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Introducing the fabricommons

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Peak Web
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The photo shows the interior of the fabricommons at SFU Surrey at Fraser Library, including equipment such as sewing machines
PHOTO: Prerita Garg / The Peak

By: Rusham Verma, SFU Student and Phone Min Thant, Arts & Culture Editor

In February, SFU Surrey established the fabricommons at the Fraser Library in collaboration with the School of Interactive Arts and Technology (SIAT). Described as “a hands-on learning space,” it has numerous equipment for various creative and professional uses: 3D printers, sewing and embroidery machines, direct to film printers, heat presses, and many more. To learn more about the lab and its significance to the SFU community, I had a conversation with Leanna Jantzi, head of Fraser Library, Mikael Kriz, Makerspace librarian, and Thecla Schiphorst, associate director and professor at the SIAT.

The fabricommons were inspired by SFU Burnaby’s Media and Maker Commons. Kriz said, “Probably our number two biggest request since we opened the Media Maker Commons on the Burnaby campus in 2020 has been ‘Can you please open this space in Surrey?’” Its inception has also been motivated by concerns of community outreach, as Schiphorst explained how the commons would be of service to various demographics that are at the heart of Surrey. 

The commons aim to fill the gaps in equipment in Burnaby, as Kriz explained. “What we did not have a lot of in the Burnaby makerspace were textiles [ . . . ] With the growth and interest in studying and creating wearable technologies, it was really important for us to create a space that was very dedicated to this type of future project.” When asked about the potential to push the creative boundaries of artists, Schiphorst elaborated, “We teach design and we teach media art as well, so we are considering having workshops of artists and designers that do interactive fabrics to inspire students [ . . . ] It is an open space for things that are physical because the physical world is not going to go away. The physical world can help us consider our relationship to the digital world.”

“Accessibility feeds creativity. So by removing barriers, our hope is that it does invest and encourage creativity.” — Leanna Jantzi, head of Fraser Library

Accessibility remains the core tenet of the fabricommons. Jantzi added, “Not all of us can afford these pieces of equipment, not all of us know how to use these things so we need someone to show us so, by removing those barriers, the hope is that it does invests and encourages creativity just by [urging everyone] to come in and try it out without any fee.”

For students testing the boundaries of the new equipment, Jantzi suggested a process that may help them settle in. “First, make an appointment. All the information is on the website. As a first-time user, you would be making the appointment, doing a Canvas course specific to the piece of equipment that you are interested in. On your first appointment, you are going to be meeting up with a graduate facilitator in the space who will walk you through everything, and as you come back and get more familiar, you can engage more.”

As the commons gains traction, Jantzi is hopeful that more feedback from students will be helpful in improving not only their experiences using the room, but will also contribute towards better learning and creative opportunities. If you happen to have a class or simply are visiting SFU Surrey, make sure to give the fabricommons a visit and learn a new — and important — skill!

We Belong to the Land: Vital Signs at the Bill Reid Gallery

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Peak Web
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This is a photo of the Bill Reid Gallery central atrium including various Indigenous paintings and artifacts
PHOTO: Amirul Anirban / The Peak

By: Kyla Wane, SFU Student

Have you ever noticed how spokespersons at public events — SFU or otherwise — take a moment to recognize the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and many other Indigenous communities? 

The more I heard land acknowledgments, the more I was compelled to learn about the land we stand on. Over the past decade, public recognition of the injustices faced by Indigenous Peoples has become more common. They are a step toward recognizing that this land was never surrendered, nor was there a treaty or any agreement to hand over these territories.   

Land isn’t something to own but rather something to preserve. Vital Signs, an art exhibition at the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art captures these ties. It’s one of two exhibitions currently on display at the gallery from May 14 to September 7. The exhibition features artworks from artists originated from Indigenous Nations and communities as wide ranging as Nlaka’pamux, Syilx Okanagan, Kaska Dena, Hupačasath, Leq’a:mel, Kwakiuł, Dzawada’enuwx, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and Tahltan. The exhibit title “refers to the measurement of the body’s most basic functions,” but also “how the land is essential to our being and is a living entity itself.”

