Home Blog Page 161

Ethọ́s Lab and CDM work toward inclusivity in XR

By
Peak Web
-
0
This is a photo of the SFU Vancouver campus. The lobby contains the security booth, seating for students to study, escalators, and a location directory.
PHOTO: Amirul Anirban / The Peak

By: Eden Chipperfield, News Writer

In October 2022, a partnership was struck between the Centre for Digital Media (CDM) and Ethọ́s Lab. The goal of the collaboration is to “increase the representation of Black youth and girls in extended reality (XR)-based digital futures.” They’re working toward this goal by developing an XR Media Lab program. The partnership is backed and supported by Unity Special Impact and Meta Immerservice Learning, who provided the Higher Ed XR Innovation Grant. They hope to reach over 300 marginalized young individuals and connect with over 190 secondary school instructors over the next five years. 

XR is a type of media that “combines the physical world with digital experiences.” Examples of XR include filters used on Snapchat and the 2016 hit Pokémon Go. XR is an interactive environment that users can experience in real-time. 

The CDM is an organization founded through collaborations between SFU, University of British Columbia, British Columbia’s Institute of Technology, and Emily Carr University. CDM’s vision is to “create world-leading digital media programming that focuses on society’s most important challenges,” including the underrepresentation of Black youth in digital media. 

Ethọ́s Lab’s mission is to further invest and indulge in representation, particularly in young individuals, to address cultural problems and improve inequalities through programming in classes, including “workshops, interactive events, mentorship, internships, and field trips.”

The Peak connected with CDM, who provided a statement regarding the partnership with Ethọ́s Lab, to see how the collaboration will impact today’s youth to create a more equitable future in digital media. The company reports that since the program’s beginning in 2022, the partnership has already reached over “200+ underrepresented youth and 150+ high school educators,” well within their goal of five years. 

Ethọ́s Lab’s mission is to improve the representation of the Black community by connecting youth with programs and skills in a variety of fields. They hope this will change cultural landscapes in areas like “science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) fields.” The lab described the Ethọ́s Lab Blackathon, which encouraged Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) and women-identifying students to attend. In the case of the most recent Blackathon, Ethọ́s Lab challenged students to create a solution to package theft. The purpose of the Blackathon is to encourage those participating to find innovative designs and solutions and highlight Black designs and ideas. 

“By leveraging the infrastructure, people, and knowledge at CDM, we will be able to develop and deliver XR curriculum that has scale and build capacity for underrepresented youth,” says Anthonia Ogundele, founder and executive director at Ethọ́s Lab.

The partnership has already received positive feedback from the community. A parent noted, “Not only did [my child] learn new STEAM skills, but she grew in confidence immeasurably. [She] saw herself represented and welcomed as she immersed herself in the warm, diverse community. She has been inspired to truly dream big by the Black excellence she witnessed. I feel emotional thinking about what Ethọ́s Lab has done for my child.”

Intimacy and Distances bridges the gap of the pandemic’s isolation

By
Peak Web
-
0
A collage of art pieces from the exhibit.
PHOTO: Amrit Kamaal / The Peak

By: Matthew Wong, SFU Student

From my 224 square-foot tower, I gazed longingly out the window. I was pale and drained, and no visitors came to my room except for three daily meals, unceremoniously slipped through the door. And of course, neither my family nor friends would dare face me; we were in quarantine, and I had contracted COVID-19. 

The days of pandemic shutdown sometimes feel like a distant memory now, even though COVID-19 and its impacts continue to hurt our most vulnerable communities. COVID-19 is not over, but the shutdown of 2020 has created permanent social scars for some. I don’t think anyone will ever forget the isolation and seclusion that came with quarantine.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Centre A’s exhibit, Intimacy and Distances by Maiko Jinushi, and was in awe of how succinctly and beautifully she had put that isolation into poetic displays of art. Born in 1984 in Kanagawa, Japan, Jinushi quickly found a love for art as a form of expression. With a Master of Fine Arts in painting at Tama University, she currently resides in Tokyo with exhibits appearing around the world. Jinushi expertly weaves words and visual mediums to explore concepts beyond us, and tell the stories of how people live. In an interview, Jinushi told The Peak,“For the exhibition, I was thinking about emotions and intimacy through digital technology, which is getting more common in our daily lives.” 

