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My very brave fashion-forward journey of being mirrorless

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Peak Web
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Photo of a person quirking their head in the mirror.
PHOTO: Lucas Pezeta / Pexels

By: Petra Chase, Arts & Culture Editor

Like your average 20-something budgeting in Vancouver, I exist without a full-sized mirror. This makes for treacherous mornings for your aspiring Gilmore Girl. I’d like to think I exist in a perpetual 2000’s teen movie getting ready montage, but some mornings, I put on whatever clothes call my name and hope for a stunning power-clash. With one look at myself from the waist-up in the bathroom mirror, I cuff my jeans till my calves feel the breeze, throw on whatever shoes tickle my fancy, and waltz out the house thinking I’m serving looks.

As soon as I encounter a full-sized mirror when I’m out and about, my illusions come to a halt. Those chunky FILAs I’ve been strutting around in? I look like a child standing in adult shoes. Without a mirror to see the whole ensemble, how was I supposed to know that a red and yellow combo made me look like a hot dog slathered in ketchup and mustard? Truly offensive. 

Unfortunately, there is no way for me to fix this situation. Fashion trends come and go as quickly as the affordable full sized mirrors on Facebook Marketplace get marked as sold. Some of the worst trends from past eras have been creeping into the spotlight. I fear any day, I might see a mannequin wearing acid wash jeans and a sheer shirt over a neon bandeau in the glass of a Forever 21. This is the attire of the monster that haunts me in my dreams, while “Summer” by Calvin Harris echoes eerily like it did in every shopping mall in 2014. So I relent to fashion gambling — a brave task.

I’m a person who likes to push the envelope. This can be a strength, but when it comes to fashion, it’s definitely a weakness. On one particular fall day, I had an unearthly longing to wear my summer dress. I knew my legs would be cold, and the look was a bit dressy for the grocery store, so I threw on some jeans underneath. Anne Hathaway killed the dress-over-jeans look in her historic red carpet ensemble, but alas, I took one look in the mirror behind the vegetables in the crisper and I had actually become a 2000’s Disney character. I’m holding out for the day Kylie Jenner brings it back and I guarantee it’ll be the Robson girl staple.

 I might impulse-buy a polka-dot skirt at the thrift store envisioning the quirky spirit of Jess from New Girl, and next, I’m going for a ruffled medieval collar because if Harry Styles can make it work, why can’t I? So what if I look like an extra fluffy Lord Farquaad? 

Then there was this time I decided to pull an off-duty model look. I’ve been a fan of athleisure ever since watching Sue Sylvester on Glee (let’s be real — athleisure queen), but I still like to dress like the girl boss that I am. There I was in a track suit, tie, and loafers: the epitome of class and casual. Instead, I was disappointed to look at the mirror and see a sim in the middle of an outfit change. 

It was at this moment I knew I needed to change my attitude instead of my clothes. As Hannah Montana’s wise mantra says, “You can change your hair, and you can change your clothes [ . . . ] but you’ll always find your way back home.” I was reminded no number of outfit changes will change the fact that home is where the full sized mirror isn’t. I decided to spark a movement for everyone who struggles in silent mirrorlessness. With the mirrorless aesthetic, anything goes.

Fashion faux-pas change everyday, and brands manufacture a new set of trends every season to keep us buying new clothes. To those who are told their fashion choices are “interesting” on the daily, and spend everyday anticipating that first confrontation with a full sized mirror, I implore you to stop trying to fit a style. With the mirrorless aesthetic, every aesthetic in existence is jumbled up and clashes in harmony. There is NO need for mirrors. There’s only one rule to the mirrorless aesthetic, and I must say it’s a very serious one: no acid wash jeans.

Monday Music: Cloudy day love songs

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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: Idara L. Udonya, SFU Student

As Vancouver gets back to being the gloomy city we love and hate, there’s nothing more on brand with this cuddle weather than love songs. Listening to love songs in these grey and lonely times is my chosen masochistic indulgence. Either they’ll make you wish you were in love again or miss your ex. Here are four songs for wallowing in longing. 