Aliya Boubard (Sagkeeng Anicinabe) and Amelia Rea (Ts’iits G’itanee), co-curators of the exhibition, said that their aim is to “help others understand the love and care that Indigenous people have for our traditional territories, and how important it is for us to advocate for the land. Without the ability to hunt, fish, or gather plants and medicines, our communities would be lost. The land is simply not just one part of identities, it is the entire foundation of our cultures and way of life.” They also added that the climate crisis is harming Indigenous communities — “In BC alone, we have seen the impacts of drought, fire, as well as the scarcity of crucial animal, insect, and plant species due to the extreme weather patterns and resource extraction across the province.” 

The gallery, established in 2008, pays tribute to Bill Reid, a celebrated Haidan artist, writer, and activist. He was named Yaahl Sgwansung (“The Only Raven”), in 1986 and is known for his monumental works like the Killer Whale at the Vancouver Aquarium and the Spirit of Haida Gwaii at the Vancouver International Airport. The museum is divided into a permanent collection and three temporary exhibitions per year. 

Even if our traditions differ, we all share the responsibility of preserving this earth.

On Friday, May 16, I visited the gallery and was pleasantly surprised to learn that admission was free for SFU students. The space is split into two levels: the permanent collection downstairs, with works of Bill Reid and Christian White, and the upstairs gallery with the Vital Signs exhibition. 

The exhibition features six prominent Indigenous artists: Jade Baxter (Nlaka’pamux), Jasper Berehulke (Syilx Okanagan), Kali Spitzer (Kaska Dena), Kwiis Hamilton (Hupač̓asatḥ, Stó꞉lō), Rebecca Baker-Grenier (Kwakiuł, Dzawada’enuwx, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh), and Sage Nowak (Tahltan, Vuntut Gwitchin). Through their painting, photography, video, and poetry, each artist reflects on the impact of climate change on their traditional territories. Their art is a way for them to be recognized as creators, but also as a way to honour their roots and relationships with the land.

One artwork that stayed with me was by Kwiis Hamilton, titled “Sayaasim min Nismaqkin” (In the future we belong to the land), accompanied by a powerful poem. In the painting’s description, he explains that it captures the “physical representation of our connection to the land we come from,” and supports the idea of contrasting extremes: “Life and Death, Hurt and Healing, Walking and Dreaming.” He reminds us that in times of change and uncertainty, remembering our roots and our belongings allows us to move onward.

While the painting holds transformation and ancestral presence, the poem offers a voice that claims space and identity. The passage that resonated with me was: “Belonging doesn’t mean / fitting into a box / It means breaking that box open / Smashing it to bits / So we can share all of who we are / with our beloved community / with our family and friends.”

His work makes clear that belonging is not just an individual identity but a shared responsibility to each other as a community, and the land we depend on. It captures the essence of climate change, as not only an environmental but also cultural crisis.

Today the world grapples with the fact that climate change is a pressing issue. In addition to acknowledging that the land doesn’t belong to us, we also have to make sure that there is still land to live on. We all share the responsibility of preserving this earth. This exhibition has shown me that sustainability and resilience should be a collective concern. 

Summoning buses in the summer

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Peak Web
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PHOTOSHOP: of a dialogue text coming out of her mouth saying: "Thank heavens I have found a dial telephone! My diesel-drawn 143 Burquitlam carriage is merely hours away!" and then at the bottom add as a caption: "TransLink: reducing bus frequencies to piss off students since 1998."
PHOTO: Mason Mattu / The Peak EDIT: Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson / The Peak

JOB AD: AQ Accident Control Officer

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Peak Web
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A man shoving a woman out of the way in the hallway of the Academic Quandrangle.
PHOTO: Emily Le / The Peak

By: Mason Mattu, Humour Editor and Sarah Sorochuk, Peak Associate

Feel an urge to make a difference in the world? Do you have big muscles and are built like a Greek god? Are you ready to block student hooligans who dare walk on the wrong side of the hallway? We have just the job for ya! 

