Up, up, and away!

Continuing the conversation on the Pulse massacre is important. By letting these atrocities be drowned out from news cycles, they simply become a footnote, instead of a moment for change. This event wasn’t about gun control or religious radicalization — it was about loss. There was a loss of lives, of community, and of protection.

A loss of safe spaces in these clubs we had turned into our refuges. By sharing our experiences, such as those who’ve turned to Twitter to share #MyFirstGayBar stories, we can begin to heal and reclaim some of what was lost. So, I’d like to share mine.

It's been many years since my first gay bar experience, yet I’ll admit, there are still elements I remember as if it were yesterday.

I felt a lot of trepidation as I walked up to “the gay street,” as my cousin called it then. I'd been there during the day, and now at night, alone, knowing that I was going to go to my first gay bar, things suddenly seemed very loud and vibrant. I stood in line as regulars greeted each other around me.

There was a dull bassline coming from inside the bar. It may have been

blood pumping in my ear, but whatever it was, it was making people around me sound like the adults on the Peanuts cartoons. “Whhaa whhaaa whaaa,” the very large muscular man in front of me broke my trance, and I handed him the ID he asked for.

The thumpa-thumpa of the club track hit me, and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end as I stepped into the building. I checked my coat as my eyes adjusted and I looked ahead into the dark bar. At first, I saw nothing but swirls of lights from the dance floor as they washed across the patrons already well on their way to oblivion.

Then I saw the sign. Bright, neon, and a purple that was trying to be pink — it read “Gay Establishment.” Underneath it, two boys were making out. One guy winked at me when they caught me staring

and, even in the dark bar, I was sure I was bright red.

The rest of the night is a blur of dance, lights, vodka, and the echo of deep bass thrumming in my ears.

I left late and had kissed two boys I didn’t know by the time I did. It was glorious. It was liberating. It was safe.

I was sound.

I was home.

Much of the night is a blur.

I couldn’t tell you what the guys looked like or any of the music that was playing. But I remember the feeling that I left with: this sense of self -worth, the affirmation that I was OK. We joke that the club is our version of going to church. In a way, it is. Like a church, these are sacred places. Even in today’s social media world, gay bars help those who don't have an outlet to connect with their community. They give those who are still in the closet a chance to find others like them; you can flirt with someone and only fear rejection, not a beating. It is a place free from outside criticisms, fear, and misunderstandings.

This tragedy will not take these safe havens away from us. The thumpa-thumpa will keep going.

We've lost a lot, but we won’t lose our souls too.

4 News

Jamal Dumas / Print News Editor

news@the-peak.ca

BYE-BYE BUSES

SFU administration revisits plan to build gondola

Photo courtesy of Tri-City News

The gondola could help students by saving them time and help the environment.

Service would run on electricity, be accessible year-round Tatum Miller Peak Associate SFU president Andrew Petter reopened the concept of a gondola on Burnaby Mountain during a Q&A at the Burnaby Board of Trade AGM on June 14. The proposed SFU gondola would run between Production Station and SFU. Despite the project’s projected environmental, economic, and social benefits, the $120 millionplan was ultimately excluded from the $7.5 billion 2014-Regional

Transportation Investment plan by the Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation.

The Tri-City News reported that Petter said the “business case developed for TransLink shows the aerial link to be an efficient and reliable alternative to conventional buses, with the economic and social benefits far outweighing the costs.”

Petter also mentioned the “significant” advantages to this

proposal. The Mayors’ Council noted this would remove the more than 20,000 bus trips up and down Burnaby Mountain every day, as the Tri-City News reported. That number is expected to increase 60 percent over the next two decades.

The president also drew comparisons with Metro Vancouver’s SeaBus system, which went from being considered a pleasant addition to a “‘need to have’ component of our regional transit system,” reported the Tri-City News.

Engineering consultants CH2M Hill produced a business report in 2011 on the SFU gondola, which said that the plan has a 3.6 total

benefit-cost ratio in dollar terms.

The report found that annually, there are more than four million bus trips per year to and from SFU, and this number could double by 2021.

The gondola would save “500,000 annual hours of auto travel time,” result in “26.1–29.2 million fewer vehicle kilometres,” and eliminate roughly 7,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

The report also made note of “poor travel times and low reliability in the winter.” Students reported waiting at Production Station and other stops up to 30 minutes for a bus. Poor travel times could discourage public transit and encourage automobile use.

The federal government recently announced $740 million in transit funding for Metro Vancouver. Unfortunately, “the [SFU] gondola didn’t make it in the mayors’ 10-year vision,” said Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson. He added that the SkyTrain extensions to UBC and Port Coquitlam are also priority projects.

There have been times when students have become stranded at SFU in the winter when buses were unable to make the trip. A gondola would eliminate this problem, says SFU urban studies professor Anthony Perl, who said “SFU is still not accessible year-round.

“One hundred [and] twenty million [dollars] might seem like a lot to students . . . but to the provincial government it’s not,” said Perl, adding it is a “fraction of the cost” of the Evergreen Line and UBC’s proposal.

“You can get a lot of results from a relatively low capital investment . . . [the gondola] is a real value deal.”

When asked why the project didn’t go forward, Perl noted that it was never an “either/or decision” between the gondola and the Evergreen Line or UBC. They’re separate pieces of infrastructure, and “formally, no level of government opposed [the gondola . . .] it simply wasn’t put forward as a priority.”

This reflects the history with rapid public transit in Metro Vancouver, said Perl. “Everyone’s for it in principle,” he said, but the government would “rather build big bridges and expand highways.”

Perl noted the real attraction should be that “it’s fossil fuel-free.”

It would run on electricity and eliminate the need for diesel buses.

