VOL. 168 ISSUE 9 JULY 5, 2021
OPI NI ONS
F EAT U RE S
ART S & C ULT UR E
H UM O UR
Paid parking puts the onus on individuals for the climate crisis
Get on top of Fall 2021 semester plans
What’s an NFT? Find out how it’s transforming art collections
SFU invents body-swapping device that isn’t nearly as cool as Freaky Friday
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Period Poverty BC’s solutions are full of leaks
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Volume 168, Issue 9
Maggie Benston Centre 2900 Simon Fraser University 8888 University Drive Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6 Phone: (778) 782-5110
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COVER Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTORS Bailey Romano, Vrinda Kapadia PEAK ASSOCIATES Charlene Aviles, Gurleen Aujla, Alyssa Marie Umbal STAFF WRITERS Kelly Chia, Carter Hemion, Nancy La
NEWS Indigenous practices more sustainable for conservation, study finds
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Meera Eragoda eic@the-peak.ca COPY EDITOR Paige Riding copy@the-peak.ca NEWS EDITOR Michelle Young news@the-peak.ca
OPINIONS BC’s record-breaking temperatures were more than just a “heatwave”
NEWS WRITERS Karissa Ketter, Jaymee Salisi OPINIONS EDITORS Dev Petrovic, Marco Ovies opinions@the-peak.ca FEATURES EDITOR Marco Ovies features@the-peak.ca
FEATURES The Scared Straight Tour is harmful to the Vancouver community
ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Sara Wong arts@the-peak.ca HUMOUR EDITOR Kyla Dowling humour@the-peak.ca PRODUCTION AND DESIGN EDITOR Siloam Yeung production@the-peak.ca
ARTS & CULTURE
ASSISTANT PRODUCTION EDITORS Brianna Quan, Josh Ralla
Elevate your pantry with edible plants
PHOTO EDITOR Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson photos@the-peak.ca MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Karla Salazar multimedia@the-peak.ca
HUMOUR Meet McFogg the Dog, explore campus, and attempt to escape unscathed in this Choose Your Own Adventure!
ASSISTANT MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Rashi Sethi BUSINESS / ADVERTISING MANAGER Yuri Zhou business@the-peak.ca 778.782.3598
Get involved!
How it works!
All SFU students can contribute to The Peak and get paid for their work! Contact an editor or come to our weekly pitch meetings over Zoom at 3 p.m. (the link can be found on our Facebook page).
The Peak is the official weekly student newspaper of SFU and is published every Monday. We're funded by a student levy and governed by a board of directors. Any SFU student can become an editor, and we hire an editorial team every semester.
We reserve the right to edit submissions for length, as well as style, grammar, and legality. We also reserve the right to reprint submissions at any time, both in print and on web. We will not publish content that is sexist, racist, or otherwise prejudiced.
We acknowledge that The Peak's office is located and our paper is produced, distributed, and read on the Unceded Coast Salish Territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), Kwikwitlem (Coquitlam), Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo, and Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) Peoples. Unceded means that this land was never surrendered, relinquished, or handed over in any way. We recognize that the unceded land that we occupy includes not only the SFU Burnaby campus, but extends to the land occupied by the Vancouver and Surrey campuses as well.
PROMOTIONS MANAGER Julie Vu promotions@the-peak.ca WEBSITE MANAGER Reza Shariatzadeh web@the-peak.ca DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Deby McIntosh BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kelly Chia, Pablo Clairmont, Emma Dunbar, Jacob Mattie, Angela Wachowick, Yuri Zhou
NEWS
July 5, 2021
MENSTRUAL WOES
United Way’s Period Promise Campaign reveals the extent of period poverty in BC 26% of people who menstruate in BC have experienced a period without access to menstrual products
G UR LE E N AUJLA // PEAK ASSO CI ATE
The Period Promise Research Project Period report from United Way defines period poverty as “the lack of access to menstrual products and facilities to use them safely.” It is a “symptom of poverty” due to the cost of menstrual products and their classification as “consumer goods” versus essential items. The report reveals that 26% of people who menstruate in BC have experienced a period without access to menstrual products. According to United Way, the data collected in this campaign provides the “most comprehensive image of period poverty in BC.” The data on the challenges people in BC face when attempting to access menstrual products comes from a public survey and information from 12 community organizations. The Peak spoke with Neal Adolph, the campaign’s staff lead, to discuss the issue. Adolph said period poverty requires “a more nuanced bundle of solutions,” which doesn’t stop after gaining universal access to free products in washrooms. Approximately 51% of survey respondents indicated they had struggled to purchase products for themselves. United Way found disposable products were important, as they’re accessible for people without “access to [the] secure housing or clean water” needed to clean reusable products.
Adoph explained period poverty is intersectional and requires many solutions.
However, the survey revealed when some people received reusable products, such as a menstrual cup or menstrual underwear, “they were able to substantially reduce their anxiety around when they would menstruate and be able to support themselves.” Adolph explained universal access to menstrual products would be “a huge leap forward” and an “incredible achievement,” but “there’s a real risk that we set that as the end goal.” Instead, he said it should be to reduce the prevalence of period poverty in the province, “so that people don’t have to make choices between what they’re going to do with menstrual products and what they’ll do without menstrual products.” Period poverty is systemic and impacts a person’s lifestyle. Survey findings revealed 36% of respondents had left school and 22% had missed work due to the inaccessibility of sanitary products. The impacts of period poverty are not equally dispersed, and inaccessibility is heightened for many marginalized groups. For instance, compared to the 26% average, 47.14% of Indigenous respondents reported going through a period without menstrual products.
P HOTO : Natracare / Unsplash
Adolph highlighted around “80% of people with disabilities in our province are struggling to purchase menstrual products for themselves, [which] isolates people.” He explained gendered awareness for people who have transitioned or are non-binary must be considered because “if we’re actually building solutions that are trans-focused, you’re sometimes building solutions that will work for supporting everyone.” For post-secondary institutions, period poverty also “becomes a barrier for access to education.” There are several institutions providing free menstrual products, including University of Victoria and the University of Northern BC. Thompson Rivers University plans to provide them starting in the fall. It doesn’t have to be so hard for students to access menstrual products on campus, Adolph explained. Change can occur to allow people to “continue to focus on the work that they’re paying for the opportunity to focus on. “Change is possible, and change is happening. We just oftentimes need to convince people to go through that change with us.”
ECO SOLUTIONS
SFU students develop automated irrigation system to preserve water consumption The agriculture sector could optimize water usage by rethinking watering systems KA R ISSA KET TER // NE WS W RI TE R
An automated irrigation monitoring (AIM) system designed to reshape the agriculture sector’s water management was made by School of Sustainable Energy Engineering students. In an interview with The Peak, project co-lead Mackenzie Calder said the team aimed to “reduce how much water is needed by trying to shift the perspective on how farmers water fields in the first place.” Calder explained crops are currently watered on a timer-based system, often not considering climate or daily rain patterns. The AIM system helps to water crops with only the volume of water they require. It does so by monitoring soil moisture levels with a sensor that controls watering systems. The team reported some countries use as much as 85–90% of their extracted freshwater for agriculture, with
The system steps away from timer use.
most of that becoming runoff and contaminating the environment. Over-watering crops leads to massive amounts of water runoff that returns to natural water systems such as streams, rivers, and lakes. The water runoff is “carrying a whole lot of nitrogen, and pesticides, and things that harm the ecosystem beyond the agricultural sector,” said Calder. By using a sensor-based system, farmers can limit the amount of excess water and the amount of runoff contaminating the surrounding area.
P HOTO : Henry Be / Unsplash
agricultural sector. Calder estimates that this 3% does not include the large volume of extracted water that becomes runoff. The team includes co-project lead Rajat Agrawal, Harleen Dhillon, Jacob Erickson, Erfan Ferdosian, and Paula Themmen. “The way we approached it was, what if we made the agricultural watering process smarter?” said Calder.
Pesticides are potentially harmful to humans and can cause chronic and acute health effects. They can also be toxic for other organisms in the environment. The Safe Drinking Water Foundation reported that pesticides can remain in soil and water networks for years.
The AIM system “would allow farmers to track their water usage over seasons and compare current watering requirements to previous years,” according to the team’s report. This would mean changes to soil’s ability to hold water or factors such as climate change fluctuations could be tracked and recorded.
