VOL. 171 ISSUE 11 JULY 18, 2022
NEWS
O PINIO NS
ART S & C U LTU R E
H U MO U R
TMX will lose $600 million
Burnaby campus is beautiful!
An interview with Neha Sekhon
Feast your eyes on this literary magnum opus
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Representation and recognition How the neurodiversity label helped me feel seen
Features P.08
Volume 171, Issue 11 Reading poems since 1965
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Maggie Benston Centre 2900 Simon Fraser University 8888 University Drive Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6 (778) 782-5110
NEWS SFU director speaks on the sentencing of TMX protestor
OPINIONS
COVER Angela Shen EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michelle Young eic@the-peak.ca
Do we need a new left movement?
COPY EDITOR Nancy La copy@the-peak.ca
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FACT CHECKER Gurleen Aujla factchecker@the-peak.ca BUSINESS / ADVERTISING MANAGER Yuri Zhou business@the-peak.ca 778.782.3598
FEATURES
PROMOTIONS MANAGER Jaymee Salisi promotions@the-peak.ca
Autism is not a limitation
NEWS EDITOR Karissa Ketter news@the-peak.ca
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NEWS WRITERS Chloë Arneson and Pranjali Mann OPINIONS EDITOR Luke Faulks opinions@the-peak.ca
ARTS & CULTURE
FEATURES EDITOR Meera Eragoda features@the-peak.ca
The Boys confronts social problems
ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Gem Yelin Lee arts@the-peak.ca HUMOUR EDITOR Kelly Chia humour@the-peak.ca STAFF WRITERS Nercya Kalino, Yasmin Simsek, Isabella Urbani, and Olivia Visser
HUMOUR
PRODUCTION AND DESIGN EDITOR Josh Ralla production@the-peak.ca
What do you mean I just have to talk to my parents?
How it works!
Get involved!
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.
All SFU students can contribute to The Peak and get paid for their work! Contact an editor or follow us on social media to find out when our weekly pitch meetings are.
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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.
MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Karla Salazar multimedia@the-peak.ca ASSISTANT MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Rashi Sethi WEBSITE MANAGER Karar Al-Mamaar web@the-peak.ca BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kelly Chia, Emma Dunbar, Emma Jean, Angela Wachowick, and Yuri Zhou
We acknowledge that The Peak’s office is located and our paper is produced, distributed, and read on the Unceded Coast Salish Territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), Kwikwitlem (Coquitlam), Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo, and Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) Peoples. Unceded means that this land was never surrendered, relinquished, or handed over in any way. We recognize that the unceded land that we occupy includes not only the SFU Burnaby campus, but extends to the land occupied by the Vancouver and Surrey campuses as well.
CONTRIBUTORS C Icart, Lori Jiang, and Jerrica Zabala PEAK ASSOCIATES Jiamin Bai, Max Lorette, Stella Ngyuen, and Angela Shen
NEWS
May 16, 2022
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CLIMATE CRIMINALS
A rally in support of Takaro was held on the day he was presented before the Supreme Court.
PHOTO: Pranjali J Mann / The Peak
SFU professor Tim Takaro sentenced to 30 days in jail for opposing TMX BC Supreme Court witnessed press addressal regarding Takaro’s hearing P RA NJALI J MAN N // NE WS W RI TE R
On the morning of June 13, SFU health sciences professor Tim Takaro was presented before the Supreme Court pertaining to his violation of the injunction zone around the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (TMX) project worksites. The injunction zone is a five metre perimeter around the TMX construction site made by the BC Supreme Court to prohibit protestors from impeding construction. Previously, Takaro had climbed a tree at the TMX construction site in Burnaby. He occupied a tent around “100 feet up in a tree inside a Trans Mountain worksite [ . . . ] for three days before being arrested,” according to Burnaby Now. Dr. Kate Tairyan, SFU director of undergraduate programs for health sciences, expressed her disappointment at Takaro’s sentence. “This is not the right way to use public resources and public money. Jailing people who are warning us about the impact of climate change and global heating [ . . . ] as criminals is of course painful to see and witness,” she said in an interview with The Peak. The construction of the TMX pipeline has climate activists concerned. “There is no absence of evidence that fossil fuel projects, especially expansion and proliferation of those projects, is harmful,” said Tairyan. “British Columbians know [ . . . ] that this project is going to hurt them, it’s going to harm them.” The Peak attended a protest that occured on the day of Takaro’s sentencing. The first speaker was Ruth Walmsley, a member of the Brunette River Six, who said, “The Coast Salish people do not give their consent for this project.” On Takaro’s protest, Walmsley added, “I think he’s a hero, not a criminal [for] stopping new energy projects when governments fail to act to protect us from climate disaster.” The next speaker was Dr. Linda Thyer from Doctors for Planetary Health. Thyer said Takaro, during his professional and academic career, researched air pollution in connection with burning of fossil fuels. She noted inhalation of dangerous gasses can “prematurely kill
over 15,000 Canadians every year.” Dr. Shannon Waters, member of Stz’uminus First Nation and physician said, “Our ecosystems are our healthcare system. We must move away from our harmful and destructive practices and behaviors, to ones which will allow life to flourish.” Tsleil-Waututh land defender Will George addressed the gatherers by thanking them for their solidarity, efforts, and presence. George was also previously jailed for violating the TMX injunction in May this year and is currently out on bail. “I don’t belong in that place [ . . . ] we don’t belong in there, we are not criminals.” SFU psychology professor Michael Schmidt explained both the SFU Faculty Association and Simon Fraser Student Society have opposed TMX. He said, “If the students say no, and the faculty say no, then I think it’s fair to claim that SFU says no to TMX!” He was also concerned about the risk to the SFU community from a “fire in the tank farm that would trap us on the mountain with no escape route.” He noted, “We are also concerned, many of us even more concerned, about the climate consequences of this pipeline and what it means for young people, our children, and our grandchildren.” He added people should be cutting back on fossil fuels, investing into renewable energy, and “providing generous support to individuals and communities who might be economically affected” by this transition. Lastly, a member of the Youth Stop TMX initiative highlighted the need to increase education among youth regarding TMX this summer. Expressing concern on the expansion, they said, “I can’t even begin to fathom what the future is going to look like. It’s terrifying. But it’s not terrifying to the point that we sit down because that’s what they want us to do. We have to power through that fear and still continue to stand up and mobilize for us and for our children.” On June 15, Takaro was sentenced to 30 days in jail for criminal contempt, after pleading guilty on June 13 before the court. The judge said their harsh judgment was to deter others from ignoring court orders.
On the arrest, Tairyan said, “Canada is not going to maintain its reputation as a leading nation if it continues supporting this project.” She added, “Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects, fracking, and anything that extracts fossil fuels is already proven by science that it is going to hurt and harm individuals, communities, livelihoods and our future and our planetary health, our health, public health, and planetary health.”