He claimed that, when you look at the billions of dollars spent on highway and bridge improvements, it “tells you something about the [BC Government’s] priorities,” adding that BC was once a climate leader, but has now become a “climate laggard.”

SFU students, Perl said, should support the project because it would benefit them greatly. He advised contacting your MLA through email or social media to “let the government know that this is a priority.”

He suggested students share their personal transit horror stories to highlight woes with the current transit system.

FULL COURT PRESS

Squamish Nation takes NEB to court over pipeline First Nations groups allege there has not been meaningful consultation Yelin Gemma Lee Peak Associate The Squamish Nation is filing a court challenge against the National Energy Board (NEB) for recommending the approval of the Kinder Morgan Pipeline expansion.

The recommendation report, which was issued on May 19, consists of 157 conditions that the Nation alleges did not sufficiently and carefully address their concerns or the concerns of other BC First Nations.

The NEB allegedly failed to thoroughly consult the Squamish Nation about the conditions before

going forward to recommend that the federal government approve the pipeline expansion.

“The conditions established by the NEB aren’t reflective enough of the Squamish Nation’s beliefs, [which] need to clearly be represented,” said Ronald Johnston, director of the office of Indigenous Education at SFU, who emphasized that he speaks respectfully and independently from the Squamish Nation and does not represent them.

This $6.8 billion expansion project is slated to nearly triple

the capacity of the pipeline, which currently transports 300,000 barrels of oil per day from Alberta to Burnaby. It will also reportedly increase the risk of oil spills in the Burrard Inlet by up to 600 percent, and tanker traffic will be multiplied by almost seven.

“The standard for meaningful consultation has been established by precedent Supreme Court decisions and lawsuits,” Johnston said. “It stems from the Constitution Act Section 35 that affirms the rights the aboriginals have within the act.”

The Squamish Nation is not the only BC First Nations taking a legal stand against the NEB’s actions.

The Tsleil-Waututh Nation filed a lawsuit against the NEB under similar claims in October 2015.

“We’ve had a chance to look at [the reports] and have come to the conclusion that they didn’t seriously take into consideration Squamish’s concerns.

the final decision on hold until December 2016, while three court challenges have been filed for similar reasons against NEB — from the City of Vancouver, Squamish nation, and Tsleil-Waututh.

“For them to have taken legal action, it means they were left with no alRonald Johnston, Director of Office of ternative,” said Indigenous Education Johnston.

“It’s not just Therefore, we must file a writ about a conflict between the to protect our interests,” Chief First Nations and the NEB, it’s Ian Campbell told The Vancou- about any person who faces an ver Sun. alleged act of unlawful conduct Prime Minister Justin and disputing it in court. That is Trudeau’s government has put a natural response.”

“For them to have taken legal action, it means they were left with no alternative.”

News

VP academic and provost Jon Driver has been questioned by several members of the SFU Board of Governors regarding the recent developments in the sexual violence and prevention policy at SFU. The university’s policy is undergoing consultation after the provincial government mandated postsecondary institutions develop standalone policies to deal with sexual assault on campus.

The discussion comes in the wake of the ongoing controversy regarding the administration's reported mishandling of three sexual assault allegations over the past year. President Andrew Petter addressed this controversy in remarks earlier in the meeting, saying that there would be a “full report” on the topic in the closed session. This session is not open to the media or public.

Governor June Francis asked Driver why there were no faculty or students on the policy group, while other institutions like UBC have integrated students and faculty in this process.

Driver responded by citing the fact that students and faculty are included on the advisory committee, and the purpose of the policy committee was to include individuals with expertise in crafting policy. Petter chimed in to say that consultation would involve the student body as well.

Undergraduate representative Ranjodh Gill asked what was being done to raise awareness among students about upcoming consultations, given that turnout is often low. “That defeats the purpose of having a consultation,” said Gill.

Driver spoke to having “a better communication process,” but did not provide any specifics beyond that.

He added that a finished policy will likely come before the board by next January or sooner.

June 27, 2016

Nathan Ross Web News Editor It’s been several weeks since the recent sexual assault allegations came to light at Simon Fraser University, and statements from the administration have been few and far between.

While acknowledging that there are legal issues arising that prevent the specifics from being released to the public, many on campus have expressed frustration by the silence maintained by university officials.

Elise Chenier, head of Academic Women at Simon Fraser University, told The Peak that even though the school can’t talk about the specific cases and what’s being discussed in the media, there is still a lot more that administration could be doing.

“I’d say that, legally and ethically, they can’t speak directly to the accusations of sexual assault.

Nevertheless, there are a whole host of other issues that this raises that can be spoken about publicly and openly and directly,” she said.

“For example, what are the procedures currently in place?

Did those procedures fail? If they failed, have immediate steps been

taken to correct them? And if not, why not?”

Chenier, who is also a professor in the history department, went on to argue that SFU needs to be taken to task for why students were not informed of reports of sexual assault on campus.

“I think there are really complicated legal issues that legitimately do prohibit them from saying certain things that pertain to the case,” she said.

“[But the question is,] why in residence was I not informed that there has been a report of sexual assault? Why was I not informed of

that? That is a legitimate question to which I think the SFU admin must be held accountable and must respond to that.”

She drew a comparison to the 1998 court case of Jane Doe v.

Board of Commissioners of Police for the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto. Doe was the fifth survivor of a serial rapist referred to as the “Balcony Rapist,” who committed a string of sexual assaults in the 1980s.

Doe sued the police for not alerting the affected areas of the previous four attacks — which they said they didn’t do avoid raising fear in the community — and won.

Chenier suggested that this shows the court recognizes that there is a responsibility to inform of a known danger. To her, even if SFU didn’t know all the details, or if it was just an accusation, the administration had an ethical responsibility to announce this, and proceed accordingly.

