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Public Health Agency of Canada now recommends three-layer masks

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PHOTO: Kai Pilger / Unsplash

Written by: Sara Wong, Peak Associate 

During a press conference on November 3, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam updated recommendations surrounding the wearing of non-medical masks and recommended that the public use three-layer masks. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), two of these masks’ layers should be a tightly-woven material (like cotton) and the extra layer should act as a filter, using a “non-woven polypropylene fabric.” 

If you have a mask with a pocket, you can insert a removable filter into it and that can serve as the third layer. The PHAC recommends craft fabric, a piece of a reusable shopping bag, or a folded paper towel as options for a filter. Depending on the material, the filter can be washed and re-used or will have to be disposed of and replaced frequently. Additionally, the PHAC provided step-by-step tutorials on its website on how to create your own three-layer mask, with choices between “sew method,” “no-sew method using a T-shirt,” and “no-sew method using a fabric square.”

According to Dr. Jing Wang, a clinical instructor in UBC’s faculty of medicine, the PHAC’s changes in mask recommendations are a result of the rise in COVID-19 cases across the country. On November 12, CTV News stated that “Canada reported 4,981 new cases of COVID-19,” which broke the country’s record for the largest single-day total of COVID-19 cases. At the time of writing, this remains Canada’s highest daily record. 

Dr. Tam spoke at another press conference, in which she warned the public that case numbers will continue to increase by the thousands if people do not do their part to stop the spread. Global News quoted Dr. Tam on how “an important driver continues to be informal social gatherings, and activities both inside and outside our homes” in regards to rising COVID-19 cases.

Another reason for the three-layer mask recommendation is because COVID-19 can be transmitted by aerosols as well as droplets. The difference between the two is that aerosols are smaller and can linger in the air for some time. Additionally, with winter approaching and many activities moving indoors, it is imperative to maximize ventilation in order to decrease concentrations of aerosols, as noted by the PHAC. Wearing face masks while indoors (excluding your own household) is advised.

A number of Canadian news outlets have pointed out that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended three layer masks back in June, causing reporters to question why the PHAC waited months before following suit. In a statement given to the Toronto Star, the PHAC said that “[they] always work to do [their] own analysis to determine what is appropriate for Canadians, rather than just accept recommendations from the WHO or other organizations.” 

Regardless of the type of mask, Dr. Tam emphasized that in order to be of any protection, masks need to fit properly. Quoted first by CTV News, Dr. Tam stressed that “[a mask] has to cover your mouth and nose [ . . . ] that’s really important.” 

As of November 19, masks have been made mandatory in BC “for all customers and workers [ . . . ] in all indoor public and retail spaces, including hallways, elevators, breakrooms, kitchens, and customer counters. The only exception is while eating or drinking.” For more information on COVID-19, visit the BC Centre for Disease Control’s website. 

Student upset that his performative moustache for Movember won’t be seen under his mask

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ILLUSTRATION: Johanna Jucutan / The Peak

By: Devana Petrovic, Staff Writer

It’s that time of the year again. Fellas of all shapes and sizes, of all hair colours and textures, of all Call of Duty usernames, it’s time for us to rise up and prove just how manly and masculine us men can be. No other month in the year is as socially accepting for men. No other month is as freeing for men to finally resist all the hatred in the world directed at them by dirtbags like Vogue that put a guy in a dress on the cover. 

It’s Movember, my dudes. 

Do you know how ridiculous society’s expectations for men to shave this small portion of his body is?! I wait for midnight to strike every year on October 31 — with only my closest 24 homies gathered for our Halloween party, of course — and we count down in our sexy cop outfits until the month of shaving liberation. 

The world awaits me and my Movember stubble. Alas, not this year. The apparently “mandatory” face masks doomed the world, depriving all females of laying eyes upon my rugged, handsome November face.

Now, who’s going to know that I pull off that five o’clock shadow AND that I spread awareness for Movember? No Nut November is such an important cause to me. . . or is Movember something about cancer? Doesn’t matter, anyways. Stupid masks!

All I can do now is angrily stomp everywhere and bang my fists against my archnemesis, drywall, like a real man. I thought this whole hoax would be over by the time it was lip warmer time — and I’m not just talking about my ‘stache.

