Home Blog Page 460

Course syllabi need to be more upfront about the hidden costs of classes

0
How can I afford all these classes when I have $10 in my bank account? Illustration: Tiffany Chan/The Peak

By: Marco Ovies, Staff Writer

It’s the first day of class and I’m leaving the bookstore with my reusable SFU tote bag breaking at the seams. After dropping nearly $400 on books, I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to afford the gas to get home. The bill hurts, but it is all a part of attending university — and besides, it’s only a one time thing right? 

Wrong.

Coming into class I realize that I need to purchase an “optional” supplementary text that is needed to do well on the essay worth 35% of my grade. On top of that, I need to pay extra for my professor to print out paper handouts for us to read as well (since email is apparently not a thing). It’s not until week three or four that I realize we will only be reading five pages out of the supplementary text I had bought. But by then, the window to return the textbook has long passed, and I’m still having to fork over even more money for things that I need to pass this course. All of a sudden I am out all this money that I hadn’t even planned on spending in the first place. 

How is it fair that I’m being forced to spend more money on a class than I had originally been told? Before enrolling in any class I check the syllabus online to see what I’ll be needing to buy. Professors should be putting the total cost of all the extra items needed for the class in the required material section as well. If they know that they’re going to need to charge me $10 for PDF print-outs, they should include it instead of telling me on the first day when I find out I can’t bring my laptop to class. 

To put my financial situation into perspective for you, I paid for my lunch in dimes the other day. The fact that I can even afford to be at SFU in the first place is a miracle in itself. So if each class tacks on an extra $40 fee, and I’m doing a five-course load, that’s an unplanned $200 I’m having to spend. If these costs had been given upfront then I could have budgeted for these things earlier, rather than struggling to pay them off as a sudden expense. 

And superfluous textbooks aren’t the only hidden fees students can encounter at university. The cost of software for students who don’t want or can’t use the SFU library computers (that are rarely available to begin with) is one of them. Licensing fees for Adobe Creative Cloud, the cost of printing a poster for an “official” looking project, purchasing physical iClickers or similar hardware, and even purchasing project materials can all add up to seriously eat into students’ meager disposable incomes. These hidden costs pop up in every major and it’s time for it to end. 

Mid-semester expenses make succeeding inaccessible to some students who can’t afford unexpected costs for materials. Valuable time they could be using to study or polish up a project is instead used to scrounge for extra money. These costs are especially frustrating when they are required to succeed at the A-level in a class. Grades shouldn’t be handed out on the basis of a student’s ability to pay for materials. It’s easy to dismiss a lot of these costs as not strictly mandatory, in the sense that tuition and core textbooks are. However for many students, not having the ability to shoulder these supplementary costs or absorb them unexpectedly means losing out on the time or resources to really make an assignment shine.

Classes are turning into pay-to-win situations like Clash of Clans. Professors designing these classes need to be more mindful of students’ budgets and should consider either listing these extra costs in course descriptions, or deciding that using five pages of a textbook does not warrant asking students to spend $80 on it. 

Some costs associated with being a student are unavoidable. Pencils, notebooks, and even laptops are necessary for almost any class. These costs don’t need to be listed, but course-specific costs should be. Most of us are struggling students living pay cheque to pay cheque and these expenses start to add up. School is costly enough as it is so please professors, help everyone out and tell us how much the class is really going to be. 

 

What students need to know about the possible TransLink strike

0
Photo courtesy of Vancouver Sun

By: Gabrielle McLaren, Editor-in-chief 

UPDATE, 10/31/2019: The first phase of the Metro Vancouver transit strike is set to begin Friday, November 1 as a partial strike—with workers refusing to wear uniforms or work overtime.  

Have you ever watched bikers, joggers, or hikers make their way up Burnaby Mountain and thought, “wow, I can’t believe people actually do that”? 

Spoiler alert: that might be all of us as the potential of a TransLink strike looms over Vancouver, as the Coast Mountain Bus Company and Unifor butt heads. 

The contract covering over 5000 TransLink workers expired on March 31 and workers were left without a contract for months as their union and employer negotiated. Negotiations to produce a contract broke off on October 9, and on October 10 workers voted 99% in favour of giving their union a strike mandate, which has set the city abuzz.  