BC’s agricultural water management website states 3% of water consumed in BC is used for drinking water, the industrial sector, commercial sector, or
Calder said the exact data for how much water could be saved with this method of watering is unknown as more research would be needed.
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NEWS
News Editor Michelle Young
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News Writers Karissa Ketter and Jaymee Salisi
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news@the-peak.ca
SUSTAINABLE SHORES
Improving Indigenous sovereignty could improve ocean health and conservation Heiltsuk Nation fishing practices are resilient and sustainable compared to industrial fishing, SFU associate professor finds
KA R ISSA KET T ER // NE WS W RI TE R
SFU associate professor Anne Salomon’s research reveals differences of Indigenous small-scale fisheries compared to industrial commercial fisheries. In an interview with The Peak, Salomon found the biggest difference is the “intensity of harvest and the spatial extent of harvest.” Salomon’s recent research was done in collaboration with the Heiltsuk Nation, based in Bella Bella. The community approached Salomon and her team to test the resiliency of their traditional practices of harvesting kelp and herring eggs. The research team found “the intensity of their traditional practices basically mimics natural law.” They harvest the amount of “kelp that would have been lost anyhow by ocean waves and storms,” explained Salomon. Herrings spawn eggs on kelp. The Indigenous practice is to harvest around 25% of each kelp plant to collect the herring eggs. This leaves the plant alive to sprout new branches. “It’s a perennial slow-growing kelp [ . . . ] we know that when things are slow growing that we’ve got to be really careful with how much we harvest,” said Salomon. The level of care to how much and where they harvest from the ocean “is very unlike industrial-scale, commercial [harvests] of all sorts of things, including kelp.”
Salomon discussed the restrictions regarding Indigenous peoples’ hunting rights.
P HOTO : Andrzej Kryszpiniuk / Unsplash
According to Salomon, industrial fisheries harvest herring eggs by killing adult fish and removing their eggs. Indigenous communities collect eggs that have already been spawned which has “a much smaller impact on the long-term population persistence because herring can come back, live, and spawn another day.
in BC. The treaties dictate who can harvest, as well as where and what can be harvested. Harvesting rights vary for First Nations, Métis, status, and non-status individuals. Generally, regulations allow Indigenous peoples to harvest for personal consumption, cultural purposes, or, in some cases, to barter, trade, and sell.
“Kelp is super important to the Heiltsuk Nation, and they care very much about the fact that they want to harvest it, but they want it to be done sustainably,” said Salomon. Her study showed the Heiltsuk Nation’s harvest of kelp and herring eggs is sustainable.
However, the Canadian government maintains the right to ban Indigenous peoples from hunting in the name of conservation of certain species at any time.
The biggest threat to their practices is currently “big changes in predator abundance.” Indigenous communities rely on sea otters as a food source, explained Salomon. “Those Indigenous communities are really limited toward the degree in which they can hunt.” There is little support for these communities to hunt the predators they traditionally hunted, resulting in an explosive population of top-level predators such as sea otters, sea lions, and seals. Indigenous rights to harvesting — fishing, hunting, trapping, and gathering — are protected by treaties
According to Salomon, Indigenous communities are forced to go to court to fight to maintain their rights and sovereignty. “The federal government should work hard to make space, institutions, and processes to foster that. “Right now the federal government is really encouraging the inclusion of Indigenous knowledge in management plans, but what they need to do is inclusion of Indigenous decision-making authority — real comanagement,” said Salomon. Salomon called on the Government of Canada to encourage “equitable management and decisionmaking” for Indigenous communities about ocean health and conservation.
MIX AND MATCH
COVID-19 vaccines may be used interchangeably, according to BC health officials It is safe and effective to switch between mRNA vaccines during the second dose if the matching first dose is unavailable Taking an mRNA vaccine first and an AstraZeneca vaccine second could create a better immune response to the virus.
P HOTO : Spencer Davis / Unsplash
JAYMEE SALI S I // N E WS W RI TE R
study suggesting an increase in effectiveness when two different doses are combined.
to the common cold — to build an immune response against the virus that causes COVID-19.
On June 1, 2021, the Public Health Agency of Canada updated their guidelines regarding the use of two different authorized COVID-19 vaccines for each dose.
Research found the mixed doses “jolt the immune system into producing many more antibodies.” This means more protective proteins are produced by the immune system to remove the COVID-19 virus from the body.
Dr. Tam said switching between vaccine brands has been applied to different types of vaccines in the past, such as influenza and hepatitis A.
A COVID-19 mRNA vaccine triggers an immune response, which produces proteins to protect the body from COVID-19. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines may be used interchangeably, as they are both mRNA vaccines. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) updated their guidelines following an “increasing availability of mRNA vaccines in Canada.” NACI said an mRNA vaccine is the preferred first dose followed by an AstraZeneca dose, as there is evidence of the technology providing a more effective immune response. The information about switching between COVID-19 vaccines comes from the preliminary results of a Spanish
“Receiving a second vaccine dose for a two-dose schedule is essential to provide better and longer-term protection against COVID-19 for individuals and for the entire community,” according to NACI.
Although BC community clinics will be stocked with both mRNA vaccines, they may run out of Pfizer supply. For those who received Pfizer as their first dose, they may be offered Moderna as their second.
Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam advised people to use the same mRNA vaccine for both doses if it is accessible. However, the similarities in mRNA technology between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines allow for the two to be safely mixed and matched.
“If you are offered the other mRNA vaccine, please be assured that it is safe and it is effective to have either one of these products here in Canada and here in BC. They are both highly effective and very safe. Really, these are the same vaccines,” Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry said.
Approved for people 18 years or older, AstraZeneca/ COVISHIELD vaccines use a harmless virus — similar
More information about COVID-19 vaccines can be found on the website for the Government of Canada.
In light of the recent findings at residential schools across Canada and the calls of Indigenous peoples to implement the 94 Calls to Action published by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015, The Peak is reproducing these calls over seven issues. We hope slowly publishing these calls to action will help non-Indigenous readers understand what they are, reflect on them, and think about the ways they can show up in allyship. Please find Calls to Action #1–42 in our previous two issues.
Calls to Action In order to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission makes the following calls to action.
Reconciliation CANADIAN GOVERNMENTS AND THE UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
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We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation.
We call upon the Government of Canada to develop a national action plan, strategies, and other concrete measures to achieve the goals of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
ROYAL PROCLAMATION AND COVENANT OF RECONCIL IATION
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We call upon the Government of Canada, on behalf of all Canadians, to jointly develop with Aboriginal peoples a Royal Proclamation of Reconciliation to be issued by the Crown. The proclamation would build on the Royal Proclamation of 1763 and the Treaty of Niagara of 1764, and reaffirm the nation-to-nation relationship between Aboriginal peoples and the Crown. The proclamation would include, but not be limited to, the following commitments: i.
Repudiate concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous lands and peoples such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius.
ii.
Adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation.
iii. Renew or establish Treaty relationships based on principles of mutual recognition, mutual respect, and shared responsibility for maintaining those relationships into the future. iv. Reconcile Aboriginal and Crown constitutional and legal orders to ensure that Aboriginal peoples are full partners in Confederation, including the recognition and integration of Indigenous laws and legal traditions in negotiation and implementation processes involving Treaties, land claims, and other constructive agreements.
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We call upon the parties to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement to develop and sign a Covenant of Reconciliation that would identify principles for working collaboratively to advance reconciliation in Canadian society, and that would include, but not be limited to: i.
Reaffirmation of the parties’ commitment to reconciliation.
ii.
Repudiation of concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous lands and peoples, such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius, and the reformation of laws, governance structures, and policies within their respective institutions that continue to rely on such concepts.
iii. Full adoption and implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation. iv. Support for the renewal or establishment of Treaty relationships based on principles of mutual recognition, mutual respect, and shared responsibility for maintaining those relationships into the future. v.
Enabling those excluded from the Settlement Agreement to sign onto the Covenant of Reconciliation.
vi. Enabling additional parties to sign onto the Covenant of Reconciliation.
47.
We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to repudiate concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous peoples and lands, such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius, and to reform those laws, government policies, and litigation strategies that continue to rely on such concepts.
