Look Incredible

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January 13, 2014

I SPEND A LOT OF TIME AT THRIFT STORES. The unique, cheap clothing is a perfect fit for my unique, cheap self. But deeper than all of that, I do so to protest clothing produced in sweatshops. Buying second-hand puts a wrench in the buy/discard North American attitude that contributes to the demand for cheap working conditions.

But maybe you thrift shop simply for the unique items awaiting discovery. You can stumble upon clothes from lines that are out-of-production for whatever reason ó maybe they’re too old or they just didn’t catch on to any market. You might even find something homemade (though sewn-on cat patch sweaters have never been my thing).

Or maybe you’re just a starving student who’d rather pay half the price for the countless H&M and American Apparel articles that end up as thrift. In any case, if you love thrift stores then you’ve probably walked away with something that was discarded for a reason: shirts with stains, stretched out ties, etc. But don’t give up. Enhance your thrifting experience with these tips for getting the most out of your second-hand expedition.

INSPECT THE GARMENT CAREFULLY.

Look for reasons that someone might have given the garment away. I’ve walked away with one too many shirts with stretched collars, faintly stained sweaters, and pants with covert holes. If an article has a slight stain, make sure you can get it out and that you’ll even want to spend the time doing so. It’s might be easier to just put it down and keep looking.

KNOW WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR.

Go into the store with an idea of exactly what you want to buy, and only shop for what fits that criteria. There’s no reason to settle for a shirt with a hole in it, or pants that are a size too big — the store you’re at will probably have new stock a week later and there are so many thrift stores out there. Having a clear idea of what you want also helps curb the desire to buy super cheap trinkets that seem like a great idea until they’ve been sitting on your window sill for three years.

DON’T BUY WHITE CLOTHING.

It’s possible these items look good in the dim light of Chateau de Thrift, but exposed to the sun, stains become evident. This doesn’t mean the clothing isn’t clean, of course, but some stains just won’t come out when you’re dealing with whites, especially after they’ve been treated with heat or with certain chemicals. Chlorine bleach, for instance, tends to make some stains worse.

TRY ON EVERYTHING.

Take many items into the changing room. Often, something will look good on the hanger, but, on you, it might be obviously stretched out or a wacky foreign size (ever tried on American clothes? They’re a lot looser than Canadian brands).

CHECK FOR TAGS.

If something is dry-clean only, consider if you really want it. Remember that it’ll cost a fair amount (depending on size) to get the garment cleaned each time. Rest assured, too, that if a store smells musty, its clothing will too, and will require cleaning.

I bought a big coat once that smelled a little musty, a smell that a $25 dry-cleaning did not remove. I opted for hand-washing instead, which kept my coat intact, but it still took a few washes to get rid of the smell, a process that might ruin certain pieces.

CLEAN THE CLOTHES BEFORE WEARING THEM OUT.

D’doi. Learn from Macklemore.

Your next barber visit

By

Peak Web

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January 13, 2014

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The Handlebar (aka The Lion Tamer)

This one is best pulled off if the rest of your face is smoothly shaven and the hair on your head has attitude to match. Ask your barber to keep the ‘stache full and longer at the ends for that essential curl. Keep your hair long on top and shorter on the sides. You’ll need some hair wax for this one, for both parties involved.

The Long Route (aka The Fabio)

Long hair doesn’t work on every dude, but for those who can pull it off, flowing locks can suggest just the right amount of romance and edge. Get your barber to cut it just above the shoulders and make sure there’s enough layering for movement and softness, but not so much that you’re treading in mullet territory. Think medieval hunk, not late 80s cock rock. Heads up: this doesn’t work quite as well with super curly hair.

The Elvis (aka The Pompadour)

This one’s pretty self-explanatory. Go for longer in the front and on top, and get your barber to show you how to use gel, wax, or clay to create that perfect pompadour. It’s all about volume and attitude with this one — plus a pelvic thrust or two.

The Frosted Tips (aka The Young Leonardo DiCaprio)

Ever feel old? Want to reclaim the youth that seemed to slip away so fast? No better way than to channel boy bands of yesteryears with this spiky, bleach-tipped 90s favourite. Beloved by teen girls (and boys) everywhere, the Frosted Tips will either win your sweetheart’s favour or lose it very, very quickly.

