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The SFU Alumni Association votes to merge with SFU

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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: Aditi Dwivedi, News Writer

SFU’s Alumni Association held a vote on February 15 to determine the future of their organization. SFU was proposing to change the current Alumni Association from a legally separate organization, to an internal SFU entity, which would include an appointed Council. All registered members of the Alumni Association were invited to approve or disapprove the proposed changes.

On February 15, the Alumni Association voted to dissolve. Former SFU undergraduate student Corbett Gildersleve posted to social media, “Well, the SFU Alumni Association voted to dissolve itself tonight and transfer their assets to SFU. It will now be replaced by a new association that has an alumni Council with members appointed by the SFU President, and no longer be independent of SFU.” The SFU Alumni Association was previously an organization with their own elected Board of Directors. They functioned as an independent link between SFU and its community of alumni. 

According to a statement issued by Braden McMillan, director of media relations and public affairs for SFU, the intent behind the vote was “to align SFU’s alumni program with industry best practices and modernize the governance model, which has remained largely unchanged since its inception in 1969.” 

McMillan also stated only 10% of SFU’s alumni were registered as members of the association; the proposed changes will enable all SFU students to automatically become part of the Alumni Association upon graduation.

The university claimed this decision would “ensure an inclusive governance model.” An SFU alum, who chose to stay anonymous, spoke to The Peak about the possible negative ramifications of this decision. According to them, the association has a fiduciary responsibility which holds them accountable to the alumni, and ensures the usage of funds for the benefit of the alumni. With the dissolution of the association as a separate organization, “there will be no official accountability to alumni at all, for how funds specifically earmarked for alumni engagement are being used.”

Before the associations’ dissolution, the university was required to pass all decisions relating to alumni engagement — use of funds, organization of events, and others — through the Alumni Association. In accordance with the BC Societies Act, the association had “made all of their financial statements and inner workings public.” The anonymous SFU alum believes the vote on February 15 was a tool for the university to “handpick alumni that it wants from the society at large, and have absolutely no transparency in how anything is carried out when it comes to alumni engagement.”

According to the anonymous source, they believe the dissolution may affect the focus of funding priorities. They believe the SFU Alumni Association will stop focusing on alumni assistance and welfare, to only fundraising, and “extracting money from existing alumni” for the upcoming fundraising goals of the university. The association had normally focused on organizing career fairs, networking nights, discounted workshops for alumni, and awarding outstanding alumni for excellence in their respective fields.

In a survey conducted by the SFU Alumni Association in 2021, the alumni were asked about their expectations from the university. According to the anonymous source, the general overview of answers concluded the alumni were asking for ongoing career support — one on one career services for alumni and academic support. The anonymous SFU alumnus believes if the alumni realized that voting in favor of dissolution would mean a loss of what they expect from the university in terms of engagement, then the motion would not have passed. 

However, they noted a major cause of concern is the lack of awareness about the vote amongst most SFU alumni. They noted the university had neither publicized it, nor posted about it on any of their social media channels, including the SFU Alumni Association website.

For more information on registering as a member of the SFU Alumni Association please visit their website.

Creative Corner: Poetry and its therapeutic properties

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Peak Web
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A lined notebook on a wooden table with a pen and purple flowers on top.
PHOTO: Sixteen Miles Out / Unsplash

By: Jeeya Parasbhai Khavadia, SFU Student

Poems, stories, and other types of creative writing have piqued my interest since I was a child. I used to tear poems from magazines and place them inside my school textbooks to lift myself up. However, I never imagined I could be a poet. Thankfully, my mother did! She noticed my interest and purchased several books about how to write poetry. She used to take me to creative writing workshops, force me to compete in school competitions, and teach me rhyming techniques.

Five years after writing my first poem, I can proudly call myself a poet. Poetry for me is like toys for a kid; like a kid is attached to their toys, I am deeply attached to poetry. Some days, I will even get teary-eyed if words don’t go together in a poem or if it doesn’t turn out how I envisioned.

Poems have the potential to convey far beyond what long prose can. My favourite line of poetry is from “Dreams” by Langston Hughes: “hold fast to dreams for if dreams die / life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” This is such a profound sentence, but it’s explained so succinctly. Using symbolism, imagery, and metaphor, a deep meaning is conveyed in a beautiful way.

