As the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) Board switches over for the upcoming school year, it is time to say goodbye to the 2019/2020 Board. Outgoing President Giovanni HoSang shared his parting thoughts with The Peak on his time with the SFSS.
Can you list some highlights of your time with the SFSS?
HoSang’s main goal coming into the year was to improve the relationship between the SFSS and the students, the Rotunda community, and the independent student societies. A highlight for him is seeing more of a bond between all of the groups now.
One of the Board’s key accomplishments in bringing these groups together was the decision to grant the Rotunda groups space in the new Student Union Building (SUB). “I think that is something that shows how the Board can start listening to students,” said HoSang.
HoSang is also proud of the student activism that occurred over the past year, stating that, “I really think the whole activism profile of the SFSS, or of the student body at large, has really been lifted due to a lot of advocacy on my part.”
HoSang added that he is happy with how the Board has handled COVID-19. He noted that in addition to launching $150,000 in emergency funds for students, the SFSS also successfully lobbied the university regarding alternative grading options for the Spring 2020 semester.
What were some of your biggest challenges in your time with the SFSS?
One of HoSang’s biggest challenges was leading a Board that had opposing views on a number of issues, and him being on the minority side of those views, making it difficult to pass certain motions.
“Looking back on all of that I recognize that they were just challenges, and the fact that we overcame those challenges is very positive [ . . . ] I’m thankful for the ability to do some pushing and pulling to get stuff done.”
What was your main accomplishment as president and what was the Board’s main accomplishment as a whole?
As president, HoSang’s key accomplishment was “being able to inspire a lot of students to get involved within the student society.” He noted that the SFSS had a record amount of candidates in the 2020 elections.
According to HoSang, the Board’s biggest accomplishment was “being able to push through a lot of motions and have a lot of impact on the whole of the society.” He added that the Board was able to accomplish many of the big goals that they laid out for themselves at the start of the year.
“Even though people have different views on stuff, we were able to actually come to agreement on a lot of issues. Things that you would never have thought that we would have got through, we did.”
Any advice that you would give to a student considering running for a position in the future?
“Never ever be afraid to speak up for what you believe in.” .
What would you like to see the incoming Board accomplish next year?
“We brought back activism this year, and next year I think is the opportunity to build student power as a whole across the province.”
He added that the next Board will be crucial in important topics such as climate action, solidarity, better support for international students, and lowering student fees.
“We should definitely use this as an opportunity to make sure that students are centred across the province and across Canada. This Board will be very vital in doing that type of relationship building and movement building.”
In discussing the incoming president Osob Mohamed, HoSang said, “I am really excited to see what the society will be under her leadership. Just as I look back on presidents such as Chardaye Bueckert, I look forward to a president such as Osob Mohamed.”
Was it all worth it?
HoSang concluded that running for president was worth it and he would definitely do it again.
“A lot of tears sometimes, a lot of passion, but a lot of joy and laughter [ . . . ] I have grown immensely.”
Monday Music: your weekly themed playlist. Image courtesy of The Peak.
By: Meera Eragoda, Arts & Culture Editor
Editor’s note: All of the Monday Music for the Summer 2020 semester will now be available on The Peak’s Spotify playlistso you can listen more easily!
There’s a lot going on right now with COVID-19. That may leave many of you feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and anxious — I definitely am. When it’s all gotten to be too much, I’ve just binged TikToks for an hour straight to take my mind off everything. But there’s only so much time you can spend listening to the same sound bites that everyone uses for their TikToks over and over again. So instead of further delving into TikTok holes, here’s a selection of some moody, eclectic, upbeat, and energetic albums that you should dive headfirst into.
