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SFSS calls for Open Educational Resources for students

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PHOTO: Allyson Klassen / The Peak

Written by: Nancy La, Staff Writer

The Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) recently launched a new petition to support the use of Open Educational Resources (OER) and increase textbook affordability for students. 

The SFSS proposed the use of OER, including open textbooks, multimedia, and assessment tools, as a solution to rising educational costs.

“We incorporated the student responses in the textbook statistics from the SFU bookstore, and then we talked about how we can alleviate financial burdens attributed to these costs,” Liu said. 

According to the petition, SFU students spent an average of $244.17 on textbooks and course materials per semester in 2019. The campaign also asked students how they would reallocate textbook money. Responses included rent, groceries, and utilities. 

The school established an OER Grant Program in 2016 that is funded by the Office of VP Academic and Provost, said Liu. She added instructors can access funding up to $5,000 for creating or using OER in their courses. 

However, the grant money is coming to an end as resources dry up due to lack of funding, Liu explained. 

“If the petition receives positive response from students, it can be used to negotiate for further funding,” Liu said.

“The focus of the OER student campaign [ . . . ] is to let students know the alternatives to expensive commercial textbooks and other course materials, and that their instructors have the power to adopt and adapt existing OER or create their own.” 

In addressing the challenges the OER movement faces, Liu noted the importance of SFU playing a bigger role to encourage instructors to use OER.

“SFU does promote OER in their policy, but they don’t really do anything to encourage instructors to adopt or adapt it [ . . . ] It’s really hard to incentivize instructors to use extra time to learn about OER.”

The SFSS urged faculties to adopt OER as classes move online; however, it was met with resistance, Liu explained. “The response from faculty wasn’t that great because everyone was scrambling to transition their courses online.” 

Mark McLaughlin, chief commercial services officer, said in a statement to The Peak that SFU is working with students on the topic of textbook costs by “shift[ing] access to course material to an online model that favours student choice and affordability.” 

The shift from physical textbooks to online versions has reduced the costs of course material by 59%, which is “now an average of $99 per term,” according to McLaughlin. He added that online course materials “[provide] enhanced features for student accessibility, including text to speech and screen reader capabilities, as well as [allow] for access on any device, with or without internet.” 

Liu explained that while professors have been incorporating online course materials, it’s hard to gauge how much of those are open resources. 

McLaughlin did not discuss the OER Grant Program in his statement, but noted the availability of library staff and Centre for Educational Excellence as resources for instructors looking for OER support.

“The Library is also currently working on longer-term recommendations to increase support for using and developing OER and for advancing open education more broadly at SFU,” McLaughlin added.

“We are listening to student voices and as part of that we have been keeping costs in mind when making decisions on textbook and course materials.”

A list of perks university students can get in Canada

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Photo: Ahmed Ali / The Peak

by Kelly Chia, Staff Writer

Now that I’m in the last portion of my degree, I find there are many services that SFU provides that I didn’t know about as a first-year student. I wanted to compile some of the resources I found that will hopefully help a fellow student save some money.

 

Student Discounts

Many retail stores offer student discounts, so it’s useful to see if student discounts are available before you shop and to bring your student ID. For example, Apple offers up to $250 in savings on iPads, MacBooks, and other select products. Students could also consider the Student Price Card (SPC), which is $10 for a one-year membership, offering 10–20% discounts in over 450 stores. This is a list of stores that offer retail discounts in Canada. 

 

SFU Library

As a student, you have access to academic databases and journals. One of those databases is a film platform, Criterion-on-Demand, which features more than 1,500 titles including feature films and documentaries. You can watch action films like Alita: Battle Angel or documentaries from as recent as 2020 like I Am Greta. 

The SFU Library also opened up their Media and Maker Commons space last year. Currently, the space is open for limited by-appointment services for SFU instructors, but when we return to campus, it’s bound to be popular. There are media spaces designed for recording podcasts and a video studio where you can set up lights, a green screen, and more. 

Once you complete the safety workshops on Canvas, you gain access to the 3D printer, scanner, laser cutter, or dremel for personal or professional projects. 

