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Cancel culture gives voice and power to those who need it most

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Public figures are accountable to their audiences for their behaviour. Illustration by: Tiffany Chan/The Peak

By: Kelly Chia, Features Editor

There’s no question that the internet has brought us intimately close with many of our favourite artists and content creators. Unfortunately, this also means that we now have a front-row seat to all of their flaws and problematic worldviews. In response to some very public comments made by public figures in recent years, so-called “cancel culture” has arisen as a community-driven means of unseating creators from their public platforms, revoking their celebrity status, and in some cases, punishing them financially. In general, cancel cultures aims to force public figures to acknowledge the mistakes they’ve made.

Cancel culture has the potential to be disastrous for those in the public eye by encouraging people to stop supporting them when their words or actions harm other people. While the intent isn’t always necessarily to end careers, it’s often used to impose consequences on problematic creators who otherwise would continue to benefit from positions of influence — and from those positions, disseminate hurtful worldviews. This can take the form of demanding a creator be taken off of their platforms, be dropped by publishers, or a call for fans to stop supporting problematic creators. 

These call-to-actions make cancel culture a very potent but also necessary tool for socially conscious consumers, especially since an absence of consequences for harmful behaviour signals a societal acceptance and tacit agreement with said behaviour.  

Recently, Harper’s Magazine published an open letter decrying cancel culture. The letter, signed by several high-profile creators and academics, takes issue with how morally absolute cancel culture is. Cancel culture labels content either problematic or not problematic, with no room for nuance or personal growth. According to the signatories, the consequences are too heavy compared to the mistakes an individual has made, and are more limiting than they are good. 

People make mistakes, and it is understandable when they are made in ignorance. But if creators have hurt people with their mistakes, they must also own up and properly make amends. They have to show a willingness to learn from the voices of those they’ve hurt. If they don’t, if they continue to be hurtful to people who have called them out multiple times — such as signatory J.K. Rowling has done — then they deserve to be abandoned by their fans, and to have their influence diminished. 

Harper’s’ letter minimizes the people who have been hurt when it says that these are just clumsy mistakes that don’t deserve the consequences that cancel culture imposes. They point to examples like researchers being fired for sharing certain academic papers as a reason why society should be more lenient with problematic viewpoints. 

I’m not saying that we should always operate on a black and white morality scale of mob rule. Some people such as researchers do occasionally have to take risks with their work. Think of what happened at SFU in the late 60s when the conservative administration fired professors and broke up an entire department over fears of openly Marxist views and research. Cancel culture should only be deployed when words or actions of public figures are consistently and unapologetically made at the expense of marginalized communities. If it hurts those communities, then those communities deserve to speak up about it and demand that creators do better. 

Content creators today have so much potential to influence their audience into believing that they do no wrong. If content creators are racist, homophobic, or have otherwise been hurtful to minority groups, their audiences deserve to be able to turn their backs and wallets away from them. Some content creators may grow out of this behaviour with or without listening to their audience’s concerns. However, by collectively taking action against areas where the content creators themselves will feel the effects — as cancel culture does — it allows those who were wronged an avenue for justice where they are so often powerless to enact change in other ways.

Ultimately, cancel culture doesn’t always seek a punishment, but rather a forced recognition: if you have hurt people with your actions, what will you do next? Will you ignore their hurt, or will you apologize and do better for yourself, your work, and your audience? 

 

Think twice about taking a gap year during the COVID-19 pandemic

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Ditching school in a pandemic won’t give students a dream vacation. Illustrated by Alex Vanderput/The Peak

By: Nathan Tok, Peak Associate

I am going to just straight up say it at the start: unless you have a well-thought-out, rock-solid plan, it is probably not a good idea to take a gap year from school just because of remote learning.

What does one do in a gap year, anyway? Gap years are usually about taking a break from formal academic work and trying to better ourselves in some other regard outside of school opportunities. This includes travelling, volunteering, or working. But taking a gap year to avoid the pain of remote learning during the pandemic is only going to waste students’ time and provide no additional benefit. 

None of the reasons one might usually have for taking a gap year are great options during a pandemic. Consider travelling for world experience, for example. It’s still a bad idea to travel right now even if non-essential or vacation travel was “socially acceptable” as some countries still struggle to get viral case numbers down. Not to mention the difficulties and restrictions visitors might have when visiting another country, such as quarantine periods and different ideas about pandemic safety. So any kind of “find yourself” situation isn’t going to be a fun or feasible way to spend a gap year.