Listen to the full playlist here.

“Shut up My Moms Calling” by Hotel Ugly
Photo credit: Hotel Ugly

What’s love without the flames of desire? If you were to infuse sensuality into melodic writing, rope in a calming aura of blissful yet melancholic instrumentals, and sprinkle the soothing vocal tone of a thirsting love, you’d get “Shut up My Moms Calling.” Hotel Ugly’s vivid lyrics and seductive piano are bound to transport you to a low-lit atmosphere, feeling the depth of longing with every line.

“Roots” by Cautious Clay 
Photo credit: Concord Music Publishing

Though some of you may have given up on love, “Roots” will inject a little hope into your spirit. With an upbeat air of wind chimes, drums, and angelic singing, it’s the perfect pick-me-up for lethargic days when you need an extra push to get out of bed. It also doubles as a song to keep you company while you stay under covers and crave cuddles as the rain pours outside.

“Stereo Driver” by Q
Photo credit: Columbia

This song, which fuels my flaming love for Q, makes me think of Michael Jackson dancing in the rain with its passionate old-school style. I don’t know about you, but I too, want someone begging to be my stereo driver. This is the song to serenade your partner with in a diner over a milkshake.

“Crush” by Yuna, Usher
Photo credit: Verve Pop

Listening to this song feels like being wrapped in a velvety, sensual blanket of love. The first time I heard it, I was instantly enamoured. It perfectly captured my emotions towards my lover at the time. Yuna’s delicate tone married with the sensual allure of Usher’s voice creates the perfect euphonious sound. It’s a soundtrack for those dreary days where you’re feeling slightly more emotional.

Public transit should be free

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Peak Web
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illustration of a compass card in a garbage can
ILLUSTRATION: Alyssa Umbal / The Peak

By: C Icart, Staff Writer

Hear me out: public transit should be free. There are virtually no downsides to this, and places that have tried it, like cities in the US and Europe, report positive changes. 

The initial reaction folks tend to have on this proposition is to ask how we’d pay for it. After all, just because it would be free for riders doesn’t mean there are no costs associated with public transit. Wouldn’t this just end up increasing our taxes? Not necessarily. 

Sure, the initial cost of subsidizing free transit would probably be relatively high. However, it may be cheaper in the long run than the “total social cost and externalities of using cars,” including pollution and road repairs. 

The discomfort from politicians and policymakers makes sense to me, but the pushback I get from regular people who would greatly benefit from free transit is perplexing. I like how Free Transit Ottawa puts it: think of this as an investment, not a cost. There are effective ways to fund free transit, including reallocating the way current tax dollars are spent. Or, fare-free transit could be funded “by the federal and provincial governments largely through corporate and wealth taxes.” Free Transit Ottawa also found that even if transit were paid for on a municipal level through property taxes, it would still likely end up saving individuals money over what they’re currently spending on transit, driving, or ride-share apps. 

In Luxembourg, where public transit has been entirely free for everyone since 2020, and in Germany, where transit was significantly discounted, they found that ridership increased. Policymakers worldwide are increasingly considering factors like “the severity of the climate crisis, the pandemic, and inflation,” and discovering that fare-free transit may be the way to go. That’s right, the benefits of fare-free transit are not only economic; it would also reduce social barriers and carbon emissions. Isn’t that worth investing in?

On top of that, it can increase the reliability of services by reducing boarding times, and improve quality of life for riders. For example, “Kansas City found the vast majority of riders have better access to food, healthcare, and jobs since fares were axed in 2019.” Riders mentioned that the Zero Fare initiative allowed them to exercise their “right to the city.” 