“Unless you are a potential victim [. . .] I think you lack the awareness of just how important that kind of information is, and how valuable it is, and how having that information helps

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create a safer environment,” she said.

Chenier identified women, queer people, and people with disabilities as those most likely to be potential victims.

SFU admin have been quick to point to the work they are currently doing to create a new sexual violence and misconduct policy, when asked for comment about the allegations. However, Chenier said that it is important to remember these are the same school officials who knew about the accusations before having campus-wide town halls to discuss the policy in May. “People who are involved in initiating the policy process have been aware of these cases. This may have come to light to the general public, but there are lots of people who have been aware of these cases for some time. It wasn’t news to Jon Driver, for example.”

As far as what can happen next, Chenier acknowledged that while sexual assault can’t always be prevented, there are all kinds of things that can be done here to make SFU a safer place. The aforementioned policy is one of them.

“The policy is essential. You can say in your academic statements all you want [that] we will not tolerate sexual misconduct, but yes you will, if there’s nothing to provide meaningful consequences,” she said.

“I’m not saying there’s nothing now, but if you look at the rate of conviction in society, it’s pretty safe to go commit a sexual assault. It’s highly unlikely you’re going to get charged for it, or pay any kind of price for it.”

Chenier also identified comprehensive education as key in preventing sexual assault, and pointed out the need for more resources on campus. She singled out the proposed standalone sexual assault prevention and support centre which was discussed earlier this year.

“You have to have robust services. And it can’t be one person here and one person there. And the message that we’re hearing from the administration is, ‘Well, we have health and counselling.’ That in and of itself is not sufficient,” she said.

“This is why one of the things I’m supporting is those people who are advocating for a standalone sexual assault centre. I support that, and I think they’re absolutely right. I agree with them, and I will do everything I can to help that come to fruition. We’ve seen elsewhere, we have irrefutable evidence that this works, that this is effective.”

6 News

Jamal Dumas / Print News Editor

news@the-peak.ca

BURNIN’ UP

New Burnaby campus heating facility to cut emissions Biomass could be less carbon intensive than the current natural gas system Kevin Rey Peak Associate Things are heating up on Burnaby campus.

On June 16, SFU announced that it expects to cut its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 69 percent by installing a new heating system.

The deal was signed with Corix Multi-Utility Services Inc. (Corix) to “finance, design, construct, own, and operate a new central energy plant (CEP),” according to a release from SFU. Larry Waddell, chief facilities officer, heralded the deal as enabling SFU to “surpass the provincial mandated GHG reduction target for 2020.” The CEP will burn biomass fuel, such as wood chips and sawdust, and result in an 85 percent reduction in the greenhouse gas emissions from heating Burnaby campus.

The current natural gas heating plant will be linked to the new CEP and used as a backup or to meet peak demand. The cost of building the

new CEP and its timeline were not provided in the news release.

SFU president, Andrew Petter, also had high praise for the project: “This biomass facility is another example of SFU’s commitment to sustainability, which is a key principle of our strategic vision,” he said.

“In recent years, SFU has taken significant action to decrease our carbon footprint, reduce waste, and implement a range of other sustainability measures,” added Petter.

Josh Cairns, executive director of Embark, SFU’s sustainability group, explained why the expected GHG emissions reduction is so high.

Due to the abundance of hydroelectric power in British Columbia, Cairns said “general electricity usage is, depending on the time of day, 90–98 percent carbon-free.”

This, along with the fact that emissions from vehicles are accounted for at the pump, means that SFU’s

Photo courtesy of Waste to Energy International

SFU's new heating system will burn organic fuel to generate heat.

GHG emissions come almost entirely from heating.

There is also a significant benefit in switching from natural gas to biomass, according to Cairns. He explained that “if you take some of the more recent estimates for natural gas, and you’re factoring in [. . .] where the natural gas is extracted, all the way through the processing

and shipment of it, it comes out not really being much better than coal.”

While the combustion of natural gas is relatively low-carbon, unaccounted for ‘fugitive’ emissions from leaks release considerable amounts of carbon into the air.

The announcement of the new CEP comes on the heels of other environmental news related to climate

change. On June 20, the Trudeau government announced that Ottawa would be reviewing the approval process for natural resource projects.

Closer to home, the SFU Responsible Investment Committee recently drafted a policy that would provide the framework to respond to requests to divest from fossil fuels. Feedback is being collected until July 31.

INTERNATIONAL ACCOLADES

Beedie students find success at global competitions

Photo courtesy of Daily Hive A Beedie team competed in the Pamplona competition for the first time (pictured).

From Spain to Singapore, SF U students come out on top Vinh Quang SFU Student Teams from the Beedie School of Business have brought the heat at case competitions around the world this year. One team won third place and a bronze medal in the University of Navarra

International Case Competition (UNICC), for their first time participating in this competition in Pamplona, Spain, March 13 to 18.

The team is comprised of four undergraduate business students:

Natasha Tsoy, Madeline Millsip, Ashley Chiu, and Rochelle Lee. The students earned their third place ranking after six days participating in the competition. Leading up, they had spent over 500 hours preparing and studying, with guidance from Beedie lecturer Kamal Masri.

Millsip told The Peak, “Competing at UNICC was a marathon of three cases and four presentations, but under the guidance of

our coach, Kamal Masri, we remained focused.

“Having now represented Beedie at multiple case competitions, it is apparent that they never get any easier,” she said. “We are incredibly fortunate at Beedie to have the opportunity to apply our business knowledge in such a highpressure environment — there is no better way to learn.”

Another Beedie team, Enactus SFU, reached the semifinals and won the Capital One Financial Education Challenge award in the Enactus National Exposition held in Toronto from May 2 to 4. Their project, Count On Me, was designed to teach 41 youths who were from a lower socio-economic background about fundamental financial skills.

