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What are SFU students looking forward to in 2020?

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Features
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Image courtesy of pxfuel

By: Kelly Chia, Meera Eragoda, Victoria Lopatka, Nicky Magas, Lubaba Mahmud, Kim Regala

I want to live my twenties without guilt about taking time to rest.

Hi there, 2020. 

2019 was a year of many firsts for me: it was the first time I allowed myself to take my writing seriously, I got my first few tattoos, and I vacationed with friends rather than family for the first time.

Despite all this, in the last months of 2019, I really lost touch with my mental health. I would brush off unhealthy coping mechanisms and persist into bad habits that ultimately wore me down into an unrecognizable husk. It’s a place I do not want to be in again — not when I’ve learned that there’s so much love for me here in the people I love and the things I create. 

There are many new things I want to try in 2020: I will be performing in a burlesque show, trying to save more money, and I will be getting more plants. I’d like to travel more. I will love my friends the best way I know how. I want to live my twenties without guilt about taking time to rest. Learning each day that my value isn’t my productivity is difficult, but I am trying. – KC

I would like to politely decline on becoming a “new” me, and instead continue the journey of resistance I started in 2019.

Welp! It’s here again. That time of year for all the “new year, new me” posts, subscriptions to gym memberships, and committing to signing up for a million things to help you on your journey to the new and improved YOU! 

This year, however, I would like to politely decline on becoming a “new” me, and instead continue the journey of resistance I started in 2019. I’ll be doing this by prioritizing rest over our hustle and grind culture, and respecting my body instead of conflating weight with value. I will not buy into diet and fitness culture. I will say no to the anxiety of overextending myself. In 2020, I am prioritizing not feeling guilty for not filling up every hour of my day, refusing to buy into the “you can sleep when you’re dead” mindset, and dismissing the notion that rest makes you lazy. 

I will continue to cultivate an Instagram feed of positivity and compassion, prioritize my mental health, strengthen my friendships, become a better ally, listen more, dance wildly, sing terribly and out of tune, wear flashy clothes, and embody Kurt Vonnegut’s ideal that “we are here on earth to fart around, and don’t let anybody tell you different.” – ME

I’ve decided I want to spend more time alone in 2020. Whether that be by going to a restaurant or café solo, hiking on my own, or simply just putting my phone on Do Not Disturb and taking a bubble bath, I’ve set a personal goal to do a “me-date” once a week.

Upon ending a long-term relationship a few months ago, I discovered something about myself: I can’t stand to be alone. Whether I’m grabbing some food at a restaurant, there’s a movie in theatres I want to see, or I need a new pair of shoes, I’ve realised recently how much I rely on partners and friends to do these things with me. When I’m not physically present with these people, I am constantly messaging them and browsing social media, simulating the experience of company.

The idea of going to a coffee shop solo and sitting down with my drink makes me feel uncomfortable. In fact, as I am writing this I am trying to find someone who’s free to get bubble tea with me tonight; I’m craving some oolong milk tea and don’t want to go by myself. In my opinion, having a friend by my side makes any experience more enjoyable than if I was alone. That being said, I also acknowledge the importance of being alone with oneself and one’s thoughts and feelings. I’ve heard from newspaper articles, YouTube videos, mental health enthusiasts, and fellow students about the benefits of spending time alone: increased productivity, decreased stress and sadness, opportunities to reflect and know yourself more deeply, and so on. 

After some reflection, I’ve decided I want to spend more time alone in 2020. Whether that be by going to a restaurant or café solo, hiking on my own, or simply just putting my phone on Do Not Disturb and taking a bubble bath, I’ve set a personal goal to do a “me-date” once a week. It’s my hope that by 2021, I can see some of these aforementioned benefits in my own life, and feel a little more comfortable with me, myself, and I. – VL

As 2020 closes one decade and opens another, I’m faced with a year of endings and beginnings. This will be my last year as an undergrad at SFU. The journey began in 2009, was returned to in 2016, and has bounced me through multiple successes and failures.

As 2020 closes one decade and opens another, I’m faced with a year of endings and beginnings. This will be my last year as an undergrad at SFU. The journey began in 2009, was returned to in 2016, and has bounced me through multiple successes and failures. I’ve made so many wonderful friends and an abundance of experiences both fascinating and painful. This ride has sucker-punched my health, tested my endurance, stretched my emotions, and opened my mind. 

