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SFU’s student-run Indigenous film festival Skoden aims to further crucial conversations

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Illustration: Samaqani Cocahq and Natalie Sappier / Skoden International Film Festival
Illustration: Samaqani Cocahq and Natalie Sappier / Skoden International Film Festival

by Kim Regala, Staff Writer

Editor’s note: Kim Regala is involved in SIFF’s organization through CA 334. 

Here to celebrate and feature the works of Canadian-based Indigenous filmmakers is the Skoden Indigenous Film Festival (SIFF). Skoden, which is Indigenous slang for “let’s go then,” is a unifying word that carries the spirit of bringing people together from nations far and wide. This year, SIFF brings forth a diverse selection of Indigenous films from all across Canada, aiming to continue the conversation of reconciliation at SFU.

The initiative for Skoden started with two former SFU film students, Carr Sappier (Wolastoqiyik) and Grace Mathisen. In a previous interview with The Peak, the two expressed their desire for a more proactive approach at reconciliation. Mathisen noticed that there was a lack of Indigenous representation within the classroom due to the lack of engagement from Indigenous perspectives. “A lot of our courses have an Indigenous component and [the School for Contemporary Arts] is supposed to be an institution creating the next generation of artists,” said Mathisen. “What does that mean when there’s such a small representation of Indigenous students in our classrooms?”

But what began as the students’ passion project for Indigenous voices has now been redeveloped in its second year, as a new collaborative SCA course. Open to all SFU students interested in organizing the event, this semester’s team is composed of twelve eager students (myself included), led by SCA instructor Sky Hopinka.

Reaching out to this semester’s student festival committee, The Peak spoke with members Connor Desharnais and Paulina Thiessen about their experiences of working on SIFF.

“My favourite part of the process so far has just been watching all of the films with my fellow students,” said Desharnais. “We get to watch so many neat films and it’s gotten me super excited about the festival.” 

Thiessen added that her favourite part about the course is being able to interact with new perspectives on film. “I am used to working alone on assignments, so this collaborative experience has really opened my eyes to using different viewpoints and frameworks in regard to works of film. My peers are often bringing up points about certain films that I didn’t notice, and I think it’s making me a more critical thinker about film.”

When asked about some of the challenges that the class has encountered in planning the festival, the two agreed that it came down to choices that had to be made for the programmes. 

“We received hundreds of submissions from all over the world,” Thiessen pointed out. “It has been so amazing to be able to see such a diversity of Indigenous voices, but it is so hard to decide which ones have a spot at the festival.” 

Desharnais also added that “not only that, but once we’ve decided on the films we want to show, we have to decide how we want to schedule the films into our final program, which is a lot harder than it sounds.”

While the selection process has definitely been a tricky one, Thiessen felt that the submissions were both inspiring and important. “They really offer an important perspective on Indigenous issues, especially with regards to current events.” 

On a more lighthearted note, Desharnais added that the festival is “also just a great occasion to go out with some friends (or even by yourself) and watch some movies.”

That being said, the student committee has worked incredibly hard over the semester to curate a wide selection of films that will hopefully bring forward the many voices of Indigenous artists across Canada. These genre-defying programmes offer you everything and more, from documentary shorts to experimental works, music videos to films set to spoken word poetry, and even a Vancouver-based feature film.

Thiessen hopes that attendees are able to recognize and admire the unique and visually alluring works of these Indigenous creatives. 

“Many of our selected films showcase important conversations that we all need to have as Canadians on Unceded lands.”

“My hope,” Desharnais said, “is that, after watching some fun, interesting, and thought-provoking film, attendees will have the enthusiasm to continue the conversation about Indigenous narratives long after the festival ends.”

Thiessen agreed, adding that “many of our selected films showcase important conversations that we all need to have as Canadians on Unceded lands.”

This year’s festival offers four film programmes and will be held at the Harbour Centre on March 27 at 7 p.m., and March 28 at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m.

Animal therapy is an incomplete remedy for students’ mental health issues

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Animals can’t solve all our mental health issues on their own. Illustration: Alex Vanderput/The Peak

By: Manisha Sharma, SFU Student

Whether you’re one of the 41% of Canadians who experience a significant amount of anxiety, or you’re trying to de-stress before finals, animal therapy at SFU is available to bring some light and happiness to your life. However, unless you have a personal service animal, animal therapy is only good for helping short, temporary episodes of minor poor mental health. And as the conversation about student mental health increases, we have to ask: is animal therapy a paltry offer for a problem that requires more dedicated resources? 