I just truly care about helping people, and it is so hard for me to have that completely stripped from me. I have (sorta) done so much over the years with my ‘stache (I think?) for: charities, orphans, that person on the bus that one time who was wearing Crocs with socks, you name it. I don’t donate money or anything, but I think with my annual Movember involvement, I am doing more than enough. But what now?

As a big middle finger to this injustice, I’m wearing my mask as a hat on my forehead. That’ll show them! I get some stern looks every now and then for some reason — probably because everyone is jealous of how much I do for the starving children globally with my sultry ‘stache. 

I can take the criticism from the so-called feminists or whatever who see my strideful moustache walk and tell me to “put my mask on properly, please, we’re in the middle of a deadly pandemic.” Don’t they see how handsome I am? Are they forgetting how much I am giving back to the world with my facial hair’s presence? 

anAnyways, despite everything against me, I am persisting. Just me and my moustache against the world. We will get through this dreary, dark, man-hating period together, my furry facial friend.

The radicalization of social sciences and humanities students at SFU

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Photo courtesy of SFU News.

By Harvin Bhathal, Alison Wick, Madeleine Chan, Emma Jean, Kim Regala

Simon Fraser University (SFU) is an environment that fosters radicalization against the current economic, political, and social systems in place. Whether it is from the inactions of the university regarding Indigenous and/or environmental issues, or learning how to critically think through its various social sciences and humanities programs taught by professors (i.e. Communication, Political Science, Geography, Criminology, Sociology, Indigenous Studies, etc.), students often leave SFU radicalized.

Radicalism refers to advocating for social and political reform that bypass incremental changes – changes that maintain the status quo. To be radicalized is to experience emotional response(s) to a relentless assortment of social injustices, and actively seeking a means of pushing for necessary change because if not them, who else will?

Students at SFU shared their paths to radicalization, and what they are doing about it. Here are their stories.

Alison Wick, Peak Associate

Program: Indigenous Studies Major, Publishing Minor

Positionality: She/her/hers, fifth-year white settler student

I think that some programs are significantly more radical — and produce more radicalized students — than others. For myself, I would say that I have been educated in radical teaching by my profs and my peers — who are very distinct from SFU as an institution. That education is what has allowed me to think more deeply and critically about the society I live in and my place in it. This has been through taking courses across disciplines and especially been from finding community within my major department, Indigenous Studies. The flexibility in taking and selecting courses is a significant reason I still actually recommend SFU, after all the institutions fuckery. There are a lot of opportunities to take courses across disciplines, programs, and campuses, which allows you to meet new people and communities in ways my friends at other schools haven’t been able to. 

The Indigenous Studies program is one of the most radical departments because the program is about learning erased histories, marginalized voices, and positioning yourself. Taking a variety of courses and spending time in radical departments allows me to more radically approach my studies and life as a whole. And that’s not even mentioning the long and ongoing history of student activism in our student body that has certainly changed me for the better.

Madeleine Chan, Opinions Editor

Program: Communication Major, Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Minor

Positionality: Mixed Chinese-Canadian, non-binary, queer

I have a lot of privilege. I haven’t had to worry about not having the means to survive, police targeting me for the colour of my skin, and I’m able to attend a post-secondary school. Yet, I still belong to multiple marginalized communities. Enter my studies at SFU. I started in communication and quickly learned about the fucked up way that the world operates with the callous creed of capitalism, systemic gender disparities, and hegemonic power structures that seem infallible. My awareness of this only grew when I started a GSWS minor and I learned about how all of these things have affected and continue to affect multiple marginalized identities and communities. 

Growing awareness of social issues through things like social media just solidified my commitment to advocating for change. It wasn’t like I woke up one day and decided to help, but I slowly learned that through my privilege of being able to attend university among other things that I had the power to do so. If not for the ideal of people not suffering for who they are, but for the parts of me that suffer along with them in this capitalist and patriarchal society that seeks to push us down.

