year in review 2018
03 07 12 15 NEWS
Missing economics professor found dead
OPINIONS Children's media is real media
SPORTS
The good and the bad from 2018
HUMOUR Sing the new semester into season
News Michelle Gomez News Team Member
Henry Tran / Coordinating News Editor Sugandha Agarwal and Michelle Gomez / News Team Members
January 7, 2019 news@the-peak.ca
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Henry Tran / Coordinating News Editor Sugandha Agarwal and Michelle Gomez / News Team Members
News
news@the-peak.ca
Year in Review Written by Henry Tran Coordinating News Editor
SFU diplomas to now list undergraduate students and alumni’s major
Previously, when SFU undergraduate students convocated, their degree parchments only listed the credential (bachelor, masters, etc.) and their graduating faculty. However, on November 6, 2017, the SFU Senate announced that starting in June 2018, all SFU undergraduate students’ diplomas will include their majors. Many undergraduate students had felt that their old degree parchment was “purely decorative” as their employers requested additional documents from them specifying their major, according to a previous article written by The Peak. In a later hearing in January 2018, it was clarified that the new parchments would include major(s), minor(s), co-ops, distinctions, and degree-integral concentrations. Initially, this amendment was not applicable to undergraduate students whom had already graduated prior to June 2018. However, at the January hearing, the SFU Senate decided that this new policy will also be applied to SFU undergraduate students who have graduated prior to the implementation of this new policy.
SFSS introduces new services to membership
Starting January 2, 2019, Fraser International College (FIC) students will have access to services such as Out on Campus, the Women’s Centre, food bank services, free legal clinics, and other SFSS-provided services. This is based on the new partnership between the SFSS and FIC that was agreed on back in April 2018. The exact cost of the services for FIC students is still being determined, but a small amount of their tuition fees will be used towards the services provided by the SFSS, according to a previous Peak article. On August 1, 2018, another new service was introduced to SFU students. SFU and the SFSS launched a multi-platform mental health and support service, titled keep.meSAFE Student Support Program (SSP). This is a twoyear pilot project between the university and the student society to provide mental health support and service. SSP is offered online and is integrated with the Health and Counselling Services of SFU.
Certain independent student groups denied space in the new Student Union Building (SUB)
In September 2017, the campus radio station CJSF and the Simon Fraser Public Interest Research Group (SFPIRG) spoke to The Peak about the possibility that they would need to relocate away from Burnaby campus. With the nearing completion of the Student Union Building (SUB), the SFSS intended to return the Rotunda space to SFU, including the spaces being rented by SFPIRG and CJSF. As a result, both independent student societies were at risk of losing their space on campus.
occupancy in the Rotunda until December 14, 2018. SFPIRG alleged that they signed the agreement with the SFSS under duress, according to a previous Peak article.
In November 2017, the SFSS put out a call for student organizations and unions to express interest in acquiring space in the new building. In early December 2017, CJSF, SFPIRG, and Embark Sustainability Society alleged to The Peak that they were denied space in the new SUB.
Upon reviewing this letter, the SFSS decided to revoke the security deposit fee on April 19, but on the condition that SFPIRG accept the terms of the new contract within 24 hours, in line with the originally-given April 20 deadline. After complying, SFPIRG received an email from the SFSS stating that after the December 14 date, they will have to leave the Rotunda.
Hangue Kim, the 2017–18 SFSS president, said that the decision was made due to interest from numerous student clubs and unions for space in the SUB. Kim emphasized that “space was never promised to [CJSF and SFPIRG] and no agreements were signed [ . . . ],” in a previous article written by The Peak. In late January 2018, CJSF shared with The Peak that they might be offered space in the Forum Chambers, located in Maggie Benston Centre (MBC), by the SFSS as a compromise. Embark Sustainability Society was no longer interested in pursuing space in the SUB following the previous decision made by the SFSS. SFPIRG was also given the option to relocate to MBC; however, due to the conditions stipulated by SFPIRG at the time, the SFSS revoked this offer, according to a previous Peak article. Following months of discussion between SFPIRG and the SFSS, in April 2018, SFPIRG signed a new lease with the student society that would allow them to continue their
Initially, the SFSS offered SFPIRG a lease extension offer on April 5, with a deadline for acceptance on April 20. The student society also asked SFPRIG to pay a $10,000 security deposit fee to extend its sublease. However, SFPIRG drafted a letter to the SFSS explaining why they could not make the payment.