Animal therapy between a person and a trained animal is meant to be a coping tool for people struggling with health issues, including those regarding mental health. According to Healthline, there are a variety of animal-related therapies that range from casual interactions with an animal to those that are guided with specific treatment goals in mind. SFU-provided animal therapy workshops are more informal. During these sessions, students are invited to share snacks with bunnies or pet trained therapy dogs. It provides students with a safe place to reduce anxiety and stress in a social atmosphere.

While animal therapy may help with symptoms of poor mental health, it isn’t a cure-all. It’s meant to be one component in an ongoing treatment plan toward better mental health. Students need to be aware that as good as it feels to interact with animals, these services can’t replace counselling for persistent or serious mental health issues. Unfortunately, many students currently feel underserved by SFU’s Health & Counselling Services, and may ultimately mistake animal therapy sessions as “good enough” to deal with more serious problems as a stop-gap.

It’s important to be aware of the limitations of animal therapy. For example, while informal animal therapy may reduce symptoms of anxiety, stress, or depression in the moment, will a university-provided animal be available during a panic attack right before class? Animal therapy also does not help address the underlying issues that may be causing these symptoms. 

The fact of the matter is, the bunny café and dog therapy sessions do not occur frequently or consistently enough to be effective for students with more long-term mental health struggles. Though the effort is appreciated, without integrated counselling and long-term goal management, the type of animal therapy currently offered at SFU only provides temporary, short-lived relief for short-term mental health issues. 

While wait times remain an issue, to get actual help for more long-term, persistent mental health problems, students should go to SFU Health & Counselling Services as a better option. 

Many students have mental health issues that need more attention and time than can be being provided at SFU. If we’re going to integrate animal therapy into our counselling services to help address this issue, we should at least be doing it holistically and consistently. 

 

 

Sedin jersey retirement: the end of an era

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Sports
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Number 22 and 33 hanging from the rafters of Rogers Arena. — Photo: CBC

By: Harvin Bhathal, News Writer

February 12, 2020 marked a special moment for the Vancouver Canucks, the city of Vancouver, and, most importantly, Daniel and Henrik Sedin. Two years after retiring from the NHL as some of the most prolific linemates in NHL history, the Sedin twins watched their jersey’s ascend to the rafters of Rogers Arena in what was a climactic end to Vancouver’s Sedin era. Kyle Bergh and Arjun Badh, members of the SFU Hockey team, shared their thoughts on the Sedin era with The Peak. 

“The Sedins represented everything a hockey player and person should be. They were tough and persistent, yet complete gentlemen off the ice. They showed the city a certain level of grace night after night,” said Bergh.

Coming off a run in 1994 when the Canucks made it to the Stanley Cup Final only to heartbreakingly lose to the New York Rangers, the Canucks proceeded to have one of the worst seasons in franchise history in 1998–99. The team and city were ready for a new direction.

After orchestrating trades to acquire the second and third overall selections in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, Canucks General Manager Brian Burke finally had the means to draft the players he had eyed all along: Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

Although their time in Vancouver had a tumultuous start, with the twins falling victim to all sorts of physical abuse from other teams, Daniel and Henrik set the foundation for what was arguably the most glorious era of Canucks hockey in the franchise’s history. 

Bergh shared his first memory of the Sedins from a Canucks game he attended with his dad. 

“I recall the fans being hard on them, including my dad. He made comments about how they were soft, and questioned their decision-making process to pass instead of shoot.” 

However, Bergh saw something in them that many others at the time didn’t. “I just recall leaving that game in amazement about their on-ice intelligence and how they were able to manage the puck so effectively,” he said.

The connection the Sedin twins formed on the ice by playing alongside each other throughout their careers is unprecedented in NHL history. From their first foray into hockey, to playing for their country at the Olympics and World Championships, to reaching the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, the Sedin twins rarely played apart from one another. 

Daniel and Henrik led a run of mesmerizing play on the ice that, combined with the team results that had been elusive for so long, brought the Canucks to within one win of a Stanley Cup. Though the loss to the Boston Bruins in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final surely still stings, it doesn’t overshadow the years of sustained success the twins helped bring to Vancouver.