These difficulties apply to overseas working or volunteering too. Sure, students might be able to find one or two opportunities, but is it wise or fair to people living in those areas to accept an outsider into their community during a pandemic? Besides that, unless you work in essential services, working nowadays is a lot like school: remote, if at all. Students won’t be able to easily make those all-important workplace connections and truly take advantage of the experience in an industry or job over Zoom. You might as well stay in school at that point.

It might be tempting to leave school temporarily to wait the pandemic out, but consider this:  we are already used to school. In difficult times, doing something we are already mostly used to doing is going to be much easier than starting something brand new — especially in an environment of lean opportunities. 

Of course, if you feel inspired to do something new, just learn a new skill at home. If you need some time to yourself to relax, please go for it.Continuing to work on their minds, interests, and skills during the pandemic are probably the best things students can do for themselves when confined to their homes. But we don’t need to take a year off school to do that. Just because school is harder remotely doesn’t mean we need to throw the towel in altogether. 

So although remote schooling is not the greatest experience a student could have, the alternatives we could potentially do in a gap year probably aren’t better, if they are even possible at all. We need to dig deep and find those reserves to keep working on ourselves and on the goals we’ve already committed to, in order to be ready for when the world finally reopens.

 

Student boosts house party’s cred by changing COVID-19’s Facebook status to “going”

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Photo courtesy of Chris A. Tweten via Unsplash

Written by Zach Siddiqui, Humour Editor

PORT MOODY, BC — In hopes of drawing an upper-class crowd to her illicit house party, a student at SFU logged into her Facebook event and switched COVID-19’s status from “invited” to “going.”

“It’s really important that people know exactly who’s gonna be there,” Zella Fische, third year economics, explained about her soiree. “Because right now, it just doesn’t seem like they’re aware.” 

Managing an effective guest list is critical for any Facebook event if you don’t want your party to be filled with losers, preps, and no-shows, Fische says, as most people — such as herself — frequently check the list of confirmed attendees for updates. She did not respond to questions about whether low attendance at her last three house parties might have had more to do with people frequently checking Dr. Bonnie Henry’s COVID-19 announcements for updates.

According to Fische, one of the biggest stresses of hosting an event, especially her latest one, has always been the need to put words in her friends’ mouths and lie about how close they all are. In the last two years, she has committed over 300 different people to events they’ve barely even heard of, such as “grade 8 reunion <3,” “going away bash!!!!!! EDIT: where is evry1”  and, most recently, “2020.”

Fische brushed off questions about social distancing measures at her party, scheduled for July 31, claiming that the gulfs of emotional distance made by her friends waiting until the night before to RSVP and mostly disappoint her would be enough. 

COVID-19 did not respond to requests for interviews by the publication deadline, nor was Fische able to stalk the virus’s location through Snap Maps to demand an honest answer. However, sources close to COVID-19 have affectionately called the pandemic as a “engaged citizen of the world” and fully expect an appearance.

Fische and her friends are not the first people to employ the invite-status change strategy. The United States of America’s international relations strategy has been founded on it for years, most recently seen with Congress’s latest attempt to switch Canada’s status to “going” for the “border reopening plan” event.

Introducing the ALL-NEW Musk-Ox Man 28-in-1 for Men

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Humour
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PHOTO EDIT: Maxwell Gawlick / The Peak

Written by Paige Riding, News Writer

Gentlemen . . . are you intimidated by having four products lining the side of your shower? Do your moustache hairs shiver at the thought of lavender? Have the “For Men” labels on products failed to coddle your fragile masculinity enough?

Well, we’ve got the solution for you! 

Introducing the Musk-Ox Man 28-in-1 Product For Men. That’s right: this product eliminates the need for all those emasculating tubes and bottles cramping the soap scum-filled counter of your sink. Now, you’ll have more room for what’s really important: your beard hairs, the empty beer cans you detonated, and your two-year-old loofah.

The Musk-Ox Man 28-in-1 is a shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothpaste, eyeglass cleaner, drain cleaner, windshield washer fluid, laundry detergent, energy drink, and more! But the real benefits are more than just skin deep, fellas. It’s an instant testosterone booster. If you use this product during your camping trips and a bear has the unfortunate fate of crossing you, your campsite would be better off helping the bear. That’s how tough you’ll feel.

