VOL. 171 ISSUE 13 AUGUST 2, 2022
NEWS
O PINIO NS
FEATU R E S
H U MO U R
Multiple SFSS resignations
“Toxic” SFSS discussions
A timeline of SFSS activities
Getting beary political over here
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P.0 6
P.0 8
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(dis)trust in democracy resignations, disorganization, and allegations of toxicity
Volume 171, Issue 13 Melting in the dungeon 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 SFSS disagrees on operations organizer’s leave
COVER Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson
OPINIONS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michelle Young eic@the-peak.ca
Too much of the SFSS’ budget is going to running itself
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
A timeline of the SFSS this semester
NEWS EDITOR Karissa Ketter news@the-peak.ca
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NEWS WRITERS Chloë Arneson and Pranjali J Mann OPINIONS EDITOR Luke Faulks opinions@the-peak.ca
ARTS & CULTURE
FEATURES EDITOR Meera Eragoda features@the-peak.ca
Sweet treats for your summer
ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Gem Yelin Lee arts@the-peak.ca HUMOUR EDITOR Kelly Chia humour@the-peak.ca
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STAFF WRITERS Nercya Kalino, Yasmin Simsek, Isabella Urbani, and Olivia Visser PRODUCTION AND DESIGN EDITOR Josh Ralla production@the-peak.ca
HUMOUR
ASSISTANT PRODUCTION EDITORS Megan Yung and Yining Zhou
His Royal Trashness has a subpar meal
PHOTO EDITOR Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson photos@the-peak.ca
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We acknowledge that The Peak’s office is located and our paper is produced, distributed, and read on the Unceded Coast Salish Territories of the 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 Bhavana Kaushik and Andrea Steveson PEAK ASSOCIATES Nazmus Sakib, Angela Shen, Nathan T., Alyssa Umbal, and Sara Wong
NEWS
August 2, 2022
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MASS EXODUS
Multiple councillors resign from the SFSS Toxic work environment and improper governance cited as reasons for resignation
CHLO Ë ARN E S ON // NE WS W RI TE R KAR ISSA KET TER // NE WS E D I TO R
Three Council members, English representative Gabe Liosis, Indigenous studies student union representative Nebula (Anita) Shen, and Diversity and Neurodiversity Alliance representative Vivian Ly, have recently announced their resignations from the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS), citing improper working conditions as their reason for leaving. One of their main concerns is a lack of transparency in the SFSS’s governing processes. Gabe Liosis: On July 8, Liosis announced his resignation due to upcoming career obligations and the harmful work environment he said he has experienced in this role.
Some councillors say the dominant political party is targeting the minority leadership.
voting to be “more of a popularity contest, based on whose friends with whom or who dislikes whom. “Executives such as president Helen Pahou and vicepresident internal and organizational development Judit Nagy belittle councillors who disagree with them, stonewall staff and students with differing views from speaking, [and] socially exclude and ostracize Progressive councillors,” said Shen. They also claim Pahou and Nagy withhold important information from the Progressive councillors, “so that they are unable to do their work and are caught off guard by new motions and absurdly tight deadlines.”
In his resignation letter, he said, “I find myself unable to serve on a governing body led by an executive that has created a toxic work environment, that fails to be transparent with Council and our membership, and treats other councillors, executives, and members with blatant disrespect.”
During Shen’s time as councillor, they said, “Several councillors have shared with me that they feel exhausted and burnt out being on Council, and they’re scared to express unhappiness or any criticism as they’re scared to get on [Pahou] and [Ben Tischler’s] ‘bad side,’ fearing the president and vice chair might target them next.” Tischler is the math councillor and vice chair of the SFSS Council.
Liosis will continue to serve the SFSS as associate vice president external and community affairs. The Peak reached out to Liosis for a statement on his resignation. Liosis declined to comment.
They believe the SFSS deserves “democracy, transparency, and a safe working environment. SFSS staff deserve good leadership who listen to their concerns and don’t ghost them for months when they request a meeting.”
Vivian Ly:
Executive Team Makeup:
Ly commented on the SFSS’s working conditions in Ly’s resignation letter dated July 13. “The environment is damaging and reactionary; pernicious attacks are common, underhanded, targeted, and personal,” Ly stated. “Misuse of power is rampant, and accessibility need requests have been repeatedly ignored.”
The current SFSS executive team is split between members who ran against each other during the election.
Ly is one of several councillors who have come forward to criticise the society. Ly states the resignation is “an objection” to the harm Ly has witnessed. “I have raised concerns multiple times that processes [ . . . ] have not been transparent, fair, independent, and democratic. “I am tired of the lies, half-truths, and corruption.” The Peak reached out to Ly for a comment. Ly declined to comment. Nebula (Anita) Shen: In a statement regarding their resignation, Shen noted, “I stepped down from my role as a Council representative a few weeks ago as I recognized that the environment is deeply toxic and there is continuous harm being perpetuated on individuals who do not conform to the politics of the dominant group.” Shen reported there has been “a culture of secrecy and bullying that threatens the health of our SFU and SFSS community.” They noted this is specifically harmful to those who represent minority groups such as DNA, Out on Campus, Women’s Centre, First Nations, Métis, & Inuit Student Association, and Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry. “Democracies are only strong when they are diverse, and the current SFSS president and Executive Committee are deliberately and maliciously silencing the voices of those speaking out against the harm and attacks on democracy,” said Shen. In an interview statement to The Peak, Shen noted “democracy at the SFSS is broken.” Shen added they joined the SFSS to represent their department “and be part of important decisions which affect students.” However, during their time on Council they found
The Stronger Together Party (STP), who are “politically diverse,” include president Helen Sofia Pahou, vice president internal and organizational development Judit Nagy, vice president finance and services Abhishek Parmar, and vice president university and academic affairs Nicole Kirigin. Pahou’s platform states the previous SFU Progressives leadership “[lacked] empathy for others’ differences” and that the SFSS should be designed to “place its students first before its own self.” One of their running points was creating an “open dialogue” with students to listen to their needs. The Progressives include vice president external and community affairs Eshana Baran and vice president equity and sustainability Rea Chatterjee. Their platform ran on creating an “equitable, intersectional, and justice-centred university where students belong and will not be ignored” and hoped to “defend student power, and build solidarity and community across campus.” Statement from Eshana Baran and Rea Chatterjee: Chatterjee returned from a leave of absence to release a joint statement with Baran to Council regarding allegations of misuse of investigative power and lack of transparency within the SFSS. One of their main concerns is the overuse of investigative powers related to an ongoing investigation by the Committee on Councillor Breaches of Confidence (CCBC). They said the CCBC is using this process as “a political witch hunt opportunity.” They allege the committee has been investigating the contents of a private group chat that are unrelated to any legitimate breaches of confidentiality in an attempt to “[slander] certain individuals.” They also allege some members of the private group chat have encountered suspicious activity on their personal social media accounts. The current investigation involves a letter that was sent to multiple organisations about a complaint regarding a senior authority at SFU. These investigations can be kept out of the public’s eye through the use of “in-camera” discussions, meaning the
PHOTO: Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson / The Peak
Council or each individual committee has deemed the information sensitive in accordance with policy R-9. In their joint statement, they said the SFSS is “using in-camera to silence and weaponize these processes” and “a student would have no idea what is being discussed. “Actual legitimate investigations should be few and far between, and be used in cases where the Society is at risk of reputational and legal harm.” Statement from Nicole Kirigin: The SFSS vice president university and academic affairs and STP member, Nicole Kirigin, sent a statement to The Peak. Kirigin stated she has experienced “bullying and intimidation tactics” during her time as an executive member. “I noticed that internal temperature between certain members of the executive committee seemed to increase,” said Kirigin. She noted she had fears to come forward with a statement to The Peak citing “past experiences with my words being twisted in a bad faith manner for the purpose of supposed political gain.” She added, regardless of “whatever fears I may hold, my intentions to promote transparency, authenticity, and student involvement within the society takes precedence.” Moving forward it is Kirigin’s priority to promote an open dialogue between the Progressives and STP leadership. “I strongly believe that the tumultuous relationship between those associated with the Progressives caucus and their supposed enemies would be resolved with open and patient conversation. “I am willing to forgive the provocation, bullying, and harassment conducted and perpetuated towards myself by the Progressive caucus,” said Kirigin. She stated her forgiveness is only possible if they can work together to create “a landscape of mutual understanding, open dialogue, and respect, in which no other individuals would ever be subjected to similar turmoil and harm.” Statement from Raghava Payment: In an interview with The Peak, world languages and literature councillor said they felt the allegations of a lack of transparency “are a bit unfounded.” “What it boils down to is [ . . . ] personal issues that people have with each other that, I think, they’re using transparency and other accusations to pursue the problems they have.” Payment believes “the only losers in this situation are the student body.” They said the situation occurring within the SFSS is slowing their ability to deliver services and support the students. Statement from Maren Elizabeth (pseudonym): One councillor submitted an anonymous statement to The Peak about the work environment of the SFSS. “There is no problem with transparency. The people with the problem with transparency are the ones who are not being transparent themselves.” The Peak sent an open call to Council inviting everyone to submit statements — with an option to remain anonymous — regarding their work environment and the allegations of the SFSS executives lack of transparency. The Peak also reached out to president Pahou three times to comment on the resignations and concerns of transparency but did not receive a response by the publication deadline.
