measures and maintaining HVAC systems • Replacing centralized HVAC system filters with the highest filter compatible with the building’s existing infrastructure • Reducing pollutants by air flushing in buildings two hours prior to occupancy each day • Circulating fresh air whenever possible “In areas where ventilation could be improved, solutions have included programming changes, minor equipment maintenance, modification of equipment design, and implementation of reduced occupancy while a long-term solution is developed,” associate director, building grounds Dan Cooper said in an interview with The Peak. According to Mayo Clinic, outdoor air circulation lessens the chances of breathing droplets or aerosols containing COVID-19. SFU aims to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by ensuring an adequate supply of fresh air is maintained across the university. Indoor spaces where people are in close proximity may increase COVID-19 transmission. According to Cooper, proper ventilation “is only effective in conjunction with all other public health measures.” This refers to vaccinations and isolating when feeling unwell. Cooper said SFU aims to update measures according to COVID-19 provincial public health authority guidelines. The improvements were initiated in May 2020 when SFU Facilities Services began an audit of the air ventilation quality throughout campus to be completed by the end of Summer 2021. Learn more about the university’s campus ventilation plans on their website.

NEWS

News Editor Michelle Young

News Writers Karissa Ketter and Jaymee Salisi

news@the-peak.ca

THE LATEST BUZZ

SFU study finds overall bee population decline exaggerated New modelling shows which species need the most help

CARTER HEMI ON // STAF F W RI TE R

While some bee populations are in danger, average population declines have been exaggerated, according to a new SFU study. Where some studies have shown rapid and severe decline in many species, the situation is not as dire as previously thought. Research may help focus bee conservation on the species most in need, like the endangered Bombus bohemicus. Researchers Dr. Laura Melissa Guzman, Dr. Leithen M'Gonigle, Dr. Arne Mooers, and PhD candidate Sarah Johnson documented information about bee populations with a new research model. Lead author Guzman said she read a study last year that showed bee populations dropping drastically, and her team was curious about how the data was collected. “We decided to do the simulations to figure out whether different modeling decisions could affect or bias your results.” In the SFU study, data was collected from observations in bees’ natural habitats. The information on what species were observed, when they were seen, and where they lived came from museum data, historical records, and citizen science observations — such as apps like Bumble Bee Watch and iNaturalist.

Some species’ numbers have been steady, while others are increasing.

Where the initial study observed species in North America and Europe, not all species were observed in their native habitats. Some North American species had been observed in Europe and vice versa, which may have affected results, according to Guzman. Some of the first study’s data may also have been inaccurate from counting no bees present when the bees were likely unobserved on that particular day, Guzman explained. She noted it’s particularly important to identify “which species are declining and why.” The team collected data where species could naturally be found, and compiled data from what had been observed elsewhere.

P HOTO : Alexander Crawley / Unsplash

changes. With these observations on various species, more at-risk species can be prioritized in finding solutions, according to Guzman. “It’s really important to focus on bee conservation.” She said we depend on pollinators like bees to “pollinate up to 75% of all our crops,” which keeps our food system healthy. Pollinators are especially important in BC for plants like blueberries and tomatoes. According to Guzman, bee decline may be a result of climate change, pesticide use, lack of host species, and other factors. Models like her team’s study can help discover and address these concerns.

While the initial study saw a 46% loss of North American bee populations in the last century, the SFU study found that only 5% of the total population had been lost with their observations.

To support conservation efforts, it is important bees have enough floral resources. They need floral diversity, enough habitat space, and areas without pesticides. Planting native plants and pollinator strips in an effort to support pollinators may be a solution to some issues.

While some species saw declines, others remained unchanged. Bombus bohemicus — a parasitic bumble bee — had one of the largest observed declines due to a decrease in its hosts, according to Guzman. Other species, like bombus cryptarum, increased their populations from taking advantage of environmental

Though some bee species are struggling, this study observes that not all bees are in as much danger as previously thought. Guzman said, “There are some species that are able to take advantage of some of the agricultural changes that we’ve had, and so it doesn’t mean that it’s doom and gloom for every single species.”

The Peak reached out to the First Nations Student Association for their thoughts on the subject.

which includes “examining the truths of our past and present. Some convocation traditions have carried on through the years.”

INDIGENIZING CONVOCATION

SFU’s convocation traditions faces mixed reactions The university receives criticism for contradicting new Indigenous reconciliation customs with old colonial traditions JAYMEE SALI S I // N E WS W RI TE R

A board member who asked to remain anonymous said, “My answers are my own opinion. I am Indigenous but I do not represent the opinions of all Indigenous peoples. The following is my reflection based on my personal experience and family history. I strongly encourage readers to get to know the Indigenous peoples and the history of their region.”

We will still be here in seven generations, but our wounds should not take seven generations to heal.

Content warning: mention of residential schools

F NSA BOAR D M E M BE R

From June 24 to 29, SFU held virtual convocation ceremonies for the June 2021 graduates. “If you tune into SFU’s Virtual Convocation this June, you’ll notice a set of updated convocation traditions stemming from SFU’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation,” SFU said in a news release.

She said the Canadian national anthem — as well as all other anthems — are colonial to an extent, as it celebrates the country’s history. Ultimately, she believes the national anthem’s meaning is “vague and open to interpretation.”

Their new practices include xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam) ceremonial drumming and singing during the opening ceremony, a Coast Salish welcome message, redesigned regalia for the chancellor and president, and a land acknowledgement. These traditions were followed by the Canadian national anthem.

The board member explained that, before the anthem, “Alec Dan shared a beautiful drum song, the Paddle song. In addition, Elder Margaret prayed all before the SFU choir sung the Canadian national anthem. This is similar to having an Indigenous flag hanging higher than the Canadian flag.”

This was met with controversy online.

She added, “The paddle song and prayer were beautiful. If Alec Dan and Elder Margaret are reading this, marsii, thank you for sharing your song and for the prayer.”

Under the #CancelCanadaDay tag, SFU Students of Carribean and African Ancestry president Balqees Jama tweeted, “Stomach feeling twisted when I hear the Canadian national anthem sung at SFU convocation amidst all the collective grief Indigenous people are dealing with at the hands of colonial Canada.” SFSS Science Representative WeiChun Kua said, “Was really unsettling to have the national anthem played and then have [Joy Johnson] talk about residential schools.”

