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Reasons you should drop this class

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Peak Web
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Illustration of a student staring at a laptop. The laptop displays the myschedule website.
ILLUSTRATION: Raissa Sourabh / The Peak

By: Maya Beninteso, Peak Associate 

Dear pitiful student enrolled in CLAS 101,

Greetings, my name is Maya. Goodness, would I hate to be you. I’m not quite sure if you’re aware, but this course puts the “ass” in CLAS(S) 101. Have no fear, today is your lucky day. I’m privy to insider knowledge — knowledge that will inevitably possess you to drop the class (definitely not because I took the class before . . .  and have to retake it). 

#1 The class is in-person
Hear me out. PLEASE. I HAVE BEEN ON WAITLIST POSITION 1 FOR THE LAST THIRTEEN DAYS. Yes, having an in-person class provides you with “face-to-face” instruction, but it also means being face-to-face. Let’s be honest here. There’s nothing more brutal than having to go to class, sitting down for up to three hours, and attempting to scribble down everything the professor is saying. That requires effort, attention . . . and care. Why on earth would you commute all the way to campus only to go to class? Why waste time commuting and, further to that, putting effort into looking like a presentable human being? Do yourself, and your confidence, a favour and save your #CuteFits for people that care.

#2 The seats in the lecture hall creak
Trust me, there’s nothing more embarrassing than adjusting your seating position and having the chair creak so loud the entire lecture hall is staring at you. Of course I have. Every. single. seat. fucking. creaks. ALL OF THEM. There is no escaping it and, if you take this class, it is coming for you, too. Because you’re young and think you’re invincible, you might just believe it won’t happen to you but — spoiler alert — it will. However, if you happen to not be ridden with social anxiety (lucky, you), then might I point out how annoying hearing a cacophony of creaks during lecture will be? Shall we do the math? 

There are 150 students enrolled in the course (but only 120 will attend lectures, let’s be honest here), which means there will be, at least, 120 instances of creaking because no one sits entirely still for over two hours. Imagine you’re trying to listen to the prof — creak. Imagine you’re trying to write down an explanation that isn’t on the slide — creak. Imagine you’re trying to remember your questio — creak. I think you get it no — creak. 

#3 The class is 2:30pm–5:20pm
This is, in my opinion, the worst time to have a lecture. Why, you may ask? Because, it is too early in the day to do anything productive before class, and finishes too late to do anything after class. Don’t you want to get a head start on your day, like a productive person? Don’t you want the same life as those people that wake up at the crack of dawn to go to a sweaty commercial gym and drink your sludgy protein shake in those annoying shaker tumblers? Don’t you want to embody the “that girl” aesthetic? I know it’s too late for New Year’s resolutions, but it’s never too late to be that girl. I want to be that girl too . . . ANYWAYS, imagine all of the free time you’ll have in the evening. Whether you just want to kick back and watch a movie, or actually go out with your friends who you never see. 

I never do see them.

#4 The professor curves the class
Oh my goodness! They actually curve the class up, what a nice professor . . . right? Wrong. You want to know what’s disheartening? Getting a raw 80% and being curved down to a C because the average grade was a 95%. If you do end up taking the class (and taking an L, in my opinion), look around when you’re in lecture. Those people are your competition. May the odds be ever in your favour, because your grade will be dependent on how well you do in relation to the class, not based on how well you do as an individual. Do you want all of your hard work to be for nothing . . . More importantly, do I want all of my work to be for nothing?

#5 There is a 4-page paper
Believing shorter papers are easier is the number one mistake you can make. Shorter doesn’t mean less work, it means being more concise . . . which ends up being more work. If the paper is longer and you’re below the word count, there are hacks and phrases to increase your word count. Unfortunately for you, there aren’t any “hacks” to decrease your word count. You simply hope that you cut out the less relevant information, while keeping the important information. 

Wait . . . everything I’m saying is true. This class is horrible, in more ways than one (five, to be precise, but who bothers to count things.) I don’t want to commute to class on a crowded bus that’s rarely reliable. I’m talking to you, R5. 