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT PARTIES AND THE UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
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We call upon the church parties to the Settlement Agreement, and all other faith groups and interfaith social justice groups in Canada who have not already done so, to formally adopt and comply with the principles, norms, and standards of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a framework for reconciliation. This would include, but not be limited to, the following commitments: i.
Ensuring that their institutions, policies, programs, and practices comply with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
ii.
Respecting Indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination in spiritual matters, including the right to practise, develop, and teach their own spiritual and religious traditions, customs, and ceremonies, consistent with Article 12:1 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
iii. Engaging in ongoing public dialogue and actions to support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. iv. Issuing a statement no later than March 31, 2016, from all religious denominations and faith groups, as to how they will implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
49.
We call upon all religious denominations and faith groups who have not already done so to repudiate concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous lands and peoples, such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius.
In addition to reading these calls, please read the Assembly of First Nations’ 2020 Progress Report to find out how Canada is doing on implementing these calls.
OPINIONS
July 5, 2021
BOILING POINT
The Bright-er Side
Taking action and holding governments accountable are important steps in fighting the climate crisis.
PH OTO : AFP / Getty Images
It’s time to treat the climate crisis for what it is: a crisis Over 700 people have died during the heatwave. How much more serious does it need to get?
The pandemic helped me see who my real friends are Decreasing my social circle ended up being a huge relief
Sara Wong, Arts & Culture Editor
MA RCO OVI E S // FEATURES E D I TO R
I was disappointed this weekend after watching multiple news outlets talk about the heatwave without a single mention of the climate crisis. Additionally, conversations about how unhoused folks are dealing with extreme temperatures seem to be non-existent. Addressing ways to keep (middle class) citizens safe and reporting on record-breaking temperatures is important; however, it seems we are ignoring naming the climate crisis as the cause of these record-breaking temperatures and refusing to acknowledge it as a serious issue we need to take action on. From June 25 to July 1, there were over 700 reported deaths during the heatwave. According to BC’s Chief Coroner Lisa LaPointe, this is a 300% increase over the number of deaths that would usually occur during the same timeline. In addition to the amount of deaths, there was an overwhelming amount of 911 calls — 55% more than a normal weekend in June, E-Comm’s Jasmine Bradley told News 1130. E-Comm is the company in charge of handling BC’s 911 calls. On Saturday alone, there were over 8,000 calls and 1,850 dispatches. To put it in perspective, there are only 1,440 minutes in a day, meaning there was a dispatch every 45 seconds. These are record-breaking numbers for BC, alongside record-breaking temperatures. And it’s only expected to get worse from here on out. During an interview with News 1130, UBC Professor Dr. Steven Sheppard said, “It’s pretty clear that this is part of the trend. It’s been projected and expected, and quite frankly we’re seeing around us — this decade especially — heatwaves, droughts, things like that are becoming more frequent. It’s very consistent with the climate change projections.” Lytton, BC also was decimated by a wildfire in “minutes” after the heatwave, according to a town councillor. MP Brad Vis stated on Facebook that 90% of the village had burned down, including the town centre. BC’s Wildfire Service Fire Information Officer Erica Berg said high winds in combination with scorching heat gave the fire the opportunity for this explosive growth. But again, there was no mention of the climate crisis. While some people have been prioritizing the fight against climate change, a lot of work still needs to be done, especially with others dismissing the impact of climate change. This includes BC Premier John Horgan, who recently said that “fatalities are part of life.” He then essentially victim-blamed those who died, saying, “it was apparent to anyone who walked outdoors that we were in an unprecedented heatwave and again, there’s a level of personal responsibility.” This completely overlooks
unhoused people and lower-income folks who cannot afford air conditioning or those who do not live close to a cooling centre. I live in Newton, BC and saw no advertising for these cooling centres.
On Saturday alone there were over 8,000 calls and 1,850 dispatches. To put it in perspective, there are only 1,440 minutes in a day, meaning there was a dispatch every 45 seconds. What’s worse, the record of deaths Horgan talked about is expected to increase as coroners receive more information. Any amount of death is tragic, but over 700 in one weekend is not something we can dismiss as coincidental. If we continue to avoid talking about the climate crisis, it will continue to get hotter, and the number of deaths will increase each year. How many more people do we need to let die before we take the climate crisis seriously? Horgan’s response also overlooks the reality that 100 companies are responsible for 71% of all of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Instead of holding these polluters accountable, governments are unfairly putting the onus on the individual. Additionally, cutting down our old-growth forests is not helping Canada reach its Paris Climate Agreement carbon reduction goals. At the forefront of these companies and decisions is our Canadian governments who, instead of forcing companies to reduce their carbon footprint or deciding not to cut down oldgrowth forests, are pinning the blame on us. These 100 companies should be mandated to reduce their carbon footprints, but time and time again we see governments pointing fingers at their citizens instead. This is seen by the recent toll implementations for driving downtown or increased paid street parking around the city. While it’s important to look at ourselves and integrate green solutions into our lives, it is even more important to hold our local politicians and government officials accountable for their actions. If they don’t take action against the climate crisis, it’s just going to get worse. People are dying. It’s time to wake up.
In my senior year of high school, I was the type of person who was friends with everyone but never had a tight-knit circle. It made grad group activities, like Artona photos and prom, feel more awkward than fun because I was constantly questioning where I belonged. Maybe that’s the reason why, after starting university, I spent so much energy keeping in touch with everyone. The insecurity I felt over not having a core group of friends resulted in me being on my phone for hours at a time, trying to be emotionally available to upwards of five people at once. Then, the pandemic hit. With so much of my world thrown into chaos, sending my usual round of “Hi! How have you been?” texts slid further down my priority list. I’m used to being the person who reaches out first, so during the first few months of the pandemic, I was always pleasantly surprised when someone messaged me to check in, especially when they asked about my family. I’ve always been open about having a parent who’s immunocompromised: my mom has lupus, a chronic disease that — in her case — affects her kidneys. Having friends keep tabs on my family’s well-being made me realize I wasn’t on the fringe of every social circle like I had imagined. In contrast to my super sweet, supportive friends, others at that time treated me like I was the problem for not wanting to risk COVID-19 exposure. I was told I needed to worry less. Suffice to say, I don’t talk to those people anymore. Getting rid of toxic friends allowed me to focus on myself and also have deeper, more meaningful conversations with people. And with everyone at home more often, it was easier to plan fun group activities too, like monthly cocktail nights over Zoom. Now that the COVID-19 restrictions are easing once more, I'm looking forward to seeing my real friends and not wasting my time in toxic relationships.
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OPINIONS
Opinions Editors Dev Petrovic and Marco Ovies
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opinions@the-peak.ca
PARKING PROBLEMS
The new climate emergency parking plan is ineffective Financially punishing Vancouver residents is not the solution to the climate crisis NANCY LA // STAFF W RI TE R
The City of Vancouver is planning on implementing additional parking barriers as part of its Climate Emergency Parking Program. The plan includes a “pollution charge” of $500 (for “moderately polluting” vehicles, like gas-powered sedans) or $1,000 (for “high-polluting vehicles, like gas-powered sports cars and SUVs) and introduces annual parking permits for residents. The implementation of financial barriers to road accessibility and parking is not a fair solution to combatting climate change, nor is it a solution that tackles the root causes of the global warming crisis such as corporations and their industrial emissions. Instead of going for bigger, more effective strategies against large corporations, the City is leaving the burden of fighting climate change on small consumers such as renters and low-income households. This makes the new parking plan an ineffective solution and will also worsen Vancouver’s affordability. Parking fees are a high source of revenue for the City, along with property taxes and development license fees. What sets the three apart is that, for the latter two, the primary targets are people who can afford to pay the price without much grief, such as land developers. If the plan to implement street parking fees comes into effect, residents will have to pay for $45 annual passes to park where they live. The people who will be affected most are renters and/or low-income families who live in places where there is no parking included. I was a long-time renter in East Vancouver. From my experience, there is no other way to park your car but on the streets since the owner occupies the garage. The parking plan also suggests an additional “pollution charge” on new gas models. Instead of placing the
Annual gas-powered vehicle parking permits are part of the City of Vancouver’s new parking plan.