Emma Jean, Staff Writer

Program: Communication Major, Political Science Minor

Positionality: Speaking from the perspective of a queer, white, middle class cis woman, I cannot speak on behalf of the experiences of racialized, trans or low income people, nor do I intend to

Growing up, I was increasingly aware of the racism, sexism, and homophobia in the world; it came first by experiencing or witnessing it first-hand, and then learning it had a name through the media. I wanted to work against them, but each issue felt categorized as generally isolated, individual issues that required completely different courses of action. If each of these issues had very different surface-level tools of oppression, what was the common tool used to fuel it? It wasn’t until I started taking Labour Studies courses that I fully realized: money, money, and money. All of these groups experience varying degrees of economic oppression, often with intersectional overlap. This determines access to social rights, legal abilities, proper healthcare, and other things a human beings deserve that are often taken for granted by those who possess them. 

I always considered myself to be some kind of socialist, but from learning more about the world around me, I became more invested in a system where a country treats each person as having inherent worth rather than being discriminated against for the circumstances they were born into. I am incredibly grateful that the Labour Studies program gave me the tools to fully realize that. 

Kim Regala, Peak Associate

Program: Communication Major, Film Studies Minor

Positionality: Filipino-Canadian, cis-female

I wouldn’t exactly call myself a radicalized person, but I am passionate about many things. At 16, I learned about Vancouver’s homelessness crisis when I met and heard first-hand the story of a person living through poverty. It was also around that time when I had gotten a job in retail, where for the next three years, I was exposed to the wasteful practices of fast fashion. My natural curiosity led me to further understand these social injustices within our current systems in place. However, I kept these thoughts to myself, rarely entering the dangerous territories of political and social debate, as to avoid confrontation and argument. That is, until I entered university. Passively distilled in me through SFU’s Communication program was a drive to apply all of this knowledge to action. One class in particular — CMNS 349: Environment, Media and Communication — exposed me to the harsh realities of the climate crisis and media framing. Learning about the use of media to deflect blame away from larger structures of power made me recognize the importance of advocacy and grassroots activism. 

Now you may not see me in every single protest or running for political leadership anytime soon, but I can say that I participate more in those political and social debates I would once shy away from. I admit that it gets exhausting to engage in these conversations, especially with ones that end in disagreement, but it’s important that we continue to make our voices heard, because only then can we create meaningful change.

Experiencing a suicidal crisis as an SFU student

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Photo courtesy of Surrey Now-Leader.

By Anonymous

Content warning: suicidal ideation, prescription drug use, institutionalization

I was first diagnosed with disabilities during my first year at SFU. While coming to terms with the diagnoses themselves was difficult, it was nothing compared to the medications and crises I have endured throughout my undergrad. 

I have been on more medications than I can count — and they all end the same way. They either have enough side effects that I want to forget that I ever took them, or they make me forget everything that has occurred in recent memory. Eventually, I stop taking them due to the side effects and am immediately punished for being “non-compliant with treatment.” 

Then all of the effects of withdrawals set in. These include feeling disoriented, issues with my vision, feeling electrical shocks in my brain, cold sweats, severe mood swings, and suicidal ideation. 

But it doesn’t stop at withdrawal; the guilt I have from each perception of myself that I hold in my mind reminds me each day as I wake, that my health (or lack thereof) is a result of my own incompetence. 

The combination of the mental and physical symptoms creates the perfect storm for a crisis. 

Although in retrospect the crisis is predictable, there’s nothing I can do in the moment. Every thought in my mind is debilitating and only further integrates my perceived incompetence into reality. 

The only thing I’m fully aware of is that my state of mind is at the point where institutions have to treat me as a potential liability. If I am honest with a health professional at SFU, I’ll be threatened with a call to the police and eventual committal to an institution. 

Being the property of individuals who systematically oppress members of the BIPOC and disabled communities is not an option. Neither is being in an institution where I am constantly medicated to the point of barely having a grasp on consciousness. 

So, if I see a counsellor or a doctor, I have to minimize my pain at minimum and lie outright if necessary. But what’s the point if I’m not communicating how I truly feel? Besides, I have enough commitments as it is. I have class, work, and volunteering, and there isn’t enough room in my head for anything else. 

So when the dread of another day in the realm of the living hits me at 6:00 a.m., I get ready for class. Just in case I do have to go through a crisis today, I ensure that I live up to the label of having “invisible” disabilities. I pick out an outfit that will avoid bringing any attention to myself, keep my head down, and try to avert my gaze when I can. 