In regards to the anthem itself, she said, “We must remember that SFU was in a very tight spot. Any and all action would be seen as controversial [ . . . ] SFU was being political in their choice.” Director, media relations and public affairs Tiffany Akins said in a statement that SFU is devoted to reconciliation,

The board member added, “The opening ceremonies were not perfect and they could have done more. SFU is, after all, a Canadian institution — they are bound to rules, funding, political sway, and more factors than we as students are aware of.” Akins said the new traditions have been added to “pay respect to the peoples on whose unceded traditional territories our campuses are situated. SFU’s Ceremonies and Events team hired Nicole Taylor-Sterrit as manager of Indigenous event protocols. Taylor-Sterrit’s responsibilities include finding ways to integrate Indigenous practices in university events and traditions. She wrote on SFU News, “Indigenizing convocation gives us an opportunity to educate, incite questions and foster dialogue around the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada, Indigenous protocols, ceremonies and reconciliation with our community.” “Reconciliation is about healing.” The FNSA board member added, “Listening and acting according to Indigenous voices are key to healing. “We will still be here in seven generations, but our wounds should not take seven generations to heal. “SFU needs to have ongoing communication and a continuous open dialogue with Indigenous peoples including students and the surrounding communities.” She suggested giving Indigenous presenters the same amount of time as SFU board members during meetings. For example, she said the university should include Indigenous people in conversations about university developments such as the First Peoples’ Gathering House. “A stamp of approval on the products of a working group is not reconciliation. We need to be present at every step,” she said. Find out more about SFU’s steps towards reconciliation on their website.

In light of the recent findings at residential schools across Canada and the calls of Indigenous peoples to implement the 94 Calls to Action published by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015, The Peak is reproducing these calls over seven issues. We hope slowly publishing these calls to action will help non-Indigenous readers understand what they are, reflect on them, and think about the ways they can show up in allyship. Please find Calls to Action #1–57 in our previous four issues.

Calls to Action In order to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission makes the following calls to action.

Reconciliation CH URCH APOLOGIES AND RECONCIL IATION

58.

We call upon the Pope to issue an apology to Survivors, their families, and communities for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in the spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children in Catholic-run residential schools. We call for that apology to be similar to the 2010 apology issued to Irish victims of abuse and to occur within one year of the issuing of this Report and to be delivered by the Pope in Canada.

59.

We call upon church parties to the Settlement Agreement to develop ongoing education strategies to ensure that their respective congregations learn about their church’s role in colonization, the history and legacy of residential schools, and why apologies to former residential school students, their families, and communities were necessary.

60.

We call upon leaders of the church parties to the Settlement Agreement and all other faiths, in collaboration with Indigenous spiritual leaders, Survivors, schools of theology, seminaries, and other religious training centres, to develop and teach curriculum for all student clergy, and all clergy and staff who work in Aboriginal communities, on the need to respect Indigenous spirituality in its own right, the history and legacy of residential schools and the roles of the church parties in that system, the history and legacy of religious conflict in Aboriginal families and communities, and the responsibility that churches have to mitigate such conflicts and prevent spiritual violence.

61.

We call upon church parties to the Settlement Agreement, in collaboration with Survivors and representatives of Aboriginal organizations, to establish permanent funding to Aboriginal people for: i.

Community-controlled healing and reconciliation projects.

ii.

Community-controlled culture- and language revitalization projects.

iii. Community-controlled education and relationship building projects. iv. Regional dialogues for Indigenous spiritual leaders and youth to discuss Indigenous spirituality, self determination, and reconciliation.

EDUCATION FOR RECONCIL IATION

62.

We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments, in consultation and collaboration with Survivors, Aboriginal peoples, and educators, to: i.

Make age-appropriate curriculum on residential schools, Treaties, and Aboriginal peoples’ historical and contemporary contributions to Canada a mandatory education requirement for Kindergarten to Grade Twelve students.

ii.

Provide the necessary funding to post-secondary institutions to educate teachers on how to integrate Indigenous knowledge and teaching methods into classrooms.

iii. Provide the necessary funding to Aboriginal schools to utilize Indigenous knowledge and teaching methods in classrooms. iv. Establish senior-level positions in government at the assistant deputy minister level or higher dedicated to Aboriginal content in education.

63.

We call upon the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada to maintain an annual commitment to Aboriginal education issues, including: i.

Developing and implementing Kindergarten to Grade Twelve curriculum and learning resources on Aboriginal peoples in Canadian history, and the history and legacy of residential schools.

ii.

Sharing information and best practices on teaching curriculum related to residential schools and Aboriginal history.

iii. Building student capacity for intercultural understanding, empathy, and mutual respect. iv. Identifying teacher-training needs relating to the above.

64.

We call upon all levels of government that provide public funds to denominational schools to require such schools to provide an education on comparative religious studies, which must include a segment on Aboriginal spiritual beliefs and practices developed in collaboration with Aboriginal Elders.

65.

We call upon the federal government, through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, post-secondary institutions and educators, and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and its partner institutions, to establish a national research program with multi-year funding to advance understanding of reconciliation.

YOUTH PROGRAMS

66.

We call upon the federal government to establish multi-year funding for community-based youth organizations to deliver programs on reconciliation, and establish a national network to share information and best practices.

MUSEUMS AND ARCH IVES

67.

We call upon the federal government to provide funding to the Canadian Museums Association to undertake, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, a national review of museum policies and best practices to determine the level of compliance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and to make recommendations.

68.

We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, and the Canadian Museums Association to mark the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation in 2017 by establishing a dedicated national funding program for commemoration projects on the theme of reconciliation.

69.

We call upon Library and Archives Canada to: i.

Fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations Joinet-Orentlicher Principles, as related to Aboriginal peoples’ inalienable right to know the truth about what happened and why, with regard to human rights violations committed against them in the residential schools.

ii.

Ensure that its record holdings related to residential schools are accessible to the public.

Commit more resources to its public education materials and programming on residential iii. schools.

70.

We call upon the federal government to provide funding to the Canadian Association of Archivists to undertake, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, a national review of archival policies and best practices to: i.

Determine the level of compliance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations Joinet-Orentlicher Principles, as related to Aboriginal peoples’ inalienable right to know the truth about what happened and why, with regard to human rights violations committed against them in the residential schools.

ii.

Produce a report with recommendations for full implementation of these international mechanisms as a reconciliation framework for Canadian archives.

In addition to reading these calls, please read the Assembly of First Nations’ 2020 Progress Report to find out how Canada is doing on implementing these calls.

OPINIONS

July 19, 2021

RIGHT TO PROTEST

WHAT GRINDS OUR GEARS?