Our ecosystems are our healthcare system. We must move away from our harmful and destructive practices and behaviors, to ones which will allow life to flourish. DR. SHANNON WATERS // PHYSICIAN
LNG projects involve turning raw natural gas into a liquid form by cooling it, whereas fracking involves drilling deep into the earth to release the natural gas from the ground. On the Trans Mountain website, their statement on environment notes “extensive work has determined environmental impacts and mitigation measures to reduce those impacts. Our goal is to protect the environment, have as little impact as possible and, where we do have an impact, ensure we return the land to a similar function. Ultimately, we can’t put the land back exactly the way it was.” Critics of the pipeline cite additional issues such as oil spills, toxic fumes, fires, and carbon pollution. Tairyan said, “If we mess up [the environment] our children are not going and our grandchildren are not going to be able to have a livable planet.”
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NEWS
News Editor Karissa Ketter
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News Writers Chloë Arneson and Pranjali J Mann
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news@the-peak.ca
OVERLOOKED ELDERS
Experiences of older South Asian migrants in Hong Kong SFU gerontology lecture series presents Dr. Daniel Lai and his research NE RCYA KALI N O // STAF F W RI TE R
On July 6, SFU’s department of gerontology held a free public lecture presented by Dr. Daniel W. L. Lai, dean of the faculty of social sciences at Hong Kong Baptist University. Lai is also an adjunct professor in the department of gerontology at SFU. The presentation discussed the experiences of older South Asian migrants in Hong Kong. Lai’s mixed method research investigated ethnic Chinese and South Asian populations. Mixed method research is the use of more than one research methodologies such as qualitative and quantitative research processes. The topic highlighted ethnic minority groups whose needs are commonly ignored. Lai noted this is caused by the lack of attention to the systemic inequalities in Hong Kong. The cost of private healthcare and long wait times for access to public healthcare leaves people with few options. “Not seeking treatment is not just related to cultural norms but is also related to the systemic issue of cost. Hong Kong has a public health system, public hospitals, government funded community health clinics, but unfortunately the waiting list is long,” Lai stated. He explained these limitations come from the wait for public healthcare and the cost of private healthcare, because older
Lai is the dean of the faculty of social sciences at Hong Kong Baptist. people are more likely to not have access to private family doctors. While the government has a health care coupon with limited appointments for private family clinics, those clinics will most likely not accept them to avoid the administrative burden that comes with getting them approved.
PHOTO: Sarah Qiu
day to day living. He used an interviewing process that was conducted with the help of partner organizations to gain access to these South Asain minority groups.
Lai shared the process of the qualitative research which drew on the motivations of migration, challenges, and strengths of the aging South Asian population. This highlighted the experiences of the South Asian families in Hong Kong. The study involved 46 South Asian people who were 55 years and older.
“Interestly enough, admittedly, I would say the majority of the medical staff work under high pressure because the people, the number of patients they deal with everyday, I think is almost triple or quadruple compared to the numbers of the rest of society,” Lai stated. He explained that due to the number of people seeking care, only a few minutes are spent with each patient, which is often not enough to understand the patient’s background.
Lai explained the hindrances of the language barrier that is associated with accessibility of health care for immigrants. “Interpretation services in the health care system are very limited, most of the time people have to refer to finding family members and we all understand the difficulties of finding family members to do the translation [ . . . ] the time, privacy issues, those sort of things.”
Another theme Lai discussed was the barriers in the healthcare delivery system. He noted most of the participants did not explicitly indicate racial discrimination within the qualitative section of the research. They indicated the medical services are not adequate and mostly unavailable due to the waitlist. They also suggested providing access to interpreters would be helpful.
Lai shared the findings of the research that looked at the older South Asian minority groups, looking at their experiences and behaviors as well as stories told from their
“When we are talking about social support, [there] are structural issues they are facing in terms of expanding their social network,” said Lai.
CLIMATE CATASTROPHE
Parliamentary Budget Office declares TMX as non-profitable Climate Convergence organizer is concerned the expansion is economically and environmentally detrimental to BC P RA NJALI J MAN N // NE WS W RI TE R
The Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) of the Canadian government declared the Trans Mountain Pipeline project (TMX) as non-profitable in its report on June 22. According to their analysis, the project will result in a net loss of $600 million. To learn more about this, The Peak interviewed Metro Vancouver’s Climate Convergence organizer, Alison Bodine. Climate Convergence is a collective of various grassroot climate justice organizations and activists working towards preventing climate change and protecting the environment from toxic pollution. As noted on the Government of Canada website, the TMX pipeline is set to triple the carrying capacity by twinning the existing oil pipeline, which originates from the Alberta tar sands. Bodine mentioned this expansion will increase tanker traffic in Burrard Inlet by seven times. The Rainforest Conservation Foundation reported this will have grave repercussions for marine and natural environments due to heightened risk of oil spills. Bodine pointed out this expansion is not fulfilling the Trudeau government’s 2018 claims in approving the expansion, where the Liberal government stated the project would help against climate change. “That has been exposed as a complete lie given the project did not create one penny to go towards socalled climate mitigation or climate action in Canada,” she said. According to her, this public money could have been used for other public concerns. “People in Canada need money for real social justice, but that’s not only thinking about Canada
The TMX project is set to triple the carrying capacity of the existing oil pipeline. divesting from oil and gas extraction projects. That’s also money for housing and health care and education, which I think is very critical at this time [ . . . ] so the money that’s going into building this disastrous pipeline is a losing proposition. And it’s really a complete waste.” PBO officer Yves Giroux said in an interview with CBC News that the report “does not take into consideration the broader benefits to the country.”
The money that’s going into building this disastrous pipeline is a losing proposition. And it’s really a complete waste. ALISON BODINE ORGANIZER, CLIMATE CONVERGENCE, METRO VANCOUVER
PHOTO: Adam Jones / Flickr
global energy crisis which has been worsened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Bodine explained the TMX expansion encapsulates and runs through the city of Burnaby. This poses both “human and environmental disaster and a great risk, especially to the 40,000 plus students that live up on Burnaby Mountain,” according to Bodine. Bodine called upon people to join the opposition and hold the government accountable. She commented, “We believe fully that this pipeline will be stopped. There is strong opposition from regular people across the Lower Mainland [ . . . ] And I just want to share that sense of hope with people, because I think a lot of this can seem really impossible, but change is possible. It is possible to stop these projects.” According to Research Co., a Vancouver-based polling firm, 55% of British Columbians are disappointed with the management of the project and 47% of people believe the pipeline poses health and safety concerns.
Adrienne Vaupshas, press secretary for the finance minister, told CBC News, “The Trans Mountain expansion project is in the national interest and will make Canada and the Canadian economy more sovereign and more resilient.”
She elaborated there are multiple opportunities to stand up for this cause. Climate Convergence and other climate justice organizing are great places to get involved in this “fight for our Mother Earth.”
The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers believes the pipeline is now more needed than ever because of the
You can find more information on campaigns and initiatives of Climate Convergence BC on their website.
OPINIONS
May 16, 2022
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WHAT DESIGN FLAW?
WHAT GRINDS OUR GEARS? Watching TV in class The disrespect to distract me in this boring class
P HOTO : Glenn Carstens-Peters / Unsplash
Get outta here with your “prison architecture” comments!
