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Debatable Tweets

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EIC
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Hot Topic for the presidential candidates

Q:What is your position on the 10 per cent annual increase in international student fees?

 

Alexander: So we want to charge kids who don’t come from here more money. I’m not exactly against that. I think we should make it cheaper for people who are local, because they don’t have to pay for like airplanes and stuff. If you’re an international student and you can afford to fly here, you can pay 10 per cent more.

 

Brandon: This is a huge disconnect between the university and the student body and that needs to be fixed, especially considering that international students already pay three or four times more than domestic students pay. It’s kind of outrageous to hear that students who have already signed up to go to school here are now randomly going to be [signed up] to be paying more money over the next few years.


Chardaye: I oppose increases to international student tuition so much so that I am doing something about it. So I made an announcement to the board, I attended a meeting with the vice-president, finance Pat Hibbits, I contacted the international students club, the international students group, I called people with the intent of forming a working group and there is now a grass-roots campaign that is being formed with SFSS advocacy.

 

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YWIB celebrates International Women’s Day

By
EIC
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0

WEB-2010 YWIB-Jeremy Lim

SFU’s own Young Women in Business (YWIB) club held their fourth annual International Women’s Day conference at the Century Plaza Hotel in Downtown Vancouver. Attendees joined with women around the world in spirit to celebrate all that they have achieved and will achieve.

Beginning in 1911, the main goal of International Women’s Day has been to empower, encourage, and inspire. As designated by the United Nations, the day also examines political and human rights, and the current struggles faced by women internationally.

With powerful speakers, non-profit organizations and local entrepreneurs in attendance, the atmosphere at the conference was nothing short of inspirational.

From its early morning start, the event carried a simple and understated beauty. White tables filled the ballroom, accented with pastel dip-dyed flowers. YWIB explained that they strive to portray a sense of class and business professionalism, along with a welcoming atmosphere that instantly invites you into the YWIB SFU family.

The event was hosted by Lien Yeung of CBC radio, who kept things professional yet lighthearted. The keynote speakers for the day were co-creative directors of Dare Vancouver, Addie Gillespie and Mia Thomsett, “bully doctor” and life coach Dr. Valerie Mason-John, and the founder of Beauty Night Society, Caroline MacGillivray.

There was also a panel discussion made up of Jill Earthy (Canadian Youth Business Foundation), Suzanne Siemens (Lunapads), Paulina Cameron (YWIB; Canadian Youth Business Foundation), Jennifer Maloney (Yulu PR), and Chantelle Krish (YWCA Metro Vancouver).

 

Each speaker shared her definition of success, and often her path to finding it. 

 

This year, the event and all of the speakers focused on a theme of “Defining Success.” As the day progressed, it became clear that each woman in the room had her own unique definition of the statement, while also appreciating “success”, as defined by her peers. Along with career advice and personal anecdotes, each speaker shared her definition of success and often her path to finding it.

Mason-John captivated the audience with her personal struggle to finally acknowledge success in her own life. She said, “Once upon a time, I would have thought success was having the perfect body.” But after fighting eating disorders, she came to the realization that beauty is not the definition of success, and that true success is “being who you truly want to be.”

She warned that, “if you treat yourself badly, it is an open invitation for others to do likewise.”

Jill Earthy spoke of her personal definition of success as five distinct categories: “Work, community, family, friends and self. Success in fulfillment, not necessarily balance, in each of these categories.” Paulina Cameron, co- founder of YWIB, believes that success can be had in “surrounding yourself with people who know who you are and reflect your moral compass and principles.”

Leading the YWIB executive committee for this event was Sasha Rudenko, the IWD Chair, and her IWD organizing committee. After the event, she described the mood, saying, “Everybody was happy and inspired, and that was my real goal. It wasn’t [about] the amount of people. [ . . . ] The feeling I wanted to get was the inspiration and the empowerment to pursue whatever you want to do. It certainly met my expectations, exceeded them.”

Rudenko offered her own personal definition of success: “Success to me is being content within yourself. If you feel happy with what you’re doing in life, that’s what makes you successful.”

All in all, this year’s International Women’s Day conference proved why it is a highlight of the YWIB year, attracting students and community members alike, for a day of inspiration and a celebration of all that hardworking women can achieve.

Women’s soccer finds its new coach

By
EIC
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0

WEB-Annie Hamel - Greg Ehlers

SFU women’s soccer has hired Annie Hamel as the second head coach in team history, after Shelley Howieson left the position earlier this year for a new role with SFU Athletics.