Lastly, did you know that you can borrow video game consoles from the library? You have to search for “console” and filter the search for “other”, but from there, you can find the Nintendo Switch, the Sega Genesis, and more. You can also find games to play on there, too!

 

Software

This is a list of free or discounted software which are useful for schoolwork and personal projects.

 

Github Student Developer Pack

This is a compilation of offers and services that partner with Github. Many are specific to developing coding skills, like educative.io, where students have six free months of access to Python and Machine Learning courses. Some may be useful for students looking to set up a portfolio for their work, like namecheap and Name.com, which let students register a domain for free. Canva is great for designing graphics and templates for personal and professional work, and students get a 12-month subscription to Canva’s pro tier. 

 

Free Windows 10 Education key

This is particularly helpful for students who are building their own PCs and don’t have an operation system (OS). In my experience, buying PC parts can be really expensive, so it was nice to have easy access to an OS and not have to worry about purchasing the license.

 

Adobe Creative Cloud Suite

Students get the Adobe Creative Cloud suite at $25.15 a month, giving them access to all of Adobe’s editing, photography, and design apps on desktop and mobile devices. Alternatively, if you would prefer free software that does a similar job, this article lists specific alternatives for Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and more. 

 

Microsoft Office 365

Microsoft Office 365 offers students Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote for free while they are a student. They also offer 100GB of space on OneDrive. 

 

SFU Vault 

SFU Vault is a Cloud-based storage space with apps for desktop, Android, and iOS. This means if you want to save files from your phone on the app, it will sync to your computer. It includes 50GB of space.

 

 SFU Webhosting

SFU students can host 10GB of webspace, which can be used for making their own website or uploading study and work files. This is also a good option for hosting your portfolio. 

 

Learning Resources

This section includes online classes that students can take recreationally, or university courses that they may be curious about but can’t afford to take. 

 

LinkedIn Learning 

Formerly known as Lynda, LinkedIn Learning provides a variety of courses, from professional development classes like accounting software and small business marketing, to creative classes like how to render and illustrate. Students can connect their school account to LinkedIn and access all offered classes for free. 

 

EdX

EdX partners with universities like Harvard and Berkeley to put out courses that students can audit. For free, students can access course materials but would not be able to access or complete assignments and exams with instructor support. I last took a 100-level computing science class with edX, giving me access to a discussion forum with other students, recorded lectures, and assignments. It was really insightful, and I recommend checking it out if only for the variety of classes offered to students. 

Top Ten movies “cinephiles” can namedrop to assert their dominance over casual film viewers

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Very calm, very cool. Nothing wrong here. Illustration: Siloam Yeung / The Peak

By: Sara Brinkac, SFU Student

  1. The Shawshank Redemption (Dir. Frank Darabont, 1994)

If you’ve got a heartbeat, you like The Shawshank Redemption. Name-dropping this film in conversation not only shows people that you can recognize a good story, but that you are also capable of Googling “IMDB top 250 movies of all time.”

  1. Pulp Fiction (Dir. Quentin Tarantino, 1994)

It’s 2021 and no one has heard of Quentin Tarantino. It is your duty as a cinephile to bring up this film as much as humanly possible. You need to prove your worthiness as a moviegoer and spread the gospel of an underrepresented director. Bonus points if you can quote any part of the film because you are definitely the first person capable of retaining information for two hours and 58 minutes.

  1. Apocalypse Now (Dir. Francis Ford Coppola, 1979)

Let’s face it: even for cinephiles, films like Pulp Fiction and The Shawshank Redemption can be a little too mainstream. Apocalypse Now is a great way to communicate that you know the name Francis Ford Coppola but aren’t so mainstream that your favourite film is The Godfather. Name-dropping Apocalypse Now tells people that you have a lot of interesting thoughts about The Vietnam War, imperialism, and Robert Duvall’s acting.

  1. Any Wes Anderson Movie. Ever.

If it’s pastel and has symmetrical shots, it’s art. Throw any Wes Anderson movie title to the wind and you’re sure to prove to everyone around you that you truly appreciate beauty. If you haven’t seen his entire filmography, no worries! Simple phrases such as  “I need to wear more black eyeliner” or “Bill Murray was great in it!”  or “You know what’s cool? Smoking” are sure to prove to anyone that you are a master of all Wes Anderson films and, consequently, aestheticism.