Jas Randhawa, then the 2018–19 SFSS president, stated that SFPIRG was “more interested in taking an adversarial stance than they are in working with us to find a solution” in a previous Peak news story. SFPIRG emphasized that they would not move out by December 14 because they believe that their services are integral to the student community. In addition, SFU Students of African and Caribbean Ancestry (SOCA) criticized the SFSS for alleged “institutionalized racism.” Like CJSF and SFPIRG, SOCA did not receive space in the SUB. According to SOCA, the SFSS were not punctual in their scheduled meetings with the student group and failed to communicate clearly in their negotiations. However, current acting president of the SFSS, Samer Rihani, said that “the SFSS board of directors was willing to continue talks with SOCA about extending their sublease in the rotunda beyond December 14, 2018 [as a compromise],” in a previous Peak article.
News
SFU’s safety, security, and mental health policies and protocols questioned following incidents on campus
On October 3, 2018, a violent event broke out in a classroom in the Robert C. Brown Hall. Ashley Lee, who was one of the students at the scene, stated that there was an upset student from another class entering her classroom. This upset student began to throw chairs and tables at Lee’s classmates, injuring a student. In a public Facebook post that Lee created, she shared: “I have since discovered that there aren’t locks on any of the classroom doors at SFU (at least none that I have seen) [sic].” According to a previous article written by The Peak, many of the doors at SFU cannot be locked or unlocked without a key. After the incident, according to Lee’s Facebook post, a security officer and a psychologist from SFU Health and Counselling visited the class and told the class that “the situation wasn’t that bad and [the students] were all overreacting.” Tim Rahilly, SFU vice-provost and associate vicepresident, students and international, said in an interview with The Peak that based on the students’ feedback and social media posts, the university reached out to the affected students individually to provide support. On October 12, 2018, the university released a public statement addressing the incident. Lee said that: “I’m glad [SFU is] finally reaching out but it’s upsetting it took this long and required a bit of a fight [. . .],” according to a previous article. Two weeks after the campus violence incident, a medical emergency took place at Burnaby campus. The student was in his late 50s, and upon noticing his distress, Campus Public Safety was called. Rahilly confirmed in an interview with The Peak that despite the medical treatment provided, the student passed away at the scene on October 17, 2018. In light of the event, Rahilly sent out an email to SFU students on behalf of the university, advising students to contact Campus Public Safety first prior to calling 911 in cases of emergencies. Students, however, expressed their concerns regarding this policy. Some students have posted on the r/simonfraser subreddit, alleging that campus security is slow to respond, and that they are not properly trained in dealing with medical emergencies. Rahilly explained that because Campus Public Safety personnel knows the layout of SFU better than external emergency services, it is faster if SFU students contact Campus Public Safety first so they can direct the emergency services personnel to the exact location.
January 7, 2019
A new pub is coming to SFU Burnaby
The Study Public House is the new pub that will take over the Highland Pub’s old space in the Maggie Benston Centre. It was originally scheduled to open in late 2018; however, this was delayed as the space is still undergoing extensive renovations. The new pub is managed by Joseph Richard Group (JRG), a hospitality organization that operates in both B.C. and Alberta. JRG will also be providing SFU with another catering service option, called Blank Canvas Catering, under MECS, according to a previous Peak article. Currently, Sodexo is the only catering service available at SFU under MECS. According to Mark McLaughlin, chief commercial services officer at SFU, the new pub will have a bar as well as an arcade space for its clients, including vintage pinball machines, ping-pong tables, and shuffleboard games.
The new pub will be able to accomodate 330 individuals indoor and 82 on the patio — a much higher capacity than what Highland Pub previously had. Once the SUB opens, the capacity of the patio is expected to increase even more because there will be a new fire exit added to it. There will also be a designated area on the patio where smoking is permitted, with the exclusion of cannabis smoking. The pub is tentatively scheduled to open Monday – Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., but this is dependent on how much business the pub gets, according to a previous article written by The Peak. Entry to the pub will be restricted to students who are at least 19 years old due to its liquor license. Student organizations will also be able to book pub nights in The Study Public House.