P H OTO: Amirul Anirban / The Peak
In defence of the Burnaby campus This campus does not deserve all the criticism it gets about its looks
C ICART // SFU STUD E NT
We’ve all complained, but it’s time to face it: the Burnaby campus is a uniquely beautiful place to go to school. Our main campus tends to be known for its concrete buildings and brutalist architecture, but it’s so much more than the go-to for movies that need a chilly, foreboding atmosphere. The campus has a rich history, a gorgeous conservation area, fantastic art, and unrivaled views. SFU is a commuter school, so most students attend class and immediately go home. That sucks! Partly because it undermines school spirit, but more importantly because it means that students don’t get a chance to fully explore what the campus has to offer. We’ve got so many hidden gems. A personal favourite of mine is the Djavad Mowafaghian courtyard next to Blusson Hall. It has a lovely fountain, picnic tables, and a ton of greenery making it a nice place to chill with friends between classes or a very relaxing outdoor study spot. Top that, Harbour Centre! The Skwxwu7mesh (Squamish) place name for Burnaby Mountain is Lhukw’lhukw’áyten, meaning “where the bark gets pe[e]led in spring.” This name refers to the bark of the Arbutus tree that the Skwxwu7mesh people have seasonally harvested for generations. It’s a testament to a rich regional tradition that’s deeply rooted in an appreciation of the environment. It’s a tradition that we as students should continue by valuing the campus’ surroundings. SFU’s location atop Lhukw’lhukw’áyten also means students get to casually enjoy a breathtaking view of the mountains from many places. The sixth floor of the AQ and the SUB ballroom are some of my favourite spots to snap a pic. The outdoor seating at West Mall Centre is also a fantastic spot. If you want to spend even more time admiring this location, stay after class and head to the conservation area. The rose
garden and eco-sculptures are stunning, and so is the view of the Burrard Inlet and the Vancouver skyline. It’s also an unreal spot to take photos during cherry blossom season. It’s the perfect area for a picnic and to catch the sunset. For those who prefer more active study breaks, the Burnaby campus is surrounded by gorgeous trails. Whether you’re into running, biking, or leisurely walks, there’s a trail for you.
The campus’ rich history is intertwined with the uniquely stunning environment in which it is situated.
Students who aren’t in the mood to explore the rainforest may be interested in grabbing a public art guide at the SFU gallery on the third floor of the AQ and discovering the diverse art this campus offers. The guide leads you through three walks across the Burnaby campus and allows you to admire a selection of works from the Simon Fraser Art Collection. My favourite is the second walk which highlights a number of Indigenous and anti-colonial pieces in the AQ, including Insurgent Message for Canada, a digital print by Edgar Heap of Birds that reads “IMPERIAL CANADA WHERE IS YOUR STATUS CARD?” With the proposed gondola finally approved, we’re one step closer to resolving one of the actual problems with the Burnaby campus: that commute! Enough with the think-pieces about how our campus is “one big design flaw.” The Burnaby campus absolutely rules. Everyone else is just jealous.
I get it, class can be — and often is — super boring. And I’ll admit that I’ve taken the occasional opportunity to check out Instagram to see which of my friends are on their way to Spain, leaving me to fend for myself in this rollercoaster Vancouver weather. Sometimes I even feel like I can make a snoozy class more productive by catching up on a never-ending list of weekly SFU emails. But I have enough respect for my fellow students to sit in the back of the class so as to not disturb, on the off chance that someone finds this class interesting. The problem is that some jackals don’t have that kind of respect for their peers. Some will straight-up watch TV. We fly so far past the line of OK when someone whips out their 15” laptop and decides to whittle away the hours by binging Netflix. Sure, I love episode 20 of the third season of The Office as much as the next person, but all in due time, my friend, all in due time. I’m fighting an inner battle every minute of this class to stay focused. When you watch TV right in front of me, I’m a lost cause. What’s even worse is how incredibly nice some of those classmates are. When they notice I’m watching behind them, they have the temerity to charitably put on subtitles for me. Possibly the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me, and it’s the straw of distraction that breaks my focus’ back. How can I learn about qualitative data methods when Michael Scott is throwing watermelons off a roof? I need you to shut it down and give me a win over my weak-ass backbone so I can actually get my money’s worth at this institution. Close up the series and let me have something to show for my years’ worth of procrastination. Just remember to send me the episode number so I know where to watch from when I get home.
Written by Yasmin Vejs Simsek
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OPINIONS
Opinions Editor Luke Faulks
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opinions@the-peak.ca
Do we need a “new left” after the Roe ruling? Students Olivia and C talk about where western leftists should go after the disastrous Roe v. Wade decision
WRIT TEN BY OLIVIA VISSER & C ICART
The end of Roe v. Wade, the latest of a slew of rulings by a farright US Supreme Court, underlines the need for a concerted, long-term effort by left-wingers to effect progressive change. Just like how right-wingers worked for half a century to construct a judicial framework willing to overturn Roe, the left might need a new movement to effect meaningful, long-term change on issues like labour rights, climate change, voting rights, and protections for minorities. Olivia: Ever since I found myself involved in politics, I’ve heard others stress the importance of civility. According to them, the “other side” won’t be as receptive to someone perceived as overly passionate about a social cause. My thoughts? Civility has gotten us nowhere. From politicians refusing to take solid action on crucial issues to social media “slacktivism,” it’s clear by now that the modern left is not working. There’s a trend of steadily increasing far-right ideology in Canada, and I don’t think a moderate approach will secure a healthy and happy future for our future generations. From climate change to democratic backsliding, western countries are suffering the consequences of left-leaning citizens getting too comfortable in their privileges while thinking they’re contributing to change through performative activism. And so it’s time the left stops relying largely on so-called “regular” civilians to champion progressive causes, day-in, day-out. The overturning of Roe v. Wade is a pressing example but only one of many that show our politicians aren’t getting the job done. We should have the genuine support of those with privilege and political power, instead of their performative and reactionary gestures. Don’t think abortion could ever be restricted in Canada? I’d say think again. One Conservative MP, Arnold Vierson, celebrated the Roe v. Wade decision and described abortion as “the greatest human rights violation of our time.” The silence from the rest of the Conservative party does not necessarily mean they disagree with the ruling, but perhaps that they’re waiting for a better opportunity to act against our country’s abortion rights. C: The overturning of Roe v. Wade is devastating. That being said, I think it’s essential to avoid a knee-jerk reaction about what the left should start doing because it obscures the work already being done. So many citizens have been doing the work for so long regarding abortion rights and many other social justice issues, like LGBTQIA2S+ rights and climate activism. I agree that we need to be patient, deliberate, and strategic. But to me, that means not attempting to reinvent the wheel every time something negative happens. The left consists of experts, activists, and community organizers working against existing power structures. Issues like systemic racism in politics can be part of the reason marginalized Canadians may favour non-electoral political activities. Marginalized leftists face obstacles getting into politics or feeling like they don’t belong once they get a foot in the door. For instance, in her farewell speech to the House of Commons, NDP MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq said the racial profiling she regularly experienced from Parliamentary Protective Service made her feel unsafe. We need to pressure politicians, but we also need to recognize that systemic issues can get in the way of us having the politicians we want. Specifically touching on Roe v. Wade and what it means for Canada, we know that abortion is already decriminalized in Canada. The task is to keep it that way while improving abortion access. We need to stay vigilant against the creation
ILLU STRATION: Lori Jiang / The Peak of legislation that could open the door to politicizing and criminalizing abortion in Canada, but we have a decent legal framework for abortion in this country. That framework includes Section 7 (iii) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which explicitly affirms Canadians’ right to abortion as part of their “personal autonomy and [ . . . ] ability to control his or her own physical or psychological integrity.” We don’t need a “new” anything. We need to start listening to activists and supporting their efforts. Olivia: I’d argue that in many ways our government’s left is not representative of actual leftist values, and I’m sure you’d probably agree with me there. Activists have been doing hard work without recognition for a long time, and you’re right that marginalized people face significant barriers in politics. It feels like the left has gotten complacent by settling over and over for the “lesser evil,” which has contributed to systemic inequalities and poor governance. I, for one, can’t count how many times I’ve heard people say they’re voting for Trudeau because it’s the “safer” choice.