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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
COUNCIL CONFLICT
According to Liosis, SFSS staff are already reporting significant amounts of overtime.
Concerns arise surrounding SFSS organization officer’s leave of absence Former councillor Gabe Liosis discusses how the decision could severely impact the society due to lack of proper consultation CHLO Ë ARN E S ON // NE WS W RI TE R
During the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) Council meeting of July 6, the current operations organizer, Ayesha Khan, raised concerns regarding the SFSS’ lack of action regarding the coverage of the position for when she goes on maternity leave. The representative for the Disability and Neurodiversity Alliance, Vivian Ly, asked president Helen Sofia Pahou to grant Khan time to speak on this issue. Pahou stated the matter would be best suited for in-camera discussion out of concern for the well-being of staff. Pahou noted she wanted to go in-camera so councillors could have full confidence when they are speaking. When asked to elaborate on her concerns by English councillor Gabe Liosis, Pahou said “I’m just going by Council policies and how I’ve interpreted [them], that is the only reason why.” Pahou believes it was in violation of policy R-9 to not move in-camera because human resource matters are included in their in-camera policies. During Council meetings, some discussions can be moved in-camera, meaning the public is not permitted to listen to the conversation. “This is liable for ex-camera and [Khan] has confirmed that nothing she wants to share is sensitive,” said Ly. “This topic has been the topic of ex-camera discussion at executive meetings and the last Council meeting, so I think that should continue to be the case. I don’t understand why we need to move in-camera.” Khan told Council she had announced her intention to take leave in March. At the time she was working with the past SFSS executive and had created an initial plan for backfilling her position. This plan was not enacted, however, as she was told no commitments could be made that would impact the current executives. The Peak could not confirm who told her this. These intentions were communicated to Pahou who, at the time, was in her transition period. “I had a discussion about the backfill with the current president in April and we revisited that plan in May, when her presidential term started,” said Khan. Khan reached out to Pahou again at the end of May supplying the executive with a timeline of her planned leave, but noted she never received a response from Pahou. As her leave approached, she sent another recommendation during the first week of June,
encouraging executives to act swiftly as she had not received a response regarding the issue. During the previous Council meeting on June 22, Khan attempted to add the subject to the meeting agenda, but was not recognized to speak. “The president knew that [Khan] was taking leave and a temporary replacement was needed, but no action was taken,” Liosis said. “Even if they started hiring a temporary replacement now [on July 6] there would not be enough time for training or transition.” The Executive Committee intended to chose John Walsh, the current SFSS building manager, to take on the operations organizer’s duties. “The two roles are completely different from one another, and require completely different skill sets,” Liosis said in an email to the SFSS Council prior to their meeting on July 6. Liosis’ email expressed major concerns regarding the Executive Committee’s handling of the operations organizer’s leave of absence. “The operations organizer position is simply way too much work to do alongside another position,” Liosis explained. The SFSS building manager is responsible for the Student Union Building, with duties including overseeing maintenance, repair, security, and renovations. This position requires them to perform a variety of daily tasks in-person, dealing with issues such as security issues and building emergencies that may arise within the building at a moment’s notice. The operations organizer, whose duties would have been added on top of the existing expectations of the building manager, is responsible for providing support to the SFSS through human resources. The operations organizer supports the executives and Council with daily administrative tasks including financial management, addressing councillors’ needs, and ensuring the SFSS is operating well. Liosis voiced concerns about the society’s ability to provide adequate services and advocacy to its membership given the “operational implications and effects these decisions will have on the SFSS staff team.”
PHOTO: Kriti Monga / The Peak
In his email to Council, Liosis said he disapproves “of the Executive Committee’s plan for the operations organizer portfolio to be undertaken by the building manager on top of his existing portfolio.” Liosis predicted burnout will spread throughout the SFSS, specifically burdening the president, who “will be required to put in a lot more time focusing on the HR side of the organization.” In his email to the Council, he expressed concerns this decision will restrict the SFSS’ ability to improve their advocacy and services. “It will undermine the quality of support we can provide for the rest of our staff,” Liosis added. He further noted the SFSS Executive Committee has demonstrated a “lack of transparency” on this matter. The Peak reached out to Pahou for more information, but she declined to comment, citing the issue involved “HR matters that are sensitive to staff well-being.” She stated in her written response to The Peak that councillors are to refrain from commenting on this issue, writing they are in “no position to be speaking on this matter.” Liosis criticized the president’s response. “It’s quite undemocratic, actually,” he said. “As a former SFSS president, I would never even begin to ask members of Council not to speak to the media if that’s what they wished to do. It’s a democratic right.” The Peak also reached out to Liosis to find out more about his concerns. “This Executive Committee ran quite heavily on a platform of transparency and frankly I’m not seeing that,” said Liosis. If councillors are discussing the position itself or Council’s inability to “meet critical and minimal operational requirements in order for this organisation to run effectively,” Liosis stated. “The president has no right or authority to tell a member of Council or anyone for that matter not to comment on this issue.” Liosis mentioned Khan had reached out multiple times to the president and the Executive Committee to form a plan for her leave. The Peak was unable to independently verify this. Along with multiple emails, she attempted to bring up the subject at a previous Council meeting, but was not recognized to speak. Liosis explained one of the reasons this decision to amalgamate positions might have been made is because Khan was not able to advise Council against the ramifications it might have. Liosis’s email noted Pahou “undemocratically, failed to recognize her to speak [in the June 22 Council meeting]. This is against the Council Policies (R-7.12), which stipulate that all staff members have speaking rights at Council meetings.” To resolve the situation, Liosis suggests the simplest solution would have been to hire a temporary replacement to fill the position during the current operations organizer’s absence. On July 29, The Peak received notice that “Sindhu Dharmarajah has been appointed to the position of Temporary Operations Organizer.” This is a developing story and The Peak will be following up in future issues.