These skills include creating budgets, enhancing employment skills, creating a healthy meal plan, and even polishing their applications for post-secondary institutions.

Enactus SFU is a club that helps students to develop social entrepreneurship. Winona Bhatti, president of the club, said, “This year has been one of the biggest leaps we’ve ever taken at Enactus SFU. One of the main reasons for that is just how inspired the team was.”

The gold medal at APEX Business-IT Global Case Challenge was

earned by S3 Consulting, also an SFU team. The competition took place at the Singapore Management University from May 3 to 6, with the theme of “Conscious Capitalism” and a focus on GrabCar, a car-sharing service which operates within six countries in Southeast Asia. The team came up with a business plan that would provide people with information on commute options, with estimated costs included on the app.

Team member Samantha Chan revealed the secret to their success: “One key factor is doing so many practices. [. . .] We learned about our limits and what ideas we bring to the table and challenged each other in a constructive way. It was never personal, because we were all there to win.”

Enactus coach and senior lecturer in accounting, Anne Macdonald, agreed. “The skills students learn in the case competition training are fabulous,” she said.

Macdonald also stressed that “They are working under pressure with a set of facts, coming up with a practical business solution, integrating the skills learned in individual courses across Beedie, and thinking of them all together, which is experience you can’t get anywhere else.”

Opinions

The SFU Burnaby campus has a lot of green spaces, courtyards, fountains, and a triumphant aesthetic when the brilliant sunlight strikes the brutalist concrete. But our school becomes very gloomy during the rainy season, which can affect mood and overall enjoyment of being on campus.

It’s time we implement a few changes here and there to make Burnaby campus a cheerful place all year round, such as designs that would be enhanced by the presence of rain.

Currently, the AQ garden is delightful in the summer, but becomes completely abandoned and desolate when it rains. This inefficient use of space could be stopped by building a gazebo on the hill and adding rain shelters around the area, so people at SFU can enjoy the fresh air and tranquil rain without getting wet — something I’m sure most people would find soothing, potentially romantic, and possibly cathartic.

It could also help provide some seclusion and solitude for introverts.

SFU could also replace useless features, such as the pyramid and the avocado, with ones that are accessible and attractive when it’s gloomy out. Perhaps kinetic art installations that move and transform as it rains, or machines that can generate rainbows? Other replacements could include outdoor table tennis or outdoor exercise equipment, which would need protection from the rain.

The campus could also be improved by using thermochromic

paint to create colourful designs that only appear in the rain. This innovative application of technology was popularized by the designers of Project Monsoon, who plan to replace the dreary concrete and pavement on the streets of Seoul with colourful rivers inhabited by sea creatures.

SFU could also look to imitate the success of Rainworks, a project that uses hydrophobic paint to create colourless, rain-activated art along sidewalks. This has primarily been used to spread positive messages in community spaces, but it could also be used to create mysterious clues, riddles, puzzles, and other things that would give the public something to look forward to when it’s wet outside.

Furthermore, decorating the bland concrete around the campus with more public art, colourful designs, or plant life could make a small but impactful difference.

For example, the floor of the corridor from the AQ to the end of Blusson Hall could be redesigned by SFU students in our fine arts and/or interactive arts and technology programs. In addition, SFU could also replace the bland flooring around the Burnaby campus, such as in the WMC, the AQ, and other major corridors, with something aesthetically stunning, cheerful, and even multiculturally significant, such as aboriginal artwork.

By carefully executing innovative and beautiful designs that take advantage of rainy conditions, SFU could become an excellent example for other rain-stricken institutions and municipalities around the world, as well as a hotspot for tourism. But most importantly, it would create a campus that members of the SFU community could enjoy during those rainy Vancouver days.

Adam Van der Zwan / Opinions Editor

June 27, 2016 opinions@the-peak.ca

Video games have gone from being spoken of in the same breath as pocket protectors and thick glasses to becoming a pastime enjoyed shamelessly by much of the modern world.

However, they still face a lot of vocal opposition, primarily on the topic of violence. So, do violent video games cause realworld aggression and teach gunplay to children?

No. They don’t.

One concern is that violent video games will cause players to confuse the video game world with reality, due to how realistic games now look. Applying this argument to, for example, driving a car, reveals its absurdity. Both have you sitting, holding a controller, viewing through a screen displaying numbers and data, and being much more capable and powerful than you otherwise would be. Plus, when you’re driving a car, the world you see looks really, really lifelike. Yet there is no widespread concern of people sprinting down the highway after confusing the realistic ‘graphics’ of driving a car with the real pedestrian world.

I imagine those likely to truly confuse video games and reality are generally those who have existing mental conditions or face other external factors that

might lead them to confuse reality with any number of other things anyways.

The other major concern is that violent video games train children to kill. This is contradicted by the 2012 independent game Receiver . Rather than the standard point-and-click to shoot, and pressing ‘R’ to reload, the game tasks the player with manually pressing one button to eject the magazine, another button to load a bullet, another to turn the safety on or off, and so on.

Many players, upon facing the difficulty involved in actually performing the steps required to reload a gun (something most other games do automatically), were immediately turned off by the game and chose to play something else. Games don’t train children to kill. They train children to click.

Playing Call of Duty does not transform someone into a dangerous super-soldier, any more than Sonic Adventure 2 makes me good at track and field. A recent study published by the American Psychological Association (APA) sought to research the validity of previous tests on violent video games and the believed increase in aggressive behaviour.

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Institute researchers found that earlier studies used complex, twitchy, tactical games for the ‘violent game’ test, while the games used for the control group were short, two-dimensional games with a slower pace and simple controls. Due to the multiple differences between the games played by the test group and control group, the tests were found by researchers to be unequal and more or less invalid.