Hamel comes from across the continent to join the Clan, having spent the last five years as an assistant coach — three of which she served as assistant head coach — at St. Leo’s University in Florida, another NCAA Div. II school.

“For the last three years, I was taking on a really big responsibility. I’ve learned everything I needed to learn as an assistant, so it’s been an easy transition to step into the head coaching role,” says Hamel.

It’s been a long road back to Canada for the Quebec native, who began her coaching career as an assistant coach at the University of Maine in 2004, after graduating from the Div. I school.

Now she’s back in her home country, coaching Canada’s only NCAA women’s soccer team, albeit one that has struggled mightily since its first year in the American league.

“I know what it takes to win in this league, and quite frankly, we’re not there,” Hamel says. “But we’re going to get there. I’m 100 per cent confident in that, and so are the kids. It’s going to be difficult, and a lot of hours, but we’re going to build one day at a time.

“Pretty much everything is changing. The way we function, the way we operate. I’ve asked the girls for a bigger commitment, and they’ve responded very well. We’re doing things differently from top to bottom.”

Part of the change starts with recruiting. Hamel says she’s a bit behind the eight ball having joined the Clan just a week ago, and might not have the time to go globetrotting to bring in talent from other countries. Despite that, she says there’s plenty of untapped potential in SFU’s backyard.

“There is a lot of talent in British Columbia,” she says. “Whether or not we’ve been able to attract those kids in the past is another story, but I’m not going to shy away from anyone. If I see a player I like, I’m going to go after her.

“We have a unique experience here. No one else offers a Canadian education with an American playing experience,” she adds. “We should be able to get the best talent. I know I’m going to try.”

With an injection of future talent, Hamel is confident the Clan can right the ship that’s run aground over the last few seasons.

“Yea, we were at the bottom [of the GNAC],” she says. “But the gap isn’t that great. It’s not going to be easy to close it, but I’m confident our turnaround will be quick. We might not win the conference next year, but we’ll put ourselves a step in the direction towards that.”

Social Conservatism is a sham

By
EIC
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1

bill SB 1062 celebration

When the anti-LGBTQ legislation American Republicans championed in Arizona and Kansas, bill SB 1062, was rightfully rescinded, they quickly went on the offence. Bereft of allies due to their self-righteous “us against the world” mentality, these conservative thinkers lashed out against the Obama administration and social Liberals who they perceive as equally fascistic and morally decadent. Not onboard with their Judeo-Christian utopia/ America? Then you despise freedom itself.

The Arizona bill was “never about ‘discrimination’,” claimed Matt Barber for CNSNews.com — “it’s about liberty.” The liberty for Christian businesses to “[decline] their God-given time and talent to create goods and services that require they violate deeply held — and constitutionally protected — religious beliefs.” This is the crux of the argument. These people aren’t racists or homophobes, but they should be allowed their bigotry because freedom is messy, and this is ‘Murrica, man!

This willy-nilly mis-association of religious “morals” and political ideology was thrown in starker relief when CPAC, a Conservative super-conference, initially granted a booth to American Atheists (AA) before withdrawing it hours after being attacked by other members. But why? AA is a group that advocates reduced government, debt reduction and business friendly pay-as-you-go economic policies. They’re Conservatives. So why the complaints? Why did Brent Bozell, President of the Conservative Media Research Centre, label the invitation extended to AA “an attack on conservative principles [. . .and] God himself”?

What would Conservatives do if atheist business owners began rejecting their business?

David Silverman, President of American Atheists, explained in an interview with CNN that he wanted to question the ridiculous notion that political Conservatism ought to be tied to religion. “The Christian Right should be angry that we are going in to enlighten Conservatives,” he crowed. Apart from smugness, he broke no Commandments. Did God really like Atlas Shrugged? Surely he has better things to do than huff at CPAC’s inclusion of atheists?

Freedom of religious expression is an absolute — it enshrines an individual’s right to be. However, guaranteeing space to express one’s individuality through art, expression or sexuality is equally valid. Protesting that Christianity is under attack is the Religious Right’s newest deconstructive effort at being allowed to palatably legislate their archaism.

Legislative protection of bigotry and divisive individual politics is what this is, and it’s not healthy for society. If we embrace such anarchism, then what’s the impetus to build nations? Or offer government subsidized housing? Or tax rebates for small businesses? Legislative iniquities breed a corrosive environment. Conservatives such as those behind SB 1062 love to bandy ideas like forcing Christians to serve homosexual couples is equivalent to forcing an African-American owned photocopying business to print KKK fliers. But these Conservative-backed bills aren’t about protecting individual rights to expression or freedom. They protect Hate.