Indian parents valuing the opinions of others over their kids Kids of Indian parents should be able to do what makes them happy Athletes should have the right to speak up for the communities that raised them.

PH OTO : Ryunosuke Kikuno / Unsplash

Olympic athletes should be allowed to protest The sport industry must recognize the power it has in unifying or dividing people

CLAR E N CE NDABAHW E R IZ E // P EAK ASSO CI ATE

On April 21 of this year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) upheld Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter ahead of this year’s Olympic Games, which were likely to feature protests from athletes regarding social and racial justice. Rule 50 prohibits any demonstration of political, religious, or racial propaganda in any Olympic sites or venues. According to the CBC, this decision was the result of a survey of about 3,500 athletes, 70% of whom said it was “not appropriate to demonstrate or express their views'' on the field or at the opening or closing ceremonies. That same survey also showed 67% of respondents disapproved of podium demonstrations. Sports can be a source of community and togetherness, as well as entertainment. Athletes put a lot on the line to give us that sense of community and be sources of inspiration. It is critical that appropriate platforms are integrated so we can listen to them on matters regarding their lived experiences and professions. This survey is a good indicator of what the majority of athletes feel is right. However, the Olympics are an event and movement that ought to have an active part in advancing human progress and dignity. This is even outlined in the Olympic Charter. Minority rights are and should be on the agenda this year and every year, given the recent events surrounding human rights abuses directed towards Black Americans, Palestinians, and Uyghur Muslims within their respective countries. The decision to uphold Rule 50 reveals a tension in the Olympic Charter that threatens to alienate minority groups and marginalized peoples in their pursuit of visibility, equality, and inclusion. Rules are quite often full of contradictions, and this goes for organizations all around the world. However, if the IOC is to truly operate by and realize some of the core principles in the Olympic Charter, it’d have to recognize this rule may be detrimental to that cause. Principle 1 of the Olympic Charter presents Olympism as creating a way of life based on the “joy of effort, the educational value of a good example, social

responsibility, and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.” Principle 2 goes on to say Olympism is meant for the “harmonious development of humankind” with a specific goal to promote a “peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.” Principle 5 says “sports organizations within the Olympic Movement shall apply political neutrality” with the recognition “that sport occurs within the framework of society.” In the words of Bishop Desmond Tutu, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” Perhaps the issue is that, though the Charter is representing an idealistic future, it is a document from a different time and reflects the constraints of that time. In a BBC Sport article, some athletes, like Tianna Bartoletta, who had a good reason and intention to protest, said they were “made by” their communities, not the countries they represent. These athletes have the sympathy and backing of millions around the world, who are not only global citizens, but conscious humans that can feel the universal suffering of the marginalized communities they represent. For some athletes, their communities shaped them into the Olympians they are. These communities have been marred by struggle and structural violence, and in taking a stand, these athletes want to put an end to that. They want to see a better future for those that will come after them. Every four years, the Olympics create a rare global community. They present an opportunity to come together as one and be the best we can be as an ever-divided species. For a few weeks every four years, the Olympics have the chance to tell athletes, communities, and the world that we are moving forward, towards the world the Olympic Charter strives to reach. Tokyo 2020 unfortunately will not send that message. Tokyo 2020 as an Olympic community has missed the chance to shape humankind for the better by setting a good example. It has failed to be part of the vigorous global effort in progress to create and preserve human dignity.

Dear Indian parents, You need to re-prioritize whose opinions truly matter. When you teach your children that the opinions of others are more important than your kid’s happiness, it sets up a toxic example for them to follow. For Indian parents who immigrated from India, it seems counterproductive and contradictory to reroute your entire lives to provide your children with the lives you could not have yourselves, only to prevent them from having that life. Holding onto these outdated structures of what children should and should not do will only make their lives unnecessarily difficult. If your kid wants to share their life with a person outside of their caste or ethnicity, or if they want to live with that person before deciding to spend the rest of their life with them, let them. There are too many examples in Indian households of unhappy marriages held together by the shame of divorce prevalent in the culture. Do not make your kid fall into that same cycle; let them go into marriage with a better idea of their partner and the relationship they share. For careers, let your kid study and work in the arts. Do not force them into fields such as medicine if it is not their passion. There is more to life than having a high-paying job. If they are going to be spending most — if not all — of their life in their field, they might as well enjoy it. But relationships and careers are just two examples of aspects in my culture that still have antiquated structures — there are plenty more, but it would take an essay to fit them all in. What your children think of you should matter more than the opinions of others.

Written by A Child of Indian Parents

OPINIONS

Opinions Editors Dev Petrovic and Marco Ovies

opinions@the-peak.ca

DISABILITY JUSTICE

The Bright-er Side Guest lecturers have improved my learning experience Zoom classes have introduced me to some pretty extraordinary people

The disability community benefits from having a Pride Month. Disability pride flag pictured.

I L LUSTRATI O N : Ann Magil / Flickr

Disability Pride Month needs to happen in Canada This month should celebrate us and also serve as a reminder that our history and joy deserve more than awareness

JAE STAF FO R D / / S F U ST U D E N T

Written by Sara Wong Illustrated by Alyssa Marie Umbal As happy as I am to return to in-person classes, a part of me will miss remote learning. Besides not having to commute anywhere and living in loungewear 24/7, I’ve enjoyed Zoom classes because they challenge professors to diversify their lesson plans. Some were more successful than others, but the one tried and true method has been bringing in guest speakers. I find myself looking forward to these special lectures because they were engaging and created a relaxed environment. I get to hear from a diverse range of professionals — from climate activists to commercial publishers — instead of being shuttled into another breakout room full of awkward silence or someone complaining about their workload. Maybe guest lecturers aren’t unique to remote learning (I wouldn’t know because I was a firstyear when the pandemic began), but Zoom has undeniably broadened the scope of these appearances since the platform is available in over 90 countries. Thanks to Zoom, I’ve had the opportunity to learn from remarkable individuals across Canada such as Michelle Douglas, who played an instrumental role in ending the Canadian military’s discriminatory practices against its LGBTQIA2S+ members; Dr. Pam Palmater, Mi'kmaq activist and scholar; and Josefina Vidal, the Cuban Ambassador to Canada. The above examples come from a current humanities class being taught by Svend Robinson. While I realize few teachers would have the same connections as Robinson, a former Member of Parliament, the bottom line is that keynote speakers enrich course content and make the overall learning experience more dynamic and valuable for students. As we transition back to in-person classes, I hope the trend of including more guest lecturers remains.

