A Guide to Dropping Classes

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January 25, 2019

AlishaLee-WhichClassShouldIDrop — Alisha Lees / The Peak

Written by: Trevor Roberts, Peak Associate

First-year students, academic underachievers, and those experiencing memory loss related to the trauma of last semester are especially prone to be lulled into a false sense of security after a week free from tutorials, homework, or soul-crushing monotony.

If this sounds like you, or if you are a member of the not-so-small minority of students guilty of drunk-enrolling, you may find that the schedule you have “chosen” (read: desperately scrounged together thanks to your shitty enrollment date) is simply too overwhelming to undertake.

Luckily, we at The Peak have prepared this handy guide for choosing which class you should drop!

The fun elective

Why to keep: Have something you always wanted to learn about but never got the chance in high school? Well, now you have the opportunity to pay a ridiculous amount of money to have that subject or skill ruined for you by learning in a university setting.

Why to drop: Today, you’re putting off a required course to take an elective. Tomorrow, you’re in your fourth, fifth, or sixth year, still needing 50 more credits to graduate. Inevitably, you’ll realize that everybody in this class who majors in the subject is better than you — not just as a student, but as a person with intrinsic worth — and that there’s nothing you can do to change that. You’ll then return to your own major, where your need for acceptance will lead you to a future of Stockholm Syndrome.

The GPA booster
- Why to keep: When exams end and those disappointing emails from uRecords have you worrying about whether you’re still allowed to drink on academic probation, you are going to want that guaranteed A- (like you’ll actually try for an A, come on) so that your parents don’t disown you. Also, if that cute fellow student you sit with is desperate enough to take this class, maybe they’d lower their personal standards for you, too.
- Why to drop: You still gotta get the work done. Also, everyone has painstakingly researched which classes are GPA boosters, so you risk withstanding judgement from those forced to take a real schedule.

The boring major requirement
- Why to keep: Don’t let today be the yesterday where you said tomorrow; just do it! This course is standing between you and your degree; there is no way around it. Everyone who goes through your program has to withstand this snore fest on methods or writing or whatever, so you might as well tough it out and get it over with.

Why to drop: There has to be some way out. Maybe the department will change the required courses; maybe a new prof will take over and make it not such a terrible class. You could intentionally get hit by a car and apply for a compassionate pass, or just cross your fingers and hope that the collapse of human society occurs in the next three months. And you can always switch majors, right?

SFU men’s basketball struggles against Alaska Anchorage

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Peak Web

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January 25, 2019

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Missing one of their leading scorers in Othniel Spence, who is recovering from an ankle injury, the Clan faced an uphill battle Thursday night against a defensively solid Alaska Anchorage squad. They were unable to rise to the occasion. While the final score is a bit harsh, SFU simply couldn’t match the intensity of their opponents, and ultimately paid the price.

Despite this, there were a few positives. Sophomore center Julian Roche continued to show his importance to the team, coming up with a 13 points, 10 rebound double-double in 25 minutes. One of the highlights of the game came from Roche in the first half, when he came up with a huge block on a layup attempt from Seawolves guard Tobin Karlberg eight minutes in.

Soon after, however, the Tyler Brimhall show began to take over the gym, as the Alaska Anchorage player went off for 21 points in the first half, including five threes.

The Clan, who managed only 25 points in the half as a team, were unable to keep up. They shot 10–32 (31.3%) from the field, 2–13 (15.4%) from three, and did not do enough on the defensive end to avoid going into the break down 12, 37–25.

While there was a brief moment in the second half where SFU looked like they could get back into the game, it was short-lived. A Wilfried Balata three-pointer brought the deficit down to eight with 4:36 left, but the Seawolves managed to pull away as the game reached its end. A Brimhall dunk with 2:23 left in the game gave the visitors a 14-point lead, and they would cruise from there for a 74–53 win.

Shooting was a major area of struggle for the Clan on the evening. They ended the game shooting 21–60 (35%) from the field, including a dreadful 4–22 from behind the arc.