It’ll give you the confidence you need to play the devil’s advocate during conversations with your female friends. You’ll feel so manly that the basic rights of any other gender will become trivial to you. There’s a reason the wage gap exists. It’s to reward the hard work of men like you. You’re a bro. And you smell like it.

When going to a party that you apparently shouldn’t be at, the Musk-Ox Man 28-in-1 Product For Men will pump you up enough for you to touch the lower backs of every single woman you pass. Social cues, not to mention social distancing, never sat right with you. Your hair, teeth, and armpits will all smell like a manly pine forest mixed with titanium. Everyone around you will know you for the rough-’n-tough stocky jock you are.

Those “you up?” texts will practically write themselves when you use the Musk-Ox Man 28-in-1. And your hand will smell so fresh that when you hold your anaconda for a pleasantly surprising pic to that hot babe, she’ll basically be able to smell you from where she is and she’ll call an Uber right to you. Nothing gets the ladies like Musk-Ox Man, you hefty hunk of a hard-as-nails ham.

Call 1-888-800-8135 for your free sample of the Musk-Ox Man 28-in-1 for men. Never again will the patriarchy be challenged with big, badass, bulletproof buff buds like you bustling about. Careful not to break your phone with that ridiculously strong python grip when you call now!

Staying organized during remote learning

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Illustration: Sabrina Kedzior / The Peak

By: Michelle Young, Staff Writer

Figure out when you’re most productive 

I know that every article about working or studying from home insists that waking up early is the embodiment of productivity. However, not everyone will be able to wake up at dawn feeling refreshed and rested. For some people, working in the morning is a good way to start their day. But for others, working in the afternoon or nighttime just makes sense. Figuring out when you’re most motivated to work will be beneficial to you in the long run, and figuring this out will take a little bit of trial and error. 

Essentially, try working right when you wake up, and then in the evening or in the afternoon — gauge when you have the most energy to get work done. Whether you’ve eaten right before can also play a role in whether you feel energized or unmotivated. Try to study and do the majority of your work in the timeframe when you feel the most productive, and leave the bulk of the TV binging for when you feel less motivated. 

 

Plan to-do lists, deadlines, and schedules

Once you’ve discovered the best time to get things done, it becomes much easier to plan around it. You don’t have to keep a strict hourly schedule, though breaking up your tasks over the span of a week or two can help you improve your study habits. 

Take note of deadlines and make a schedule of how you’ll accomplish tasks on time. Make a to-do list of things you want to achieve each day, and take advantage of when you’re most productive to do those activities. It’s also helpful to finish homework one to two days before it’s due to avoid last-minute scrambling in case you face a roadblock. 

When you plan your to-do lists, plan them around concrete goals instead of time. For example, instead of planning to do “an hour” of studying, focus on studying a particular chapter. Rather than spending “half an hour” on your essay, go for a word count. After a while, you’ll be able to gauge how much time certain tasks take you, but using concrete goals will help you stay more productive and organized because you’ve accomplished something by the time you’ve finished a task. 

 

Managing time and work spaces

Digitally, close all school or work-related tabs and documents during your break. This also means closing all social media or personal tabs (except for maybe a music tab) when working. Keep any references you need in a comprehensive document that you can open later. This can aid in staying focused when you’re working, or help relax during breaks. 

Physically, try to separate your workspace from your recreation space. I placed my desk diagonal from my bed on the other side of the room to separate these two places as much as possible. When I’m just watching TV or movies on my laptop, I’ll sometimes move over to my bed. If you don’t have a desk or you have a smaller room — try to do your work anywhere other than your bed. This is because of how we associate spaces and what we do in those spaces. 

Separate your time as well — taking breaks is also necessary as studies show that learning is more efficient when spread over blocks of time. Try not to engage with anything work or school related when you’re eating or taking breaks. Not only is it important to know when you’re most productive, but it’s also important to set boundaries of when you’re going to start and stop working or studying. For instance, try not to respond to all your emails right before sleeping. 

 

Presentation and clean spaces

No, you don’t need to “dress as if you’re going to work.” Dress comfortably. It’s a waste to wash your nice clothes when you’re just staying home and it’ll wear them down unnecessarily. What I’ve found to be important, though, is keeping up with hygiene. Your comfy clothes should be clean, and showering regularly can help you feel more rejuvenated and motivated. 