Both reading and writing poetry can be a therapeutic process. Poetry therapy, a subtype of bibliotherapy, involves reading and writing poems for personal growth and healing. Writing poetry is therapy for me and an important part of my daily life. Sitting in a park or garden with a notebook and a cup of coffee gives me a sense of calm and stability, which benefits my studies and how I deal with difficult situations in my life. In my own piece, “The Truth of Life,” I wrote about how “In this play called life / we are just puppets who never survive.” 

All of this is possible because my mom believed in me and encouraged me to pursue my passion. Don’t underestimate encouragement from those around you because those who care want to see you succeed in life. Even if you feel insecure in your abilities, you can excel in areas you had no idea you could. 

Finally, I’d like to motivate you to experiment with something new in your life by quoting some lines from Catherine Pulsifer’s poem, “You Can:” “And as you move towards your goal / you may find potholes in the roadway / But with a plan and a determined attitude / You can achieve a new beginning / if you want to!”

Climate change impacts mental health within youth

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Peak Web
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This is a photo of climate protestors. One person among the crowd is holding a sign that reads “There is no Planet B”
PHOTO: Li-An Lim / Unsplash

By: Natalie Cooke, News Writer 

The 2023 Summit of Mental Health and Climate Change is hosted by the Mental Health and Climate Change Alliance. Topics centered around the adverse impacts the climate crisis has on mental health and well-being. The Summit is a two-day virtual event that began in 2021 where over 120 climate change and mental health experts share their insights. 

Matt Treble, one of the speakers at the event, is a graduate student at Athabasca University. He currently works as a youth mental health counsellor at two non-profit organizations. His research and discussion analyzed climate change anxiety and existential anxiety among youth. 

Treble explained in his discussion why he was interested to start research in this field. “My clientele is generally 14–19, and I noticed over the past few years that [ . . . ] folks are really struggling about how to conceptualize their future, and how to plan what careers they want to do, and what type of family planning that they want to do in the context of uncertainty.” He noted, “Climate change was cited as a source of concern.” 

Existential anxiety is “a feeling of dread or panic that arises when a person confronts the limitations of their existence. Thoughts of death, the meaningless of life, or the insignificance of self, can all trigger existential anxiety.” 

Treble noted, “From a counselling psychology perspective, we look at existential anxiety and existentialism as the search for meaning and authenticity within your life.” He found this uncertainty can lead to mental health issues, especially in youth. 

Treble explained youth are trying to determine a “sense of self” through finding, “agency and resiliency.” However, their agency and resiliency are threatened by climate change because they seemingly have no control in this environmental battle. 

In Treble’s research, he asked youth to respond to the question of how they feel when thinking about climate change. The respondents said they felt hopeless due to a lack of control of the world’s future, as well as guilty that they may not be doing enough. When the researchers asked, “How does climate change affect how you think about your future?” responses underscored a feeling of discouragement. For example, responses were framed around the idea that if the world is coming to an end, there is no point in progressing in one’s career or bringing children into a world that will cease to exist. 

However, some adolescents also shared they are increasingly motivated to facilitate change, and they are inspired by activists such as Greta Thunberg. Beginning her activism as a teenager, she has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize on two separate occasions, Thunberg continues to demonstrate leadership and initiative among youth. 

Treble’s data shows “Climate change awareness creates a wide array of emotional responses in Canadian adolescents.” He explained, “The results from this study could help inform the counselling psychology discipline to create targeted climate specific interventions and techniques, to support adolescents that are experiencing mental health issues from climate change awareness.” 

For more information and resources for worries and anxiety related to climate change, visit the Mental Health and Climate Change Alliance website. 

SFU should make Indigenous language courses free for students

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Peak Web
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a stack of books about Indigenous languages
PHOTO: Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson / The Peak

By: Saije Rusimovici, Staff Writer

Content warning: mentions of residential schools and colonialism.

Language inspires connection. Being able to communicate in the language of your culture fosters meaningful engagement within and outside of your community. In high school, students in British Columbia are required to take a language course as a part of their curriculum until grade 11. This is a core part of the public school program, but many discontinue their language learning after graduation. Making language courses free in Canada would be a critical step towards preserving language and culture for many people, and encourage post-secondary students to sign up for additional language courses. Furthermore, implementing Indigenous language programs at post-secondary institutions is crucial. This is more than a step towards reconciliation — it’s a way for Indigenous students to connect with their cultural roots. 