We don’t need a “new” anything. We need to start listening to activists and supporting their efforts. By “new left,” I mean one that listens to the people who are already doing the work, so I agree with you there — I just don’t think we have enough of that listening being done right now. I’m also not sure that leaving abortion legally untouched in Canada is necessarily a good thing. I do understand the argument that rights-based legislation might make it easier to restrict abortion in the long run, but I also think it could just as easily go the other way. By avoiding a clear stance on the issue, abortion remains a grey area in Canada, and we open ourselves up to even more difficulties in accessing this crucial service. Making abortion a legally protected right would help increase its accessibility, which remains a huge barrier. People often suffer when healthcare is left almost entirely up to the discretion of provincial governments. For instance, rural areas in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Manitoba have no public access to abortion. The R. v. Morgentaler case resulted in abortion being decriminalized, but we still have no legislation to protect fair and equal access to the service. C: You’re right. I agree that it is sometimes challenging to find leftist values represented. The deeper we dive into this conversation, the more I have a problem with the vague term “the left.” What is that? Right-wing reactionaries fearmongering about “the left” and “the liberals” paints a far more unified picture of leftist politics than what it actually looks like. I think settling for the “lesser evil” is more of a centrist approach than a leftist one. Many leftists argue against that practice for the reasons you’ve named. The big way to fight the approach is through advocating for electoral reform, a failed Liberal promise. I think leaving abortion decriminalized is a clear stance; a clear stance that abortion is healthcare.
By creating legislation, we separate it from other healthcare procedures by politicizing it. The Canada Health Act exists, and it promises universal healthcare. When that is not happening, that is not a policy failure or proof that we need legislation. It means that our governments are failing to enforce a regulatory framework we already have. We don’t need a new framework; we need consequences to be systematically imposed on provinces that do not uphold the Canada Health Act. Abortion should not be treated as a single issue. Many of the barriers that citizens face regarding reproductive justice are connected to other forms of marginalization. A legal rights framework is not the best way to address these inequities. Olivia: Where we disagree is that I think abortion is already a political issue, and there’s no turning back from that at this point. It’s been made a political issue by the people who fight to criminalize our rights because of their personal beliefs. The US’ lack of federal legislation enshrining the right to abortion is in part what led to its overturning. Avoiding legislation in Canada to try and depoliticize abortion doesn’t make a clear stance, it opens it up to restrictions. Moreover, something being healthcare does not necessarily ensure unrestricted access. Abortion should be a single issue, just as other issues that are still healthcare-related are single issues. The process of Medical Assistance in Dying has its own legislation and understandably, its own restrictions. Someone going through the process must see two physicians and undergo a waiting period of 90 days after being cleared as eligible. If the same process applied to abortion, there would be serious humanitarian consequences. The Canadian Health Act does not do enough to protect equal access to healthcare because its very framework relies on the undefined phrase “reasonable access,” which counts on provincial interpretation. Decriminalization is not enough to make abortion accessible. To me, viewing it as the end goal of abortion legislation underlines a need for leftists to take bolder institutional stances. It’s very difficult to challenge corrupt systems with a non-systemic approach. C: Abortion has been politicized, but it shouldn’t be. We don’t want the conversation to be about who is for or against abortion in the same way we don’t have conversations about who is for or against hip replacements. We agree that people need them, and we focus on finding better ways to provide them. I say that abortion is not a single issue because the folks with the most difficulty accessing abortion in Canada include those living in remote areas, people living in poverty, racialized, LGBTQIA2S+, disabled, and undocumented individuals. For this reason, I want to ensure we look at abortion as inherently connected to reproductive justice, gender justice, racial justice, and economic justice. This reminds us that the right to choose is not only about abortion. Even today, Indigenous women are being sterilized without their consent in Canada. Decriminalizing abortion does not inherently make it accessible, but neither does legislation. While the overturning of Roe v. Wade has brought this issue to the forefront, it is not a new issue. Sexuality and reproductive health (SRH) advocates across Canada have been doing the work and provide great insight into what still needs to be done. That includes increasing funding to provinces to expand SRH and implementing comprehensive health education in all Canadian schools. If you want to support them, I encourage you to read the BC Reproductive Justice Manifesto and reach out to your MLA and MP to ensure that addressing and funding SRH is a priority for them.
ARTS & CULTURE
May 16, 2022
7
POETIC PONDERINGS
Inspired by poets like Rupi Kaur and Atticus, Sekhon seeks to appeal to poetry enthusiasts of all levels.
PHOTO: Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson / The Peak
In conversation with Neha Sekhon on life cycle of a wildflower SFU student reflects on love, anxiety, and cultural identity in her new collection MAX LORET TE // PEA K ASSO CI ATE
SFU student and poet Neha Sekhon pours her heart and soul out in her self-published poetry book, life cycle of a wildflower. This book explores Sekhon’s coming of age story in an easily digestible way, all the while being heartwrenchingly sad, celebratory, and hopeful. It features short form poetry and stylized letters reflecting upon various kinds of love, personal anxieties, and cultural identity. Inspired by poets Rupi Kaur and Atticus, Sekhon’s poetry appeals to both the seasoned and unseasoned poetry enthusiast. Upon reading her work, it’s apparent how much care, love, and vulnerability went into this collection, which prompted me to interview her and ask some burning questions. Responses have been edited for concision and clarity.
P: I can tell from the way that you’ve written a lot of your poems that you put a lot of care into editing and revising them in order to get your ideas across. Could you walk me through your process of taking a poem from its first to final draft? NS: Editing was the hardest part of this journey for sure. Because of how long the book has been in the works (over three years) a lot of them look very different from what they started out as, which is amazing to see because it’s evidence of how much my writing has grown. I am now in a position where I can get the same message across but in better words. Because it was self-published, the editing process was very pressure-inducing. There was no professional editor to tell me that something was wrong — it was just me and my sisters reading it time and time again, hoping we weren’t missing anything. I will say that on a non-grammatical level there is comfort in poetry because almost every line can have a double meaning, so even if it might seem one way to one person, the next ten can read it and see something totally different. I guess that’s the beauty in this form of writing.