Though the Sedins led the franchise for many years, their run would not have happened if not for teammates such as Roberto Luongo, Ryan Kesler, Jannik Hansen, and Kevin Bieksa, who were there to commemorate the career of the Sedins. Alongside them were Canuck legends Alex Burrows, Markus Naslund, Trevor Linden, and Stan Smyl.

The ceremony itself was beautiful, with an all-encompassing tribute video to their careers and work within the community as well as speeches from Bieksa and the Sedins themselves. 

“To the people of Vancouver and British Columbia, we came here in 1999 and it’s been home since day one,” said a visibly emotional Henrik during the ceremony. 

Asked about the ceremony, Arjun Badh said that,“The organization obviously cares a great deal about the Sedins and it was reflected in the quality of the [jersey] retirement ceremony.”

When asked about his favourite Sedin twin, Badh said, “When I think of ‘Sedin,’ they both come to mind, so they are equally respected to me.” 

On this note, Bergh added that, “I still probably wouldn’t be able to tell them apart.”

As the twins grew into bonafied NHL superstars, their legendary status within Canucks history did too. While they went through challenges on and off the ice, so did the city. Because of this, there is no doubt that Daniel and Henrik Sedin will always remain in the memories of Canucks fans in British Columbia and around the world. 

The Week Ahead in SFU Sports: March 9–15

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Sports
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The SFU Athletics logo. — Photo: SFU Athletics

By: Dylan Webb, Sports Editor

A trip to the NCAA Championships for the men’s wrestling team highlights a relatively light, yet important, schedule for SFU Sports this week. Clan fans can also root for the track and field team as they take part in the NCAA Indoor Nationals in Birmingham, Alabama, and the SFU Hockey team as they play in the first round of the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) playoffs.

Softball:

The SFU Softball team will travel to Washington State to play four games this week. First, the team will be in Ellensburg, WA on March 14 for a doubleheader against Central Washington University, beginning at 1 p.m. The team will then move to Lacey, WA for their second doubleheader of the weekend against St. Martin’s University on March 15. The first pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.

Track and Field: 

A trip to the NCAA Indoor Nationals in Birmingham, Alabama on March 13 and 14 is on tap for the SFU Track and Field team this week. 

Men’s Golf:

The SFU Men’s Golf team is headed to Livermore, California to take on Notre Dame de Namur University at the Poppy Ridge Golf Course on March 9 and 10. 

Men’s Wrestling: 

It’s the most important week of the season for the SFU Men’s Wrestling team as they head to Sioux Falls, South Dakota for the NCAA Championships on March 13 and 14. 

Hockey: 

While the SFU Hockey team is guaranteed to take on the VIU Mariners in the opening round of the BCIHL playoffs, they will have to wait until the final game of the regular season has been played to know whether their first round series will take place in Nanaimo or Burnaby. You can refer to the league’s website for the latest updates on the BCIHL playoff situation. 

The Rotunda groups have won their space and that’s something we can all smile about

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Opinions
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The long fight for SUB space is finally over. Photo: Chris Ho/The Peak

By: Meera Eragoda, Staff Writer

WOW! Did any of us think we would be students at SFU long enough to witness the SFSS Board of Directors doing something so wholly unproblematic as giving the Rotunda groups space in the new SUB? Honestly though, all snark aside, these kinds of actions are what the SFSS Board of Directors should continue to focus on moving forward. 

Though this year is young, the SFSS Board started it out embroiled in a financial fiasco. I understand that the SFSS Board can’t control all events that occur, and that not everyone on the SFSS Board feels the same way about every issue, but I hope they all find it nicer to be facing positive opinions with the SUB space decision, rather than student ire.

The Rotunda groups’ fight for space began before I started attending SFU, but in pondering this good news, I was struck by how long this fight has actually drawn out. There is a Peak article from back in 2013 that details the need to consider the Rotunda groups when constructing the SUB. 2013! Clearly, this advice was never actually taken into consideration back then, or students wouldn’t have had to fight so hard over the last few years just to get this current tentative agreement. 