The Fresh Prince (aka The High-Top Fade)

Want to really stand out from the crowd? Go for the sky-high-top fade and tower above all your friends. It’s got personality and requires little to no styling in the morning, which means you can spend more time picking out the right duds. Ask your barber to keep it as high on top as possible. This one doesn’t work with straight hair.

Ask a real live SFU Gentlewoman

By

EIC

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January 13, 2014

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Q: I recently unearthed an old pair of MC Hammer pants from my youth and I’m itching to wear them again. I’ve been seeing a lot of loose-fitting, casual pants in magazines, so I think I can pull them off, but my girlfriend disagrees. What do you think? Can I make it work?

If you’re ever planning on having sex again, I’d leave the pants at home, or only pull them out if you’re planning on dressing up as MC Hammer for Halloween. They may be roomy and comfortable, and that material (I’m imagining shiny gold, with a diaper-like quality?) may bring all the magpies to the yard, but you know what else is roomy? Sweatpants. And if you want some shine, borrow some of your little sister’s glitter. Your girlfriend (and society) will thank me.

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Q: I’ve been trying to dress a bit better for classes, but I have a hard time putting away the hoodies and sweatpants. It’s hard to be stylish at 6:30 a.m. when I’m running out the door for an early lecture! Any advice on how to make an easy and comfortable transition into looking good?

It’s all about materials and fit. You have to find something that will make you feel comfortable, but that something shouldn’t always be fleece-lined and smelling like sweat. Grab some soft cotton button up shirts and casual fitted blazers and pair them with a good pair of jeans. Or throw on a (clean) graphic t-shirt and top it with a blazer or cashmere cardigan. To make it easy for yourself, lay out what you’re going to wear the next day before you go to bed; that way you can just slip them on and slip out the door, even if you’re still half asleep.

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Q: I really like accessories and I always see guys in magazines pulling off tie bars or pocket squares or signet rings, but I just can’t seem to make them work. My friends end up teasing me about my newsboy caps or suspenders, and I feel like I stick out, especially on campus. How can I make it work?

Rocking personal style is all about attitude and going with your gut. If you feel good in something (and that something is not MC Hammer pants) then it’s all about being confident, despite your naysaying friends. Check yourself out in the mirror in the morning and tell yourself “I rock this” or “I am a golden god.”

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Q: I’m the kind of guy who likes to wear suits to school. I love wearing skinny ties and tweed blazers, but I always feel like people look at me like I’m a professor instead of a student, and sometimes my peers treat me like they think I’m pretentious. How can I make my look say “refined and gentlemanly” rather than “middle-aged paleontologist”?

Mix it up. Tweed blazers are great, but you can’t wear slacks and a tie with them without people assuming you’ve got a phD and an anatomical skeleton in your closet. Try pairing the blazer with some slim black jeans and high-top Converse sneakers. If you’re going to go for the tie, skip the tweed and go for a lighter material instead. A skinny black tie, navy blazer, and dark denim can look gentlemanly and still say “I study literature.”

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Q: Going to school on a mountain is hard, especially in the winter. I find I often sacrifice style for warmth, but then I feel unprofessional when confronting my professors, not to mention just plain sloppy. Any advice on staying well-dressed and warm in the chilly months on the mountain?

When it comes to staying warm and stylish, whether you’re on a mountain, waiting for a bus, or just living in an area with harsh climates, there are a few tricks to the trade. For starters, pick the right winter gear — this ultimately comes down to quality, fit, and versatility. Grab a warm winter coat that is going to last through the seasons and won’t look sloppy or out of place. If it doesn’t get too far below zero, a nice wool peacoat (navy or black are classics, and you can play the brooding James Dean or Albert Camus game) should be warm enough, especially with a good wool cowl-neck sweater underneath. Test drive a deep merlot-coloured wool scarf and waterproof black leather boots. You’ll stay warm, plus you’ll be ready to go straight from class to that hot date at the campus pub.