Regardless of where you’re working, a clean (and nice-smelling) space will help you focus on work and studying. Perhaps it’s just me, but taking the time to clean can also be a nice break from school-related work because it’s productive, but not particularly mentally draining. 

Cluttered space, no matter how much you insist doesn’t bother you — will take a mental toll on focus and productivity. Keep surfaces like desks and countertops tidy, wiped down, and dusted. You can try to use spaces like under the desk and under the bed to limit the amount of objects that are visible to the eye. Rearrange things if you want to! Open windows for fresh air to keep your space from being too stuffy. 

Too Spirited for the 2020 Queer Arts Festival

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Burlesque group, Virago Nation, showcases Indigenous resilience and power at QAF 2020. Courtesy of Kate Whyte Photography

By: Kelly Chia, Features Editor

Too Spirited, an Indigenous burlesque show performed for the Queer Arts Festival, was an amazing reminder of why burlesque is so invigorating to watch: it’s all about getting on stage to take ownership of your body, turning vulnerability into confidence. Sparkle Plenty, the emcee, guided viewers through numbers performed by the all-Indigenous group, Virago Nation. Too Spirited was streamed on Queer Arts Festival, with an interactive chat on the side to cheer the performers throughout their numbers. The attendees were enthusiastic and matched Sparkle’s upbeat energy.  

While Sparkle Plenty spoke, an ASL interpreter helped communicate her words. I don’t often see ASL interpreters at shows which made me really appreciate this attempt to be inclusive and  make burlesque more accessible. 

“Tonight, it’s about highlighting and celebrating our resilience. Our sexy, powerful resilience!” Sparkle Plenty began.”When we hear stories about Indigenous women in the media, the main stories that are being shared are of our suffering or being a caricature. We wanted to show that we’re more than this: that sexuality is fun, and most importantly, a healthy expression of ourselves!” While she spoke, Shane Sable, another performer, cheered in the live chat. Not only was it endearing to see performers support each other, but in this case, it helped the show reach beyond the screen. Sparkle Plenty’s words were powerful ones, and prepared me for the bombastic, beautiful displays of sexuality that I was about to witness. These acts also made me happy about having the option of tipping each performer. 

The first number was performed by RainbowGlitz, and Sparkle Plenty introduced her performance as commentary on tradition through a colonial lens, and true tradition that embraces being naked. RainbowGlitz entered the stage in a crow costume, shuffling to an insistent drum beat. Then, hiding behind a stage prop, she dropped the crow head and reappeared in heels to the tune of Demi Lovato’s “Sorry Not Sorry.” She proceeded to strut and writhe on stage, a complete 180 to the first half of the performance. By the time she left the stage, she was confidently exposing her breasts. Admittedly, not hearing the audience’s cheers after each performance was unusual, but I could hear the other performers encourage the stage performer which felt heartwarming.

Next, Sparkle Plenty performed in a long coral number, slowly stripping her gloves with a brilliant and sassy smile. What I loved about Sparkle Plenty’s performance was that she stripped her hair extensions, and was handed a second ponytail by a person off stage, proceeding to dance wildly with her hair extensions. Her glee was contagious, and I found myself beaming as I watched her. She later said in an exasperated tone, “The moral of the story is, ‘pin your damn wig in’.”

What really made a lasting impression was the third number, performed by Lynx Chase. The song in the background was considerably slower, which showed off Lynx’s control as a pole dancer. I watched in awe as she wound down the pole, seemingly glued to it by her waist and thighs. Every movement seemed smooth and intentional, and I was absolutely mesmerized. In addition, I was struck by Sparkle Plenty’s comments after Lynx’s performance, “Pole dancing has become more popular in the mainstream, and we’re seeing people try to brand it as ‘sexy fitness.’ Never forget that strip culture was birthed by black strippers and sex workers, show your fucking gratitude!”

The show was filled with incredible performances and commentary, with a notable theme of 70s style costuming. Watching the performers embrace their body unabashedly served — as burlesque often does — as a wonderful reminder for me to be more kind to my own. I highly recommend checking out the video recording here if you’re looking for a fun way to spend your night and to support some gorgeous and talented Indigenous babes. Queer Arts Festival will also be streaming the show for a second time on July 26, and will be offering a variety of other events until the festival closes on July 26.