  1. Psycho (Dir. Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)

Many people cannot withstand the unbearable dullness that is black and white film, but you can, because you have immaculate taste (besides that fact that you chose to attend SFU). Psycho is great to name-drop anytime you need to communicate that you like good horror movies. Just make sure you don’t mention that the only reason you watched this film is because Ashton Kutcher’s parody of the shower scene on That 70s Show was your sexual awakening. No? Just me? 

  1. In the Mood for Love (Dir. Wong Kar-Wai, 2000)

A great option if you ever need to show someone that you like more than just Western cinema. In the Mood for Love proves not only that you can watch a film, but that you can read subtitles at the same time. (It may also prove that you just took CA 135, but we’ll keep that as our little secret.)

  1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Dir. Stanley Kubrick, 1968)

A great film to prove to anyone that you have an attention span. An attention span so dominant that any film they like in comparison is trash. An attention span so strong that even 20-minute-long non-dialogue scenes of poorly costumed apes, indistinguishable shots of strobing colours, and weird space babies can’t deter you. Your attention span is so superior that frankly, you’re just a better person. I bet you don’t even leave three-hour lectures during the break.

  1. Citizen Kane (Dir. Orson Welles, 1941)

Let’s be honest: you probably don’t remember much about Citizen Kane except for the fact that Rosebud is a sled. However, people say it’s a good movie and you aren’t about to let your fellow cinephiles down. On the plus side, name-dropping this film lets you brag about watching a 1940s film, a considerable and harrowing achievement.

  1. Inception (Dir. Christopher Nolan, 2010)

Name-dropping Inception in conversation tells people that you are an intelligent person who enjoys decoding cryptic messages in your spare time. You have very little patience for the basic, predictable Hollywood flick that spoon-feeds you a plot and relies on rehashing old storylines. You have an infinite knowledge of stories and Inception is a fresh, original idea. Hey! Here’s a fun activity: Google “Inception Paprika similarities” and see what you learn!

  1. Fight Club (Dir. David Fincher, 1999)

The majority of people have already seen Fight Club. However, where you as a true cinephile can set yourself apart from the dreaded mainstream is by claiming the ending was predictable. This is a classic dominance assertion technique and one commonly used by cinephiles everywhere. By telling people you saw the twist ending coming a mile away, you let people know that 1) you are smarter than them 2) you’re better at art and 3) you’re an all-around great person to hang out with. 

Teaching Support Staff Union begins first bargaining session with SFU for RA rights

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Photo taken before COVID-19. PHOTO: Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson / The Peak

Written by: Jaymee Salsi, News Writer

On March 23, 2021, the Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) and SFU administration had their first meeting to negotiate a collective agreement. To bring SFU to the bargaining table, the TSSU gave the university multiple legal notices, publicly campaigned for the RA rights, and built community support to pressure the administration.

With the consultation of RAs, the TSSU presented a proposal that focused on:

  • Including RAs in all types of research work
  • Providing job transparency
  • Protection against inequities such as harassment and intellectual property theft
  • Respecting research workers by building a fair wage and benefit system
  • Extending existing TSSU Collective Agreement rights and benefits to RAs

SFU administration agreed to give RAs a “payroll deduction for tuition, grievance procedure, bullying and harassment, and health and safety precautions,” TSSU chief stewards Seamus Bright Grayer and Katie Gravestock told The Peak.

According to Gravestock and Grayer, the university’s proposal focused on the definitions of “research” and “research assistant work.” SFU also wanted the terms in the Collective Agreement to reflect the BC Employment Standards Act, Gravestock and Grayer said. The chief stewards consider this agreement to be “the bare minimum for workers in BC.” 

For the TSSU, “a collective agreement means gaining access to mental-health coverage and sick leave.”

RAs are currently excluded from standard SFU employee medical and dental benefits. They have reported receiving unfair and irregular wages. As the university prepares to reopen in September, Gravestock and Grayer believe gaining rights for these items is especially important.