“We match up well talent-wise,” said head coach Steve Hanson to The Peak after the game. “I thought our defensive energy was subpar tonight, and it reflected in our offence. We didn’t run our stuff with the pace that we need to.”

Peak player of the game: Michael Hannan

While Spence’s absence was felt, one player that benefited from it was guard Michael Hannan, who provided a spark off the bench throughout the game. He scored seven points and brought in three rebounds, but also did all the little things that don’t show up in the box score. After the game, Hanson had this to say about Hannan’s play:

“Hannan gives us great energy every night, and it’s really obvious when the guys ahead of him aren’t bringing that energy, because he comes in and affects the game in so many ways. He’s got to play more for us.”

What’s next:

The Clan will host the other Alaska on Saturday, when they play the University of Alaska in the West Gym. The Nanooks are currently 1–7 in the GNAC this season. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m.

SFU women’s basketball win fourth straight game behind Ozioma Nwabuko’s career night

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Peak Web

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January 25, 2019

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ozi nwabuko — Nwabuko was a perfect 7–7 from the field and 4–4 from the free throw line in the second half. (Photo courtesy of SFU Athletics)

After a slow start to the GNAC season, the Clan are firing on all cylinders, winning their fourth straight game on Thursday night when they hosted the Central Washington Wildcats. Ozioma Nwabuko was a big part of that, but overall, the team played well.

Despite the double-figure victory, the teams were neck and neck throughout the contest. Jessica Jones got the ball rolling with a three-pointer on the games first possession, but no matter what the Clan did, the Wildcats kept battling back. A layup from Kendall Sands in the final minute of the quarter gave SFU a 19–18 lead, and it would stay that way heading into the second.

Central Washington led for most of the second quarter, where the Clan offence stalled a bit. By the end of the half, the Wildcats held a 34–32 lead, and everyone in the gym knew that it was anyone’s game.

Sands led all scorers in the half with 10 points off of the bench, including scoring a three-pointer and hitting all three free-throw attempts after being fouled while attempting a three. At this point Nwabuko hadn’t broken out yet, scoring six points in 14 minutes in the half.

In the second half, the Nwabuko show got on its way.

Everything she attempted in the second half worked its way into the basket. She went 7–7 from the field, 4–4 from the free-throw line, grabbed nine rebounds and played all 20 minutes in the second half. Her energy on both sides of the court got the Clan out to a seven-point lead in the third quarter after she capped off an and-one layup with a made free throw.

Fast forward to the end of the fourth quarter, and clutch free throw shooting down the stretch allowed the Clan to pull of the victory. Sands, Tayler Drynan, and Sophie Swant all hit there free throws in the final minute, and SFU would eventually win 79–69.

The team is now 6–3 in the GNAC this season, tied for third overall with Central Washington in the conference. SFU is 10–6 overall on the season.

Peak player of the game: Ozioma Nwabuko

The clear choice, Nwabuko did not put a foot wrong in the second half and was a huge part of the Clan’s success. Finishing the game with a 24-point, 11-rebound double-double, she looks like she has recovered from her injury suffered last season quite well.

What’s next:

SFU will now host the top team in the GNAC in the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks. The Nighthawks are undefeated so far this season with a perfect 9–0 record in the GNAC and 17–0 record overall, but the Clan are rolling right now as well. This should be a good one.

Tipoff is at 5:15 p.m.

School Supply Scrounge

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Peak Web

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January 25, 2019

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Written by: Hannah Davis

Everyone knows that you, as a broke student, are too broke to spend money on useless school supplies like pens, and notebooks (scoff!). So please make use of these helpful and straightforward tips for finding and making your own school supplies for free.

Harry Potter-Style Blood Pen

This is a fun DIY project ensuring you a free pen for the entire semester. Simply find an old pen either in the garbage or on the floor somewhere. You’ll want to cast a spell on the writing utensil, so that whenever you write, the pen magically uses the blood from your arm as ink.

Try a spell like: “ink-o, arm-o,” or “blood-iosis, ink-iosis,” or “Help! School is putting me into horrible debt and forcing me to turn to desperate measures to save money.” Any of these spells will work just fine! When successful, your blood will magically become the ink for the pen whenever you write with it, and now all your notes will be written in a beautiful crimson colour, Harry Potter-style.