In her highlight piece, Lip Wrap, Air Hug, Energy Exchange, a minimalistic animation plays as a girl laments about the anxiety and isolation she feels from lockdown. Asking herself if it would be possible to connect with people online, she wonders how she can exchange intimacy without physical touch; if there is some “condom for kissing, making it milder and less attached?” The quarantine deprived many of physical closeness, but perhaps the loneliness taught us other ways to connect to each other, much like the girl in this poem. 

The animation is simple in its execution but chock-full of subtle details. Along a blank backdrop, much like empty space, narrow and modest lines meld beautifully with the poem. The conservative use of colour depicts a juxtaposition of intimacy and distance, with black and white drawings symbolizing isolation, and colour adding a spark of connection.

In her piece, A Detective in Mexico City, Jinushi directs a video in which couples are secretly recorded as they walk and hold hands throughout Mexico City, while the poem, Generación de los párpados eléctricos (Generation of Electric Eyelids) by Roberto Bolaño, plays. Later, the same locations are visited, except they’re empty. The duality of intimacy and distance is painfully raw, combined with Bolaño’s poem ranting about an ex-lover. The recordings are done on a shaky phone camera, much like the recorded moments of our own lives. These memories serve as the only proof of the presence of the couples in these places, as the quarantine had long left them deserted.

Despite being connected to each other through the digital world, it can be difficult to bond with others through a screen. We’re not the same people online, and that’s what Jinushi attempted to capture in her piece, Fashion and Death. “I wanted to visualize these multiple personas, like a cubism painting, but with moving image,” she said. She accomplished this by using one actor to play the two roles of Fashion and Death. The actor moves across the camera facing either the audience or a mirror, showing how the two characters are one of the same. Representing separate personas, they go on to tell stories of themselves and their childhoods. For this piece, Jinushi had to quickly return to Japan, so she only had time for one take due to the quarantine, and thus, she gives us a glimpse into the first, unrehearsed rendition of her work. The improvisation is a crucial part of the charm of this piece.

Intimacy and Distances contains a number of other pieces, and this article could never do it justice. So, I encourage you to visit the exhibit yourselves, on until November 10. Jinushi uses words to tell a story, but constructs a far more detailed narrative through images, videos, paintings, and more, which she calls a “visual form of literary experience.” 

Even through physical isolation, I won’t forget the mundane interactions that added sparks of intimacy to my life, nor the connections I made with people. Even if those connections are through my own “electric eyelids,” I still treasure the people that the pandemic brought into my life, and I thank Jinushi for gracefully putting it into art.

Create & Enter: Writing opportunities

By
Peak Web
-
0
A filled-out notebook being flipped open.
PHOTO: Yannick Pulver / Unsplash

By: Petra Chase, Arts & Cultures Editor

PolterGeist writing contest
Deadline: November 13 at 11:59 p.m. PST

Geist, a Canadian literary magazine of all things fact and fiction, is looking for “stories that give voice to ghostly echoes and make homes in eerie landscapes.” A play on the namesake, the word geist translates to “spirit,” “wit,” or “ghost.” Submissions can be non-fiction or fiction, as long as they’re 500 words or less. In addition to getting published both in print and online, there are cash prizes from $150–$500 for three winners. Entry includes a one-year subscription for $25 and each additional entry is $5. As a subscriber, you’ll get mailed a quarterly print issue!

