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Every undergrad should do co-op

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A man working in an office
PHOTO: Microsoft 365 / Unsplash

By: Saije Rusimovici, Staff Writer

If you’re in your second year of university or older, you’ve probably had speakers come into your lecture hall to do a presentation on co-op at least once in your post-secondary experience. While it’s easy to brush co-op off as extra work or an unnecessary means of extending your degree, I firmly believe that cooperative education is one of the best experiences an undergraduate student can have. Not only is it a chance to gain relative work experience in your field, but it can also open up doors for networking opportunities. 

The co-op program at SFU aims to blend your education with paid employment. To receive a special co-op designation on your diploma when you graduate, you must complete three semesters of work. These work terms are often four months long and are alternated with academic coursework toward your degree. Alternating your work and study semesters allows you the opportunity to grow your portfolio, build valuable professional connections, and make money at the same time. Between study semesters, I worked a full-time position related to my area of study: communication. This helped me look at what kind of jobs I could get with my degree. Co-op can provide you with a paid position, and also opens dialogue around your career trajectory during and after your work experience. 

University courses are great for understanding the theoretical aspects of our area of study, but they don’t always offer practical or hands-on work experience that is necessary to have in a professional setting. Through co-op as a communication and marketing intern, I learned how to cultivate skills like public speaking for a corporate audience, engaging in community conversations and activism, and technical writing outside of academia. 

By taking a chance on co-op, you are taking a chance on yourself. After getting through the application process, you will find yourself excited and eager to take on the experience, wherever your co-op placement may be. You might make a new friend, cultivate a meaningful connection with one of your colleagues, or even explore an unexpected career path. Whatever your work experience brings, you will be pleasantly surprised with the knowledge it leaves you with. 

The Bright-er Side: End of semester

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Student leaving campus
PHOTO: Amrit Kamaal / The Peak

By: Jin Song, SFU Student

I’m really not the first to comment on how fast time passes. Still, let it be known that I, for one, blinked twice and the semester was over. Between the blur of assignments, the mundanity of going to lectures every day, and the humbleness of everyday student life, this semester just happened so quickly.

And you know what? That’s not necessarily a bad thing.

A quote by Douglas Harding I think about often is, “It’s the very last thing, isn’t it: we feel grateful for having happened. You know, you needn’t have happened! But you did happen.”

Familiarity makes time speed up —  in our perceptions, at least. Neuroscientist David Eagleman explains, “The more familiar the world becomes, the less information your brain writes down, and the more quickly time seems to pass.”

Though we are constantly learning new things as students, it’s startlingly easy to fall into a routine. We adapt to our schedules, and sometimes it may feel like we’re stuck in the mundane routine of academia while our friends are off on new adventures.

As this semester draws to a close, some of us may already be preparing for courses in the summer, while others have different plans. Regardless, it’s a time as good as any to remember that our ordinary, monotonous lives are inherently remarkable, that our very existence is miraculous.

Don’t separate the artist from their art

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Photo of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, from Harry Potter

By: Izzy Cheung, Staff Writer

Content warning: mentions of antisemitism and grooming of minors 

Elvis Presley is one of the most influential artists of all time. His characterization in the film Elvis (2022), shows the profound impact he had on the music industry, such as his commanding stage presence and charismatic vocals. What the film doesn’t show is the star singer’s crude and controlling treatment of his 14-year-old wife, Priscilla. It also doesn’t include the multiple other women he was seeing during their marriage, nor does it include his disgusting tendency to pursue relationships with underage girls. His views toward women are evident in his music, which reflect sexism and objectification. Elvis is just one example of many artists whose troubling beliefs or actions are overlooked for the sake of entertainment. Despite the urge to view art as its own entity to be enjoyed, art cannot be separated from the artist.

Artists don’t need to be perfect to be appreciated. However, there are certain actions that can’t be excused. Famously problematic artist Kanye West has a long history of making antisemitic remarks outside of his music. His derogatory beliefs also appear in his lyrics, demonstrating the effect his prejudices have on his artwork. As long as artists have a hand in making a piece, their thoughts, beliefs, and actions can’t be separated from it. Explicitly or implicitly, ideology affects art.