P: What was the process like in structuring the order of your poems and letters? NS: I didn’t want chronological because I wanted everything to be mixed. I never wanted it to seem obvious that some pieces may have been written at a much younger age; I wanted it to flow. I also decided to stay away from the progressive chapter idea because it felt dishonest to an extent. Though I have been through and grown through many seasons of my life, I am not a fully formed being of full confidence and security. I can have a life-is-great day and then wake up the next morning feeling crushed by my anxiety and not knowing what I’m looking ahead at. I wanted it to come across as one giant letter, to flow as one piece, wavering in and out of different experiences and emotions.
P: A lot of your poetry centres around the concept of love, romantic love, heartbreak, familial love, and self-love. Could you walk me through what all these various kinds of love mean to you? NS: This is an interesting question because love is probably the emotion I’ve struggled with the most in my life. My relationship with it has always been strange, I guess. Self-love was foreign to me for much of my childhood and adolescent years. They were so unfortunately shadowed by insecurity and shame and self-doubt that it left such little room for self-love. Familial love has always been so strong for me. It is in my programming, in my bones and blood, to carry family as my highest priority. My parents and sisters and onward extension have been central to my upbringing and, even now, continue to be so important to me. That definitely had roots from a cultural standpoint. When it comes to heartbreak, I believe that it can truly be caused by anyone: partners, family, friends, or yourself. So writing about those experiences and different forms of heartbreak
helped me work through ones in the past and attempt to understand ones ahead of me. The book definitely helped me start to understand my relationship with romantic love; how I felt about it, how I wanted to feel about it, and how others feel about it. It helped me explore and see through my own fears and doubts about it.
I wanted people to feel heard and understood because books and poetry did that for me. When a poem can put your loneliest moment into words — it’s so powerful. NEHA SEKHON // POET
P: What do you most hope that your readers will get out of your writing? NS: I hope that they can relate to it. I loved writing these pieces because I knew that what was a letter to a version of myself could, to someone else, be an expression of their past relationships. I wanted to write something people felt. I wanted people to feel heard and understood because books and poetry did that for me. When a poem can put your loneliest moment into words — it’s so powerful. I hope at the end of the book they can feel something, whether understood or reflective; I hope they can walk away with a piece of the wildflower. Currently, Neha Sekhon’s poetry collection is available for purchase on Amazon.
FEATURES
Growing up unaware of my autistic identity The neurodiversity movement allowed me to accept who I am Written by Olivia Visser
ILLUSTRATION: Angela Shen / The Peak
The concept of neurodiversity was not widely discussed when I was growing up. People were either normal or they were weird. There was no nuance to this conversation, nor any way to approach our differences without creating an “us vs. them” dynamic. When I was diagnosed with autism at 21, I realized all the quirks I saw as alienating me from society were just differences that make me who I am — differences that are actually shared by many of my peers. The word “neurodiversity” simply refers to the existing variation in human brains. Someone who is neurodivergent is someone who does not fit into the “typical” neurotype — the ability to navigate situations the general population has deemed “normal.” This word is commonly used to describe people with autism and ADHD, but it applies to all neurological differences, from learning disabilities to personality disorders and beyond. Neurodivergent people account for roughly 15 to 20% of the world’s population, but they lack support and representation because of the outdated belief that neurodivergence is an affliction to be overcome. All throughout my childhood, I recall having felt a nagging sense of disconnect from the rest of the world. I’d watch from the outside while kids my age played together, never quite grasping how others could effortlessly open their mouths and talk. I was a quiet kid in elementary school: polite enough to stay out of trouble and capable of getting decent grades without putting in too much effort. I was diagnosed with ADHD at 11, once I started struggling to keep up with increased workloads. Parents and teachers were well meaning yet dismissive, attributing my struggles with schoolwork and making friends to self-esteem problems. According to adults, I just needed the time to grow into my own identity. But I didn’t know what my identity was. I had gotten by in life by copying the mannerisms of those around me. I know now this is referred to as “masking” or “camouflaging” and it’s incredibly common for autistic people, which is why we often go undiagnosed for so long. This is also what contributes to autistic burnout for many young people who reach a breaking point in managing the high demands of adult life. I experienced this after the shift to my first year of university, having increased difficulties with memory, energy, and overstimulation. At the time, I didn’t realize why it felt like I was losing my social and self-care skills. Now I know that the expectation of trying to fit into this neurotypical world is often what contributes to periods of additional stress for autistic people.
“
There are endless ways to be autistic, just as there are endless ways to be human.
”
Without this terminology, though, as I grew up, I only knew that socialization did not come naturally for me. Adults viewed what they saw as shyness as something to be overcome, so I felt shame for still struggling as I approached adulthood. The few childhood memories I have of openly being myself ended in bullying. To peers, the “real me” was too loud, too weird, and too direct. Because of these experiences, I shut myself in, preventing my classmates from truly getting to know me. I didn’t know much about autism at the time, so I thought my difficulties with communication were because of something that needed to be fixed. When you’re unaware of your autistic identity, you have no idea why the ins and outs of daily life are so terribly exhausting. For one, masking only gets you so far. I could spend all day rehearsing a conversation and practicing reciprocity in my head, but once things go “off-script” I’m always a deer in the headlights. I can remember moments from retail jobs where I’d completely shut down due to stress and find myself unable to speak. Other times, I’d miss customers’ blatant jokes or find it painful to look them in the eyes. I developed a persona as a clueless and clumsy young adult, and eventually discovered that subscribing to this naïve façade was the easiest way to get by in social situations. This absolutely devastated me because all I wanted was to fit in while being myself.