Contemporary dance festival Dancing on the Edge features two world-premiere pieces through Edge Six

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Edge Six showcased the choreography talents of Josh Martin (Brimming - top) and Rachel Meyer (Excerpts of a Work-in-Progess - below). Courtesy of Dancing on the Edge Festival

By: Devana Petrovic, Staff Writer

Known as one of the Lower Mainland’s oldest contemporary dance festivals, Dancing on the Edge (DOTE) did not let a global pandemic stop them from running their 32nd year of annual performances. Expectedly, this year’s festival ran almost entirely virtually — with the exception of a minimal amount of performances — and still included a diverse selection of works, artists, and (synchronous) viewing times. As a retired classical and contemporary dancer myself, I very willingly sat through almost 20 minutes of DOTE’s combination of works, Edge Six. 

DOTE offered events of different lengths and ticket prices, some of which (like the event I attended), only required a five-dollar reservation fee and were otherwise entirely by donation. However, in-person events at venues naturally called for ticket purchasing, which were a little pricier. Since all virtual performances were filmed from the venues themselves with full stage setups and professional lighting, I would say that a five-dollar fee was a relatively fair price, especially considering the importance of supporting local artists at this time. 

Edge Six was streamed on YouTube on two separate dates and included Rachel Meyer’s, Excerpts of a Work-in-Progress, and Josh Martin’s (Company 605), Brimming (also a work-in-development). I attended the first night of Edge Six, which was also coincidentally the world premiere of both pieces. 

The event started with Meyer’s (choreographer) Excerpts of a Work-in-Progress, featuring performers Josh Martin, Stéphanie Cyr, and Brandon Lee Alley. The piece was accurately described as “a work-in-progress,” clocking in at around five minutes in length. It appeared to be more of a montage of experimental movement combinations, and since there was little to no explanation from Meyer, that’s likely what it actually was. Although the choreography was excellent, to those unfamiliar with contemporary dance, it could potentially be difficult to understand and fully appreciate as it wasn’t fully developed (e.g. a specific stage setup, storyline, etc). From my interpretation, Meyer’s choreography experimented with levels of movement, limb placement in correlation to the floor, and flow. 

On the contrary, Josh Martin’s Brimming was a more polished and developed work of art. Around 15 minutes in length, it made up most of Edge Six. The self-performed solo work “investigat[ed] the body as a container” and centred on ideas of entrapment where the “performer [is] trapped inside their own body.” The piece included a full stage setup, with a container-resembling space, dark lighting, and only a chair as a prop. As described by the artist, “the dance is a meeting of both the seen and unseen [ . . . ] [the piece] explores this shape we are in, how it holds us, and what might eventually spill out of one’s self when the walls begin to bend.” The choreography consisted almost entirely of animated movements — almost robotic, and recognizably depicted the artistic themes of being trapped. Martin’s execution and acting of how such themes manifest physically and psychologically were brilliant and spot-on; I was particularly impressed by the choreographer’s utilization of space within the boundaries of the confined setup and how Martin’s movements captured the complicated relationship between a dancer and their space. An emotional, engaging, and breathtaking work from start to finish. 

It’s safe to say that experiencing dance through a screen is not nearly the same experience. Inevitably, there were aspects that felt like they would have been more impactful in-person. Either way, I am really proud to see the dance community persevering in these hard times to continue to deliver events like this one, that contribute to the artistry and culture of the Lower Mainland. 

Correct mask fit is key, says SFU study on masks and facial hair

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News
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Boxes of N95 masks. Photo: Mike Segar/Reuters.

Written by: Zach Siddiqui, Humour Editor

In a study on facial hair and face masks, SFU researchers have found that beardless faces are slightly better protected than bearded ones — but that the overall factor in protection for any face is securing the right fit. 

“If you can’t get a proper seal on a mask, there’s not much point to using one,” said Sherri Ferguson, Director of SFU’s Environmental Medicine and Physiology Unit, in an SFU News release. “The N95 mask is designed to filter 95 per cent of particulate when worn properly but we found that less than half the participants achieved a proper seal in order to attain that percentage of filtration.”