In their own tests, the APA had each group play identical games with only the level of violence and gore throttled up or down. They found that it was not the level of violence in the games that was creating the greater aggression found in the early experiments, but rather the level of frustration caused by the games.

In the early experiments, it was found in both the test and control groups that those who were familiar with complex video games were found to be calmer, while those less familiar with video games were found to be more frustrated and aggressive.

The level of fear and anger directed at video games is the same fear and anger that, in the past, was directed at other dangers to society, such as television, movies, rock and roll music, Shakespeare, Beethoven, books, and the printing press, before each were vindicated by the passing of time.

I don’t know what we’ll be angry and afraid of next, but I’m sure all the cool kids will be super into it.

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Opinions

On YouTube, anyone can make a name for themselves with hard work, good ideas, and a little bit of luck.

However, the site is changing its policies in a way that might mean the end of your favourite YouTubers.

Recently, the site updated their harassment and cyberbullying policy, defining harassment as “deliberately posting content in order to humiliate someone” and “making hurtful and negative comments/videos about another person,” among other statements.

While the prevention of cyberbullying is certainly a big issue and should be handled delicately, this vague terminology is not the way to go about it.

Maybe I’m just a cynic, but this policy will do nothing but censor original content and dismantle a huge portion of the YouTube community.

Many of the biggest stars on the platform have made a living from videos criticizing public figures. For instance, the Fine Brothers, with over 14 million subscribers, create daily ‘reaction’ videos, such as “Kids react to Donald Trump,” or “Elders React to Kim Kardashian,” in which they film various groups reacting to videos of public figures. These videos certainly

Dear Editor, In 2007, the graduate students at SFU formally created a new, independent student society to represent themselves and their interests at the university. In response to a number of controversial decisions and actions undertaken on their behalf, and without a true democratic voice in the process purportedly created to represent them, grad students separated from the SFSS, and began a project to ensure that their interests, issues, and goals could be more effectively and democratically represented and pursued. As a result of the hard work of many volunteers and a handful of elected representatives, the GSS was born.

And, for some time, [. . .] the possibility of an organization devoted to advocating on behalf

could fall under the new policy, and their creators could potentially face takedown notices should Trump or Kardashian be offended by them.

While no takedown notices have been filed against the Fine Brothers yet, up-and-coming YouTube personality RiceGum, with over 2.3 million subscribers, recently had a video of his taken down for supposed ‘copyright violation.’ The video in question was entitled “The Next Jacob Sartorius (GIRL VERSION),” in which the 19-year-old comedian criticized the Instagram account of Alabama Barker, the 10-year-old daughter of Blink-182’s Travis Barker.

In the video, RiceGum comments that Alabama wears “quite a bit of makeup for her age,” and sarcastically claims, “Wow, they grow up so fast, already learning how to, you know, arch their back a little bit, kinda, you know, poke out the behind area.” The comedian also notes that Instagram’s Terms of Use state that one must be at least 13 years old to have an account.

In response, Travis Barker had the video removed for what he claimed were copyright violations, and blasted the YouTuber on

of graduate students’ interests started coming to fruition.

Today, this is no longer the case. With the exception of creating a position to specifically advocate on behalf of graduate students at the university (i.e., in appeals cases, in dealing with supervisory issues, etc.), and mounting a campaign to draw attention to the dismal state of the deteriorating infrastructure at SFU, the GSS has little that it can point to by way of justifying the fees which it collects semesterly from all students enrolled in graduate programs or courses at SFU. Take the recent and still developing controversy concerning rape allegations on campus, and the response of SFU’s administration. While this situation has received media coverage from a number of different sources, and has elicited responses from both

Adam Van der Zwan / Opinions Editor

opinions@the-peak.ca

Instagram, with a picture of RiceGum and the caption, “this lame is about to take the biggest fuckin L in history. [...] Any leads on where this #pedafile [sic] lives please DM me.”

Whether or not you agree with RiceGum’s opinion isn’t the point.

Instead, it’s that Barker claimed copyright violation where there was none and has threatened him personally — and for what? Saying what was on his mind?

The connection between this case and YouTube’s new harassment

the SFSS and the TSSU, the GSS has remained conspicuously silent. Should graduate students not also be concerned about these allegations, and about the perceived response, or lack thereof, from the university’s administration?

And yet, no statement, no communication, no apparent interest [. . .] on the part of the organization whose role it is to represent graduate student interests at SFU on this important issue that undoubtedly has repercussions across the university community.

Or, take the slough of recent and upcoming administrative hires that are occurring at SFU. A number of high profile positions have been newly filled, and more are coming. In the midst of these deeply impactful decisions being made at the university, and in spite of having the opportunity to be present and represent graduate

policies is that if the reported lawsuit sticks and Barker also files complaints against RiceGum for harassment under the new guidelines, or even claims he promoted hate speech against his daughter, it would make it all the easier for the YouTuber to be permanently removed from the site. An easy ‘three strikes’ against his account, and he’s out for good!

So, despite YouTube’s best efforts to promote a safe and happy environment for its users, the company is writing policies that hurt

student issues in these decisions, there has been virtually no communication, consultation, participation, or representation of graduate students in these processes.

If the GSS exists to ensure that the issues and interests of graduate students are truly represented at the university, why has the organization been so strikingly absent from these discussions? Why have they not communicated these processes to their membership?

In fact, it seems that the GSS has done little, if anything, of late when perusing its website. Meeting minutes and reports are not made readily available, and seem to go months, even a whole semester, before they’re updated. Their “News & Events” seem mostly comprised of socials, contests, and coupons. No new services, initiatives, or projects have been undertaken in what appears to be

creators. YouTube has become as popular as it is because of original content: because of teenagers in their bedrooms armed with camcorders and something to say, because of cats doing adorable and hilarious cat things, and because of creatives who use it as an outlet for music, makeup tutorials, or video game "let’s plays."