AQ Accident Control Officer — A paid position starting at $2 every 3 hours (legal note: accident control officers will be officially labelled as freelancers to save us some big bucks. Attempts to unionize will result in banishment from the realm).

Seeking multiple students to work on each floor of the AQ in between classes (during peak travel time) to prevent further collisions and future lawsuits. Applicants must have a strong understanding of the violent situation at hand. Background information is provided below: 

A (BRIEF) BRIEF ON THE SITUATION: 

The AQ has been known for countless runovers and walking traffic incidents. Since the dawn of time, and everywhere on earth, people have walked on the right side of the hallway. Everywhere but SFU. This is causing some major emotional and physical damage, with 50 students being involved in “got run into by a person walking on the wrong side of the hallway-and run” encounters. Here is a victim’s testimony: 

“Last Monday, I was on my way to Classic Shakespearian Lit [ENGL 312] with an extra-large vegan cucumber coffee in one hand and my own personal copy of Romeo and Juliet (the smut edition) in the other. Out of nowhere, I was violently run into by a HOOLIGAN who was walking on MY side of the hall. It was a horrible attack on my life and the sanctity of the AQ. This ought to be ILLEGAL!” — Anonymous SFU arts student

MORE ABOUT YOUR JOB: 

As an officer with the AQ Accident Control, you will be tasked with enforcing the right way of the hallway rule for all students. We’ll provide you with a safety whistle, a vibrant safety vest, and a 2010 Blackberry with the latest ticketing software installed. Extra perks include receiving a “get out of class early” pass for officers in lieu of benefits or dignity. 

Officers are not allowed to use force, and will instead imitate a common enemy of delinquent students: a 1,000 year old professor who refuses to give out A’s. 

You will also be in charge of providing students who have been run into by someone walking on the wrong side of the hallway with emotional support. Please do not refer them to our SFU counselling department if they’ve exceeded the three complimentary appointments for the year given to each student.   

Job requirements:

  • Must be a second or third year SFU/FIC student looking for an easy way to make some quick cash.
  • Have no social life and can work at all hours of the night.
  • Are happy to be the center of attention, by being loud and disruptive to the student body.
  • Have 2–3 years of acting or roleplaying experience. 
  • Come to work with a settled frown every day. 
  • Are willing to sign an NDA in case you decide to accuse us of labour violations. 
  • Look scary. Have a few piercings in your nose, belly button, and thumb. Make them believe you are an emo guard. Really make it feel like you’re gonna kick the shit outta them if they walk on the wrong side of this here hallway.

Apply by emailing: [email protected]. Deadline: 3 hours ago.

Concerns arise around controversial instructor’s past

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Peak Web
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This is a photo of the outside of SFU Burnaby’s academic quadrangle on a gloomy day.
PHOTO: Puneet Aulakh / The Peak

By: Lucaiah Smith-Miodownik, News Writer

Content warning: mentions of sexual violence, misogyny, the death penalty, homophobia, and transphobia.

SFU has recently come under fire for its alleged decision to hire Gleb Glebov as a sessional instructor for the 2025 summer term. He is not currently on the summer calendar, where he was allegedly slated to teach EDUC 313. Taryn Lees, a student in the teacher education program, told The Peak that she noticed the instructor had been changed when she checked goSFU. Glebov was previously fired from Fraser International College (FIC), an affiliate of SFU located on the Burnaby campus, for a series of YouTube videos he posted. CBC reported he claimed rape allegations were made up justifications for abortion, advocated the death penalty for those “who have abortions and the doctors that perform them,” characterized both homosexuality and transgender identities as “garbage,” claimed all non-Christian gods to be “the antichrist or satan,” and more.