Xiuhtezcatl Martinez is a 19-year-old Indigenous activist and musician of Aztec descent. While we all know Greta Thunberg, Xiuhtezcatl has been an activist since he was six and has been one of the youth at the forefront of climate change advocacy. He’s done collaborations with Shailene Woodley, and Willow and Jaden Smith. Break Free weaves in violins, piano, and melodics with both English and Spanish rap. Xiuhtezcatl’s message is serious; the whole album is filled with messages of Indigenous resistance, resilience, optimism for the future, and the power of youth. Lyrics such as “our ancestors taught us that although our people were colonised, our temples destroyed, and our ceremonies forbidden, our legacy would live on in flowers and songs” send a clear message of hope. Listen to this for motivation to keep fighting against climate change and for Indigenous sovereignty, or if you generally need messages of hope. Start with “Break Free,” “Sage Up,” and “Tlahuiliz/Light.”
This is a dual album drop from Princess Nokia, a multi-talented Nuyorican. Her music combines a variety of different styles: Everything is Beautiful embraces her hip-hop and pop side, and Everything Sucks embracing her harder side, including songs that are a throwback to her youth in the goth/punk rock scene. A lot of her music embraces her Puerto Rican and Caribbean roots, and she also sings in both English and Spanish. Many black women get pigeonholed into certain types of music, but Princess Nokia refuses to let the music industry dictate what she can and can’t do. She has refused deals with larger record albums to retain control over her music. Everything Sucks has a chaotic energy to it but is a compelling listen while Everything is Beautiful has happier and more upbeat tracks but Princess Nokia still manages to infuse it with feminist lyrics. Start with “Sugar Iced Honey Tea (S.H.I.T),” “Soul Food y Adobo,” and “Welcome to the Circus.”
This is a weird, quirky, eclectic, cult classic from the 1970s. It was initially only sold in a record store in Los Angeles, but for some reason, apparently Sears (a department store that no longer exists in Canada) gave away a free copy with every purchase of a Simmons mattress. Garson’s Plantasia is filled with early electro and synth. It’s very ambient, calming, and chill. I can definitely feel the plant energy and sound waves coming off it and it makes me feel like I’m a plant surrounded by other plants, swaying in the wind, living my best plant life. Admittedly, I have also played it for my plants. Honestly, I don’t even know how to describe it, but please listen. It’s an experience. Start with “Music to Soothe the Savage Snake Plant,” “Plantasia,” and “Swingin’ Spathiphyllums.”
Moody is the best word to describe this album. Brian Eno, a producer and musician credited with creating the term “ambient music,” contributed to In Conflict with synths, guitar, and vocals, and his electro-ambient influence is very evident in several of the tracks. This album features slow lyrics, violins, and piano. It is heavily moody, atmospheric, and at times ethereal. It’s all very mesmerizing, and listening to it makes me feel like I’m riding electronic waves through a cloudy, deep blue sky with the moon shining brightly above me. It feels very paradoxical with Palett’s ability to create music that’s both clear and muddy at the same time. Start with “Song for Five & Six”, “I Am Not Afraid”, and “On A Path.”
On April 22, Prime Minister Trudeau proposed legislation that would grant post-secondary students and recent graduates access to their own pool of COVID emergency relief funding. The Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) would provide students with $1,250 per month until August 2020. Students with disabilities or those caring for others would receive $2,000. A summer grant program offering up to $5,000 for student volunteers, and a $75 million pool for Indigenous students, have also been proposed.
On the surface it would seem quite generous for the federal government to invest so much (a total of $9 billion) specifically for students. And in fact, it is especially timely as many of the jobs that students rely on — typically part-time employment in the service sector — have now been shuttered due to the pandemic. Students who have completed their studies as far back as December 2019 also get a bit of relief with this fund. However, when compared to the funding that is currently being offered through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), it’s clear that students are getting short-changed in a big way with CESB.
The CERB was created to avoid over-taxing Employment Insurance (EI) funds. Instead of having 7.3 million Canadians apply for EI all at once, the CERB funnels applications who lost their jobs specifically because of COVID through their own stream. Those applying to CERB must have had an employment income of at least $5,000 in either the 2019 tax year or in the last 12 months — this is a major sticking point for a number of demographics and communities, students among them. Full-time students who are unemployed or work limited hours (either due to seasonal employment or irregular shifts) may not make the $5,000 cut off. The CESB is intended to close that gap.
