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Coco and the socio-cultural power of representation

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PHOTO: Unspalsh/Mario Mendez

By: Daniel Salcedo Rubio

The way media and mass communication outlets present marginalized groups can easily create bias in their audiences. When I was a kid, I grew up with incredibly problematic representations of gay characters in the media: they either were ridiculed, presented as inappropriate, or with behaviour issues — of course I grew up with internalized homophobia. If such portrayals caused me to hate and deny my own identity, just imagine what it does to those outside of these communities. For reasons like this, appropriate representation should be an obligation for any outlet. 

I’m writing this article on November 1st. Tomorrow will be the Day of the Dead, and it’s now my personal tradition to watch Coco on this cultural holiday. You’ve probably heard of the Disney-Pixar movie; it came out back in 2017 and is part of Disney’s cultural diversity set of movies, like Moana and Encanto. These movies all share a common theme: they include people from the cultures they’re trying to represent to make an accurate portrayal of said cultures. Before moving forward, I want to acknowledge that while I love these movies, there are still some problematic aspects to them. These movies aren’t perfect and are subject to bias from the creators. Whether it’s missing key aspects of these cultures, the use of stereotypes and clichés (or in the case of Coco, greed from Disney for trying to trademark “Día de los Muertos.” Fuck you for that one, Mickey). But let’s not focus on the negatives right now, let’s see what they’ve done right. I’ll focus on Coco as it’s the movie that represents my culture and thus is my area of knowledge.

When I first watched Coco, I wasn’t in Mexico; I had been away from my home country for months. I had reached that point where joyful memories of Día de los Muertos turned painful to remember because I wasn’t able to take part in the celebration. I could only see the photos my mom would send me of our family ofrenda (an altar for those who have passed away), or crave a pan de muerto (bread of the dead, a type of sweet bread with roots in the Día de los Muertos tradition). If you have moved to a new country, you’ve probably felt something similar: you feel disconnected from the country you used to call home and you just can’t seem to entirely fit into where you are now. That was until November 2017, when Coco was released. I, of course, took all of my friends to the cinema so they could experience a bit of my culture. Coco did not make me reconnect with my culture, my friends’ reactions to it did. They were so excited to learn more about the tradition of Día de los Muertos after the movie, they bombarded me with questions: 

Do you really put food in the altars? What type of flower is that? Yup, we always put some pan de muerto for my abuelito and you can see cempasúchil everywhere around this time of the year. Even the main street in Mexico City gets decorated with it.

What are those colourful animals in the land of the dead? Those are alebrijes, they are imaginary creatures with body parts of many animals. It’s pretty common to make them in art classes or to find them being sold somewhere in the city.

Why is the grandmother always attacking everyone with her sandals? La chancla is a traditional weapon used by the matriarchs of our families to induce fear in the heart of those who dare disobey them (of course this was a joke, we don’t condone physical violence).

How excited and happy they were with the movie made me entirely forget the extremely problematic comments I had been dealing with in France. Some of the residents in my building would make random comments like “Hey! Pablo Escobar!” or “El Narco!” (the drug lord) whenever they saw me. I don’t want to excuse these people for their comments, but I understand that they were only a product of stereotypes in western and eurocentric media. They didn’t know any better because that was what the popular media was representing my culture as. Series like Narcos, Pablo Escobar, or La reina del Sur might show an exaggerated version of a painful reality, but when this is all people consume, it becomes a false generalization of entire identities. The people who lived in my building associated me with Narcos not because I’m a drug lord or have any relationship with drugs, but because that’s probably all they knew about my country and about my culture.

Representation can do wonders to help us overcome conscious or subconscious limitations imposed by problematic stereotypes or beliefs. Another great example is the recently released Netflix series, Heartstopper. Older people in the audience, myself included, can only imagine how helpful it would’ve been to have a series like this when we were kids. To have healthy portrayals of same-sex relationships, and to have LGBTQIAS2+ characters being portrayed without the shackles of harmful stereotypes. If I had had a series like Heartstopper when I was a kid, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have hated myself for so long. I would have accepted my sexuality and enjoyed my teenage years. 

This is the power of representation and we as a society have both the right and obligation to ensure appropriate representation in the media. Representation can demonize a whole community and give an ugly, untrue picture to someone if it only focuses on harmful stereotypes. Or, it can change perspectives and belief systems entirely for the better. Proper representation has the power to help us better understand cultures and the people within them.

Panel discusses role of media in Russia-Ukraine war

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This photo is of a group of protestors. One individual is central in the photo and is holding a sign that reads “Support Ukraine.”
PHOTO: Mathias Reding / Pexels

By: Pranjali J Mann, News Writer

SFU Public Square, in collaboration with Digital Democracies Institute, SFU School of Communication, and SFU School for International Studies hosted a panel discussion on “The Russia-Ukraine War and Media.” The panel investigated the role of the media in formulating public opinion and narratives. 