Solastalgia volume II submissions
Deadline: November 27 at 11:59 p.m. PST

Solastalgia is a youth-led, Vancouver-based “eco-engagement and climate action zine.” Their first volume, available on Issuu, tackled eco-anxiety and grief. For their next volume, they want contributors to consider, “What gives you optimism, agency, or sense of community in the face of our shared reality?” and “What sparks your active hopes and radical imaginations of a better future?” On top of poetry and prose, they’re open to drawings, paintings, graphics, photos, collages, and more! Canadians aged 15–30 can submit, and receive a $150 honorarium. Find out more on their Instagram, @gensolastalgia, or contact [email protected] for more information.

SLC Undergraduate Writing Contest
Deadline: Opens November 27 and closes January 7, but each category closes after 25 submissions are reached 

It’s time to start writing your academic papers with SFU’s Student Learning Commons’ annual writing contest in mind! Open to undergraduate students, papers must be between 1,250–2,500 words and also submitted to an SFU course in 2023. There are four categories: first year, middle years, fourth year plus, and the plurilingual prize category. First and second place in each category win $200 and $150, and there will also be honourable mentions. Find out more about eligibility, deadlines, criteria, submissions, and the judging process at journals.lib.sfu.ca/index.php/slc-uwc/contest.

Bargaining team brushing up on their stalling tactic skills

By
Peak Web
-
0
Four wealthy individuals sitting in a conference room in front of a white board that reads “how to stall.”
ILLUSTRATION: Alyssa Umbal / The Peak

By: Sude Guvendik, Staff Writer

Ah, the sweet symphony of bureaucracy. It’s like a finely tuned orchestra playing the most annoying melody you’ve ever heard. As the TSSU battles it out for a fair contract, the employer’s bargaining team has been brushing up on their stalling tactic skills with the dedication of a procrastinating student cramming for finals.

Picture this: a dimly lit room, the scent of lukewarm coffee, and burnt-out ideas hanging in the air. SFU’s bargaining team, dressed in their best “I’m here to negotiate . . . eventually” attire, huddle around a conference table littered with half-empty Timbit boxes and enough paperwork to shame a forest. Let’s eavesdrop on their brilliant brainstorming session.

Stalling Tactic #1: The Semantics Shuffle

SFU’s lead negotiator, Mr. Jargon Juggler, clears his throat. “Alright, team, our first stalling tactic is to delve into the riveting world of semantics. We’ll spend hours debating whether ‘office hours’ and ‘consultation’ are truly distinguishable concepts. It’s like arguing whether a tomato is a fruit or a vegetable, but way less fun.”

Stalling Tactic #2: The Equivalent Enigma

“Next up,” Mr. Juggler continues, “we’ll pretend that paying teaching assistants the same for different work is a perfectly reasonable idea. We’ll argue that ‘equivalent’ is subjective. Who’s to say what’s equivalent anyway? A panda and a penguin are both cute and fluffy, right?”

Assistant Negotiator B nods enthusiastically, “Exactly! We can use this tactic until they’re so baffled they’ll forget they wanted fair compensation in the first place.”

Stalling Tactic #3: The Historical Headache

“Now, team, we’ve got to stand our ground on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations,” Mr. Juggler declares. “We’ll tell them we need more time to reflect on history and its implications.”

Assistant Negotiator C pipes up, “And when they ask for specifics, we’ll start with the history of shoelaces and work our way up to the invention of the cheese grater. By the time we’re done, they won’t remember what they asked for in the first place.”

Stalling Tactic #4: The Procrastination Prodigies

“Lastly,” Mr. Juggler concludes, “we’ve got to master the art of procrastination. We’ll wait until they’re about to snap, then casually admit that not every improvement has to count against wage increases. It’s like giving them a nugget of hope after months of frustration.”

Assistant Negotiator D grins, “And we can toss in a few vague promises about ‘looking into it further’ and ‘exploring options.’ They’ll be so relieved they won’t notice we’ve actually said nothing.”

And so, dear readers, as TSSU continues to fight the good fight for a fair contract, SFU’s bargaining team hones their stalling tactics with the precision of a seasoned procrastinator. Will TSSU prevail, or will the employer’s baffling mastery of time-wasting semantics triumph? Only time, and possibly another 40 bargaining sessions, will tell. Until then, let the bureaucratic ballet continue!