In a Zoom interview with The Peak, Ferguson said she did not expect the N95 masks used in the study to perform “as poorly as they did,” and emphasized that an under 50% chance of passing a fit test applied uniformly to participants with or without facial hair. Despite this, Ferguson pointed out, federal regulations in Canada bar workers from being fit-tested at all unless they are bare-faced. Many Canadians, such as members of the Sikh faith, cannot shave for religious and/or cultural reasons.

Ferguson cited the SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) they tested as an example of a mask that “absolutely protected” wearers with or without facial hair. “I am confident that for bearded individuals, there is protection out there,” she concluded. Despite this, she still advised caution for people with facial hair looking to don masks.

“I think there needs to be more research into whether or not you can get sufficient protection with a beard. This is just one small study with a very few masks,” Ferguson said. Based on her findings, though, Ferguson “would not feel comfortable” telling a person with facial hair in an infectious setting to wear an N95, P100, or other half-mask, besides the respirators that come with an independent air supply. 

Ferguson has previously recommended that frontline workers perform a seal/fit test at the start of every shift. While speaking to The Peak, she elaborated that she did not deem this necessary for the non-frontline general public, particularly given the current need to conserve medical resources.

Ferguson’s team’s study was commissioned by Correctional Services of Canada (CSC), the federal agency which processes adult criminal offenders sentenced to two years or more in prison, to investigate mask efficacy for their staff. According to Ferguson, CSC reached out to them because Ferguson’s team had previously researched the efficacy of oxygen masks for Air Canada, particularly for pilots, after a Sikh pilot applied to the company.

Board Shorts (July 10, 2020)

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Image: Irene Lo

Written by: Paige Riding, News Writer

The Board discusses Student Union Building space allocation for SFSS groups 

VP Finance Corbett Gildersleve brought forward a motion for a different space allocation for organizations set to move into the Student Union Building (SUB) upon its completion, projected for Fall 2020. The motion carried.

The previous plan, agreed upon in the Spring, has one unallocated suite amongst those in the corridor. This includes DNA, CJSF, SFPIRG, Embark, SOCA, and FNSA. Gildersleve voiced concerns about SOCA and Embark, two completely different student groups, sharing one suite. After a thorough tour of the suites in the SUB, Gildersleve did not find the currently proposed plan to be the best one overall.

“We did a very thorough check of pretty much every room from top to bottom, pretty much every space — talking about potential usage for this space — and when we looked through some of the suites, I realized that some of them would not be effective for the organizations being placed in them,” Gildersleve noted.

He explained that the SFSS projects that these groups will be in the SUB for at least 10 years. In that time, Gildersleve worries that groups like Embark and SOCA — who are currently projected to share a single suite — will not have room to grow. 

Business Representative Mehtaab Gill expressed concern that making the Board vote the same day the motion was sent out may be hasty.

“My only concern would be that this motion is a lot of information, as Corbett mentioned, and it was sent this morning [ . . . ] This is a lot of information to take on and vote on, I feel,” said Gill.

Gildersleve responded saying, “We’d have to get this type of thing decided sooner rather than later.” He also mentioned that it is an amendment of an already-existing motion.

Board members Osob Mohamed, Balqees Jama, WeiChun Kua, and Anuki Karunajeewa advocated for this alternative allocation because it provides important spaces for marginalized groups on campus, including BIPOC and neurodiverse students.

The motion carried with 12 in favour and three abstentions.  

Board members discuss concerns about exam proctoring software and student privacy

VP University Relations Gabe Liosis brought up the topic of online examination invigilation as the Summer semester draws to a close. 

“We’re coming to the end of the summer semester real quick here, we’re in about week nine, and the topic of exam invigilation doesn’t seem to be going away — and it doesn’t really seem to be getting any better, either,” he began. 

“Students’ concerns are three main things. One: [exam invigilation] is downright creepy. Two: it’s stress-inducing. And three: it’s an invasion of privacy.”

“These are students’ homes that we’re talking about. Students aren’t comfortable with someone watching us through our webcam. Plain and simple.” He mentioned how many students do not have a space to block off to write a three-hour exam. As well, Liosis raised concerns about international students in different time zones.

“The university has really failed to give any clear guidance, procedures, or take any policy measures to actually make any clear, enforceable rules around exam invigilation.”

The Board vouched to continue pushing the university to consider this matter in time for the Fall 2020 semester.

The Board discusses concerns around police recruiters on campus 

Some Board members had a discussion with those in charge of the career fairs held on campus that has included the presence of the RCMP in the past. President Osob Mohamed elaborated on what must be done to facilitate what representatives are allowed at these fairs.