I want to see my friends in the evening and be that girl in the morning. I don’t want to be compared to others and, most importantly, I want to be able to ramble with bullshit on an 8-page paper (because who wants to edit a small paper over and over.) You can have your seat in CLAS 101 because I’m taking a different class this semester and it’s called METIME101.

Look what you made me do,

Maya 

Creative Corner: Acrylic pour reignited my creativity

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Peak Web
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A white and pink flower on a black canvas background made using acrylic pour method.
PHOTO: Farah Messan, SFU Student

By: Farah Messan, SFU Student

At the height of pandemic restrictions in 2020, I had become consumed by loneliness and felt an insatiable thirst for excitement and exploration — all of which seemed, at the time, impossible within the confinements of my four walls. Being isolated and miles away from my family had taken a toll on my mental health. I searched for comfort on Netflix and YouTube, but quickly grew bored. I decided to seek it elsewhere and that was when I remembered my passion for creating art. 

Though drawing and painting in particular had never been my forte, upon coming across a 10-second acrylic pour video on my Instagram discovery feed, the simplicity and beauty of the pouring process intrigued me. While it seemed expressive, it also seemed feasible (as a novice painter). I quickly watched several tutorials on YouTube to better understand this form of art and get myself started: The ones that helped me most were beginner guides from the channels Tiktus color Art and Kristen // K.becca. 

Without hesitation, I ransacked my room for materials. The only items I needed were small tubes of acrylic paint, small cups to hold the paint in, 10×10 size canvas, and a tray to pour the paint over, all of which I had purchased at a dollar store. 

My very first project was a red and white flower over a black canvas, followed by an abstract multi-coloured pour. Since then, I have made other acrylic pours as gifts for my friends and family, but I keep my very first ones hanging in my living room, as mementos of having found light during a dark time. 

For the floral pour art, I started by painting the entire canvas black. Then, I made a tiny string out of some worn-out clothes and dipped it into the white paint, before carefully placing it on the painted canvas in an “S” shape and pulling it downwards to create a floral shape. I repeated this step for a variety of colours. For the abstract art piece, I chose five acrylic paint colours and collected them into the cups. I placed them on top of the canvas in a quick motion, one after the other, and removed the cup from above the canvas. Once all the paint was poured onto the canvas, I simply moved around the canvas to ensure it was completely covered in paint. The best part about this technique is how “messy” yet beautiful the outcome is. Not to mention, it’s extremely fun to play around with paint!

The joy I felt after my first pour was reminiscent of what I felt during my high school days when I used writing as an outlet for my feelings and emotions. Looking back, I realized my coping mechanisms largely revolved around creating art. Whether it was through journaling or writing short stories on Wattpad, pouring out my emotion in a creative way is a form of escapism for me. I always found that letting my feelings out of my head and into art gave me more clarity and level-headedness, which in turn allowed me to better address situations I was going through. Needless to say, I remembered at last how journaling and writing short stories were a tremendous help during rougher periods of my life and acrylic pour helped me reignite that side of me.

GradCOLA protests against the student funding crisis at SFU

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Peak Web
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This is a photo of the SFU Burnaby campus. The outdoor staircase into the convocation mall is shown. The sky is dark and cloudy.
PHOTO: Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson / The Peak

By: Natalie Cooke, News Writer 

On December 12, 2022, the SFU Graduate Student Society (GSS) and Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) organized a noise demonstration in response to the funding crisis that many students across North America face. Most graduate students rely on the income they receive from teaching or departmental scholarships. The precarious nature of these jobs does not offer stability to the many graduates paying off student loans. According to Statistics Canada, roughly half of graduate students have student debt upon their graduations.

The Canadian Federation of Students reported in 2019 the average debt for bachelor’s and master’s students was $28,000 and the average debt for doctoral students was $33,000. 