The last time Vancouver’s transit workers striked was in 2001, leading to a 123-day strike that broke provincial records. While a repeat just in time for midterms isn’t on any student’s wishlist, understanding the key issues at stake for TransLink workers is crucial to understanding just how important this possible strike is. 

The union representing over 5000 transit operators, Seabus workers, and maintenance staff is Unifor (locals 111 and 2200, respectively). According to the union’s website, they are “Canada’s largest private sector union, with more than 315,000 members across the country, working in every major sector of the Canadian economy.” It emerged in 2013 through a merger of other unions. Other TransLink workers are represented by other unions — meaning that a strike wouldn’t impact all of TransLink. In 2001, for example, SkyTrains remained open. 

The good news for the student peasantry is that if negotiations truly fail between TransLink and Unifor, workers have to give 72 hours’ notice before striking  — giving everyone a hefty heads up. Labour negotiations are called collective bargaining.

The other important thing to remember is that a strike mandate only means that a strike could happen, not that it will happen. Think of a strike mandate as a permission slip given to a union by its members to openly discuss, plan for, and leverage a strike. In 2016, for example, 98% of workers voted in favour of a strike — but a new contract was negotiated and accepted before the strike actually took place.   

Even in the event of a strike, a full walkout isn’t the only possible outcome or action that the union could take. Also worth noting is that there are different types of strikes — workers could opt for a partial walkout, a slowdown strike . . . 

Furthermore, TransLink workers are aware of the potential impact this strike may have. Students and low-wage workers are cited as particularly impacted demographics by Balbir Mann, president of Unifor Local 111.  As Local 2200 President Mike Smith said in one of Unifor’s official statement:“Our members know that the public relies on them and it is our sincere hope that Coast Mountain comes back with a serious offer to avoid strike action and inconvenience to transit riders, but we are determined to obtain a fair deal for the workers.” 

And what are the issues that workers want to see? 

One of them is safety: increased ridership places more stress on drivers and affects their working conditions. Workers are hoping to see more and longer break times. As the Western Regional Director of Unifor, Garvin McCarrigle, told Global News, drivers’ breaks are measured in minutes between routes. Aside from being exhausting and unpleasant, this leads to overworked workers which is a safety issue. As a side note, while we’re on the issue of safety, according to a Unifor statement from July, WorkSafe BC claims involving assaulted transit workers are routinely denied. 

The union is also looking to secure wages competitive with those other Canadian transit operators, hire more drivers to support TransLink’s expanding infrastructure, and reduce overcrowding on buses. 

While overcrowding and congestion may seem like petty annoyances to riders, for transit workers they create further work and safety concerns. Unions report that overcrowded buses increased by 36% between 2016 and 2018 alone. Back in May, Unifor encouraged its members to take part of the #CureCongestion campaign to address overcrowding — showing how long these issues have plagued workers for. 

The fact that TransLink is in the midst of an expansion at the moment is exasperating the concerns of Unifor members, according to the union, and making these negotiations unique and particularly impactful.  

Union representatives have reported that preliminary negotiations are going well. As the Western Regional Director of Unifor Gavin McGarrigle told CityNews, “We’re starting to make some progress, although it’s slow at this stage.” Given upcoming negotiations scheduled for October 24, 25, and 28; McGarrigle estimates that any strike announcement would come after October 28. 

Personally, if there is a complete walkout that paralyses our public transit, I’ll be doing my best to keep in mind that while it’s an inconvenience to me, not having a contract, proper compensation, or safe working conditions is a bigger inconvenience for TransLink employees.

Peak Sports Mailbag: Week 8

0
Photo credit / Amazon

By: Juztin Bello, Copy Editor

Hello readers of The Peak sports section,

My name is Juztin Bello and I’m this week’s host for the Peak Sports Mailbag. Our topic this week is volleyball. 

Thanks so much to all of our readers for submitting their volleyball-related questions, and my apologies if your question didn’t make it into this week’s edition. Usually, the Mailbag host will only answer three questions. Don’t worry though, as all questions submitted count for an entry into the raffle draw whether or not they are addressed in the Mailbag. Now, onto the questions!