Religious faith carries no weight in constructing political policy, nor does ensuring religious freedoms mandate entrenchment of anti-social mandates. What would Conservatives do if atheist business owners began rejecting their business? What if we allowed ultra-orthodox Muslim cab drivers to refuse to serve single, unescorted women? Social conservatism is a flatly obnoxious sham that pantomimes individual beliefs as universal virtues.

Religion is a deeply profound interpersonal connection with God. It belongs in the private sphere. Let’s keep it there.

Stop Putin now

By
EIC
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0

Shortly after the Olympics were held in Sochi, Russia, Russian military forces invaded the small peninsula of Crimea, a southern region of the Ukraine, without any authorization or impetus beyond sheer hubris and opportunism.

Since the Olympics, the spotlight directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin has grown much brighter on the international stage. He helped broker a peace deal with Syria, which only further entrenched the violent Assad regime, and has also orchestrated the most corrupt and expensive Winter Olympics, well, ever. With these actions escalating to a foreign invasion, the West’s response has to be proportionate to Putin’s brazen actions.

    Of course, this pattern is not entirely new. Putin, a former member of the KGB, has slowly but surely tightened his grip on power over the once-dilapidated former USSR. The result has been a somewhat stable Russian economy, built on an oligarchy and funded by oil from Gazprom, which has given Putin the room to convince the stalwart electorate of his legitimacy (although, the validity of the most recent elections are certainly in question).

If opportunities continue to knock, there is nothing to stop Putin from subjecting the Russian population to harsh injustices.

These developments have further enshrined his power and now, bolstered by such firm support, he has decided to take it to the next level: unauthorized, illegal invasions of other sovereign nations.

    The United States, perhaps the only legitimate force able to coerce Russia, has made an effort to affirm a strong posture in opposition to the invasion. They have discussed punishing economic sanctions, which would also impact a huge swathe of the EU, and some are calling for Western nations to refuse attendance at 2014’s G8 summit to be staged in Sochi, Russia.

These moves, which are quite similar to the weightless proclamations issued to Syria, reek of weak-kneed diplomacy and political theatre. Putin is a realist and an opportunist. Losing Crimea was a sore spot for Russians in 1992, and if they reclaim the small peninsula, it is yet another big political win for Vladimir Putin.

    Now, no one is asking for a war or armed conflict against Putin’s regime. If Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya have proven anything, it is that intervention only leads to more civil strife and struggle. But we are dealing with an individual who has wilfully imprisoned contrarian journalists, marginalized LGBTQ groups, and has a litany of Human Rights Watch accusations. Now Putin has infringed upon the sovereignty of another nation and some are standing around either defending or validating such a decision.

    The Russian administration is operating in the real world, where power and money are motivating factors. The Western democracies, proponents of global justice and the proliferation of liberty, are standing at podiums and shuffling their feet. If opportunities continue to knock, there is nothing to stop Putin from continuing to abuse his citizenry, imprisoning people at his own will, and subjecting the Russian population to harsh injustices.

    If we are to stand by our principles as free nations helping others in need, we have to act in the real world with rigorous diplomacy and a show of force. A famous quote from Theodore Roosevelt could not be more relevant here: we need to “speak softly and carry a big stick.”

Student Opinions on the SFSS Elections

By
Peak Web
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0

Love it or hate it, elections time is here. Sit back and relax as your favourite spots on campus are taken over by posters of your smiling SFSS candidates.

The Peak interviews SFU students to try and nail down the general opinion of the elections.

Hosted by Leah Bjornson
Created by Brandon Hillier

Music provided by Nouvellas (http://www.nouvellas.com)

TransLink efficiency measures potentially problematic

By
EIC
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1

 

WEB-Translink reform-Mark Burnham

An interview with professional bus driver Dianne McKenzie has revealed funding problems within TransLink; McKenzie told The Peak she feels “good working for such a successful transportation company,” but is “worried about the future.”

McKenzie, driver for the Coast Mountain Bus Company — a subsidiary of TransLink — and Port Coquitlam Transit Centre job steward says TransLink recently implemented new efficiency measures. These include reduced driver “down time,” as TransLink described it, as well as route time changes with shortened connection times.

McKenzie cited these measures as well as issues with TransLink’s governance, as two central problems with the way TransLink is currently being run.

The route times optimization allows “less and less time between runs,” McKenzie said, which not only reduces breaks, but makes it harder for passengers to make their connections.

However, TransLink frames this differently. In its 2014 Base Plan, TransLink explained that these changes were focused on reallocating 56,000 hours from underutilized routes to areas of otherwise underserved high demand routes.