GSS and TSSU formed the GradCOLA coalition and the noise demonstration initiated the beginning of the GradCOLA campaign, which now has a list of demands for the university. Their demands include offering a minimum of $32,000 to graduate students doing research-based work, freezing tuition increases, paying graduate student research assistants the equivalent to teaching assistants, and increasing SFU’s budget for research and academic work.

Angela Wilson, senior director of media relations and public affairs, said in a statement to The Peak, “We recognize the increasing cost pressures students are facing with inflation, the rising costs of living, and limitations in grant funding. SFU continues to look for opportunities to address student affordability challenges. Student affordability is also something that the university continues to address in partnership with student groups and our government partners.”

Economic pressures and financial issues with housing and access to food have led to poor mental health among students. GradCOLA claims SFU has not properly responded to the crisis and needs to address the rising costs of tuition, campus housing, and establishing funding standards. 

Sina Falakian, an SFU graduate student in the physics department, explained the pressures graduate students face in an interview with The Peak. “All the graduate students who are supporting themselves are facing financial problems. Their income simply is not sufficient to pay for rent and living costs. Therefore, they have to live in cheap rooms that are not safe, have financial stress, have to work outside of the university, and some are facing depression because of these pressures.” Falakian said SFU is not supporting these issues. They added SFU needs to increase student income as living costs increase in Metro Vancouver. 

SFU guarantees all graduate students an income of roughly $25,000, depending on the program. The funding is from a combination of scholarships, teaching assistant positions, and research stipends. Falakian mentioned the GSS and TSSU want to adjust the minimum income for graduate students to $32,000 per year. “This change will help students to have less financial stress and focus more on their research. I would also like to mention the very high cost of living for grad students on the campus which needs to be addressed.” 

For a single person living in Metro Vancouver, the average cost per month is approximately $1,300, not including rent. Further, the average cost of rent is roughly $2,500. The annual cost of living would therefore be $45,600. 

Other GradCOLA demands included removing an artificial cap on student income, where more work should be rewarded with more pay. A study conducted across North America found that 76% of graduate students felt the most challenging part of their degree is the cost of living crisis they face. This forces many students to take on extra work, on top of their research. 

“SFU is one of the few Canadian universities that offers support to international students through bursaries. Over 800+ scholarships, awards and bursaries are offered to undergraduate and graduate students (including international students),” said Wilson. “In 2022, more than $2.6 M was raised to support graduate students and there were 421 grad students who received financial support.” 

Wilson encouraged “SFU students who need support to contact the Financial Aid and Awards Office to discuss available options.” She noted SFU is currently developing and implementing their 2023–2028 Strategic Research Plan, which is working to define “ a university-wide minimum funding level for research graduate students.”

New anthology explores how Vancouver’s support structures can guide us through precarious times

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Peak Web
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What Are Our Supports? co-edited by Joni Low and Jeff O’Brien, and co-published by Information Office, Doryphore Independent Curators Society, Richmond Art Gallery, and Art Metropole. Book is laying flat on a grey surface.
PHOTO: Information Office

By: Saije Rusimovici, Staff Writer

In the midst of a global pandemic, climate change, and economic instability, What Are Our Supports? provides a unique look at the ways artwork can inspire human connection. The anthology, which was published on January 21, recognizes how support structures offer a sense of solidarity and togetherness through difficult times. Over 20 contributing artists bring attention to social issues: racial injustice, the Vancouver housing crisis, and the climate crisis through local projects designed to invoke a sense of community. Through artists initiatives such as public art installations, commissioned poems, and essays, What Are Our Supports? explores the need for social connection now more than ever before. 

The book features art installations from What Are Our Supports? curated by Low in partnership with Or Gallery and Richmond Art Gallery. The project, which occurred during 2018, was “a series of artists’ projects in public space exploring the supports that bear, create and sustain contexts for artistic production, communities, and collective space.” This book expands on the project to demonstrate how the sensory experience of art can guide us through uncertain times. 