Question 1: What’s the difference between beach volleyball and indoor volleyball? – Gab 

Answer: There are actually many differences between beach and indoor volleyball, ranging from basic rules to the court itself. As I imagine this list could get lengthy, I’ll try to tackle the more significant ones. 

Firstly, the point system in beach volleyball sees teams playing to 21 — in best-of-three style matches — rather than to 25 — in five-set matches. Instead of switching sides at the end of a set, teams in beach switch sides every seven points. Additionally, rather than six players per team,  beach volleyball merely has two players with no substitutions. 

The courts between the two differ, with the dimensions being 18m x 9m for indoor and 16m x 8m for beach, to accommodate the smaller teams. Along with the decreased size, in beach the attack line, a line 3m from the centre line (under the net), is removed. This line, which prevents back row players from jumping at the net, is removed in beach so that two-person teams have a full range of attack. This reflects another difference, in which beach volleyball players have no designated positions and can set, dig, and hit from anywhere on the court. One might say that beach volleyball players need to be more versatile, seeing as they need to play all positions.

Fun fact: indoor volleyball became an Olympic event in 1964, while beach only became an official event more than 30 years later in 1996. 

Question 2: Can you elaborate on the different responsibilities of the setter, outside hitter/left side hitter, middle hitter, opposite hitter/right side hitter, and libero/defensive specialist in high-level volleyball? – James

Answer: Setters are responsible for getting second touch on the offensive and placing the ball in the air for a hitter. They must identify the opponent’s weakest defensive point and prepare a hitter to attack accordingly. Typically, a setter on defense will avoid making first touch on the receive. Should a setter make first contact, another player must act as setter for that play —  usually the right side hitter. 

Left and right side hitters are almost identical positions except for where they are on the court. Point-building heavily relies on these players. When in the front row, hitters will set themselves to the far left/right for an approach to hit, typically outside the court lines. In the back row, these hitters are responsible for receiving serves/hits along with the libero — they may both also spike from the middle of the back row behind the 3m attack line. 

As the name suggests, the middle hitter is responsible for attacking the ball from the middle of the front row. They are a key component for blocking on defense; middles will swing themselves left or right to assist in blocking hits, but must also serve as the primary blocking defense from middle hits. When in the back row, middles will typically be substituted out with a libero.

Despite their seemingly similar roles, the libero and defensive specialist are actually completely different positions. Liberos wear a different coloured shirt from the rest of their team to better identify them during gameplay. You will never see a libero hit in the front row or serve (though some leagues do allow liberos to serve). While defensive specialists are also seen as better passers and are brought in for defensive play, they are actually just used to replace a defensively-weaker back row player. This position doesn’t have to follow the same hitting/serving rules as the libero, wears the same jersey as other teammates, has to follow regular substitution rules, and can play in the front row. 

Question 3: What is the highest level of volleyball in the world, and how can I watch it? – Alicia 

Answer: The highest level of volleyball is played under the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB). As the international governing body for all forms of volleyball, it is responsible for organizing worldwide volleyball events, including the Olympics and various World Championships

For fans looking to deep-dive into some high-level volleyball: schedules, team statistics, and volleyball-related news are regularly updated on FIVB’s website. Additionally, FIVB events can be watched at Volleyball TV’s website, which offers Tournament Passes and Season Passes for members. If fans want to watch volleyball without a membership, the Volleyball World Youtube channel features clips that highlight remarkable gameplay moments.

Of course, volleyball fans can also look forward to the 2020 Olympics next summer. 

If you would like to participate in future editions of the Peak Sports Mailbag and be entered in a raffle for an end-of-semester prize, here’s what you can send to sports@the-peak.ca

  • Sports-related questions that our weekly host will answer
  • Weekly theme ideas to guide our questions

Or: sign up to host the Mailbag (and get paid)!

Thanks to all of you SFU sports fans for blowing up my inbox!