Russia actively waged war on north-eastern territories of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. This resulted in military clashes between the countries, which has been ongoing for eight months. Various attempts including bombing Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, military bases, and civilian attacks were carried out by the Russian army. This has caused an increase in media coverage in the area. Moderator Nicole Jackson, opened the discussion by highlighting, “This war has seen an extraordinary level of media engagement and narrative, spinning a large spectrum of misinformation and disinformation.” She talked about the importance of “complex media ecosystems,” wherein different forms of information consumption occurs — through traditional mainstream media such as news channels, or newer forms including social media and podcasts. 

German analyst at the Stockholm Center for Eastern European Studies (SCEEUS) Andreas Umland said a large part of the European Union looks at the Ukraine war through a lens of empathy, as its citizens fight for “independence, for liberation, and survival.” As war intensifies in the region, he said western countries abstain from “investing too much into this war as it could be expensive — not only in terms of military, but the possibility of World War III.”

According to panelist Vasyl Cherepanyn, head of the Visual Culture Research Center (VCRC), the western media coverage of the war is problematic. He observed that most of the western media referred to the ongoing war as “Ukraine’s war, or war in Ukraine, without mentioning Russia at all.” He explained, “This is problematic. At the same time, it’s not only a Russian-Ukrainian war. It is the great European war.”

Cherepanyn added that the media holds the capacity to both deter the war and incite fear and anger. Rather than conveying the outrage felt by Ukrainians, western media has assigned Ukraine citizens the role of “victims,” he explained. Ukrainians’ analysis of the war is diminished by western media as “first-hand observations or personal stories.” He said the media limits coverage on Ukrainians’ fury and rage, so they can consider the “rational judgment.”

Further, PhD student at SFU’s School of Communication Kayla Hilstob, brought in the perspective of research that links media discussions and the “oil and gas sector fueling Russia’s war budget.” She suggested that “ethical oil” was central to some online media discussions of the war. As Hilstob explained, the term “ethical oil” was coined by Ezra Levant who questioned relations and dependency of the world’s oil being extracted from “authoritarian governments” like Russia and Saudi Arabia.  

Hilstob referred to some initial findings that “nearly half of Canadians [say] that not expanding fuel extraction is aiding Putin’s war.” This is because some Canadians are concerned for their energy security, and feel expanding Canadian oil production will offer more stability. She underlined this is a dangerous line of thinking and threatens work being done by climate activists and Indigenous communities in the country.

Svitlana Matviyenko, assistant professor at SFU’s School of Communication, investigated the driving force of the war and the ways in which media reports on it. Specifically looking at use of terror in media discourses, she said, “We see more production of terror than production of disinformation” in this war. She stated, “It’s not just lies, it’s not just information. It’s massaged with feelings and effects that target [the] Ukrainian population in serious ways.”

Matviyenko also indicated the media plays a role in the way we understand information, its perception and in the consumption of narratives. She closed by illustrating, “We are at the same time overwhelmed with all the information we are given — videos, publications, witness accounts.”

Club Profile: VeggieSFU

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Photo of a variety of vegetebles, including carrots, peppers, cuccumbers

By: Petra Chase, Arts & Culture Editor

The writer of this piece is affiliated with VeggieSFU. 

VeggieSFU has been steadily racking up members and sparking discussions among SFU’s vast plant-based community. It’s a club which exists to “create community, facilitate discussion, and provide support and resources for those looking to switch to a plant-based lifestyle.” The Peak spoke to three VeggieSFU executives to learn about what being a member means, their club’s steadfast values, and the exciting things on the horizon.

“To us, plant-based means a diet that is made up of mostly plants but may contain some animal products,” Evelyn O’Neill, the group’s events coordinator shared. “VeggieSFU’s brand of activism is community-based. We aim to encourage each other to pursue an ethical and sustainable lifestyle by learning from each other and making plant-based lifestyles more accessible.”

One of the ways they do this is by hosting events, which usually involve plant-based food. Recently, they’ve held subsidized restaurant meetups, potlucks, hikes, and attended the Planted-Expo. They’ve also introduced bi-weekly meetings every other Friday, a casual window to drop-in, socialize, play games, and eat free snacks. 

“I think our restaurant meet-ups are some of our most memorable events,” Evee van de Velde, the club’s discussion leader shared. “It’s always fun to explore vegan restaurants around Vancouver as a community, and it’s also super cool to see our non-vegan/vegetarian members experience vegan food alongside us!”

“Our central values of ethics and sustainability guide many of our decisions in event planning, such as serving only vegan food at our events and never supplying single-use plastic cutlery, dishware, etc,” O’Neill shared.

One of the group’s core missions, which are all chosen by the members, is to support those interested in plant-based diets. As a member of their Discord group, you’ll gain access to a network of people with a wealth of experiences and knowledge. The many discussion topics include resources, recipes, discussion prompts, and personal development. There’s even a “Fruit of the Week,” channel (which is what it sounds like) and “Ferret Central,” where van de Velde shares a picture of a ferret and a fun fact about them every day.