While Harry Potter has been hailed for raising a new generation of readers, it is not without its faults — faults we shouldn’t brush past due to nostalgia. A lot of the “diverse” characters in these books were heavily stereotyped. A girl named “Cho Chang” (which is typically two surnames) was the only East Asian character in the entire series, never mind the fact that she had very little personality depth, making it hard for readers to resonate with her. Her name, role, and the fact that she was placed in “Ravenclaw” (the house known for intelligence) perpetuates commonly-used stereotypes about East Asians. JK Rowling is also a self-proclaimed transphobe, and her transphobic remarks have reached the point where actors and actresses from the film adaptations of her books have spoken out about their support for the trans community. Other negative characterizations and stereotypes include the lacklustre treatment of Pavarti and Padma Patil in the fourth book, as well as the antisemitic comparisons of Gringotts’ goblins to Jewish people — which perpetuate antisemitic stereotypes about Jewish people owning banks and having pointed noses. It’s hard to enjoy art when you don’t feel like you belong within the community that celebrates it. Even if you don’t feel personally offended by these things, solidarity with marginalized groups is important. We shouldn’t just brush away these problems because it doesn’t affect us and we want to enjoy media guilt-free. 

Even when not explicit, the beliefs of each individual artist are embedded within the works they create. These beliefs or actions aren’t just a “stain” on an artist’s reputation, but a genuine part of who they are. Celebrating these artists shows that we can tolerate their actions and allows them a platform to continue their harm. Buying the next Kanye West album or the next JK Rowling novel still financially supports the creators, even if we claim to disagree with their beliefs. Separating art from the artist leaves them unaccountable for their actions. Art is subjective; bigotry is not. 

What’s Going On in Stanley Park?

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Twin Peaks blurs the lines between reality and the unconscious mind

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Peak Web
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A hazy photo of a road surrounded by wilderness and mountain leading around a curve and a sign that says “welcome to twin peaks.”
PHOTO: Courtesy of Lynch/Frost Productions

By: Yildiz Subuk, SFU Student

Content warning: mention of death.

Shows like The Sopranos and The Simpsons are frequently mentioned as the most groundbreaking shows of all time, and while there is merit to those claims, there is one show that often gets overlooked in discussions around shows that redefined television: Twin Peaks, which first aired its pilot episode on April 8, 1990.

At the time, David Lynch was one of the most fascinating art house film directors, well known for writing and directing surrealist films such as Eraserhead. Surrealism is an artistic approach to cinema that reveals aspects of the unconscious mind, containing irrational and abstract elements, and letting them bleed into reality. Surrealism has become synonymous with Lynch’s work, which often focuses on evoking a haunting, abstract, and dream-like atmosphere, revealing deeper parts of  characters’ subconscious. The surrealism and abstraction Lynch added to Twin Peaks, along with other elements, made it one of the most mind-bending and distinctive shows of the ‘90s, the influence of which still remains radiant today. Its umbrella of influence includes shows such as The Sopranos, Atlanta, Stranger Things, Lost and many more.

Initially framed as a murder mystery, Twin Peaks begins with a man coming across the dead body of the town’s homecoming queen, Laura Palmer. From there the show becomes a lot weirder. From the first episode it’s clear Twin Peaks is not concerned about telling a “who-dunnit” style story, and instead the focus is on creating an unforgettable atmosphere, town, and characters. The mystery at hand reveals the bizarre aspects of the town of Twin Peaks, such as its supernatural happenings, dark secrets hidden by the characters, hallucinations, dreams, and unforgettable quirks. The protagonist, Dale Cooper (Kyle Maclachlan), is an FBI agent who, unlike most man police protagonists, has a wholesome charm, and treats others with respect. Dale perfectly encapsulates a kind-hearted spirit, visiting a place shrouded in ambiguity and surrounded by the supernatural.

The dream-like aspect of Twin Peaks can be terrifying, psychologically warping, downright nonsensical, beautiful, and also absurdly hilarious. The acting in the show can be off-putting at first glance, as the characters alternate between behaving like normal humans and then switching to over-exaggerated soap opera caricatures. The idiosyncratic method of acting in Twin Peaks can make the show feel a lot more like witnessing a dream where the audience is left laughing hysterically or uneasy, than a serial drama with a tightly-paced plot. The continuity in Twin Peak’s narrative relies less on plot, and more on presenting the audience with abstractions and multiple mysteries to ponder.