Additionally free transit doesn’t favour the “whiter and more affluent” part of the city, like other transportation expansion projects. Free transit ensures Black residents aren’t just funding these projects, but also benefit from transit access themselves, helping to address some of these systemic barriers in the city. 

Many readers of The Peak are students who pay for their U-Pass through tuition, and enjoy being able to visit all parts of the city by accessing transit an unlimited number of times. Wouldn’t it be great to continue having that feeling post-graduation, except this time with no fare at all? Free transit increases people’s mobility. 

It’s also important to consider that folks who consistently use public transit tend to be disproportionately lower income. Why should they be funding transit and its improvements through fare hikes? For instance, disability assistance in BC is only up to $1,358.50 a month for a single person. So, even though this would make that person eligible for a transportation subsidy, they may choose to spend that money on other necessary expenses. 

Letting people ride for free also helps curb the problem of criminalizing people who cannot pay for transit. It’s time to face the truth, “free transit is a poverty justice issue, a disability justice issue, and a racial justice issue.” I will add that it’s also a climate issue. The barriers to this solution are in our heads. It’s time to pressure politicians and policymakers to make transit fare-free, everywhere. 

Joe Sacco and Glen Coulthard discuss Paying The Land

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Peak Web
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This is an aerial photo of Canadian forest and mountains.
PHOTO: Kalen Emsley / Unsplash

By: Nercya Kalino, Staff Writer

Joe Sacco’s new book Paying The Land illustrates and unfolds the stories of the Dane peoples that have lived in the Mackenzie River. Their land in the Northwest Territories has valuable resources and is a central part of the Dene’s livelihood.

Sacco is a Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist. His work focuses on “fieldwork in conflict zones and places where people are facing displacement and dispossession.” His other books include The Fixer, Notes from a Defeatist, Footnotes in Gaza, and more. 

In the book, Sacco travels to Canada to learn about “people in conflict over the costs and benefits of development.” There is a recitation of the mining history and its negative impact on the Indigenous culture, focused on the long-term effects of residential schools.

The conversation about the book was moderated by Glen Coulthard, an associate professor in the First Nations and Indigenous studies at UBC.

Coulthard asked Sacco to explain the inspiration for writing the book, and how it relates to Sacco’s other journalistic and artistic practices.

“I think I wanted to do a book that was about climate change. As broad a topic as that is, like everyone, I am interested in the topic. And I thought it would be interesting to do a book about where things in regards to resource extraction happened and they happened on the peripheries. “It’s often Indigenous people who suffer from resource extraction, or have to deal with it.” 

He elaborated his initial thought on the approach to writing his book. “I wanted to get away from violence, I wanted to get away from drawing conflict.” After his first visit to Canada, he left not understanding the full impact of the residential school system. “I’d known about the residential schools but I didn’t understand what it meant to the people and I didn’t understand the sort of violence it meant for the people.” As much as he wanted to get away from this violence, Sacco said, “What I found out is you cannot get away from violence.” 

Sacco explained in some instances, white people who know a lot about Indigenous studies will sometimes prevent Indigneous people from learning about their own history. “What I was told was, don’t ask about residential schools. And I sort of listened to some of that advice. Especially on the first trip, I was careful not to bring up the subject. But what I realized was that it was there in the room anyway,” said Sacco.

The inspiration for Paying the Land came from his first conversation with Paul Andrew who knew that Sacco wanted to know more about the residential schools. In their conversation, “He, in a very gracious way, just explained what it was like to grow up as a young boy in the bush, how communities developed around this sort of family units. He understood his place, he learned by watching [ . . . ] and it was such a beautiful story.” 

To listen to Sacco and Coulthard’s conversation, visit Below the Radar by Vancity Office of Community Engagement SFU. Sacco’s book Paying the Land is available at Massy Books.