This first bargaining session had been delayed since 2019 when the university signed an agreement with the TSSU. The Memorandum of Agreement of Voluntary Recognition stated bargaining would begin by May 2020.

Vice president, research and international pro tem Dugan O’Neil previously told The Peak, “a number of complications [arose] in the process of identifying and transitioning RAs to becoming SFU employees.”

O’Neil said the current terms and conditions of RA employment can change once collective bargaining with the TSSU is finished.

“Every day that goes by is a day where RAs on campus are left without crucial rights and protections [ . . . ] SFU has treated researchers as second class workers for too long and it’s well past time to right that wrong,” Gravestock and Grayer said.

Monday Music: Songs for the relationship you never had

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"Monday Music" in giant yellow block letters with a red background
Monday Music: your weekly themed playlist. Image courtesy of The Peak.

By: Sara Brinkac, SFU Student

With increasingly difficult barriers appearing when trying to score a date, a friendly (socially distanced) smile or wave is now enough to instigate an entire series of fantasies. To aid all my single friends out there, I have created a playlist for falling in, being in, and falling out of love. So pop on a pair of headphones, think of that cutie you saw at the grocery store, and remember: there’s only one thing better than being in love, and that’s creating elaborate romantic scenarios in your head to live vicariously through. 

“Great Big Bundle Of Love” by Brenton Wood

Image courtesy of The Bicycle Music Company

You’ve got a whole lotta love and you’ve saved it all for whoever happens to be your crush this week. With a groovy backing track, soft, upbeat vocals, and a brass section no one with a heart can deny, “Great Big Bundle Of Love” is sure to set the ambience dial to “single and ready to mingle.” If the instrumentals don’t open up your heart to the love light, Wood’s beautiful high notes and layered harmonies are sure to get the job done. Anyone who listens to this song either has a great big bundle of love already or will by the end of it.

Like this song? Check out “The Oogum Boogum Song” by Brenton Wood

“Anyone Else But You” by The Moldy Peaches

Image courtesy of The Moldy Peaches

Now that you’ve locked in on the person of your dreams, it’s time to picture the “being in love” part of the relationship. Grab an imaginary guitar and get ready to sing a love duet that rivals the greats. A cute and simple folk song, this track represents the warm, cozy (but still edgy) relationship you’ve been craving. With a sweet melody carrying you all the way through, this is the perfect backing track for you and your “full time friend” to do all the romantic things together. Eat your heart out, Sonny and Cher.

Like this song? Check out “Who’s Got The Crack” by The Moldy Peaches

“You’re Kind” by Paul Simon

Image courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment

I regret to inform you that the time has come to separate your fictitious union. The good news is that I have queued a fantastically smooth song to play your significant other out. The bad news is the song lyrics may make you feel personally attacked. In “You’re Kind,” Paul Simon hits a home run with this beautifully crafted and hilarious song on making relationship problems “no fault of [your] own.” With a truly beautiful horn section, Simon’s ever-faithful rhythmic guitar, and his harmonic voice, there’s no better song to highlight the irony of this fictional separation.

Like this song? Check out “Overs” by Simon & Garfunkel

Need to Know, Need to Go: May 24–30

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Illustration of a blue calendar, with "Need to Know, Need to Go" written on top
Arts & Culture events to catch around the city. Image courtesy of Brianna Quan

By: Gurleen Aujla, Peak Associate

Asian Canadian Artists Against Racism: an Evening for Resistance! | May 26, 7:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m. | FREE | Online

Join the Asian Canadian Labour Alliance in BC (ACLA BC) for an evening against anti-Asian racism. Vancouver has the highest reported number of anti-Asian hate crimes compared to all major North American cities, with “almost 1 out of every 2 residents of Asian descent in British Columbia experiencing a hate incident in the past year.” This event will feature six open mic performances and a short film by Joella Cabalu. Other parts of the event include community resource sharing and resistance actions. The ACLA BC encourages all Asian Canadian workers to join their efforts. Eventbrite registration is required.