Proper language instruction is an important part of Canada’s multicultural landscape. Sustaining language is a necessity. To encourage further study of French, the Canadian government has created the Explore program, a fully-funded French immersion program that allows individuals to learn or improve their language skills in an immersive environment. This includes participating in cultural activities, themed workshops, and weekly events. 

But what about Indigenous languages? One might say that you can learn a new language on apps like Duolingo nowadays, but many languages are not accessible on apps like these. Indigenous languages like the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim and Halkomelem, for example, are not included.  Encouraging connection to one’s culture by making language courses more accessible should be a top priority for SFU. 

The Sníchim Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing immersive language opportunities for adult learners to raise the number of fluent Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim speakers. They explain that Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim is “historically an oral language without a formal writing system.” They add that the number of reported fluent Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim speakers has risen from 10 to 100 since 2010. It is the Sníchim Foundation’s mission to further increase the number of fluent speakers, as revitalization of Indigenous languages is a necessary component of working towards decolonization and Indigenous cultural resurgence. 

Through a partnership with SFU, the Squamish Language Academy teaches Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim for free. This is an excellent step forward for the revitalization of Indigenous languages. SFU has an Indigenous language learning program, but cost shouldn’t be a barrier in connecting with your culture. Making language programs free is a necessary part of reconciliation, especially when language erasure is a painful mark of colonialism. SFU is still in the process of decolonizing.

Part of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report places an emphasis on language as a key aspect of reconciliation. The assimilation of Indigenous children into residential schools is one of many colonial injustices responsible for the loss of fluent Indigenous language speakers. Many people’s ties to storytelling, oral histories, music, and everyday speech have been severed by the effects of colonization. 

This is a truly devastating fact, as I know the times I’ve felt most connected to my own heritage was through spoken language. In my second year at SFU, I took two consecutive semesters of introductory Italian. Coming from Italian heritage, this wasn’t just a useful tool to help me interact with my family members and coworkers. It strengthened my connections to the community. For this reason, accessible language education is not only a necessary aspect of preserving identities, but a key step towards decolonization. 

The Neurochemistry of love, desire, and attraction

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Peak Web
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Actually, love comes from the brain, not the heart. PHOTO: Robina Weermeijer / Unsplash

By: Vee Babbar, SFU Student

It’s likely we’ve all questioned the meaning of love at some point in our lives. Some might think they have never crossed paths with this odd physiological neurochemistry. However, love can come in many forms. It could be as simple as falling head over heels for your new job as a bartender in the bustling streets of Berlin, or as complex as trying to understand molecular thermodynamics. This wizardry is inevitable and is bound to happen sooner or later, transcending all boundaries and expectations. The complexity of this affection is a testament to this powerful emotion’s depth and versatility. Whether romantic love, platonic love, or love for a new adventure, passion reminds us of the boundless possibilities of human emotion.

Love is more than just a feeling; being “love-struck” releases neurotransmitters. These are chemicals released from the brain in response to our actions. Their role is to deliver messages between the brain and every part of the human body. When it comes to attraction, romance, and pleasure, the main neurotransmitter released is dopamine. This chemical released in high levels activates the reward circuit, causing a pleasurable experience. Oxytocin is another hormone associated with love and romance. Oxytocin levels increase with sexual arousal and an orgasm and might be associated with pain-relieving effects, creating a possible association between pain and pleasure. What’s more, something similar happens with the consumption of chocolates. Chocolate can elevate a person’s mood through the release of a cocktail of oxytocin, dopamine, and many other chemicals that might give a similar sensation to the feeling of love. Chocolate is an aphrodisiac food, releasing soothing chemicals in your brain that increase energy and intimacy desire levels — perhaps this is why we associate them with Valentine’s Day. Other chemicals released during romantic and sexual arousal include: serotonin, which is directly linked with mood and stress reduction and norepinephrine, which increases our heartbeat, and vasopressin. Norepinephrine is released after orgasms and affects each reproductive system differently. This gives a biological basis for the notion that people with an internal reproductive system might experience an emotional connection after sex and people with an external reproductive system tend to feel sleepy. I know, brain chemistry is confusing.