Raccoon minions

For this DIY project, you’ll need to become the leader of a gang of raccoons, who you will then train to hustle unsuspecting students for their school supplies. Teach the raccoons to say things like, “Hey, you, gimme all your school supplies,” and equip them with small messenger bags where they can store their stolen pens, notebooks, and the like.

To make them even more intimidating, give all your hench-raccoons tiny leather jackets. They will return to you, their leader, at the end of every night with bags full of academic supplies, and you will never have to buy another binder or pencil ever again.

Giant net

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Fashion yourself a huge wearable net, which will circle around your feet and catch falling school supplies, among other things.

Designed like a hoop skirt from the Victorian era, your net skirt will be the envy of the university, as it allows you to discreetly and efficiently catch falling school supplies, as well as scoop them off the floor and carry them with you fashionably and effectively.

Deceit

For this DIY craft, all you need to do is deceive the public by tricking them into donating school supplies to your cause.

Pretend to be an entire elementary school who is in need of supplies. Bring a donation bin up to the university, and leave it somewhere where there is high-volume pedestrian traffic. Write a heartfelt letter about your school and post it to the bin. To really seal the deal, draw about 40 pictures to decorate the bin with, and make sure each illustration looks like they were drawn by a different child.

The guilt at this point may begin creep its icy fingers up your back, but don’t worry: you won’t feel bad about lying to the public once you’re rolling in school supplies and savings.

Commuter Woes: Transit’s effects on your health and wellbeing

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Peak Web

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January 25, 2019

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By: Alannah Wallace, Peak Associate

Most SFU students make quite the journey to and from school every day. It comes as no surprise that we often hear our fellow peers complaining of the wear and tear this daily commute has on us. Sometimes, it feels as if each bus ride has taken 10 years off of our lives.

We get too soaked in the rain and too hot in the summer. Our bodies often get jam-packed into the transportation vessel, up close and personal with all types of interesting smells. To top it off, people are constantly sick and coughing in these condensed areas, so we inevitably get sick on the monthly.

Getting anywhere takes twice as long when transiting, and if there is a delay, you’re guaranteed to be late to class . . . but is there anything we can do about our transportation woes? As for those who commute by driving, they face their own set of problems with rising gas and parking prices as well as unpredictable road conditions. Is there any way we can modify our commute to offset these challenges?

A quick Google search reveals that there’s actually hundreds of studies out there on the stress that commuting causes. Researchers studying New York City have noticed that commute times have increased, causing the commuters more stress. A study of Sweden’s biggest metropolises reports that being satisfied with your daily commute, on the other hand, contributes to your overall happiness.

Not all commutes are equally taxing; according to a Montreal-based study, a big factor is the type of transportation used. People who walk, take the train, or ride a bike during their daily commute are significantly less stressed than those who drive or take the metro or bus.

In the New York study, car commuters in particular reported more stress and negative emotions. Drivers feel that they put more effort into the commute and that their commute can be less predictable. This makes sense: at least on the SkyTrain and bus, if you get a seat, you can kick back and get some readings done or catch up with friends on your phone. You may find yourself wishing you had a car or that SFU parking wasn’t so expensive, especially on those rainy days, but car commuting is not always the luxurious ride we imagine.

Other big irritants for car commuters are delays and other drivers, stressors which other types of commuters don’t have to navigate firsthand, given that they’re not the ones operating the vehicles. It is also worth noting that traffic delays that come unexpectedly make commuters angrier than expected ones.

One study found that more efficient commutes can reduce job-strain. Others, like the New York study, have shown that the stress we experience while commuting carries over into the workplace (or classroom for us) as absenteeism, decreased motivation, and reduced job satisfaction.

With that being said, here are some things you can do for your commute to offset these negative feelings.

Walk or bike

Research shows a correlation between commuters who walk or cycle and lower cardiovascular risks. People who walk or cycle tend to find their commute more relaxing and enjoyable.

