September 7, 2021
SUB -ERB SPACE
STUDENT VOICES
NEWS
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NEWS
SPACE CAMPAIGN
NO PLANET B
News Editor Nancy La
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News Writers Karissa Ketter and Yelin Gemma Lee
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news@the-peak.ca
September 7, 2021
VOTING MATTERS
OPINIONS
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OPINIONS
Opinions Editor Lubaba Mahmud
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opinions@the-peak.ca
SFU DOESN’T CARE
SFU’s attempt to help international students with the CARES program falls flat The university needs to do more for students navigating travel restrictions
TAMA NNA T. // STAF F W RI TE R
International students need more support as they travel for in-person classes.
SFU has a prominent international student community which continues to expand despite the ongoing pandemic. Students from different countries, who have either been recently admitted or are returning after the easing of pandemic restrictions, have been struggling to deal with travel restrictions and course requirements.
up to $4,000 per one-way ticket. Due to flight bans, Indian students are having to undergo third-country travel, which adds to the cost. Getting tested multiple times on top of that only adds to the exorbitant price of coming to study at SFU.
By launching their CARES (COVID Assistance and Remote Engagement Support) program, SFU is trying to offer a helping hand for students' self-isolation and accommodation requirements. But the program does not do enough — especially for those who are grappling with how to come back to the country now that classes are in-person again. The program provides limited financial assistance to international students, overlooks the emotional toll travelling and isolating takes, and has unclear requirements. The CARES package offers certain benefits to SFU and FIC (Fraser International College) students who need to selfisolate after returning to Canada. They prepare an isolation stay for the student and offering financial aid up to $500. However, this may not be the cheapest option out there. The total cost of travelling from countries like India can be
DECOLONIZE PALESTINE
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The hotels offered by CARES also limit capacity for the cheapest packages, and are unavailable from August 19–31, right before the start of the Fall 2021 semester. Other hotels in the program range from $120–$125.35 per night — the cost of food on top of that means an expensive and draining situation for an international student. The accommodation is available for either 11 or 14 days, and the $500 subsidy is only offered to international students who “have exhausted all other resources, and have demonstrated financial need.” It is unclear how they would fulfill this requirement. There is a substantial need for a separate bursary because $500 simply does not assist students coming from lowerincome backgrounds. This amount barely makes a dent in the total amount students have to spend, which can be upwards of $7,000. Additionally, the website does not explain whether students who were able to make their own plans for isolation
PHOTO: ConvertKit / Unsplash
are eligible for the $500 subsidy, causing more confusion and uncertainty. While it seems like SFU and FIC attempted to help students get accommodation to transition back to Canadian student life, they missed out on the opportunity to offer help that would genuinely ease financial burden and stress. It’s great to try and help international students — who are often stereotyped for being wealthy — but there is more work to be done to assist those who don’t come from comfortable ways of living. SFU should increase the subsidies for international students, and they should also be available to any students who can offer proof of travel. The CARES program appears helpful, yet it segregates those international students with compromised financial backgrounds — especially those who barely have enough funds to book a flight to Canada at a time when flights are outrageously expensive. By only giving options that fit the well-off international students, the program falls short of doing what it claims to do — helping all international students return safely.
Governments have since worked hard to restrict the rights of labour and corporations have only continued their exploitation of labour — especially that of racialized workers, Indigenous peoples, women, workers in the Global South, and more.
FEATURES
September 7, 2021
LAND BACK
ARTS & CULTURE
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ARTS & CULTURE
Arts & Culture Editor Sara Wong
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arts@the-peak.ca
TREAT YOURSELF
Written by Gurleen Aujla
NORTH SHORE
NEED TO KNOW, NEED TO GO ART DOWNTOWN ECO-ARTS FESTIVAL
HANDS OF KNOWLEDGE EXHIBITION
SERISA FITZ-JAMES: WE CAN ASK FOR MORE
Sept 10, 5:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. FREE Pipe Shop, 115 Victory Ship Way
Runs until Sept 30 FREE Various locations
Runs until Sept 26 FREE for SFU Students Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art
Runs until Sept 16 FREE PoMoArts Online and in-person
Check out a variety of handmade goods from dozens of local artists at the North Shore Artisan Market! This pop-up shop features candles, desserts, pottery, craft spirits, and more. While you’re in the area, enjoy the picturesque views at the Shipyard Commons or check out a nearby restaurant. This market is the perfect place to find unique gifts you won’t find anywhere else. Masks are mandatory at this event.
To encourage stronger connections within the community, the Vancouver Visual Art Foundation presents an outdoor summer festival showcasing the work of local artists. Audiences can expect live painters, art demonstrations, and musical performances. Look forward to art inspired by social and environmental justice issues. Art Downtown runs Tuesdays at the Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza and Wednesdays and Fridays at the Jack Poole Plaza. The event is weather-dependent; check out their Facebook page for the latest updates and COVID-19 protocols.
Curated by Joanne Finlay, from the Ts’msyen Nation, this exhibition features six contemporary women Indigenous artists sharing their experiences and traditional knowledge. Finlay’s primary motivation behind Hands of Knowledge was increasing the presence of women Indigenous artists in galleries and museums across Canada. The paintings, carvings, and robes in this exhibition tell powerful stories of family and personal history, tying in themes of “sight, time, supernatural energy, and spirituality.” More information on the exhibit and COVID-19 protocols are available online.
The Port Moody Arts Centre is currently presenting the work of Serisa FitzJames, a second-generation half-Filipinx immigrant settler. Their solo ceramic exhibition explores the impact of the colonization of the Philippines on culture and identity. Fitz-James describes this exhibition as therapeutic, allowing them to reflect on their non-binary/gender non-conforming identity. It also allowed them to learn about their family history, life before colonization, and their family’s immigration journey to Canada. Viewers can see the complete exhibit virtually or during gallery hours.
September 7, 2021
SETTING THE SCENE
ARTS & CULTURE
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HUMOUR
Humour Editor Carter Hemion
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humour@the-peak.ca
September 7, 2021
HUMOUR
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16 DIVERSIONS
Business Manager Yuri Zhou
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business@the-peak.ca
CROSSWORD
PEAK MEMBERSHIP