OPINIONS
August 2, 2022
5
STILL OUR MONEY
The SFSS is spending too much running itself Running the SFSS has become a whole lot more expensive over the last decade
NE RCYA KALI N O // STAF F W RI TE R
When SFU released its 2021/22 budget plan, a plan that called for a 2% increase in domestic tuition and 4% increase in international tuition, the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) objected. Their objection, in part, was based on their recognition of students’ “unprecedented financial hardship” during COVID-19. Unfortunately, it’s an objection that rings a bit hollow in light of how the SFSS spends our money. As of 2021, a third of the SFSS budget is devoted to running the SFSS. That’s a big change from previous years. The SFSS claims to be a student advocacy group. For students, by students. But because they draw the overwhelming majority of their funds from students’ bank accounts, we also need to closely examine their actions. Take the most recent year. In the SFSS’ final 2021/2022 operating budget statement, $3,070,662 out of the total $3,169,725 SFSS revenue came from students in the form of SFSS member fees. That’s 97% of the SFSS’ revenue. Every semester, full-time students pay $42.74 as part of their SFSS membership fee, and part-timers pay $21.38. So, where’s the money going? Despite some fancy infrastructure investments, the answer is largely disappointing. What’s of concern are the ballooning administrative costs associated with the Society’s activities. In 2012, the SFSS’ administrative costs totaled $479,389. Those costs were
Students are paying a whole lot for a bureaucracy. mostly associated with administration, financial office, general office, and “Build SFU office.” That’s fine. The SFSS is a big organization. It needs upkeep, supplies to run, and, of course, to pay its workers. But let’s flash forward to 2021, the latest year for which figures are available. In 2021, those same line items now total $1,567,090. That’s over three times as costly as in 2012. “Administration and financial office” have more than quadrupled, from $193,711 in 2012 to $777,894 in 2021. “General office” and “Build SFU office” expenses have more than doubled. The overwhelming majority of those funds are coming from student fees. We’re funding this explosion in SFSS operations. That’s plenty of strain on a student body that, by the SFSS’ own admission, has been experiencing “unprecedented financial hardship.” Why has running the SFSS become so much more expensive over the course of the decade? The rate of inflation hasn’t doubled, let alone quadrupled to match the expenditures above. We deserve answers. Whether it’s the previous Executive Committee or the current one, the SFSS has become an increasingly controversial organization. From the confusing closure of the Student Union Building (SUB) to leaks to the dismissal of members over said leaks to the recent resignation
PHOTO: Fabian Blank / Unsplash of multiple councillors, the group has been placed under more scrutiny than ever. On budgets, they deserve even more scrutiny. There are, admittedly, some big shiny benefits we’ve gotten for our money. The annual build levy, approved in 2012, currently demands full-time students pay up $90 and part-time students pay $45. We’ve seen those dollars go to some cool projects. $10 million from the levy paid for the new Burnaby Campus stadium. The same fund went towards the construction of the SUB, which, of course, was then denied to us at the height of the pandemic. The 2023 financial budget consultation listed COVID-19 mental health as one of the recommendations. It explains this objective should “provide expanded accessibility and health services including dedicated funding.” That’s all well and good. But it doesn’t answer why we’re paying the SFSS to devote such a substantial (and increasing) portion of its budget to running itself. That the SFSS publishes its financial statements for everyone to see is fantastic. That it sometimes shells out for big, shiny infrastructure projects is nice. And that it has committed itself to a living wage for its employees is great, too! But what we need are explanations as to why the SFSS has become three times as costly to run over less than a decade.
TREADING WATER
Canadians need Universal Basic Income (UBI) UBI can help Canadians struggling with financial insecurity amid rising prices
B HAVAN A KAUSHI K // SF U STUD E NT
In a world with skyrocketing housing prices, wages that don’t reflect productivity, and rampant worker dissatisfaction, we need a way to bridge the gap between wages and the real cost of living. Universal Basic Income (UBI), a program that provides citizens with regular income to help them meet their needs, fits the bill. In Canada, a UBI program could enhance the happiness, productivity, health, and overall financial well-being of citizens. After a pandemic that devastated our pocketbooks and amid rising prices, it’s time for Canadians to seriously consider UBI. Before the pandemic hit, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada conducted a survey to measure the financial well-being of 1,953 Canadians. Only 33% of respondents felt financially secure while 41% felt somewhat secure, 19% were struggling somewhat and 7% were struggling a lot. Thanks to COVID-19, inflation, and global supply chain shocks, Canadians are likely feeling even more financial pressure. UBI will reduce that pressure so Canadians can feel financially secure. On the benefits of UBI, we can move beyond speculation. A Finnish UBI study that compared recipients of UBI to a control group without the regular income supplement found that UBI recipients came away from the program with more favourable perceptions of their household’s financial well-being. As a result, seemingly unrelated aspects of their lives improved. Respondents felt they’d “experienced less mental strain, depression, sadness, and loneliness” over the course of the program. The UBI group also expressed better perceptions of their cognitive abilities, including “memory, learning, and ability to concentrate.” Without
UBI is a bridge to happier, healthier living. financial disaster around every corner, Finnish UBI recipients were able to enjoy improved mental health. Despite UBI being supported by a shocking 75% of Canadians, as of 2019, some doubts persist. One persistent myth is the idea that, with UBI, no one will want to work. Some believe a steady stream of income will produce a population with no inclination to work. They couldn’t be further from the truth. That same Finnish study, and others like it, found that recipients of a regular income supplement weren’t just hanging around. Because of a newfound feeling of autonomy associated with less worry about their finances, recipients were more likely to engage in “voluntary work or informal care.” They didn’t withdraw; they engaged.
ILU STRATION: Angela Shen / The Peak Engagement extends beyond informal work, too. A study on the effects of a UBI pilot program in Ontario found that receiving unconditional payments improved the participants’ well-being and boosted their likelihood of landing jobs. Not only did they keep working, but they also gained the confidence and financial security to seek out better jobs. We can argue about how much to offer Canadians on a regular basis. We can argue about how often to dole our payments. But what we can’t argue about anymore is whether our current system of labour and pay is working for Canadians. UBI offers a potential bridge from our current state of toiling away for insufficient pay to a healthier, wealthier, and happier future for every Canadian.
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OPINIONS
Opinions Editor Luke Faulks
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opinions@the-peak.ca
RADIO SILENCE
The SFSS shouldn’t have kept SFU’s SUB legal challenge from us Want students to get invested in politics? Share information and don’t punish whistleblowers
ISA BE L LA URBAN I // STAF F W RI TE R LUK E FAULKS // OPI NI O NS E D I TO R
Boredom, if not outright animosity, is a common reaction to SFU politics. The most explicit example of our distaste for student politics is in our low turnout for student elections. Case in point, the 2022 Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) elections saw just 8% of SFU students cast a ballot for their choice of president. But it’s worth mentioning there are still plenty of interesting twists and turns our politics holds — it’s just that they’re hidden from us. SFU’s potential lawsuit against the SFSS for the Student Union Building (SUB)’s closure is an example of the chilling effect withholding information from students can have. Let’s recap the high-level politics that were denied to us. Back in March, The Peak reported that legal action was being threatened by SFU after the previous SFSS Board voted to close the SUB from January 24–February 18 to protect staff from contracting COVID-19. The school argued the closure breached the lease agreement made between SFU and SFSS by withholding access to the SUB during normal operating hours. That was stated in the first of three letters SFU sent to the 2021/2022 SFSS Board starting on January 20. By the third and final letter, SFU was threatening a default on the SFSS’ lease on the SUB. Two days later, as The Peak reported, the SFSS voted to re-open the SUB.
You can’t be selective about the type of information you share: give us the good, the bad, and the ugly. Now, my gripe isn’t with the SFSS for closing the SUB. It’s not with SFU for threatening a student organization. It’s with the fact that a culture of secrecy around SUB decisions stifles students’ conversations about student politics. Although this was a few months ago, the private predicament unfolded while an online petition for online learning was circulating at SFU, and just when BC had just removed capacity limits. As a student body, we were engaged on the issue of the SUB’s closure, but were denied information about issues that might have contributed Board’s decision. As constituents, we should have been made aware of factors, including the lawsuit, that might have had an influence on the process. The SFSS also censured three councillors, and later impeached one of them. This is another extension of the problematic culture of secrecy in student politics. The punishing of leakers, as apparently enshrined in SFSS’ bylaws, chills the dispersal of information to the student population. While letting violators get off scot-free is not a good option, impeachment ensures that potential
PHOTO: Allyson Klassen / The Peak
whistleblowers will be forced to choose between losing a career in student politics and informing the student body. The SFSS has yet to release a report on the incident. The same goes for the current Council’s recent motion to remove Rea Chatterjee, vice president external and community affairs, from her position. We’ve been kept in the dark there, too. The SFSS needs to be transparent. You may be getting sued? You’re our student representatives, let the people know! We want the good, the bad, and the ugly. Send emails! Post it on social media! List out all your concerns and conditions on a piece of paper and stick it on the SUB door! Just address the situation. Don’t let the problem snowball and then proceed to brush it under the rug. SFSS is supposed to be for the students. By making the factors that contribute to their decision-making public, they can better involve the student body. As it stands, the group is doing less to enhance political discourse at SFU, and more to stifle it.