Twin Peaks has three parts, which includes the original show, which aired for two seasons from 1990–1991, a film called Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992), which was horrifying and dark prequel (that should be watched only after completing the first two seasons), and Twin Peaks: The Return, in 2017, which essentially served as an even more abstract third season of the show. Each part should be watched in order of their release date.

When the show first aired, there had been other shows that challenged audiences, such as the Twilight Zone (1959–1964), which presented philosophical dilemmas through the use of sci-fi and fantasy, but none that pushed the boundaries of what television is and could be like Twin Peaks. Many shows have borrowed from Twin Peaks, but recreating the same atmosphere, filled with brilliant genre-bending that leaves audiences wrapping their heads around the show for years, seems impossible.

A hate letter to my immune system

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Woman laying in bed blowing her nose.
PHOTO: Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels

By: Kelly Chia, Editor-in-Sick

Dear body,

We’ve had our differences these past two months, huh? Since you’ve wrecked my stomach day after day for no apparent reason, I gave up garlic and onions. Apparently they can irritate your sensitive system. I did that FOR YOU. And you know what? It didn’t make a difference! #AlliumsareAlright. So thanks for three weeks of avoiding some of my favourite foods in the world to figure out what works for you. Give a girl some consistency!

Well. There’s one thing you can be less consistent about.

That’s actually what I’m writing to you about today. Yeah, besides the tummy issues, you and I have a . . . problem. I know you’re trying your best, and public transit is rife with air-borne illness, but come on. I’ve started to count the months between being ill. We are well for a measly month and a half before something happens. And last week? You decided to take me out again! Do you know how much my co-workers hear me do an impression of Donald Duck because my throat goes all hoarse?! 

I try my best to keep you safe — I socialize with the same group of people, I mask everywhere, and I wash my hands. I take vitamins, I sleep well . . . I do my part! I’m just asking you for a simple favour. I need you to not look at a cough and turn it into a week-long affair. Or more: remember when we were sick for a month?

Well. It’s not all you. We always cringe when people cough or sneeze loudly next to us without covering their faces. The CDC has all but dropped essential COVID-19 protections, and now we have to worry about measles, too. Again! It was supposed to be eliminated! 

And, well, clearly if my doctors say to just wait out that constant dry cough we get, that’s all it is. But you can’t also be pumping out anxiety on top of that! Think of little old me.

The point is: I can’t be taken out constantly by some minor ailment, body. There’s only so many times my coworkers can hear me cough over Google Meet before they start conspiring to get me! At least push it to three months so I can blame my sickness on the season. It’s embarrassing at this point, okay?! 

I’m holding a truce: you don’t subject me to sounding like a horse, I don’t get milkshakes and pizza every week. Deal?

Casting for Love Is Blind: SFU Edition is underway

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Peak Web
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Love Is Blind: SFU Edition casting call poster.
ILLUSTRATION: Sonya Janeshewski / The Peak

By: Izzy Cheung, staff writer

Yes, you read that correctly — the Netflix favourite reality TV series, Love Is Blind, is coming to SFU! This “experimental” show follows singles as they attempt to find the love of their life without knowing anything about their physical appearance. Individuals meet and connect with fellow singles (sometimes) while never getting any inkling into what they look like. Once two people choose to get engaged, they get to see what their partner looks like in a dramatic reveal, then embark on a romantic getaway together. Finally, as they begin moving in together and meeting each other’s parents, the couple must decide whether or not they’ll say “I do.” 

SFU students are in luck! Netflix is bringing this hit TV show to campus to “engage with the young folks” in the community. All students are encouraged to audition for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (between you and me, yes, you can still apply if you’re already in a relationship). To keep with the different theme of this particular season, the entire show will be filmed on SFU’s Burnaby campus. Selected singles will not be placed in pods; rather, they will have to talk to their respective partners through one of the studying cubbies in the SUB. To ensure that individuals don’t peek over the wall of the cubby, producers will stack all of your unused textbooks on top of the wall separating you and your potential partner. 