There is a type of privilege with having invisible disabilities, but the erasure of identity and lack of empathy offsets this. I feel as though I carry more pain in my eyes than some able-bodied individuals carry in their bodies and I’ve given up hoping someone will notice that. Therefore, I arrive to campus, forcing myself to look to the floor.

In lecture, I have a radius of 20 empty seats surrounding me. I simultaneously hope with all my will that no one will fill a single one of seats and that someone will sit next to me. 

Every one of the hundreds of thoughts that run through my head pick me apart and I agree with all of it. I am worthless, ignorant, attention-seeking and will never amount to nothing. 

I’m doodling possible ways out of this nightmare on my lecture slides while trying to remember what the first hour of lecture was about. The professor asks the class to organize themselves into small groups and I suddenly realize that everyone has come to the conclusion that I am a fraud. 

They don’t know that I am disabled, but I’m sure they know that I am lying about it nonetheless. The lecture hall of 300 are all staring at me and I cannot disappear fast enough as I try to catch my breath while running up the stairs.

I am desperately searching for a place to panic or cry. The posters of mental health support groups, phone applications, and crisis lines feel more condescending than ever. What’s the point? I don’t want someone to recite their script of “I understand, that must be difficult, how does that make you feel?” at me. I want someone to listen and empathize with me, but that isn’t possible, not here at least. 

I find the nearest accessible washroom, lock the door, and look up at the ceiling. This washroom doesn’t have any pipes or beams that could bear my weight, I wonder if I move one of the ceiling tiles that a way out would be revealed. It’s something I try to keep in the front of my mind as I breakdown and try to avoid any visible markers of a crisis. 

I place my hands on either side of the sink and try to stabilize myself as I see my reflection in the mirror. I have a comprehensive understanding of how hopeless, pitiful, and what a waste of space I am. 

For the first time in weeks, I am thinking clearly and know what I have to do to feel better. I have to go home, count the pills I have left over from whenever I discontinued use and make a decision — to take one one of them or all of them.

The EVSCSU and BESU receive eviction notice from School of Environmental Science

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PHOTO: Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson / The Peak

Written by: Serena Bains, Staff Writer 

The Environmental Science Student Union (EVSCSU) and Bachelor of Environment Student Union (BESU) recently learned of the School of Environmental Science’s plan to repurpose their common room and convert it into a lab space for environmental science research. Neither the EVSCSU or BESU were consulted regarding the eviction of the groups from the common room, according to the student unions. 

Initially, there was no replacement for the common room nor a rationale given for what prompted the decision. The EVSCSU and BESU were given the suggestion to use the bookable rooms in the Student Union Building. However, this would require constant relocation and provides limited storage space. 

According to Nathan Zemp, President of the BESU, and Paolo Orosa, webmaster of the EVSCSU, the School of Environment assumed that the common room was underutilized, were unaware of the community the room provided, and didn’t know of the investments made by the EVSCSU and BESU into the space. Furthermore, the faculty was unaware that BESU was one of the resident student unions of the common room, meaning that it was BESU’s only common space for events and gatherings. Zemp expressed that “the common room is [their] second home” and that “it’s a meeting space for all of the students in our majors, it’s a place where you can always go.” 

PHOTO: Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson / The Peak

As detailed in the annexation statement put out by the EVSCSU and BESU on November 13, the BESU remains unnotified of the eviction, which was three weeks away at the time the statement was written. The School of Environmental Science conveyed that the common room was meant to be a temporary space, where this decision was being contemplated for the last five years however, this was not communicated, as expressed by Orosa.

B-Jae Kelly, the Associate Director of Facilities and Technical Operations of the Faculty of Environment, remarked that there is a solution in the works. Additionally, Kelly stated that they are happy to consult with student unions in the future to prevent any further miscommunication. 

“In more recent communications, they have appeared more supportive and understanding. The initial notice was quite blunt. Since they’ve heard how important this room has been to us, they are open to some dialogue,” said Zemp. 

In terms of an alternative space, the EVSCSU and BESU have been provided some options. All options, however, would be approximately a 50% reduction in size compared to the common room because “given the size of the student unions, [the faculty] can’t justify giving [them] a larger room,” as noted by Zemp.

