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Student Updates: The tuition deadline is approaching!

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Graphic that reads “Student updates.”
ILLUSTRATION: Courtesy of The Peak

By: Thievius Raccoonus

Changes to our unique grading scale?

While the most desirable grading scale goes up to 4.0, our innovative institution uses the 4.33-point scale. Why exactly did we decide to do this? Because we fucking hate you. However, we have realized over the years that students are frustrated with this grading scale. We are excited to announce that there will be no changes to the grading system, so good luck trying to be an academic weapon (you will be a water gun at most unless you decide to sacrifice your mental health). 

Keeping tradition alive 

We are excited to announce that tuition will be increasing!!! Domestic students will see an increase of only 2%, whereas international students will see an increase of 4–6%. We understand it is a tough time economically, especially for students (I’m sure the cost of pencils, flash drives, and floppy discs has gone way up with inflation), so we have kept the increase relatively low. Did we need to increase tuition? Absolutely. Increasing tuition has been a long tradition at SFU, and not continuing it could actually constitute a sin.

A message from our president

Hi, I was wondering if anyone wanted to take pictures together? This year has been quite the PR disaster for me and I really want to make it seem like I have the support of the student body. I don’t exactly plan on listening to your concerns, but I really do need to take some pictures with some students. Maybe we could pretend to play a game of table tennis, or you can pretend to laugh at a joke I just told. We can even do what the hip folks are calling a fit check? I also wanted to take some time to acknowledge that these are tough times. The cost of housing is high, tuition isn’t getting any cheaper, and a lot of students are facing job insecurities. Thankfully, none of that is happening to me. To support students through these tough times my PR team has drafted the following mantra: “keep calm, push through, and please don’t sue.”

Joy (not exactly bringing it Johnson)

President, Vice-Chancellor, background extra casting director 

Pretending to act surprised when another man is accused of sexual harassment is hard work!

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Woman with curly hair and red lipstick sitting in front of a white brick wall. She has her mouth open in shock.
PHOTO: Polina Zimmerman / Pexels

By: Hailey Miller, Staff Writer

Nothing sparks my attention like seeing the latest “fill-in-the-blank celebrity accused of sexual harassment” headline every morning when I wake up and immediately reach for my phone before I have the chance to open my eyes and put my damn glasses on. What a SHOCKER. Can you believe some creepy old man in Hollywood would do such a thing?! Pff, please. As Clark Griswold says, “If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn’t be more surprised than I am now.” Cue my acting debut!

Acting class scene — Act One

Enter, latest news of celebrity sexual harassment.

My jaw drops and I pick it up from the floor after hearing about another one of my ex-favourite celebrities being accused.

“Looking at you, Johnny Depp!” I spout. “You’re nearly all on my shit list now.”

I gawk in disbelief (kidding!). This acting teacher chick clearly isn’t impressed by me. The girly is literally being so dramatic and pissed off that even I can’t tell if she’s kidding or not.

“You need to change your tone,” she says. “This is a No surprise reactions from celebrity bullshit acting class. Act a little less surprised.”

“OK, I get it, I need to be a little more dramatic, and a little less obvious.” Piece of cake, I think.

“Yes!” Miss acting coach exclaims with pomp and circumstance. “Channel one of those 2000s TV chicks, or something. You know, you could give a dramatic reaction like that Sharpay girl. OR, better yet, connect with your inner Regina George. Start by serving ‘walking into class on a Wednesday wearing pink’ dramatic and gag your audience by getting hit by a bus in the grand finale! ” 

Really? I think.

I rearrange my facial expression into a puzzle of dismay and disgust. I cross my arms over my chest like I’ve never been more pissed off, I furrow my brow, and I slap my heels on the ground like the woman of power that I am, about to strut in to sort this shit out. 

“Much better, darling!” Miss acting coach applauds, with her hands giving one feverish clap in the air. 

Ick. 