DEMOCRACY INACTION
The SFSS’ toxicity is spilling out of its meetings Executive members are becoming less productive while billing students for it
AND R EA ST EVE SON // SF U STUD E NT
The Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) has power over student life, policies, and our money. It is cause for concern, then, when we have several councillors and executives alleging the Society has become toxic and is abusing their power — and by extension, our money. The SFSS plays an important role in advocating for undergraduate student rights and providing many of the essential services students need. Besides managing the Student Union Building, they also provide students with free legal services, an emergency food bank program, an extended health and dental plan, as well as the U-Pass program. All these responsibilities, and the power associated with them, means the Society deserves scrutiny. That scrutiny must include the SFSS workplace. Students pay hefty fees that go towards supporting the SFSS’ initiatives. Full-time students cough up over $300 each semester to the SFSS. That’s a lot for cash-strapped students. You might assume the responsibility associated with managing student money would make for a solemn environment, but you’d be wrong. Increasingly, SFSS meetings are scenes of devolution. But don’t just take it from me. The SFSS will admit their meetings have fallen into disrepute. Vice president equity and sustainability Rea Chatterjee and vice president external and
Who’s paying for all the SFSS drama? community affairs Eshana Baran recently released a statement condemning the SFSS’ work environment. They claim that meetings can devolve into personal arguments and they have tried to remind members of community guidelines and etiquette. They note at the June 3 executive meeting, that “concerns were raised on multiple occasions about the importance of having respectful dialogue and work environment.” In other words, the governing body of SFU’s most powerful student society is looking less like the seat of student government, and more like a playground. So, in light of a toxic work environment, what has the Council been able to accomplish since the new executives took over in May? Well, according to their Notices of Motions page, fixing typos in policy documents. I can’t imagine many students cast a ballot during the 2022 election thinking they were voting for the person that’d be best at tackling typos. Instead of devoting time to passing a motion to correct something as straightforward as a spelling error, we need a student government that’s legitimately
PHOTO: Allyson Klassen / The Peak concerned with advocating for students. SFU’s student body has any number of concerns that extend beyond typos. With the SFSS’ $3.1 million budget, they could make a real difference on climate change, climate justice, protesting the Trans Mountain Expansion, fighting for Research Assistant rights, and, of course, pushing back against the school’s routine tuition raises. The SFSS arguing about petty issues — from those personal issues to questions of etiquette and typos — are ridiculous issues to devote any energy to, particularly when students are paying their salaries. We want student services, not meaningless debates on the most insignificant issues. No one else but Council knows what goes on behind closed doors and in-camera meetings, but, at its core, the SFSS should exist to serve the student body. An Executive Committee that’s rife with infighting isn’t working in the best interests of the student body. The current executive team needs a reminder that the students who are critiquing, asking questions, and demanding answers are the ones paying their bills. They work for us — and right now, they’re underperforming.
ARTS & CULTURE
August 2, 2022
7
BOLD BUSINESSES
Five local BIPOC and/or queer-owned businesses Locally sourced, unique hand-created products you need in your life
IMAGE: @devicollective
W R I T T E N BY J O S S T E V E N S
With farmer’s markets and festivals popping up all over the city this summer, there is no better time to explore small local businesses. Spending your money on local businesses has a myriad of benefits over shutting yourself in a corporate mall. These benefits can include ethical material sourcing, financing the livelihoods of people rather than corporate structures, and connecting with your community. Here are five BIPOC and/or queer-owned businesses I’m excited to order from!
Devi Arts Collective
IMAGE: @artbymunea
Munea Wadud
Hungryminis
Qthreadz
Karibu Handcrafted Soaps
Created by hand in Langley, BC, this LGBTQIA2S+ owned Etsy business serves you earrings that look like pieces of cake. They’re incredibly cute, detailed, and realistic enough to eat! The preset cake earrings use layers of colours to depict queer flags. They also have many colour options for customization, so you can curate the perfect pair for your identity. Simply message their Etsy page, request the number of layers and colours you’d like, and you have yourself a unique pair of earrings. Mini versions of things, especially food, always excite and satisfy me, so I’m looking forward to wearing a pair of little cakes on my ears.
IMAGE: @qthreadz
IMAGE: @karibusoaps
Created in Vancouver by Ethiopian founder Bayoush Mengesha, this BIPOC women-led jewellery brand strives to give you a little bit of soft glam that is “an expression of the bold, the confident, and the vibrant qualities in our truest selves.” Devi Arts uses sustainable materials with all of their products including necklaces, earrings, and rings. All are minimalist pieces which can be worn to compliment basically any look. I’m always on the hunt for more rings, and Devi Arts has just what I have been looking for. You can check out their website for all of their items and have them delivered to you.
IMAGE: @hungryminis
For COVID-19 safety, I recommend sticking to smaller and outdoor markets in your community and showing up either right when they open or very close to the event end time. However, even these can get crowded with very few people wearing masks so this list also includes vendors who do online or social media based orders.
Owned and operated by a non-binary, Bengali, queer person, this little shop on Esty creates art with the purpose of making a statement. From pins to prints, their products promote LGBTQIAS2+ rights, racial equality, and body positivity to help you express your passion for advocacy in a unique and bold way. Anytime I get to view local art and prints like this, I have to stop myself from buying all of them due to how amazing it all looks. I might have to let myself cave on this one though.
Based in Victoria, BC, this cute queer-owned thrift store handles all of your clothing needs with upcycled pieces. You can find items like shirts, pants, shoes, and backpacks on their Instagram page, all of which can be yours with a simple direct message. They ship products out to you wherever you are located in Canada, so this is perfect for folks who aren’t comfortable thrifting in person yet. They also donate a portion of their profits to other queer organizations — queers supporting queers! I try to shop as sustainably as possible, and thrifting is one of the many great ways to do this. If you like this Instagrambased thrifting style, @cerealthrifter_ on Instagram is another queerowned Vancouver business who operates in a similar way.
Locally made in New Westminster by Kenyan founder Ken, these handcrafted soaps are made using locally sourced plantbased ingredients. They focus on “keeping it safe and simple, crafting each item with just basic ingredients needed for a clean, healthy product that is gentle and nourishing on the skin, long lasting, and pure.” One thing I found strikingly unique was how they use recycled items like milk cartons to mould their soaps. How crafty is that? Knowing that Karibu strives for locally sourced ingredients really sold me. Some of their soaps are available in-person at Old Crow Coffee Co. or you can place an order online through their website.
08 · Features
A timeline of SFSS conduct and concerns Summer 2022 brought with it a new society and a new set of issues
Meera Eragoda Features Editor
COLLAGE: Josh Ralla / The Peak
May 2022 President Helen Sofia Pahou and the new Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) begin their 2022/23 term.
May 11 In an interview with The Peak, Pahou said she hopes to facilitate clear communication within the SFSS.
May 11 Council meeting · In-camera portion called by Pahou and vice president internal and organizational development Judit Nagy to discuss committee election. · In-camera refers to portions of the meeting which are confidential and unavailable to the public. Matters which constitute a basis for an in-camera meeting are: HR matters, “open contract negotiations or competitive processes,” legal issues, and anything subject to the Personal Information Protections Act (PIPA). · English councillor Gabe Liosis and mathematics councillor Ben Tischler run for vice chair — Council votes in Tischler. · Oversight Committee on Executive Officers formed with Alan Ropke, Aaron Fun, Nim Basra, Gabe Liosis, Matthew Reed, and Riordan Huenemann as councillors for the 2022/23 term. · The Oversight Committee on Executive Officers is responsible for holding executive officers accountable to completing their job duties and investigating any misconduct. · Governance Committee formed with Ben Tischler, Abhishek Parmar, Hilary Tsui, and Mark Giles for 2022/23 term. Vice president equity and sustainability Rea Chatterjee and vice president external and community affairs Eshana Baran run but are not appointed. · The Governance Committee is responsible for keeping up to date with and interpreting the SFSS’ constitution, bylaws, and policies. They can also make recommendations to change any of the above.