The Plan stated, “This enabled TransLink to increase bus boardings per service hour by by 3.4 per cent while at the same time reducing the cost per boarded passenger by 2.2 per cent.”

McKenzie said she feels “treated inhumanely” with this reduced down time, which does not give drivers time to even “stretch” or sit down to eat a meal. “We are not machines,” she said.

The 2014 Base Plan, which includes these efficiency measures, outlines long-term, sustainable transportation strategies to match the demand from the million new residents expected in the Metro Vancouver region between now and 2045.

TransLink’s ridership has significantly increased over the last few years. In 2011, TransLink set their 10th annual ridership record in a row; however, the numbers fell during the first six months of 2013, according to a study by the American Public Transit Association.

This decrease in commuters raises the question of funding. In a statement, TransLink explained, “Current funding sources are not keeping pace, and there is a reason to believe that simply keeping pace is not good enough.”

 

“We’ve been having a pretty good hate on.”

 

Gordon Price,
director of city program, SFU

In last May’s provincial election, Premier Christy Clark promised that a referendum on TransLink funding would be held on Nov. 15 of this year. The referendum has been pushed until a later date due to concerns from regional mayors who suggest that more time and input are needed on the subject beforehand.

For SFU director of city program Gordon Price, the only answer to the referendum question is a yes vote for more funding, but commuters shouldn’t be too quick to blame the organization for the lack thereof.

“It shouldn’t be about TransLink. We’ve been having a pretty good hate on, we’ve all contributed to that. Oddly enough, some can make a good case that it’s a good organization, as its authorizing legislation is admired around the world,” Price told Burnaby Now.

Despite her criticism, McKenzie insisted that she is not trying to bash the company, but merely point out the problems with its current system. “As bus drivers, we empathize with our users,” she said. “We hear their concerns daily and often it’s not very nice.”

She hopes to at least help others understand “why some drivers are not too happy, why they can’t wait for [. . .] any number of seemingly small actions on the part of the passengers.” Drivers, she said, “now really don’t have the time.”

Keep the Fraser Surrey Docks coal-free

By
EIC
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0

WEB-Fraser coal docks-Flickr-Judy and Ed

Recently, Port Metro Vancouver purposed opening a coal terminal at the Fraser Surrey Docks. Since then, concerned citizens from all over the lower mainland have joined to raise awareness of the potential hazards linked to this project. Their cautions are justified: as it stands, the threat of immediate and long-term pollution from the project is very large.

While some have made great arguments for the $15 million investment, local residents, predominantly from Surrey, New Westminster, Burnaby, Delta, and Richmond are asking to see a comprehensive assessment of the possible long-term health and environmental implications that would follow the resumed activity at the docks.

They are rightly cautious about the abundance of coal dust and diesel emissions that come with coal transportation, considering there has not yet been a comprehensive study to identify potential health risks of the project.

As the demand for coal goes up, so will pollution along the Fraser River.

Robin Silvester, president and CEO of Port Metro Vancouver, claims he is satisfied with the current Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which states that dust will not pose a health risk.

But many officials, such as Dr. Paul Van Buynder of Fraser Health and Dr. Patricia Daly of Vancouver Health, believe otherwise. They say, in a letter to the docking company, that Silvester’s report “does not meet even the most basic requirements of a health impact assessment.”

This project is not the right way to grow the economy. Supporters of the project argue that the docks could allow for both an increase in local jobs and economic growth in the area. Jeopardizing both the long-term health and the comfort of the surrounding communities, however, will not balance what we gain from the Surrey coal docks.

Even if the initial reactivation has minimal impacts, as the demand for Canadian coal goes up, so will the amount of fugitive dust, diesel, and noise along the Fraser River. In 2013, in fact, coal shipments increased by 17 per cent, up to 38.2 million tonnes, according to several local news sites.

The communities situated along the Fraser River are home to many families who shouldn’t be forced to live in such industrial areas — it’s not hard to understand why some are considering leaving.

The call for a public, comprehensive report remains crucial to families across the Metro Vancouver area, and that call is perfectly justified.

As many organizations, such as the British Columbian Nurses Union, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, multiple MLAs, and school boards, lend support to those fighting Port Metro Vancouver, it is hard to anticipate how the project will end.

Certainly, no matter where we mine for coal or where we choose to transfer it, there will always be pollution. However, we can at least control how close that pollution is to such a huge population.

Moving the docks further from the city will address health concerns and improve the day-to-day life of thousands of people. Facilities such as coal transfer docks belong in sparsely or unpopulated areas of the country to minimize discomfort and inconvenience.