Disability Pride Month is recognized in July in the United States. It began in 1990 with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, which sparked the first disability pride celebrations in Boston in July 1990 and 1991. It is a tradition that was revived in 2004 and continues today. While Canada does not share the ADA, we should acknowledge a month for the disabled community. Disability Pride Month is celebrated by some Canadian groups, but it is not yet formally recognized nationally. The month encourages more mainstream conversations about disability and offers information on allyship. It is an opportunity to amplify authentic stories from people with different kinds of disabilities and encourage allies to continue taking action to eradicate ableism. More than a billion people have disabilities, and we should never be ashamed of them. It is a movement the entire world needs, and it’s time Canada recognizes that. Not everyone may take pride in their disabilities or identify as disabled, though some people do. Regardless, lived experiences should be respected. To discount the idea of disability pride altogether is erasure. Ignoring our disabilities ignores our access needs and, for many of us, a part of our identity that connects us with an entire community of people. Connecting with people who have shared life experiences, especially when we so often have to self-advocate for change, can be life-saving. The movement rejects the notion that there is something wrong with us and that we are less worthy of dignity than non-disabled people. We should not be brushed aside when we reject the shame put on us for simply existing. Disability pride is associated with well-being and higher self-esteem. In some cases, it has also been associated with lower rates of anxiety and depression. People with a positive disability identity have also reported higher satisfaction in their lives. Expressing disability pride openly can be a healthy way of fighting ableist views of disability. Disability pride is often recognized by Sarah Triano’s definition, but that definition is not entirely beneficial to the disability community. It embraces the idea that people should not be ashamed of their disabilities, but implies that a lack of pride is what causes ableism. It takes the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. out of context to say a

lack of pride is our greatest barrier in an ableist society. Though disability pride may have benefits, toxic positivity will not eradicate oppression of any form. Movements for the disabled community often recognize the social model of disability, which can be a welcome break from only being pathologized in the medical model. Rather than focusing only on what should be “fixed” or “cured” for us to fit in, we should be seen as people who can thrive and live fulfilling lives — not just as patients or inspiration porn.

Ignoring our disabilities ignores our access needs and, for many of us, a part of our identity that connects us with an entire community of people.

Pride cannot exist as a co-opted movement and cannot be compared to the oppression faced by other marginalized groups. Disability is an intersectional experience, and it cannot be compared to the Black civil rights movement like Triano’s definition does, or likened to LGBTQIA2S+ pride like it may be compared in other definitions. It also cannot be stated that having pride in disability is the way to freedom and equity. Ableism is not our fault and not a burden we can love our way out of; it is a result of systemic oppression which requires tangible change to create an equitable society free of institutional barriers. Celebrating disability pride deserves a separate occasion from Disability Employment Month in October and the array of awareness days throughout the year. It goes beyond the work to spread awareness of our disabilities and must also recognize that the ableism that kills us is a result of external barriers, not of how we identify ourselves. There is a wide range of disabled experiences, and we are in no way a monolith, but we all deserve basic respect and equity.

FEATURES

SFYou: Rumneek Johal, news journalist and social media savant The former Peak journalist returns to discuss her career so far PHOTO: Courtesy of Rumneek Johal via Twitter

Rumneek Johal is what we would call a Peak success story – one of our own. A former Peak journalist who has written for publications such as CBC, Daily Hive, and more, Johal is an SFU graduate who is making strides in the journalism industry today. Johal reflected on her career in journalism so far and the work she would like to do. When she was younger, Johal “already knew [she] had a passion for writing and storytelling.” But it wasn’t until her second year of university that she got started on her path in journalism.

‘Am I being tokenized? Am I only here because I’m brown? Do they only want to tell brown people stories? Or [instead] do they not want me to tell brown people stories because they’re afraid I won’t be able to be objective and tell them properly?” “I have to fight extra hard for the stories that I’m telling and show that I have a basis on which to tell them.” She noted white journalists aren’t likely to have that issue.

She emailed Sonia Sunger, a broadcast journalist and co-anchor at Global News, about getting started in journalism. Sunger told Johal to “just start,” and so she did.

Her experiences as a journalist reflect her personal experiences, specifically growing up in Surrey. Johal’s Master’s project from her graduate journalism program at UBC was an audio documentary about Surrey called Allow us to Reintroduce Ourselves. It concerned dispelling the stereotypes the city and its people experience.

Johal began writing for The Peak, producing articles such as “Why doesn’t mainstream feminism embrace women of colour?” Five years later, her thoughts regarding this question remain relatively similar.

“Every community has shitty people,” said Johal. To her, the focus should be on, “Why are these people doing shitty things? What [infrastructures] are we as a society not giving them? [ . . . ] There is no one answer.”

“It’s 2021, and we’re still celebrating like, ‘oh my god, we have women in corporate positions,’ and that’s great [ . . . ] But that doesn’t take into account the experiences of marginalized women in this country. It doesn’t take into account the experiences of Indigenous women in this country. [ . . . ] There’s still so much more to do,” including in the journalism industry, she said.

The stories Johal did at Decomplicated with friend and fellow journalist, Carol Eugene Park, represent the type of work she wants to do in her career.

For Johal, The Peak was a place for her to build confidence as a writer. Alongside her student journalism, her communication background helped her develop a critical lens in regards to the intersections of a given story. While the critical lens she developed set the foundation for her journalism career, she noted that, in the journalism industry, “people try to call out that if you’re calling out those in power, ‘you’re trying to be an activist.’ “No, actually. It’s my job to call out politicians, call out bullshit. If that makes me bad at doing my job, then fine, but I think that that’s quite literally the point [of my job].” Her journalism career to date has included being the current full-time editor of 5X Festival’s blog, 5x Press, an intern for CBC News Toronto, and a staff writer for Daily Hive. “My experience in those two newsrooms [CBC News Toronto and Daily Hive] were very different because I didn’t have to fight to make my voice heard in one of them. We can read between the lines which one.” In regards to working as a Sikh woman of colour in an industry dominated by white, heteronormative men, Johal said, “There are challenges because you have to push past

“It [was] two racialized women, children of immigrants telling stories that we give a shit about.” According to Johal, the project’s goal was “to not be unapologetic in our voices, to be vulnerable, and to be unfiltered.” Johal and Park’s inspiration behind Decomplicated stemmed from how Johal “felt that so many young people in [her] life, outside of the media sphere, were so disillusioned with the news. “Now that I’ve been given this space, I’m going to take it and run with it,” she said. “That’s what my advice is to every other person: listen, if you’ve earned a seat at the table [ . . . ] if you have the microphone, speak. Don’t shy away from using it.” Johal wants to use her platform to hold people accountable and, at the very least, make what she is currently doing a little easier for the next person in her position. Her social media platform was a point of discussion during the interview, as she pointed out she finds out many of her stories through apps such as Twitter and Instagram. Johal mentioned that “so many racialized people find and tell their stories using social media because oftentimes, that’s the only place that our voices are legitimized.” Johal is a Peak success story because she is breaking out of the barriers placed on women of colour in the journalism industry and doing her part to create change in an industry that has worked in favour of the status quo for decades.