“The issue is, if they want to stop having police recruiters on campus, they need to have some kind of policy put in place or some kind of really good reason they said to stop bringing recruiters on campus,” said Mohamed.

“The fact that RCMP and police presence makes students very very unsafe on campus is a really big deal. And amidst the calls of us supporting the defunding of the police force and also calls to defund and abolish police forces all over the world, this is not something small [ . . . ] this is students’ safety and well-being on the line.”

Mohamed noted that the Board will have a meeting with SFU Safety Services and will work to develop guidelines around who will be welcome at the job fair.

Outsider Tattoo Collective is as clean and comfortable as ever before

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Author’s tattoo of Hamlet’s Ophelia done by Armony at Outside Tattoo Collective. Screenshot courtesy of @hello_wasp via Instagram

By: Molly Lorette, Peak Associate

Before social distancing was in full swing, I was in the process of planning my latest tattoo. I had been working with Outsider Tattoo Collective’s amazingly talented Armony (@hello_wasp on Instagram), who specializes in woodcut-esque blackwork designs, to curate a piece that had immense meaning. So with my appointment rapidly approaching I was definitely shocked when the world was entirely placed on pause. 

Months after waiting for restrictions to lift, I finally had my appointment, as well as a touch-up and follow-up session.  The piece itself is a painting of Hamlet’s Ophelia, one of my favourite characters in canonized English literature, done by pre-raphaelite artist John William Waterhouse, one of my all time favourite painters. Though it had taken some time for my indecisive self to settle on an artist, I couldn’t have been happier with the work that Armony did. Armony has many remarkable talents not limited to the needle, one of which happens to be making their clients feel at  ease, and just generally being an amazing and sweet human being!

Similarly, Outsider Tattoo Collective Studio, located in Chinatown, cultivates an atmosphere of warmth that has been clear to me during previous visits. I have received several pieces from various artists there and can attest to the diverse amount of styles and techniques, as well as the enthusiasm and mutual support of the artists.

Immediately striking to me was how little the tattoo process has really changed. Before I had any experiences with the tattooing world, I always had this idea in my head of a dingy studio with big smelly guys and frightening tattoo guns, but the reality is far from that skewed view. 

Tattoo studios are quite possibly some of the cleanest and thoroughly sanitized places I have ever been to. As breathtakingly beautiful as they are, tattoos are essentially open wounds and must be treated as such. Therefore, it only makes perfect sense why such intense procedures are in practice. Even before the crippling anxieties of COVID-19 were set in motion, I have never failed to be impressed with the measures that tattoo studios take to ensure the most sterile environment possible. Much like doctors, tattoo artists are no strangers to washing their hands as frequently as humanly possible and fully cleansing all possible workspaces that could potentially contain contamination. 

This, in turn, has made the transition to extra precautions no far stretch.

While the process itself is much the same, there are certainly some key differences in the physical space. The spaces between artist workspaces has greatly increased to two metres apart, and the appointments rarely overlap with one another as to limit the amount of people in the space. During my last visit, there was only one other client in the studio, as well as a few additional artists at work. Upon entering the studio, clients must wash their hands thoroughly, and both clients and artists must wear a mask at all times. No additional guests are allowed inside to accompany you as you get tattooed, and at this time there are not any walk-ins appointments being taken. 

However, if I can recall correctly Outsider Tattoo Collective only began taking walk-ins semi recently, and from my understanding a majority of their traffic comes from online booking. Again, this does very little to impact the overall experience of getting tattooed. You know how people complain about masks hurting their ears? It’s funny how minuscule that pain seems when you’re literally getting your skin stabbed by needles. 

While I completely understand the hesitancy to get tattooed in this tense period, I had a marvellous experience with my latest piece. The project Armony worked on was something that I had wanted for a long time, and had spent a while browsing various artist’s Instagram profiles for someone who I was certain would bring the design to life. 

Since I was already placing my trust in them for the appearance of such a special piece, it felt only natural to place my trust in them to keep the entire process as safe as possible. I truly appreciate that the studio as a whole seems to have comfort and safety as their top priorities. A sour tattoo experience can certainly have a negative effect on the piece, so I am grateful that Outsider Tattoo Collective makes both their tattoos and the experiences of the client permanently memorable. 

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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