In November 2019, Glebov was a math instructor at FIC when the school received an anonymous tip regarding his videos. In the following weeks, after a meeting with FIC’s director and an investigation into the content of his recordings, he was fired. Glebov’s videos, which the director described as containing “potentially hate speech,” violated FIC’s “professional code of conduct for teachers” as well as the school’s “conflict of interest policy.” 

He alleged religious discrimination over the decision, claiming that “the videos were made in the context of a sermon.” In response, “FIC argued that, no matter how deeply Glebov believed in the things he said, he needed to prove [that] his freedom to practice his religion would be compromised if he couldn’t post these statements on YouTube.”

“Given that students in the program are expected to demonstrate program goals which include ‘an openness to worldviews’ and ‘celebrating diversity,’ it is unacceptable that they should pay to be educated by an instructor who so clearly violates them.” — Taryn Lees, petition starter, teacher education program student

Glebov brought his complaint to the BC Human Rights Tribunal, which ruled against him in January 2024 by finding he “failed to demonstrate a genuine religious belief requiring him to publicly share his views.” Glebov also left Capilano University in February 2024, with the university telling the Capilano Courier he was no longer “associated” with the institution. It is unclear if Glebov was fired from Capilano University.

A student petition against SFU’s alleged decision to hire Glebov began circulating in March, with over 450 supporters. EDUC 313 “is one of few options that teacher education students in the secondary stream can take to satisfy a graduation requirement,” Lees, who started the petition, wrote. “Given that students in the program are expected to demonstrate program goals which include ‘an openness to worldviews’ and ‘celebrating diversity,’ it is unacceptable that they should pay to be educated by an instructor who so clearly violates them.

“The integrity of the program and the safety of teacher education students — particularly women and 2SLGBTQIA+ students — is in jeopardy so long as Gleb Glebov remains a sessional instructor for our program,” the petition continued.

The Peak reached out to SFU Glebov’s employment status, who provided the following statement: “We take all allegations that contravene our values of inclusivity and belonging seriously, as well as our commitment to foster a safe work space. Due to privacy obligations, we cannot comment on specific employment matters for any employee, past or present.” SFU could not confirm whether Glebov had already taught at SFU in 2023. The Peak reached out to Glebov as well, but did not hear back by press time.  

Passive screen time is dulling your life

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Peak Web
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An illustration of a person standing in a shower under a water stream, covered with soap bubbles, looking at a phone screen held in front of their face with a tired look on their face.
ILLUSTRATION: Cliff Ebora / The Peak

By: Ana Maria Tofan, SFU Student

How often have you caught yourself scrolling while walking 10 steps to the kitchen for a snack? If you’re part of the generation of young adults who did not grow up glued to a screen (like me), you might like to think you’re holier than thou for having “played outside” as a kid. When tech companies spend billions of dollars to engineer the most addictive algorithms to keep our attention, is it really a surprise when it works? The reality is that these companies will stop at nothing to lock eyes into the endless loop, even when they belong to impressionable children. If we want to reclaim our mental clarity, physical health, and long-term wellness, it’s our responsibility to learn to have a healthy relationship with screens.

Here’s what research shows: spending over two hours a day in front of a screen has similar impacts on both children and adults. It harms our eyes, hinders learning and memory, and increases the risk of early neurodegeneration, the loss of neurons in the brain associated with aging. The kicker is that children’s brains are fragile and highly malleable during their early developmental years and critical periods. Excess screen time in children can delay their development in learning, communication, critical thinking, and more, leaving them with long-term difficulties. Excess screen time impacts both the quality and quantity of sleep for all ages and has even been linked to lower grey matter in our brains. For those unfamiliar with the brain, grey matter is a key component of our everyday functioning in memory, decision-making, movement, and more. So, if you’ve ever worried about Parkinson’s, dementia, or a stroke, conditions related to your brain’s grey matter, consider the things you can do to lower your risk: limit your passive screen time. 

Passive screen time can be thought of as the feeling of having a really good cupcake: it gives you an instant dopamine hit from the sugar but no nourishment.