While the EVSCSU and BESU acknowledged that the School of Environment was unaware of the significance of the space to either student union, they do not blame any individual for this disconnect. They hope that with continued dialogue with the faculty, all parties can come to an agreement for a feasible replacement of the common room. 

PHOTO: Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson / The Peak

Kelly stated that the faculty is also committed to finding a solution that is suitable for all parties. The faculty believes that there is currently a solution in process — a tentative solution is that student space would be administered out of the Dean’s office to fit the needs of the student unions currently housed in the common room.

The EVSCSU and BESU also acknowledge that the School of Environment is under fiscal pressure by SFU as there is a shortage of lab space for professors, as there is no greater funding being provided to the school. Zemp explained that, “SFU is now charging them for potential space. So, if they don’t utilize the space that they have they won’t be able to get anything else.

“We are hopeful, we’ve seen some good signs that the faculty is listening to us [ . . . ] It’s not hopeless, if you get evicted there are things you can do and there are ways to stick up for yourself and if you engage with the faculty in dialogue and act respectfully, you can achieve positive results — we’re hoping.”

For more information on the EVSCSU and BESU and their negotiations, visit their Facebook page.  

UPTOWN BOYBAND discuss their sound, bilingual music, and the Canadian music scene

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These artists are embracing their identity and creating versatile music. Photo courtesy of Mimi Vuong

By: Michelle Young, News Editor

Editor’s note: Some of the answers below have been edited for length and clarity.

Toronto-based UPTOWN BOYBAND released their first album, CLUB UBB, on November 20. It’s a concept album that’s divided into two parts, HEARTTHROB and HEARTBREAK, and showcases the band’s musical versatility. 

Comprised of Roc Lee, Joe Rascal, and Justin Trash, the band has been releasing singles since early 2020 — like groovy and upbeat “SAILORMOON” and hard-hitting “CHUMCHURUM.”

The Peak had the opportunity to interview the band over Zoom to discuss their new album. 

The Peak: Why did you decide to break the album into two concepts? 

Justin: The album is inspired by K-pop music, and [in] K-pop, there are so many genres within each song: you can get a trap feel, you can get an EDM feel, a pop feel. For us, we really wanted to divide into pop and trap music because of our upbringing as musicians. When we were performing [ . . . ] we would start with a pop song, then just end the show with a full trap set. I think it was important for us to hit every aspect of trap music and every aspect of pop music to show that versatility. 

P: Adding onto the idea of versatility, what are your thoughts on genres? As a band, your sound has blended a lot of different genres together. Do you think genres will eventually fade away — or does it simply depend on the artist? 

Roc: I think it really depends on the artist, because not every artist is willing to be as experimental as we are. Like Justin mentioned before, we were influenced a lot by K-pop, and K-pop is famous for literally taking a lot of different sounds from all over the world and making them fit cohesively in one song. We really thought that was something we wanted to do with our music. We’ve always wanted to be different and to showcase our versatility.

Joe: I really think that every year, the music industry is always changing, and therefore, people are always coming up with new ways to express themselves because now the audience has new ways to find who to listen to. I feel like a lot of artists now are trying to be more personal [ . . . ] I feel artists now can express themselves more freely, hence why they can branch out with more genres. 

P: Do you have any specific sounds/genres you’d like to try or experiment with?

Justin: Well, we definitely won’t do country music. Over my dead body.

Joe: You know what, though, you never know. 

Justin: I know. 

P: Going off of that, do you ever clash on which sound you want during recording?

Roc: I think usually in sessions, we get along well and have a similar vision of what we want to sound like and the sounds we want to create. We also bring our individual strengths to the table — Justin’s really good at writing, Joe’s very good with that soul, the melody.

Justin: At the end of the day, if it sounds good, it sounds good.

P: What is your creative process like? Has COVID-19 changed the way you write and produce music?

Justin: Initially, when we originally recorded the first album, CLUB UBB, we had a simpler approach to it where someone would come up with the hook and we would kind of build around that concept. But now with [COVID-19] hitting, we still have that similar structure but more resources to use in terms of working and collaborating with other producers and writers. Now, we’re able to write for each other and we kind of get what sounds good with other things. 