burden on companies that produce these gas models or oil corporations, the City is punishing its residents and small consumers for not buying an electric car. Putting aside the affordability question of electric cars versus gas-powered cars, there is a glaring problem with this parking plan: people who have to park on the streets will not have access to a charging station; therefore, they will not be able to choose an electric car even if they want to. This punitive approach towards small consumers as an effort to tackle climate change is logically flawed and not effective in fighting the climate crisis. The City promises to use the increased revenues from permit fees to fund road infrastructures such as sidewalk renovations and the building of more electric vehicle charging stations in major commercial areas. These new additions are nice to have, but they do not hold major polluters accountable. Take industrial manufacturers, for instance: BC’s wood manufacturers are responsible for the vast majority of particulate emissions (air pollution), so instead of financially punishing residents for parking and not owning an electric car, the City should shift their focus to the companies that can afford to pay the fees. Another drawback of the climate emergency parking plan is the additional administrative involvement — from
P HOTO : Allyson Klassen / The Peak
fee collectors to more parking patrol — that will also cost taxpayers and residents. By reinforcing the idea that people have to financially suffer to fight climate change, the City is further alienating its residents from choosing greener ways of living. If Vancouver is truly willing to fight the climate crisis, the City needs to stay away from small consumers and residents. Instead, it should start making industrial factories, such as cement producers and the forest industry, think twice about polluting our environment. Stricter implementation of the carbon tax and the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies would be good starting points to combat climate change with a significant impact. The City’s increase in revenue from the carbon tax can be used as an incentive for consumers to move towards electrical or greener sources of energy. Using financial incentives will make residents much more likely to approach the climate crisis in a positive light, taking away a hurdle in Vancouver’s effort to be the greenest city. The plan is still in the stages of debating and drafting, and the City is putting out a survey for the public to voice their concerns. If you would like to get involved, you can contact city councillors on the Vancouver city council website.
ENGLISH EDUCATION
English Language Learner programs should admit students based on their proficiency level alone These programs’ enrolment proceedings should not depend on an individual’s ethnicity or immigration status BA ILEY ROMANO // SF U STUD E NT
Immigrants are often encouraged to register in English Language Learner (ELL) programs because fluency in English supposedly promotes a smoother transition to life in Canada. However, my experience as a former ELL student exposed me to the program’s shortcomings. Greater transparency and consultation among students, parents, and educators may ensure potential ELL students are admitted based only on proficiency rather than ethnicity or immigration status. Adjusting ELL program admission policies to protect students from discrimination would preserve students’ rights by ensuring all students receive the quality education they deserve, regardless of proficiency. I was born in Canada, and my mother informed my elementary school that English was my first language. I spoke fluent English, but my school registered me into
the ELL program. When my mother discovered this, she was adamant that I should not qualify, and my school pulled me out. Despite the School Act stating that “A parent of a student of school age attending a school is entitled to be informed [ . . . ] of the student’s attendance, behaviour and progress in school,” my mother was not informed I would be admitted into the ELL program until after the fact.
familiar with American culture, language proficiency assessments’ answer keys may disregard students from collectivist cultures or low socioeconomic backgrounds who may have different values and experiences. ELL curriculum design and implementation should require consultation with BIPOC educators to provide students with culturally appropriate assessments and curriculum.
BC’s guidelines for ELL teachers suggest that ELL students who are Canadian citizens may require formal English education to help them adjust to school. Their case study examples express concerns that students with age-appropriate conversational skills may still struggle with reading comprehension.
My mother was not informed I would be admitted into the ELL program until after the fact.
As a person of colour, I have encountered many people who were shocked that English is the only language I speak fluently. However, ethnicity and immigration status are poor predictors that a student’s first language is English. According to Statistics Canada’s 2016 census data, “a higher proportion of children under the age of 15 with an immigrant background spoke only English or French at home than their parents.”
Unfortunately, implicit racial bias also disproportionately affects BIPOC ELL teachers. A study in Indonesia indicates that students and co-teachers perceive ELL teachers of colour as less qualified. This reflects how Indonesia’s ELL teaching requirements favour Caucasian teachers from predominantly Western countries: “While you don’t have to be white, being white is a presumption of being a native [English] speaker,” the report says. The lack of representation in education highlights the overdue need for ELL programs to recruit more BIPOC educators to promote a culturally appropriate curriculum and learning environment.
The misconception that one’s ethnicity or immigration status determines their native language also overlooks colonization’s role in many countries adopting European languages. Many former colonies, such as Fiji, the Philippines, and Singapore, have English as one of their official languages. Since ELL students come from various backgrounds, admission to the ELL program should be independent of immigration status and ethnicity. ELL programs may use Eurocentric standardized tests, so there also needs to be greater diversity and inclusivity in these programs. By assuming students are
Other jurisdictions, like the United States, outline possible ways that ELL programs can be discriminatory and provide students with legal protection against discrimination. Without educational policies acknowledging ELL students’ unique experiences and ELL assessments appropriate for students of colour, more overqualified students may be admitted into the program and deprived of the quality education they deserve.
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FEATURES
Enrolment Day Cheat Sheet This survival guide will prepare you for your enrolment date
Written by Charlene Aviles
Illustrated by Alyssa Marie Umbal
Disclaimer: The following tips may not work for everyone. Consider your situation, including but not limited to academic standing, grade point average (GPA), enrolment date, financial aid and international student visa requirements, and graduate school applications. Always consult the most recent academic calendar and your academic advisors. For assistance in navigating goSFU and mySchedule, video tutorials are available for streaming on SFU’s website.
Tip #1 Contact your academic advisor The Facebook group “Must Knows for Courses at SFU” and the Rate My Professors website are popular methods of finding study groups and professor reviews, but these resources should only supplement academic advisors’ advice. Before contacting your academic advisor, use the Fall 2021 academic calendar to research course offerings and your program’s requirements. For now, there are no in-person appointments for advising, but you can contact advisors through workshops, drop-in appointments, LiveHelp, phone calls, and Zoom. Registration for appointments is available online at goSFU or by calling 778-782-6930. Whether you visit departmental advisors, Indigenous Student Centre staff, or NCAA academic advisors, review the academic advising syllabus and go to your appointment with a completed “New Student Academic Advising Information” form. If you are considering using the Elective Grade System (P/CR/NC) option, watch the recorded information session on YouTube to understand the policies, excluded classes, and potential consequences, especially since the decision is permanent after the deadline. Also consider the pros and cons, future graduate school applications, and financial aid eligibility criteria, as SFU undergraduate scholarships have a minimum credit requirement per semester. After you fulfill your program’s declaration requirements, immediately contact your departmental advisor to declare your major or minor. If you meet the minor’s requirements before your intended major’s declaration requirements, declare your minor to gain access to more classes. Otherwise, you may not be able to enrol in upper-division classes until the open enrolment date, since seats may be reserved for declared students only. Once you meet your intended major, minor, or certificate declaration requirements, do not forget to declare accordingly.
Tip #3 Create a balanced schedule A balanced schedule entails a manageable workload and regular breaks. Despite the pressure to complete a degree in four years, excessive course loads might inadvertently drop your GPA and possibly lead to you repeating courses. The transition to a new learning environment may be overwhelming, so try and adapt to 1–3 courses to prepare yourself for a greater workload. Consider incorporating electives, required courses, and breadth requirements into your schedule. Unless you are a STEM student, I do not recommend taking all quantitative courses in one semester. For courses with labs and tutorials, the additional time commitment combined with lectures, commuting, employment, and extracurricular activities may lead to burnout. Since SFU announced that 80% of Fall 2021 courses will be in person, pay close attention to potential time conflicts due to different campus locations. If you create a draft of your schedule using MySchedule on goSFU, it will help you identify potential time conflicts and set aside time for commuting.
Tip #2 Combine your required courses into a spreadsheet One organized document with all your required classes will help you see the big picture and focus on your graduation requirements. The academic calendar is a great resource, but since it lists course prerequisites, corequisites, breadth courses, and declaration requirements on separate web pages, you might accidentally exclude some courses. Be attentive to the breadth courses that simultaneously meet multiple requirements because these courses may help you fulfill degree requirements faster. Use this spreadsheet to note which courses meet each degree requirement and the number of credits per course.