A massive body of ever-expanding research is dedicated to the effects of screen time — particularly passive screen time. This is when you consume information through your device without engaging with it. The information or entertainment is disseminated to you from the screen, with minimal effort from the brain. Active screen time, on the other hand, involves more interactive activities or content that enriches brain activity, like educational apps or games. It is recommended parents limit children’s tech use to such activities, but adults should approach screen time the same way.

Passive screen time can be thought of as the feeling of having a really good cupcake: it gives you an instant dopamine hit from the sugar but no nourishment. Compare that with broccoli: unexciting, but good for your long-term health. This is why we frequently choose passive screen time over enriching activities: it gives your brain more delicious dopamine hits. Passive screen time has been linked with lower social interaction abilities in children and a lack of imagination, which you may have encountered if you’ve ever tried to have a conversation with an iPad kid. This is essentially like having a brain run on cupcakes. This is why many people experience brain fog with high passive screen time; it’s your brain being passive because it doesn’t have to exercise its imagination. The addictive qualities of passive screen time are especially dangerous to young children because their growing brains are drawn to the exciting colours, sounds, and movements, and the instant gratification appeals to their impatient tendencies. These tendencies are why a child is more likely to want one candy now instead of two candies later. 

So what can we do instead? First of all, just being mindful of the tiny moments where we unnecessarily use our phones can open our eyes to the reality of our dependence. Second, giving ourselves an hour in the morning without our phones can decrease our dependence over time, decrease anxiety, and improve sleep. Lastly, taking note of the ways you use your phone, and decreasing the passive, scroll-heavy ways. Screen dependencies aren’t our fault, but managing them is our responsibility, and with these steps we can begin to deconstruct the dependent routines we’ve built around our phones and start healing from scrolling sickness.

Is the Richmond Night Market worth the hype?

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Peak Web
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The photo shows a visitor to the RNM with their back turned to the camera, browsing what seems like a stall selling handmade craft items, including flowers. There are a few more visitors to the side, and the center stall is surrounded by two more
ILLUSTRATION: Bithi Sutradhar / The Peak

By: Osna Hadef, SFU Student

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this summer, the Richmond Night Market has become one of Metro Vancouver’s most anticipated annual events since it started in 2000. The huge market offers over 500 food options, 100 retail shops, and a wide array of entertainment, attracting more than a million local and international visitors every year from April to October.  It is the largest night market in North America and has even been featured in the New York Times. 

This year will mark my fourth consecutive year returning to the market. I consider it  a favourite hangout spot and a must-do summer activity with family and friends. While I spent most weekends working at one of the food vendors last year, I have visited it twice more — having a blast both times! 

As someone who is not too adept at trying new foods, I will say that the food at the night market slaps! It is a paradise of primarily East Asian food, but it’s also full of magical fusions and creative food presentation — drinks in glowing light bulbs or churros in ice cream served in a cup in a tiny floaty, for example. Twisted potato, flying cup noodles, cheese coin, corn cheese, Korean corn dogs, and mango sticky rice are just a few of the popular foods featured.

Is everything about the Richmond Night Market overpriced? Undeniably, yes. Can you make the most of it and have a fun, enjoyable experience? You bet!

My personal favourite is the garlic shrimp with vermicelli noodles — glass noodles topped with shrimp soaked in rich garlic-based sauce and garnished with chopped green onions. This Cantonese dish has not left my mind since I tried it with my friend last year at the night market. Since then, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve kept bringing it up to her. It’s literally a chef’s kiss! Another love of mine is the Indomie Donut — spicy, flavourful Indonesian noodles fried into the shape of a donut, hence the name.

Besides the food, which is definitely the main character of the show, what also brings the crowd to the market is all the entertainment it offers. Visitors can spend hours exploring the rows of retail booths, enjoying live performances, or getting caught up in endless attempts to win carnival games with maybe 0.0001% odds of winning (trust me). The market also features different thematic festive decorations and spots to take photos for a fresh experience each year. To spice things up even more, the organizers even added a zipline over the market this summer! If being in the market itself wasn’t enough, now you can view it from the sky. 