Horoscopes October 9 – 15

By
Peak Web
-
0
An illustration of a girl, stars and astrological signs strewn in her hair.
ILLUSTRATION: Marissa Ouyang / The Peak

By: Hana Hoffman, Peak Associate

Aries
March 21–April 19

Change your phone wallpaper to something that will yell at you to do work. How about a photo of Nicki Minaj with the caption, “Barbs stay in school!” Or a picture of your favourite video game with the caption, “You wanna play? You have to earn it.” Bonus points if you also use that audio as your ringtone and alarm. Be creative!

Taurus
April 20–May 20

You pay for your SFU gym membership in your tuition. 99% of people who promise they’ll take advantage of their membership throughout the semester only end up working out twice, both in the first week of school. I want to be your witness when you’re working on your fitness!

Gemini
May 21–June 20

Make one trip to do all your groceries. Buy those 100-pack instant noodles, 50 pounds of minute rice, and 300 granola bars. If you want to have time to study this semester, you’ve got to be able to make meals in one minute. Who knows when you’ll have a chance to attend Guy Fieri’s Grocery Games?

Cancer
June 21–July 22

Get a pair of anti-slip, waterproof, ice-proof, grippy shoes with straps instead of laces. If you’ve lived here in the fall and winter, you know what the weather is like. And once the temperature gets low, your hands will be so frozen they won’t be able to untie your laces when you get home.

Leo
July 23–August 22

New school year means new sticker collection! Go to some random marketing stands or wander around the SUB until someone hands you free stickers. You could also buy those cute animal stickers at the dollar store. Make the back of your laptop unforgettable so your professors can always notice you in the lecture room and remember how awesome your computer was.

Virgo
August 23–September 22

Clear your entire drive, whether it’s Google Drive, OneDrive, or whatever you use today. It’s a true nightmare getting constant notifications saying, “your storage is 99% full.” Where will you keep all your videos from the Coldplay concert and hilarious videos of your dog and cat chasing each other??? Oof, just make a new email address and get the free storage plan again.

Libra
September 23–October 22

Invest in roller blades. As students, we don’t have a single minute to waste. Rolling down the hallways and across campus in Heelys instead of walking is estimated to save you 28.73 seconds per 100 metres (just an educated guess by me). And sometimes that’s the bit of extra time you need when you’re submitting an assignment on Canvas right before midnight.

Scorpio
October 23–November 21

Get your Halloween and Christmas shopping over with! Prove to yourself you’re not a pro procrastinator. You know you’ll be studying for your midterm the night before Halloween and staying up all night wrapping presents on Christmas Eve. Why not avoid all this stress for once?

Sagittarius
November 22–December 21

Take a nice long walk down a trail to mentally recover from the realization of midterms approaching. Go bananas and swing from branch to branch. Who knows when you’ll ever have time to inhale fresh air while you lock yourself indoors for months trying to catch up on weekly readings and assignments?

Capricorn
December 22–January 19

Hey Capricorn! I know you think you should be studying for midterms, but the stars actually want you to binge-watch all the seasons of your favourite show one last time before you start drowning in schoolwork. Just soak in all the good parts so you can replay them in your head when you’re bored in class.

Aquarius
January 20–February 18

Give your phone a leash like it’s your pet, and you can’t lose sight of it. How annoying is it to leave your phone somewhere and go through the whole process of tracking your recent footsteps, calling your phone number, and reporting your missing phone? And doing all that to eventually find out your phone was at the bottom of your backpack the entire time? The point is, just keep your phone in sight at all times to avoid unnecessary stress!

Pisces
February 19–March 20

Know where every bathroom is so you can avoid lineups during breaks. Whenever there’s a 10-minute break during lecture, everyone just goes to the same nearest bathroom and spends the whole time lining up. If you walk one minute to a more hidden bathroom, you’ll probably have the whole bathroom to yourself.