The moment we allow our voices to be squashed by larger, more powerful corporate media is the moment YouTube loses its heart.

years now. It’s little wonder that their AGM this year failed to meet quorum, or that the organization keeps trying to (and has done in the past) lower the required attendance for quorum.

For an organization created to ensure the democratic representation of graduate students in the university community, whose stated existence is to work for and on behalf of the interests and issues of graduate students, into which graduate students pay mandatory fees, there is little evidence of the GSS being much more than an expensive social club populated by resumé-padding “representatives.”

Sincerely, Robert Eaves

Arts

Jess Whitesel / Arts Editor

June 27, 2016 arts@the-peak.ca

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children but universal in its expression of pathos.

Josh Cabrita Columnist My favourite movies of 2016 so far are anomalies. As our southern neighbours have stooped closer to madness with each passing day of their erratic election campaign, a few great films are returning to simple sincerity; clinging to an older time to mask the current one. Here are my top five movies of the year thus far, all of which are more than worth your time:

Tamara Connor Features Editor With its 27th season in full swing, patrons new and old alike have been lining up in front of the wroughtiron fences and white tents to see the players of Bard on the Beach.

With two of Shakespeare's greatest works, Merry Wives of Windsor and Romeo and Juliet on the mainstage, the season was anticipated to be a good one.

While the costumes were gorgeous, the opening night of Romeo and Juliet did not wow.

The production failed to differentiate itself from other retellings of this evergreen story. When a story has been told as many times and in as many different ways as Romeo and Juliet, you had better have something new to offer spectators if you are looking for the standing ovation.

Everyone is familiar with the plot of Romeo and Juliet: two young and foolish lovers end up dead because of their actions. This traditional interpretation of the text exuded a staleness that many productions of this play have been plagued with. Not a lot can be said about the production because it failed to stand out from other adaptations. What saved the performance was the unbelievably

charismatic cast. Despite the lacklustre adaptation, the cast delivered a beautiful performance by engaging with the audience and delivering the emotion and humour needed to balance this tragic story.

But this mediocre production begs the question: why do we bother with Bard on the Beach? And to this, the answer is simple. Bard on the Beach is about the experience, not the individual productions.

Located on the edge of Vanier Park in Vancouver, the set always includes a big opening so that patrons can catch a glimpse of the cityscape, the beach, and the setting sun during evening performances. While this can lead to a chilly performance, it also creates a truly unique backdrop for classic stories.

The Bard Village located in between the two stages and entrance also adds to the undeniably comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere. The concession sells local wine and beer, and a variety of tasty snacks, but it's the beautiful twinkling lights and flower arrangements that make intermission feel more like a whirlwind patio pitstop than a break between acts.

I have been attending plays at Bard on the Beach for years, and there are a few that have wowed me, but there have been many others that have felt underwhelming and stale.

And yet, I return every year — and I can’t imagine a summer without a trip to Vanier Park to indulge in one of these performances. I don’t come for the performance; I come for the intriguing venue and dedicated staff.

Not every play we see needs to be a life-changing one . . . mediocre productions won’t ruin the whole experience. There is a very rewarding feeling you get when you let yourself indulge in cultural experiences like theatre. The local theatre program has prided itself on being a not-for-profit source of education for patrons, and it has undoubtedly contributed to the cultural growth of Vancouver over the years. So give Bard a chance this summer, even if the play doesn’t do it for you, the ambiance and atmosphere will satisfy.

This peculiarity by Terrence Malick (The Thin Red Line , The Tree of Life ) is the only film on this list with its sights set on the future. Progressing the director’s form to a realm even more fractured and ethereal, we can sense the soul of the cinema separating from its body, ascending to something higher.

The film leaves conventional narrative behind for images that are solely metaphorical or emotional in signification. Knight of Cups borrows themes from The Pilgrim’s Progress and sets it against Hollywood’s hedonism. The film, dense with meaning, is about now — economic inequality, representations of women in the media and pop culture, the hegemony of materialsim — but it also taps into something more eternal, more spiritual.

Steven Spielberg’s return to family movies is an instant classic; your kids will be showing it to their kids. With spellbinding visual effects, the film immerses us in another place, another time, and another reality. Based on a novel by Roald Dahl, we follow an orphan snatched into a world of giants by the klutzy and kind Big Friendly Giant. It’s a simple story of friendship that is beautifully told, accessible to

Jeff Nichols’ sci-fi chase movie, following a messianic boy who is being pursued by the FBI and members of a cult, feels like a lost classic someone dug up from the mid-’80s.

Midnight Special harnesses and pays homage to films like Close Encounters of the Third Kind and John Carpenter’s Starman, harkening back to when films about faith demanded a little of it from their audience. Its emotional pull sneaks up on you, building to a powerful and understated climax.

I gave up piecing together the perplexing plot of this gonzo Korean horror film, which is about a series of mysterious murders in a small, secluded town. What I’m now left with are the eerie sounds, the nightmarish images, and the overarching hysteria. The Wailing jumps between genres and effortlessly maintains a chilly atmosphere. A crime drama, a zombie film, a slapstick comedy, an exorcist flick; despite all of the different ingredients, the film is remarkably singular and coherent.

This is the best horror movie I’ve seen this year and by far the scariest.

Over 20 years after Dazed and Confused , Richard Linklater returns with a film he calls its “spiritual sequel.”

Moving us from high school to college and from the ’70s to the ’80s, Everybody Wants Some!! is a painfully funny look at early adulthood at the end of an era. Linklater balances escapism with sadness, and nostalgia with unblinking truths about the period and the characters in it. Among many miraculous things, it’s a film that somehow manages to make moustaches cool again, which is no small feat if you ask me.