Co-editor Joni Low draws attention to the project H&M: Home Made Home Boothy, created by contributor Germaine Koh. The boothy is an adaptable structure that could either be used as an object or container for several purposes, from an artist’s tool to alternative housing. Koh refers to the container as a threshold between object and building, allowing users to create the spaces they need. Working to open up conversation to address housing needs in unaffordable Vancouver, Koh considers these forms of mutual care necessary for the good of the community, brought to life by artists. For this reason, Koh urges for the recognition of artists as essential workers. 

“The twin crises of the pandemic and racialized violence have highlighted urgent need to cultivate practices of care in our daily lives, from recognizing the indispensable caregiving provided by essential workers, to the rising call of the BLM movement,” Koh quotes British curator Yesomi Umolu, author of The Land Grant: Forest Law.

Germaine Koh and Aron Louis Cohen stand inside Home Made Home Boothy, as part of Afterlives (currency) by Koh, Cohen, and Russell Gordon, 2018.
PHOTO: Photo by Joni Low. Courtesy of the artists.

Another piece that stood out in the book was the art installation, un/settled. It’s a tribute to Breonna Taylor and Black womanhood, featuring the portraiture by Chantal Gibson accompanied by a poem written by SFU’s 2020 writer in residence Otoniya J. Okot Bitek. The depiction of a Black woman clutching an armful of braids, In Lieu of Flowers (for Breonna), celebrates Black creativity during a time of ongoing systemic violence against people of colour. According to SFU News, having this art piece positioned in the windows of the Belzberg Library at SFU’s Vancouver campus in 2021 was meant to engage the local community in a meaningful way in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Low said that when it comes to activism, there is not necessarily a “nuts and bolts, how to, or policy manual of answers.” According to Low, the drive for social change begins with our senses. Art allows us to “tune in,” using our intuition to figure out what issues are important to us, then move to take action. We must integrate this sensorial agency into everyday practice as a guide to determine what is important to us, and how to support.

What Are Our Supports? is a beautiful compilation of stories told through different modalities of art. Art inspires not only a shared connection to humanity, but opens our eyes, minds, and hearts to our community.   

Order What Are Our Supports here.

Spirit of British Columbia flips out for Instagram flop outs

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Peak Web
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A stock photo of a sinking ship with a frowny face doodled on top.
PHOTO: Isaac Struna / Unsplash ILLUSTRATION: Kelly Chia / The Peak

By: Clarence Ndabahwerize, Staff Writer

SAANICH — Shortly after departing Swartz Bay at 7:00 p.m., the Spirit of British Columbia put out a distress call signalling that it was sinking. Rescue boats were on the scene shortly after, and no fatalities were reported. Questions were raised however, about how this had happened. Interviews following multiple reports revealed that the suspicious scuffle on the sun deck turned out to be passengers running from port to starboard seeking the perfect sunset picture “for the ‘gram’.” To the North was the Georgia Strait and Gulf Islands, and to the South was the alluring and towering Mount Baker. Passengers on the sun deck simply wanted both pictures, and in the process, became akin to wild Canadian geese. 

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, from Saguenay, Qué, was just eating his unholy combination of clam chowder and poutine when it happened. “They were like a swarm of bees, the photographs being the queen they paid worship to! J’ai le feu au cul!” he said. Calls from the bridge to stop all this hubbub were ignored. When the captain and stewards tried to calm the situation themselves, they too were struck by the trance and joined in on the fun. As the situation evolved, the merry folks took turns gatekeeping the sun deck as everyone clamoured for the perfect picture. No one is quite sure if the frenzy happened on the lower decks, but if the ferry capsized, surely, nothing can be ruled out! Transport Canada, Health Canada, the RCMP, and the Umbrella Corporation will soon hold a joint press conference to reveal more information.

One of the standout stories of this treacherous evening was the connection between human and animalkind (other animals, that is)! Especially when a few passengers from Nova Scotia — whose connection with the sea is notoriously remarkable — summoned a few orcas to graciously take them ashore. 