SFSS presidency ends in impeachment
In March 2018, Jas Randhawa was elected as SFSS president. However, in August, The Peak received an email from Randhawa stating that “he was under pressure from his [co-workers] to resign from his position.” Randhawa also provided a recording of a private meeting between Randhawa and five SFSS vice-presidents. In this leaked recording, various SFSS directors were allegedly unsatisfied with Randhawa’s performance as a leader. Randhawa was accused of failing to present information factually and transparently to the board, adhere to the student society’s code of conduct and bylaws, or accept constructive feedback. He was also accused of physically assaulting a faculty representative and mishandling sexual misconduct allegations made against someone within the board office. On August 14, the SFSS Board of Directors unanimously agreed to add the motion to impeach Randhawa onto the agenda of its upcoming annual general meeting (AGM).
“I was provided an offer to resign and publicly state that it was for personal or family issues [instead of going through the process of impeachment] . . . I believe I would not be upholding to being president of the student body at SFU by giving into threats and frivolous accusations [sic],” stated Randhawa, according to a previous article by The Peak. On September 25, the student society’s AGM took place at the Leslie and Gordon Diamond Family Auditorium. Prior to the meeting, a smoke bomb was set off on the premises. Campus security and firefighters were called to clear the scene, delaying the meeting by three hours. After the smoke was cleared out, the student society presented its yearly report to its membership, who subsequently voted on the special resolution to impeach Randhawa. Two-thirds of the membership voted to remove Randhawa as president.
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Gene Cole / Opinions Editor
opinions@the-peak.ca
Opinions
January 7, 2019
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Komal Adeel SFU Student
PEAK MEMBERSHIP As an SFU student, you subscribe to the Peak Publications Society. With your subscription, you get access to a weekly copy of The Peak filled with news and views of interest to you. Additional privileges of being an SFU student include the opportunity to run and vote for the Peak Publications Society Board of Directors, to place free classified ads, to publish your work and opinions in The Peak, to become eligible to be paid for your contributions, and to apply for a position as an editor or staff member. Your contribution also helps provide jobs and experience for other SFU students, maintain an archive of SFU history through the eyes of students, maintain a computer lab and web site, and support student journalism across Canada. Students who have paid their tuition fees and do not wish to support their student newspaper may request a membership fee refund from the Business Manger, but MUST provide a copy of their REGISTRATION SUMMARY, RECEIPT, and STUDENT ID between Tuesday, September 4 and Monday, September 17 at 3:00 p.m. No refunds will be issued outside of this time frame. Students claiming refunds will lose all privileges of membership for the semester, but membership will resume upon payment of student fees next semester. Questions? Call 778-782-3598.
10 Arts
Winona Young / Arts Editor
arts@the-peak.ca
Jonathan Pabico Peak Associate
LET’S DO THIS TOGETHER: It’s time to listen, talk and reflect
Dr. Lorna Williams With the new developments in Indigenous Education and Languages, what is the role of universities?
JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION ON INCLUSION, FAIRNESS AND RESPECT AT SFU SFU students, faculty and staff are invited to participate in a presentation by Dr. Lorna Williams, Professor Emerita, Department of Indigenous Education and Linguistics, University of Victoria and former CRC Chair in Indigenous
Tuesday, January 15 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM Presentation Studio (ASB 10900) Burnaby campus
Knowledge and Learning titled: With the new
The event is FREE but registration is required: www.sfu.ca/edi This event is presented in partnership with the SFU Indigenous Student Centre. Join in the It’s Time to Listen, Talk and Reflect community conversation on inclusion, fairness and respect at SFU, taking place from Jan. 15 - mid-April 2019.
Dr. Williams is Lil’watul from Mount Currie.
developments in Indigenous Education and Languages, what is the role of universities?
Dr. Williams was Inducted into the Order of British Columbia in 1993 and has served as a Canadian Council on Learning Minerva Lecturer before recently being honoured with an Indspire Award for her contributions to Indigenous education.