June 8
Council meeting · In-camera portion called for by Faculty of Communication, Art, and Technology councillor Ratsko Koprivica and sociology and anthropology councillor Arthur Lee to discuss Forum Chambers Temperature Check and Potential Sponsorship from Memory Express. · Council approves $6,300 to send Pahou, Chatterjee, Baran, and Unit 5 CUPE Local 3338 representative Trish Everett to Chicago, Illinois for the 2022 Labour Notes Conference from June 17–19. Various councillors express concerns over the number of people being sent, the cost of the budget, and a lack of transparency regarding the motion.
June 14
Executive Committee meeting · The Executive Committee is comprised of seven members, four of whom belong to the Stronger Together Party, two of whom belong to the SFU Progressives, and one independent. · Council moves in-camera to discuss legal concerns. · Vice president internal and organizational development Judit Nagy motions to issue an apology to SFU over letter dated May 17, 2022 calling for firing of an SFU employee. The Peak does not have access to the contents of the letter. According to the minutes, the letter included the SFSS Executive Committee as a signatory despite lack of support from majority of the committee. Motion passes with only vice president external and community affairs Eshana Baran and vice president equity and sustainability Rea Chatterjee opposed.
The Peak PHOTO: Allyson Klassen /
June 22
Council meeting · Nagy motions for policy amendments for in-camera meeting which would stipulate only councillors and invited third parties be allowed access. Additionally, any councillor not at a meeting would be excluded from information discussed at the meeting. Councillors express concerns over transparency. The motion required a ⅔ majority which was not met, with only 56% of the vote. · Vice president external and community affairs Eshana Baran asks for an update on coverage for operations organizer Ayesha Khan when she goes on leave. Pahou states building manager John Walsh has agreed to step in temporarily and the item will be discussed at the next Executive Committee meeting. · Chatterjee brings up discussion item regarding the Executive Committee meeting decision to apologize to SFU regarding the letter dated May 17, 2022. Chatterjee alleges lack of sufficient discussion time surrounding the letter. Councillors express concerns this undermines the other signatories such as Graduate Student Society, Teaching Support Staff Union, Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry, Disability and Neurodiveristy Alliance (DNA), etc. Councillors allege concerns over transparency, conflict of interest between Committee on the Councillor Breaches of Confidence and Executive Committee, and undermining of complaints process. Other councillors express support for Executive Committee decision, citing that the current Executive Committee does not have to agree with the previous one. Others express concerns over Chatterjee informing constituency groups about what they claim was SFSS business. Baran and Chatterjee allege they have been isolated and excluded within the Executive Committee.
June 23 English councillor and staff liaison officer Gabe Liosis expresses concerns over Executive Committee’s decision to merge operations organizer and building manager roles into one. Liosis outlined lack of consultation and silencing of current operations organizer Ayesha Khan, alongside a prediction of burnout of building manager.
July 5 The Peak reaches out for a statement regarding the operations organizer positions. Pahou requests future media requests be sent solely to her and says councillors are not to speak to The Peak. English councillor Gabe Liosis claims this is unreasonable and undemocratic of Pahou.
July 6
Council meeting · In-camera session called by vice president finance and services Abhishek Parmar and vice president university and academic affairs Nicole Kirigin to discuss review of a public report and Committee on Councillor Breaches of Confidence (CCBC) report. Concerns about CCBC’s transparency raised by members of Council. Council passes motion to allow CCBC to continue investigations and enable CCBC to begin future investigations on recommendation of Council or other committee. · English councillor Gabe Liosis, Disability and Neurodiversity Alliance representative Vivian Ly, vice president external and community affairs Eshana Baran, and vice president equity and sustainability Rea Chatterjee leave the meeting at 6:45 p.m. · Motion put forward by French councillor Ethan Dungey and science undergraduate society councillor Ayooluwa Adigun to allow Council to replace members of CCBC “whenever Council believes” they are in “potential conflict of interest.” Motion is not carried with two in favour and 35 against. · Environmental science councillor Chloe Homenuke’s resignation accepted. · $14,000 approved to furnish the Computing Science Student Society common room. · $10,000 approved for Fall Street Festival. · Hiring position for staff leave and potential administrative restructuring discussion brought forth by Ly. Mathematics councillor Ben Tischler objects on the basis it should be an in-camera discussion. Discussion item postponed. · Operations organizer Ayesha Khan raised concerns regarding SFSS lack of action for coverage of her position.
PHOTO:
Gudrun
Wai-
11 July 8 English councillor Gabe Liosis resigns due to time constraints. Liosis also alleges concerns of transparency, toxic work culture, and silencing tactics based on political ideology. Liosis states he will continue in his capacity as associate vice president external and community affairs.
July 13 Disability and Neurodiversity Alliance representative Vivian Ly resigns, alleging concerns of transparency, misuse of power, corruption, and accessibility, all of which Ly says contributed heavily to “rapid, severe deterioration of [Ly’s] mental health.”
July 20
Council meeting · Ly, Liosis, and Indigenous Studies Student Union councillor Nebula (Anita) Shen’s resignations accepted.
July 25 Vice president equity and sustainability Rea Chatterjee and vice president external and community affairs Eshana Baran release a public letter alleging concerns of transparency, toxic work culture, overuse of in-camera, and other silencing tactics meetings. Chatterjee and Baran are the only two members of the executive committee belonging to the SFU Progressive party.
July 27
Special Council meeting · Meeting held to call for the censure of and request resignation of Chatterjee. Motion postponed until next meeting. · Council condemns letter released by Chatterjee and Baran over “concerns about [councillors’ ] mental health, wellbeing, and safety as a result of this statement being disclosed at a Council Meeting without Council’s approval, then to the public at large.” · Chatterjee alleges her email has been accessed by Nagy without permission. · Koprivica called to skip discussion and go to a vote on condemnation of the letter, effectively blocking any discussion from the 50+ student members in attendance due to concerns they are “acting in bad faith and clearly have been brought by the two SFU Progressives [ . . . ] to pressure council to vote a certain way.” Motion to skip discussion fails. Members in attendance express concern over the seeming attempt to stifle democratic process. · Council goes in-camera two times in the meeting.
July 27 SFU350 releases statement standing in solidarity with Chatterjee, condemning motions to call for Chatterjee’s censure and resignation. They also state they condemn the current culture at the SFSS, citing concerns of toxicity.
July 29 SFSS announces hiring of Sindhu Dharmarajah as temporary replacement for operations organizer Ayesha Khan, keeping the positions of operations organizer and building manager separate.
July 29 · Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry (SOCA) holds general meeting in Student Union Building. · The Peak receives a tip from an anonymous source. In a Discord chat, film councillor Riordan Huenemann made a potentially inflammatory comment towards SOCA that he later explained was not meant to be taken seriously and for which he has since apologized. Pahou acknowledged this comment and said she does not condone this behaviour. She assured Council that SOCA's safety needs have been attended to.
-Gunna
This is a developing story that The Peak will cover in future issues.
rsson
/ The Peak
12
ARTS & CULTURE
Arts & Culture Editor Gem Yelin Lee
·
arts@the-peak.ca
Food for Thought: Making Gnocchi Italian food practices and family ties
Almost every cultural tradition in Italy stems from family, especially the food. Breakfast consists of Italian coffee with a small biscuit or pastry. But be warned, Italian coffee is strong: one cup goes a long way. The biggest meal of the day is lunch. In Italy, shops close every single day at this time so families have the opportunity to prepare food and eat together. Most food is prepared from scratch using vegetables harvested from the garden to prepare a nice side salad and create a tomato sauce from scratch. No crumb is left uneaten. Whatever Nonna puts on your plate must get eaten.