By nature, universities have a constantly revolving door of students, with old ones graduating and new ones arriving. SFU has an additional factor to this revolving nature that comes from our commuter campus status. This all creates a feeling of impermanence or temporality with what goes on at our disbursed campuses. Given all of this, I am impressed by the ability of the Rotunda groups to organize and succeed in their fight, despite spanning multiple years and student bodies.

Now is the SFSS Board’s chance to lock this space down for the groups and show us that they are committed to supporting campus resources for students instead of taking them away.

 

 

SFU Hockey set for playoff showdown with the Vancouver Island University Mariners

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Sports
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SFU has never won a BCIHL Championship in the current playoff format. — Photo: SFU Hockey

By: Michael Lenko, Peak Associate

The SFU Hockey team will take on the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners in the first round of the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) playoffs. At the time of writing, SFU and VIU were tied for second place in the league standings with 28 points. Fittingly, the two teams will meet in the final game of the BCIHL regular season to determine home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. 

While SFU has two games remaining on their regular season schedule compared to one for VIU, due to the Mariners’ edge over the Clan in the season series between the two teams, the only game that matters is the final one of the season. Because of this, whichever team secures a victory in this game will host the first round playoff series.

Regardless of the location of the first round playoff series, the Clan will look to build off a strong regular season that was highlighted by standout performances by some team leaders. With just two games left in the season, forward Mac Colasimone leads the team with 26 points in 22 games. Rookie forward Ty Westgard has had an outstanding first season in the BCIHL, having accumulated 25 points in the same amount of games as Colasimone. On the blue line, defenceman Domenic Masellis leads all Clan defenders with nine points on the year. Between the pipes, which has arguably been the Clan’s strength this season, goaltenders Patrick Zubick and Andrew Henderson have combined to allow just 66 goals this season, which is second only to the league leading Trinity Western Spartans. There is no doubt that strong goaltending has played a large role in SFU’s success this year, given that the team also boasts the distinction of being one of only two teams with a positive goal differential. 

The impending playoff series against the VIU Mariners is likely to be a tightly contested battle between two evenly matched teams. The Mariners currently hold a 3-1-1 advantage in the season series, with the Clan’s only win coming in their first game of the season. SFU will certainly have their hands full as they attempt to deal with the Mariners’ potent first line that is headlined by Garrett Dunlop, who leads the team with 34 points and has recorded a point in every game of the season. The Clan will also have to keep an eye on the Mariners’ high-scoring defender Seth Schmidt, who has amassed 19 points from the backend this season. It’s also likely that Jeremy Balyk will be in goal for the Mariners to open the series. Balyk has turned in an impressive rookie season in the BCIHL by posting a .913 save percentage and nine wins in 16 games.

In advance of the playoffs, The Peak was able to sit down with members of the Clan to discuss the coming series against the Mariners and the general state of the team as they embark on the pursuit of their first league title since 2013. Assistant captain Eric Callegari believes that “Overall, the team chemistry has been way better [this year] and has shown in the standings, with us [likely] sitting in second place heading into playoffs.”

When asked what changes have led to the success the team has seen this season compared to last year, Callegari stressed the importance of the team chemistry exhibited by this year’s group. Callegari noted similarities between the 2019–20 edition of the Clan and the Aldergrove Kodiaks he captained to a Pacific Junior Hockey League title in 2017. He emphasized that the closeness of the group and the almost family-like atmosphere in the locker room were important aspects of the championship group in Aldergrove that he feels are present in the Clan this year. 

Parallel to this, associate head coach Ryan Sandrin is confident that one of the major improvements this year’s squad has made in comparison to previous editions of the team is the top quality talent up and down the roster. Sandrin trusts that this version of the Clan is one of the most talented groups in the history of the program. Additionally, Sandrin also feels that the player’s ability to successfully adapt to different roles the coaching staff have asked them to play this season has been central to their success.

When asked what he thinks SFU will need to focus on to beat the Mariners, Sandrin stressed discipline, speed, and systems, arguing that “while we are one of the least penalized teams, we need to clean up the dumb 200-foot penalties.” Sandrin trusts that, if the Clan are able to use their speed and get their feet moving, the team will have success against the bigger and slower Mariners.