Next week’s theme is: Kendo

Next week’s host is: Nicole Magas

Send in your questions to sports@the-peak.ca

Canadian Sports culture: the dilemma of four-on-four basketball

0
Photo credit / Japan Times

By: Grant Simms, SFU Student

One of the strangest things I’ve ever encountered was playing pick-up basketball in Vancouver for the first time. I’d previously been to Phoenix, where the pick-up culture is superb and there are a ton of talented players to be found on any given night at any LA Fitness location. So, when I walked into the YMCA in Vancouver and saw that, instead of playing full court basketball, everyone was playing half court four-on-four, it blew my mind — and not in a good way. I’d never seen pick-up basketball played in that format before. Never on any indoor or outdoor court I’d ever been on had people played using just half the court when there were enough players to play full court. That includes courts in LA, Hawaii, Ohio, and even Italy! This may not seem like such a huge deal, but when it comes to sports culture, trust me, it is. It shows that Canadians are living in a different sports paradigm than most of the world. In my opinion, this is certainly a factor in Canada’s poor international performances in basketball and soccer.

It’s no secret that Canada is a winter country. Surely, our climate and geography are a factor in Canada finishing third in the medal count for the 2018 Winter Olympics without being in the 2016 Summer Olympics’ top 10. Culturally, many Canadians understand, pla, or otherwise participate in winter sports. We experience these activities and the lifestyles surrounding them not just as sports, but as a fundamental part of daily life. 

It’s the exact same situation with soccer. With the relatively high level of Canadian participation in soccer, it’s ridiculous and confusing that the Canadian soccer team is ranked 75, six spots behind North Macedonia — a country I didn’t even know existed until I saw this list. 

To change this, Canada doesn’t need to spend more money or invest in better coaching. What Canadians need to do is stop playing these sports like you’d play hockey. What I mean is that hockey, due to requiring an entire ice rink, a full set of body armour, and other expensive items, is almost always played in a highly organized fashion with leagues, trainers, and costs. Basketball and soccer should be viewed as more of a ‘street’ sport that can be picked up for cheap, anywhere, with anyone, at any time, with little or no cost and formal structuring. Canadian basketball and soccer players don’t have the ‘street’ edge needed to become competitive with countries that do have this culture, but perhaps less resources. 

To show you what I mean, let me tell you about Andy Livingstone Park and its two huge soccer pitches. Based on my admittedly anecdotal yet consistent discussions with players at this park, at least 90% of the street soccer players are either visiting or have recently come to Canada from other countries with strong soccer cultures. With the organized games, the ratio is flipped, and the street soccer players are so much better. These players grew up in a soccer-centric culture — they understand that you can’t monetize, organize, and commodify all sports. The greatest players in these sports are bred in a sporting culture that is urban, hungry, and passionate before it is organized with expensive facilities and trainers. 

Basketball is the same. It needs to be played like it is in New York — hard nosed, full of trash talk, five aside. Not this mutated four-on-four thing that Candians anomalously prefer. When I play basketball in Vancouver, there’s no conflict, no swagger, no taunting, and little passion. These traits are what make basketball. This lack of steeping in street basketball culture is, arguably, the reason Andrew Wiggins lacks the ability and authority to assert himself on the court, and it’s arguably the reason he has never reached his true potential. 

It may be difficult to embrace the shift necessary to create a street sport culture because Canadian sports culture is relatively reserved. It’s a culture in which players will apologize for anything before they’ll push boundaries, compete hard, and possibly hurt someone’s feelings, or body, in the process. However, as the popularity of basketball and soccer continues to grow, this may change. But, that will only happen if players are allowed to play these sports the way they should be played — without too much structure and organization and with the freedom to express emotion, personality, and passion. 

Season preview: The Canucks look for a return to the playoffs in 2019–20

0
This season marks the 50 anniversary of the Canucks joining the NHL. - Photo credit / NHL.com

By: Brandon Braich, Peak Associate

After four straight years of missing the playoffs, the Vancouver Canucks will look to turn things around in the 2019–20 season. Let’s look at how the lineup has taken shape as the season begins: 

Forwards:

While the Canucks have struggled in many areas over the last few years, if there has been one defining problem, it has been their inability to put the puck in the net. The Canucks have scored 801 goals over the past four seasons, the lowest of all NHL teams, excluding the Vegas Golden Knights who have only played for two seasons. 