Residents of Swartz Bay have unfortunately been left to deal with several car alarms still going off aboard the sunken vessel. They have taken to putting out ads in the Times Colonist to get their owners to scuba dive, or something. They of course proceed to disable the alarms by locking their vehicles, which is of course the only thing you can do. 

Horoscopes: January 9–13

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Peak Web
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An illustration of a girl with long flowing hair. Astrological signs and stars shine around her.
ILLUSTRATION: Marissa Ouyang / The Peak

By: Hannah Kazemi, Staff Writer, extremely judgemental

Aries
This is your year to be AGGRESSIVE, Aries. Start using periods in those texts and assert your opinions without cushioning it with uncomfortable laughter because you are unsure. You are always right! The Stars see you, and are behind you 100%! Punch a cloud to display your newfound confidence.

Taurus
It’s time to get real, Taurus. Stop promising yourself you’ll actually make decisions when your friends ask what you want to eat. May we suggest resolving to get outside more? Touching grass might be good for your brain cells and inspire you to become decisive.

Gemini
For once in your life you’ve set a realistic goal: stop spending all your money on Chipotle. But fear not! You’ll likely spend that money on sushi instead, putting to use any dollars that might have had a chance at being saved. You’re all about maximizing your money, Gemini. The Stars aren’t sure if you understand how saving money actually works, but it’s still adorable to watch.

Cancer
You made a resolution as soon as the clock struck midnight on January 1, but you enjoyed yourself too much and can’t remember what it is. Happy days, Cancer!

Leo
You spent New Year’s Eve wracking your brain for a resolution that you’ll actually be able to stick to, and you finally landed on eating less cheese for some fucking reason. The Stars regret to inform you that this resolution is not advised due to the fact that cheese is delicious, and without it, you’ll die.

Virgo
You’ve never been inspired to set a resolution until this year. You decided to finally cancel your gym membership and start walking more. You realized that the money you’ve been spending on the gym could be spent walking around the mall shopping for jewelry you don’t need instead.

Libra
You’re stumped on what your goal should be and it’s the middle of January already, which means 2023 is off to a bad start and you still can’t think of anything and, and, and . . . My dear Libra. It’s all good! You’ll find your goal as you go.

Scorpio
Get your shit together and admit that setting a goal to “drink more water each day” just isn’t going to happen. Unless iced coffee counts towards hydration . . . In that case, you’ve already well surpassed your goal. Go you, Scorpio!

Sagittarius
Your resolution is to “treat yourself more,” which the Stars assume means ordering a macchiato whenever you want without feeling guilty and watching more shitty reality TV. Bravo has a new number one fan and it’s you, babe!

Capricorn
You stopped making resolutions years ago because you realized that they’re bullshit! Good for you.

Aquarius
You set a resolution to put yourself out there more and give dating apps a shot. Unfortunately this means that you have to struggle bus through “hey whats up” and “not much hbu” convos until your head explodes. The Stars believe in you, Aquarius. Just keep trying, I guess?

Pisces
Every year, your resolution is to slay each day, and every year you meet that goal. You never fail to let yourself down, even if the goal can’t actually be measured and what constitutes a “slay” isn’t clear. Like, at all. But the Stars consider that a win anyways. Keep slaying, babe!

Fitness for first-timers

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Peak Web
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Illustration of a diverse group of people of different abilities working out.
ILLUSTRATION: Jiamin Bai / The Peak

By: Natalie Cooke, News Writer 

New year, new you! As you step into the gym this January, you’ll see many people at different points of their fitness journey: from old-timers, to people on day one, and those starting fresh on a newly inspired journey. Regardless of where you fit along this spectrum, it’s important to recognize that a healthy lifestyle looks different for everyone depending on their goals. Understanding fitness with a “one size fits all” approach can make an already challenging experience that much more intimidating. 