P: Various artists of colour have commented on media placing emphasis on their identity instead of their music, however, you’ve spoken about embracing your Korean identity. What are your thoughts on placing emphasis on identity versus the creative process in interviews?

Justin: I feel like when we say we’re embracing our background, it comes from our upbringing — there are times where we’ve felt shameful about being who we are, but I guess what we’re actually embracing is more the identity of being Koreans living in Western culture and being raised in that with the same cultural discipline we get at home. But also when we go outside we have a total different experience, where maybe our non-Korean friends or [friends who aren’t people of colour] wouldn’t get.

Roc: And I also think it’s because we wanted to represent something bigger than music [ . . . ] We wanted to represent that [East] Asian culture, that upbringing, because we didn’t have a lot of role models growing up in Toronto and we haven’t seen a lot of Asian-Canadian and Asian-American artists doing well. I mean, now we have a lot of great artists coming up, but we wanted to represent that culture. 

P: Many Asian-Americans/Asian-Canadians have been putting out bilingual music. Do you plan to put out any Korean releases? Do you think multilingual music will eventually make its way to the mainstream music scene?

Roc: Even now you see K-pop songs getting number one, like BTS, Blackpink — and people have no idea what they’re saying.

Joe: Sound has been with us since the beginning at time, whether there was language or not, and it can sound good, and we’ll just love it because sonically it sounds good — so I think it doesn’t matter what language or culture you’re bringing up. It’s the sound of what you love to make. 

Justin: To answer your question though, yes, we’re really interested in doing it, and we’re planning on doing it on our second project. 

P: UBB has been dubbed as “an alternative” to K-pop is that something that you initiated or a label thrown onto you?

Justin: Hey, if that’s what they’re saying, that’s what we are. We’re totally open to the term “alternative K-pop” because the way we are taking our direction is we’re so heavily inspired by K-pop, but yet we’re not K-pop, right? We’re so heavily inspired by Western music, but we’re not fully there yet, so we’re taking the alternative route of the K-pop discipline, the musicality of both sides.  

P: What changes do you hope to see in the future Canadian music scene? 

Roc: I want to see more different types of languages incorporated in music and just having different cultural influences in Canadian music. I feel like it is very black and white with a lot of music that is coming out, and we hope to be a part of that change. 

P: Is there anything else you would like to say to our readers?

Justin: Go stream CLUB UBB. Stan us, stream us, follow us. Stay healthy, stay safe, wear a mask, don’t be an asshole. 

CLUB UBB is available on all streaming platforms. Follow Uptown Boyband on Twitter  and Instagram. 

 

The Queen’s Gambit is a coming-of-age drama that’s making all the right moves

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Who knew chess could be so gripping? Courtesy of Netflix

By: Alyssa Victorino, SFU Student

I have not played a single game of chess in my life. However, after watching The Queen’s Gambit, I am suddenly itching to play, eager to learn all the nuances of the game. Though an intellectually stimulating drama, this Netflix show does a remarkable job of balancing both comedy and emotion, making it clever and heartfelt all the same. 

Earning a 100% rating from Rotten Tomatoes, the limited series tells the gripping tale of Elizabeth (Beth) Harmon (played by Anya Taylor-Joy), a gifted chess player, and her tumultuous journey to becoming a grandmaster of chess. Adapted from Walter Tevis’s 1983 novel, The Queen’s Gambit, the show follows nine-year-old Beth from a Kentucky orphanage in the 1950s as she comes of age. It is at the orphanage that her talent is realized, though it is also there that she develops a drug addiction that follows her into adulthood. 

The cinematography, in addition to the screenplay, is exceptional in the way it fully immerses the audience into Beth’s life, throughout all her success and failure. The shots are beautifully framed and coloured, and with every close-up, Beth’s facial expressions and mannerisms are pronounced and consistent. Perhaps the most impressive way that this show was structured is how the pace of each episode mimics the essence of the chess term it is named after. These parallels between the narrative and the filmmaking are one of the reasons the series is so memorable.