Features

Being mixed is as confusing as my ethnicity People’s constant dismissal of my identity leaves me questioning where I fit

Marco Ovies | Features Editor I L LU ST RATI O N : Celia Krampien / The Globe and Mail

In 1993, Time Magazine published a special issue titled The New Face of America with a computer-rendered image of a person mixed with many different races as the cover. This was supposed to be a “remarkable preview” of how “immigrants are shaping the first multicultural society.” Fast forward nearly 30 years, and race is as large of an issue as ever. The world has really started to pay attention to the treatment of BIPOC in our country — specifically, how they’re impacted by racism in their everyday lives. But where do mixed people fit in?

Time Magazine may have predicted correctly as more and more mixed babies enter the world, with about 15% of all children being born mixed in Canada. Their vision of this mixed-race utopia without racial strife, however, is misleading. Conversations around being “white-passing” or not embracing one’s race enough pop up all the time. This is even something the United States’ new vice president Kamala Harris has to deal with. For multiracial people, defining one’s racial identity can be complicated because of others’ assumptions and expectations, and these assumptions show we still have a long way to go to gain acceptance. I’m actually mixed myself. My dad immigrated from Mexico and met my mom who had immigrated from Germany. Within my family, I have basically zero connection to my Mexican heritage, and I have a sneaking suspicion it’s to do with me not being seen as “Mexican” enough. I have more of a connection to my German side, but not by much. Instead of accommodating the fact that I live in Canada and speak English as my first language, conversations with extended family from both sides are rarely in English despite both groups knowing how to speak it. I sit awkwardly at family gatherings, never being included and knowing full well I don’t belong. So where do I fit in? Because I’m not entirely “white,” but I look like it. Since I am white-passing, people’s assumptions of me change the way I am treated and exclude me from Mexican-dominated spaces. Upon the discovery I am not white, I have been dismissed from white-dominated spaces as well. So I ask again, where do I fit in? This even pops up in dating, when I get asked both by family or my peers to date within my own race. I get called out for being interested in someone white because I’m ignoring my Mexican culture, but I also get called out for being interested in anyone Mexican because I’m whitepassing. If I date outside of my own race, I also get told to

date within my own race. And so the cycle continues. Trust me, I am as confused as you are. I can’t dismiss the fact that being white-passing has definitely given me tremendous advantages in life and has ultimately led to where I am today. But I forever feel like I exist in this liminal space between races, and no one group will ever truly accept me. I don’t mind being called white (and I joke about it all the time), but it still doesn’t feel like the proper terminology to describe me. I’m not Canadian enough to be Canadian, but not German or Mexican enough to be considered either of those, either. The term “mixed” is what I feel most comfortable using, but it feels unsatisfying. Identifying as a person of colour feels wrong, but I also don’t want to dismiss my Mexican heritage on account of the whiteness I inherited from my mother. As a child, I didn’t spend much time worrying about my race or where I fit in. I lived in Newton, where 58% of the population is South Asian. There, I attended a private elementary school where I was one of a handful of “white” kids. It was easier to dismiss my identity as just being “white” rather than going through the lengths of explaining my cultural heritage — only to be told I was “white” by other people, anyway. Gradually, I began to lose parts of my cultural identity as I mixed into the cultural melting pot Canada is so proud of. Being forced to choose between which race you identify as exemplifies the binary way of thinking that monoracial people use to identify others. By neatly putting you into one category, whether that be white, Black, Asian, etc., they are able to assign stereotypes to you based on their understanding of that specific race. If you’re more than one race, that confuses things. It’s easier for people to just place you into the category they think suits you the best. In reality, shouldn’t it be individuals that define themselves? Just because I have pale skin does not make me any less Mexican than I am. I still grew up with a Mexican parent and even lived in Mexico during my childhood. My race is not for other people to decide. It is my decision and mine alone. I wish there was a tidy way to end this article and come to some sort of groundbreaking revolution about my identity, but that’s just not the reality of it. And this is the truth for mixed people everywhere. Maybe one day we will arrive at that utopia Time Magazine envisioned, but we still have a ways to go. The first step: accepting how people identify themselves without questioning them.

ARTS & CULTURE

July 19, 2021

PROLIFIC POET

Isabella Wang: poetry is like being at home This SFU student discusses her upcoming book and more

K E LLY CHI A // STAFF WRI TE R

Isabella Wang, a third-year SFU student, has made impressive strides in the literary community as the author of two poetry collections: a chapbook titled On Forgetting a Language, published in 2019, and Pebble Swing, her forthcoming full-length collection. The Peak had a chance to talk to Wang about her work and what inspires it. Speaking with Wang felt like remembering what it means to write. She told me poetry is like being at home in a language, like the closest sense of home she has ever felt. This loving and gentle description of her work feels apt given Wang’s overall warmth. Talking about the ways poetry was a comforting medium for her, Wang described her experience immigrating to Canada. “After I immigrated here at the age of eight, my mother tongue started fading a lot due to bullying and other forms of erasure. And with that also, family ties and a lot of stuff like that,” Wang said. Poetry became a way of reclaiming language for herself in a way that was familiar. Reading the work of other poets helped her feel a sense of belonging and grounded her.

Wang, author of Pebble Swing.

These experiences are documented in her forthcoming manuscript, Pebble Swing. For her, writing is not a lonely process. “I think a lot of the possibilities of writing opened up for me precisely when I started seeking — and ended up finding — a sense of community,” Wang said. She reminisced about being in high school and having support from her teachers, but also wishing for something more. This desire propelled Wang to start taking creative writing workshops at SFU, where she connected with professors doing literary work; from them, she met other poets. These connections would hit home for her. “There were Chinese-Canadian poets writing about their experiences,” she said. “It was the first time I saw a piece of myself on the page, reflected. And for me, especially when writing is hard, that sense of community and knowing you have so many people who are there [ . . . ] is really important.” Though Wang is a successful author, there are times when the writing doesn’t flow. Wang said she had to learn how to forgive herself for not writing, which she admitted was difficult to do. “I’m just learning right now, reading. And when the writing comes, it comes,” she added.