While brain chemistry is a well-studied subject, there are still many misconceptions surrounding neurotransmitters, hormones, and the way they modulate or alter our behavior. Oxytocin, for example, is colloquially associated with bonds forming between partners after consensual sexual encounters, yet, there’s no proof to back up that statement in humans. Yes, oxytocin does increase with sexual activities, but this is primarily due to our evolutionary advancement to encourage humans to indulge in more of it. Oxytocin’s natural purpose has always been to induce feelings of care to nurture your loved ones. But attraction, love, and desire are complex emotions that can be found in an array of very unique scenarios. What makes love different from physical and sexual attraction? To answer that, we must look at it from a more comprehensive lens.

Alec Beall, post-doctoral researcher at the psychology department of UBC, conducted an experiment to better understand the difference between love and sexual desire. Beall showed a group of undergraduate students pictures of puppies and kittens, followed by a survey to assess their sexual desire. The results showed lower levels of such desires when they thought of nurturing the little animals. Beall says oxytocin is released impulsively when an adult simply looks at a puppy or infant with tenderness. The instinct to care for and protect young ones is a fundamental aspect of both human and animal behavior, causing feelings of affection and concern for others. On the other hand, I believe love driven solely by lust or worldly desires lacks genuine emotional connection and care for others. Love stems from the innate desire to nurture and protect those we hold dear.

Love is often misunderstood as a shallow attraction based on someone’s physical appearance, intelligence, or behavior. But true love goes beyond these superficial things as a deep appreciation and care for someone, which is not necessarily conscious or deliberate. It’s a feeling that comes from within and is rooted in a person’s instincts and emotions. 

SFUnexplained: Finding McFogg

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Peak Web
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An illustration of a student looking dreamily toward McFogg.
ILLUSTRATION: Andrea Choi / The Peak

By: Isabella Urbani, Sports Editor

My pen bristles as I try to write to you. No . . . I promised myself I wasn’t going to make this mistake again. I’m already paying off Joy Johnson to wipe my record clean of the incident with the Thunderbird, the UBC mascot. It doesn’t even have a proper name, but you . . . You’re McFogg. 

I know you’ll be different, you have to be. You’re an enigma. You have lore. You’re the sole reason why students pay the extra tuition to come here. It’s not a degree people want to walk away with after four years . . . It’s your heart. People want to get to know you, the real you. But you’re guarded. There’s tons of photos of you online, but no one’s ever seen you walk around campus. Your reputation precedes you, but I know you. I can see the sunkenness you carry behind those unclosing jet-black eyes. 

When was the last time you let down your hair? The last time you ran your hand quizzically through your rugged mustache? You have everyone solved but yourself. That’s where I come in. You don’t have to do a thing. I’ll let you see who you truly are. 

But I can’t . . . What happens if you don’t want to know who you are? What if this act you’ve been engaging with is who you’ve really become? I can’t let myself believe that. There’s more to you. I can tell. I know. You’re not a McFogg. You’re a McSun. This school has whittled you down over the years. 

I can make all of that disappear. I just need you to open yourself up to me and show me the real you. I just need a sign. 

I mean, it’s the third time I’ve written a letter to you. I don’t know if you’ve gotten them. I don’t know if you can even read. I know nothing. How terrible is that? But . . . maybe this is the sign you’re trying to show me. 

Why, of course! You want ME to take actions into my own hands. This whole time I’ve been gauging your reaction, when in reality, I should have been doing the work for you. You’re throwing me a line, telling me to do what needs to be done, and I won’t let you down. You see, I’m not like the others either.

I paced back and forth. I weeped. I was so lost in trying to understand you that I didn’t even see you standing right in front of me. No, literally, you were standing in the food court of the Maggie Benston Centre staring at me. Staring at me with your mascot head by your side. 

I don’t believe it. I’ve been a fool for so long. It all made sense now. The lack of public appearances, your refusal to speak to me. You were never McFogg the Dog after all. I knew that. But you, you are Kelly Chia, the current humour editor of The Peak. The expression on your face? It wasn’t profound blissful knowledge, but . . . annoyance? Impossible. Your distinctly un-McFogg-ian voice breaks our perfect silence.

“What the hell, Isabella? We’ve been over this a million times. You know I’ve been McFogg since the start of the semester for side cash. Now drop this whole ‘Finding McFogg’ act.” 