For the first time since having the Sedins in their prime, Vancouver should have a potent first line led by Calder Memorial Trophy winner Elias Pettersson. Pettersson was electric early in his debut season, but slowed down as the season progressed. With this in mind, the young Swede bulked up this off-season and is a good bet to represent the Canucks in the coming All-Star game. 

Fresh off a new contract, Brock Boeser will look to build upon a promising first two seasons in the league. While Boeser has been productive, he has struggled to stay healthy, and the Canucks will need that to change this season. 

New captain Bo Horvat, Tanner Pearson, and the recently acquired J.T. Miller and Micheal Ferland will round out a strong top six. Horvat had a career season manning the second line last year, scoring 27 goals with 61 points while playing all 82 games. 

After the top six is where the question marks begin to pile up, as the Canucks’ depth is potentially a major weakness. Brandon Sutter has gotten off to a decent start, which is a good sign, as the Canucks need a bounce-back year from the veteran forward. 

The Canucks controversially waived Sven Baertschi this off-season, a move that will see increased scrutiny if the bottom six fails to produce this year. Already, veteran Loui Eriksson has seen time in the press box. Entering his fourteenth season, Eriksson has seen a steady decline in production and ice time during his tenure with Vancouver. 

Defence:

The Canucks prioritized significant blue line upgrades this off-season by bringing in Tyler Myers and Jordie Benn. While Myers will log major minutes and certainly help the team, many were skeptical of the large contract handed to the soon-to-be 30-year-old defenseman. 

The most intriguing piece of the blue line will be rookie Quinn Hughes. Despite turning 20 a few months ago, Hughes has already shown great promise and is a dark horse to win the Calder Memorial Trophy. Hughes is already NHL ready at the offensive end and is an elite skater with great instincts and shot. The question with Hughes will be how he holds up on the defensive end. Coach Travis Green has paired Hughes with Chris Tanev, perhaps hoping the reliable, defensive-minded veteran will be able to help the rookie grow in this area.

Goalies:

Vancouver has a strong tandem in the crease, with veteran Jacob Markstrom entering the year as the clear starter. Markstrom got off to a poor start last season, but finished the year strong by going 20–14–6 with a 2.49 GAA (goals-against average) and .921 save percentage in his final 40 starts. Consistency has always been an issue for the 29-year-old, who has certainly shown promise at times.

If Markstrom struggles, he may not keep his job for long, as top prospect Thatcher Demko will begin the year as the Canucks’ backup. Selected 36 overall in the 2014 draft, Demko has put the work in for the Canucks AHL affiliate and is potentially the goalie of the future if Markstrom doesn’t solidify his grasp on the role over the next season or two. 

Prediction:

Expect the Canucks to remain competitive for one of the wild card spots, especially if they can remain healthy. The difference maker may be the power play, where the Canucks will have a legitimate quarterback in Hughes complemented by two big shots at either wing in Pettersson and Boeser. If the Canucks can put together a top five power play unit, expect them to be playing hockey in April for the first time in five seasons. 

Student Artist Spotlight: Aynaz Parkas

0
Image courtesy of Aynaz Parkas.

By: Kaila Bhullar, SFU Student

Aynaz Parkas is an SFU student in her third year of the School for the Contemporary Arts’ Visual Art program. The Peak recently spoke to her about her art, her process for creating, and what art means to her.

The Peak: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your art.

Aynaz Parkas: I was born in 1999 in Tehran, Iran. I grew up there until the age of 18, [when I] moved to Vancouver to complete my [Bachelor of Fine Arts] in Visual Art at SFU in 2017. 

I started my journey in the arts with theatre acting at the age of 12, [with] my practices shifting to painting when I was 15. My works after joining SFU were mainly installation based, still exploring the mediums. However, the concepts behind my works are always the most important and time-consuming [part] for me. 

P: Why do you make this kind of art?

AP: It is all about the process — I move with a particular flow. I follow the thoughts in my brain, the feeling in my heart, or the pain I endure.

P: What inspires you as an artist? Does your work have any specific influences/influencers? Are there other artists that you look to for inspiration?