5 Old Technologies You Should Be Using

By

EIC

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January 13, 2014

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Typewriters. If you’ve never used a typewriter before, you might be surprised by how much work you’ll end up doing before you even get to the writing part. You have to physically slide the paper into the machine, measure out the margins and, in some cases, manually replace an ink ribbon. This thing makes noise, too — each key has to be pressed down with enough force to make an imprint on the page, and there’s no such thing as a delete key. However, what these machines lack in practicality, they make up in style — unlike your average laptop, typewriters double as decoration, and add an old fashioned flair to your dorm room or apartment building. Anyway, is there any better way to make typing masculine than to press metal keys onto paper with your own strength? Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck and Hunter S. Thompson all wrote on these babies, and chances are they’re more rugged than you’ll ever be.

Pocket watches. There’s no better way to look suave when telling someone the time than to pull out a pocket watch from your waistcoat pocket — and though you may not have a waistcoat, buying an old school pocket watch is a good first step. Durable, finely crafted and impeccably designed, pocket watches ooze old school charm. They’ve been around since the 1400s, so you know they’re made to last — not to mention they free up your wrists, giving you more opportunities to show off your skin when you’re wrestling bears, paddling boats, or playing poker. Recommended: Find a model with a cover to protect the clock’s face. You can even keep a personal photo or engraved message in there.

Film cameras. Whether you’re a family man or a bachelor, taking pictures to commemorate the events in your life can be one of the most gentlemanly and constructive projects you can undertake. We recommend that you leave the digital camera at home and invest in a sturdy analogue model — there’s something in the tangible quality of a film image, and the patience required to develop one, that builds character, discipline, and class. Look for one that’s relatively easy to use and in good condition. You’ll be surprised how bringing an old-fashioned camera can make any occasion seem like an adventure — whether it’s your three-year-old’s birthday party or a walk in the park with your better half, a snapshot or two can add a touch of class to any situation.

Turntables. Listen to the cracks and pops of an old school jazz record with a double malted scotch in your hand and tell me you don’t feel at least 100 per cent manlier. Vinyl is making a comeback: its sales have gone up each year for the past half decade, turning record stores back into the cultural hot spots they once were. Buying yourself a new turntable (or dusting off your old one) won’t only put you at the cutting edge of an emerging trend — it’ll also gain you significant class points and make your old boombox look positively infantile. Plus, it doesn’t hurt as an excuse to invite someone home and, ahem, “listen to records” together. Hey, it worked for your grandfather.

NES. Now I’m not saying the Nintendo Entertainment System is quite as old as the other items on this list, but it’s certainly as rare — these puppies fetch up to 100 bucks in used game shops, and that’s without the controllers (if you can find them). It’s a shame that they’re so pricey, because nothing puts hair on your chest like beating a game designed in the 1980s. They just don’t make ‘em like they used to. Take Super Mario Bros. 3 for example: not only is it one of the toughest platformers ever made, you’re not even allowed to save the game. Seriously. The accomplishment and manly pride felt when beating anything designed for this system will make your Xbox 360 gather dust — if you’re going to play video games, there’s no classier way to do it.

Five movie stars who did 2013 right

By

EIC

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January 13, 2014

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Tom Hanks

Delivering one of his finest performances in Saving Mr. Banks this year, Hanks has been on my list for quite some time. The world may worship him for his supposedly brilliant roles in The Da Vinci Code or Cloud Atlas, but an actor of his caliber needs an equally purposeful movie that will challenge him to explore his talents and showcase his exceptional character work and this was it. Of course Emma Thompson does a wonderful job but it would be a mistake not to acknowledge how great of an actor — not to mention, how incredibly handsome — Tom Hanks is.

Bradley Cooper

Cooper has been on top of the world ever since People named him 2011’s Sexiest Man Alive. Who cares if The Hangover Part III was one of the worst movies ever made? We at PQ appreciate true beauty and sexiness — and this movie star has been blessed with both. This year, he surprised and impressed film aficionados as FBI agent Richie DiMaso in American Hustle, which has been generating a lot of Oscar buzz. As long as Cooper continues to deliver good performances and look good doing it, we’ll forgive him for the occasional B-movie or popcorn flick.

Sandra Bullock

We at PQ tend to focus on male style and sexiness, but Bullock had a knockout year and deserves to make the list regardless of gender. After the one-two punch of Gravity and The Heat, she’s cemented herself as one of Hollywood’s biggest — and most bankable — actresses. Good looking women are an integral part of Hollywood and good looks she’s got, but Bullock is more than just a pretty face: after her Academy Award win for 2012’s The Blind Side, 2013 proved that she’s got more than enough acting chops to stay relevant into 2014 and beyond.