Luckily, there are tons of hiking and biking trails all over Burnaby Mountain that connect right to SFU. If you aren’t one of those jacked 60-year-olds you see in spandex biking up the mountain at the crack of dawn, you could always bring your bike up to school on the bus and bike back down the mountain instead of getting on the bus again. Additionally, walking from SFU to Production SkyTrain station is about a 30-minute walk for me.

Podcasts

Did you know you can use Spotify to download more than just music? You can also grab podcasts! Researchers have found that social or entertainment activities during longer commutes make the experience more positive, offsetting not only stress but also boredom, another common commuter complaint.

You can download your podcasts while on Wi-Fi so that you don’t use up all your data. Popular podcasts such as The Joe Rogan Experience (covers all sorts of topics) and Dirtbag Diaries (outdoor adventure stories) will no doubt distract you from the deathly boredom of transit.

Audiobooks

Since some people get nauseous reading a book on a vehicle, and it isn’t always possible to hold open a book while standing, listening to an audiobook is a great way to pass the time. Audible.ca has some great offers for people who aren’t sure if this form of entertainment is for them.

The first 30 days are free, your first book is free, and you can get 30% off a large selection of audiobooks. How cool is that?

Brainstorm for your assignments

Have you ever sat down to do schoolwork, only to realize that the first hour of this process is just sitting and thinking of ideas? What better place is there to waste this time than on a bus? You can even jot down some notes on your phone if you need to, and this is basic enough that you won’t need your phone or computer or textbooks out.

Use this time to organize your time

Another thing we often don’t realize is how long it takes to organize social gatherings, or how long we spend messaging our friends. Try to use your commute time to sit down and sort out the details of the party coming up this weekend, or the dinner you’re putting together tomorrow night. Message all those people you’ve been meaning to get back to (*cough* sorry, mom and dad). These tasks are going to distract you from your schoolwork later, so you might as well get this out of the way now.

Opinions of the Hour

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Peak Web

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January 25, 2019

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“There are two kinds of Indigenous governance structures, but Canada has been listening to just one,” by Carey Newman, at CBC News.

An excellent piece, Newman elegantly explains the many facets of the Wet’suwet’en Nation’s efforts to protect their rightful lands from Coastal GasLink and the RCMP. Many proverbial onlookers have been confused over the past few days about why Coastal GasLink workers were being blocked, but Newman provides key context, and in the process, he educates his audience about Indigenous governance.

His main illumination, as you might guess from the title, is the difference between the “chief and council” system of the Indian Act, itself a product of colonialist hegemony, and the traditional hereditary systems of the various nations.

“Chieftainships, titles and responsibilities are passed down through generations,” Newman writes. “It is not beyond reproach, and in some cases it may need to be adjusted to reflect the capitalist world of today. But it is our traditional way, it has sophisticated checks and balances, and it has been in use since before Canada claimed sovereignty.”

In other words: the elected chiefs and councils from the designated pipeline-hosting lands might have cleared the construction, but the Wet’suwet’en Nation’s hereditary chiefs were mostly against it, and they never consented.

Newman goes on to explain that the land title is legally not the Queen’s, but the Wet’suwet’en Nation’s. “Without their approval,” Newman writes, referring to the approval of the nation’s hereditary chiefs, “the fact that elected band members had approved construction was essentially irrelevant.”

In the course of explaining, Newman does the work of elucidating many other key facts and truths — the difference between “reserve” and “traditional territory,” the pressure elected chiefs face to comply with the government, and how their implicitly under-duress consent has been used to construct an illusory narrative of unanimous Indigenous support.
This is just one example of articles and resources written by Indigenous authors about Indigeneity and ongoing colonialism, and I urge you to pay attention to what’s being said. The conversation is always there and always important, no matter how much or how little you seem to be seeing it in mainstream media, and we should always work on learning what we can.