Horoscopes: November 7–11

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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, Bitter and Critical

Aries
You started listening to Christmas music as soon as the clock striked midnight on November 1st. We know you do it to cope with the impending doom that comes with finals season at the end of the month, but please. The Stars firmly believe in Nothing-Christmas-Until-December-1st. Save us all the annoyance of having Mariah Carey’s voice stuck replaying in our heads, just a little while longer.

Taurus
You decided to treat yourself last week and engage in some much needed retail therapy. The mistake you made, however, was spending your whole paycheck on said retail therapy. The Stars can’t really be that mad at you for that, because it’s what we expected. This is a classic Taurus move. Perhaps investing into a savings account will mitigate future disappointment in you, Taurus dear.

Gemini
You just finished binge-watching your fourth Netflix original this week. It’s only Tuesday, and the pile of work you have to do before Friday keeps growing exponentially. The Stars desperately want to see you focus on something other than shitty acting. In the spirit of Kim Kardashian, get your ass up and work.

Cancer
You slayed this week, Cancer. You only went to Starbucks five out of seven days this week, which is an improvement — but the Stars want to see more progress. Try investing in a Nespresso instead and become your own barista. Or get a tub of Folgers and milk — the Stars think you can afford to get creative with your coffee!

Leo
The Stars want you to get aggressive this week, Leo. Put on your Bad Bitch™️ outfit (all black, heeled boots, and a slicked-back ponytail) and assert your dominance over literally everyone. You want them to know that you make the rules and won’t take shit from anybody this week.

Virgo
You beat your friends in Mario Kart and now you think you’re a better driver than them. Lose the superiority complex and go take your N test for the fifth time. Maybe this time you’ll actually pass!

Libra
You pay with cash instead of your card whenever you go to a coffee shop and order your emotional support drinkie drink. You think cash isn’t real money so whatever you buy with it is actually free. Logic. Smart. Very big brain. No flaws. The Stars continue to marvel at your naïvete.

Scorpio
The Stars have no notes for you this week, Scorpio. You’ve made a discernible effort to ✨spice up✨ your social life (studied at a café instead of your bedroom), made friends (said more than two words to the barista), and voyaged into nature (walked to the café instead of driving). It’s . . . so odd to feel listened to for once, but you did listen to the Stars (for some reason). Keep slaying, babe!

Sagittarius
No, it’s not okay for you to avoid every single responsibility ever in favour of binging The Real Housewives of New Jersey. I’m all for keeping up with people who haven’t the slightest clue about who you are, but this is getting absurd.

Capricorn
You girlbossed a bit too close to the sun and accepted invites to more themed parties than you can handle this week. Now you have to come up with five obscure costumes for five different themes, and make them sexy — what’s the point of dressing up if you can’t make it sexy?!

Aquarius
You fell behind this week and ended up submitting an assignment three days late. That’s okay — the Stars commend you for your hard work anyways. What they don’t commend, however, is the infrequency at which you check your email. The prof let the class know of an extension the day the assignment was due, but silly you. You didn’t know. The Stars are really saying, “fuck around and find out.”

Pisces
You’re entering your grandma era, I see. Staying in bed longer each morning, saying “no” to invites if they require you to be out of your house past 9:00 p.m., wrapping yourself in crochet sweaters, all of the comfy grandma things.

SFU Football Alumni Spotlight: Frank Roberto

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Peak Web
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photo of Roberto carrying the ball down field.
PHOTO: Frank Roberto

By: Hannah Kazemi, Staff Writer

We often hear about SFU athletes who have had a particularly impressive season, but what happens to those athletes when they graduate and leave SFU? In this Alumni Spotlight series, The Peak is chatting with four SFU football alumni to find out how and why they continue to support SFU’s young student athletes years after their time with the program. For the third piece in this series, The Peak spoke with Frank Roberto, former president of the SFU Football Alumni Society. Roberto was a running back on the SFU football team from 1977–1980.