There are no more twists ahead. I can see the end of my time at SFU clearly in a distance that was once a far away horizon, now rushing towards me far too fast. And I can’t help but feel that tiny seizure of fear. Will I be able to find a good job after this? Have I made the right choices? Will the sacrifice of time, money, and sanity (which at times distressingly hemorrhaged out of me) prove to be worth it in the end?

University is a tunnel, connecting one phase of life to another. I’ve been finding my way in the dark for over four years. I’m accustomed to it now. The rhythms, the walls, and the voices. When I finally step out, blinking against the light, what will I see? – NM

This year, I wish to continue to challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone as well as travel to new places. I usually don’t make any new year goals, but I’d like to continue to travel, apply for Co-op, and live a more sustainable life. 

For me, the past year has been a journey of growth. Being an international student, it was the first year that I’d lived away from my family. I was a wreck at first, but over time I’ve actually come to enjoy some parts of adulthood. I’ve realised that even though challenging myself to step outside of my comfort zone may be daunting, it provides me with a tremendous learning opportunity. Other than that, looking back on the year, some of my best memories are from travelling —be it exploring Vancouver, the new city I’m learning to come home, or other beautiful places.

This year, I wish to continue to challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone as well as travel to new places. I usually don’t make any new year goals, but I’d like to continue to travel, apply for Co-op, and live a more sustainable life.  – LM

At the end of the year, I realised that I had given myself zero days off to actually do things that I enjoyed.

That’s why in 2020, I’m making a personal oath to allow myself more free time outside of my busy schedule.

I definitely had some of the best experiences in the first half of 2019, from learning how to snowboard in the winter, visiting Maui in the summer, and seeing my favourite bands live for the first time. 

However, the later half of 2019 was when I hit some of the most stressful moments of my life. I was juggling between full-time school, 30-hour work weeks, and extracurricular activities— all while attempting to maintain my social life, relationships, and quite frankly, my sanity. At the end of the year, I realized that I had given myself zero days off to actually do things that I enjoyed.

That’s why in 2020, I’m making a personal oath to allow myself more free time outside of my busy schedule. To make sure that I achieve this goal, I made myself a checklist of all of the new activities and hobbies that I hope to try out. This includes going wine tasting, trying out pottery, developing my own film, and even salsa dancing. My goal is to keep building on to this list so I can motivate myself to continue exploring new activities that will spark more joy in the later years to come. – KR

The Week Ahead in SFU Sports: January 6–12

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Sports
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The new SFU Athletics logo / Photo credit: SFU Athletics

By: Dylan Webb, Sports Editor

After a short holiday break, SFU Basketball, Hockey, and Wrestling return to action this week. While the men’s basketball team and both wrestling teams will be on the road, SFU Sports fans can cheer on the hockey and women’s basketball teams at home. 

Women’s Basketball:

After completing a short, two-game road trip to begin the 2020 portion of their schedule, the SFU Women’s Basketball team returns to the West Gym to host two home games this week. On January 9 at 7 p.m., they will take on Seattle Pacific University. Two days later, on January 11, the team will host Saint Martin’s University for another 7 p.m. tip off. 

Men’s Basketball:

This week, the SFU Men’s Basketball team makes their only trip of the year up to Alaska to take on both University of Alaska teams for the first time this season. On January 9 at 8 p.m., the Clan will take on the team from Fairbanks at the Alaska Airlines Court. The team will then travel to Anchorage to take on the Sea Wolves at 6:15 p.m. on January 11. 

Men’s Wrestling:

The SFU Men’s Wrestling team will visit San Francisco State University for a duals tournament on January 11. 

Women’s Wrestling:

On January 10 and 11, the SFU Women’s Wrestling team will be in Louisville, Kentucky for the NCAA Duals Championships. 

Hockey:

SFU Hockey kicks off the second half of their 2019–20 BCIHL schedule by hosting the last place University of Victoria Vikes on Friday January 10 at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre. Puck drop is 7 p.m. 