Staying In: Ms. Yeah

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Peak Web

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January 25, 2019

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Image courtesy of Ms. Yeah's Youtube Channel

By: Winona Young

Best for: Foodies, office goofballs, aspiring engineers/chefs

Where do you picture the ideal set for a cooking show? For Ms. Yeah, it’s not her kitchen, but her office desk. After her cooking video where she made a hotpot feast inside her office’s water cooler, Ms. Yeah has been cooking up a storm all the way from her workplace in Chengdu. Her unique cooking show revolves around Ms. Yeah repurposing office supplies into cooking appliances and such, all to make a dang good meal (and, of course, to share with her co-workers).

Some of her most memorable videos consist of her literally taking apart an overhead light and a storage rack to make a grill for barbecuing or making ice cream with a fire extinguisher by the side of a river.

But what makes Ms. Yeah’s videos so entertaining is not her innovative mind or knack for creativity, but her hilarious filmmaking style. Every video starts without much fanfare, or any commentary or spoken words at all. Throughout, the camera trails Ms. Yeah as she silently gathers all her supplies, completely expressionless — think The Office but mixed with Cooking Mama. Though she may seem shy, viewers quickly learn she’s actually a deadpan goofball with a truly unique gift for both cooking and engineering.

Ms. Yeah’s cooking videos are available on her YouTube channel for free.

Board Shorts

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Peak Web

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January 24, 2019

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Written by: Michelle Gomez and Henry Tran

Shared space and hybrid model proposed for Student Union Building

At the latest Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) board of directors’ meeting held on January 18, the SFSS directors discussed how to divide the suites and offices in the new Student Union Building (SUB).

According to a document sent to The Peak by the SFSS, four out of the seven suites in the SUB have been assigned to the First Nations Student Association, Out on Campus, the Women’s Centre, and an SFSS “diversity and wellness-focused” centre.

As a result, only three suites remain in the SUB for clubs and student unions to utilize. Each of these suites possess two to three interior offices as well as a large room, according to the SFSS document.

The SFSS directors discussed whether a shared-space model and a hybrid model should be used to divide the remaining 11 offices and three large rooms in the SUB for use by its membership. According to Samer Rihani, acting president of the SFSS, the three large rooms will be definitely allocated to student clubs and unions. The usage of an additional fourth large room is currently being discussed by the board.

Jackson Freedman, vice-president university relations, suggested that the offices should be allocated to student clubs on a semesterly basis because doing so “will give us a more frequent opportunity to examine the club or student union using that space.”

In addition, allocating the office spaces on a semesterly basis will enable the student society to more frequently evaluate whether “the offices are being used effectively and to re-allocate office spaces to other clubs/SUs,” according to the document provided by the SFSS.

Freedman also recommended that the offices be distributed under a shared-space model where two clubs or student unions will share one office.

In terms of the large rooms, Freedman proposed that a hybrid model should be used. Under this model, the large rooms would be accessible by the general student body during daytime hours, where students can drop-in and study or perform other activities.

However, the student clubs that have ownership of the interior offices behind those large rooms will be able to book these spaces off in advance and the general student body won’t have access to those spaces for the requested time slot.

The board will vote on whether to implement the shared space and hybrid model in a future board meeting.

SFU’s Got Talent

SFU’s Got Talent will be held for the second time in March 2019. This collaboration between Peak Frequency and the SFSS attempts “to showcase cultural, artistic, and musical talent by SFU students for SFU students,” according to Jeffrey Leung, president of Peak Frequency.

According to Leung, last year there were 300 people in attendance, and this year they are expecting a turnout of 400-420 people. Jackson Freedman, vice-president university relations, noted that it was the best event he has attended as a student.

The board passed the motion to approve up to $3,830 for the event, the increase from last year being due to a number of factors, including a higher turnout expectation and increased budget for photographers and videographers.

It was also clarified that candidates for the upcoming SFSS election will be permitted to audition and perform “as long as nothing happens in a political nature, they’re not there to promote themselves as candidates, they’re there to promote themselves as musicians, artists, etc.”