Supporting current SFU football players is especially important for Roberto, who’s inspired to pass down the same support he received when he was a student. He tells The Peak that he relied on assistance from his SFU coaches and alumni to help fund his education, and wouldn’t be where he is today without them. “I’ve always remembered that there are other people just like me who need support,” he said. “When you reflect back on your life, you look at some key points. [SFU] gave me the opportunity to not only play high-level football, [but receive] an education so I could continue on with a job.” Roberto went on to pursue a career in education, and started four football programs in schools while continuing to support the Alumni Society. 

Roberto credits much of who he is as a person to the values that football instilled in him, including “hard work, commitment, and dedication.” The former running back believes having to juggle both academics and athletics plays a big hand in developing life-long skills in athletes. “It’s a difficult time in [a player’s] life,” Roberto said. “They have to maintain a high average to play, and there’s an expectation of practice, but that builds strong character,” he acknowledged. “I think it’s important that [players] recognize that’s gonna carry them through life — building that resiliency, that strength, and that character.” ”

Roberto also carries with him fond memories of his time as an SFU football player, including winning the Shrum Bowl and getting to travel throughout the United States to play southern opponents. However, he says, “The highlight in the career of football is a network of people that you know. If you ever had to go into battle, those are the guys you want to cover your back.” The connections Roberto made while playing football at SFU have lasted a lifetime, so much so that “even to this day, after 45 years, [he] can still call a friend, and it seems like it was yesterday.”

Rahill’s funky solo debut, Sun Songs, is true to its name

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Peak Web
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Rahill standing on a rooftop in a city wearing an orange shirt with her hair attached to a clothing line with pins.
PHOTO: Ninja Tune

By: Hannah Kazemi, Staff Writer

Persian-American singer, Rahill hits the ground running with the release of an experimental four-track EP, in which she puts her own spin on songs that remind her of childhood. Covering psych folk, funk, avant-garde, and soul influences, each song is uniquely personal. The title Sun Songs truly runs throughout the EP, with lyrics and melodies that create a harmonious, cheerful sound. 

“These songs encompass this feeling of wonder and curiosity that connects me back to my childhood,” Rahill said. “We grow so incurious with age, I intentionally chose these songs because they evoke that honesty and playfulness that feels infinite, feels timeless, feels familiar.”

Released on November 4, Sun Songs is Rahill’s solo debut since her split from the NYC psych-rock band, Habibi. 

“Aht Uh Mi Hed,” originally by Shuggie Otis in 1974, is my favourite off the album because of the funky sound. The reverb on Rahill’s voice sounds robotic and echoey behind a bouncy melody. The harmonies of her voice contrast with the music in a delightful way. The production incorporates electronic elements with wind and percussion instruments, which creates an interesting soundscape.

“Haenim” stands out from the rest because it’s sung entirely in Farsi, and translated from the original song by South Korean psych folk artist Kim Jung Mi. Rahill bookends the song with the voice of a child speaking in Farsi, and ends with a children’s chorus. This gives the song a personal touch and connects to Rahill’s Persian upbringing. The song itself is lovely to listen to; Rahill holds a gentle and smooth tone throughout, which breaks up the more pop-esque beats of the other three songs.

“I Do Wonder” is the penultimate song on the EP, a cover of American singer-songwriter Arthur Lee’s song. Once again, some electronic, wind, and percussion elements are brought in, with a bright melody that encapsulates the title of Sun Songs. “I Do Wonder” emphasizes the uniqueness of the instruments, which makes it really fun to listen to. Each time I played this song, I noticed a new instrument that surprised me and enhanced my listening experience.

“Growing Pain” is the final song on the EP, closing it out on an uplifting note. Originally by Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist, Yoko Ono, “Growing Pains” has a hip-hop feel to it, which means it’s rooted in a stronger drum line as the base that gives it a fun, dancey up-beat. 

Sun Songs comes at a time when Iran is in the midst of a revolution: a time in which the voices of Persian women need to be brought to the fore. Rahill’s strong voice in these songs is a beacon for the women that are fighting to have their own voices be heard, and the theme of the sunshine is uplifting during these devastating times.