Canada should invest in its people first, and its resources second. This proposed project stands for the exact opposite.

Clan athletes earn GNAC honours

By
EIC
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0

WEB-Erin Chambers-Anderson Wang

The Clan basketball teams have wrapped up their regular seasons, and with the season’s end come the Great Northwest Athletic Conference awards. This year, Erin Chambers headlines the Clan women’s nominees, following an all-star season which saw the junior take control of the team’s offence and lead the team and the conference in scoring.

The 6’1” guard/forward combo averaged 22.7 points per game this season, the eighth best scoring average in all of the NCAA Division II. The team’s co-captain was unanimously selected by all GNAC coaches to the first all-star team, one of only three women to earn this honour this season.

However, Chambers remains modest about the accomplishment.

“It is an awesome accomplishment and I feel very honoured to be named to the all-star team of such a competitive league,” said Chambers, who also took the time to acknowledge her teammates’ support this season.

One of those teammates, Katie Lowen, earned honourable mention for the all-star awards, as the junior was second for the Clan in points, first in three-point field goal percentage and second
in steals.

The women’s program also received GNAC all-academic honours as three athletes were named to the 2013-14 team. Lowen and Kia Van Laare are repeat honourees from last season, while senior Chelsea Reist is a first time honouree. To be eligible, student-athletes must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.20 (cumulative) and be in at least their second year of competition at their current university.

On the men’s side, Sango Niang was named to the GNAC second all-star team, his first conference honour after transferring to the Clan for the 2013-14 season. Niang started in 23 of 24 games, helping the men’s program earn their highest overall win total since moving to the NCAA.

He’s also only the second Clan man to be named to a GNAC all-star team, following Justin Brown’s nomination in 2011-12. Niang averaged 16.3 points and 5.6 assists per game in his first NCAA season, and was eighth in the conference in point average and third in assists.

“I tried to just play aggressive all season, get my teammates involved and ultimately, tried to win games,” explained the junior. Now, with his season over, his attention turns to preparation for the 2014-15 season, where the Clan will look to continue improving in the conference standings.

Clan roast Ducks

By
EIC
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0

WEB-SFU Lacrosse

The smell of roasted duck wafted over the Burnaby campus after the Clan lacrosse squad finished off long-time rival and Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League (PNCLL) powerhouse #12 University of Oregon Ducks, tripling them 15–5.

The Ducks, normally a top contender in the PNCLL and Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA), couldn’t hold it together against the consistency and speed of the Clan, hungry for a big win at home. And after shoveling a foot of snow off the field for seven hours so they could practice and play on their home field, the win was even sweeter.

The Clan dominated everything right from the get-go, controlling offensive possessions, loose balls, shots and defensive stands; the Ducks only beat the Clan in face offs, winning 57 per cent.

SFU, meanwhile, came out firing early, going up 3–0 in the first seven minutes, though the Ducks managed to fight back, evening the score at three by the end of the first quarter. But that’s as close as they would get, as the Clan outshot the Ducks 33–24 over the game, and their offence just kept rolling.

SFU made it 6–4 at the half and then went on a dominant 9–1 run in the second half, keeping the Ducks scoreless for the entire third quarter. The 15–5 loss gave the Ducks, who haven’t had any success against ranked opponents, their worst loss of the season and gave SFU a boost of confidence heading into the season’s second half.

The usual suspects led the way for SFU offensively. Tyler Kirkby continued his strong season with four goals and one assist, while  Sam Clare and Lyndon Knuttila tallied four goals apiece. Five Clan players recorded assists to get themselves on the score sheet as well.

The MVP of the game however, was senior goaltender Darren Zwack who stood as solid as the walls of the AQ, backing an already rock solid defence by stopping 19 of 24 shots for a season high .792 save percentage, one of his career bests. His season save percentage, now an impressive .697, earned a boost as well.

But most importantly, this was the first time in four years the Clan have beaten the Ducks. With the win the Clan improve their record to 3–0 in their division and 4–1 on the season, claiming sole possession of first place in the PNCLL and moving up two spots in the MCLA rankings to #12, while Oregon drops to #15.

The Clan play in Washington this Friday, March 17, against the University of Utah Utes before hitting the road for almost the rest of the month, but the schedule only gets tougher from here.

Upcoming games against ranked opponents include #3 Arizona State, #23 Arizona, and #25 Oregon State. But with the season the Clan have had so far, there’s no reason the winning can’t continue through to the PNCLL Championships at season’s end.

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Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

Contact us: [email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society 1965-2024

Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

Contact us:
[email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society 1965-2024