Tip #4 Have a backup plan A late enrolment date may limit your options for course selection. If you cannot enrol in your first-choice classes, prepare a list of alternative classes to enrol into, such as electives or breadth requirements. To learn more about electives, check out some sample lectures online. You can view course preview videos from departments like English, philosophy, economics, cognitive science, and labour studies.
First, create a list of your required classes for declaration, breadth requirements, course prerequisites, and the required amount of credits needed, such as the minimum number of upper-division credits. Compare your list to your advising transcript, which will help you keep track of your SFU credits as well as transfer credits, if applicable. After noting which courses you took, compare the total number of seats and sections per class. Prioritize your declaration requirements and course prerequisites, especially for classes with fewer sections or seats. Then, add electives to your schedule. Consider taking English courses as soon as possible, as these courses develop transferable skills, such as essay and argumentative writing.
For upper-level students who already completed their breadth and declaration requirements, join a waitlist. If you have a friend already in a class you are waitlisted for, contact them for any upcoming assignment deadlines. While on the waitlist, consider asking the professor for permission to sit in on the lectures, and do not lose hope. As long as you waitlist as soon as possible, you may have a chance. In the first two weeks of classes, many students withdraw and enrol in classes, which shifts your waitlist position. This semester, I was originally 27th on a course waitlist but managed to enrol into a class on the last day of enrolment.
Since the academic calendar contains changes every semester, always consult with the most recent version to update your document. Upper-level students should review their graduation checklist and undergo a graduation check to help inform their plans for the upcoming semesters.
If none of the above is applicable, consider planning summer courses to catch up on credits. Since your priority in enrolment dates may shift with time, taking summer courses while you still have an early enrolment date may offset a late enrolment date.
FEATURES
The Scared Straight Tour endangers people who use substances Deterrence-oriented programs are ineffective and detrimental to youth Written by Carter Hemion PHOTO: Mathijs Deerenberg / Unsplash Content warning: mentions of drug use, overdose, stereotypes against unhoused peoples, and violence against Indigenous communities From 2003 to June 2021, a program called the Scared Straight Tour made the Downtown Eastside a living tourist attraction. Their original website and Facebook page have been taken down after recent community backlash, but they continue to offer a virtual tour targeting Indigenous youth. These tours invite people to “come and witness first hand just how devastating addiction can be!” through “tours of the worst drug-infested ghetto of North America.” While deterrence-oriented programs intend to change behaviour to lessen the drug poisoning crisis, they cause more harm than good.
Effective solutions
Experts Dr. Alissa Greer and Dr. Jamie Livingston weigh in on issues with tactics like these, as well as alternative solutions to reduce the impact of stigma. Greer is an assistant professor at SFU’s School of Criminology, researcher, writer, and independent consultant. Livingston is an associate professor at Saint Mary’s University in the department of criminology and an SFU alumnus, having completed both his MA and PhD in criminology.
Scared Straight Tour
When working towards awareness and comprehensive education, we must listen to and engage with people who use substances. Greer said, “Drug use and people who use drugs are extremely diverse, just like any other behaviour or group of people.” There is a wide range of experiences to listen to, and issues need to be met with empathy. Drug use can bring positive, negative, and mixed experiences. In our own lives, Greer said, “One thing we can do is to actively challenge stereotypes and have frank conversations with the people you are close with to replace negative narratives with evidence and compassion.”
The tour itself is a 48-hour program visiting the Downtown Eastside. Its stated goal is to “give youth (13 and up) a reality check in terms of where they could wind up if they abuse drugs and alcohol.” The program was founded by Pierre Morais, a certified clinical counsellor with previous lived experience of addiction. He worked as an addiction counsellor before starting the Scared Straight Tour. He believes “any drug use today is extremely dangerous,” especially with the introduction of fentanyl. The Scared Straight Tour is composed of a tour as well as webinars, an online course, videos, and more.
When programs like the Scared Straight Tour focus on prohibition and abstinence, they can conflate substance use disorders with all substance use. Most people who use substances will not develop substance use disorders. Those who do experience problems with their substance use, to any degree, should not be vilified for it. Livingston added, “The goal of anti-stigma programs should be to create a social context in which people aren’t shamed or demonized for developing a health problem and needing help,” and they should “promote hopeful messages that people who do develop a substance use disorder can find support.”
The online course, currently available on the tour website, targets Indigenous youth in particular. It includes videos taken of unhoused people who have used substances, sometimes recorded while people are under the influence of substances. It is unclear whether all those recorded were able to consent to being filmed.
Greer also said one piece of the work to reduce stigma is addressing the “laws and institutions that moralize drug use and say that it’s wrong or bad.” A part of this is supporting initiatives in BC that seek to reduce the stigma around substance use.
As a whole, the online course was “gamified” for youth to earn points, badges, and places on a leaderboard, which turns the real lives of community members into a game. While Morais may advertise this program with positive intentions about reducing the likelihood of substance use disorders in youth, he presents his message in harmful and misleading ways for profit.
Livingston made it clear we “can’t educate our way out of this.” While education is necessary, so is structural change. This includes changing and repealing laws that criminalize and prohibit substance use. It also involves changing social institutions that disproportionately harm people who use substances. Stigma can only be addressed when these changes “rectify inequities and injustices facing people who use substances, which are disproportionately imposed on people belonging to oppressed groups (e.g., Black, Indigenous, living in poverty or with a mental illness).”
Deterrence-oriented programs Both Greer and Livingston agree programs relying on fear tactics are ineffective in addressing potentially dangerous substance use behaviour. Greer said they “can be extremely stigmatizing, entrench ‘otherness’ and reinforce negative stereotypes of drug use and people who use drugs that are not rooted in the realities of drugs and drug use.” She added that particular harm comes from programs excluding people who use substances in the processes of developing or delivering the program. Livingston said deterrence-oriented programs “promote a distorted portrait of substance use” through spreading stigmatizing stereotypes. These often spread the idea that people who use substances lead meaningless and less valuable lives than those who do not. These negative stereotypes are sometimes internalized, which can cause issues that are “detrimental to self-esteem, self-efficacy, hope, and seeking help should they need it.” Contributing to the stigma around people who use drugs further harms the community. Greer said stigma “inevitably contributes to shame, isolation, and marginalization.” It is “a major driver in the current opioid crisis, and is deeply rooted in the criminalization of drugs.” Livingston added that research does not support fear-based programs, like the Scared Straight Tour and D.A.R.E., as an effective strategy. He said promoting abstinence-only lifestyles does not account for the majority of people who will use substances and does not help people learn how to make healthy choices for themselves. Deterrence-oriented programs increase stigma around and harm community members who use drugs, and structural change needs to occur in order to support people with substance use problems.
Both Greer and Livingston offered possible solutions and steps that may lessen the undue harm incurred by people who use substances. Anti-stigma programs cannot only focus on education; they also must address structural issues that create barriers to support and criminalize substance use.
Human rights and justice for marginalized people are intertwined with substance use issues. In order to properly support people who have problems with substance use, support must be led with compassion. It cannot be a work of coercion or judgment. Greer said harm reduction needs to centre people who use drugs, and “meaningful involvement and empowerment of people who use drugs is an essential part of any drug policy, education, program, service, or study.” With the increased risk of toxic or contaminated drugs, harm reduction can help address the drug poisoning crisis. Anyone who uses drugs that have been criminalized may be at risk, whether they develop a substance use problem or not. Harm reduction, according to Livingston, involves “developing safe supply programs for people to access pharmaceutical grade (non-toxic) grade [drugs], increasing investments in harm reduction services (including supervised consumptions sites), decriminalizing illicit substances, increasing access to services in which people can check the toxicity of their drugs, reducing barriers to Opioid Agonist Treatment (e.g., methadone), widespread distribution of naloxone, and increasing access to housing, basic income, peer support, and trauma-informed counselling.” When any deterrence-oriented program makes a profit off of fear tactics and stigmatizing community members who use substances, it must be opposed with researched solutions. It is imperative to meet people who use substances with empathy and to ensure legislation and community resources meet their needs. Support involves deconstructing stereotypes and harmful social structures while decriminalizing substance use. Most importantly, there must be support for people who use drugs, people with substance use disorders, and unhoused people in the Downtown Eastside. They must have their needs listened to.