Once you and your partner choose one another, you’ll both be revealed to each other from opposite ends of the reflection pond. A curtain will be put up between you two, and when it falls, you’ll run to your partner and stare intimately into the camera lens when you realize that your partner doesn’t look like Megan Fox. From there, you two will be jetted off to a premier honeymoon destination — the SFU Stadium! The school has to find some other use for it now, don’t they? 

Your SFU love story will continue as you make your return from your lovely honeymoon. You and your partner will move into an SFU Residence (if there’s an open room for you, of course) and proceed to live together until your wedding day. As you begin traversing life alongside your partner, you’ll surely have doubts about whether you chose the right person. Never fear! You’ll always have the option to meet up with your other potential partners and stay up until 5:00 a.m. talking to them in the parking lot of a bar. Your actions never have consequences in these shows! 

Finally, the moment you’ve been waiting for — you and your partner will exchange vows directly inside the ever-famous avocado. This is also where you’ll confirm that yes, you will marry your partner, or where you’ll lead everyone to believe that you’re going to marry your partner only to claim that “cheating is in your DNA.” 

If you think you’d be the perfect individual to partake in Love Is Blind: SFU Edition, please contact our casting company at REDACTED. 

The dark side of hockey

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Peak Web
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photo of a pair of gloves, skates, and a stick leaned up against a hockey net on an outdoor rink.
PHOTO: Mariah Hewines / Unsplash

By:  Kaja Antic, Sports Writer

Content warning: mentions of substance use disorder, alcohol addiction, domestic violence, suicide, head trauma, and mental illness.

The conversation surrounding mental health in hockey has been evolving in recent decades, only really gaining traction in the early 2010s. Hockey Talks, a mental health awareness initiative, was created by the Vancouver Canucks in 2012 after former Canuck Rick Rypien died by suicide the year prior. 

Rypien was one of three former NHL enforcers who passed away in a short four-month span in 2011. Wade Belak had recently retired and was found dead due to an apparent suicide in Toronto only two weeks after Rypien’s death, and Derek Boogaard died of an accidental overdose three months prior while recovering from a concussion. 

At the time, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman expected a review of the “extensive” programs the league and players’ association supported, alluding to the lesser-known player assistance program that would become more prevalent in the years to come. 

In the present day, there is a growing number of current and former NHL players who are publicly revealing their struggles with mental health, a number of which come after their entrance into the player assistance program. Current goaltenders Connor Ingram and Spencer Knight entered the program in 2021 and 2023 respectively, both later revealing their struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Former NHLer Mark Borowiecki also publicly acknowledged his struggles with OCD during his playing career, but did not seek out the player assistance program. Former goaltender Corey Hirsch revealed his issues with OCD and anxiety 11 years post-retirement in a 2017 Player’s Tribune article, and has since been an advocate for mental health awareness in hockey. 

The NHL and NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) established the Player Assistance Program in 1996 to help players and their families combat mental health struggles, substance use disorder, and other issues. Many players have entered the program since its inception, although it’s seen a rapid increase in intakes over the last few years, with six players entering the program in the last year. While seeking help, players continue to get paid, and can only return to their team once cleared by the program.

Alex Galchenyuk announced his intention to enter the program in July 2023 after his contract was terminated by the Arizona Coyotes for a string of charges, including a private property hit-and-run. Galchenyuk later signed a contract with SKA Saint Petersburg of Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League.

Milan Lucic of the Boston Bruins and Samuel Girard of the Colorado Avalanche both entered the program in November 2023. Lucic entered after his arrest for an alleged domestic violence incident, and while the case has since been dropped, he is still on indefinite leave from the Bruins for the remainder of the season. Girard released a statement acknowledging how severe, untreated complications from anxiety and depression resulted in alcohol addiction. He would return to playing with the Avalanche in late December.

Valeri Nichushkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Patrik Laine all entered the program in the new year. Nichuskin entered for personal reasons, which were not disclosed, and returned to play in early March. Kuznetsov also entered the program for personal reasons, which were unknown. The 31-year-old was previously suspended without pay for three games due to “inappropriate conduct” in 2019, shortly after he was banned from international competition due to a failed drug test. 