“Now give it more energy!” she exclaims, enthusiastically, with some random accent that she just pulled out of the hat.

I scrunch up my nose, snarl my mouth, roll my eyes, and exhale with the most dramatic sigh I can cough up. 

“Better?” I ask, agitated, as if her opinion matters anyway. 

I know I want to be even more dramatic, but this chick really isn’t doing it for me. Honestly, I think I’ll have her beat by the time this class is over.

“Think about the latest celebrity being accused of sexual harassment,” suggests the acting coach chick.

Easy, I think.

I channel  a newfound angst of “pissed off with a side of anguish that sparks my fire” to tarnish my mood. 

“Ugh, not AGAIN!” I spout, literally spitting out of my mouth like a grape gone sour. 

Mr. Celebrity’s time was up long ago. Good riddance!

How to spend a day at . . . White Rock

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A storefront window showing shelves of colourful candies. A pink sign at the top of the door reads “Ricardo’s Kandy Korner.”
PHOTO: Kriti Monga / The Peak

By: Amrit Kamaal, Peak Associate, and Izzy Cheung, Arts & Culture Editor

Nestled along Vancouver’s coastline, P’Quals (White Rock) is a staple to visit year-round. With its picturesque scenery, laid-back vibe, and variety of attractions, White Rock offers something for everyone. If you’re planning to spend a day here, here are some must-see places near the beach to add to your list. 

No visit to White Rock is complete without taking a stroll on the most iconic feature of the whole beach, the pier. This beloved landmark offers visitors breathtaking views of the city, the surrounding coastlines, and the distant mountains. Whether you’re seeking a leisurely stroll or admiring the local wildlife such as starfish, you’ll find this pier hosts a strong sense of tranquillity. 

For a peek at some local talent, check out the White Rock Gallery for picturesque pink and purple paintings of sunsets over mountains. The displays range from depictions of foamy waterfalls to Vancouver’s local scenery such as the Yaletown marina. With more than 40 featured artists, the gallery is your place to admire the local scenery through BC-based brushstrokes. 

In the mood for some shareables by the sea? MKR Kitchen & Bar has you covered. Bring your friends or family and grab a $24 MKR sharing platter, a dish that includes momos, pakora, chicken tenders, and onion rings. At Kababji Grill, you can grab a chicken shawarma or an order of grilled chicken shish tawook for $15 and under. They’re the perfect handhelds to bring with you for a beachside picnic. 

No day trip is ever complete without a sweet treat. Ricardo’s Kandy Korner carries all sorts of exclusive, limited edition, or discontinued snacks from all over the world. There are some old-school favourites like gummy bears, fizzers, and jawbreakers, and some international goodies such as gummy skittles. If you see any candies or sodas trending on social media, this store definitely carries them. It’s an ideal place to browse for some last-minute picnic snacks to enjoy while watching the trains pass by. 

The sweet adventures aren’t over yet, though! A few blocks away is Ricardo’s Ice Cream Shop, owned by the same people behind the Kandy Korner. Carrying over 83 flavours of ice cream and gelato, you’re bound to find a favourite flavour, or even five of them. This fall, they served up rich scoops of salty caramel truffle and mocha almond fudge. Ricardo’s magic is formed in its creativity, catering to all taste palates and sweet tooths, enriching the White Rock experience. 

Facial recognition technology has gone too far

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This is a collage of different people’s facial features all pasted together to form one face.
COLLAGE: Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson / The Peak

By: Hailey Miller, Staff Writer

Facial recognition technology (FRT) is a type of artificial intelligence that identifies people by their unique facial features. It’s being used for everything from unlocking your phone, making purchases, and boarding passes. Our province uses the BC Services Card app that requires you to submit a video of yourself to verify your identity when applying for certain financial assistance and other applications. FRT is also used in seemingly harmless photo filters online, but those put our identity at risk, too.