However, some quick head-math shows that students applying for CESB will receive much less than they could otherwise get through CERB, if they qualified. If approved, CERB recipients are eligible for $500 per week for 16 weeks, or roughly $2,000 per month for four months. This difference doesn’t make a lot of sense. It’s not like students don’t also have adult expenses that need to be paid. The cost of housing alone for students who don’t live rent-free can easily reach the $750 difference between CERB and CESB, not to mention tuition isn’t cheap either. Even for students who do live at home, it is likely that they have family members who have also lost employment due to COVID, making overall household expenses tight all around.
Additionally, the creation of the CERB and the CESB leave international students in a bit of a lurch. Student expats who chose to remain in Canada are eligible for the CERB but not the CESB — but only if they make the $5,000 cut-off. Given that international students face restrictions on how many hours a week they can work while classes are in session, reaching this cut-off may be even more difficult.
All these difficulties beg the question: why not simply make the CERB universal? By this I mean a single relief fund that can be applied to for anyone residing long-term in Canada. Given that COVID relief funding for seniors financially affected by the pandemic is going to be its own separate thing, it seems ludicrous to keep patching all the financial leaks in various populations with separate piecemeal funds. A universal relief fund would provide all people living in Canada who are without income during this crisis with enough temporary funds to see them through this first wave at least. This would also ensure that those who need help get it in a timely way, instead of waiting for new relief proposals to be approved through Parliament.
As has become a common refrain now, we’re all in this together. There’s no good reason why all of our financial concerns shouldn’t be addressed together as well.
Correction (May 12, 2020): A previous version of this article stated that students with disabilities could receive $1,750 from the CESB.
On April 22, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) action plan to provide approximately $9 billion to domestic post-secondary students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
From the months of May to August, students may apply for the $1,250 monthly benefit. This value increases to $1,750 for students with codependent(s) or a permanent disability. CBC News noted that this benefit, available to those without jobs or those making less than $1,000 a month, will assist young people “falling through the cracks” of already established relief programs like the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).
The Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS), along with other student societies across Canada, have been lobbying the federal government for more support for students during the pandemic. In an email to The Peak, VP External Relations Jasdeep Gill elaborated on the Board’s efforts to encourage an inclusive and sufficient benefit program for all students.
“There have been many Board members involved in the advocacy efforts that have included directly communicating with provincial and federal representatives, media outlets, grassroots organizations, student coalitions and other student unions,” wrote Gill. She added that the SFSS has also worked with federal representatives over email and Zoom to encourage action.
According to Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough, the CESB may only be claimed by Canadian students studying in or out of the country. According to the Government of Canada’s website, international students may apply for the CERB if they stopped working due to the pandemic and did not quit voluntarily. As of now, this is the only aid option available for international students in Canada.
“For lobbying directed at the government, a lot of our focus has been on pushing for the inclusion of international students in the various aid options,” said Gill.
The SFSS Board has written a letter to BC Premier John Horgan as well as a letter to Trudeau in collaboration with other student organizations, emphasizing the inclusion of all students in its aid options.
“We continue to believe that the only way to ensure that no one is left behind during the COVID-19 pandemic is by making all students and recent graduates eligible for the CERB,” said the letter to Trudeau, sent April 15. The letter also discussed the millions of students, including those over 30 and international students, who may not benefit from the current changes to the Canada Summer Jobs program, which Trudeau announced earlier in April.
The SFSS also called for the inclusion of international students for the CESB in the letter to the Premier of BC. The letter, signed by the SFSS, explains how the pandemic impacts international students depending on summer jobs that may have been compromised in the unprecedented situation.
“International students directly contribute to our province’s economy, diversity and prosperity. Now is the time for us to take action and directly contribute to their safety and security in a time of global crisis,” said the letter to Premier Horgan.
SFSS to provide up to $15,000 for SFU Surge Hackathon
The funding will go toward SFU Surge’s first hackathon, which is to be held in the Spring 2021 semester.
Hilal Asmat, co-president of SFU Surge, said that a hackathon gives participants the opportunity to learn new technology and meet with companies for recruitment opportunities. She explained that they are hoping to make this an annual event, and will in the future hopefully be able to rely on funding from sponsors rather than the SFSS.