There is also a large portion of players, current and former, that deal or have dealt with substance use disorder. Bobby Ryan of the Ottawa Senators entered the player assistance program in November 2019 and didn’t return until February 2020, due to alcohol addiction. Legendary Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price also entered the program after leading his team to the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals, releasing a statement discussing his admittance to a residential treatment facility for substance use. 

Earlier this season, the Chicago Blackhawks terminated Corey Perry’s contract, leading to him to announce his search for help with alcohol-related substance issues. Last month, Arizona Coyote Adam Ruzicka had his contract terminated after a video surfaced involving himself with a white powder substance that was allegedly cocaine.

While substance use disorder has also become more acknowledged in hockey circles, it still flies relatively low under the radar while the league worries itself about matters such as rainbow tape. In 2021, former Boston Bruins forward Jimmy Hayes died due to “acute intoxication due to the combined effects of fentanyl and cocaine.” His family and close friends struggled with this, as they thought his issues with substance use had improved since he left the world of professional hockey.

The league has also neglected to acknowledge the link between the highly physical nature of hockey and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by repeated head trauma, which can occur easily in hockey through fighting and hits to the head — both of which are still prevalent in the sport at many levels. This disorder can only be diagnosed after death, and symptoms can include cognitive impairments, behavioural changes, substance misuse, suicidal thoughts and ideation, mood disorders, and motor skill degeneration. 

Bettman told NPR in 2023 that he does not believe there have been any documented studies suggesting any link between playing in the NHL and the diagnosis of CTE. Despite his claim, Boston University released a 2022 study suggesting that “each year of ice hockey play may increase the odds of developing CTE by 23%.” Rypien, Belak, and Boogard were all diagnosed with CTE after their deaths. 

There may not be a definitive link between current NHL players and CTE, but due to the diagnostic procedure for the disorder occurring after death, it will potentially be decades until the truth is revealed. That’s too long to wait to treat the mental welfare of our athletes.

There may be a growing understanding of the importance of mental wellbeing in hockey, but the culture surrounding this hypermasculinized and highly physical sport still often neglects the basic needs of its players. Fighting is so deeply ingrained in all levels of the sport, along with multiple instances of neglecting serious injuries to seem “tough.” 

In its Universal Declaration of Players Rights, the NHLPA states, “Every player must be provided with a safe and secure workplace and sporting environment, which promotes the player’s safety, physical and mental health.” Even with the strides the NHLPA and NHL have made in recent years, how much longer will it be until a significant change is made regarding mental health and substance use disorder in hockey, if the change will ever come?

Everyone and their dog is at the beach

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Peak Web
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Crowded beach
PHOTO: Mykhailo Volkov / Pexels

By: Hailey Miller, Staff Writer

Spring is in the air! Or is it? The first nice day of the year brings all the winter hibernators to the beach, frolicking around like vampires who haven’t seen the sun for six months. Among the mass of sun seekers are those sporting “the first sunny day” attire from one extreme to the other. 

On one hand, you have the overly eager sun-lovers, desperate to soak up some rays. They show off their skin in shorts and T-shirts, fully accessorized with massive sweat stains because they clearly didn’t layer on enough deodorant. Amateurs. Clearly, they’ve forgotten how to prepare for the heat. On the other hand, you have those who are still hesitant about the sun and don’t believe the weather forecast if their life depended on it. These people are still clad in thick pants, big sweaters, and, if you’re lucky, you’ll see the odd individual sporting a puffer jacket (hopefully vegan!) with a toque. They just can’t let it go. 

The out-of-towners are either showing off their sun attire because they’re from a climate gravely colder than here, or they’re wearing layer upon layer of thermo, heat-conducting clothing because they think a nice 20-degree spring day is absolutely freezing. There’s really no in-between. Let me tell ya, you can spot an out-of-towner from a mile away just by their choice of attire. They stand out like a blazing ray of sun beaming down and radiating across town.