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Arts

Jess Whitesel / Arts Editor

arts@the-peak.ca

Indie group Band of Horses is back again with Why Are You OK , which left me asking if the band was OK. Their 2006 song “The Funeral” is one of my favourites, along with its album Everything All the Time. Yet their latest release falls flat.

While consisting mostly of indie and indie-folk offerings, they for some reason tried to incorporate a heavier sound throughout, making the album seem like it’s going through an identity crisis.

Some of the songs do sound similar to what they cultivated with Everything All the Time. But the sloppy production and inconsistent tone make for an album that is about as exciting as watching paint dry. This album is destined to become background noise, if it isn’t totally forgotten about. –JW

Don’t stop doing drugs, kids.

That is the main takeaway from listening to this album. RHCP is trying to recapture some of the magic from Blood Sugar Sex Magik and Califonication, but it ends up just sounding like the third disc from Stadium Arcadium nobody asked for. Both of those albums were released before the band got clean and when they still took risks.

“Dark Necessities” just sounds like one of those tracks that only hardcore fans might be interested in, not because it is great but because hardcore fans love to be pretentious and know all of a band’s songs — even the bad ones.

This album is too safe, and sounds like one really, really long song. If you are a hardcore fan then by all means listen to it, but casual listeners should take a pass. –JW

I swear that the music released by the Strokes gets better and better every time. There aren’t very many bands you can say that about.

And each time they come up with something new, there always remains that distinct Strokes sound.

This trend still holds for their latest EP, Future Present Past . The first thing I noticed when listening was the fullness of the sound. The quality of production and songwriting on this record is top-tier.

Characteristic to the Strokes, the EP features Julian’s angsty vocals which will pull at your heartstrings, catchy melodies, synthy guitar, and satisfying chord progressions and resolutions. My favourite track is probably “Threat of Joy,” which includes some delicious vocal harmonies.

Everything one can love about the Strokes is included in this EP, with added maturity and finesse. –TH

Wild Rice Market Bistro is a spacious and modern-chic Asianfusion restaurant in River Market (810 Quayside Drive, #122). What I love about Wild Rice is that they pride themselves on using fresh, local, and organic ingredients to create their unique recipes inspired by East meets West. It can be a little on the pricier side for students, but you can easily make it work by going with friends and splitting various main dishes — a lot of them are hefty portions.

The menu is ever so convenient for vegans, offering a plethora of dishes to choose from, including appetizers and desserts. You don’t have to worry about anyone at the table being unhappy here: they can order anything, from the infamous Peking duck tacos to a refreshing spicy tofu wrap.

The polenta fries were quite good, well-seasoned and crispy but I’m not sure if I would order them again. Almost a dollar per fry, it was way too pricy for the awkward grittiness of fried cornmeal. They were also horrifyingly filling; do not underestimate this tiny bowl and try to eat them on your own as an appetizer unless you want to suffer.

The spicy chicken kung po can be made vegan with tofu instead of the chicken, and it’s amazing: thin rice noodles coated in a phenomenal coconut peanut sauce. I’m not going to lie, I was disappointed because in the menu it said “spicy,” but the dish was simply mild and nutty instead. This dish is the size of a small infant, so this would be one of the dishes to share with a table. I barely dented the bowl before tapping out, thanks to the fucking polenta fries.

The curried steam buns let me down because of the out-of-place texture of a certain tougher root vegetable inside the bun. The vegan butter “chicken” was just a butter chicken sauce with vegetables accompanied by rice, and was quite mediocre tasting.

Now let’s talk about the noteworthy creative and seasonal cocktails. Some of my favourite drinks are from here. The crushed velvet is a perfect berry bliss

sitting comfortably in between sweet and tart. The lotus cocktail is tropical and fresh. I’m not going to outright say that I would drink a pitcher of each anytime soon, but I’m not going to deny that offer either.

Mentally throw all the dessert options in the trash except for one precious gemstone of a dessert: the decadent Callebaut chocolate pyramid. My soul is still exclaiming about this. It was hands down the best dessert I’ve ever had and oh boy, I’ve had many. The pyramid is made up of a silky smooth, light pudding with a thin chocolate layer at the bottom and sea salt on the top. It comes with wine-poached pears which go masterfully with the chocolate pyramid, bringing together the elegant flavour combo of wine, fruit, and chocolate.

Wild Rice has its winning dishes and meh dishes, but it’s definitely more positive than not. The atmosphere is great: family-friendly and chic at the same time, which God knows is a sick illusion. The service is helpful and professional, and the open kitchen adds to the element of the home-like vibe the owner clearly wanted to depict.

Humour

Justin Stevens / Humour Editor

June 27, 2016 humour@the-peak.ca

ARTICLE FLAG

1.

2.

1) Choosing the wrong line At peak hours, choosing the correct lineup at Tim Hortons is an exercise in economic game theory. There are multiple things to consider: who’s at the till, how many people are in line, how many of said people are in groups, and the lunar orbit. There is nothing more frustrating than standing in line, desperate for that double-double, while the line beside you zips by to get their sugary snacks.

2) Getting passed over while waiting for your food I’m sure we’ve all experienced this. You’ve ordered your chicken chipotle melt, or whatever weird new concoction they’ve decided to push this month.

You get your slip of paper, and find out you’re number 100. Then you’re told to wait to the side and stand there until your number is called. You’d expect the numbers to follow some sort of chronological order, but you would be dead wrong. After a while, every number from 101 to 150 is called, and you’re left standing there silently judging every person who decided to order chilli, feeling like the last kid picked in gym class.