Jennifer Lawrence

You were expecting this, weren’t you? I mean, yes, she fell on the stairs at the Oscars (which was just downright embarrassing) and she is madly in love with french fries, but this actress has continued to impress us over and over again. From portraying strong-minded and independent Katniss in Catching Fire or as erratic Rosalyn in American Hustle, Lawrence has proved beyond a reasonable doubt that she’s quite versatile and has worked extremely hard to get where she is today — not to mention she is just hilarious. It certainly doesn’t hurt that she’s also one of sexiest women in Hollywood.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Who cares if The Wolf of Wall Street has a rape scene in the end that no one wants to talk about? Leonardo DiCaprio is the man as he plays Jordan Belfort, the film’s morally bankrupt but devilishly stylish protagonist. The movie is essentially the story of an asshole, told from an asshole’s perspective, and Leo (as usual) knocks it out of the park. DiCaprio has received all-around favourable reviews for his acting in the movie, cheating on his wife and swearing like a sailor all while looking like a perfect 10. He is truly a movie star who is ‘doing it right,’ including donating a huge chunk of his paycheque this year to LGBT friendly organizations. Way to go, Leo.

Become a PQ Superstud

By

EIC

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January 13, 2014

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Listen, every guy wants to be a stud and pick up ladies (unless he’s happily married, gay, asexual, or is just trying to watch the game). It’s the reason men spend so much money on designer clothes, take several hours grooming themselves every morning, and dedicate so much of their lives to working out at the gym. Guys today assume they have to work hard at making themselves attractive and pleasant to be around in order to get a woman, but they are dead wrong.

Most men don’t understand the first thing about what women really want, and who knows women better than a man, so listen to me. What women are attracted to is actually quite simple: you just need to stop worrying so much. Dating doesn’t need to be complicated, just follow these five easy-to-follow pieces of advice and you will be irresistible to all women.

1.

Have confidence in your symmetrical face

Whether you’re approaching a woman at a bar or trying to get that second date, there is only one thing that women care about: your attitude towards your perfectly proportional face. Just having confidence in your symmetrical eyes, nose, and mouth is guaranteed to make you 100% more attractive to women. Don’t be that schmo who hangs his gorgeous face in shame; just have some confidence! Come on, it’s that simple!

2.

Have a good sense of humour about your perfectly chiseled abs

While most men might think that all women care about is a perfect body, having a sense of humour about that perfect body is way more important. Women hate guys who take their six-pack too seriously. In fact, an exclusive PQ survey has shown that over 100% of ladies believe that being able to laugh about how jacked you are is more attractive than just having a super-hot body. So please, loosen up about those tight muscles and don’t be a robot. It’s not complicated, just be attractive and charming!

3.

Be humble about your amazing career and extreme wealth

Nobody likes a braggart, and boasting a little too much about your six-figure salary or beach-side property is a definite turn-off for most women. So please, scale it back, and try to undersell yourself a little. Only bring up your summer house in Barbados if it comes up naturally, don’t force the issue. Women prefer a humble millionaire over a cocky millionaire any day.

4.

Have good posture and be over six feet tall

You might not even think about it, but the power of having proper posture in attracting women cannot be matched, as long as you’re over 6’. Slouching can make any man who’s otherwise attractive in every other way look as unattractive as someone who’s say, only 5’11”. Don’t make this simple mistake! Straighten out your back, be a naturally tall person, and you won’t be able to stop women from coming onto you if you try!

5.

Be yourself, if you are one of the following people

Doesn’t it always seem like it’s the simplest things that we forget? It should be obvious, but the best way to get ladies to be into you is to be yourself (provided that you are one of the following people: an architect, a lawyer, an astronaut/basketball player, an academy award-winning actor, a neurosurgeon with a black-belt, Tom Hanks, Ryan Gosling, a Seattle-based radio psychiatrist, humour editor at The Peak, a maritime lawyer who dabbles in water-colour painting, George Clooney, Channing Tatum, a close relative of Channing Tatum, Cuba Gooding Jr., Will Smith, Paul Rudd).