I realized I might be autistic while viewing a presentation put on by SFU Autistics United as a part of the training for a summer camp I was volunteering with. The presenter described the autism spectrum as a colour wheel instead of a linear line, and a light bulb went off in my head. According to this analogy, the way autism presents is varied depending on individual differences. Instead of having “severe” or “mild” autism, someone may have significant sensory processing difficulties but high social skills. Alternatively, someone may be fully non-speaking with restricted interests, yet might not have too many issues with overstimulation or social anxiety. There are endless ways to be autistic, just as there are endless ways to be human. Autism is a developmental disability that over 1% of people are estimated to be born with. Our understanding of the condition has grown from the belief that those with autism require 24/7 support to recognizing autism is a spectrum where each individual requires varying levels of support. For instance, I have trouble reading people’s intentions and difficulty initiating conversation. If an article of clothing bothers me, it feels like that sensation is amplified compared to my surroundings. I can’t talk straight or focus on anything else and it will likely take me a day to mentally recover. On the other hand, I have an impeccable memory, good analytical skills, and find it really difficult to be dishonest. All these traits are part of who I am and I’m proud of that. I don’t need my identity reduced by others telling me they can’t tell I’m autistic because I’m so “high functioning.” It’s not the compliment you think it is. Because of the “high functioning” label, I missed out on a lot of crucial support in school and following my autism diagnosis. Traditionally this term was used by doctors to describe autistic people with an IQ over 70. Nowadays it’s often used to dismiss people’s struggles by suggesting that “fitting in” well enough is more indicative of the autistic experience than an autistic person’s own perspective. Nobody sees what goes on inside your head, so if you smile and nod believably enough then others will think you don’t need additional help when you ask for it. For a while I even identified with this term because I thought that if I wasn’t perceived as “high functioning,” I’d be seen as incapable. Sometimes all you want is for someone to recognize that you have limitations and be willing to work within them. I avoided reaching out to a psychologist for years, because part of me was worried that I had things “too easy” to actually be autistic, denying myself the fact that suffering is dynamic and not a competition. Once I finally did reach out, the psychologist was certain I was neurodiverse. This diagnosis was simply a pricey confirmation of what I’ve always known deep down. I knew that something was different about how I think and socialize but could never pinpoint what it was. Confirming my diagnosis was like finally giving myself permission to be who I truly am. It’s still a work in progress, but I don’t feel the weight of trying to be like everyone else so strongly anymore. I don’t even bother anymore to make eye contact when I don’t feel comfortable, because I communicate more effectively and genuinely when looking away. I’m less ashamed to have interests that don’t match my peers, and I know that the friends who are worth my time will be up front about whether they want to listen to my info-dumping, instead of making fun of me. Understanding who you are is one of the most liberating feelings there is, but recognizing neurodiversity is only the first step in making our society fair and accessible. In recent years, the neurodiversity movement has turned into a self-advocacy movement led by neurodivergent people, intersecting with the broader disability rights movement. This is a valuable step towards inclusion in our society, as neurodivergent people are the best source of information on how to accommodate our diverse needs. Seeing and listening to us is the most effective way to show you care. Although I didn’t know what neurodiversity was as a young teen, I’m hopeful about the media’s increasing representation of disability justice. I hope more young people grow up aware of the fact that there really is no “normal.” Beyond that, I hope we work to embrace differences in communication instead of making personal judgments.
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ARTS & CULTURE
Arts & Culture Editor Gem Yelin Lee
·
arts@the-peak.ca
HEROIC HORRORS
The Boys reflects on our socio-economic power structures The show emphasizes the collective power of people against systemic injustice
NE RCYA KALI N O // STAF F W RI TE R YE LIN GEMMA LEE / / ARTS & CULTURE E D I TO R
I was not keen about watching anything on Prime until my older brother, with whom I share a lot of television interests, suggested I watch The Boys. The Boys navigates the perspective of humans who have suffered at the hands of powerful heroes — something overlooked in many iconic hero franchises like Marvel. It embodies the ideology that humans are capable of saving themselves instead of waiting on heroes, and specifically in this show, saving themselves from the heroes. The Boys is currently on its third season, and the plotlines keep getting increasingly intense, bringing up reflective questions about our own society. The story follows the lives of four men, Butcher, Hughie, Frenchie and Mother’s Milk. These characters, besides Frenchie, have been impacted by some of the “supes” of the state: Homelander, Soldier Boy, and A-Train. It introduces a group, the “Association of Collateral Damage Survivors,” where people of different backgrounds share horrific moments that result from supes involvement. As a viewer of hero franchises, the most terrifying and powerful evil we can think of is if superheroes turn evil. This was demonstrated in the recent Marvel film Doctor Strange
Jerrica Zabala
The show highlights the perspective of humans in a world where heroes’ corrupt actions have consequences to the masses. in the Multiverse of Madness, where Scarlet Witch turns to dark power and evil intentions to get what she wants. The Boys demonstrates the perspective of ordinary citizens in a similar scenario, but with systemic corruption powering the superheroes’ evil actions and the consequences that humans experience. In season one, I saw similarities between the charade of heroism in the show to celebrity in real life. There is a threatening separation of socio-economic status between ordinary citizens and celebrities, similar to the power difference depicted in The Boys. The show itself has several blatant metaphors and mirrors the celebrity culture we are used to in our own society. Some of the supes characters take on horrific paths to suppress or assert dominance over one another: we see this in the relationship dynamics between A-Train and Homelander. This plot mirrors a chain of aggression that we see in our own society.
PHOTO: Amazon Studios
Another portrayal of the corrupt entities, as we see reflected in today’s world, is political and private entities forming agreements. In the show, we see that behind the scenes of celebrity life, the supes attempt to inject themselves into politics through politically powerful individuals. This reminded me of real life political relationships that are formed for personal gain. The show further draws the audiences in by the impending question of whether the boys will be able to find a way to kill off the supes. The timeless question, “Will goodness prevail?” echoes in audiences hearts, just not in the way we are used to, with the superheroes being the underhanded villains of the story. It makes us question how we define goodness and justice. In many ways, The Boys reflects major systemic and social issues within our society, like celebrity culture, socio-economic class divide, and systemic corruption. The show warns of an unnecessary loss of life as the ultimate consequence of harsh imbalances and misuses of power.
MONDAY MUSIC: VIBING IN THE THRIFT STORE
SFU STUDENT
You walk into your favourite clothing store and there it is — the section with the beautiful red tags marking things as 30–50% off. You’ve already had an exceptional thrifting day with one-of-a-kind finds, and the sale section is popping too. You’re there for at least an hour. Your head unintentionally nods up and down to epic sounds of — oh my god, this dad shirt is $6. Later, you get home happy with your purchases but you feel like something’s missing: the bops you forgot to Shazam while shopping.
By Yves Tumor
By Luna Li (featuring Jay Som) IMAGE: Luna Li Music, Inc.
“Super Stars”
“Boring Again”
Do you ever feel overstimulated with all the colours and lights when you’re shopping? Well, close your eyes and let your body ground itself to the sounds of Luna Li. This dream pop song mixes harmonic vocals and a lovely melody to get you out of that shopping funk. My favourite lines are, “I see my future is bright / Just wanna see the sunlight / I hold a piece and watch the day go by / With all my friends by my side.” These endearing lyrics remind us to hold our friends close when life is unpredictable, especially in times of questionable fashion tastes.
IMAGE: Warp Records
A groovy hidden gem, this song makes you want to vanish into the bass line and seductive vocals. Yves Tumor is the unspoken parallel to Prince in our generation. “Girl, I can’t quit you, you’re my super, my super star.” This hook certainly describes my love-hate relationship with outdated fashion patterns. Plaid, I can’t quit you — you’re my superstar. This song is hot and certainly playing at that thrift shop you gatekeep.
“Up With The Jones” By Bahamas
By GoldLink (featuring PinkPantheress, Rizloski, & Rax) IMAGE: Squaaash Club/ RCA Records
Just like ice cold water, “Evian” is a refreshing, modern take on UK garage sound. This song mimics the vibrations of 90s electronic music and its addictive beat definitely makes you feel some type of way. If sunglasses were a song, this would be it. Imagine yourself striking a pose in the dressing room and blowing a kiss to the angled mirrors in your new fit. Perfection.