Asmat explained at the Board meeting that some changes had been made to the event since their last time speaking to the SFSS, including making budget cuts and changing the number of participants from 400 to 300. Due to COVID-19, they have also moved the date from November 2020 to the Spring 2021 semester, either in March or April.
Vice-president of SFU Surge Praneer Shrestha noted that they are not likely to receive sufficient funding from sponsors, considering that this is their first time throwing the event. As such, this is why they require funding from the SFSS, according to Shrestha.
“A large scale hackathon is super long overdue. Other schools are already running it in BC, in Canada, and in North America, and we would be raised to a competing level with them,” said Asmat.
Applied Sciences Representative Nick Chubb said that “I personally have been to hackathons before, and I have found that they are very helpful for myself; for meeting more people, learning more for my career.”
The motion was amended for the SFSS to provide up to $15,000 to the hackathon, down from it’s initial $20,000.
SFSS formally endorses the SFU C19 Coalition
The SFSS passed a motion to formally endorse the SFU C19 Coalition, which was formed in response to COVID-19.
According to their website, Coalition is “a group of grassroots organizers advocating for all students and workers at Simon Fraser University.”
Health Sciences Representative and incoming SFSS President Osob Mohamed explained that one of the groups main goals is to “make sure that international students are being included in [receiving federal funding] and making sure that students are also getting what they need.”
“I think that an endorsement from the SFSS would be particularly strong because we do represent students on campus, over 26,000 voices,” Mohamed added.
President Giovanni HoSang stated that he was in full support of this motion, noting that “I think this is in line with our signing onto the Don’t Forget Students letter.”
Jasdeep Gill said that funding for international students is something that the SFSS is currently advocating for to the federal government, noting that, “I think as the new Board comes in it’s a really good opportunity for them [ . . . ] to stay on top of it [ . . . ] if we keep up the pressure then I think something can be done.”
By: Harvin Bathal, Juztin Bello, Kelly Chia, Nicole Magas
OK, I’ll admit it — the power of being the Features editor has finally gotten to my head. When the opportunity to interview The Peak’s beautiful animals had been taken with gusto, I got the chance to publish the piece of my dreams. So here it is: up close and personal with our most precious pets.
Photo: Harvin Bathal
Today has been a good day for Malki (left) and Toby (right), but they’re tired now. “We went on such a nice walk today, all around the farm,” Malki barked to The Peak. Toby chimes in, “Yes, yes, good walk, yes!”
Malki is a Great Dane and Bull Mastiff mix (75%-25%). She’s a little older, the alpha, if you will. Her attitude isn’t present in moments like these because she’s happy — but oh does she have an attitude.
Toby is a Pitbull and Bull Mastiff mix (75%-25%). He’s just a happy little fellow. His day begins with a big yawn and stretches, and then he immediately starts playing with his big sister.
He looks up to Malki, but sometimes, she gets annoyed by him. It happens when you live with someone.
But one thing they’ve always been appreciative of is living on a farm.
“The space!” excitedly barks Toby, “So much space!!!”
Rolling her eyes at Toby, unimpressed, “Yes, there is a lot of space. It’s a dog’s dream, the fresh air and open grass field,” she pauses, “That’s how you give a response.”
Toby, who lacks self-awareness, continues on with his day, wagging his tail, as if he didn’t just hear that. He lives in blissful innocence.
But when it’s time to sleep, they become inseparable. They’re each other’s blankets, snuggled in their sleeping area.
“Toby is Toby but at least he’s warm,” Malki barks.
“Toby is warm, Toby is happy,” Toby concludes.
– HB
Photo: Juztin Bello
On any given day at any given time, passersby of the Bello household will be greeted by the sight of two fluffy heads poking their little snouts against the window in the front room, looking curiously at the world going by. On their tiny hind legs with their fuzzy butts shaking excitedly in anticipation, and often accompanied by the sound of delighted woofs, these two lovable pups yearn for and anticipate whatever that given day has in store for them.