P HOTO : Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson / The Peak

As a writer talking about her cultural experiences, the weight of representation is significant to Wang. She highlighted her perspective on it by sharing a quote from her friend Furqan Mohamed’s chapbook, A Small Homecoming: “‘Write what you know is a phrase many writers are familiar with. The expression asks writers to trust themselves, to trust their inner narrative. As I grow older, I reflect more on the reverse of this saying, “know what you write,” which necessitates the understanding of what exactly I’m writing about, as well as who I’m writing about and how.’” This excerpt from Mohamed resonated with Wang because she knew her work, whether it was fiction or poetry, came from a personal place. Wang recalls her own experiences, and when she writes about the lives of other people, she is careful and specific about how she represents them. Pebble Swing will be published October 31, 2021 and is available for pre-order through Nightwood Editions. More of Wang’s work can be found on her website, isabellawangbc.weebly.com

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Dale Talde’s Asian-American cookbook is more profound than meets the eye

Top Chef was actually the reason I picked up a copy of this book. In the most recent season, Talde appeared as a guest judge throughout the competition, including in a challenge centred around recipe development. His name stuck with me as I was browsing through the cookbook section of my local library.

The chef’s stories and recipes are funny and relatable

Between the recipes, Talde details his experiences being born and raised in Chicago with his Filipinx family. Although I couldn’t directly relate, his words about transitioning between spaces resonated with me.

SA RA WON G // ARTS & CULTURE E D I TO R

What does it mean to be “proudly inauthentic?” Dale Talde’s cookbook, Asian-American: Proudly Inauthentic Recipes from the Philippines to Brooklyn, will give you a pretty good idea. Co-authored by JJ Goode, recipes like buttered toast ramen, kung pao chicken wings, and pretzel pork and chive dumplings jump off the page. Talde’s food celebrates mainly East/Southeast Asian and “Western” flavours with the creativity and flair one would expect from a Top Chef alum.

Despite Talde’s numerous accolades, his recipes are extremely approachable. He encourages readers to take shortcuts depending on their comfort level in the kitchen. Being a novice cook, I appreciated his suggestion to buy from Popeyes to complete his fried chicken and waffle recipe. Furthermore, the instructions are all straightforward. I was the most relaxed I’d ever been while preparing a meal. As I continued flipping through the pages of AsianAmerican, I found myself constantly wandering towards the fridge. This book made me want to spend more time in the kitchen, replicating more of Talde’s experimental, umami-packed dishes so I could share new food memories with my parents.

I’m a third generation Chinese-Canadian and have always been proud of my identity. However, the divisiveness of North American society often meant people saw me as only one or the other. When I went out for dim sum or shopped at T&T, I was Chinese; when I wore UGG boots or ordered an iced chai latte at Starbucks, I was Canadian (and also a basic bitch). Talde’s work was a much-needed show of solidarity for me. Here was someone else who embraced East and Southeast Asian-American lifestyles wholeheartedly, raising a middle finger to conventional perceptions

Talde poses with a Chinese takeout box on the cover of his book. PH OTO : Courtesy of Grand Central Publishing

of culture. Finally, I felt like my perspective was being recognized and validated. In the official description of Asian-American, the last line promises the book’s contents will “remind you that you’re home.” When I first read that phrase, I cast it aside as merely marketing material. Turns out, it represents the effect of Talde’s work quite accurately.

ARTS & CULTURE

Arts & Culture Editor Sara Wong

arts@the-peak.ca

SUMMER 2021 GALLERY GUIDE FIVE ART EXHIBITIONS TO CHECK OUT IN AND AROUND VANCOUVER WRITTEN BY PAIGE SMITH

1 2

3 4

CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY

Archival – for Rosario Cooper and my 10 year old self FREE On until August 22

CENTRE A

Speech Acts FREE On until August 28

A cornerstone of the Vancouver art scene, the Contemporary Art Gallery focuses on programming the best of contemporary visual artists. The gallery has exhibited the first solo shows of many of Vancouver’s most acclaimed artists such as Stan Douglas and Rodney Graham, and it continues to present boundary-pushing artwork.

Located in the heart of Vancouver’s Chinatown, Centre A was Canada’s first public art gallery dedicated to contemporary Asian and Asiandiasporic perspectives. Tucked away inside the Sun Wah Centre, Centre A is a treasure of the Vancouver art scene, previously presenting works by Yoko Ono, Vanessa Kwan, and the Hong Kong Exile group.

An off-site public installation, Archival – for Rosario Cooper and my 10 year old self covers the surface of the Yaletown-Roundhouse SkyTrain station in archival documents and photographs about Indigenous cultures and languages. Obispeño Chumash and Hispanic artist Christine Howard Sandoval presents digital scans of these documents, enlarging and collaging the pages. This destabilizes the traditionally orderly archive. Calling to question the power of colonialism, Howard Sandoval’s work refuses the archive’s power to control documented histories through a settler lens.

Speech Acts examines how language performs and how it fails us. Artist Zainub Verjee engages with issues of resistance and discourse through speech, listening, and writing. Verjee questions how vocabularies are appropriated, pointing to terms such as “reconciliation” and “diversity and inclusion.” Verjee was born in Kenya and works in Vancouver. She has a long history of working in Afro-Asian solidarity as an artist and programmer. Verjee co-founded In Visible Colours with Lorraine Chan, an international film festival and symposium featuring works by women of colour, She also helped support the start of Asian Heritage Month Society in Vancouver alongside the late Jim Wong-Chu and Paul Wong.

NEW MEDIA GALLERY

MirNs FREE On until August 1

The New Media Gallery often represents the future of contemporary art. New media works are designed or produced through mediums that rely on computers for redistribution. Examples include video games and cyborg art. A group exhibition featuring an assortment of international artists, MirNs was designed to explore how machines see visitors who enter the gallery. Guests directly interact with the works. The mirroring machines then reflect human diversity through their technologies. The works draw from the time-honoured question: “what is the essence of humans?” In a time of exponential technological growth, questions like this seem critical.