Each episode is truly just as riveting as the last. Beth’s focus on winning is unwavering, and it is what keeps her paradoxically steady yet erratic. Her quiet demeanour is also strategically reflected on the board during times of suspense, making it hard not to be fully involved in the diegesis. Despite the palpable tension during games, there was a dedicated focus on the movement of the meek chess pieces, mirroring Beth’s contrived tranquility in the face of her inner turmoil. 

Asked to provide commentary about the show, real-life chess champion Jennifer Shahade explained how the beauty of chess with its disinterest in traditional gender constructs is a theme that is persistently represented on-screen. Though the game does not rely on gender norms, the same cannot be said for chess culture, with Shahade noting that it remains a male-dominated sport. Despite Beth’s evident gift in logical reasoning, her stardom was predominantly built upon the novelty of being a good female chess player, a source of significant annoyance for the young protagonist. Shahade, however, expressed her excitement over the added publicity for women in chess and her hopes that it encourages young women to find a place in not just the game, but in other areas where they may feel they don’t belong. 

As astounding as the show is, it is not without weakness. Critics have pointed out that Jolene, Beth’s primary confidant in childhood, was not given enough attention. Moses Ingram’s incredible portrayal of Jolene was a major talking point for the show, though it seems her role just marginally escaped the played-out trope of a Black woman only existing in the narrative to further the interests of white characters. Although an inherently feminist story, this raises a pertinent question: What is feminism if not intersectional?

While the representation of women of colour could have been improved, The Queen’s Gambit is a refreshing story about friendship, created families, womanhood, and the mess that is growing up, seamlessly woven into the pensive world of chess. It is enjoyable from start to finish, told with the help of a fantastic cast, purposeful camera work, fashionable costumes, and a genuine love for the game. Though it surely features hardship, the series deviates from feigned adversity for the sake of drama. There is no fuss — it is simply chess and it is simply life, and it is beautiful.

SFU gerontology department hosts information session

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PHOTO: Bruno Aguirre / Unsplash

Written by: Mahdi Dialden, News Writer 

SFU department of gerontology hosted an information session for students interested in the program on November 5, 2020. The Department Chair Habib Chaudhury, Graduate Program Chair Barbara A. Mitchell, Department Manager Anne Marie Barrett, Graduate Program Assistant Sasha Gill, and alumni speakers all gave insight to prospective students. 

Gerontology is “a study of the aging process and individuals as they grow from middle-age through later lives,” which includes “investigation of changes in society resulting from aging populations.” The social science focuses on the psychological aspects of aging and the policy and programs associated with it. 

The department provides three different programs including a one-year post-baccalaureate diploma (PBD) program, a Masters (MA) program, and a PhD in gerontology. These programs provide an interdisciplinary workload with “both quantitative and qualitative research skills.”

Each program includes its own set of requirements and course work. The PBD program requires the “completion of a four-year undergraduate degree from a recognized university, with a minimum grade point average of 2.5.” The masters program requires “an undergraduate degree in a related discipline,” and “must satisfy the general admission requirements for graduate studies.” The PhD program requires a Masters degree in gerontology or a discipline that includes aging-related coursework with a minimum of 3.5 GPA. A practicum component for PhD students “would include a volunteer or unpaid position that would provide services to older adults.”  

The gerontology department is a “smaller unit within SFU, and by virtue of that, [they’re] able to give higher quality interaction with the students both in terms of the size of the classes and the interaction that we have from faculty and staff, with the students.”

There are 12 awards that are specific and exclusive to gerontology students. These awards range anywhere from $500 to $2,000, and can be found on the SFU Graduate Awards’ application system. 

The program is increasingly relevant because 18% of the Canadian population are 65 and over, and “in 20 years, about 68% more than what we have now,” according to Chaudhury. 

Eireann O’Dea, a current PhD student and master’s graduate in gerontology said, “One of [her] favourite things about the program I would say is that it’s highly interdisciplinary. And [ . . . ] for someone like me who often has trouble choosing a singular topic of interest or one area to focus on, I found [it] really valuable.”