Patterns of Influence: Artist Discussion with Carlyn Yandle | May 26, 4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. | By Donation | Online

Rachael Ashe, the paper artist behind the Patterns of Influence exhibition, is showcasing a collection of hand-cut artwork. This discussion and interview, led by multidisciplinary artist Carlyn Yandle, will feature Ashe’s work around “how far a simple piece of paper can [go].” Her pieces are meant to spur a conversation around the use of materials, the role of machine-produced artwork, and the concept of “slow craft.” The suggested donation for this event is $1 or more, which will pay the artists and curator. Eventbrite registration is required.

Co-Creating a Climate Resilient SFU | May 27, 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. | FREE | Online

In partnership, the SFU Sustainability Office, Embark Sustainability Society, SFU 350, and the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions are hosting a community dialogue event in response to climate change impacts on campus. Students are encouraged to share their thoughts, experiences, and priorities on building a more climate-resilient campus and what actions they believe SFU should take. Insights from discussions will directly contribute to the creation of an SFU Climate Resilience Plan. Eventbrite registration is required.

Vancouver Chinatown Foundation launches business support program amidst pandemic

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Written by: Karissa Ketter, News Writer

The Vancouver Chinatown Foundation has created an economic relief package to aid small businesses in BC recovering from COVID-19’s economic impact. The package is a compilation of support benefit programs, grants, and loans for small business owners.

It outlines 13 programs ranging from reduced or frozen tax rates to Canada’s federal recovery programs, such as the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, Canada Recovery Benefit, or Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. 

The package also lays out the eligibility criteria and details for each program to make the grants more accessible to struggling business owners.

Grants range from $2,000 to $1,000,000, depending on the vulnerability of the business. The Launch Online Grant Program is centred around helping businesses move their stores online. 

This grant requires businesses to employ less than 149 residents, have generated sales over  $30,000 last year, and be owned by a BC resident, among other criteria. Applicants are required to develop grant proposals and estimate how much funding they will need to improve their online business space. 

Others like the Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant target vulnerable industries like tourism-related businesses.

The Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grants require businesses to apply, create a recovery plan, and then report on their recovery after they’ve received funding. These grants are targeted for tourism-related businesses that employ between two and 149 people in BC. Eligible businesses should have experienced 30% revenue losses, in addition to other criteria. Applications can be submitted through the BC Business Recovery Grant website. 

Other grants such as the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Program requires business owners to contact their financial institutions to apply for loans of up to $1,000,000. They need to be a Canadian-based business that had been financially stable prior to the COVID-19 pandemic — this includes having a 50% revenue decline for at least three nonconsecutive months.

Throughout the pandemic, the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation has provided outlets of support for the community. This includes the Meals for the May Wah program, which provides meals for seniors staying at the May Wah Hotel. The hotel is a place for low-income residents and seniors to find safe and affordable housing. 

The Vancouver Chinatown Foundation also began the Chinatown Storytelling Centre project — a “cultural space that celebrates stories of the Chinese Canadian experience told through the lens of Vancouver’s Chinatown.” 

“COVID-19, increased racial hostility, and closed businesses are conditions that the residents have to navigate right now. Restaurants in Chinatown have also been facing increased property damage crimes and significant drops in revenue,” reported the Foundation.

The Vancouver Sun said that this has caused Chinatown businesses to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic more so than the rest of Vancouver.

They have undergone these community projects with the goal of “creating a lasting positive impact” on their neighbourhoods with “physical revitalization, economic revitalization, and cultural revitalization.”

The Peak reached out to the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation for more information, but did not receive a response before the publication deadline. 

Your weekly SFU Horoscopes: May 24–⁠ 30

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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: Ana Arozarena, SFU Student

ARIES: I slid down Lil Nas X’s pole to hell to gather this advice: wear your sunscreen. All the smoking hot demons do it, and so should you! Even Satan (who’s currently going through a tough breakup) managed to agree, through a series of hiccuping sobs, that we should all care about preventing sun damage. 

TAURUS: You will encounter an unreasonably fast slug this week. It will be hidden in the forest and will grant you all you desire. Find the message hidden in the iridescent slime, and read it aloud — unless you’ve gotten it confused with Gemini’s slug, in which case, don’t even think about reading it. 