IMAGE: Brushfire Records/ Universal
“Evian”
Released in 2020, Bahamian singer Afie Jurvanen said, “It’s pretty easy to get caught up in consumer culture.” The song, with lyrics that convey society’s struggle with consumerism, makes you feel good about your thrifty finds: “My second home, your student loan / And every year I got myself a brand new phone / Can’t do without, don’t have the nerve / I tell myself that these are things that I deserve.” The beats to this song elevate your mood as you sift through racks of flowered shirts and good-as-new skateboard decks.
May May 16, 16, 2022 2022
HUMOUR
TOP TEN circumstances to get yourself in for an extension The world is your oyster when you live the procrastination life
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Walk in wearing a full body cast
The least the teacher can do is help you actually enter the door of the classroom before granting you an extension. Heck, I won’t be surprised if they excuse you from the rest of your tutorials, and you shouldn’t be either. Go big or go home. Just make sure your story is tight. Worse comes to worse, go for the knockout and blame SFU. A lawsuit will kill off some time.
2
This might not be the most time efficient plan, plus identity theft is a serious crime, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Who else could get you the extension than the prez herself? Visit your local party store, cop a blond pixie cut wig, pull off a stylish monochromatic jumpsuit, and instill the fear of God into your unsuspected TA.
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Kind-of-not-really tell the truth
Don’t lie, but make sure you fluff up the truth enough to leave your teacher in a difficult position to deny you. The rule of thumb is 10% truth, 90% exaggeration. But be very careful! There is such a thing as adding a little too much sympathy to your stories. Think odd, but possible. A racoon pick-pocketed your USB with your project on it!
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Sorry, that paper proposal has to wait until the priest cleanses your house inside and out. Why can’t you head to the library? Well you see, these ghosts were rejected from SFU and hold a grudge against me from living out their dream, so they follow me everywhere I go. Really, I’m doing a favour by isolating myself. Seriously, SFU, just do me a solid and let them in.
You’re hiding out
Oh no, somebody placed a hit on you! Tell your teacher that, long story short, you’ve got some bad blood with the library after you failed to pay the withstanding bill from that one textbook you borrowed and never returned months ago. Gwen Bird is out to get you! Last week, the library assistants threw a textbook through your window! Actually, maybe skip that part. Just tell your teacher you have to lay low for a week or so.
You left your computer outside
Your house is haunted
Reach out after the extension
Play coy. Say your internet has been acting up all week and you wanted to email your teacher to make sure they received the assignment. Perhaps even attach the assignment to the email, but forget to do so. The turnaround time is pretty quick so be ready to pull an all-nighter to submit the assignment the next day. But an extra day nonetheless — score!
9 HEY — HEY! WHERE ARE YOU GOING WITH THAT!?
5
As the good samaritan that only you are, you got stuck in a tree while trying to rescue the neighbourhood cat. Don’t worry, the cat’s fine, but you’re stuck and help isn’t on its way. Your phone died, but you managed to snap some selfies and send an email to your teacher. I guess you’ll just have to wait this one out.
7 Become Joy Johnson
You’re stuck in a tree
It’s the zombie apocalypse (only where you live)
You’re in your downstairs bunker fighting for survival, and yet you still make time to email your teacher. What a trooper. Make sure to update them by the hour. You don’t know how long you can keep these zombies at bay. I hear the antidote is an extension.
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Give yourself an extension
The project is only due as long as you think it’s due. This isn’t an excuse to completely write off your assignment, but take a good look at your calendar. This work is completely booked. Slot it for sometime next week.
Written by Isabella Urbani
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HUMOUR
Humour Editor Kelly Chia
·
humour@the-peak.ca
Bugphobic person loves camping They have a gameplan on how to prepare for camping in enemy territory Written by Yelin Gemma Lee The best thing to do in summer is to go camping. There is nothing more peaceful than being out in nature with your phone on airplane mode and having deep soul-searching talks over the crackling fire. If only bugs would stop getting in the way of this pure unequivocal joy. As a person who experiences an intense case of bugphobia, there is nothing more terrifying to me than those . . . pests. I just don’t understand why they have to be all up in my grill. “LET ME ENJOY NATURE!” I remember screaming last summer, when I met an earwig in the shower. I know what you might be thinking. If you don’t like bugs, don’t go where they live. That’s the thing though: those territorial motherfuckers live everywhere, even in my own apartment. But instead of cowering, I will teach you to fight back. The wanna-be-outdoorsy-Vancouverite edition. MONEY CAN BUY YOU COURAGE Last summer, my biggest purchase of the year was buying my own camping equipment from MEC, and now I can’t chicken out of going camping even if I wanted to. It would make no sense logically or financially. Did I build up my camp-fantasies by watching Laid-Back Camp, an Iyashikei anime? Absolutely! Who wouldn’t want to make s’mores by the fire with your unlikely friends? Did it make me have rose-tinted glasses about camping? A little bit. Nonetheless, investing in high quality equipment is the only thing giving me the courage to go camping sometimes. So, it works. STUDY YOUR OPPONENT’S GO-TO MOVES When you’re on enemy territory, you have to scope out the situation over there. You have to know the lay of the land, where their weapons lie, and what kind of soldiers they have coming to the front. Is there a body of water near the campsite you’re booking? Mosquito city. Look up the times in the day that are the worst for the mosquitos to be out and light a massive bonfire to kill those scrawly-looking Edward Cullens.
In fact, put your tent as close to the bonfire as possible to get the best effect. If your tent lights on fire while you’re in it, at least you will be free of those creepy little things leaving their mark on you. Mosquitos aren’t the only thing you have to worry about. The biggest concern is when you have to go to the bathroom or shower. When you’re in your most vulnerable state: naked and afraid. I take 5-minute military showers and somehow at least one bug gets all up in my grill WHEN I’M NAKED. Who does that? Campsite websites are never detailed about this critical information, they just say whether or not they have a bathroom and a shower. They don’t tell you if it's an open concept with no roofs and a fluorescent fucking light attracting everything that flies, crawls, scatters, and sludges. Which in my opinion, is awfully suspicious of the campsite workers — whose side are you on? If you want to know, you just need to call. It works . . . sometimes. Unfortunately, my partner said the camp worker hung up on me because they thought it was a prank call. But I know better. She was on THEIR side, protecting top private information from getting out to their enemy. Well-played. EMERGENCY PROTOCOLS If you’re in the trenches like me, the only advice I can really give you is to bring plenty of bug spray, citronella candles, blowtorches, bug traps, and holy water. If anything is swarming you or crawling up your legs, remember all bugs are scared of excellent dance moves. Proceed to aggressively Irish jig or tap dance, and may the hymns of death be your music. Whenever you open your tent flap to go in or out, make your body as straight as a pencil and torpedo your way inside, whipping around to zip the tent shut within split seconds! It takes some practice, but you’ll get the hang of it one day, young brave one. If you see me on your campsite this summer, sprinting like a track star, it is probably because a wasp is chasing me. I am pursuing nature, and running from it. Mind your business.