Monday Music: Commuter jams

By
Peak Web
-
0
Image courtesy of The Peak.

By: Omar Nsouli

Whether you commute to campus by car, bus, or . . . a helicopter, for all I know, Monday mornings can sometimes be a drag. A cure for this early inconvenience are songs calm enough to be played in the morning, but pack a little punch of energy to keep you going during the gruelling transition from home to classes.

“KANTE (feat. Fave)” by Davido

The first time I heard this song was at a Drake concert and I could not resist Shazaming it — the melody was hypnotizing. The rhythmic Afrobeats track features a bouncy use of drums and blissful brass inclusions. Released earlier this year, “KANTE” is from Afrobeats star Davido’s newest album, Timeless. This song is perfect to add to your playlist because of its jazzy flair, which is sure to serenade you out of sleep. 

“Dolerme” by ROSALÍA

From reggaetón to rock and everything in between, Spanish artist ROSALÍA can do it all. For her 2020 alt-rock song, “Dolerme” (‘hurt me’ in Spanish), ROSALÍA deals with heartbreak. Released near the beginning of quarantine, ROSALÍA shared how music is healing for her mental health in a vulnerable Notes app confession on Instagram. Through the novel use of an autotuned chorus and a soft guitar strum, this sentimental track packs an appropriate amount of angst to start your journey to school.  

“Binz” by Solange

“I just wanna wake up to the suns in Saint Laurent” is a quote that will remain iconic in the Knowles literary canon among many other famed lyrics she shares with her sister, Beyoncé. The sumptuous song contains a relaxing use of funky keyboards and experimental guitar, coated by Solange’s honey-like voice. Solange sings about wishing to wake up one day “on a yacht” and just taking it easy with luxuries circling her. The mellow and summery dream acts as a small escape from your mundane Monday. 

“Possibly Maybe” by Björk

Beginning with a telephonic and ethereal sound to initiate a sonic journey, “Possibly Maybe” is a great accompaniment to your commute. The trip-hop track is an aural jungle, blending an infinite mix of sounds and genres into one bite-sized song. Björk sprinkles in a telephone, a cartoonish crescendo, and soft brass notes as she sings about how anything could’ve happened when she was with then ex-boyfriend, Stéphane Sednaoui. Eclectic yet calm, the song is a perfect addition to your commuting playlist for its innovative experimental sound. 

The ABCs of Budgeting in Vancouver, Part 2

By
Peak Web
-
0
The word investment laid out in Scrabble tiles on a wooden background.
PHOTO: Precondo CA / Unsplash

By: Hailey Miller, Staff Writer

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article on the ABCs of Budgeting in Vancouver. It was so well received that I decided to write a part two. Without further ado, may I present to you some new and improved tips and tricks to help you keep on top of your financial A-game once again — or should I say, the HIJs of budgeting. Last time, I left off at growing your savings. Now, let’s do a deep dive into financial planning, investing, term deposits, escalators, funds, credits, and more — oh my!

While investing gives you the opportunity to increase your wealth, it inherently carries risks, and it is essential to exercise caution and diligence when managing your finances. The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice tailored to your specific circumstances. It is your responsibility to conduct thorough research, seek guidance from qualified financial advisors, and understand the implications of various financial tools before making any investment decisions. 

Handle your finances with care.

Your money is precious and finances are fragile. Be cautious with your spending and try to follow the 50/30/20 model. This model draws on the idea of putting 50% of your spending toward essentials and things you absolutely need (e.g. groceries, rent, bills), 30% of your spending toward things you want (e.g. non-essential shopping), and the remaining 20% goes toward either paying any debt that you may have, or, if you don’t have any debts, put this 20% into savings and investing.

Invest responsibly.