Despite FRT becoming popular recently, its inception began in the 1960s. By the 2000s and 2010s, the technology became more prominent and focused on more precise features. This includes various types of artificial intelligence that further improve the accuracy of FRT and use of FRT for security purposes, by authorities, and for overall identification and verification.

With the widespread use of FRT comes the concerns of safety, privacy, bias, and theft. Some of these concerns include the unauthorized storage and sharing of personal facial identification and information, access to verification and data without consent, and, in extreme cases, could involve tracking and stalking individuals, especially in military attacks. Another issue with FRT is that it’s often biased against gender identity and race, as AI models are greatly influenced by human bias in both the data input and output. For instance, a 2018 study concluded that FRT systems had a higher error rate for women and people of colour.

“There needs to be more secure ways in which FRT is used and information stored, so that it can’t be accessed or shared by unauthorized individuals without consent.”

The problem with the abundance of FRT is that it’s becoming unavoidable. Although it may be convenient in situations like unlocking your phone and verifying your identity in secure environments, this doesn’t stop the fact that FRT still puts people at risk for identity theft, violation of privacy, and fraud. What happens if your identity ends up in the hands of someone who’s unauthorized to use or share your information? Not only does this jeopardize people’s identities and cause security and privacy threats, but it also causes undue stress and harm in a world that’s already overreliant on technology.

My phone is over 10 years old, and I’ve never had to use facial recognition to unlock it. When Apple’s face ID was introduced in 2017, I remember thinking how much it seemed like we were living in a dystopian future — since then FRT has only become more abundant. This isn’t necessarily a good thing. As great as technology may be for some things, it can also be disruptive, unreliable, and a threat to our safety and information. In the case of FRT, the concerns are clear — our privacy is at risk, and with ever-evolving technology, who knows what could be next? 

In order to alleviate these issues, regulations need to be implemented so that FRT has a safer standard. Individuals should have the choice of whether or not they want to use facial recognition in certain instances — whether this be on your phone, by media and app usage, through governments, airports, and policing, and other authorities. This includes what happens to our FRT data when it’s shared or in storage. There needs to be more secure ways in which FRT is used and information stored, so that it can’t be accessed or shared by unauthorized individuals without consent. So, if and when using FRT, be aware of how you’re using it, where the information is going, and what the consequences may be.

Nutritious nibbles: Baba’s sweet and Dido’s sour prairie pickles

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Pickle slices sit on a white plate beside a set of metal tongs.
PHOTO: Solstice Hannan / Unsplash

By: Sarah Sorochuk, Peak Associate

My grandmother (Baba) is a spectacular homecook who runs her home kitchen she calls “Pat’s Diner.” All her kids and grandkids know when we go to Pat’s Diner, we’ll always enjoy ourselves. It’s time to bring one of her specialties to light — pickles! 

Perfect for charcuterie boards, both my grandparents have a recipe. It has become tradition for my grandmother to make two batches: Baba’s sweet (garlic dill) pickles, and Dido’s sour (cloudy dill) pickles, with both being served on the same dish. You’ll need to taste it as words don’t do the flavours justice. Like all specialty recipes passed down through generations, there are no exact measurements. One thing she is very insistent on for both recipes is that the cucumbers should be straight and roughly three inches in length. 

Baba’s sweet (garlic dill) pickles

Ingredients (makes 1 quart jar):

  • Cucumbers
  • Dill weed
  • Garlic (approximately 3 or 4 pieces)
  • Peeled raw carrot (approximately 4 or 5 small pieces)
  • Pickling spice (approximately ½ to ¾ tsp) 
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon coarse pickling salt
  • Canner to help with pickling

Brine (makes 5 cups):

  • 4 cups water
  • 1 cup vinegar

Directions:

  1. Wash cucumbers and dill weed. Cut off the ends of the cucumbers so they will fit in the jars.
  2. Peel carrots and garlic, chopping carrots into small sticks, roughly the size of your index finger.
  3. Place three or four pieces of garlic, some dill weed, and four or five carrot pieces at the bottom of the jar with pickling spice.
  4. Fill the jar with cucumbers. Add brown sugar and pickling salt on top.
  5. Bring 1 cup vinegar and 4 cups water to a boil.
  6. Pour brine over the sugar and salt. Add additional dill weed to cover cucumbers.
  7. Seal tightly! Shake each jar to dissolve sugar and salt.
  8. Place jars in a canner. Jars should be completely covered by warm water to process. The water should be warm but not boiling. Leave jars in the warm bath for approximately 15 minutes. The pickles will turn yellow when finished.
  9. Remove jars from the canner and tighten lids on jars. Check for leakage during the cooling process and store in a cool place.

Since these pickles use a canner, they have a longer shelf life if stored in a cool place. It’s best to wait at least a week before opening them to ensure they are yellow and taste sweet enough. When putting them out to be eaten, my grandma cuts the pickles into thin slices to differentiate them.

Dido’s sour (cloudy dill) pickles

Ingredients (makes 1 quart jar):

  • Cucumbers
  • Dill weed
  • Garlic (approximately 5 or 6 pieces)
  • 1 tablespoon coarse pickling salt

Directions:

  1. Boil water the day before so that it is room temperature and sterile when ready to make the pickles. 
  2. Wash cucumbers and dill weed, cutting off the ends of the cucumbers so they will fit in the jars.
  3. Place some dill weed and five or six pieces of garlic at the bottom of each jar.
  4. Pack the jar tightly with cucumbers, making sure they are on top of the garlic pieces, cutting them at the neck of the jar. Add pickling salt on top of cucumbers.
  5. Pour cooled boiled water into jars to cover the cucumbers. Seal the jars and shake to dissolve salt.
  6. Check for leakage and ensure the seal of the jars. Store in a cool place for upwards of three weeks.

These pickles need far longer to set, as they are fermented rather than pickled. Fermented pickles are more risky to make since sometimes the odd jar goes bad. The littlest bit of air seeping into the jar can cause mold. Even so, this pickle recipe is an all-time favourite in my household! My father adds the juice to his caesars, garnishing it with caesar rimmer, lime wedges, celery, pickles, and whatever makes your heart content. It’s a Sorochuk specialty!

Controlling the military is key to consolidating democracy in South Korea

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This is a photo of the impeached South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol.
PHOTO: EPA Images / Free Malaysia Today

By: Phone Min Thant, Staff Writer

Content warning: brief mention of sexual harrassment and suicide.

When I found myself waking up to the news of martial law in South Korea last month, my first thoughts were, “Not the military again.” Videos of armed special forces breaking into the parliament to arrest opposition politicians and tanks rolling into Seoul mirrored the images of past military coups, events still vividly remembered by those who rose up in protest.

This was followed by a stand-off between the police and the military in the former’s failed attempts to arrest the impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol in early January. 

South Korea is a liberal democracy and has been since 1987. So, why did the South Korean armed forces take part in such obvious incidents of democratic regression? What are the implications of the military’s (re)involvement in politics for South Korea? Answering these involves understanding that the Republic of Korea Armed Forces retains the legacy of conservatism in a country otherwise progressing democratically. 

Through their vague and unchanging rhetoric of deterring communist aggression, South Korea’s Ministry of Defence have majorly avoided democratizing their upper-level management. They continue to influence conservatism through active conscription and have often evaded scrutiny by the country’s judiciary.

The top military personnel are highly politicized. If there is a silver lining in all of the recent political chaos, it is that it brings this issue to light. From defence ministers and security advisors, to the martial law commander, the top men involved in president Yoon’s gambit to cling onto power are military officers personally associated with Yoon.

“Republic of Korea Armed Forces retains the legacy of conservatism in a country otherwise progressing democratically.”