MUSEUM OF VANCOUVER

A Seat at the Table $0–10 On until January 2022

Though not an art gallery, the Museum of Vancouver (MOV) often features works and exhibitions of contemporary artists. Their goal is to create “a deeper understanding of Vancouver through stories, objects, and shared experiences.” In their feature exhibition A Seat at the Table, the MOV examines the “historical and contemporary stories of Chinese-Canadians in BC” through the lens of food and restaurant culture. Included in the exhibition is an interactive shadow installation by Mere Phantoms. The work invites viewers to indulge in a “shadow buffet,” where paper cut-outs cast food item shadows onto tabletops. It encourages viewers to create their own food histories.

PENDULUM GALLERY

Constructed Identities FREE On until August 20

Named after the giant metal block that swings above it, the Pendulum Gallery is a private nonprofit gallery operating in the atrium of the HSBC Building. Often showing works that may not be suitable for strictly visual art venues, Pendulum’s mandate includes showcasing underrepresented art communities in Vancouver. A solo exhibition of prominent Canadian artist Persimmon Blackbridge, Constructed Identities examines how disability is understood as breaking from ordinary life, rather than its own version of normal. Blackbridge is a writer and artist who identifies as a lesbian, feminist, and person with a disability. In this exhibition, she uses mixed media wood carving and mundane found objects to create sculptures of human figures. The found objects are items people usually throw away or consider junk, creating a metaphor for how disability is treated.

HUMOUR

July 19, 2021

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY NAME ALTERNATIVES

Written by

Craig Allan

WE STILL HAVE TO USE THE “SFU” ACRONYM. WE GOTTA KEEP THAT BRAND NAME CACHE!

1. Skunk Forest University

6. Scar Face University

We need to come up with a new name for the school’s athletics department anyway, so why not combine the two? Our opponents won’t see us coming because they’ll be totally distracted by our pungent spray!

This can be after the notorious movie character Tony Montana or the villainous Scar from The Lion King. However, in this institution, we will only recognize Jeremy Irons’ Scar from the 1994 animated movie, not the Chiwetel Ejiofor version from the awful 2019 remake. What will be taught at this school? I don’t know, drug cartels and animal power struggles or something? The Lion King is based off Hamlet. English majors can have a little attention, as a treat.

2. Surrey FernGully University

7. Sex Fest Underground

We have a Surrey campus, so why not name our school after it? Besides, most people like to go to the Surrey campus anyway since it’s on the SkyTrain line (at least I do). As for the FernGully: The Last Rainforest part, why not? It’s a movie about environmentalism and it’s just so darn cute. I know what you might be thinking: “Wait, wouldn’t it be ‘SFGU’ since FernGully has a capital G?” To that I say . . . shhhh.

Let’s just give up on this whole “university” thing and turn the school into what we really want: an underground sex fest that occurs every semester! I know I would much rather learn things like The Piledriver and The Wheelbarrow than subjects like economics or history. P.S. this was a much cleaner name than my first idea of what to do with the “S” and the “F.”

3. Stephen Fry University

8. Sit Forever University

I can see why changing SFU’s name might anger some people since it is throwing out the history of the institution. So how about finding some common ground and naming the school after yet another white guy? Stephen Fry University will be named after the famous British comedian and prominent gay actor. Unlike Simon Fraser, Stephen Fry may actually come to the school. May, but probably won’t.

A true reflection of what university is: sitting forever and listening to some teacher drone on and on about something you don’t care about because you didn’t get your WQB requirements done early. Now, you have to spend time listening to a teacher talk about something you are never going to use simply because the school wants you to have a “breadth of knowledge.”

4. Senseless Fun University Let’s embrace our fun side with Senseless Fun University! Now, some may argue it seems like a bad idea to have the words “Senseless” and “University” together, especially when “Super Fun University” was right there. However, I am writing this out by hand and having my editor transfer it to the computer, and I’m not going to go back and change it.

9. Substandard Food University It’s the perfect name to honour the poor food offerings at the school. The economics class at this school will just be “Make the food cheap and bad, and then charge a shitload of money for it. If they’re on the Burnaby campus, where else are they going to go?”

10. Sunny Florida University 5. Soiled Foundations University About the fact that our campuses are built on a foundation of soil. What were you thinking of when you read “soiled?”

Let’s name ourselves Sunny Florida University and get out of this cold and dreary area. No more having to struggle to get up Burnaby Mountain on a snowy day because the buses have all shut down. Why hide in the cold, cavernous, concrete structure of the Burnaby campus when we can just catch some rays in the Florida sun? What will we learn? I’ll tell you what we’ll learn: Spring Break and anti-vax propaganda!

14 HUMOUR

The roommate that will change your life It’s time to rely on the Internet to help you find the right connection Author

Nancy La

Humour Editor Kyla Dowling

Planter looking for room Are you a renter of a glorified bathroom with a bed that requires the financial assistance of another? Well, keep on looking because I ain’t got money. What I do have is an extensive collection of houseplants that’ll keep the air quality at a decent level as the province burns. In exchange for sharing a 200-square foot space, you get fresh air! What more can a person ask for? References include my best friend Phil who I’ve been watering and trimming for the past 10 years and a drama queen peace lily that refuses to be ignored. Serious offers only!

Medical student needing cold room for sleep and storage Hello! I’m a self-taught medical student specializing in human anatomy, and I love doing experiments on human organ functions. I’m looking for a room, preferably in a basement where it’s cooler so my specimens won’t go bad. I’m very good with cooking and butchering, and my knife skills will surely impress you. Bonus points if you have a freezer. I have an experiment named Frank that needs to be kept cold or he’ll be grumpy. Seriously— the man’s got a temper. Don’t worry though, I have him completely under control! Email me at shelleywho@goth.com with an offer and we can go from there!

humour@the-peak.ca

Closet to sleep in No, this is not a stay-in-the-closet joke. I’m only 4’8”, so I can fit in your walk-in closet as long as there’s a bed. Wouldn’t it be nice to know there’s no monster hiding in the closet because there’s a person sleeping in there instead? In fact, you should pay me to live in your closet, since I ward off the closet monsters that hide in between the hoodies you stole from your ex. I might also want a door for privacy, but I can accept an open floor plan. Any offers for living under the bed will not be accepted! I only deal with closet monsters, not the detached arm under your bed that grabs your ankle in your sleep.

Seeking new home for me (and my cats) Meow! That’s cat-talk for “Hello!” If you can’t tell, I’m mother to 12 cats, and we are looking for our new fur-ever home! We’re not looking for much, just a room big enough for me and my babies to sleep. All my cats are very friendly (except for Mr. Ted, he’s a feisty little fellow). They’re all very adventurous and like to be petted, so no worries about getting scratched. If you’re allergic to cats, don’t worry! I’m allergic to them too, so I’ll bring enough allergy pills for the both of us. Soon enough you’ll be able to learn cat-talk and add that to your resume! I attached 1,300 photos of my cats for your reference, but I have more if required. Mrow! (That’s cat-talk for “I hope to hear from you soon!”)