What Grinds Our Gears: Packaging that is unnecessarily complicated to open

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Opinions
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PHOTO: James Yarema / Unsplash

by Michelle Young, News Editor

For the past few years, my hands and wrists haven’t been doing too well. Due to a mixture of overuse, hypermobility, and a small frame, my hands have become significantly weaker, lost some of their fine motor skills, and have posed a series of challenges to my daily life. One of these challenges is the struggle to open things that, to me, were not previously difficult to open. I don’t just mean pickle jars and excessively sealed packages — I also mean pop cans, twist tops, and cereal boxes.

The thing that is so frustrating about packaging is that I shouldn’t need an exuberant amount of strength to open a jug of orange juice. I understand that the twist-and-pop cap is supposed to indicate that a product is still fresh, but the juice boxes that flip open with the little plastic-peel off are truly much easier for me. Why is there so much unnecessarily tight packaging, that when I’m left home alone, my meal options have suddenly become limited to avocado toast? (I mean, I have a few more options, but still.) 

I recognize that I’m privileged to only be experiencing this in the past few years, when there are others who have likely been struggling with this for their whole lives. However, I’ve found it increasingly concerning that companies don’t seem to take into consideration the amount of assistance that one may need to open their products — whether that be food, cosmetics, or other essential items. So, I’m asking everyone to look critically at the products they consume and consider whether their design is accessible, because not everyone has the same abilities, and I guarantee that there’s an alternative.

Senate Report: November 2, 2020

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News
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Photo from Peak archives

Written by: Serena Bains, Staff Writer 

SFU reopens some Athletic & Recreation programs 

During the question period, Senator Colin Percival asked if there were any plans to reopen Athletic & Recreation programs. Vice-President, Academic and Provost pro tem Jonathan Driver responded by stating that the gym and pool were open through appointments, where other safety protocols — such as sanitizing stations — are in place as well for students who live on residence and staff and faculty who work on campus. Following the BC health orders announced on November 7, SFU Athletics & Recreation announced that the Fitness Centre and Aquatics Centre reopened on November 12. Consult with the SFU Athletics & Recreation website for updated safety protocols.

President Joy Johnson added that some of the SFU athletics teams — such as football, soccer, and track and field — have been training on campus and discussions are currently underway regarding whether athletic competitions will be available next term. She also recognized that athletics includes the additional challenge of athletes having to travel across the border.

Expectations for professors regarding remote course delivery

Senator Lyn Bartram posed a question about how professors are expected to deliver courses to students who are working from home all around the world. 

Bartram expressed that for the first time, she had to describe whether her course would be taught synchronously or asynchronously. She recognized that some students will be joining from outside of the lower mainland, but that with some aspects of the course requiring real-time communication, Bartram felt that she’s teaching two courses with the blend of synchronous and asynchronous components. 

Bartram added it now takes two to three times more effort to deliver a course, not taking into consideration the time it takes to prepare. 

Driver responded by stating that SFU is currently working with the faculty association on this issue. Professors who are pre-tenure (meaning that they have not been offered a permanent contract) have been given flexibility so they can delay tenure. Delaying tenure, however, means that professors can be terminated without justifiable cause. Senator Rob McTavish commented in the chat that delaying tenure for professors who are pre-tenure is a difficult decision, as it can have long-term consequences on salary and pension. 

There are options to modify study leave plans and performance review processes, and there is a review occurring of support that has been implemented at the faculty level, which includes financial assistance to hire more teaching assistants, among other accommodations. 

President Johnson responded that there is recognition for professors who have gone above and beyond and that the workload has increased for everyone during these difficult times. 

Senator Pablo Nepomnaschy spoke to the impact that COVID-19 has on research, and agreed with Senator Bartram that teaching online takes three times the amount of effort. In addition to this, professors who work abroad or at field schools have seen a negative impact on their research as they can no longer travel. Professors explained that this problem also extends to their graduate students and that there needs to be a solution.

Postponing external reviews for 2020–21 academic year

Senator Wade Parkhouse explained what an external review consists of. The purpose of external reviews are to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each academic unit, gain the perspective of external experts, and support future planning. Academic units are reviewed by external reviewers not only from Canada, but across North America. This usually includes a social event, in-person meetings with faculty members, and a review of documents and reports. All units were allowed to delay the review, except for the units who postponed the reviews in the previous year. Geography and Physics would go forward in 2021, most likely later in the year. 

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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