The two puppies in question, Tobi (age one, right) and Hershey (age four, left) are both Pembroke Welsh Corgis with a thrill for adventure and love for the occasional banana — as a treat.
Hershey, born on Christmas Eve, came to the Bello household at the age of one and has been a staple to the house’s napping culture ever since. With ears as large as her appetite, this little lass knows what she wants and when she wants it. As the alpha, Hershey enjoys leading the charge on begging for food while the family eats and picking fights with Tobi over petty food-related incidents; but ultimately, she loves spending time with her brother and splitting a treat with him— as long as he doesn’t come within a metre from her and attempts to steal her treat or toy. Her trademark growl and sense for knowing when someone in the house has come home solidify Hershey as the perfect guard dog, a position she takes with pride despite her short stature.
Tobi, the baby of the household, lives life as any escapade-seeking puppy would: one destroyed tennis ball and chaotic walk at a time. What Tobi lacks in size compared to Hershey he makes up for in tail, which Hershey definitely isn’t jealous of. Totally not. When prompted to be let outside, Tobi is already there the moment the backdoor leading to the yard opens. In contrast to his sister who enjoys lounging on the patio in the sun, Tobi likes to chase just about everything from one end of the yard to the other. The only thing he loves to chase more than bugs and tennis balls being thrown in the yard is his own tail, which, again, Hershey is totally not jealous of. While forgetful in how to get down the stairs (despite being taught it over and over again) Tobi knows exactly when to cuddle up on a rough day — and, trust, this is just as much for him as it is for you.
What’s in store for these two charming canines is truly anyone’s guess, but they can promise that whoever passes by that window or comes through that door will be greeted with a snoot, witness the cute, and be hit with that signature Corgi sploot.
– JB
Photo: Kelly Chia
Phoenix has recently turned three years old, and adult life has not changed his enthusiasm for life and its small creatures. A Samoyed, Phoenix’s lips are often upturned into a wide smile, though whether he is actually content depends on how testy he feels that day. Today, he has attempted and once again failed to befriend neighbourhood cats Tommy and Finnigan, and he feels a little defeated, but seems to forget this quickly enough.
At first glance, Phoenix looks like the living embodiment of a noble snowball. His tail curls so it just touches his back, and the picture together with his fluffy cloudlike fur ascends him to model status. But actually, he has bigger aspirations: Phoenix dreams of becoming a singer. It is quite a sight: his mouth pressed into an “o”, hiding his wolf-like teeth as he sings soulfully. Every person who enters the Chia home, stranger or friend, is treated to his signature “woos” of joy as he is always eager to perform for an audience.
To that effect, Phoenix always makes sure he looks like a star for any impromptu paparazzi shots, cleaning his paws fastidiously and tossing a dirty look to anyone who catches him looking so vulnerable and unkempt. At times, he releases a dignified huff – practicing a confident stride sure to win the attention in his poop-scoopers’ Zoom calls.
In a vulnerable moment, Phoenix barks to The Peak, “I don’t understand object permanence!” When asked to clarify what he meant, he pawed at a nefarious puzzle box that hid his treats from him. Clearly he has been robbed from what he deserves, and his poop-scoopers are cruel. But he is quick to forget (or to forgive), and flashes a stunning smile.
“I want a walk,” he finishes with a low woo and a paw shake for good measure. Walks are everything to Phoenix — if he doesn’t receive at least one awed coo from the neighbours, he will sulk on the floor for hours. But as he winks, it is evident that this pretty pooch will get everything he wants, anyway. Except the attention of the cats. – KC
Photo: Nicole Magas
Life in quarantine has been hard for one small parrot living in a Burnaby suburb.
Like many other small household pets, Cygnet, a four-year- old White-Faced Cockatiel, has been facing a mental health crisis since the beginning of lockdown in early March. The principle trigger in this struggle, according to Cygnet, are the hands.