Ping Pong Phenom

By

EIC

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January 13, 2014

1

He’s 18, but doesn’t look it. He doesn’t look like a ping-pong player either, but he is, and a damn good one at that. After just four years of hitting balls with a paddle, he’s well on his way to becoming a master of his trade. He’s already the best in the world in his age group, yet few people could tell you who Luke Henry actually is. Fortunately, PQ uncovered everything there is to know about the least famous superstar on the mountain.

IT’S LATE on one of the first Saturday nights of the young fall semester at Simon Fraser University, and Pauline Jewett House, one of the school’s many residential buildings, is appropriately busy. First- and second-year students emerge from their dorms and flock to the bus stop, wearing far too little for the dropping temperatures, and ready to find love for a night.

On the fourth floor of the nearly empty building, ping-pong balls line the halls. But there are no red cups, no strewn-about PBR cans, and no lingering scent of AXE body spray left behind by the young varsity athletes that live here, if only at night.

All there is, is Luke Henry. He’s alone, as he says he often is, smashing ping-pong balls off his very own green and white tabletop, fastened to the built-in desk in his room. It’s a small room; there’s little space to move around. While his popped-collared, high-heeled floormates commandeer the common room, Henry works on his serve in his tight corridors. The concrete wall is hardly a worthy opponent for his swerving service, rebounding his Three Stars back out of his open door. He learned long ago that few can match up with him.

SFU’s table tennis prodigy is far from the school’s darkest secret, but he might be it’s best kept one.

HE DIDN’T start early. In fact, the 18-year old phenom first picked up a ping-pong paddle just three years ago, and only because there was a table at his rowing club.

The Grimsby, Ont. native moved to Toronto with his family to pursue rowing with the Argonaut Rowing Club, one of Canada’s oldest, and most prestigious clubs, when he was 13. He was always good at rowing. But one day, he explains, a ping-pong table just appeared in the club after practice. After picking up the paddle and acing his first serve (or so the story goes), it wasn’t long before he left the oars behind. He was always better at ping-pong.

“It just felt natural,” he says. “The paddle just fit in my hand. From that first swing, I knew it was something I wanted, needed, to pursue.

“In rowing you always know your next move. You know, ‘stroke, stroke, stroke.’ But ping-pong is so reactionary,” explains Henry.

He leans forward, a smile breaking through his stern demeanour. “Where or when the ball is going to come to you is a mystery you have to solve in a split second. The angle of your opponent’s paddle, how he hits the ball . . . it’s fun, man.”

He’s had that same enthusiasm for his sport for three years now, and it hasn’t waned for a moment. He’s driven, only by himself — he was emphatic that his parents put no pressure on him — to be the first Canadian to make the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Top 20.

“There are some stereotypes surrounding table tennis,” he says. “And understandably. Ma Long, Xu Xin…the best players are all from China. Right now the ITTF’s Top 5 are all from China. People think if I’m from North America, from Canada, I can’t be any good. I want to do what I can to change those stereotypes. I want to leave my own mark.”

He’s well on his way. Henry has dominated competition up to this point; he currently ranks first in the ITTF World Boys Junior Top Twenty. He’s never lost a game, which bodes well for his transition to senior competition next year.

His game is a combination of natural strength, acquired through rowing, and learned finesse. Hours and hours of practicing his spin has given him a shot unparalleled in the world of ping-pong. But outside that world, Henry strives to be just another kid.

He’s doing the college thing the best that he can ó meeting friends, watching hockey, falling behind on his readings ó because he knows he can’t play forever. He’s better than everyone when it comes to ping-pong, though he knows that won’t always be the case.

“Ping-pong is a big part of my life right now, but really, it’s such a small part of it as a whole,î he says. ìI know that. So I need to make sure I can grow to be the best at other things, too.”

He’s just started his college career as a Kinesiology major, something he admits will help him learn more about how to use his thick frame to further dominate his opponents.

But it’s also just the start for him as a ping-pong player, too. Luke Henry has been a central figure in the world of table tennis for a few years now, but few on the outside know who this kid is. He’s not just a guy who bats balls off a wall to pass the time; he’s a superstar in the making.

Sorry, Luke. the secret’s out.