Ah, I love it when you’re so you. It’s so refreshing. Now, is that the UVIC mascot I see?

The ongoing campaign for free contraception by AccessBC

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This is a photo of pregnancy test, contraceptive gel, and tampons on a store market shelf.
PHOTO: Kriti Monga / The Peak

By: Nercya Kalino, Staff Writer

AccessBC’s campaign has been at the forefront in fighting for access to contraceptives in BC. In a statement to The Peak, a spokesperson for the ministry of health said AccessBC’s advocacy is welcome and “our government is committed to making prescription contraception free in British Columbia to reduce costs for people.” 

The AccessBC campaign noted the BC NDP ran in 2020 with an election promise to implement universal no-cost prescription contraception. Despite having seen no policy change yet, the campaign has received support from frontline health workers who spoke up about the issue of free prescription contraception in 2021. 

AccessBC highlighted how people in marginalized communities, people with low-incomes, and youth often face barriers to accessing contraceptives due to its high costs. The ministry of health spokesperson underlined this issue stating there has been commitment within the government’s mandate to address these barriers. “We are actively working on policy and other developmental work so we can implement this commitment in a way that ensures equitable access for all BC residents.”

Vancouver is Awesome reported the various costs of prescription contraception in BC. While vasectomies are covered under MSP, intrauterine devices (IUD) can cost up to $425. Contraceptive pills can be as much as $35 per month and hormone injections up to $180 per year. 

The Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada released a statement in September 2021 calling for free prescription contraception. They noted it encourages equitable access and improvement of health outcomes. 

In 2019, there was improvement of access to contraception through major changes to Fair PharmaCare. The ministry of health noted in 2019 they “invested $95.3 million to reduce or eliminate deductibles and family maximums for 240,000 low-income British Columbians for the first time in 15 years. This gives low-income individuals better access to contraception.”

For more information and to donate to AccessBC’s campaign, visit their website.

Comics

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ILLUSTRATION: Sara Brinkac / The Peak

By: Angela Shen

 

A two panel comic. On the left, a woman is holding an umbrella outside in the rain. The panel is accompanied by the text, "Yes." On the right, the woman closes the umbrella inside her home, raindrops indicate her discomfort. This panel is accompanied by the text, "But."
ILLUSTRATION: Angela Shen / The Peak

New fashion app combines AI and sustainability

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A black and white image showing the torso of a person wearing a gingham blazer over a white blouse.
PHOTO: Laura Chouette / Unsplash

By: Hannah Kazemi, Staff Writer

Bintu Alkassoum wants to change the way people shop. Her up-and-coming app, Shopinspo, fuses sustainability and convenience to bring users a unique mood board-inspired online shopping experience. The Peak sat down with Alkassoum to learn more about the process of designing this advanced app, which has its soft launch planned for early March.

Shopinspo works using AI and a 3D printer to make its curated designs come to life. Alkassoum described it as a “circular shopping app;” the user uploads a picture into the app for inspiration, be it clothing or something else. Then, the user navigates algorithm-generated options to tell the app the type of vibe and product they’re looking for. The AI technology within the app generates different 3D renderings of products that fit the user’s style. Once the user selects pieces and places an order, the order is processed in Shopinspo’s manufacturing hub and a 3D printer produces the pieces using recycled textiles. This process allows users to engage in an online shopping experience that is familiar to them; similar to that of many fast-fashion sites, but in a more sustainably-sourced way.

Alkassoum shared a prototype image of the app’s interface during the interview. Described as a “mood board style search engine,” users upload a photo into the app and change filters to give the AI an idea of what they’re interested in. The result reminds me of Pinterest, where you browse a feed of images curated to your style. 

Shopinspo’s waitlist sign-up and landing page features a tutorial on how the app will eventually work. AI has already infiltrated the fashion world and is currently being used by a variety of sites to assist in the manufacturing and designing of clothing. Alkassoum noted that there are companies that specialize in one part of the circular process, but she hasn’t seen many that combine any of these aspects to make the curation and production of sustainable fashion more accessible to the average person.

She said SFU sociology prof, Gary Teeple, inspired her to challenge the status-quo and seek to improve society. “I think that’s kind of what innovation is about; being able to kind of question things and really break those things down to understand how they need to be built back up to be better.”