This brings me to my next point. What even is investing, and how do you invest responsibly? Investing involves putting money into allocated mediums such as savings plans, term deposits, funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and the like to later increase your income and profits from the original invested amounts. For instance, if you invest in ETFs, you’re essentially buying a piece of a larger portfolio, mitigating your risk across multiple assets. For term deposits, if you invest x amount into one, the money that you contribute will increase a certain amount over a specified time. Depending on what type of investment you choose, the length of said investment, and the interest rate, your contributions will increase over time. These increases are particularly great for future savings, but, remember investing isn’t your only option. If your investing budget is relatively small, you might see little to no returns by the end of the investment period, and it might make more sense to save your money.

Jumpstart your savings with good interest rates.

Now, what is an interest rate, and how are you supposed to know your best option? An interest rate is a certain percentage that’s allocated for an investment amount. Let’s use a simplified term deposit example to explain how interest rates work. If you were to contribute $100 into a three-year escalating term deposit at a yearly constant 5% interest rate. After your first year you will have earned $5, giving you a total of $105. After your second year, you will have 5% of your new total, meaning you have $110.25. By the time the term deposit reaches its completion date, also known as “when it matures,” you will have $115.76, and by that time you can either take the money out and put it elsewhere (e.g. into different savings or chequing accounts), or you can renew it — hopefully, at a higher interest rate. Keep in mind that interest rates change as often as on a daily basis. 

Know your term deposits. 

Let’s use the above example of a three-year escalating term deposit (colloquially known as an “escalator”) again. Here’s the takeaway: the higher the interest rate, the more you’ll make. I consider anything under 4% terribly low and anything over 5% incredibly good these days. Banks are tricky when it comes to interest rates and investing, so doing your research on interest rates will make you more confident when it comes to getting the rate you want and need.

Interest rates don’t stay at the same rate for each year of an escalator or other investment medium. For example, although the total rate of a three-year escalator is advertised at 4.5%, you don’t receive 4.5% interest on your contributions each year. Rather, the total 4.5% is divided among those years (e.g. year one has an interest of 1.5%, year two has an interest of 0.5%, and year three comes in at 2%). Note that these rates may not be equally divided up for each year.

Learn more about savings plans.

It’s never too early to meet with a financial advisor, and you’re not too young to be investing for your future — including retirement. Whatever your plan may be, starting early is the smartest move. Doing so will give you a good sense of the importance of understanding your financial situation and investment options, alongside reducing financial stress for the future — whether that be six months from now, or 50 years down the line. There are many savings plans to take into consideration, including Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSPs), Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSPs), Registered Education Savings Plan (RESPs), Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs), and more. Some savings plans are only applicable to you in certain instances. For example, you can only qualify for an RDSP if you have a verified disability and receive the disability tax credit. RESPs are only for post-secondary students whose parents, guardians, or other individuals invest money during your younger childhood years to later put toward their education. Important to note: TFSAs have a maximum amount that you’re allowed to contribute each year. The government sets a certain amount for you to shelter from being taxed based on your annual income. Find out more on your CRA account, and talk to a financial advisor. 

Make the most of your financial options.

Similar to the above point, in order to choose the right financial options for your needs, discuss this with your financial advisor. Do your research on which investments and savings options are best suited for you. Don’t invest a large amount of money for a long period of time if you know you’re going to need that amount for an expense in the near future. For instance, don’t put a big chunk of your money in a long-term or non-redeemable deposit if you know that you have to pay your tuition, or you’re saving up to buy a car, appliance, or even a laptop. It’s great to save, and it’s great to invest, but the two don’t always have — or need — to work in cohesion with one another. Likewise, don’t rack up large amounts of credit and debts that you can’t pay, if you can help it. For instance, avoid charging large amounts to your credit card if you can’t pay the bill on time. If you don’t pay your bills on time, you’ll be charged interest, which will make matters worse by having to pay more. If you’re struggling with debts (either student debt or otherwise), discuss your options with your advisor, plan accordingly, and do your best to stay on top of your financial plan and budget.

Never withdraw too hastily.