Hands that want to hold, pet, and tickle are nothing new to Cygnet. He’s been jumping and dodging hands since he arrived in his current home in September of 2017. However, Cygnet has noticed a marked increase in the amount of cuddling and hand-holding he has been expected to endure during the crisis, and he’s pleading with pet owners everywhere now to show some restraint and understanding to their small animal companions.
“I’m not opposed to hands, per se,” Cygnet told The Peak via a Twitter interview. “Hands do wonderful things. They fill my seed bowl. They clean my cage. They open the window blinds in the morning. The problems start when the hands want to hold me. That’s unacceptable.”
Even when the hands “hold birb gentle like hamburger” as one popular internet meme instructs, the confinement is too much for birds like Cygnet. “I’m claustrophobic,” he explains. “I feel like my mental health needs are not being accommodated during quarantine, and I’m sure I’m not the only one, either. I hear the cats are going through similar struggles. These are trying times for all of us.”
Cygnet wanted it to be made clear that despite the hands repeatedly violating his personal space, he has never resorted to biting. “I’m a good boy,” he says proudly. “And no hand is going to take that away from me.”
If there’s one thing being stuck in isolation is giving us, it’s the chance to get through all the movies we’ve been meaning to watch. Stargirl, a Disney coming-of-age film released in March 2020, was one of those movies for me. It follows the story of Leo Borlock, played by Graham Verchere, who moves to Arizona with his mother after his father passes away. There he meets quirky and mysterious Stargirl Caraway, played by Grace VanderWaal. Leo is obviously fascinated with Stargirl, watching her from afar and stealing glances at her odd mannerisms. It’s apparent that they will quickly begin their adolescent relationship. However, unlike most coming-of-age movies, the film doesn’t tell a love story — it tells a story about staying true to your individuality.
Leo grew up with a love for unique attire, such as ties with porcupines on them, but this love is quickly tamed after he is bullied for it and he learns to blend in. He tones down his wardrobe, wearing only subdued colours, like navy blues, browns and greys, and becomes consciously quiet in an attempt to avoid drawing attention to himself. It’s how he survives the harsh world. Then enters Stargirl, wearing colourful patterns, singing to everyone with her ukelele, and carrying around her pet rat.
Stargirl’s character is a bit overly eccentric. I can’t imagine anyone singing “Happy Birthday” to their crush on the first day of school and tracing back neighbourhood tragedies to send people anonymous gifts. She ultimately comes off as a character only made to teach our protagonist a lesson, acting as a gateway for Leo to crack open his shell. In some ways though, she’s refreshing; Stargirl holds genuine kindness in her heart, and that’s a wonderful lesson for us. She ultimately stays true to herself until the end, making the best decision for her relationship with Leo.
The film portrays their connection simply as a rush of emotions. They are happy in each other’s company and, at first, oblivious to the world around them. It seems as though it is only because Stargirl is so different from anyone he’s met before that Leo is dating her, without considering her true individuality. This is painfully clear when he begins questioning why she wouldn’t simply tone her personality down for the sake of fitting in, as he did. Leo’s character would have been immensely stronger if he hadn’t pressured Stargirl to fit in, if he didn’t need her to show him the value in authenticity.
The fundamental issue I have with the movie is that it is ultimately Stargirl, and not Leo himself, who pushes him to understand the value of individuality. It shouldn’t be up to her to demonstrate what it means to be yourself. Stargirl is more than a teacher, but in the film, that’s all she serves as. At Leo’s urging, Stargirl dulls herself down, reverts her name to “Susan,” and blends in. And Leo actually appears happy about it. It isn’t until Stargirl realizes that she’s unhappy with this new version of herself that she once again embraces her eccentric personality.
SPOILER ALERT:
Stargirl goes back to being herself and essentially forces Leo to do the same. She arranges for him to sing at the school dance, which sets up a space for him to face his peers and gives him the chance to prove he doesn’t care what others think. Upon hearing that he’ll be a guest singer, Leo only takes the stage because he’s expected to do so. If it wasn’t for Stargirl, Leo would stay boring. Why couldn’t his character simply develop as an individual and change in a way that didn’t require Stargirl to put in the effort?