PQ in Review

By

EIC

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January 13, 2014

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Twerking twenty-year olds, crack-smoking politicians, retiring teenyboppers — 2013 brought a barrage of sensational headlines. But, unsurprisingly, the most important and influential news stories of this past year came from right here in the centre of the pop culture universe: Burnaby Mountain. And Peak Quarterly was there to cover them all, the most prominent of which we are showcasing in PQ in Review.

Greatest political intrigue | Illicit Election

The SFSS had its annual elections last March resulting in notably big wins for current president, Humza Khan, and external relations officer, Chardaye Bueckert. The two won by margins of 648 and 123 votes, respectively. Another hard fought race was for university relations officer, with Alia Ali stealing the win by 29 votes. Yet, what election is complete without some controversy? Ali was later disqualified, having withdrawn from classes under extenuating circumstances.

Update: The SFSS did not replace Ali whose position will be, once again, up for grabs in SFSS elections this March.

Biggest blunder | Bad faith blues

2013 started off with some labour drama as SFU was found guilty of bargaining in bad faith with the local union, CUPE 3338. We all remember the picket lines and angry protests from several years back, but this specific issue arose after the university put proposed amendments to the Pension Plan on the table for bargaining; SFU had previously signed an agreement with the union in Oct. 2010 that restricted them from putting any new proposals on the bargaining table from that time on.

Update: SFU and CUPE 3338 settled on a four-year deal on June 28, which retroactively began on Apr. 1 2010 and therefore ends on Mar. 31 2014. As of yet, they have not reached an agreement on the Pension Plan.

Most viewed story of all time | SFSS incident snowballs

Peak Quarterly flew off the shelves last October following an incident that took place in the SFSS offices involving members of the Board of Directors. Moe Kopahi, member services officer, allegedly struck Monique Ataei, environmental representative, while grabbing his phone out of her hand. As a result, Ataei called for Kopahi’s resignation, and Kopahi stated his intention to stay on in his position and criticized Ataei for “claiming false accusations.” The outrage was especially poignant online, as it became the most shared and commented upon story of the year. Comments reached both extremes, spanning from “This drama is absolutely disgusting and makes our sfss members look incompetent” to “Moe, your sfss career is done.”

Update: Several Board Members stepped forward after the incident, citing their own experiences of harassment in the SFSS offices. A mediator was brought in at the end of November to help resolve the matter between Ataei and Kopahi.

Most controversial external news coverage | Bali bungle

On Jan. 25, The Province ran an article claiming that SFU students on field school became ill in Bali after drinking methanol-laced spirits. What followed was a flurry of responses from the students in Bali, who said the claim was “grossly exaggerated.” Scott McLean, acting director of Public Affairs and Media Relations at SFU, felt it might have been “only speculation on [The Province]’s part.” Still, news of the issue reached papers outside of British Columbia, making it one of the most troubling (and perplexing) incidents of 2013.

Update: As of now, Michael Howard (who led the field school in Bali) is not leading future trips. McLean was unable to respond to Peak Quarterly before press time.

Best challenge to UBC | Blue-ribbon Brewing

What year would be complete without SFU triumphing over UBC in some way? SFU’s brewing club S.F. Brew beat out UBC’s brUBC in October during a ‘friendly’ home brew competition. Beers were evaluated by a panel of judges on appearance, aroma, flavour, and overall impression. SFU student Natasha Peiksar’s IPA, Hop-A-Rella, took home best in the IPA category as well as Best in Show. She says the beer is called Hop-A-Rella because a couple of girls brewed it.

Update: Get buzzed on SFU pride and taste the girls’ first beer ever brewed later this year; the win earned the girls a commercial brew of 12,000 litres.

Best literature | Notorious Novel

SFU’s most provocative publication of 2013 came from professor Morten Jerven, whose book, Poor Numbers, points to a lack of knowledge about the reality of economic development in Africa due to poorly collected data. As might have been expected, many African officials took offense to this. He was even expelled from several international conferences this past year, one of which he learned about when he was already in the Heathrow airport — yikes.

Update: Bill Gates named Poor Numbers one of his favourite reads of 2013, saying “[Jerven] makes a strong case . . . But as I argue in my longer review, that doesn’t mean we know nothing about what works in development.”