AP: In the beginning, the political and social issues, specifically in Iran, were strongly inspiring my art. However, I tried to step back and allow myself to find inspiration in everything. I strongly believe that we are all where we are meant to be and that the universe has countless plans for us. Therefore, I let the inspirations come to me in my daily conversations and activities. I am inspired by the music I listen to, the movies I watch, the different cultures I encounter, and so on. One artist I idolize is Shirin Neshat. I strongly identify with her and look up to her. 

P: What do you hope to do with your art? What are your aspirations and career goals?

AP: My dream is to be a recognized practicing artist. I vision a cozy studio where I can create art and I have the opportunity to have [my work] shown around the world. Most importantly, [I hope to be] able to work with other artists and share knowledge with them.

P: What is the purpose of art? What does art mean to you and why is it your passion?

AP: For me the purpose of art is to evoke something. It can be a thought, a memory, an emotion, a rhythm — it can be anything and yet nothing. The ambiguity and openness of art is what appeals to me the most.

 

New U.N. study reveals that only sustainable source of protein is eating the rich

0

Written by Gabrielle McLaren, Editor-in-Chief

In view of soy fields eroding soil worldwide, eggs violating poultry rights, and tofu being too moist for comfort, the World Health Organization (WHO) has determined that the only truly sustainable source of protein is eating the rich. 

Their recent report has been endorsed by the world’s leading nutrition and labour studies experts, including acclaimed Hungryan sociologist Dr. Pooria Ündurfedd. The Peak spoke to Dr. Ündurfedd via Skype to learn more.

“We wouldn’t be in this mess if everyone could just keep eating red meat without worrying about cow flatulence, or if millennials weren’t forced into veganism to desperately attempt warding off a Mad Max: Fury Road apocalypse scenario,” Ündurfedd said. “But here we are, in a climate crisis, scrambling for meat alternatives. My team figured that if corporate greed and environmentally negligent industry has gotten us here, maybe they’d be the solution. 

“Like poetic justice, but culinary.” 

The United Nations admitted in their final report that they were concerned about the socioeconomic consequences of their findings, and waves have definitely been felt worldwide. 

Multi-billionaire Zark Mukerberg attempted to hide out in the underground bunker he had prepared for the upcoming nuclear apocalypse, the construction of which was facilitated by his award-winning social media platform. However, as the CBC (Comrade Broadcasting Company) recently reported, his team of manservants turned on him and devoured his flesh after lightly seasoning it with olive oil and smoked paprika. 

More locally, Gill Bates was recently found in Vancouver, feigning poverty by living in a basement suite and shopping at Walmart. He was identified after asking a customer service associate in which aisle the caviar was kept. Bates was not destined for the delicacy he craved; instead, an angry mob of overwhelmed parents, extreme couponing enthusiasts, and university students turned Bates himself into a delicacy.

As a result, governments across the globe are crashing; lobbyists are no longer funding their operations. Only one government remains: the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS), which reports a dramatic decrease in the use of its emergency food bank.  

“For the first time, I feel full,” said fifth-year English student Annie Belle Lecter, who had been subsiding on a diet of instant oatmeal and soda crackers since moving out of residences in second year. “I’d worry about the price my immortal soul would eventually pay for cannibalism, but since it’s endorsed by the U.N., I think I’ll worry about midterms instead. It’s so much easier to study on a full stomach.” 

Another student, Virginia Jameston of the Beedie School of the Culinary Arts, similarly welcomed the report. 

“At first I was a little bit unclear about the legality, but since my student union has turned into a hunting party, it would have been irresponsible of me not to join in. I was the treasurer up until the dollar was abolished.” 

Health Canada, which is now staffed entirely by former minimum wage fast food workers, has announced plans to re-review its food guide to ensure that Canadians incorporate adequate quantities of Beff Jezos in their diets. 

 

SFU Hockey pulls out narrow victory in home opener

0
The Clan has already gotten significant contributions from many of its new recruits. - Photo credit / SFU Hockey

By: Michael Lenko, Peak Associate

Rookie defenseman Jordan Dawson’s second tally of the game helped the Clan pull through in a tight victory against the VIU Mariners  — a victory that almost saw third period trouble coming back to haunt them. 