W RI TTEN BY ISAB E L L A URB AN I
I’m half Italian, but it’s hard to feel like anything but Italian with the way I was raised — with gnocchi running through my veins and family being more important than life itself. My Nonna is my next door neighbour and my aunt is just down the street. That random Italian person I just met? Yeah, that’s my fifth cousin. When my Nonna immigrated from L’Aquila to BC when she was just 16, speaking no English whatsoever, she created her little version of Italy at home. I didn’t realize how European my upbringing was until I had friends over for dinner. The multicourse meals that I was accustomed to on a nightly basis were only reserved for special occasions for my friends.
In Italy, dinner usually consists of light fare such as a small bowl of soup to hold you over until the next day. But since most of my family comes home in the evening from work and school, we replicate the same Italian lunch traditions at dinner. For the last few years, my family has eaten at my Nonna’s house every Monday and Tuesday. The first course always consists of a pasta or soup dish. Followed by a main course of various meats, vegetables, more carbs (obviously), and salads (yes, plural). And who could forget the dessert? Sometimes, your stomach will get lucky, and it will just be sugar-coated strawberries with ice cream or just plain fruit. Other times, it’s a full-blown cake. One of the most well-known Italian dishes is gnocchi. Although it’s filling enough to be its own meal, it’s typically served as an “appetizer.” Gnocchi is pasta made with potato instead of grain and originates in Northern Italy, where there is a much cooler climate. Its pasta pieces are oval shaped and bite sized enough to be compared to a petit dumpling. Traditionally, it’s served with a basil tomato sauce and is best served when made from scratch. You can buy premade packages at the store but I can guarantee it won’t quite taste the same. Also, don’t tell your Italian friends you cook gnocchi any other way if you don’t want to be accused of blasphemy. My Nonna likes to make big batches of gnocchi at one time so she can freeze them and pull them out when she needs them. Here is my Nonna’s recipe for gnocchi and her homemade tomato sauce.
PHOTO: Moira Nazzari / Pixabay
Written by Yelin Gemma Lee
Nonna’s Gnocchi 1. Cook as many potatoes as you’d like in a pot. My Nonna likes six. Once they’re done, smash them up. 2. Add eggs. For this recipe, two should be sufficient. 3. Add some salt and 3 1/2 cups of flour. Do be wary about your flour. Too much can cause the gnocchi to become chewy. 4. Now, you can form your dough. Roll your dough into strips. Then, cut them into small pieces, just over an inch long. 5. Freeze for a few hours. 6. Cook your gnocchi in a pot. When they begin to rise to the top of the water, wait one minute, and then take them out. The actual cooking process only takes a few minutes, since the potatoes were already cooked during step one. 7. Add the gnocchi to your sauce, stir it in, and serve to guests with a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese.
Nonna’s Homemade Tomato Sauce 1. Fry onions in a pan. 2. Once your onions are caramelized, add in your canned tomatoes. Make sure you squash them up in the sauce. 3. Season your sauce: salt, pepper, and a few basil leaves. You can choose to remove the basil after the sauce is complete or leave them in. 4. Nonna’s tip: add in a carrot and some celery for flavour. Remove the celery but keep the carrots. 5. Nonna’s tip: add just a tinsy bit of sugar. 6. Let simmer for an hour.
NEED TO KNOW, NEED TO GO Three events to catch in the Lower Mainland this August Are you also feeling like July is always the month of events and the August calendar looks a little boring? I don’t think this is fair, considering August is when students in summer courses are wrapping up and finally looking to enjoy their summer. Thankfully, I have three awesome events for you to buff up your summer and help you enjoy your break to the fullest!
SET IT OFF
VANCOUVER QUEER FILM FESTIVAL
SFU SUMMER FESTIVAL
Vancouver Black Therapy and Advocacy Foundation is hosting their first fundraiser event! This local grassroots initiative is one I like to support on a continuing basis. They raise funds to make “Black mental health support more accessible to Black community members in the Vancouver Lower Mainland.” The event will include a flea market, merchandise and raffle ticket sales, food, and live music! This fundraiser follows a statement of truth released on their Instagram page about how their community funding has drastically decreased as the Black Lives Matter virality has died down. Connect with the community and learn about creative ways to support this amazing cause on a meaningful basis.
The Vancouver Queer Film Festival is returning both online and in-person from August 11–21. Their programme is diverse and vibrant this year, with many films exploring intersectional narratives in the queer community. They’ve incorporated a virtual watch platform this year to keep the festival accessible for people with disabilities and immunocompromised people. Through their watch platform, you can access the films with the “virtual” option indicated on them. The festival pass is $175 with full access to both virtual and in-person films, and an access pass of $145 for those who need financial support. The digital pass is $100 and allows you full access to all virtual films to watch at your leisure, in your jammies. Individual tickets are on a sliding scale between $5–21, depending on access needs.
After last year’s Twitch-streamed summer festival, SFU Anime Club is returning this year to host their 10th annual summer festival in-person! The festival aims to give locals “the opportunity to experience a Japanese ‘Matsuri’ style festival.” Matsuri festivals in Japan are held to celebrate seasons, religious ceremonies, and historical events. They often feature yukatas, street food, and traditional games. The summer festival at SFU is inspired by this model and includes games, an artist alley, food vendors, and a main stage featuring performances, panels, and a cosplay contest. Wear your culturally-respectful cosplays and go appreciate a summer festival that feels like it’s right out of your favourite shoujo anime.
Where: Progress Lab 1422, 1422 Williams Street, Vancouver When: August 13, 2:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual and varying in-person venues When: August 11–21, times vary
Where: Convocation Mall, SFU Burnaby When: August 27, 1:00 p.m.–late
ARTS & CULTURE
August 2, 2022
13
SWEET SPOT
SA RA WON G // PEAK ASSO CI ATE
PHOTO : Sarah Wong / The Peak
PHOTO: Sara Wong There’s no shortage of Chinese bakeries around Metro Vancouver, but Pine House — specifically, the one on Kingsway — will always have a special place in my heart. It’s my family’s go-to spot for gai mei bao (cocktail buns; also known as coconut buns) and char siu bao (barbecue pork buns). The quality is consistently good, with a fluffy milk bread base and rich fillings. I’ve also found Pine House more affordable than their competitors. You’ll find a good variety of classics here like cow ear cookies, swiss rolls, egg tarts, and apple turnovers. Part of the joy of going to a Chinese bakery is picking up a plastic tray and piling it with whatever piques your interest!
Kourosh Bakery
Heritage Baking
PHOTO: Heritage Baking
Dessert has always played a meaningful role in my life. Of course, there are special occasions like birthdays and holidays, but usually what I think of first are those “just because” moments. My parents often pick up pastries for me if they know I’ve had a tiresome day at work or school and our weekends are often full of spontaneous food adventures. For me, that’s what the four bakeries listed below represent — places you turn to on a whim because you know they’ll make your day sweeter.
At Kanadell, you’ll find an array of Japanese sweets, as well as western desserts with East Asian flavour profiles. I’m most obsessed with their melon pans and black sesame nanaimo bars. It’s been incredible to see Kanadell go from an online social media sensation (you’ve probably seen their “bear bread” on Instagram) to a brick and mortar shop. But the journey wasn’t exactly a cake walk. Keiko, Kanadell’s owner, recently appeared on the Food Network show Project Bakeover, which helps struggling bakeries redesign their space and streamline their menu. Now, Kanadell has seating for customers! The mix of wicker furniture and lush greenery creates a cozy, relaxing atmosphere. I love coming here for a late lunch, where I can take the time to indulge in a crispy, savoury kare pan (curry bread) and warm hojicha latte.
I first met Martha Naguiat-Ebro, chef and owner of Heritage, at a local farmer’s market. One taste of her “bad boy” ensaymada, a Filipinx bun tinted with activated charcoal and topped with pork floss, and I was hooked! The brioche was pillowy soft and packed with more umami than expected, thanks to a hidden sriracha togarashi smear. Heritage offers other traditional favourites, like sans rival cake and pandesal bread, but the ensaymadas are a mustorder. I’m also a huge fan of their pain au chocolat, which uses 70% dark chocolate from another small, local Filipinx business, Kasama Chocolate. This isn’t on the regular menu, but stay tuned for updates. Heritage operates out of Coho Commissary in East Vancouver, so the quickest way to get ahold of their treats is to order online and pickup at the commissary.