In the light of such enjoyment, the Richmond Night Market is definitely worth and deserving of the hype it is receiving. Being a go-to local event that runs for months and attracts so many visitors annually is a testament to that appeal. However, while I would say the market is not overhyped, it is undeniably overpriced. The general admission fee was hiked up from the $2.25 in 2015 to $7 today (before tax), and the food prices have also risen compared to the previous years. It is not uncommon to find snack-sized portions of food costing over $10 and the games are expensive considering their slim odds of winning. As people start to complain about breaking the bank every visit, the market risks losing some of its hype, causing regular visitors to reconsider how often they come in the coming years.

Is everything about the Richmond Night Market overpriced? Undeniably, yes. Can you make the most of it and have a fun, enjoyable experience? You bet! The sky-high prices may not be worth going there more than once or twice a year, but those who have not been there yet are missing out on one of the best local summer events. I recommend everyone to go there at least once. The event is more than the delicious and interesting foods it offers — it is a whole experience that can’t be found anywhere else in the Lower Mainland.

Italian-Estonian relations hit a bitter brew over Eurovision song

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Peak Web
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picture of the Italian Foreign Minister and edited protest signs behind him saying "my nona hates this song," "this is not what Vivaldi died for," "defending Italy one cup at a time."
PHOTO: European Parliament / Flickr EDIT: Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson / The Peak

By: Zainab Salam, Part-time barista

Eurovision has presented the world with its fair share of entertaining spectacle. This year, the diversion presents a brewing controversy of the caffeinated kind. Estonian artist Tommy Cash’s performance of Estonia’s entry song, “Espresso Macchiato,” has destabilized an international relationship stronger than ten espresso shots taken after an all-nighter. Cash’s provocative lyrics have outraged Italians, with Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani suggesting the government of Italy could impose 100% tariffs on Estonia in retaliation to what he deems “a racist depiction of Italians.”  

The song in question? A blend of made-up Italian and enough espresso references to cause acid reflux.  

The following is an interview I conducted with minister Tajani to discuss his view of everything that transpired in Eurovision. 

Q: Minister Tajani, thank you for joining me today! How are you doing? 
A: Yes, yes, yes, hello. Thank you for being a real journalist in such a trying time. Journalists like you are the backbone of civilized society. Did you know that the first-ever newspaper was an Italian invention? Yes, that’s right. Also, the typewriter, the moon, Abraham Lincoln, and God were all invented by Italians. We are the most important people on the planet. Have you done a DNA ancestry test? Maybe you’re Italian? 

Q: No, I haven’t taken a DNA test, but now I’m scared it’ll come back 100% Estonian. Thoughts? 
A: Dio mio! Don’t say such things, especially not out loud! You’ll give my nonna heart palpitations from beyond the grave. But, God forbid, if that’s true, don’t worry! We have a nationality naturalization program: two weeks in Tuscany, with mandatory denunciation of all that is not Italian, with the exception of all that we have modified and call ours now. You’ll be one of us by the end of the program. 

Q: Thank you . . . I guess. Let’s get back to the interview, please. The Italian government has suggested they may be interested in a 100% tariff on Estonia. Some may think of that as an overreaction to Tommy Cash’s song. Do you have any comments regarding that accusation? 
A: Overreaction? Those people are lucky we didn’t call for a full diplomatic relations severance. Estonia has declared war on our cultural values. On our crema. On our nonnas. This is not just about a song. It’s about our shared identity as Italians. If we don’t respond harshly to this vile transgression, what would we be? The Swiss? Hogwash!

Q: But isn’t the song kinda . . . catchy?
A: Catchy? The Black Plague was catchy, too! That doesn’t mean we should celebrate it at an international event. The man raps about marked coffee like it’s a religious experience. And the lyrics, don’t even get me started on the lyrics! If my grandmother had wheels, she would’ve been a bike. If Dante heard this song, he’d rewrite Inferno to add a circle for linguistic crimes. The grammar’s not even correct!! There’s a reason why the Eurovision jury didn’t give it much attention — it sucked ass! 