SFU came out of the gate with a hot start in the first period, with Justin Lee notching his first BCIHL goal in the first ten minutes of the game. The Clan would build upon their opening goal, with Mitch Ledyard notching his first of the season with roughly nine minutes left in the frame. Transfer goalie Patrick Zubick was impressive in his opening period with the Clan, making a key breakaway save to preserve the 2–0 lead heading into the intermission.

The second period opened with more offence from the Clan, as Kyle Bergh picked up his first goal of the season five minutes into the period. The middle of the period saw a shift in momentum, with the Mariners temporarily holding the pace of play. However, Zubick would continue his dominant play by making some key saves — most notably a huge backdoor save that robbed the Mariners of what appeared to be a sure goal. 

The Mariners would finally solve Zubick on their 22 shot of the game, as an Alex Hanson point-shot found its way past the screened SFU goaltender. The Mariners would add another goal with five minutes to play, as a breakdown on a Clan powerplay allowed Garret Dunlop to come in all alone and sneak one past Zubick shorthanded. Just under three minutes later, the Clan responded, with Jordan Dawson walking over the blue line and rifling a shot top corner for his first of the game and his BCIHL career.  

The third period would see a fairly even pace of play, but a weird deflection off a Jordan Dawson slapper would restore the Clan’s three goal lead. Following this, the Mariners ran into penalty trouble. The Clan would not be able to capitalize on their chances, however, as the Mariners killed-off all of their penalties in the third. This would wind up almost coming back to bite the Clan, as they ran into their own penalty trouble late in the game. On a five-on-three powerplay, late in the third, the Mariners would claw back to within two on a Seth Schmidt tally. The Mariners would add another off a Brett Witala tally, on a five on four advantage less than a minute later. This would be as close as the Mariners would get, though, as Zubick shut the door the rest of the way and picked up his first win of the season. He was one of the three stars of the game, along with Dawson and Lee. 

SFU had many strong efforts in its home opener, most notably from the three stars of the game. First year Dawson, who had two goals, and Patrick Zubick, who stopped 34 shots (many of them high quality scoring chances) were key factors in the win. Lee also stood out with his first BCIHL tally

The Clan also demonstrated a balanced attack, with three different forward lines contributing, as well as a pair of defensmen chipping in on the offensive side of the puck. Despite this success, the Clan will need to work on special teams, as they allowed three powerplay goals and a shorthanded tally.

The team will look to build off their first win of the season the following weekend, as the Mariners will return to the Bill Copeland Sports Centre for a rematch. The following night, the University of Victoria Vikes will come to town for the first of four games between the two teams this season. 

The week ahead in SFU Sports: October 20–27

0
Photo credit / SFU athletics

By: Dylan Webb, Sports Editor

The first men’s basketball game of the year highlights a hefty home schedule for SFU Sports this week. Additionally, the home schedule includes volleyball and both men’s and women’s soccer. Here’s a brief breakdown of some of the SFU sports action lined up for the week of October 20–27.

Hockey:

The SFU Hockey team will visit the Langley Events Centre this week for a matchup with the reigning league champion Trinity Western University Spartans. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. on October 24 in what will be a rare Thursday night affair. 

Volleyball:

After a trip up North for games against both University of Alaska teams, Clan volleyball returns to the West Gym this week. The team will host Western Oregon University at 7 p.m. on October 24 and Concordia University at 2 p.m. on October 26. 

Men’s Soccer: 

A rare scheduling anomaly has the SFU Men’s soccer team playing one road and one home game this week. After visiting Concordia University for a 7 p.m. kickoff on October 24, the Clan will return home to host Western Washington University at Terry Fox Field on October 26 at 7 p.m.

Women’s Soccer:

A light schedule this week for SFU Women’s soccer has the team hosting Concordia University at Terry Fox Field at 1 p.m. on October 26. 

Football:

The Clan will continue their search for the elusive first win of the season with a visit to Central Washington University. Kick off is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Ellensburg, WA on October 26. 