To join, you don’t need to be vegan or vegetarian. You don’t even need to like vegetables! All that’s required is an open mind. VeggieSFU is made up of and run by a mix of vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores, and civil discussion is one of their top priorities.

“I think the mix of [ . . . ] lifestyles in our club helps to create a more nuanced and less polarizing space to discuss different ways of living in relation to animals and the environment. It helps us be more conscious of others and see new perspectives we might not have otherwise,” O’Neill shared. “I personally learn a lot from the diversity of perspectives in the club and I think it helps bridge gaps and challenge our assumptions.”

Riya Dhariwal, VeggieSFU’s Club President, noted how VeggieSFU set out to be inclusive for all dietary palates since its inception. Melody Lim, founder of Mala the Brand, an eco-friendly candle company, founded VeggieSFU in 2017. Despite not being vegan herself, Lim made sure that everyone who was interested in leading a plant-based lifestyle could participate in the club. “VeggieSFU used to host bake sales and regularly meet at Veggie Lunch,” Dhariwal said, through activities like this, the community learns and gets involved in plant-based lifestyles.

“Because we know that vegan-related spaces can sometimes be judgemental and prone to gatekeeping, one of our main missions as a club is to make a space that is welcoming to everyone,” O’Neill explained. “We try to make that clear to our club members both through our actions, and by stating it in our club rules on our Discord server: ‘Conversations related to plant-based diets are encouraged. However, disparaging comments about any diet/lifestyle, vegan, vegetarian, or omnivorous, are prohibited. This is a space for everyone.’” 

“I hope to continue fostering a welcoming environment for people to explore plant-based diets and make new friends,” Dhariwal said.

VeggieSFU has many exciting new things planned for the future. Their plant-based diet mentorship program pairs people new to eating plant-based with more experienced group members. They also have a plant-based nutrition workshop with Vancouver naturopathic doctor, Dr. Matthew Nagra. You can also look forward to their upcoming bake sale fundraiser, which will raise money for animal sanctuaries and animal rescue organizations.

When asked what they would say to someone who is interested in joining, O’Neill said, “I personally was nervous about joining the club because I wasn’t a strict vegan at the time and worried about being judged.” She added, “So if you’re nervous about joining for that reason, don’t be! We would love to have you.”

SFU Student Update

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"Student Updates" text in SFU red
You’ve already made it farther through the article than 97% of the student population. ILLUSTRATION: Siloam Yeung / The Peak

By: Nercya Kalino, Staff Writer

Key Updates

SFU innovatively stands by mediocre Health and Counselling services 

The location of the office being at the bottom of the Maggie Benston Centre, lack of lighting, and general difficulty in getting an appointment has been deemed “just alright.” The Board of Directors have more concerning matters to focus on like obtaining a mascot costume so McFogg can have a romantic partner. It will still take a week, two, or maybe a whole semester for a student to meet with a doctor, but don’t worry! We are positive you will have healed by then. On that note, the Health and Counselling staff is almost entirely made up of white people, so good luck on finding a health advisor to feel represented and understood in your marginalized experiences. 

Announcements

The events we suggest to you are not expired

We are currently doing our best to make sure the event listing we have outlined will take you to upcoming events, but sometimes, we forget no one proofreads these! We slip some events that have already passed here and there just to spice things up. If they have already passed, then just imagine what it would have been like had you gone. Remember, it is also partially your fault for relying on us to offer any upcoming event of your taste. You attend this school!

Funding Opportunities: Eligibility to be considered

If you are considering studying in-person and long programs abroad, this not-so-diverse, inequitable, and exclusive program is for EVERY student. Especially for international students! What do you mean it’s near impossible to join the program with how expensive tuition fees are? 

Co-op: Not everyone will do it 

Yes, Co-op is a spectacular opportunity for you to be considered an employable person post-graduation. Does that mean if you don’t do it you are doomed? We’re proud to make you think so! Join us in our upcoming event where we offer tools and knowledge on how not doing Co-op might just be the biggest mistake of your student career. You know you can’t afford the time off school for work experience, but that sounds like a you problem. 

Employment and volunteer opportunities 

Escalator opening up at convocation mall stairs

SFU is looking for students that can work full–time with five years of experience working in construction. SFU has decided to save people time by adding an escalator up the stairway for convenience. However, to make this project possible they are looking for students who would like to work for their education. The project is said to last about three to four months, which is nearly a semester. SFU has promised all the student workers to waive their tuition during the time the project takes place, but will not provide details on how to accommodate students’ studies at this point. SFU sees no moral qualms with this.

Volunteering for SFU Residence marketing content 

In the upcoming spring semester SFU Residence is looking for a volunteer who can go about the SFU Burnaby residence area and film content to feature on social media platforms. You and your friends could be the lucky pals showing how snowy it gets on campus or how people litter, even though there are organized bins. Better yet, show the world how tiny your room is, but be sure to redecorate it so it feels more like a home and less claustrophobic. 

My very brave fashion-forward journey of being mirrorless

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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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“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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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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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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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.”

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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