While fitness doesn’t shy away from acknowledging the challenges that can come along with starting a new workout routine, sayings such as “go hard or go home” or “no pain, no gain” falsely attribute success to the amount of discomfort a person experiences. But how will I know if I’m making progress? It’s true that you might feel an ache while working out and for days afterwards. But that’s most likely a micro-tear and is your body’s way of allowing the new muscle to build itself up. Not feeling this sensation is completely normal, and doesn’t mean you’re not making improvements. 

Professional baseball player Yogi Berra famously said that baseball is 90% mental, and the same can be said about fitness. People often get hung up on the numbers they see on a scale because they believe this is a quantitative measurement of how far they’ve come. While this may be an important measure for people who need to be in a certain weight class for competitions or training, numbers can be deceiving. Muscle is denser than fat. It’s not uncommon for your weight to increase while feeling and looking better. 

So how exactly do you start a fitness journey? Kris Robertson, SFU head coach of strength & conditioning, and Tanner Care, SFU assistant coach of strength & conditioning, provided the best ways to avoid pitfalls, stay motivated, and consume enough protein. Coach Robertson said step one is finding a gym buddy. “A lot of [first-timers] don’t know what they’re doing. People end up getting hurt, and end up in this cycle where you’re hurt, you don’t go to the gym, you try to get back to the gym, and get hurt again.” 

“Find someone who knows what they’re doing — whether that’s a friend, personal trainer, or coach — that’s going to help you get to where you need to be.”

Now that you’re learning how to navigate the fitness world, how can you stay motivated? Coach Care emphasized the importance of discipline when changes aren’t immediate. It can take upwards of eight weeks for changes in strength to become apparent. While this can be discouraging, it’s important to stick with it, and see working out as a marathon and not a race. This means staying consistent. Nothing will change overnight. It’s important to keep yourself in a routine; creating a program for a set period of time will allow you to get into the practice of incorporating exercise into your daily life. After all, fitness should still be fun! 

Another key aspect of motivation is addressing the reason why you’re working on your well-being. Coach Robertson said keeping track of your progress helps hold yourself accountable. He compares journaling to writing “a contract with yourself.” 

“Don’t be embarrassed, and don’t be afraid of what your ‘why’ is. At the end of the day, it’s only between you and yourself.”

Eating habits are just as important as consistency. Coach Care explained the need for a high protein intake to facilitate muscle growth, as well as healthy carbohydrates to have enough energy for your workouts. Everyone requires different amounts of protein depending on their fitness level, age, and body composition goals. However, 0.8–1.5 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight is suggested. Coach Robertson recommended to “sandwich” your workouts before and after with food. Three meals a day and snacks with a balance of macronutrients — carbohydrates, protein, and fat — is the way to go.

Many people use the improvement of their appearance as a motivator, and while that might get you through the gym doors, it’s important to understand the lasting effects of a healthy lifestyle. Coach Care described how diabetes, heart disease, and mental health troubles have drastically increased. With all the health issues that exist, you need to “control what you can control” of your eating, sleeping, and training habits. 30-minutes is the benchmark for daily physical activity. That’s 30-minutes of movement, whether that be from washing your car or dancing to music. For individuals with low mobility, arm circles and body raises are best. Resistance bands can be used for an extra challenge. 

While setting goals can motivate a person, fitness is life-long. It doesn’t have to be done strictly for physical results. Aerobic exercises such as running, swimming, walking, dancing, among others have been shown to reduce anxiety and depression. That being said, a healthy lifestyle does not guarantee fewer health issues. 

So what have we learned? Fitness is what you make of it and is unique to every individual person. Some might start their fitness journey by choice. Some may have more serious health implications. No matter how big or small the change you seek is, you’re still going out of your way to better yourself. Talk about power. 

Monday Music: Uplifting Afropop

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Peak Web
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“Monday Music” in orange block text on a yellow rectangular background with rounded corners and an orange border.
Monday Music: your weekly themed playlist. Image courtesy of The Peak.