Still, Leo’s revelations come too late, because once he embraces the porcupine-tie side of his personality, she’s gone — literally vanishing into the night.
Stargirl has its moments, but it would have been better executed if Leo came to this realization on his own. Then again, the film doesn’t want its audience to be like Leo. It doesn’t want to show them a relationship where one couldn’t fully embrace the other, and where the connection is built solely on the idea of what someone else could be. Instead, Stargirl urges its audience to chase after nonconformity; to never change your personality for anyone or anything, and as cliché as it sounds — to be yourself.
Consider some of the benefits to learning at home this semester. Photo: Maxwell Gawlick/The Peak
By: Nathan Tok, Peak Associate
Ever taken a distance education course? It can be annoying. Too much of the course is self taught through reading of journal articles and textbooks, there’s not enough interaction with the teaching staff, and no lecture to explain to you what on earth you’re reading. But those are just the downsides. It can also be good for students to take remote courses — as long as they keep their minds open. During this pandemic, when we’re all forced to be remote, it can be helpful to look for the silver lining in our situation so we don’t go through this entire semester under a cloud of pessimism.
Imagine this: you’re standing at the bus stop in 32 degree weather getting ready for a tutorial that’s just 50-minutes long. You’re hot and sweating and you’re probably gonna be late as you’ve just watched the third R5 pass by because it was too full. Well, this summer semester you won’t have that problem. Simply roll out of bed, attend that Zoom tutorial, maybe say one or two generalized things to show that you’ve totally done the readings, and then commute back to your bed. Done! Tutorial over and back to Animal Crossing.
This relaxed environment will also make this summer a great time to explore courses for WQB requirements. For me, as someone who tends to stress less about getting everything perfect during the summer, taking fun electives seems during a semester that I don’t have to physically be in class seems like the perfect pairing. Because everything is now fully remote, I can enjoy learning about the things that interest me since I’m in the comfort of my own home.
Of course, remote learning is not the best way for meeting or interacting with people, but saying “I agree” when responding to a post on a Canvas discussion board is better than nothing. At least it gives you the chance to talk to someone else outside of your household, and provides a nice change of pace from the constant pandemic complaining on group chats. After weeks of social starvation, I bet seeing your classmates’ faces on BB Collaborative video presentations will be a welcome relief. Hopefully when the quarantine ends, those Canvas discussions will give you and your classmates lots to talk about in person.
Now is the time to be kind to yourself. Illustration: Maple Sukontasukkul/The Peak
By: Michelle Young, Staff Writer
While for many the switch to social distancing wasn’t very difficult, for others it has been — and that’s OK. These changes were abrupt and we will all respond differently as we’re adjusting.
People aren’t meant to live in isolation, and require social connection to remain healthy. It’s unrealistic to expect students to function at the same level as they would under regular circumstances. Many of us are faced with surges of anxiety as we watch the news and hear of the COVID-19 cases rapidly rising by the day. We’re putting on our strong faces; we shield our emotions behind quarantine memes and apocalyptic jokes. We’re all turning to different forms of coping mechanisms to help deal with the shock and stress of everything that’s happening, and that’s OK. However, one thing that is utterly necessary amid all of this is allowing vulnerability.
Vulnerability essentially allows us to be honest about our emotions and recognize our feelings. This means experiencing our emotions fully with a sense of openness and acceptance. Constantly dealing with all this uncertainty and invisible danger produces a lot of emotions that we may not necessarily be familiar with. As a result, we may not know how to cope with these new, dominant emotions. Being vulnerable allows us to experience our emotions sincerely, can aid in connecting with one another, or simply give us the chance to indulge in our feelings.
As noted by the US National Library of Medicine, being in a state of heightened emotional strain can make us more prone to sickness — and we don’t need that right now. To help curb emotional turmoil, we can turn to our social supports and allow ourselves some emotional honesty with other people. But we can also practice emotional honesty by ourselves. Studies have shown that awareness of our feelings reduces stress, helps us focus, and gives us a better understanding of ourselves and one another. This can be a difficult task, since it’s easy to fill up the days with activities that don’t require internal reflection. Many of us are staying home as if the COVID-19 crisis is simply abstractly “out there,” not affecting us.