3) Not getting a sleeve with your coffee Ultimately, the most egregious error made by Tim Hortons employees is the fact that they don’t just give you a sleeve with your coffee. This is not a difficult concept to grasp. Coffee is hot. I need something to shield my hands so I don’t get third-degree burns walking to class. I shouldn’t have to ask for a sleeve. It’s my God-given right to have a sleeve with my coffee.

3.

4.

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14 Humour

Justin Stevens / Humour Editor

humour@the-peak.ca

T

makes this a great place to touch up your makeup, work on homework, or find salvation. The stalls can be a little squishy, though.

78.3/100 West Mall Centre individual washroom The ’60s mod aesthetic of this room is both fun and a little scary. It’s very spacious, but you may get dizzy from the black and white checkered tile design. Pro tip: Do not make this the venue for your next acid trip. It will probably go very wrong.

87.7809/100 AQ 3000 level multi-stall With this bathroom’s seafoam colour palette and modern aesthetic, it is definitely in the running for SFU’s best-designed bathroom. Additionally, the rooms are spacious and provide users with excellent acoustics — a very fitting space for jam sessions or choir concerts.

906/100

SFU Burnaby and Vancouver have a diverse selection of vicinities for ladies to do the ol’ one and two.

Between the surprising number of seemingly un-potty-trained students and explosive water pressures, choosing a bathroom that’s the right fit for you can be tough.

As an experienced explorer of the SFU bathroom landscape, it is my duty to bestow unto you my

knowledge of how to best answer the call of nature. You can find the merit of each bathroom expressed as a clear, concise numerical value at the end of each review.

Blusson Hall 9000 and 10000 levels These rooms are dimly lit, exuding a relaxing and at times romantic atmosphere.

Unfortunately, it takes too much muscle power to flush the toilets, and the sinks’ splash-zone radius reaches at least five miles in all directions.

67/100 West Mall Centre women’s multi-stall There’s a slightly retro vibe at work here, and the bright lighting

Harbour Centre 1000 level near-the-study-area multi-stall Don’t let its normal appearance fool you: this washroom has an average toilet seat splatterto-non-splatter ratio of 4:2 and faucets that are liable to induce third-degree burns. Its prime location means it is prone to heavy traffic. It is best to abstain from these stalls during rush times — the 20–30 minute mark of every hour — to avoid lineups, accidents, and slippery conditions.

-18/100 Harbour Centre 1000 level near-the-study-area individual washroom Is there a secret stash of meth hidden within the walls

of this room? I’m not sure, but I definitely wouldn’t rule out the possibility. This single room is vaguely reminiscent of the setting of the first Saw movie.

Though I wouldn’t recommend it for regular use due to its tense atmosphere, if you’re finding your menstrual cycle to be particularly painful one day and need somewhere to go die slowly on the floor, this place will keep you out of the way of other people.

(-4)(8) + 14x5 + -(7x4)42/100 Harbour Centre 2000 level multi-stall This one is all white. Rest assured that you haven’t suddenly entered heaven or that white room from 2001: A Space Odyssey , it’s just a really white bathroom. Though there isn’t anything wrong about this one, there isn’t anything right about it either — it completely lacks personality and pizzazz. One might say it’s the plain oatmeal of SFU washrooms.

40π72/100 Maggie Benston down-fromHigher-Grounds multi-stall This squishy mouse hole can be tough to find and tough to use.

I do not recommend it to anyone whose body circumference exceeds seven inches. Do not use unless absolutely necessary.

-6(e)/100 Maggie Benston across-fromSFU Bookstore multi-stall Is this washroom even open? I don’t know, but I do know that it wasn’t there for me when I needed it the most, and can therefore deduce that it is unreliable. There is enough room to practice cartwheeling in there, though. φφ/100

Diversions

Across 1. Dalai ____ 5. ____ Beach (D-Day site) 10. Knocks 14. Not written 15. Bicycle part 16. Rocker ____ Clapton 17. Commit (a crime) 19. ____ vault 20. Uncle ____ 21. Considers 22. Sour fruit 23. Moistureless 25. Expand 26. Rent again 28. Not fancy 31. Face shape 32. Type of plane ticket (hyph.)

37. Radio and newspapers, e.g.

39. Billion years 40. Got out of bed 41. Most beautiful 43. Bakery employee 44. Country roads 45. Tailor again 46. Motto 50. Conceal 51. Rips 52. Astronomer Carl ____ 55. Watering place 58. Lighten 59. Kind of cardboard

61. Tibet's continent 62. Confess 63. Necklace part 64. "____ we forget" 65. Glue 66. Miscalculates Down 1. Trims (off) 2. District 3. Citrus preserve 4. Mont Blanc, e.g.

5. Made a choice 6. Insignificant 7. Eve's mate 8. Sombreros 9. Beerlike brew 10. Drive off 11. Fragrance 12. Aviator 13. Play part

18. Censor 22. Singer ____ Ronstadt 24. Ignited again 25. Racket 26. Frolic 27. Happily ____ after 28. Groom 29. Slack 30. Dad's sisters 33. Tested 34. City in NY 35. Words of comprehension (2 wds.)

36. Salon treatment, for short 38. Road guide 42. Actor ____ McKellen 45. Wedding band 46. Swipe 47. Rent 48. Desert haven

Maia Odegaard / Business Manager

June 27, 2016 maia@the-peak.ca

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49. Terrific 50. ____ couture 52. Root beer, e.g.

53. Weapons 54. Sand 56. Juicy fruit 57. Does sums 59. ____ and gown 60. Lincoln, informally

EVENT LISTINGS ARE FREE FOR SFU STUDENTS AND STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS. SEND THE DATE, TIME, LOCATION, NAME, AND A 15-WORD DESCRIPTION TO CLASSIFIEDS@THE-PEAK.CA

16 Sounds of the