By: Balqees Jama, SFU Student

Listening to Afropop makes me wish I fully understood Pidgin so I could get even more lost in its euphonic bliss. Afrobeats is an umbrella genre of contemporary pop and music from Nigeria, Ghana, and their diaspora. Afrobeats is not to be confused with “Afrobeat” (without the “s”), which is a genre created by Fela Kuti and Tony Allen in the 1970s. Some modern Afrobeats artists distinguish their music as Afropop or Afrofusion, which is a lively blend of complex musical elements and influences. Here’s some of the best Afropop songs released in 2022 to soothe and empower you through winter. 

Listen to the full playlist on The Peak’s Spotify profile.

“Cast (Gen Z Anthem)” by Ayra Starr 
Photo courtesy of Mavin Records

“Cast (Gen Z Anthem)” is an expression of freedom and a promise by Starr to live her life authentically at her own pace. With a distinct vocal style, she tells off people who don’t approve of her newfound freedom and tells them to judge if they want. Starr sends a wake up call to herself and others by dismantling the weight of society’s senseless expectations, while seizing opportunities and blessings with no shame.

“KU LO SA  (A Colors Show Performance)” by Oxlade
Photo courtesy of Epic

“KU LO SA” is a play on the word “closer.” The premise of the song is simple: Oxlade sings his heart out for a girl he loves. The magic of “KU LO SA” lies in the artistry Oxlade infuses into his production. The sounds are tactfully and intricately layered, giving me goosebumps every time I listen. His live performance on A Colors Show showcases Oxlade’s voice control, including his effortless usage of riffs, runs, and falsettos. This winter, let “KU LO SA” be the warm, harmonious hug you didn’t know you needed.

“Good Times” by Aṣa feat. The Cavemen
Photo courtesy of Platoon

“Good Times” is a sweet ode to friendships. In this gentle concoction of Highlife melody and instrumentals, Aṣa feat. The Cavemenfuse African genres with rock, jazz, hip-hop, and pop music. They share appreciation for their sincere connections and yearn to be with their dear friends. They describe cherished qualities of friends that you may not even find in your own biological family, including integrity and loyalty. This song always makes me think of close friends that I miss and long to be with.

We need to talk about parents who exploit their kids for clicks

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PHOTO: Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson / The Peak

By: C Icart, Staff Writer

Another day, another TikTok prank trend.

Prank videos do great online, with countless people joining in on the trend for laughs and likes. But how do we know when we’ve gone too far? 

Case in point, there’s so much content of parents pranking their children online. Last summer, a few adults nonsensically asked kids to put on special fighting shoes just to see how they’d react. Then, there are  more obvious extremes like the channel DaddyOFive. The channel featured “pranks”  consisting mostly of parents screaming at their children for supposedly getting into small accidents around the house — essentially abusing their kids  to the point where Child Protective Services had to get involved. Beyond the world of online pranks, there are many reasons why we should think twice about uploading content of children online. 

Generally, social media requires users, regardless of their country of origin, to be over 13 to create an account because of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. The Act “prohibits American companies from collecting personal information from children under 13 without parental consent, or [from collecting] more personal information than they need to operate a service aimed at children under 13.” But as we know, children younger than 13 regularly create accounts anyways and parents regularly post content featuring their children online. 

Family vlogging is popular, but some of the content is exploitative. In general, pranking children needs to be done with consideration. Even without extreme cases like DaddyOFive, regularly upsetting children for views is standard on many family channels across social media platforms. While it may be funny for those who understand the prank, the kids may remember it as a scary or upsetting moment that undermines their trust in their parents. 

Is supporting family vloggers always negative? Well, it’s hard to tell. Monetizing this content puts parents in a situation where their children work for them, blurring the line between leisure and labour. But it technically exists in a grey area where children are not protected by child labour laws, like child performers working in more traditional industries. For example, Myka and James Stauffer’s channel exploded when they began sharing their adoption journey. But will Huxley, the autistic child who was ultimately “rehomed,” ever receive any compensation both for generating money for the family and for having to live with vulnerable moments like having a meltdown online? 