Visiting the Metro Vancouver Black Business EXPO 2022

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Peak Web
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Adebola Ige, community empowerment chair speaking at the Metro Vancouver Black Business EXPO 2022
PHOTO: Yoruba Social Culture Association of BC

By: Nercya Kalino, Staff Writer

As an African international student interested in building a career in Canada, I was excited to attend the Metro Vancouver Black Business EXPO on October 22 to discover Black entrepreneurial spaces and communities. The EXPO featured a range of local businesses, from catering and clothing brands to financial and artisan companies.

The goal of the EXPO was to “create awareness and exposure to the many Black-owned businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs in Metro Vancouver, BC.” It was hosted by Yoruba Social Culture Association of BC, a multicultural community which originated from the south west part of Nigeria. 

The EXPO is part of Yoruba Social Culture Association of BC’s community empowerment initiatives, which includes computer training, cybersecurity training, vocational skills training, and career mentoring programs.

“Our goal for this exposition program is to showcase the products and services from Black owned businesses. We want them to get more visibility; we want them to get more opportunities for expansion,” said Adebola Ige, community empowerment chair.

Black business visibility is important for Black students like myself to envision a future where they will fit in and feel empowered. Here are some of the many Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs that you need to know about and support.

Artist Crystal Noir
@crystalnoir.art

Noir is a New Westminister-based artist of Jamaican descent. With a background in fashion, she uses figurative oil painting and she specializes in expressionism and surrealism. To me, the colors she uses in her paintings have a vibrancy that showcases the nature of Black culture. So far, her work reflects the natural essence of the Black feminine.

Go2Girl services 
@therealgo2girls

This is a Richmond-based business that offers a bit of everything to individuals and businesses. Their services include residential & commercial cleaning, moving services, hoarding cleanup, home organization, weddings, and events. La Toya Barrington’s business beginnings are a bittersweet testimony. As a 25-year-old single mother of three children, Barrington fled from an abusive relationship. Due to employment insecurity, she started offering services such as house cleaning and babysitting, but has since received eight awards.

Omega Balanced
[email protected]/ 604 880 4445

Omega Balanced is a financial solutions service for businesses and individuals. Owned by Elizabeth Magai, the business opened up offer accessible financial services to racialized and marginalized. Services include bookkeeping, payroll, financial consulting, and more. Magai has a master’s degree in accountancy and a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Black Business Association of BC 
604 593 0198 

This is a non-profit organization registered under the BC Societies Act. This organization offers a variety of services and programs to help Black businesses and entrepreneurs, including a mentorship community and a sustainability incubator program. They also have tools and benefits available to members which helps them reach exposure, expand their network, and find opportunities.

BJ Mechanical
[email protected]

BJ Mechanical is a mechanical servicing company offering services in plumbing, heating, gas, furnaces, boilers, hot water tanks, and new installations. They’re a family-owned business recently taken up by Edwards, who has plumbing apprenticeship experience and gained his Journeyman certificate in 2017.

The Scarpino Group owned by Jordan Scarpino 
[email protected]/ 778 789 5422

The Scarpino Group is a realty business offering services for customers who are looking into housing. The team lead, Mr. Scarpino and realtor, Michael Chase have experience offering buyers and sellers an interaction that goes beyond houses by ensuring that their clients have their needs and wants met as the foundational approach to creating lifetime relationships. The realtors offer varying factors to their clients to consider concerning housing such as home operating costs including taxes, insurance and utilities. They want clients to also consider the neighborhood and more. They also discuss the offer process and a buyer’s checklist. 