Q: In a press release earlier this morning, you stated that you are personally offended by the line, “I’m sweating like a mafioso.” Why is that? 
A: Simple, really, he is depicting Italians in a disgraceful manner. You think we all walk around sweating in pinstripe suits, waving pasta, and collecting protection money? That’s only some of us! This is the kind of stereotype that sets us back decades. What’s next? He’s going to rap about Michael Corleone being from Bologna? 

Editor’s note: Since this interview, minister Tajani has demanded UNESCO declare espresso a protected cultural heritage. Eurovision have responded by sharing the song on their official website, with a link which takes the viewer to an alternative music video of “Espresso Macchiato” by Tommy Cash.

Out on Campus hosts Australian drag film screening

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Peak Web
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This is a photo of the film projected onto a mini black screen that most notably features two drag performers in pink and blue wigs and drag outfits. The photo is taken in the OOC room, where hundreds of books are featured on bookshelves in the background.
PHOTO: Emily Le / The Peak

By: Corbett Gildersleve, News Writer

On May 20, Out on Campus (OOC) screened their first movie of the summer with The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. OOC is a student organization “dedicated to supporting SFU’s 2SLGBTQIA+ students and allies.” This 1994 road trip movie follows three drag queens touring Australia. It is based on the lives of three real drag queens — Cindy Pastel, Strykermeyer, and Lady Bump — portrayed by Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce, and Terence Stamp. The film highlights the harms of deadnaming and portrays a cast who support one another in the face of violence. The Peak attended the event and spoke with Constantin Lozitsky, interim OOC coordinator, to talk about why its messages are relevant today. 

Classics club is a movie night series run by OOC, focused on queer content “for, by, and about the community.” Lozitsky chose this movie to start the series because they heard it was influential at the time of release.

The movie centers on drag queens Anthony “Tick” Belrose (drag name Mitzi Del Bra), Adam Whitely (Felicia Jollygoodfellow), and Bernadette, an older, recently bereaved trans woman. Their bus, Priscilla, is vandalized with homophobic messages after their first stopover, and the trio continues to face verbal and physical abuse throughout their journey. 

Speaking with Lozitsky, they noted that while the movie was full of both honest and tough depictions of queer life, it ultimately has a positive message: the queens demonstrate how perseverance is possible in the face of hate. 

At the time of the film’s release, many Australian states and territories still had anti-gay legislation. Same-sex marriage wasn’t legalized until 2017 in Australia.

While drag queens have become much more mainstream since the ‘90s, now with shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race, they continue to face conservative backlash as seen with Drag Queen Story Hour in the US, Australia, and Canada. Drag Queen Story Hour “is a program or event featuring drag queens reading stories to children in libraries, schools, or bookstores.” In Kelowna, the first Story Hour event saw 160 children and parents attend, the library’s most successful event. There was pushback from management and social media, but the second event had an even larger turnout, and ultimately, the library board backed the library staff, and management apologized. 

Lozitsky found it hard to find another “movie that is as effective at telling its story with such grace and compassion towards 2SLGBTQIA+ characters while also dumping buckets of slurs and insults and everybody’s fighting and everyone hates eachothers’ guts, but at the end they’re all compassionate and taking care of each other.”

On why this movie is still relevant today, Lozitsky said, “It’s not trying to be educational, it’s not trying to be pandering [or] uplifting, and its describing things through a lens that understands the queer community, the trans community, that understands intimately what each character is going through.” They also expressed that “it is incredibly refreshing to see unflinching dedication to show that humanity in ways that might make you uncomfortable, or might make you feel like you’re too much, or you’re too extra, too other — but that dedication to showing those characters as lovable and regular. They’re regular people who are also drag performers.”

“They” is correct, and so is respect

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Peak Web
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A white pin on a navy duffel bag that says “They/them”
PHOTO: Audrey Safikhani / The Peak

By: Zainab Salam, Staff Writer

Content warning: descriptions of misgendering and transphobia.