GEMINI: Take care of your mental health this week, Gemini, and become the mysterious forest entity you’ve always wanted to be. It may seem slimy, but taking time for yourself is key! Don’t be afraid to send some of those needy people in your life on a wild goose chase. Now you can sip your morning coffee in sweet, sweet silence. 

CANCER: This week is all about emotions. That’s right. Go feel your feelings. Go use that student care insurance for at least three sessions with a burnt-out school counsellor before your coverage runs out. I’m rooting for you! Also, no, rewatching your favourite show on Netflix is not the same thing as therapy (no matter what that counsellor claims).

LEO: I’m not saying it’s true, but I heard from every one of your classmates that they’re tired of hearing about your succulent collection. They all thought that at precisely the same time, tearing the fabric of the universe. It gave me a splitting headache and my sewing skills aren’t what they used to be, so thanks for nothing. 

VIRGO: I know you’re known for your honesty, Virgo, but please don’t tell Taurus about the slug thing. I already feel guilty enough as it is! Uh, if you don’t mention it, you will meet a tall, handsome stranger this week. Totally. 

LIBRA: Love: 3/5. Health: 4/5. Lucky numbers: 7, 18, 43. Chances of being caught off guard by that old Sarah McLachlan commercial about dying animals and bursting into tears over your bucket of vegan cheese puffs: 5/5. 

SCORPIO: Let’s face it, Scorpio. You’re too stubborn to take any advice. In addition, you’ve been acting pretty suspicious lately. ARE YOU EVEN WHO YOU SAY YOU ARE?! Phew. Got a little worked up there. Now that I think about it, I would take this as a sign to work on those trust issues. 

SAGITTARIUS: If you’ve heard it before, no you haven’t. In fact, please destroy this document immediately. Cut it up into tiny strips, mix it with organic matter, feed it to a large family of ravenous worms, and then deliver what remains as a sacrifice to the compost bin run by aggressive raccoons over at West Mall. 

CAPRICORN: Do you remember those Capri Sun juice pouches? Stabbing the flimsy straw through the plastic to reach that juicy Tropical Punch flavour and sucking it down as if it were the hot blood of your enemies? Claiming the crown and reigning over your army of goblin brethren? Ah, to be young.

AQUARIUS: Listen closely to the call of your heart, Aquarius. Or, let it go to voicemail. Better yet, block your heart’s number and find solace in the cold recesses of your brilliant and calculating brain. Nothing is more romantic than a candlelit evening with you, yourself, and the quiet but sexy Canvas app.

PISCES: Another day, another day. Followed by . . .  another day. The landscape is desolate and nothing happens. Nobody comes, nobody goes. It’s awful. “Let’s go,” you might say. But we can’t. We’re waiting for Godot.

“Green Glass Ghosts:” a young adult novel that redefines the genre with open frankness

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Hall (bottom right) and Spoon (top right), the artists behind Green Glass Ghosts. PHOTOS: Arsenal Pulp Press, Rae Spoon, Gem Hall

By: Nancy La, Staff Writer

Few books usually surprise me with their descriptions of Vancouver, yet Rae Spoon’s Green Glass Ghosts came and checked my smugness. Spoon’s book depicts an unnamed narrator and their journey moving from Calgary to Vancouver, along with how they settle in and find their community. This classic coming-of-age move did more than give me a new perspective on Vancouver’s downtown area; it delves into the connection between person and place. At the same time, the novel presents a serious discussion about queerness and gender’s influence on our interpersonal relationships. 

The book’s daring use of gender-neutral pronouns for every character presents a refreshing take on how texts can represent gender. For instance, in discussion of the characters’ parents, they are still referred to as mom or dad, but also with they and them pronouns. This removal of gender from what are stereotypically gendered roles encourages the reader to contemplate how they view gender and its influence in their daily life.

Spoon’s presentation of life, especially the hustle and bustle of the Downtown Eastside, is such a visceral reading experience that I had to remind myself that I am not currently downtown, but in my home. As well, the narrator’s first-hand experience of Davie Street and the acceptance they feel as a queer person is incrediby powerful. The relationship between place and person is intimately explored as people move in and out of the narrator’s life. 