SFU Dining Hall Eating Contest

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Multimedia
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SFU Students During Exam Season

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Multimedia
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Silent protest takes over SFSS Meet and Greet event

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News
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Chris Ho // The Peak

Written by: Gabrielle McLaren, Editor-in-Chief and Gurpreet Kambo, News Editor

Photo: Chris Ho // The Peak

On Friday November 22, the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) hosted a Meet and Greet event for Club executives. Silent protesters arrived in reaction to the Board defeating a motion on November 1 to house CJSF, Embark, SFPIRG, and SOCA in the Student Union Building (SUB).

Club executives had a chance to “meet the SFSS staff and Board members while enjoying a free lunch,” and enjoyed “the opportunity the ask to [sic] questions, give feedback, participate in icebreaker games and get more resources,” as advertised on Facebook.

A group of about 15 protesters arrived shortly after the event started and lined the walls of MBC 2294 with posters, boasting slogans such as “Student leaders don’t evict students” and the names of board members who did not support the motion. Protestors outnumbered club executives in attendance, and despite multiple Board members being present, they did not interact with the protestors. 

Despite the protestors’ silence, even when they were approached by curious club executives, the air was tense as the event went on as scheduled. The spokesperson for the protestors stepped outside to speak with media on a few occasions. 

After the event, The Peak asked multiple SFSS board members for comment on the silent protest, though all declined to comment.

Professors form “OK Boomer” support group as millennial students grow stronger

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EIC
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Illustration by Ashley Yien

By: Gabrielle McLaren, Editor-in-Chief 

BURNABY, B.C. — SFU Security has confirmed an increasing amount of calls from tenured professors regarding threats to their superiority in the classroom, as early as November 7.

“At first I thought I was just slipping because of the carpal tunnel syndrome I have from years of groundbreaking research and publishing,” economics professor Al Douglas, who has personally placed nine distress calls, told The Peak. “Then I realized I was just as terrifyingly stern and intimidating as always in my lucky tweed jacket. It was the millennials. Something about them had . . . changed.”

“It didn’t make sense at first,” said the first SFU Security employee who would talk that The Peak could find. “The first call came from an ENGL 100 lecture, a class we didn’t even know students needed to attend to pass. And yet the professor sounded scared for their superiority complex.” 

When personnel arrived on the scene, they found the professor struggling to explain to a blue-haired student how The Lord of the Flies, a book about a cluster of middle-to-upper class white British school children, offers the sharpest insight into the heart of humanity.

“OK Boomer,” the student eventually shrugged before swinging her pin-studded backpack on her shoulder and calmly following SFU Security out.

According to Douglas, he has been “Boomer’d” three times since the situation began. The first time had been after he’d refused to move a midterm scheduled during a climate march. The second time, he had expressed his deep-set anxieties about political correctness stifling the bulk of his personality. The most recent came after he’d advised the class that a few summers working at the club house could comfortably fund post-secondary education and at least one raunchy spring break trip. 

Reportedly, the reporter that The Peak sent to Douglas’ office hours was the first person under the age of 40 to contact him since the incidents began.

 “It just doesn’t feel safe to go out there anymore. The kids these days with their ripped jeans and almond milk. . . you can tell they read The Hunger Games or something. Someone told them about postcolonialism and it’s been downhill ever since,” Douglas confided to our reporter. “But I figured that I couldn’t be the only one that this is happening to. That’s how the group got started.”

According to Douglas, a group of tenure professors from multiple faculties have started meeting in an unspecific Burnaby campus location at an unspecified weekly day and time to help each other work through the advent of OK Boomer. While members aren’t sure how to cope with their students’ uprising and can’t figure out how to use TikTok to fight back alone, knowing that they’ll spend an hour without having to challenge their worldviews is a relief.  

“We call it White Tower Anonymous. We take turns bringing snacks,” Douglas said. “We spend time looking through the SFU library catalogue for academic proof that trigger warnings are useless — aside from highly specific cases of ageism, such as ours. Last week, someone brought a very well-written op-ed about the millennial victimhood complex. It wasn’t peer-reviewed, but nonetheless made some fascinating observations.”

Douglas shared some additional insights of his regarding how self check-outs were at the root of millennial entitlement, but we ran out of space to print the rest.

CONFESSIONALS: I was the student who reminded the teacher of a deadline

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Humour
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Illustration of a closed envelope, with the text, “Confessionals”
ILLUSTRATION: Marissa Ouyang /The Peak

Written by James Conn, SFU Student

Before coming to SFU, I attended Douglas College. On one fateful day, in a political science lecture, our class was eerily awaiting the professor to spring a quiz on us. However, he seemed to have forgotten, until that one student . . . yes, you know the one . . . reminded him. Needless to say, I was pissed. 