ARTS & CULTURE
July 5, 2021
BY MEERA E RAGODA
Food for Thought: Edible cities
Dive into the cultural, political, and personal significance of food
Thanks to TikTok, a partner with botanical knowledge, and a workshop I took at the UBC Botanical Garden, my plant identification skills have been growing and growing (pun intended). I, like many, used to think all green things could be classified in three ways: plants, shrubs, or trees. When I went hiking, I enjoyed the forest feel, but I didn’t appreciate the little details and mostly did it for the view. I definitely had no idea anything around me could be edible. Now, I’m starting to get a sense of what’s edible and what’s in season. For instance, at the start of spring, all the coniferous trees — cedars, hemlocks, and douglas firs — start putting out new shoots. These tips are edible and taste citrusy. The beginning of summer brings the emergence of all sorts of berries such as salal, salmonberries, huckleberries, thimbleberries, and blackberries. Even in urban areas, I notice much more than I used to. Despite city planners exclusively having aesthetics in mind, I’ve started realizing how many of the plants around us can be used in edible ways. Alexis Nikole Nelson (@blackforager on Instagram / @alexisnikole on TikTok), whose fame has skyrocketed this past year, makes content alerting viewers to things around them that are edible. Though she lives in the Midwest, there is still some overlap. I’ve learned from her that magnolia petals taste gingery and can be pickled or baked into cookies. I infused them into simple syrup for cocktail-making purposes. She also taught me that elm seeds taste kind of nutty and can be eaten as a snack. There are so many ways plants can be used, but I’m only starting to learn about these now because Western scientific principles teach us to separate ourselves from everything around us. This is unlike Indigenous
ILLUSTRATION: Alyssa Marie Umbal / The Peak
Michelle Young
knowledge systems, which prioritize staying connected to the land and being sustainable. This separation manifests in how little people know about the native plant life in BC and the importance of conserving natural resources — like old growth trees, which are important to local ecosystems. It also shows the lack of imagination those in power have when it comes to city planning. Given the amount of introduced plants and trees, why not try and use that to make food more accessible to people? Joshua Zuenert, an Australian landscape architect and lecturer, has been advocating for over 10 years for public spaces to integrate food into their design. He highlights UC Davis as a leading example of this. Their edible campus includes gardens used to teach people what they can grow and how to use that food in cooking. There are also salad gardens where people at the school or at work can make their own fresh meals. Coupled with education, urban food architecture would bring us closer to the plant life around us. This would lead to a greater connection with the land, a greater understanding of what it takes to grow something, increased social connections, and a better environment for pollinators. Vancouver already encourages community gardens, personal gardens, backyard chickens, and beekeeping. However, these still rely on individuals’ implementation and are not always accessible. Even if you are able to make use of community gardens and teach yourself the skills, the waitlist to get a plot can take years. Imagine instead, a city where you could walk to a park and pick fruit off a tree to have as a snack, or, during your walk home through a public food space, you could grab some basil to make a pesto. The possibilities could be endless.
MONDAY MUSIC: SUMMER BOPS FOR POLYGLOTS
NEWS EDITOR
Whether you’re learning a new language or just want something to freshen up your playlist, there’s a variety of international music scenes yet to be discovered. Indulge in this versatile playlist to find the right mood to set the rest of your summer. Courtesy of EO Entertainment & Pink Poetry
Spanish: “Tú” By maye
Venezuelan-American artist maye released the sweet and summery “Tú” in 2019. Her voice is like honey as she sings “amor eres tú” over dreamy guitar chords and relaxed percussion. The sound blends alt-pop with Latin beats for a warm song of yearning. maye coos “you are love” and “I want to be where you are” (of course, this all sounds more romantic in Spanish). It’s the perfect piece for all the longing, lovesick lovers out there.
Courtesy of my little airport
Cantonese: “因講了出來” By my little airport
Upbeat and carefree, Hong Kong’s my little airport crafts a piece made for dancing in your pajamas at home. The song is wistful and easygoing all at once. The vocals are smooth and subtle as lead singer Nicole Au Kin-ying sings of daily life. Paired with pleasant percussion, this piece is perfect to appreciate small joys.
Courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment Finland Oy
Courtesy of Inspirative
Thai: “พื้นที่ว่าง”
By Inspirative This one is for rainy summer nights — warm, sticky, and full of nostalgia. Thai rock band Inspirative blends smooth guitar with soft vocals that make you want to weep into the distance — the kind of crying where you feel relief after. The song picks up its pace for a rock-style guitar solo mid-song, leaving the listener hooked on angsty sorrow.
Finnish: “Kesäyö” By Pariisin Kevät
You know how some songs fit certain seasons? “Kesäyö” suits all of them — wintery sunrises, spring afternoons, crisp fall mornings, and, of course, long summer sunset drives. Starting slowly, and then building itself up with an electric intensity, the song’s energetic guitar and percussion are beautifully juxtaposed against lush vocals to set the scene for your defining coming-of-age moment.
Courtesy of Anuv Jain
Hindi: “Baarishein” By Anuv Jain
For the broken-hearted, I recommend the soulful ballad “Baarishein.” I don’t know an ounce of Hindi, but Jain’s voice transcends language. Set against simple chords, his vocals are the highlight of the piece. They move from softly singing into a passionate cry at the song’s climax, conveying the pain of missing someone you love.
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ARTS & CULTURE
Arts & Culture Editor Sara Wong
|
arts@the-peak.ca
FRONT AND CENTRE
Living Hyphen provides a platform for hyphenated Canadians to share their culture This Toronto-based brand offers empowering podcast episodes, writing workshops, and more Justine Yu, founder and editor-in-chief of Living Hyphen.
P HOTO : Living Hyphen
watch, not just in the movies or the books that I read, but in different positions across different industries,” said Yu.
dedicated to increasing representation for newcomers. Their recent project, The Stories of Us, provides newcomers with English Language Learner (ELL) curriculums based on their cultures. Yu mentioned ELL programs require more input from newcomers on incorporating diversity into the curriculum, which is what The Stories of Us aims to address.
CHARLENE AV I LE S // PEAK ASSO CI ATE
In 2015, Filipinx-Canadian Justine Yu attended the Toronto Feminist Art Conference. The stories she heard there from authors discussing their barriers to publication inspired her to take action. She then founded Living Hyphen to address the lack of media representation of hyphenated Canadians: those with multiple cultural identities. After establishing Living Hyphen, Yu continued to amplify these voices through magazines, podcast episodes, and writing workshops. In an interview with The Peak, she explained the importance of providing platforms such as these. “I thought I was the only one who felt this way, who felt like I was straddling these two different cultures and places and struggling to fit in, or struggling to embrace my culture more wholly. But when I started Living Hyphen and I started to connect with more groups — not just within the Filipino community, but in different diasporas around the world — I realized that I’m not the only one,” explained Yu. “If we can act as a support network for each other, I think that is really, really important. I think that’s something that everyone can play a part in,” she continued. Yu recalled that, growing up, Filipinx representation was limited to health care. She wants to see representation spread to other industries as well. “Representation to me means being able to see people who look like me, who sound like me, in not just the shows that I
Recognizing the lack of multicultural representation in the writing industry, Yu decided to bridge that gap through Living Hyphen’s initiatives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the brand transitioned from in-person to online events, and their scope expanded as participants from across Canada and the United States joined their writing workshops. Online platforms, such as the Living Hyphen podcast, also helped promote the stories of hyphenated Canadians. In the podcast episode “Digging Roots,” spoken word poet Desiree Mckenzie uses a plant as an analogy for immigrating to Canada. Similar to a plant transferred into new soil, newcomers in Canada also require nourishment to adapt. When asked about what resources would help newcomers adjust, Yu explained settlement agencies need to consider newcomers’ diverse experiences. “I think that there are so many nuances that exist and that we can’t treat all newcomers as a generalization under one blanket,” said Yu. Acknowledging that adaptable resources are also key to this transition, Living Hyphen partnered with the Department of Imaginary Affairs, an organization
In addition to intersectionality, Living Hyphen values anti-racism and decolonization. At the Living Hyphen’s writing workshops and open-mic nights, participants are given a safe environment to discuss topics ranging from identity to culture. These events tie into Yu’s motto, “You can’t pull a thread without unravelling the entire tapestry.” Living Hyphen recognizes the consequences of colonialism are interconnected and must simultaneously be addressed. “All of these issues around racism are all interconnected, and it’s really difficult for us to just pick one problem and try to solve it without disrupting the entire system,” she said. Supporters can stay updated with Living Hyphen by following their social media, @livinghyphen, and pre-order their second issue Resistance Across Generations, which will be released July 15, 2021. The Living Hyphen podcast is available for streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever podcasts are found.