What about the kidfluencers? They advertise to children, and while this content usually includes disclosure, the kids watching don’t understand that.

And what about casually posting content about your children online? Just because your intentions for posting the content are innocent, does not mean that like-minded people are the ones viewing it. Some parents made the horrifying discovery that some of the videos they posted ended up on pedophile websites or that the primary demographic watching their young children was older men. There’s an endless stream of terrible possibilities associated with pushing your kids into social media. 

While a lot of this content can be cute and heartwarming, it’s important to remember that the children in these videos are at risk of identity theft, stalking, “cyberbullying, predators, or privacy violations.” However, unlike adult social media users, they don’t even know it. Children do not understand the implications of having content of themselves online and cannot consent to it. Digital footprints are forever, and some things do not need to be posted online for everyone to see. Imagine your mom pulling out your embarrassing childhood photos when your crush comes over, except it’s anyone being able to access them online just by knowing your name. 

Next time your young cousin does something cute, consider sharing the clip with your family instead of posting. They might thank you someday.

Preventative care is the critical next step for the Canadian medical system

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ILLUSTRATION: Alyssa Umbal / The Peak

By: Saije Rusimovici, Staff Writer

The Canadian healthcare system is struggling. Hospital overcrowding has been a huge issue, creating difficult working conditions for nurses and hospital staff. Physicians are having trouble seeing patients, and Canadian healthcare has been critiqued as “reactive.” 

Preventative care — which includes encouraging vaccination, providing early education on health and nutrition, and offering resources to vulnerable older adults — is one way to take the load off this crisis. 

Preventative care doesn’t just stop at vaccination and healthy living. The independent Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care offers an A–Z list breaking down strategies for care. These measures are aimed at combating the onset of a range of illnesses, from depression to cancer. 

Preventative care doesn’t just apply to illness prevention though — it also includes proper management of long-term conditions. This can reduce the risk of serious complications or disease progression.

Types of preventative care can vary from medical intervention to educational services. Regular doctor visits, blood pressure tests, cancer screenings, and vaccines all are types of preventative care according to the American Human Health Services. However, preventative care isn’t a cure-all. According to a 2022 study, relying solely on an in-hospital preventative care model, while continuing to care for chronic and acute illnesses, risks overwhelming doctors. So, we need to extend preventative care beyond routine medical tests; it needs to become a personal habit.

To make preventative healthcare a regular personal practice for Canadians, we need better education on maintaining physical and mental wellness. Fraser Health provides a comprehensive list of resources for teachers and administrators that focus on physical health, nutrition, exercise, substance use, sexual health, and mental health and wellness. These are essential practices that should be incorporated into school curriculum at every level. This type of education would not only give students the opportunity to learn more about health and wellness, but work towards creating healthy habits to prevent future medical issues.

Now, while preventative healthcare is necessary, it is important to note that not all health issues can be prevented. Some people are born with disabilities, while others acquire disabilities later in life. 

Moving forward, it is essential that Canadian medical system reforms include better access to resources, equipment, and support for those living with disabilities. They also face barriers accessing preventative care due to accessibility issues. For this reason, it is also critical to work towards making sure preventative care measures are taken more seriously to address the needs of disabled people who require access.

Embracing preventative care in hospitals and education must be done in concert with other medical reforms. There’s no question that keeping Canadians out of the hospital through better living will help ease the load on the healthcare system. But it’s a long-term solution. Our medical personnel need to be given the tools to succeed in the here and now. That means building additional capacity in our hospitals, providing staff with the resources they need to care for the sick, and, yes, paying them more. 

Preventative care must become an essential component of the Canadian medical system as a cost-effective way to improve life expectancy and keep more people out of hospitals. Beginning at the elementary school level, education on preventative health strategies should be brought to schools across Canada and integrated into the curriculum. This isn’t just about reforming the Canadian medical system, but a plan that must be embraced at the individual, social, and governmental levels.

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Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

Contact us: [email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society 1965-2024

Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

Contact us:
[email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society 1965-2024