Unfortunately, semesters later, history would repeat itself. 

Only this time, it wasn’t some random student screwing over the class.

It was me. 

Yes, I was that student who reminded the teacher of a deadline they forgot.  

Recently, I got an email from my professor titled “Tutorial Cancelled.” Fairly self-explanatory. Our tutorial had been cancelled because the TA couldn’t find her way out of the depths of bankruptcy that morning. And . . . for some bizarre reason, I decided to email the prof to remind him that we were supposed to hand in our term paper proposals at that tutorial?

You may be wondering why I made this awful mistake. I think I might’ve been possessed by the spirit of the Douglas teacher’s pet I vowed revenge on. I heard he met an untimely demise that day . . . but that’s another confessional for another time. 

Allow me to walk you through the events as they transpired. You see, I set reminders for all my assignments in my phone — reminders which I usually read, snooze, and then ignore. So I received one for the proposal’s due date 24 hours ahead of time, as per usual. I distinctly remember thinking to myself, James, you’ll finish it later in the day, when you have time. Oh, I’m such a good liar . . .

I ended up waking up at 5:30 a.m. the next day to complete the assignment before my 11:30 a.m. tutorial. I cooked up the best work my sleep-deprived brain could manage, and I was ready to hand it in — when I received the email from the prof at 11:07 a.m. 

Hi everyone, 

Your TA is unable to come to campus today. She’s gone missing somewhere in the depths of bankruptcy again, and the school has yet to extract her. Sorry for the late notification. This is just what happens when you engage in labour disputes, I guess. 

Enjoy your weekend.

Best regards,

[redacted]

I remember my fingers moving, my skin faintly glowing. The ghostly entity possessing me was writing back. 

Hey [redacted],

Thank you for the notification. However, today our tutorial was supposed to hand in our term paper proposals. I would hate to have to postpone this till next week. I strongly encourage you to uphold the sanctity of our assignment’s deadline for the benefit of the whole class. 

Thank you,

Totally, for sure, definitely James

Almost immediately after this, he emailed the whole class back . . . 

Hi everyone, 

Apologies for forgetting about our assignment’s due date! Luckily, a heroic student reminded me. Therefore, I will be down there at 11:30 a.m. Please bring your assignments as originally planned. 🙂

Best regards,

[redacted]

Immediately after receiving this troubling news, I felt devastated. After all, it was I who had inflicted this upon myself and my classmates. 

Yes, I had been possessed by a spirit who was purest evil long before I had, um, vowed revenge on him and later heard rumours that he’d coincidentally died an untimely demise hours later. But. If I had not experienced that momentary lapse in control, I could have saved our whole tutorial the hassle of handing in our term paper proposals. I was just too weak: too much salt, not enough holy water.

If anyone from the tutorial is reading this, I sincerely apologize. I only hope that my mental anguish, spurred both by my guilt and by the screeching of the damned currently living inside me, offers you a modicum of peace.

Disney+ makes an impressive debut with its extensive and diverse catalogue of content

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Arts
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Disney+ splits its content into five different streaming categories. Image courtesy of Disney / TechHive.

By: James Conn, SFU Student

Watch out Netflix — another contender for the top streaming service has arrived in the form of Disney+. The highly anticipated streaming platform launched on November 12, and according to reports, it has already surpassed 10 million subscriptions on the first day of its launch. 

With that in mind, you may be wondering if Disney+ is worth it. And the answer is simply: yes. If all you’re looking for is a glowing endorsement of this service, then you’ve definitely found it here. Additionally, if you also need some convincing of its value and its available content, keep reading. 

Although Disney+ does not boast the same extensible size as Netflix’s library at this point, it makes up for it with considerable fanfare due to the nostalgic Disney brand and their vast array of recognizable franchises. Here is what Disney+ offers at launch:

When first delving into the platform, navigationally the layout is clean and its titles are showcased clearly. The main screen highlights different categories, each with their own movies and TV shows. These categories are Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic.

National Geographic contains nature series and documentaries such as Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, The World According to Jeff Goldblum, and the Oscar-winning rock-climbing documentary Free Solo.