While the top brass is definitely undemocratic, what about the rank and file? The answer lies in mandatory conscription, one of the largest indicators of militarization in the everyday lives of South Korean men. Bullying, abuse, and sexual harassment of conscripts are all normalized within the institution. As a result, conscript suicides remain widespread. With 90% of men having experienced a culture deeply embedded in bullying and abuse, similar patterns in other aspects of South Korean society are hardly shocking.

The conscripts are also victims of the military’s training and education doctrines. Repeatedly emphasizing their mantra of deterring communists, these doctrines instill political biases in conscripts who, in their search for an adversary that best represents “communism” outside of an active war, tend to view left-leaning and liberal political actors with skepticism.

The fact that conscription is limited to men also gives way to conservatism along gendered lines. The popular view among conscripts is that conscription is a “waste of time.” This sentiment, combined with other factors such as job uncertainty due to more women entering the workforce, leads to young men increasingly devaluing challenges faced by South Korean women and opposing feminist efforts. 

South Korean politics today is a constant tug-of-war between conservative and liberal politicians, and the former are happy to assist military officers who may be in a tight spot with the legal system. After all, these officers might have to lead the conservatives’ next foray in unconstitutional ventures. The recent investigations into a peacetime death of a Marine corporal is a case in point. 

With such an institutional lack of accountability, it is no surprise that the South Korean military has remained the country’s pillar of conservatism even as the country makes its way towards a more equitable and just society. 

From mass surveillance and covert election sabotage, to a trigger-happy attitude towards martial law, this conservatism has emboldened the military to act undemocratically during periods of unrest. This was proven once again with the military’s rallying behind Yoon’s unconstitutional power grab. Preventing the military from repeatedly intervening in civilian politics is the key to consolidating democracy in South Korea, but much work needs to be done to achieve this goal.

The climate’s health is ours

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This is an illustration of a sad planet Earth with a thermometer in its mouth, which reads “2 degrees C”. Earth is accompanied by the moon wearing a mask.
ILLUSTRATION: Kristen Lee / The Peak

By: Sofia Chassomeris, Opinions Editor

There it is again, that funny feeling. Climate change is causing catastrophic floods, droughts, wildfires, atmospheric rivers, bomb cyclones, and extreme temperatures around the world. In seemingly unrelated news, the US just reported the country’s first death from H5N1 bird flu. While the virus is mainly ravaging cattle and poultry, current factory farming practices which keep animals in close quarters increases the risk of transmission to other animals, including humans — it’s for this reason that population density is an important factor in our health. Aside from the (now) immediate consequences of “natural” disasters and dwindling ecosystems, a long-term consequence of climate change will be mass migration of humans and other species alike. 

As the climate becomes more extreme, global regions are becoming uninhabitable. Many animals will be forced to migrate from their native habitats, and while encountering other species for the first time, provide the opportunity for viral transmission. Zoonotic viruses (also called zoonoses) are specifically viruses that “make the leap” to humans from other animals. Viruses that spread across species to other animals are more likely to be able to spread to humans in a spillover event, which is how viral species like HIV, Ebola, SARS-CoV-2, Mpox or bird flu emerged in the human population.

In 2022, researchers studied the potential migration of 3,000 mammal species to predict the effect of global warming on populations and the spread of cross-species viruses for the year 2070. They found as populations move and encounters between species happen with greater frequency, the rate of cross-species virus spread will also increase. As well, it was predicted that “future hotspots” for mammals in 50 years will coincide with areas highly populated by humans — this means a higher chance of cross-species transmission and a greater possibility for novel pandemics.

“Climate change is scary, but it’s already here. We will not get anywhere pretending that the sheer amount of natural catastrophes and novel illnesses are consequences of anything else.”

Even by slowing the speed of global warming and decreasing carbon emissions, the research suggests that “mitigation alone cannot reduce the likelihood of climate-driven viral sharing. Instead, the mildest scenarios for global warming appear likely to produce at least as much or even more cross-species viral transmission.” The researchers emphasize however, that this does not mean we should stop trying.