A final point that Sandrin stressed was the need to stick to the systems the team has established throughout the season. He thinks that breakdowns that have come at inopportune times this season have stemmed from players neglecting the systems that have brought the team success. While Sandrin admits the team is young and will make mistakes, he believes their dynamic skills can compensate for this and that the team will find success in the BCIHL playoffs.

On this note, the Clan’s leading rookie scorer Ty Westgard feels that “playing our own game and not getting pulled into theirs” will be a key to the Clan’s success in the first round. Like Sandrin, Westgard argued that staying disciplined and using team speed will be crucial if the team is to overcome the Mariners to advance to the BCIHL finals. 

When asked what he can do to help contribute to a successful playoff run, Westgard noted his role on special teams as one of his individual points of focus for the upcoming series. Westgard feels that if the Clan are able to achieve a 20% success rate on the powerplay, it will be tough to beat them. Like his teammate, Westgard also cited a family-like atmosphere as a vital component of postseason success when The Peak asked what characteristics he sees in successful teams he’s played on. He affirms that the Clan has fully established this chemistry in advance of the playoffs. 

It’s not hard to make the case that this year’s edition of the SFU Hockey team is one of the most exciting groups the program has had in years. With high-end skill, team chemistry, and strong goaltending, the Clan has one of the best opportunities to hang a championship banner inside the Bill Copeland Sports Centre that they’ve had in years. While SFU will face an opponent they have struggled against this season, it’s clear that both the coaching staff and players are confident that they can use speed, discipline, and a commitment to team systems to claim their first BCIHL Championship since 2011. 

SFU Hockey secures third win of season over Trinity Western University Spartans

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SFU can clinch second place in the league standings with a win over Vancouver Island University on the final day of the regular season. — Photo: BCIHL

By: Michael Lenko, Peak Associate

In a hard-fought game with a playoff-like atmosphere at the George Preston Recreation Centre in Langley, SFU goaltender Patrick Zubick turned in what was arguably his best performance of the season to lead the Clan to a much needed 3–2 victory over the Trinity Western University Spartans. On the back of Zubick’s epic performance, the Clan kept their hopes for a first round playoff series at home alive. One of the most complete games for the Clan this year allows the team to claim second place in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) standings with a win over the Vancouver Island University Mariners on the final day of the regular season.

During a heated first period, both teams were ready to play from the drop of the puck. The opening frame saw the physicality pushed to a playoff-like level with tight checking from both teams, limiting scoring chances. While both teams combined for 26 shots in the frame — 16 for SFU and 10 for the Spartans — both goaltenders looked sharp and stopped everything they faced.

The Clan got off to a quick start in the second period as Dominic Masellis opened the scoring with a point shot through traffic less than a minute into the frame. However, the Spartans promptly responded on the powerplay as Evan Last batted a puck out of mid-air to tie the game. The shots remained relatively even through the second as the Spartans outshot the Clan 20–14.

In the third, the SFU powerplay changed the course of the game. On a late-man advantage, Arjun Badh picked up a loose puck in the slot with just over five minutes left in the game and placed a perfect shot over the shoulder of Spartans goaltender Lucas Mills to reestablish the Clan’s one-goal lead. Then, with just under two minutes left in the game, Ty Westgard slammed home a loose puck into a wide-open net off of a rebound opportunity to provide a much needed insurance marker. Westgard’s goal would prove to be vital as Spartan’s forward Logan Casavant scored with the goalie pulled for the extra attacker to bring Trinity Western to within one goal late in the game. However, 3–2 was as close as the Spartan’s would get as Patrick Zubick shut the door the rest of the way, making a phenomenal 46 saves on the night. 

With the win, the Clan now control their own destiny when it comes to securing second place in the BCIHL standings and home ice advantage in their first-round playoff matchup. SFU will take on the VIU Mariners in the final game of the BCIHL regular season to determine which team will host the first round playoff series between the two teams.  

Spotlight: CCO SFU

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Multimedia
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The mind behind the memes: An exclusive interview with @sfu_raccoons

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Features
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Photo: Needpix

By: Madeleine Chan, Staff Writer

With over 1,100 followers on Instagram, @sfu_raccoons has become a hit hub for showcasing SFU’s favourite furry friends. I interviewed the person behind @sfu_raccoons to get the inside scoop on their growing social-media stardom; their first post was made in October 2019 and they’ve only grown since. To preserve the mystery behind the account, they have chosen to stay anonymous.