The Star Wars category of course includes most of the Star Wars films and TV series. Additionally, The Mandalorian, the first live-action Star Wars show created specifically for this platform, is featured prominently.  

The Marvel category offers many of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, including the recently-released Avengers: Endgame and Captain Marvel. Worth noting is that the Sony-produced Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home are excluded due to legal reasons. However, 16 of the 23 MCU films were available at launch. Numerous animated and live-action TV series made throughout the years are also available to stream, such as X-Men: The Animated Series (1992) and the Spider-Man (1994) animated series. 

Moving on to Pixar, most of the films are here and ready to be (re)watched. Almost everything from Toy Story to Coco is available. Additionally, Pixar shorts like Jack-Jack Attack and Bao are here to make you laugh and cry. Brand new Pixar originals are also included on Disney+, available exclusively on the platform. 

Finally, Disney+ will obviously contain a lot of well-known Disney movies and television shows. There is also a lot of content that people might not necessarily associate with the Disney brand such as The Chronicles of Narnia, Freaky Friday, The Simpsons, and Pirates of the Caribbean. A large variety of contemporary Disney Channel original movies and TV series are also available, including High School Musical, Camp Rock, Hannah Montana, and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. Old school films from the Disney Vault like The Lion King, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast were probably at the top of a lot of viewers’ Disney+ wish lists, and they’ll be happy to find them here under the Disney category.

It is important to note that titles not seen on the platform at launch will be rolled out over time, in addition to new releases being added after they’ve been released on home video. Most notably the eight highly anticipated Marvel series and the three new live-action Star Wars series created specifically for Disney+ will be coming later on down the line. Newer movies such as Frozen 2 and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will be available on the platform after their theatrical and home video releases. 

All of this may be very impressive, but it’s worth mentioning that the platform has experienced a number of bugs and glitches, with many users experiencing error messages. Although these errors are no doubt frustrating, it is not unforeseen for a new service to be introduced with some flaws.

When it comes to the “streaming wars” between Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO On Demand, and countless other services on the way, some will rise to the top, and others will sink to the bottom in this over saturated market. Disney+ will undoubtedly prove itself to be a strong contender in the race due to its brand recognition, its vault of content, and its recognizable titles. For Disney fans, a Disney+ subscription is definitely worth the cheaper-than-Netflix price. Throw in the Marvel and Star Wars content that you know and love, as well as all the new original content on the platform, and this is clearly a valuable package to supplement — or even replace — your existing streaming services. 

Dog Therapy helps stressed students during exam period

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News
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Oliver the Havanese at Dog Therapy

By: Jess Dela Cruz, News Writer

“Woof woof! Arf arf arf!” said Beatrix the dog in an exclusive interview with The Peak. “Grrr, woof woof arf!” 

Beatrix was one of many dogs present at SFU’s regular Dog Therapy event, hosted by SFU’s Health & Counselling Centre at Surrey campus on November 12 and 13. 

Typically held around exam season, Dog Therapy is a two-hour therapy session that provides students the opportunity to wind down and de-stress by cuddling puppies and senior dogs. In partnership with St. John Ambulance, volunteers brought their dogs for students to interact with to help them calm down during this ruff time. 

Sarah Saghah, the Marketing & Communications Coordinator at SFU Health & Counselling, recounts the history of Dog Therapy in an email interview with The Peak. It began in 2012 where the Director of Health & Counselling at the time brought his dogs to SFU’s Indigenous Student Centre; this received a highly positive response from staff and students there. Following this occurrence, the seed was planted for what is now Dog Therapy. According to Saghah, the purpose of the event is to “gather students together in a positive environment where they can spend time with fluffy friends (dogs).” 

St. John Ambulance’s website explains that “Therapy Dogs can help meet the need for physical touch, as stroking and touching a dog has been proven to lower blood pressure, calm people who are agitated and refresh the mind of those who are confused.”

Beatrix’s mom Elise McKenna volunteered to bring her dog to participate in the event. After retirement, Mckenna decided to do volunteer work with St. John Ambulance. She believes dog therapy is not just beneficial for students, but for volunteers and animals as well. She sees the positive impact dog therapy has on Beatrix, her standard poodle.

“One thing for poodles is that they are very intelligent,” McKenna explains. “So, having different stimulations is very good for them. She’s going to be exhausted over this. She has to think, she has to smell, she’s paying attention.” 