PHOTO: Sara Wong
You’ll find sugar and spice and everything nice here
PHOTO: Sara Wong
Four Asian bakeries for when you want to treat yourself
Pine House Bakery
Kanadell Japanese Bakery
Growing up, most of my figure skating practices were in North Vancouver, where I saw a number of Persian bakeries, including Kourosh. I recently returned to check them out and was delighted to see Kourosh’s display cases full of cookies and other delicious baked goods. When I visited with my parents, we got an assortment of just about everything. Our bakery boxes were stacked with chickpea cookies, rice cookies, and shortbread, alongside jalebi, baklava, coconut macaroons, doughnuts, and éclairs. The latter three items were quickly devoured (we didn’t even make it out of the parking lot). While everything was delicious, the coconut macaroons were on another level. Aside from the textbook qualities of good macaroons — golden on the outside, moist and chewy on the inside — these macaroons featured a sandwiched layer of pistachio cream, adding texture contrast and extra flavour. I also enjoyed the cookies, which all had that buttery, melt-inyour-mouth quality.
QUEER FUTURISMS
Re:Orientations is the diverse queer Asian documentary we needed Director Richard Fung explores the continued relevance of queer Asian issues ME E RA ERAGODA // F EATURES E D I TO R
On July 20, Love Intersections, a queer arts collective, hosted Yellow Peril: Reimagining Queer Asian Futures with sponsorship from Vancouver Pride Society and SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement. The event was named after Kendell Yan’s, aka Maiden China’s, film of the same name. The event also incorporated an hour-long documentary titled Re:Orientations which presented a diversity of Asians. In 1984, director Richard Fung filmed Orientations which followed 14 Asians in Toronto as they navigated their race and queer identity. Re:Orientations followed seven of those in the original film, 30 years later, to see how their experiences had changed. Fung and assistant Nathan Hoo also interviewed younger members of the queer community. Watching this, I was struck by how much this film captured Toronto’s diversity of Asians including brown Asians. I moved from Toronto to Vancouver when I was 14 and I remember implicitly understanding that I had gone from being Asian in Toronto to being “brown” in Vancouver. To this day, I still have to explain to people here that, yes, South Asians are indeed Asian. Seeing brown Asians being represented in Re:Orientations allowed me to feel seen in a way I haven’t in BC.
I haven’t watched Orientations, but Re:Orientations featured clips from it along with the reactions of participants watching their younger selves on screen. It also included more recent interviews with returning and new participants. In an article for CBC Arts, Fung wrote his purpose in making the film was to “represent contradictions and to open up questions that face our communities in the future.” This was reflected in the embarrassed and disbelieving reactions participants had about what their younger selves had been thinking. Many reflected on how much they’d grown in the intervening decades and how their opinions had become more nuanced.
Seeing brown Asians being represented in Re:Orientations allowed me to feel seen in a way I haven’t in BC.
The film explored issues such as the understanding that younger generations of queers don’t really recognize how difficult it was to be queer and Asian in the 1980s and how much fight had to be put in. One participant explained how even the activism around HIV/AIDS excluded Asian men who had to fight against the gatekeeping of access to treatment. Towards the end of the film, Re:Orientations paid tribute to four participants who had passed away as a result of the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s. We now know that while HIV/AIDS was stigmatized as a gay disease and used to justify not providing treatment, it does not in actuality only target gay men. So it was surprising to me to see parallels to how monkeypox is being spoken about today, and while treatment is being provided this time, once again, an infection that does not see sexuality is being used to further antiqueer conservative beliefs.
The documentary returns to chronicle Queer Asian Narratives across generations. PHOTO: Richard Fung / Re:Orientations (2016)
The film covered lots of ground. A few of the other topics addressed were navigating dating and Asian stereotypes, marriage and the idea of homonormativity, the need for adequate supports for aging queers, and having conversations about queerness within Asian communities. This remake and the continuity of concerns the queer Asian community has to contend with makes Re:Orientations a film worthy of further discussion.
14
HUMOUR
Humour Editor Kelly Chia
·
humour@the-peak.ca
They’ve had enough of you and your shit Dear humans, We strongly encourage you to read the latest meeting minutes for the weekly Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area Bear Community Meeting as part of the Burnaby Mountain Neighborhood Committee. We trust that you will enact changes to your garbage disposal habits in line with best practices.
July 2 Weekly Burnaby Mountain Bear Consortium Location: Office of the President Strand Hall, 3000–8888 University Drive Date: July 2, 2022, 3:00 p.m. Attendees: Bears: Simon, Fraser, Robert, Brown Cougars: Lorne, Davies, McFogg, Uni
Agenda items:
•
1. Discussing availability of human trash as food 1.1. Be it resolved that human methods to dispose of trash are currently unacceptable:
3.1. Be it resolved that humans are informed of proper composting methods:
All in favour / Motion passed • •
•
• •
President Simon said if the humans will not let us eat their trash, we should eat the humans instead. Observation manager Fraser added, “Early morning humans will be less able to run away, but were only widely available during exam period when the Burnaby Campus library operates 24/7.” This caused an uproar during the meeting. Sustainability representative Uni said that if we ate the humans, they would produce less garbage and thus less food for us to eat. “We needed to be sustainable in how we treat the humans so we can keep getting food from them long term,” he stated. Robert concluded the local humans were moving towards composting which was good for nature. Simon countered that the meeting committee was part of nature and it was not always good for them. The committee formed breakout sessions to define the meaning of the term “nature.”
All in favour / Motion passed • • •
• •
•
Deliberations lasted for four hours. Reactions ranged, but generally all parties present agreed that nature was something humans liked exploiting. “Just look around us, bro,” Fraser said. Deliberations proceeded to explore “places where we can poop without a human yelling at us.” Discussion proved unproductive as all voting parties agreed that meeting fatigue was present. There was a unanimous agreement to leave the tawdry work of defining nature to the people living in the giant gray prison structure adjacent to the meeting space. Discussion concludes. Participants returned to the main room and took a nap. Upon return, Uni wanted to discuss food dispensers (i.e. human waste disposal cans).
Simon agreed that humans needed to know the plight of animals. Fraser brought up that since humans used tiny red pieces of meat in their mouths to communicate instead of their bodies like all other animals, it would be hard to communicate with them. Uni said that they could use a combination of body language and speech to make sure the humans understand.
3.2. Be it resolved to scare the humans with roars and charges if they continue locking their waste disposal cans: All in favour / Motion passed • • •
2. Discussion of the definition of nature: • •
Uni wanted to stop the group from getting distracted and informed the Council that local humans were moving to composting. He brought a motion to inform humans that animals are natural compost machines that don’t require infrastructure or transportation.
Lorne said we also had to make sure the humans stop locking their waste disposal cans so we could get access to them. Uni said we could issue it as a form of natural composting measure. McFogg informed us he was abstaining from conversation, but would vote. Council would like to note that the rest of the group forgot he was even there or what he was.
3.3. Be it resolved to issue statement to humans of SFU to stop locking their garbage and compost bins so animals can help them compost better: All in favour / Motion passed 4. ADJOURNMENT • •
Robert found it funny that all our motions were unanimous and that animals were more united than humans even though there is only one species of human. Brown wanted to do a check out question or activity but Council agreed unanimously to adjourn the meeting for an early dinner.
3. Discussion of food dispensers AKA waste disposal cans:
ILLUSTRATION: NAZMUS SAKIB / THE PEAK
•
Head of cougar resources Lorne provided background information on the locks of the trash cans, arguing all animals should take a stand on it.
Meeting adjourned 8:00 p.m., July 2, 2022.
Written by Nathan T.
Animal meeting concludes humans are garbage at recycling
HUMOUR
August 2, 2022
Your Weekly Horoscopes Gather around, the Stars have decided your last summer escapade
15
August 2–7 Isabella Urbani
Mediator for the Stars
ARIES — Mar 21–Apr 19
LIBRA — Sept 23–Oct 22
Guess who’s becoming YouTube’s latest food vlogger? Who else is going to tell the people whether or not McDonald’s newest summer drink is good? Let’s get one thing right here: you’re going for number of vlogs, not quality. The Stars aren’t that mean.