Long-term deposits typically last one to five years, while short term deposits can last anywhere from 30 days to just under one year. If you take money out of a long or short-term deposit before the term matures, you will likely be penalized a certain amount depending on when you take the money out. Typically, each bank or credit union has different rules regarding penalties, so check with your institution and advisor prior to any withdrawals. Another important point to be aware of is the difference between redeemable and non-redeemable term deposits and funds. Redeemable typically means you can redeem your money throughout the investment period before the term matures. This is applicable for most escalators, GICs, and long and short-term deposits. On the other hand, non-redeemable means you cannot redeem your money while the term is still in effect before it matures. This is typically applicable for RRSPs, TFSAs, RESPs, RDSPs, and RRIFs where your money is “locked-in” for a longer amount of time. Different rules apply to different financial institutions, too. 

Observe your finances and make necessary changes.

All this talk about chequing versus savings, term deposits versus escalators, redeemables versus non-redeemables, funds versus payments, and credit versus debit is probably making your head spin. Don’t worry, whether you’re new to investing and making the most out of your financial situation, or you’re a well-seasoned term deposit, interest rate chasing pro — financial planning can still be stressful and overwhelming. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead, be thorough with your options, utilize advice from advisors, and make adjustments when needed. If you’re not totally comfortable with investing or this is something new to you, a good rule to remember is to start safe and go slow. Before you know it, you, too, will be an investing pro!

Stop signs are for stopping

By
Peak Web
-
0
A stop sign
PHOTO: Max Burchill / Unsplash

By: Kaja Antic, SFU Student

As an experienced driver in Metro Vancouver, I’ve noticed an ongoing problem that threatens the safety of our roadways. It also threatens the well-being of other people. I constantly see drivers speed past the stop marker and inch into oncoming traffic at many stop signs, stop lines, and even red lights.

My issue isn’t even rolling stops. In fact, I rarely see them. It’s the unnecessarily aggressive approach to, and overshoot of, the actual stop location. Why do you need to stop a metre past the stop sign? Is the giant red octagon not enough notice of the location where you should stop? To me, and most law-abiding citizens, the instructions are clear. 

These dangerous drivers have no regard for pedestrians and cyclists, other cars, the generally accepted rules of the road, and their own front bumpers. I have seen these menaces everywhere, from my neighbourhood in Surrey, to downtown Vancouver, or when searching for the last parking spot in the East Lot. I witness encounters like these daily, no matter the time of day. Has the art of properly following traffic laws been lost on Vancouverites? 

If you are someone guilty of this sin, please change your ways, before karma and ICBC come your way. All drivers reading this, I implore you to be aware of this pressing issue, to save yourselves and your vehicles. These careless cars are out there, and there is no sign of them stopping. Properly. 

Academia needs a lesson in simplicity

By
Peak Web
-
0
A bookshelf filled with academic books
PHOTO: Iñaki del Olmo / Unsplash

By: Hailey Miller, Staff Writer

We’ve all tried to read a paragraph in a text, only to go back and reread it, with no greater success in absorbing the information. Why is academia so convoluted? It doesn’t need to be this way. It makes important information inaccessible to both the public and the students trying to learn this material. Some professors assign so many in-depth required readings each week that students can’t keep up and they fall behind trying to understand the material.

The margin between what’s conveyed in a paper versus what’s thoroughly comprehended is a vast one. Half the time students pretend to understand, when in reality, we do the minimum to grasp a surface understanding after toiling over it for hours. It seems professors and scholarly authors alike would rather students sift over every content-filled, obscure nuance with a fine-tooth comb, expecting us to become experts in each assigned reading. Most of us have other commitments outside of school, too, including work, appointments, and family to take care of. I don’t have time to dissect every reading assigned to me. If you’re an academic, you should be able to get your point across in a way that’s digestible.