The Peak asked students in attendance the reasons they felt compelled to attend the event. 

Katrien Jacobs says: “I’m here because I love dogs a lot. I have a dog back home which is in a different province from here. And I haven’t seen my dog in so long [ . . . ] so I miss them so much and being able to interact would bring so much happiness to me.” 

Therapy dogs not only attend events like these, but also visit senior homes as well — like one of the volunteers Sylvia Smoliga and her three-year-old French Bulldog, Fern. For Fern, the training never stops and she is constantly learning.  

“The more regularly you do this, the more used to it the dog gets,” Smoglia explains. 

As Smoliga speaks with The Peak, the sounds of high-pitched “aww”s and “oh my gosh, she’s so cute” fill the Dog Therapy space. As these dogs are well-trained, you don’t hear many barks or see them chase one another. In a safe and controlled environment, these dogs are extremely well-behaved and capture the attention, hearts, and Snapchat stories of students. 

Smoliga continues, “Sometimes they have a tendency to just get overly excited. It depends on everyone else’s energy, but ultimately you want to keep them as calm as possible, as the handler. So you always have to keep control of the dog and make sure they are not scared, skittish, or anything like that, that process is ongoing – it never stops.” 

She adds that, “as soon as [Fern] puts on her little bandana and collar on, it’s like she knows she’s working.” 

10-year-old Havanese, Oliver, tried his darndest to get into The Peak. He stood on his two hind legs, twirled, and told The Peak excitedly, “Yip! Yip!” 

But when asked to give paw, he stayed silent, ignoring the treat on offer and went looking the other way, as this trick was rather beneath him even to get into The Peak. “It’s not like it’s Rolling Stone or something,” he appeared to say, to The Peak’s disappointment.

The next dog therapy will be at the SFU Vancouver’s Teck Gallery Lounge on November 26 & 27 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

SFU Research Assistants successfully unionize after three month campaign

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News
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A large crowd gathered to celebrate the research assistants unionizing in 2019. PHOTO: Gudrun Wai-Gunnarson / The Peak

By: Gurpreet Kambo, News Editor

Research assistants (RAs) at Simon Fraser University have successfully unionized with SFU’s Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU). Though RAs are an important part of virtually every research university in Canada, SFU’s RAs are the first in Western Canada to form a union. 

Previously, the TSSU represented teaching assistants and graduate facilitators of the Student Learning Commons (SLC). The campaign to unionize RAs was publicly announced in November of 2019, as previously reported by The Peak. 

The successful campaign ensures that the approximately 1,500 RAs at SFU will now be formally represented by TSSU. The campaign required 45% of RAs at SFU to sign a union card by November 20, after which the BC Labour Relations Board would hold a secret-ballot vote for RAs to vote on unionizing. Over 900 of SFU’s RAs signed on to support the initial step towards unionization. 

A joint statement issued today by SFU and TSSU stated that SFU would voluntarily recognize TSSU as the official union for all RAs, allowing them to skip the requirement to hold a vote.

According to a press release issued by TSSU: “RAs at SFU are often denied formal, written contracts and struggle with inconsistent pay, job insecurity, overwork, and substandard or dangerous working conditions. RAs have regularly reported being required to work 50+ hour weeks in addition to their academic commitments.”

On Thursday November 20 at 1 p.m. a victory rally was held at Cornerstone on SFU’s Burnaby Mountain to celebrate the campaign. There were many speakers at the event, including Vancouver City Councillor Jean Swanson, Simon Fraser Student Society President Giovanni HoSang, fourth year First Nations Studies major and RA Alison Wick, TSSU Coordinator Alicia Massie, TSSU Organizer Jade Ho, representatives from BC Government and Services Employee Union, and Unite Here. HoSang led the large crowd in chants, and there was later drumming and a saxophone being played to celebrate the historic win.

A pamphlet for the unionization campaign described the benefits of unionization as: “Protect[ing] good working conditions and relationships; advocat[ing] for vulnerable and overworked RAs; improv[ing] the working lives of every RA at SFU.” 

“Research is work,” says RA and TSSU organizer Jade Ho,​ ​“We believe all workers at SFU should be granted basic employment rights, and it is only by unionizing that we as RAs can guarantee these rights for ourselves.”

 

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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