It’s time to get your driver’s license. The last three summers didn’t feel like the “right” time to you, but this year, there is something in the heatwave compelling you to go through with taking that driving test. You don’t have a car, your L may have expired for all you know, but just book it anyway. That’s a problem for fall you to deal with.
TAURUS — Apr 20 –May 20
SCORPIO — Oct 23–Nov 21
I understand that you’re still super obsessed with that guitarist Kirk Hammett from the band you just discovered last week. Too bad you’re 40 years too late. He was topping the charts when your parents were your age. Don’t sweat it, just learn how to shift planes. Watch a TikTok or two, it can’t be that hard.
Three words. Guinness World Records. You’ve been feeling a little underappreciated lately, Scorpio. What’s a better pick-me-up than becoming the newest title holder for “most apples held in one’s mouth and cut by chainsaw in one minute?” I mean that just screams you! Wait, aren’t you allergic to apples?
GEMINI — May 21–Jun 20
SAGITTARIUS — Nov 22–Dec 21
You want to feel real power? Recite Pi. You heard me. Next time you’re in an argument, just start screaming the digits of Pi. How can they one up that? They can’t. You win, by default. That’s just the rules. I would know, I happen to make them.
Knock. Knock. It’s change at your door. I’m calling for a full-blown makeover, starting with your hair. Grab some kiddy scissors and have a go at it. Don’t forget to ask your friend what their favorite colour is. No reason . . . just that it’s becoming your new hair colour.
CANCER — Jun 21–Jul 22
CAPRICORN — Dec 22–Jan 19
Um . . . I don’t really know what to say. The Stars kind of just skipped over you LIKE YOU SKIPPED OVER THEIR ADVICE LAST WEEK. Anyway, talk to you soon.
Remember that game you played relentlessly in the summer when you were 12 years old? Yeah, I heard through a very reliable source that the final boss of that game is talking some major smack about you. Are you just going to let a fictional character do that to you? NO! Maybe if you were a Sagittarius. You set your N64 back up and you slay the shit out of that dragon!
LEO — Jul 23–Aug 22
AQUARIUS — Jan 20 –Feb 18
AHHHHHH IT’S LEO SEASON! Everyone knows Leos are the Stars’ faaaavourite sign. Throw a block party. Volunteer (as the people pleaser you are, ofc) to host it at that family’s house that has a nice pool. You are the hostess with the highest chance to end up dancing on a table after all. Jokes. Viruses are real.
Hiya, don’t be mad at me, but prepare to get high, and I don’t mean what you usually get up to on Friday nights. That’s right, you’re skydiving. Yes, you might be afraid of planes. But it will be over in a second, and you’ll thank me. You will thank me, right?
VIRGO — Aug 23–Sept 22
PISCES — Feb 19–Mar 20
Getting big camp vibes from you Virgo. Summer is ending, and your birthday is approaching and that’s a whittle scary for you. Invite your first three contacts for a weekend-long trip in the woods. No glamping. Just you, nature, and existential dread. I mean, bug repellent. Or are they equally as bad? Idk.
You know how teachers occasionally ask if you speak more than one language? Well, you’re tired of never being able to put your hand up. So you know what you’re going to do? You’re going to learn a new language. And not just any new language — a brand spanking new one. Get to work, Duo is calling.
Dining with Sophistication: Brunch at the trash cannery An open letter of consideration to your fellow diners
Restaurant: Cornerstone Organic Bins Rating: Location: Univercity Burnaby Mountain Appetizer: Egg in hash brown basket Entrée: Quiche Dessert: Fruit Salad Wine: Pét-Nat
Yesterday was my mother’s birthday celebration and we had the pleasure of inviting some of her geriatric bosom friends — for lack of a better term— and their children to one of mother’s favorite restaurants, Cornerstone Organics, up on Burnaby Mountain. Truly the best part of the neighborhood, Univercity, that glorious concrete street! This morning, my mother insisted I take her friend’s children back to the restaurant for their breakfast service. I, Reginald Trashpánda III, your honorable and favorable food critic, have decided to give finding the best and the finest dining experience in the community another shot. I had the pleasure of joining some acquaintances for a delightful breakfast last week. Aside from the grating laughter and mindless chatter, I actually rather enjoyed my meal. It wasn’t as superior as the other places I have visited but it did a fine job. Perhaps breakfast might just be my next favorite meal of the day.
Written by Nercya Kalino
We started off with the appetizer: the egg-in-a-hash brown basket. Was this creative? Not necessarily. Anyone, even an eight year old, can come up with that! But it was not horrible either. The hash brown managed to maintain a humble moisture. The egg was not runny but not hard as a pebble. I was entranced by the crispy layer of egg complete with glistening yolk. It was a delight to start on a good note after yesterday’s soirée. I may have had too much fun, if you catch my fermented drift.
The entrée was not too creative, so one star off the rating. I mean, a quiche, nothing wrong with it. But I am within my right as a critic to say this has been overdone — and I already had eggs, after all. My acquaintances seemed to have no clue as to what a basic dish they were ingesting. One of them had the audacity to call it a pie! Ugh, can you imagine? Mind you, being so truly virtuous, I would have liked to school these impudent folks. A pie can be savory or sweet, but a quiche is always savory, light, and fluffy! That is like Royalty Culinary 101, people. Besides that, the quiche was not at all exciting, just plain spinach and mushroom. Forgive me but I tend to like a little meaty attribute to my food. The dessert was a fruit salad. Again, nothing wrong just indulging in proper juicy vitamins. Mind you, a healthy gut can come from foods such as fruit salad in the morning. There’s nothing better for the willies! Oh and the Pét-Nat for the wine service was tasty! Fizzling by nature and light in alcohol levels. The natural sugars definitely excite the mouth and my sophisticated tastebuds. I have come to a decision that my favorite meal of the day is still yet to be decided. I think that maybe had I enjoyed the breakfast in total peace and quiet, I would have been more engaged with my food. But the constant bickering and overzealous banter among the common folk was tiresome, to say the least. I have learned that your company matters just as much as the food. So, there you have it my faithful readers: Reginald Trashpánda III serving you honesty.
16
DIVERSIONS
Business Manager Yuri Zhou
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business@the-peak.ca
CROSSWORD Across 1. Original thought 5. Rascals 9. Gem weight 14. Window ledge 15. Unbleached color 16. "____ of Two Cities" (2 wds.) 17. TV Host David ____ 19. Relaxes 20. Self 21. Appear 22. Pekoe server 23. Beethoven work 25. Campfire remains
27. Painter Salvador ____ 29. Mom and dad 33. Plus 36. Short play 38. Period of note 39. Quiz choice 40. Moral wrong 41. Curved letters 43. Alias abbr. 44. Mountain cat 45. Short messages 46. Person on a pension 49. Allows 51. Tears apart
53. Awaken 57. Pranks 60. Skin opening 62. Habit wearer 63. Certain parasite 64. Asserted 66. Implant 67. Curve 68. Bare 69. Desist 70. Golf gadgets 71. Dandelion, for one
22. Not this 24. Summer coolers 26. Of the backbone 28. Published 30. Cozy abode 31. Sycamore or oak 32. Back talk 33. Distant 34. Behalf 35. Wood strip 37. Actress ____ Basinger 41. Main dish 42. Mediocre (hyph.) 44. Corrals 47. Purple flowers
48. Move back 50. Our planet's 52. Fern "seed" 54. Excessive 55. Nappy leather 56. Brought to a close 57. A Baldwin 58. Alaskan port 59. Large brass instrument 61. "____ upon a time..." 64. Tabby, e.g. 65. Wind dir.
Down 1. The British ____ 2. San ____ 3. Singer ____ John 4. Key near the space bar 5. Breakfast food 6. Highest point 7. Stage offering 8. Earth's star 9. Profession 10. Sergeant's command (2 wds.) 11. File 12. Singing voice 13. Experiment 18. Manor
SUDOKU
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