Student conducts study on birds colliding into SFU windows

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Peak Web
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This is a photo of a small bird sitting on some grass.
Birds colliding into windows account for 16-42 million deaths a year in Canada. PHOTO: Shirlyn Zobayed / The Peak

By: Clarence Ndabahwerize, Staff Writer

Vanessa Hum, a master’s of biological sciences student at SFU, has been conducting a study on bird collisions with windows at the Burnaby campus. Through citizen science, which she explained as data collected by the public, she has gained a better understanding of the magnitude of window collisions occurring on campus. “Involving the public allows for different perspectives, allows the public to contribute to science, and brings more discussions in communities,” said Hum in an interview with The Peak. 

She referred to the Global Bird Collision Mapper as a good example of how citizen science could be used to collect window collection data. “The public can report a window collision to this worldwide database; anyone, any day, any time, and any place.” She hopes to use the findings from her research to determine what specific variables make a building or facade high-risk to window collisions.

Hum first started looking into this phenomenon during the last year of her Bachelor’s in Environmental Science at Carleton University in Ottawa. Her thesis was on researching “the motivations and barriers to volunteering in the environmental sector.” This led her to investigate environmental volunteering opportunities in the Ottawa area. This is when she encountered Safe Wings Ottawa — an organization that engages in research, rescue missions, and prevention initiatives for bird collisions. “I was unsure what I would be doing after my Bachelor’s degree, but I knew I had a deep interest in window collisions.” 

Hum reported window collisions are responsible for 16–42 million avian deaths a year in Canada. “The reason that birds are colliding with windows is often due to glass transparency and reflectivity. Birds cannot see glass. They either see straight through to the other side or see the reflection of the vegetation.” In Hum’s research, she found most of the bird deaths at SFU are forest-dwelling insectivores and migratory birds. Both groups have declining populations. “SFU’s Burnaby campus is along a migration flyway and surrounded by forest, making it highly susceptible to a large number of collisions,” Hum said.

“I hope that my research findings will be the background support needed to push more policy [ . . . ] both on campus and worldwide,” Hum said. 

She added, “I hope to see bird-friendly window designs implemented into provincial building codes in the future.” Window murals, which are part of her research implementation, provide an interdisciplinary collaboration opportunity. “Every bird-friendly mural I have designed and installed could not have been done without volunteers.” 

To learn more about the project or to get involved email Hum at [email protected].

What Grinds Our Gears: Bitcoin Instagram scammers

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Peak Web
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illustration of an instagram account that says “not a bitcoin scam”
IT’S STILL NOT REAL MONEY. ILLUSTRATION: Alyssa Umbal / The Peak

By: Tracey Ho, SFU student

I’ve been hacked on Instagram. After nine years of using the account to showcase art, post photos of some exhibition or cool scenery, and of course, show off neat photos of myself — my account’s been turned into a platform for Internet bros’ latest go-to scam. 

That’s right; my beloved Instagram account has been turned into a Bitcoin scam account. This March, I got a message on the ‘gram that tricked me into giving over my account information. Within moments, I lost all access to my account of nine years. 

I was forced to see my account advertise fishy Bitcoin schemes. The poster showed off their (alleged) earnings and a shiny, expensive car. How nice. All my followers have to put up with this crap. The followers who had, for nine years, trusted me to share my art with them were now being subjected to Bitcoin advertisements. 

That night I searched YouTube for answers; not just about getting my account back, but about what Bitcoin is. I left with more questions than answers. Is it real money? Is it the official incel currency? Can I punch a Bitcoin? I’m convinced nobody knows. And no, you don’t know either. 

I lost sleep over this. I took a break from social media entirely, writing how I felt about social media in my journal. I then deleted other personal accounts to protect myself from future phishing scams. All for some Bitcoin jerks that, as it turns out, are massive contributors to climate change! 

I wish I could have my Instagram account back, partly to access my art, and partly to reduce the number of absurd Bitcoin scam accounts by one. We as a society need to stop respecting this crypto-scam disguised as the currency of the future. It’s not revolutionary; it’s a scam, plain and simple.

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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