Most successful event anywhere | DJs deliver

To begin the new school year, the SFSS hosted SFU’s first ever successful Kickoff Concert, last year’s having been stunted by K’naan’s failed appearance. Roughly 1800 danced the night away on Sept. 13 in Convocation Mall. It featured performances by Carl Louis & Martin Danielle (CLMD), Dzeko and Torres, Mat Zo, and DJ contest winner, SFU student Sajjid Lakhani. The student society president, Humza Khan, considers the event a groundbreaking success, saying “Nothing like this had ever happened before at SFU,” and that he is “sure that hosting such events will be easier in the future.”

Update: K’naan was unable to comment as to whether or not a redemption concert was in the foreseeable future.

Most newsworthy human | Role Model

Last June, SFU’s Jessica Kruger made headlines across the country after entering the Lise Watier Something Sweet modeling competition with the hopes of becoming Canada’s first quadriplegic model. The only female member of the BC wheelchair rugby team, Kruger took a break from her work speaking at schools and conferences with WorkSafe BC, to enter the competition.

Update: When voting took place in July, Kruger beat out 400 contestants to claim first prize in the contest. In Fashion Magazine online, Kruger spoke to her importance as a beauty ambassador, saying “Just because you’re in a wheelchair or you have a disability, it doesn’t mean that you can’t be seen as beautiful or that you can’t be seen in the fashion and modeling sphere.”

Greatest philanthropist | Philanthropic phenom

Many student initiatives made great strides this year, showcasing SFU students’ commitment to the world. One of the most notable examples was Sport for Food, an organization aimed at raising food, funds, and awareness for local food banks, co-created by SFU student Richard Loat. Over the past three years, the organization has raised the equivalent of 500,000 pounds of food for food banks across the country.

Update: While Loat was in the Philippines helping to rebuild after Typhoon Haiyan, he was notified that he had won a spot in a U.K.-based accelerator program, Sirius, to help launch his non-profit. Sport for Food will receive a 12-month place in Sirius’ accelerator program, plus £12,000 per team member.

Social media superstars | Translink Torment

This year’s stars of social media are SFU students Katie Nordgren and Alexa Dredge, who launched a website called “Harassment on Translink.” What began as a GSWS course requirement quickly went viral, and the two were featured by CBC, Huffington Post, and The Province. The site’s goal is to raise awareness of harassment on public transit by “compil[ing] stories of these experiences to demonstrate the reality and severity of this particular issue to TransLink and the City of Vancouver.”

Update: The girls aspire to implement an app, a text alert system, and a system-wide anti-harassment campaign to further combat harassment. On Dec. 31, Nordgren and Dredge posted the following online, “While we hope that future developments and improvements in policy and safety measures . . . renders this site eventually obsolete, we pledge to keep this going as long as it’s needed.”

Ten Manliest Movies

By

EIC

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January 13, 2014

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The Maltese Falcon

It would be sacrilege to snub Bogie on this list, and though Casablanca is my personal favourite of his, The Maltese Falcon trades the former film’s subtlety and beauty for hard-boiled detective story charm. Humphrey stars as Sam Spade, a saucy, snarling PI sent to investigate a murder and a missing artifact. There’s slippery flatfoots, femme fatales and plenty of razor sharp dialogue — the film is basically a perfect introduction to the film noir flair that the forties had in spades. For an equally thrilling ride, seek out Dashiell Hammett’s novel, on which the film is based.

Citizen Kane

Orson Welles’ 1941 masterpiece, which some have called the greatest film of all time, is a powerful parable about the dangers of fame, greed, and selfishness. It’s also one of the ballsiest flicks in history, not-so-subtly based on the life of media mogul William Randolph Hearst. Not only is Citizen Kane one of the most notable classics of the Golden Age of cinema — of which every man should have some knowledge — it’s also a complex and moving tale of one man’s gradual disillusionment and decay, one that will inspire you to live a better life and be a better man.

12 Angry Men

Sidney Lumet’s first feature film was an adaptation of a teleplay by Reginald Rose about twelve jurors arguing over whether or not the defendant — whom we never meet — is guilty. Starring Henry Fonda in one of his best roles as an unnamed juror who refuses to vote guilty, the film is required viewing for those who want to learn how to handle prejudice, and influence your peers. The entire film takes place in a single room, and as each character’s viewpoint gradually changes, you’ll gain a valuable message about courage, determination and goodwill towards your fellow man.