Men’s Basketball:The SFU Men’s basketball team kicks off their 2019 season this week with an exhibition scrimmage against UBC-Okanagan. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. on October 25 in the West Gym.

Along the 95 B-Line: Great hangouts and eateries for students

0
The 95 B-Line connects SFU Burnaby to Downtown Vancouver. Illustration courtesy of Ashley Yien / The Peak.

By: Ben McGuinness, Peak Associate

On the cold plateau of SFU Burnaby, where you can literally see snowy mountain ranges far into the distance, one can feel disconnected from the world by the end of the school day. But for students who travel on the 95 B-Line, which makes the trip from the SFU Transit Exchange all the way to Burrard Station in about an hour’s time, they can find a plethora of great hangout spots and eateries on Hastings Street.

From Burnaby North through East Van to Downtown, the 95 connects you to everything you could need for a quick refuel, a cozy chillout, or a delicious meal. Below we’ll get you started with a list of the greatest spots to stop at en-route!

For the incredibly hungry: Cockney Kings

Get off at: East Hastings @ Kensington

Cockney Kings is an unassuming restaurant at Kensington Square Shopping Centre which is most famous for its all-you-can-eat fish and chips, served Monday to Wednesday. For just $12.95 you get all the fish, fries, and pop you could [n]ever eat. But even when this special isn’t on, Cockney Kings serves a variety of generously portioned fried seafood at prices that can’t be beat. It’s the casual kind of place you can dress cockney, but with food options fit for a king.

Something sweet: Chez Christophe

Get off at: East Hastings @ Hythe (+ 5 minute walk)

Go where the pastries are buttery and the chocolate is rich, and you can’t really make a wrong decision. Chez Christophe is an artisan chocolate shop and cafe specializing in cakes, chocolates, and French pastries. It reps gourmanderie near Hastings and Beta Avenue, where there otherwise wouldn’t be many places to stop for a breather or a chat with a friend. This place has all the fixings for a perfect pick-me-up after your school day, but a word of warning: leave your diet at home.

Study spot: In the Moment Cafe

Get off at: Kootenay Loop

Across the street from the Kootenay Loop bus station sits a calm cafe on the corner aptly called In the Moment. A warm, inviting space and a solid espresso make this a great choice for studying — or any other meditative moment! There are a handful of tables where you can arrange your group study session, but the high seats at the window are a perfect spot to watch the traffic while you ponder your (no doubt incredible) essay.

Feeling fancy: Baci Ristorante

Get off at: Kootenay Loop (+ 5 minute walk)

Baci Ristorante is a charming, elegant, and completely underrated Italian spot at Boundary and Hastings. Its classy façade in front indicates that you’re entering a little outpost of Italy, complete with tablecloths, dapper servers, and a refined menu. If you cut up your spaghetti, the waiter will politely tell you that it would break his mama’s heart, and if you come at the right time, you might hear some live retro-Italian balladry. The items on the menu cost slightly more than a starving student normally spends, but for the incredible atmosphere it’s not bad at all — perhaps even perfect for a date. Buon appetito!

Cool and casual: What’s Up? Hot Dog!

Get off at: East Hastings @ Nanaimo

Painfully hip right from the name, What’s Up? Hot Dog! is a punk diner at Nanaimo and Hastings with bitchin’ comfort food and booze. It’s got savoury sandwiches, hot dogs, and wings you can devour to your clogged-heart’s content. Almost every item has a vegan alternative for those who see where punk and ethical eating meet on a Venn diagram. Come thirsty ‘cause they’ve also got a sweet beer and cocktail menu.

Get the goods: Purebread
Get off at: West Hastings @ Abbott

But a short walk from SFU Harbour Centre lies Purebread, a bake shop full of delightful treats. Opened in 2014, this was the first of three Vancouver locations for the growing Whistler-based franchise. When you walk in there’s no missing the long counter completely covered in all types of baked goodies — crumbles, loaves, scones, cookies, pastries, all of them looking completely delicious. Take a bite and you’ll find looks don’t deceive! It’s not always easy to get a seat at this popular place, but if you can then you ought to grab a coffee with your treat and take a break from your studies (or, rather, lack thereof).