Declaration of Icebreaker Independence

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Peak Web

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January 24, 2019

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emmy flicker — Photo courtesy of Flicker

Written by: Dhruv Taware

Every term at SFU starts with a lot of new things; new classes, new students, and new construction sites. But amidst all of these, there is one thing that hasn’t changed for years. No, I’m not talking about the fishes in the AQ pond or nobody knowing what the weird avocado statue really means — I’m talking about the awkward first tutorial of the semester.

The first tutorial of the semester is filled with awkward silences, getting lost trying to find your class, and simple icebreaker questions which you cannot answer. TAs try their best to break the frigid silence, asking a wide range of questions from “Tell us something about yourself!” to “Tell us ONE INTERESTING FACT about yourself.”

This is arguably one of the most difficult things to do; you start thinking to yourself, what is an interesting fact about me? Am I even interesting? Do I really need a college degree? Life is meaningless! How can you narrow down 19 years of life into one single fact?

Finally, when it is your turn to speak, you probably say something that someone else said earlier.

I decree that invasive questions that launch us into an existential crisis are out!

For 50 minutes, I want excitement, trepidation, melodrama . . . yes, I want a tutorial icebreaker that allows me to experience the entire plot line of National Treasure (2004) starring Nicolas Cage.
Here’s how it would play out:

The National Treasure Tutorial would ideally take place in the form of a team activity with the group dynamics of The Breakfast Club. This would not only make learning much more fun (just like how National Treasure made federal felonies fun!) but would also create a lifelong friendship between the group members. All of us will be united by our shared experience and eventually we will move to New York and continue being successful in life in a myriad of diverse and eclectic ways.

If all things go according to plan, they might even make a TV show based on our lives. This TV show would undoubtedly win an Emmy for best ensemble cast, and in our speech, we can recall how by sheer luck all of us met in a tutorial at SFU.

That’s right: now, tutorials have the power to CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
But I can only imagine such a possibility. For now, I can only hope that my tutorials get less awkward.

Written by: Dhruv Taware

January Horoscopes

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Peak Web

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January 24, 2019

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Written by: Alannah Wallace, Peak Associate

Sagittarius | Nov. 22 to Dec. 21

You will learn to cut down on your morning routine by wearing the same shirt to bed as you wear to class every day and realizing you can pull your sweatpants over your PJ pants for your 8:30 a.m. classes.

Capricorn | Dec. 22 to Jan. 19

You tend not to engage in campus events, clubs, or talk to fellow students, while instead sitting in your dark and cramped dorm for days on end. With the moon in full cypress this semester, things can only get worse when you leave the house. Draw the blinds, stock up on canned soups, and don’t go outside!

Aquarius | Jan. 20 to Feb. 18

Finances may seem tighter than usual this semester. Try to find ways to cut down on groceries. Remember, the less you move, the less precious energy you will waste.

Pisces | Feb. 19 to March 20

An overwhelming realization will come over you that Cs get degrees.

Aries | March 21 to April 19

This will not, in fact, be the semester you actually start doing your readings.

Taurus | April 20 to May 20

With your moon in hyper-blueberry this semester, you will have an urge to become healthier only to realize there is never a free treadmill at the SFU gym and the produce section at Nesters Market is constantly picked over at the start of the year.

Gemini | May 21 to June 20

Starting off 2019 with an air of optimism, you will try desperately to make friends in class this semester only to realize that other students don’t want to talk. They just want to go home.

Cancer | June 21 to July 22

You will develop a strange and persistent cough.

Leo | July 23 to Aug. 22

With your creativity soaring this semester, you will attempt to start the club of your dreams. The topic will be slightly obscure, but remember, the Picnic Club is already taken.

Virgo | Aug. 23 to Sept. 22

There will be three moons in Saturn this month, meaning time is not on your side. Buy a scooter to commute across campus so you can stop being late to lecture.

Libra | Sept. 23 to Oct. 22

You will develop a strange and mysterious crush on that student across the lecture hall who you happen to make constant eye contact with, and then awkwardly glance away about 40 times a class.

Scorpio | Oct. 23 to Nov. 21

Try to reduce the amount of times you brag to other students “yeah, I have OCD” when they point out your colour coded notes. The other students will talk to you more.