ILLUSTRATION: Jiamin Bai / The Peak
HUMOUR
May 16, 2022
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SFU releases “best“ college admission essay to help incoming students
Local Chinese student bravely claims watching movies is therapy What do you mean watching Everything, Everywhere, All at Once six times isn’t healthy?
Find out what it takes to be a model student at SFU
KELLY CHIA // HUMOUR EDITOR
ISABELLA URBANI // STAFF WRITER
This week, The Peak scouted a student who was looking for an interview or a conversation about her experiences, “depending on our feelings and inclinations to heal.” With a fond look towards Turning Red playing on her iPad, she confessed to watching the film in a “sort of marathon” to absorb the endorphins. She claimed the experiences as equivalent to three sessions of therapy. We asked her more about her experiences.
To prospective SFU students: please use this essay submission as a reference of a successful applicant. The prompt was “Why is SFU the best fit for you?” Please note especially our excellent legacy of being the best university in North America.
“Now, I know what you’re thinking,” the student began. “Your cultural experiences aren’t just generational trauma and it can be harmful to perpetuate that idea and pander our trauma to white audiences!”
Merriam Webster defines “best” as “offering or producing the greatest advantage.” It would be an understatement to say that I was born to go to SFU. Since the dawn of time, it was written in the stars for me to attend this esteemed institution, and it is my obligation to make that dream a reality. There isn’t another university out there that comes close to rivaling SFU in my mind. As for what it is about SFU that sets itself apart from the rest. Well, that’s a terrific question, and one that I’m more than eager to answer. First, SFU is “engaging the world.” No, not only the students, not the province nor the country, but the entire sphere with a mass of 5.972 x 1024 kg. Unparalleled. Exceptional. Beyond comparison.
Kelly, or whatever her name might be, whipped a finger towards us. “You stop that talk right now, I’m not emotionally prepared for conversations about so-called ‘nuance.’” She turned her head back to her YouTube Movies playlist, where her mouse moves towards Everything Everywhere All at Once. Another student, wishing to be anonymous, hurriedly approached us and whispered, “She’s been like this for ages,” they said, eyeing Kelly. “I’ve tried to ask her to just talk to her parents, but she says that eventually they’ll ‘begin the process of emotional mitosis through movie watching,’” they remarked. According to empirical evidence from our top sources, when a Kelly watches a movie with generational trauma, she gets an observable endorphin boost during the films’ infamous apology scenes — the hallmark of recent generational trauma movies featuring people of colour.
Any way you slice the pie, SFU is the ooey gooey center, the premium helping that human beings set one’s heart on. It’s no coincidence that the hardened exterior of pies — crusts — is the ground on which the fresh fruit lay nestled under that academic pastry dough. SFU is the crust. For the next four years of my life, the next 1,460 days, my unharnessed nectar will rise under the protection and safewatching within the palpable material of this establishment.
“I’m just a girl, sitting in front of YouTube Movies, asking for Michelle Yeoh to personally apologise to me,” Kelly whispered reverently, as if on written cue. We ask if Kelly has considered family therapy, but Kelly waived the suggestion immediately, citing “Chinese parents.” The Peak did not mention the number of healing spaces available specifically for race and ethnicity, as she increased the volume of yet another musical number about being “free” from controlling parents.
I will be watched like a hawk by the finest maestros along the way until I’m equipped to be of service to the world. It is a fantasy. And almost a reality. So now that we have established that SFU takes it upon themselves to go above and beyond to prepare their graduates to be able to properly set out and change the world, we need to address the perks unique to SFU students.
“This right here? This is all the therapy I need to fix the challenges I have with talking to my parents,” Kelly nodded decisively. “It’s so important that we have accurate representation,” she said, seemingly deciding to watch Crazy Rich Asians.
As referenced in my last sentence, not only does SFU make it their mission to cater to the 7.9 billion individuals calling this planet home, they still manage to keep their students at the forefront of their mind. What a daunting task president Joy Johnson has been bestowed with, and one she does a cut above the rest. How? Just take a quick look at SFU’s pristine track record. No flaws I can think of. BCIT and UBC? Who even knows if you’ll have a career going to those no-name universities. They don’t even have a deadly pipeline being built right next to them. Coming up on nearly 57 years of 100% complete perfection, and I haven’t even mentioned the perks yet. The campus speaks for itself. With a view like that, sitting on top of a mountain, SFU clearly didn’t spare any expense to give its students — the next generation — a chance to detox at any second. I would be remiss not to include the fact that SFU was improved to have its own gondola. Life-changing.
“What do you mean it’s healthier to appreciate that parents and children can have vastly different experiences and understandings of the enormous sacrifice of immigration?” Kelly scoffed. “Oh, but I do have a pitch on my poems about offering sliced fruit as apologies if you’ll just listen—”
ILLUSTRATION: Stella Nguyen/ The Peak
In conclusion, although there are many fishes in the sea, or should I say univer-SEA-ties, SFU is the only place I want to spend the next chapter of my life. The care for their students is first-class. I will leave you with this quote, on brand with the paragraph’s ocean theme, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” SFU is living proof of that statement with the way they carry themselves, and I would want nothing more than to be a small sliver of that sentiment.
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DIVERSIONS
Business Manager Yuri Zhou
·
business@the-peak.ca
CROSSWORD Across 1. Wedge 5. Petty quarrel 9. Hoarse 14. Daft 15. Flooring square 16. ____ Banks of baseball 17. Portent 18. Harness part 19. Coral island 20. Jaunty 21. Circle sections 22. Defame 23. In flames
25. Twitch 26. Foolish 29. Deceive 33. Of the moon 34. Grammatical unit 35. Neighbor of Mex. 36. Traditional saying 38. King ____ 39. Chinese dialect 42. Mediterranean island 44. Expressed scorn 45. More transparent 47. "Harper Valley ____" 48. Zodiac sign
49. Got up 52. Secluded valley 53. Guitarist's aid 57. Certain parasite 58. Helper 59. Ripened 60. Storage room 61. Outer covering 62. Sled 63. Green sauce 64. Household animals 65. Lip
25. Fork prong 26. Grads 27. Actress ____ Sarandon 28. Silly 29. Actress ____ Ryan 30. Come in 31. Severe 32. Hinder 34. ____ Juan 36. Site 37. Performed 40. Bank transaction 41. 1930s design style (2 wds.)
42. Middling grade 43. Scoundrels 45. Debit's opposite 46. Bedding 48. Similar 49. Smack 50. Haul 51. Ins and ____ 52. Struggle for breath 54. Mexican water 55. Wooden fasteners 56. Certain poems
Down 1. Sow's chow 2. Residence 3. Cake decorator 4. Idaho's neighbor 5. Stress 6. ____ Cardin of fashion 7. Rocker ____ Cooper 8. Perfect gymnastics scores 9. Unidealistic one 10. Newspaper story 11. Snooty person 12. Stack 13. Scream 24. Evergreen tree
SUDOKU
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