Climate change is a difficult topic to broach because it is not simple enough of a problem for there to be one concise solution. What we need is international collaboration and for world leaders to take climate change seriously; stop putting money into extracting resources and, for example, invest in farming practices that will reduce emissions and the spread of viruses among livestock. As food insecurity worsens globally (particularly due to the unviable, changing climate) the need for more water-efficient and sustainable farming has never been more apparent.

While there are large-scale implications of climate change which beg for comprehensive solutions, one aspect we can manage in our day-to-day lives is the health and well-being of our communities. By wearing masks in indoor public spaces like the grocery store or transit, we can contribute to keeping ourselves and the most vulnerable in our communities safe. As well, making sure that our spaces have proper air flow and ventilation can be an impactful way to prevent the spread of communicable disease. 

Climate change is scary, but it’s already here. We will not get anywhere pretending that the sheer amount of natural catastrophes and novel illnesses are consequences of anything else.

Can’t ski, too broke

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Person skiing down a mountain wearing a red coat and helmet and golden skis. Their ski gear is covered in expensive gemstones and there are $100 bills all around them.
ILLUSTRATION: Angela Shen / The Peak

By: Yasmin Hassan, Staff Writer

So, uh, I’ve been invited to go skiing. Skiing? In this economy? Right, right, I forgot that not everyone has to choose between ski boots or textbooks every time the temperature drops and it snows all the way yonder on yee old mountains. The saying among us peasants is that you cannot have both unless you learn how to ski on financial aid papers. However, others in . . . another tax bracket may not see it this way. 

You can tell someone grew up skiing when their idea of “saving money” is skipping apres-ski cocktails, not the $300 lift ticket. To my skiing friends: I love you, but your college starter pack was a solid metal credit card and a family chalet in the heart of Whistler, not a value pack of highlighters (albeit they are handy). While I appreciate that you would consider inviting me to shred some powder, I’m already on thin ice financially; I don’t need to hit the slopes to make it real. And although I’d love to come in person to admire your full Arcteryx get-up, custom Chrome Hearts ski goggles, and a snowboard signed by Shaun White himself, I’ll resort to watching virtually via your Instagram stories. I hope you enjoy the overpriced ski lodge food; that $15 hot chocolate made with water is calling your name (thankfully not mine)! 

Oh, you found a cheap lift ticket? Nice! I’ll just go ahead and grab my nonexistent $600 worth of gear and a vehicle of choice to get to the mountain. Ah, but what about thrifting? Secondhand skis, mayhaps? Cool, can I also buy a secondhand bank account that isn’t empty? The way my finances keep me awake, makes me see things at night. Might as well ask the Benadryl Hat Man to come down the slopes with me. And I can’t tell what scares me more: a black diamond trail or the increasing tuition that seems to go nowhere. Both make me want to curl into a ball and slide down to the bottom. Though, tuition is seriously the only downhill slope I can (or CAN’T) afford to be on right now, and it’s not that fun! 

So, no, I can’t go skiing this week — or next week, or ever — until they start accepting Monopoly money or my leftover U-Pass dollars at the lift ticket counter. In the meantime, I’ll be here, throwing snowballs into the koi pond on campus, trying to feel something other than the mild hypothermia setting into my toes. 

Kisses!

Emilia Pérez is entertaining — but reductive

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Two women face each other from separate ends of a restaurant table. In the background, a white water fountain can be seen.
PHOTO: Courtesy of @emiliaperezfilm / Instagram

By: Michelle Young, Copy Editor

Content warning: mentions of transphobia, homicides, and missing peoples cases. 

A crime-thriller musical about a trans Mexican cartel leader is an intriguing premise for a film, to say the least. Emilia Pérez (2024) received four wins at the Golden Globes and has been shortlisted for the Oscars. On one hand, while “critics have lauded the film for its avant-garde approach and representation of underrepresented characters,” it’s also under fire “for its problematic portrayal of trans identity and reliance on stereotypical depictions of Mexican culture.” 