A surge in anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate crimes and discrimination in Canada over the past few years is emboldened by the anti-trans agenda pushed by right-wing figures like Pierre Poilievre. Such rhetoric is often thinly veiled beneath false claims of intellectual superiority regarding biological and linguistic “correctness.” For example, some refuse to respect peoples’ pronouns because “they” as a singular pronoun is supposedly “grammatically incorrect.” The internet is rife with clips of right-wing figures on radio shows or college campuses roping queer individuals into a debate about their identities and basic human rights to make a spectacle for ridicule. For example, a clip between UK TV host Julia Hartley-Brewer and journalist Shivani Dave went viral after Brewer invited Dave to the show under misleading pretenses to purposefully misgender them for the sake of “correct grammar.” Such interactions are predictable at this point. They’re a deliberate misdirection to catch queer people off guard with a linguistic debate that dehumanizes them. 

To show you how this has nothing to do with grammar, let’s be clear: “they” is grammatically correct and has functioned as a singular pronoun in English from as far back as the 1300s, including in the works of Shakespeare and Jane Austen. It is still part of everyday language, even by transphobes themselves, when referring to a person whose gender is unknown. These so-called grammar experts wouldn’t blink twice at someone saying, “Can I speak to the manager? I want to complain to them.” However, as soon as they see the person, they want to immediately assume their gender identity based on a limited binary. 

Language changes all the time to adapt to speakers’ needs. For example, the singular pronoun “thou” and plural “ye” used in Old English were replaced with “you.” “You” has also been adapted into “y’all” in certain areas to accommodate for a plural “you.” Did civilization collapse? No. Furthermore, approximately 57% of languages spoken worldwide don’t employ gendered pronouns. Citing English as the authority for how we see the world is not just wrong, but it reinforces colonialism.

This is not a matter of semantics, though. Language is political and changes because society changes. It shapes and reflects who holds power, who are seen as “normal,” and who are pushed to the margins. When people insist that “they” is an invalid pronoun, they assert that only identities within the gender binary deserve to be recognized. 

The idea that there are only two genders is not universal. Many cultures around the globe have long recognized the existence of genders beyond the women-men binary. Indigenous cultures on Turtle Island, for instance, have always recognized and embraced more than two genders in their communities. While Indigenous cultures have their own unique terms, the umbrella term “Two-Spirit” was developed in 1990 to describe identities that blend or move beyond categories of men and women. The Navajo Nation uses the word “nádleehí,” which means “one who transforms.” In Cree, “aayahkwew” means “neither man nor woman.” 

Even if singular “they” was a recent invention, language is not fixed — new words and forms of grammar emerge constantly. We’ve embraced countless neologisms in the past two decades alone — “selfie,” “unfriend,” “Google” as a verb. The question to ask is not whether the language is “correct,” but whether it serves the purpose of reflecting and respecting the people who use it. The answer is obvious: respecting people’s identities is more important than clinging to grammatical purity. 

Queer people have always existed. Both as regular people and as notable history-altering individuals. The right-wing’s reaction to people using non-conforming pronouns presents queerness as a new-age phenomenon, protesting to exclude inclusivity from education spaces or limit access to gender-affirming care. They claim this is an effort to protect children, or women, when in reality, these things exist to help queer and trans people. Yes, 2SLGBTQIA+ acceptance and its influence over language might be relatively new, but that doesn’t mean that queerness and queer people are. 

We shouldn’t excuse persistently misgendering people for innocent reasons, when it doesn’t take much to ask a person for their pronouns and respect them. The issue is not grammar: it’s power. Using someone’s correct pronouns, whether they use “they,” multiple pronouns, or neopronouns, is about acknowledging their personhood. Something as basic as sharing your pronouns can encourage others to share theirs without. 

So yes, “they” is grammatically correct. More importantly, it’s ethically correct. Grammar is not a cage, it is a tool. And tools are meant to serve people.

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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