Why did you start @sfu_raccoons?

That’s a good question. My friends actually were always making fun of me because I was just constantly always recording the raccoons in residence, just on my story on my own Instagram. And after a while I was kind of like, “I have a lot of pictures in my camera, my story always has raccoons on it at some point,” and I thought, “There used to be raccoon Instagrams [ . . . ] Maybe I should start one.”

I’ve seen those other accounts, and they don’t have nearly as many followers as you do. What do you think makes your account stand out from theirs?

It’s largely in part just consistency. I think in the beginning, I was definitely posting a lot. There [was] a staff-in-residence, and he sent me this Google Drive with all of these pictures that he’d taken [of raccoons] in residence and I was like, “Whoa, okay, this is cool.” So in the beginning, a lot of them were those, and then just ones I had on my phone. So I think the fact that I just posted a lot helped. And it got shared around really fast too.

Yeah, you have over a thousand [followers], that’s crazy.

Yeah, it kind of blew up. I didn’t think it was going to. 

What’s your favourite raccoon meme? Either that you’ve posted or you’ve seen around?

I think I have two. It was actually the very first one I ever posted: Chonk. Because he was just sitting on the steps and he kind of seemed slumped over [ . . . ] The other one I really like is, I think it’s just a screenshot of a Twitter post, and it was like “me during the day” — I’m going to be healthy, I’m going to start eating right. Then it was “me by 2:00 p.m.”, and it was to the Doordash guy and it said “Give me the gorbage” with a really fat raccoon and I was like, “That’s literally me.”

Along the same lines, do you have a favourite SFU raccoon?

It’s probably Chonk. 

I know there’s been that one tailless boy, he’s just around. And i’ll just randomly get submissions from people where they’re like, “Oh my God, it’s the tailless boy,” and he’s just always around and he seems to be particularly, what’s the word, rebellious, I guess. The first time I ever saw him I was coming up the stairs towards Images [Theatre] and I just saw his butt sticking out and I didn’t see a tail so I was like, “Is this a koala bear?” Like I literally didn’t know what it was. I kind of turned the corner and he looked at me and I was like, “Oh my God, it’s a raccoon.” Those are the two that really stick out.

So the account is mainly run by direct message (DM) submissions, right?

Yep.

Have you ever gotten any weird DM’s that you couldn’t post? Or just totally left field DM’s?

I think they’re the most recent ones that I got, actually. I was actually kind of curious I was like, “What am I going to do with these?” 

I ended up just posting them. It’s raccoons having sex on the balcony in Townhouses. At least it looked kind of PG, you can just kind of see the one behind the other. I was like, “Aw, man.” And I got three of them from different people and they were like, “I also saw the raccoons having sex.” 

Okay, you guys are recording this, it’s one thing for me to [say], “Look at this.” They’re the ones stopping in the middle of their walk to campus and are like, “Let’s record these raccoons doing it.” But yeah, [I’ve gotten] nothing that wasn’t raccoon related.

That’s good. So, how do you come up with the captions?

In the beginning, some of them were just a commentary [on their actions]. Some of them are references to either pop culture or just other memes that I’m like, “that’s kind of funny” [ . . . ] There was one where the raccoon was right up to the camera and I was like, “Mr. Gorbachev, boop that nose,” or something stupid like that. But yeah, sometimes I struggle, and I just make something stupid.

Fair enough. If you could somehow speak to a raccoon and have it understand you, what would you say?

Such a funny question. My instinct would be, “Do you wanna be my friend?” Or “Do you wanna be my pet?” Why do they always do weird stuff with their hands [like rubbing them together]? But yeah, I really don’t know what I’d ask a raccoon. But is he smart? Would it be like talking to a kid, or an adult? There’s too many variables involved in thinking of a raccoon being able to talk.

Which side will you be on when the raccoons inevitably overthrow us and take over the Burnaby campus?

I feel like I’ll be the one leading the charge.

Right at the forefront?

Yeah. You know how the Lorax speaks for the trees? That would be me, but with raccoons.

Some people would say that these kinds of memes, and this kind of normalization of raccoons,, invite people to get closer to them, potentially putting them at risk. What do you think about this idea?