CANADA’S ENGAGED UNIVERSITY sfu.ca
Arts
January 7, 2019
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12 Sports
Andrew Ringer / Sports Editor
sports@the-peak.ca
Sports
January 7, 2019
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14 Humour
Zoe Vedova / Humour Editor
humour@the-peak.ca
Transit Talk
your bus won't come on time, even with a snowless winter
Written by Trevor Roberts Illustrated by Joy Tian After several wet, cold, class-cancelling snow falls over the past few years, it looks like the upcoming months may be a muchneeded break from the slush-winter/smoke-summer rotation in the Greater Vancouver area. It’s welcome news for most, but there is some concern at TransLink, who will no longer be able to blame the inconsistency of their buses on the weather. A leaked internal memo has revealed that the following announcements have been prepared for public released over the upcoming months.
“We’re not late, we’re early” – In an effort to compensate for all of the snow from last year, buses are leaving earlier than their listed times. The lack of weather concerns have caused buses to arrive at their stops five, 10, or more minutes early. The bus came, but you weren’t there. “Environmental concerns” – Obviously, global warming is contributing to the lack of snow, and that should be alarming to everyone. Therefore, as an environmentally conscious company, TransLink has decided not to run your bus today. We would’ve sent you a memo earlier, but we didn’t want to waste electricity. “Health risks for drivers” – We stocked up on road salt after last winter and used barely any for the entire month of December. Therefore, it was a logical next step to use some of the extra salt in the cooking for our annual company holiday party. Allegedly, this has led to a 750% increase in hypertension among our drivers, so we think it’s best not to put too much pressure on them, at least until the lawsuit is settled. “Just ride your bike” – The most common New Year’s resolutions involve personal fitness, and what better way to live your fitness goals than to bike instead of taking transit? Of course, getting a bike onto a bus is a total pain in the ass, so we’re making transit a less reliable option in order to encourage you to bike all the way to your destination. Our hope is that our customers will appreciate our concern for their health, and thank us by not complaining about the fare hike that is definitely coming in the spring. “It’s actually snowing now” – That’s right, folks: it's the first week of March and we have our first snow of the season. Because in Vancouver, nobody can be ever right about the weather.
Written by Mishaa Khan Illustrated by Reslus
First-years: • I will plan out my whole degree this year and stick to it, so I can finish in four years. • I will maintain a CGPA of 3.5 or higher by keeping up with lecture material and studying for exams two weeks itn advance. • I will stay away from coffee to prevent a caffeine addiction. Instead, I will rely on having a consistent sleeping schedule to ensure my biological clock stays in sync, ensuring I have enough energy for the day. • I will maintain a healthy balance in my life by working out three times a week, hanging out with friends once a week, eating three different vegetables for each meal, and sleeping nine hours each night. Second-years: • I will play an active role in two clubs that I’m interested in to enhance my resume and make more friends! • I will perfect my self-esteem boosting pep-talk for when I’m terrified to check a grade on Canvas. • I will rely only on coffee and tea as my sources of caffeine. • I will stop stress-eating carbs and drinking pop so I can lose the 15 pounds I gained in my freshman year. Third-years: • I will turn in all my assignments on time even if it means drinking five cans of Red Bull to stay up all night binge-watching Netflix while frantically trying to finish my work. • I will pretend to be interested in what my professors research so I can obtain references for grad school and volunteer in their labs. • I will take one GPA-booster course each semester so I can increase my 2.0 GPA and get an earlier enrolment date to take classes I actually need for graduation. Fourth-years: • I will finish my degree in the next two years by taking more than three classes a semester. • I will narrow down my list of things I don’t want to do in life and pick the one which I hate the least as a career option. • I will limit my meltdowns to two a day on regular school days and four a day during exam season. • I will not break down every single time I ask my instructor for an extension on an assignment they assigned at the beginning of the semester. Fifth-years: • I will figure out which grad schools and programs I want to apply for because I cannot decide a career option and no employers are interested in hiring me. • I will sleep at least four hours a day so I can stop having hallucinations about bloodthirsty assignments. Must preserve sanity. • I will start a club which will quickly become inactive, just so I can have more than two things to list on my resume. • I will avoid socializing at all costs by running away when someone I know approaches me. Sixth-years: • Get so drunk on New Year’s Eve I physically won’t be able to make a resolution. It’s not like I’ve kept any of the other ones I’ve made over the years.
Humour
January 7, 2019
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16 Diversions
Yuri Zhou / Business Manager
business@the-peak.ca
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