An important element that made the book and its characters stand out is the honesty that Spoon uses to depict the narrator’s choices and their way of life. Alcohol, drugs, and mental health issues are all presented with much candour, yet it doesn’t seem out of place for a character who is 19 years old. 

“I had just kicked having all-out panic attacks about going to hell. I’d exorcised my fear by pretending I didn’t care,” the young narrator admits as they experience a panic attack. Spoon successfully balances realistic portrayals of mental health and substance abuse without losing the humanity needed to make these conversations life-like, a feat that deserves much praise. 

Spoon’s story, coupled with Gem Hall’s evocative illustrations, creates a YA novel that redefines the genre. Green Glass Ghosts is not just a coming-of-age story, it is a life story. Full of new beginnings, the book is a nod of acknowledgement to those who live with many starting overs. 

Spoon’s Green Glass Ghosts can be purchased online at Arsenal Pulp Press’ website or at local bookstores.

The secret life of an SFU textbook

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ILLUSTRATION: Maya Ramadhina / The Peak

By: Harvin Bhathal, Peak Associate 

I was conceived one dark, rainy night in the dimly lit dorm room of a graduate student who can now be referred to as Dr. Sharon Weed. Over the next year, Dr. Weed would go through the ups and downs of what can only be described as writing a book. 

Then, one fateful day, my first page was printed and I was born. By my 420th page, it was time to explore the world.

I left my childhood home and arrived at Simon Fraser University. I remember immediately thinking, “That sure is a lot of grey.” 

It took a couple weeks but eventually I was chosen — my first love. Kai was a communication major with a mind molded by the brightest of scholars (and also Marshall McLuhan). Out of the hundreds of textbooks in the SFU bookstore, she chose me. She opened me up and took in a breath of air. No one had ever done that before. 

From what I could tell, she liked how I smelled. I liked how she smelled too.

We bonded quickly. Kai loved to read and I loved to be read, from end to end. She saw me. She could read who I really was. 

Even though I had to share her with other textbooks, or sometimes be stuffed into the dark abyss known as her backpack when she had to go to her other classes, it was all okay because I was Kai’s. 

She cried sometimes when she was overwhelmed with coursework, but I was always there to support her with my knowledge. Honestly though, it was mostly her. She took my knowledge and transformed it into such immaculate presentations, including one on how the government is listening in on everything people say and, as such, it’s better to simply hand all of one’s personal data over willingly. Now that’s what a real education looks like. 

But soon, our time abruptly came to an end. Kai needed the money to buy more textbooks and she sold me— a decision I eventually understood. Turns out, we’re really expensive, which seems kind of exploitative of universities and authors. I wouldn’t be here without Dr. Weed but the truth is the truth.

I went for a relatively high price because Kai took care of me, which led me to believe I would be going to another good partner because I had no other experience that indicated otherwise. I soon learned that I would be very mistaken.

Brad.

The mere thought of his name gives me shivers. A business major who thought his communication minor was “a waste of time,” he was nothing like Kai. Brad was the real waste of time.

Our relationship immediately started off on the wrong foot.

Trying to shove me into his overpriced laptop bag, he bent my cover and several of my pages. He proceeded to try and fold my sheets of paper back. I was irreversibly damaged; I never recovered.

Brad’s next crime was spilling his Venti triple-espresso caramel macchiato from Starbucks while trying to open me up after arriving late to lecture because he “needed” that $14 monstrosity.

Worst of all, he smelled like an Abercrombie & Fitch store and never took the time to take my air in. Not that I was as crisp as I once was —  I can blame Brad for that.

The semester eventually concluded and he passed the course with a C+, proudly bellowing from his chest, “Cs get degrees!” Yeah, okay, Brad. Cs may get degrees but job opportunities will avoid you as if you were a disease.

With the semester over, I thought, “It can’t get worse, right?”

Dr. Weed published a second edition of me and I have been rotting in a box in Brad’s garage for the last four years.

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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