There’s really no benefit to reading a detailed scholarly article when you’re spending more time with a dictionary than actually reading the piece. Most of the time, these ideas would benefit from less complex words, and more straightforward ideas. Sometimes highly-specific jargon is needed, but academia could also do with cutting down on these papers.

Sometimes we go to class just to have a quick, summarized discussion on the material in question, so why did we even bother reading such a content-heavy piece in the first place? Some things in these readings are never even mentioned again. It would be helpful for students if professors prioritized the important content they want us to learn, rather than stuffing every possible idea into a week. Instructors need to give more time to students for difficult readings, and ensure everyone truly understands the material at hand before moving on. 

While I’m used to the heavy depths of reading scholarly articles and literary journals, I’m also over it by now. Readings can be quite gruelling when you’re completely lost in the countless pages of a dense paper that becomes more monotonous the longer you read it. University instructors should have a responsibility to make their courses accessible, rather than relying on students to have perfect comprehension skills.

We’d all save so much time if we didn’t have to dissect every ambiguous meaning behind the words in academic writing. Professors need to set more manageable schedules and rethink some of their unrealistic expectations regarding course load and curricula, while effectively communicating with students. So, here’s a lesson to be learned: academia is long overdue a crash course in concision. 

Chornobyl and Kakhovka: a discussion of nuclear terror

By
Peak Web
-
0
This is a photo of Ukrainian soldiers. They are standing in front of a Ukrainian flag, as it is waving. The soldiers are dressed in military gear, and are holding weapons.
PHOTO: Minitry of Defense of Ukraine / Flickr

By: Izzy Cheung, Staff Writer

Content warning: mentions of war.

Dr. Svitlana Matviyenko is an assistant professor of critical media analysis at SFU’s School of Communication. On September 28, she held a lecture and Q&A discussion on nuclear terror and “radioactive colonialism.” The event was held in conjunction with SFU departments of communication, humanities, contemporary arts, and the SFU Vancity Office of Community Engagement. 

Matviyenko’s wide range of academic specializations include “media and environment, the political economy of information, and cyberwar.” Some of her most powerful works can be found on the Institute of Network Cultures’ website, which details her experiences living in Ukraine during the Russian invasion in 2022. 

To start her presentation, Matviyenko recalled how the Kakhovka Dam was destroyed on June 5, 2023. According to The New York Times, some suspect Russia is at fault for destroying the dam and causing it to overflow. The aftermath of this was the flooding of various Ukrainian cities and towns, which Matviyenko said could make it “the worst ecological disaster [in Ukraine] since the Chornobyl catastrophe.”

The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam “has been recognized as indicative of genocidal intent,” Matviyenko clarified. She noted how the environmental damage done to the area around the dam poses a “serious threat to the health and wellbeing of the Ukrainian nation and its future generations.” She described the attack as “ecocide,” which is defined as “the mass damage and destruction of the natural living world.”  

In December 2022, she visited the Ukrainian National Chornobyl Museum in Kyiv. The museum displayed photos and images of the recent Russian occupation of Ukrainian nuclear infrastructure. She described the exhibit as like being “from a crime movie” with photographs stuck to a board and tied together with red threads. 

“Let us take radiation itself as a medium, linking the present and the past,” Matviyenko said. 

She offered further context into her lecture by discussing the events of the Chornobyl disaster, which happened on April 26, 1986. The explosions carried radiation equivalent to “500 Hiroshima bombs.” The radiation was shown to have been travelling through the air 10 days later. 

Despite this event, Matviyenko argued that the full realization of nuclear power stations as a technological indicator of modern power didn’t occur after the Chornobyl disaster in 1968, as many scholars have claimed. Rather, this realization occurred in 2022, after the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, which supplies Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. 

“[Being] immersed in the situation, I realized that everyone there, in Ukraine, does not have an option to ‘sign off,’” she recalled. “[They] don’t have an option not to see [the war].”  

A recorded version of this event will be available on SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement’s website at www.sfu.ca/vancity-office-community-engagement.html. 

1...160161162...1,431Page 161 of 1,431

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