PICTURE THIS
A closer look at digital artist Beeple’s $69 million collage Everydays: the first 5000 days includes satirical representations of 2020 VR INDA KAPADI A / / SF U STUD E NT
Everydays: the First 5000 Days is a series of drawings and images created by digital artist Mike Winklemann. Professionally known under the name Beeple, he began this project on May 1, 2007 and has been diligently posting a new drawing everyday for 14 and a half years now. Beeple made headlines in March 2021, when he sold an NFT of a digital collage of his project at the staggering price of $69 million. NFTs stand for non-fungible tokens, which are digital assets representing tangible and intangible commodities. These can include toilet paper, Nike sneakers called cryptokicks, art, virtual avatars, and more. The NFT market is established on a cryptocurrency blockchain, typically the Ethereum blockchain. A blockchain is a shared database that tracks
the ownership of the content, while the transactions can be made using cryptocurrency or real money. While, technically, anyone can save, download, and copy the file for free, the real value of an NFT is in the ownership of the original file, which can be purchased and verified by a blockchain entry. The NFT of Beeple’s art piece was auctioned at Christie’s and was advertised as the “first purely digital work of art ever offered by a major auction house.” Sifting through his collection, I was very impressed by the consistent quality of Beeple’s artwork. Some images may be dystopic or politically provocative, but overall, his work is very imaginative and captivating. I rummaged through his work from last year to find some satirical renderings of current events. One is called United States of Toilet Paper from March 14, 2020. Right away, there is an irony portrayed by a confined man on his knees who has soiled his pants when there are mounds of white rolls behind his armed persecutors. The man is appealing to a figure in white attire overlooking him from atop a stacked white paper roll heap. There is a sense of ruthless apathy demonstrated by the armed officials and the man in power while the individual on his knees suffers from a dreadful mishap. This is an unsettling image because it uses the catastrophe of toilet paper scarcity amidst the pandemic to implicitly comment on the alarmingly disproportionate distribution of resources in America. There’s also the one called Karen Attack from June 18, 2020. There are military police officers and S.W.A.T team members warding off five gigantic white women. The monstrously big women exude hostility with their audacious posture, dropped jaws, and accusatory finger-pointing. Their glossedover, fiery yellow eyes indicate no opportunity to reason with them. This rendering is seemingly inspired by the
This NFT marks a milestone in art history. PH OTO : Beeple
growing popularity of the Karen stereotype, which is typically associated with a self-entitled, middle class white woman who displays aggressive behaviour incited by her privileged status. The exaggeration in the image serves as comic relief within an otherwise strenuous and difficult situation one may find themselves in when interacting with a Karen. Beeple’s Everydays are introspective and amusing artistic renderings of day-to-day occurrences. Each illustration is a memento of an ideology or a significant event that enters the realm of our collective consciousness as North Americans. Despite their puzzling monetary worth of $69 million today, the project will certainly be more valuable for generations to come as a collection of 21st century relics.
HUMOUR
July 5, 2021
Choose Your Own Adventure: the return-to-campus edition Written by Kelly Chia
( 1 )
( 4 )
You follow McFogg dutifully, winding through
McFogg approaches you. As he comes closer, a
So, this is it. You half-smile, half-cringe at the
the bowels of SFU (your affectionate nickname
dense fog sets in. It would almost feel nostalgic
scaffolding as you take in the campus. Maybe
for the hellhole that is Robert C. Brown Hall).
if the unsmiling eyes on McFogg’s fursuit didn’t
it’s your first time entering Burnaby Mountain’s
What could being “the chosen one” mean? You
feel so threatening.
concrete abyss, or maybe it’s your thousandth.
rub your hands together zealously.
Either way, you are filled with a unique burst of excitement. It’s an odd feeling at eight in the morning.
“I’ve been waiting for you. We all have. The RCB “My star,” McFogg begins with Mickey Mouse
quakes once every 50 years when the chosen
candour. “We’ll be filming a documentary
one enters the campus, and I felt that deep in my
for the next four years to prove SFU doesn’t
soul,” he tells you in an uncharacteristically high
delete student emails whenever they hold us
voice. “Come with me.”
accountable. We’ll start with an interview with yours truly,” he finishes, with a flourish of his hat.
A) Your individuality complex cannot believe how perfect this is. You finally get to brag
( START ) Guess you’re now a film major? Steer clear from
about being the main character. Let’s go!
Your introspection is interrupted by a sharp
your classmates that have made liking Kill Bill
(Go to 1)
voice. “Hey! Listen!” he says, definitely not
their personality! (End.)
breaking any copyright laws.
B) You turn around and go home. Maybe it is too soon to return to campus . . . (Go to 2)
Out of the corner of your eye, you see . . .
( 2 )
McFogg the Dog? You:
You go to leave the building, still dizzy from A) Choose to ignore him. You really need to
( 5 )
your new experiences. McFogg starts barking,
figure out where that tutorial on the fifth
but you don’t understand. You find a small sticky
You uncover a treasure trove of Hershey’s Kisses
floor of AQ is. You know you’ll be looking
note as the 145 sends you to safety.
and Eggies that have been humbly refrigerated
at SFU Snap forever before figuring out the closest staircase to your classroom, so
in the student lounge. And bonus: AQ It reads . . .
5190203849.5 is right next to the lounge! Wait,
you might as well get a headstart. (Go to 3)
there’s a student lounge on this floor? “You have been cursed with always having your department advisor out of office when you
You collapse on the floor, amazed by this secret.
need to make an appointment. Buy 100 iced
But, as you leave the room to head to your
you get greeted by a washed-up,
cappuccinos for McFogg the God to relieve your
tutorial, the lounge vanishes. You look at your
potentially dangerous school mascot!
curse.” (End.)
chocolate, ripe and ready for three hours of
B) Wave back at McFogg. It’s not everyday
(Go to 4)
intense syllabi reading. ( 3 )
Congratulations! You’ve been blessed, I guess? (End.)
You make your way to the AQ building. You stare at the fire escape map trying your very best to find where that one room in the middle
( 6 )
of the hallway is. Winding around the halls for an eternity (AKA five minutes before your class
And with that one turn, you find your tutorial
starts), you see a hastily scribbled “Follow me!”
room. You take a massive breath, fondly thinking
on the wall in pink Sharpie.
of the papers you’ll be bullshitting at four in the morning. As you sit down in your tiny desk-chair
A) You really need direction at this point in your life, so you follow obediently. It’s the
and unpack, everything falls out of your bag at a humiliating speed.
summer of adventure, as Bonnie Henry said (or something)! (Go to 5)
Your McFogg the Dog plush you brought for comfort and to share conversations with stares at
B) Shrug. You’ve seen more cryptic messages
you as you die from embarrassment.
scribbled on the doors of the school
Illustrated by Jarielle Lim
bathrooms. You walk the opposite
Your plan of looking like the coolest, most
direction out of an abundance of caution,
articulate student in your tutorial has been
though. (Go to 6)
ruined! You will never live this down. (End.)
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Humour Editor Kyla Dowling
|
humour@the-peak.ca
SFU researchers create consciousness-swapping device; chaos ensues I AM STILL STUCK I N TH E B O DY O F M CFO G G T H E D O G . P LEAS E H E LP M E
Try these tips when Hot Girl Summer makes your skin a bummer
W R I T T E N B Y PA I G E R I D I N G
Tip #1: “Open” your pores with steam You can’t. You can’t open your pores. That’s not how they work. They don’t have muscles or anything, weirdo. You can, however, save yourself the utter agony of turning on an oven in this heat. Boil some water on the stove and open up that good, good Kraft Dinner box, baby.