However, the crisis is affecting us, one way or another. Some of us may be suffering from loneliness as a result of being away from loved ones. Others might be stressed out about how this pandemic is going to affect our families and friends. As our workload shifts to accommodate working at home, we may become overwhelmed.
By acknowledging our situation — allowing ourselves to be vulnerable — and reflecting on how it makes us feel, we can recognize that it’s natural to be sad, anxious, or frustrated with these circumstances. Through this realization, we can also determine why we feel this way, what we can do to address our emotions, and how to help ourselves feel better — even if it’s just by a little bit.
There are currently a few free online counselling resources with professional therapists available to students. These include Here2Talk (a resource for post-secondary students in BC which provides mental health support) and My SSP to assist SFU students. While there are mixed opinions on the effectiveness of these services, sometimes simply venting to another person can be helpful.
Ultimately, allowing ourselves to both experience and work through our emotions right now is not only OK, it’s also necessary for our well-being. We shouldn’t be held to expectations of acting like everything is fine; the reality is that we’re in a global pandemic, things are a long way from “fine.” Embrace your emotions, allow vulnerability, and open up to one another. As cheesy as it sounds, we’re only human, and the only way to get through this is together.
While we are all stuck at home, many artists have moved to online platforms as a means of communicating their art and doing their part to minimize our isolation-induced boredom. I decided to utilize this commodity and explore different genres of dance from the shoebox space of my own bedroom.
Harbour Dance Centre (HDC), a popular Vancouver studio for adult drop-in classes, has been continuing their dance instruction via Zoom as part of their HDC Live live-streamed classes. I figured, what better time to try out a class than during a global pandemic?
Having attended some in-person classes at HDC, my expectations were already pretty high as I’ve had consistently good in-person experiences with the studio. Nonetheless, I went in a little concerned about some of the potential difficulties of taking a dance class at home. Would I knock something over or kick someone as I tried to move around the limited space of my home?
After browsing HDC’s website for their live stream class schedule, instructor Lauren Maynard’s Sexy Street jazz class seemed like an easy decision. I had seen a little bit of Maynard’s class when visiting HDC on a different occasion and had always wanted to try out the seemingly upbeat and lively class. Maynard started the class on time, bringing her enthusiasm and vibrant attitude to the screen. For those on the shy side, the option of turning off your camera is available. However, if you feel comfortable, the video option allows for increased student-instructor communication.
As someone with some dance experience in ballet and contemporary styles, I took the advanced beginner-level even though this was my first time experimenting with this genre of dance. I found the difficulty level to be on par with the website’s description. However, HDC also offers absolute beginner and introductory classes for those who do not have any dance experience.
The lesson started with an upbeat warm-up of some body-loosening and grooving exercises, followed by some light stretching. Maynard impressed with boundless energy and an ability to engage with her students despite the limitations of virtual learning.
The rest of the class consisted of learning a choreography combination, which Maynard modified for attendees who may have less room at home. Although a virtual lesson naturally does not have the perks of attendees immediately communicating with their instructor, Maynard was careful to check in with us at many points throughout the lesson to ensure that everyone was on track and felt comfortable with the pace of the class.
The class was an hour long and cost me $10. It offered me a much needed break from the pandemic madness and provided me with an emotionally uplifting and positive hour of physical release. Being with other individuals in a high-spirited environment amidst the current global state of chaos proved to be therapeutic, and I felt more connected to myself and others — even through a computer screen.
If you’re feeling like you want to express yourself through movement, or if you’re just looking for a fun workout, I recommend Harbour Dance Centre for a feel-good and professional virtual dance class. If you’ve ever been too nervous or busy to try an in-person dance class, HDC’s live-streamed lessons are a great way to start. They offer a variety of courses, and more details can be found under the Schedule tab on their website — participants can also register on this tab. For a single HDC Live session, attendees must purchase a $10 single-use pass, or may opt for ten classes for $90.