I remember this smear campaign that went out against the raccoons, I think it was in The Peak. I saw that and I was like, “This anti-raccoon propaganda!” I was not happy. I feel like most people are smart enough not to go up to the raccoons directly. Like yes, they’re cute. But at least so far I haven’t gotten any submissions where the people were going right up to them or putting their hand out or anything. So I mean if you’re taking videos from afar, I don’t see the harm in that. I think it’s pretty common sense not to be like, “Hi, let me pet this wild animal.” But [where I work,] we do get calls from people, they’re typically drunk, that have gone up [to them] and they’re sitting with security getting bandaged up. Don’t pet the raccoons, man.

What do you think Chonker is doing right now?

I’m really sad about Chonkers because he used to always sit on those steps that are between Towers and Dining Hall. There’s been some habitat destruction that’s been going on because of all the construction in residence. So those stairs are completely destroyed, they’ve cut down all the bushes where baby raccoons always used to come out and chill. So Chonk’s steps are no longer there and I haven’t seen him around and I’m actually kind of worried. He would just sit there and act cute and people would bring him food, and I was like, “What a good guy.” I was always looking forward to seeing him every time I leave Dining Hall and go down the steps to be like, “Chonk?” But, yeah I haven’t seen him. I hope he’s thriving.

Did you have anything you wanted to say?

UBC just followed me, and their thing is @ubc.forbidden.cats. I [thought], “You only have 40 followers! Well, that’s a shame.” But their thing is new, it started in December. They’re funny, it just seems like it was a response to [@sfu_raccoons]. But also good to know that UBC also has raccoons. I followed them back because I thought that I [was] not going to continue this war between the schools, because this is about the raccoons, and not about us.

You hope to bring people together through raccoons?

Yeah, literally. We are going to foster peace and diplomatic relations between the raccoons of our campuses. That’s a little dramatic, but yeah.

Lesser-known SFU Clubs to help fuel your artistic soul

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Arts
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by Marco Ovies, Arts Editor

Here it comes: the near-end-of-the-semester blues. I don’t know about you, but Week 9 is always the toughest for me because a) my classes start talking about our final papers and exams, b) I’m ready to end the semester but it seems so far away, and c) March 6 is Dentist Day and I don’t know what to get my dentist. To help me deal with that added stress I usually try and partake in some form of artistic relief. So if you’re like me and need some form of creative outlet to help relieve your stress, check out these clubs. 

 

The Darkroom Club:

Are you a fan of analog cameras and want to develop your own film? Well look no further than The Darkroom Club. Personally, I didn’t even know SFU had a darkroom, but this club is trying to make this more accessible to students. It is open to all skill levels and there are plenty of people in the group who are willing to teach newcomers how to start developing their own photos. Plus, the Facebook group hosts cover photo contests where members can submit photos to be used as the group’s cover photo. If you would like to inquire more about joining, or if you just want to use the darkroom, you can leave a message on the Facebook group or contact [email protected].

 

SFU Knitting Club:

Do I know how to knit? Knope, but these guys sure do. They are super beginner-friendly and include all the supplies needed for their workshops, so you can show up and get straight to knitting. On their Facebook page they stress that they exist to “help facilitate healthy stress-reduction techniques to improve your well-being.” On March 3 they are hosting a crochet cat hat workshop for beginners, so be sure to RSVP to that on their Facebook event. 

 

SFU Metal:

If you want to join the ranks of metal-music enthusiasts then look no further than SFU Metal. According to their information page, they are a club meant “to bring metal musicians together for the purpose of playing music and to discuss music theory within the metal community.” I don’t have an extensive knowledge on metal music to say anything insightful here, but you can check up on meeting times and new music on their Facebook group page. 

 

SFU Latin Dance Passion:

Looking to put a little more boogie in your step? You can sign up for dance lessons with SFU’s Latin Dance Passion. They teach both Bachata and Salsa (not the dip, so leave your tortilla chips at home). According to their website they “specialize in helping ‘two left feet’ students become the best dancer they can be,” which is good news for me since two left feet is all I’ve got. Lessons are every Wednesday and are offered at a variety of skill levels. For newcoming participants, students pay $50 for Salsa or Bachata, and it’s $60 if you would like to participate in both — both prices account for the entire semester. Returning participants get $10 off the newcomer price. You can check their schedule online to see which class is right for you.

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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