HUMOUR 15

July 19, 2021

Your Weekly Horoscopes

July 19–23 Written by Tiffany Chang

Workout-based horoscopes for the overworked soul

ARIES — Mar 21–Apr 19

LIBRA — Sept 23–Oct 22

After a great workout, you’ll (rightfully) choose a homemade smoothie over Tim Hortons. But I sense that your non-existent smoothie-making skills will result in some sort of spill. Some advice? All blenders have minds of their own, so proceed with caution.

Libras will be facing some life-changing decisions this week, including whether or not to be sensible and buy a pair of leggings at Winners or go raid Lululemon and splurge without considering the financial consequences. Either way, they’ll just collect dust in your closet . . .

TAURUS — Apr 20 –May 20

SCORPIO — Oct 23–Nov 21

I see anger in your future. For some reason, you’ll find yourself thinking about a shitty former classmate, but then you’ll remember how you beat them during a track meet several years ago. All better.

You don’t feel motivated to do any rigorous physical activity, so combine it with something more pleasant like nostalgia. Create a Spotify playlist with all your favourite childhood music and stroll around the nearest park. Nothing screams “I’m old!” more than a slow walk and hit tunes from 2010, but baby steps, right?

GEMINI — May 21–Jun 20 Some people say the post-workout ache is the best feeling in the world. For the most part, you disagree, but after that part-weightlifting, part-backwards running, part-Dance Dance Revolution workout, you feel great. Sure, your aches might stem from smashing into a wall mid-“Rasputin,” but hey — at least you can relate to Instagram fitness buffs now.

CANCER — Jun 21–Jul 22 Those crunches you’ve been doing for the past 48 hours are paying off! This is the perfect time to pretend you’re Jennifer Lopez by wearing a loose crop top and attempting to seduce Ben Affleck (mostly for some free Dunkin’ Donuts).

SAGITTARIUS — Nov 22–Dec 21 Reward yourself after a tough day with some welldeserved karaoke. I have a suggestion for a song: how about “Physical” by Olivia Newton-John? You won’t actually get physical, but singing about it seems like the next best thing. Bonus points if you whip out a tracksuit and pretend you’re Sue Sylvester.

CAPRICORN — Dec 22–Jan 19 Pull out your mom’s Jane Fonda aerobic videos and see if you can keep up. While you’re at it, wear some bright leotards like she does to get the full experience. If anyone asks, you’re nostalgic for the ’80s in a “postmodernist Stranger Things-aesthetic liberated way,” not a “I was born in the wrong generation” way.

LEO — Jul 23–Aug 22 You’ll finally find the perfect YouTube video for at-home yoga. Make sure your dog doesn’t try to snuggle up against you when you’re doing something that looks cool but has a chance of injuring vital body parts. Remember the last time it happened? Your dog decided to try the pose herself and mastered it, but you didn’t! Out of shock, you fell over. Your neck has never felt the same since. And that’s not even the worst part! An animal outshone you. Don’t let it happen again.

VIRGO — Aug 23–Sept 22 Don’t let other people’s seemingly flawless exercise routines get you down. With Zoom classes, this is a great time to tell them nobody cares about their marathon training schedule and then virtually disappear afterwards.

AQUARIUS — Jan 20 –Feb 18 Do a thorough clean of your living space to stay active and be productive. Even better, blast the radio so you have an excuse to take some dance breaks with the mop for some more calorie-burning goodness. Just don’t get too caught up in the moment and try kissing your mop like Justin Russo from Wizards of Waverly Place did.

PISCES — Feb 19–Mar 20 When watching a few martial arts movies, you may feel inspired to join a kung fu class and get in shape while learning some new skills. You’ll only go as far as accessing the front page of their website after seeing some of the absurd costs, but, hey, at least you can say you (kind of) tried.

16 DIVERSIONS

Business Manager Yuri Zhou

business@the-peak.ca

CROSSWORD Across 1. Kilt wearer 5. Flower part 9. Sequence 14. Volcanic outpouring 15. Bossa ____ 16. Take off 17. Consumer 18. Imitated 19. Loafed 20. Oleo 22. Changes direction 23. Build 24. Perjure oneself 25. Game of chance 28. Cat breed 32. Doctors' org. 33. Skin abrasion 37. Beach feature 38. Touch lightly 39. Glamorous 41. Slump 42. Mets' old stadium 44. Reluctant 45. Squeak by 46. Money makers 48. Lymph ____ 50. Savings plan (abbr.)

51. No way! 54. Doctrine 57. Card game for one 61. Opera highlights 62. Lubricates 63. Labor 64. Savor 65. Yachting 66. Possesses 67. Tailor 68. Coops 69. Craze Down 1. Poor community 2. House (Sp.) 3. Finished 4. Archer's goal 5. Catch 6. Subject 7. Happening 8. Fabricated 9. ____ Newton-John 10. Restores the honor of 11. Glen 12. Happily ____ after 13. Cincinnati team

21. Got out of bed 24. Mortgages 25. Expire 26. Nebraska metropolis 27. Starchy veggie (sl.) 28. Shadowbox 29. Comforted 30. Slithering reptile 31. Margins 34. Heidi's cousin 35. Guns the engine 36. Vital statistic 40. Dogma 43. Enliven 47. Pencil rubber 49. Speech-maker 51. Din 52. Comic ____ DeGeneres 53. Passport endorsements 54. Information 55. Not written 56. Main point 57. TV "opera" 58. Dubuque's locale 59. Finger jewelry 60. If not

SUDOKU

is hiring We’re publishing newspapers in the fall, and we need people to help put them together! Get paid to work for the newspaper in a fun, flexible work environment! Production Editor Copy Editor News Editor News Writers Arts and Culture Editor Opinions Editor

APPLICATIONS DUE:

July 31

BIPOC, LGBTQ2IA+, GNC, neurodiverse, and/ or people from any additional marginalized community are strongly encouraged to apply.

Multimedia Editor Humour Editor Features Editor Photo Editor Promotions Coordinator Assistant Production Editor (2) Multimedia Assistant Staf f Writers Web Manager Sports Editor

APPLICATIONS DUE:

July 31, 2021

Send resume and cover letter to jobs@the-peak.ca Visit the-peak.ca/jobs for the details.