Die Hard

Action movies aren’t always the best guides to gentlemanhood — the protagonists swear, treat women like objects and generally communicate through violence rather than words. Though Die Hard doesn’t exactly break these tropes, it does bend them, featuring a main character who gets beat up enough to seem like an actual human being. The film, which was directed by action veteran John McTiernan, features an equally manly performance by Alan Rickman, as the leader of a dangerous terrorist group.

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Dum da dum dum, dum da dum… Raiders is the first and best entry of the Indiana Jones trilogy (Crystal Skull doesn’t count), featuring such classic sequences as the stone rolling through the tunnel and the Nazi face melting conclusion. Harrison Ford’s piss and vinegar performance as Indiana Jones is among the manliest of all film characters, one that continues to inspire men to wear fedoras, thinking they can recreate Indy’s suave adventurer charm. They can’t — and, most likely, neither can you — but that doesn’t make Raiders of the Lost Ark any less of an action adventure classic.

The General

Charlie Chaplin who? If you’re looking to get into silent films — a truly classy choice — there’s no better place to start than Buster Keaton’s magnum opus, The General. Released in 1926, the film was a flop with audiences and critics, although it’s hard to see why — Keaton’s astounding commitment to physical comedy and knack for simple storytelling make this one of the greatest films to come out of the silent era.

The Lord of the Rings

Believe it or not, some men still haven’t gotten around to seeing Peter Jackson’s awe-inspiring adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. Full of death-defying swordfights, family struggle, grandiose adventure, tests of friendship, and moments of sublime beauty, Jackson’s steady handed adaptation must be seen to be believed. However, I recommend searching out the extended versions — not only are they more faithful to the books, but they also work better as films, expanding the universe of Middle Earth and deepening the journeys of its characters.

The Civil War

Ken Burns’ epic documentary, which takes almost an entire waking day to watch in full, is well worth the time and effort. The film, which is made up entirely of photographs, period tunes, and interviews with historians and other experts, tells the full story of North America’s most devastating military conflict, one which divided our neighbour to the South and changed the face of the world as we know it. After hearing this film’s amazing true stories — from the bravery of the soldiers to the political genius of honest Abe — you’re bound to be inspired.

Raging Bull

A stark black and white portrait of anger, jealousy, and loneliness, Martin Scorsese’s masterful 1980 flick features Robert De Niro’s best and most memorable performance as Jake La Motta, an Italian-American middleweight boxer whose anger issues and abusive marriage lead him to a life of misery. Though this is hardly a film about boxing, the film’s scenes in the ring are among the most visually enthralling in cinema — never has bloodshed looked so beautiful.

Lawrence of Arabia

In the wake of Peter O’Toole’s death, Lawrence of Arabia is even more of a must watch. David Lean’s epic — and I mean epic — is a retelling of the life of T.E. Lawrence, the British Army hero who fought in the Middle East during World War I. O’Toole’s performance is emotionally complex and completely satisfying; his struggles with personal allegiance and the horrors of war is both unique and universal. Lean’s filmmaking is equally fantastic: the scene where Lawrence slowly morphs from a speck in the desert to a full-grown man is a grand reminder of what filmmaking can accomplish.

How to tie a bow tie

By

EIC

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January 13, 2014

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Step One: Drape the bow tie around your neck and hold both the ends. Make sure the right end is about an inch longer than the left.

Step Two: Cross the long end over the short end so that the two pieces are touching at the thinnest part of the bow tie. Make sure to leave a little breathing room.

Step Three: Pull the longer end around, making a loop between the two. The longer end should still be slightly longer than the short one. This process should make a knot.

Step Four: With the shorter end, make a fold to the side so that the large middle section of the end is folded and to the side. Hold the loop between your shirt’s collar point.

Step Five: Place the other end of the bow tie overtop of the folded end. Make sure it’s running along the middle of your shirt.

Step Six: Use the folded end to pinch the dangling end. Make sure you have a good hold on the long end and that the two pinched sides of the folded end are equal.

Step Seven: Feed the long end through the knot you made in step three.

Step Eight: Tighten the bow tie by pulling on the front and back of both ends equally. Keep doing this until it’s as tight and as even as you like it.

Step Nine: Walk out the door looking classy as fuck.