What an absolute view it really is to people-watch on such a fine day. Talk about some fine, radiating entertainment! I mean, you’ve got the people who are year-round beach-goers, those who forgot the water even existed, those who are clearly slithering away from the sun like a groundhog who’s seen his shadow, and then those who are so elated by it they forget how many hours they’ve spent outside and frantically search for extra sunscreen they don’t have. 

If you’re looking for some high-class entertainment, look no further than any Vancouver beach on a fine spring day. So, you’re an introvert? That’s fine! Take up residence on one of those benches or lay a blanket on the sand and keep to yourself. You’re an extrovert? Don’t worry, the beach has you covered. Just go make friends with some random stranger’s dog and you’re good to go. You love crowded spaces? Oh, my god, let me tell ya, the beach is the perfect place for you on a hot, sun-shining spring afternoon! You hate crowded spaces? Oh, don’t worry, you can nestle yourself in some little corner on the edge of the sand and watch all the happenings of the day as the passers-by entertain you with their vast outfit options and booming genre-wide playlists. 

Seriously, what’s not to love about cramming onto the local beaches, squished like sardines, when you’re not even there to take a dip in the water? Unless, of course, you’re one of those polar-plunging aficionados and a mild spring splash in the Pacific doesn’t even faze you. In that case, thanks for your unintentional bout of entertainment from the shoreline. There’s nothing quite like the view of all the unexpected sights to be seen on a fine spring day at the beach. Fret not — this is just Vancouver’s first prank of the season. Soon we’ll be headed into second winter, followed by a downpour of April showers that won’t even let the May flowers bloom. So, to all the unprepared beach bums, enjoy your nice, sweaty, chaos-blazed, and overly-crowded beach day that’ll really pack a punch.

Local enby starting every conversation with “have you purchased my gift yet?” during their birthday month

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Peak Web
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Doodle of a Black person with blue hair eating vanilla cake with sprinkles.
ILLUSTRATION: Den Kinanti / The Peak

By: C Icart, Humour Editor

After 11 torturous non-birthday months, soon to be 25-year-old Blue Rose (again, totally not a pseudonym I am making up for myself) is finally back in their birthday era. In the tradition of Trina Vega, they are dead-set on making everyone else also observe what they believe should be a national holiday. 

“My birthday is my favourite holiday, and I can’t imagine it’s not other people’s favourite holiday as well. I mean, there’s so much about me worth celebrating.” 

When asked about the logistics of making their birthday a public holiday, Rose was very precise. “Personally, I’m not against having more holidays. I hate work and I think we should all do it less. But, if the government wants to be a hater and limit the amount of public holidays, I suggest replacing one of the colonial ones like Thanksgiving or Victoria Day!”

Rose goes on to clarify that while they believe their entire birthday month is worth celebrating, they are only asking for one day to be a statutory holiday.  

“Although my existence is already a gift, I think I should also give people a day off. I’m generous like that.” 

During the rest of the month, they encourage folks to educate themselves on why Rose is so great, talented, and pretty. The entire month is meant to be a time to shower them with gifts and compliments. They are also not opposed to forehead kisses, but they may or may not only have one person in mind for that. 

Unsurprisingly, one of the best ways to celebrate Rose’s birthday is to indulge in vegan desserts in their honour. “I think we should all have a ‘let them eat cake moment’ but like minus the French Revolution . . . Wait, no yeah, let’s feast on the rich for my birthday!”

When asked why their birthday should be a national holiday and not other people’s birthdays, Rose urged people to break free of their scarcity mindset. “There is enough time to celebrate and uplift everyone who is just as amazing as me. I’m not a girlboss, I don’t gatekeep.”

In true Aries fashion, Rose will continue to be unavailable to engage in any work (yes, that includes changing their light bulbs) in the upcoming days because they have too many birthday festivities to attend. “The calendar is truly packed. There’s birthday bowling, and birthday trivia, and birthday escape room, and birthday puzzles and birthday . . .”

Yes, we cut them off because they wouldn’t shut up. For more information on this developing story, just look out your window. We’re sure you’ll spot blue-haired Rose in the distance yapping about their birthday. 

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Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

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© The Peak Publications Society

Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

For advertising inquiries: [email protected]
For promotional inquiries: [email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society