WRITTE N BY KYLA D OW L I NG
Burnaby, BC — SFU researchers debuted their
but McFogg the Dog is actually an animatronic
groundbreaking consciousness-swapping
being with an IQ of 192. I was talking to him
device on Friday morning. The device has been
before he took over the body of my professor.
in the works at the Behavioral and Cognitive
Cool guy.
Neuroscience Institute (BCNI) for three years. It was revealed on the Burnaby campus by Joy
In the immediate aftermath of the explosion,
Johnson, BCNI researchers, and a group of bored
president Johnson was seen running into the
communication majors who were looking for a
woods. Security arrived on the scene in the
break from talking about Marshall McLuhan for
bodies of touring high school students to detain
the third lecture in a row.
Andrew Petter, who had suddenly appeared. As the Hot Topic-clad teenagers dragged him away,
The device, named the Consciousness Replacing
he howled desperately: “Please! I’m not Petter!
Acceleration Project (CRAP), was meant to be
I am the anti-Petter! I am your president! I am
used on the campus solely for a test run. The mind
your God!” He was then gagged with a 100 gecs
of head researcher Seymour Cox was supposed
beanie. Teenagers.
to be swapped with a raccoon’s. Johnson emerged from the woods this “Honestly, this whole project started because
afternoon with a raccoon on her shoulder and
I watched Pacific Rim at seven years old,” Cox
an e-cigarette in her hand. When asked for a
said. “I saw the scientist drift with the Kaiju brain
comment, she stared perplexedly at the vape and
and it awoke something primal in me.” The rest of
said, “I just wanna blow some perfect Os.”
the quote is not suitable for print. When asked her specific thoughts on the During CRAP’s initial usage, in which Cox
body-swapping device and if, perchance, she
swapped with the raccoon, a figure dressed in
happened to be someone else inhabiting
black holding an electric guitar sprinted into the
Johnson’s body, she froze for 20 seconds, blinked
testing area and launched the instrument into the
slowly, and said, “No. I am Joyce Jansen, and I
device. The device exploded violently, beams of
vow to return this school to the beautiful state
light extending to every person in the immediate
Andrew Petter put it in.” The Peak chose to gently
vicinity. This swapped each individual’s mind into
remind her that her name was not Joyce Jansen
different bodies.
and that Andrew Petter had, among other things, conspired with Jonathan Driver to cause the
I, your intrepid reporter and one of the bored
P HOTO : Tran Quang Thien / Unsplash
Skincare tips for the summer heat
pandemic. She had no further comment.
communication majors (seriously, can we stop talking about Marshall?), am still in the body of
The BCNI researchers hope to swap everyone
McFogg the Dog as we speak. Did you know
back— I think. Cox has just been rubbing their
there’s no person under there? Like, you’d think
grimy little raccoon hands over the broken mind-
there was some beleaguered student in a fursuit,
swapping device.
Lean over the pot. Let the steam hit your face for no reason. Feel even hotter. Regret taking skincare advice from a person who checks commas for a living. Wow, you’re glowing! Ah, nope, that’s the neon orange cheese reflecting off your sweaty forehead. Tip #2: Try a mud mask Whatever you do, don’t go into the garden. You thought I’d steer you that wrong? I’d never ask you to put such filth on your gorgeous mug. (I thought about it. Really, I did. The mud was dried out.) For the best results, you’ll need to go to the most slug-infested marshy area you can find. Pick up a whopping handful of brown gunk you can only pray is mud, realize this is a God-awful idea, and go make yourself an ice-cold mudslide instead. No, the sugar won’t make you break out. Neither will the alcohol. Don’t worry about it. Please. Tip #3: Just stop sweating It’s not hard? Tip #4: Don’t forget sunscreen People who brag about never using sunscreen are the same people who refuse to use the air dryers after washing their hands in a public restroom because they “take too long.” They just waltz out, dripping water everywhere. You’re sick. Sick and twisted. Anyway, this piece of advice isn’t a joke. As a recently graduated English major looking for a job in a pandemic, I know a joke when I see one. Just put on sunblock.
HUMOUR
July 5, 2021
Your Weekly Horoscopes
July 5 –11 Written by Carter Hemion
ARIES — Mar 21–Apr 19
LIBRA — Sept 23–Oct 22
Don’t be shy . . . start dipping your Flamin’ Hot Cheetos in milk. Don’t let anyone dull your spice except you, sweetie.
Stop expecting yourself to create a great presentation the week it’s due. It’s time to project your voice instead of your insecurities. Prepare yourself: take a deep breath and have a glass of wine from your beloved McDonald’s Shrek cup.
TAURUS — Apr 20 –May 20
SCORPIO — Oct 23–Nov 21
Have you ever thought about how terrible the English language is? Do you think it would be worse if the plural of house was hice or the plural of louse was louses?
Looking for inspiration for the paper you have due this week? Cover your physical eyes and let your third eye guide you. Feel it wrench open. Wait, that might just be your headache from staying up all night?
GEMINI — May 21–Jun 20
SAGITTARIUS — Nov 22–Dec 21
The stars say you would be really great at, uh, either track and field or stripping. It’s hard to tell, but there are definitely metal poles involved. Get past the hurdles and raise your bar.
If you can’t swipe left on any of Tinder’s wannabe alt TikTok stars, it’s time to delete the app. Your heart says yes, but their four followers and dyed bangs say hell no.
CANCER — Jun 21–Jul 22
CAPRICORN — Dec 22–Jan 19
Whoa! Did you see a ghost, or was it just your reflection during midterms season? Either way, at least you’re not totally alone.
Did you know Chuck Lamb made a career out of playing dead? Remember that the next time someone says you come across as too cold for academia. You still have options!
LEO — Jul 23–Aug 22
AQUARIUS — Jan 20 –Feb 18
Your reputation is fading — it’s time for a publicity stunt. Make your Zoom background a photo of Nicolas Cage and make eye contact with every damn person on the other side of that camera.
Clam down! No, I don’t mean “calm down.” This is your sign to go to the beach and look for shells. You can hold them to your ear later to tune out everyone you don’t want to hear.
VIRGO — Aug 23–Sept 22
PISCES — Feb 19–Mar 20
Nobody in your class hates you. Some of them might even like you. It’s time to change that. Tell everyone about some healthy study habits and your 3.9 GPA. That’ll show them!
Be the kind of person your shadow would be proud of and take a nap. That sunlight didn’t travel millions of kilometres just to run errands with you.
15
16 DIVERSIONS
Business Manager Yuri Zhou
|
business@the-peak.ca
CROSSWORD Across 1. Poet 5. Wooded valley 9. Serving perfectly 14. Lily species 15. ____ Canal 16. ____ O'Donnell of TV 17. Ambition 18. Green fruit 19. Long-legged bird 20. Trolley 22. Squealers 23. Iced ____ 24. Geronimo, e.g. 26. More peculiar 29. Type of staircase 32. ____ Gras (Fat Tuesday) 33. Camp shelters 34. Trendy 37. Lamb's mom 38. Most orderly 40. Distinctive time 41. Wind dir. 42. Devourer 43. Televised again 45. Declare 46. Accompanying 47. Reluctant
SUDOKU
50. Pal (Fr.) 51. Deceiver 52. Wipe out 58. Trimmed the border 60. Staff officer 61. Press 62. Actress ____ Witherspoon 63. Ladder rung 64. Look after 65. Pastry 66. Big quiz 67. Speaks Down 1. Satchels 2. Much (2 wds.) 3. Lion's cry 4. Removed 5. River mouth 6. Singer ____ Clapton 7. Peru's capital 8. Malicious look 9. Circle section 10. Ranch enclosure 11. Singer ____ Hayes 12. Final inning, usually 13. Silly ones 21. Creepiness
24. Crafts 25. Deli meat 26. Prophecy 27. Daybreak 28. Attracted 29. Iowa or Ohio 30. Anchorman ____ Jennings 31. Sluggish 34. Submarine sandwich 35. Persia, today 36. Twinge 39. Soften 44. Draws out 45. Nab 47. Paying attention 48. MTV feature 49. Zealous 50. Highly skilled 52. West's opposite 53. Religious ceremony 54. Fruit beverages 55. ____ code 56. Acting award 57. Finishes 59. Low grade