There are many challenges and privileges that come with shopping sustainably. As young adults in an increasingly expensive world, it’s generally much more appealing to purchase more clothes at a cheaper price. Trends and styles are also constantly changing, which feeds our desire to constantly buy new clothes. 

Seeking to appeal to individuals such as myself and make sustainable fashion more accessible, her goal is “to change the way people shop and to get people to move towards sustainability.” This includes people who value sustainability, as well as people who want convenience. 

Alkassoum is gearing up to launch with a small subset of users in Toronto, where she is currently based, to test the concept and ensure everything is running smoothly. Users can expect a wider launch of the app in early summer. Prices will average $70 per item including shipping. “The goal is to bring that down to $50 an item,” said Alkassoum.

To join the waitlist and to learn more about Shopinspo, go to their Linktree, linktr.ee/shopinspo. You can also follow them on Instagram, @shopinspoapp.

Urban inequalities for women and marginalized communities

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This is an aerial photo of Vancouver Harbour
PHOTO: Mike Benna / Unsplash

By: Natalie Cooke, News Writer 

Tiffany Muller Myrdahl is a senior lecturer at SFU and her research analyzes urban inequalities and inclusion strategies that target women and the LGBTQIA2S+ community. In an interview with Myrdahl, she told The Peak how urban inequalities exist today, and how researchers can alter their methodologies to improve engagement with and inclusion of marginalized communities. 

The National Institutes of Health defines urban inequalities as, “differences in access to services and/or health outcomes as an unequal state between one group and another within a city or town.” Therefore, inequalities exist in urban spaces based on one’s social standing, the privileges they have, or the disadvantages they face — including disability, race, or age restrictions. 

Myrdahl told The Peak her interest in examining urban inequalities “has focused on those who have historically been left out of decision-making processes, including women and LGBTQIA2S+ folks.” It is important for her to have a diverse range of communities “included in processes to build more equitable cities.”

Myrdahl explained many cities are developed for a “universal user,” who does not reflect the variety of livelihoods that exist within society. “There are very particular expectations wrapped up in this notion: that the ‘universal user’ is able-bodied and unhindered in their mobility.” She explained how public spaces often neglect safety and comfortability for all. “The [universal user] never needs to worry about sexual harassment or sexual violence; they do not need to be concerned that they will be questioned when they use public toilets; they will not be accused of loitering in public space; and they are never encumbered with caretaking responsibilities, like moving through public space with a stroller.” 

She added, “Cities are built on heteronormative assumptions of a nuclear family,” with gendered expectations about who does care and domestic labour, who is expected to stay home, or who requires access to the family car. “At a basic level, diverse family forms are rarely accommodated.” 

The inequalities women have faced for years are still in existence. Myrdahl explained, “We are far from parity when it comes to the gender wage gap, or when it comes to womens’ participation in public decision-making.” 

Canadian women who are transgender or racialized often face these inequalities most; transgender hate crimes have reportedly been on the rise in Canada and 41% of BIPOC people in Canada have faced discrimination in the last five years. Systemic barriers result in compounded inequalities for trans women and women of colour in areas such as health care, labour, housing, and community support.  

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives reported in 2019, “Women are more likely to vote in local elections, but in large cities they make up only one-third of city councillors and only one in five mayors.” In the workplace, “women make up 48% of all employees but only one-third of managers [ . . . ] Women earn less than men even when they have the same education, experience, and work in the same field.” 

SFU’s Community Engaged Research Initiative (CERi) is working to address these inequalities. Faculty and staff, including Mydrahl, want to work with the community to conduct research. Mydrahl emphasized, “Under ‘traditional’ research approaches, researchers are trained to extract data from their research subjects and there is little discussion of how the researcher is accountable to the community involved in providing data. This dynamic has caused a lot of harm and made many communities rightfully distrust researchers.”

Myrdahl has made suggestions for the SFU community regarding how we can improve our research practices. “SFU has a responsibility to set a different standard for research practice, including how community-centred research is valued.” Myrdahl noted, “If we are committed to community engagement, we should ask ourselves how that is reflected in the paths we’re carving out for the next generation of researchers.” 

To learn more about community engaged research, read Myrdahl’s post on the CERi blog. 

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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