Emilia Pérez tries to do many things. It tries to produce representation for trans women, it tries to engage the audience with its setting, and it tries to differentiate itself with a set of oddly-placed musical numbers. However, Emilia Pérez is so riddled with flaws, it’s hard to argue that it’s a step forward. I give the film credit for trying: the protagonist is played by Karla Sofía Gascón, an emerging trans actress, and her performance is engaging. She plays Emilia with a duality — jumping between tenderness for her partner and family, but displaying a chilling amount of anger when these are threatened. This is largely where the trans representation fails: in Emilia, the film seems to suggest there is an inherent anger and violent tendency in trans women, which is far from true. She should have been written with more care — especially as Emilia Pérez uses “trans identity as an ‘inherently redemptive’ tool for its criminal protagonist” at a time where homicides, transfemicides, and missing peoples cases are all very real issues in Mexico. 

Gascón herself shouldn’t be getting hate for the film, being trans, or winning awards. The film’s director, Jacques Audiard, on the other hand — deserves a lot of criticism. The characterization of Emilia is far from the only issue with Emilia Pérez. The plot itself treats transitioning as a spectacle, with its musical number “La Vaginoplastia” (“The Vaginoplasty”) focusing on gender-affirming surgery as being the core of the trans experience. Emilia’s attempt to right her wrongs as a cartel leader post-transition might have been a compelling story about finally being true to herself and coming into her own, if it was done mindfully. Instead, the film’s conclusion completely derails any character development as Emilia threatens her ex-wife Jessi (Selena Gomez) and withholds her funds for attempting to move out with their children. The film also had the opportunity to explore motherhood, as she and Jessi co-parent their children with very different approaches. However, the film does not delve into this, and instead portrays Emilia as possessive. Jessi’s storyline is an interesting one, as she is trying to find balance between being a mother and her own happiness. Again, this plotline isn’t deeply explored. 

“The film seems to suggest there is an inherent anger and violent tendency in trans women, which is far from true.”

What also left a bitter taste in my mouth is Audiard’s comments on Mexico. When asked about his research process to create the film, he said, “I didn’t study much, because what I needed to understand is what I already knew.” This arrogance is glaringly obvious in the film, as Mexico is largely portrayed in its relation to drug cartels and little more. Cristina Escobar, film critic and editor put it perfectly: “There’s a whole society out there, and people living their lives, and other identities and other ways to understand what it is to be Mexican in Mexico. And the film just doesn’t have any . . . curiosity about those things.” Despite the initial intention of hiring an all-Mexican cast, the casting director claimed they “had to figure out how to adjust authenticity,” as they felt the best fit for the roles were primarily non-Mexican actors. I find it quite hard to believe that in a population of over 100 million, there were no suitable actors for the film — especially when Mexican films themselves cast their own actors.

Emilia Pérez is engaging, and it has a few songs to jam to afterwards. However, to say it is a meaningful step forward for trans or Latin American visibility would be giving it too much credit. 

Findings from SFU study may help with stroke recovery

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This is a photo of an artificial human brain with a dark green background.
PHOTO: sinhyu / Adobe Stock

By: Lucaiah Smith-Miodownik, News Writer

A recent study from the SFU Institute for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (INN) and Rotman Research Institute at the University of Toronto points to the thalamus to help explain the long-term disabilities experienced after a stroke. Under lead author Phillip Johnston, a graduate student at SFU INN, the November 6 publication focuses on why strokes cause “a prominent slowing of neural activity.”

A stroke is the result of “blocked blood flow to the brain” or “sudden bleeding in the brain.” In both cases, this sudden change can cause damage to the brain cells. When an individual experiences a stroke, damage to axons in other parts of the brain can cause indirect injury to the thalamus. The thalamus is a part of the brain that works as a “central networking hub that regulates functions such as language, memory, attention, and movement.” It receives all sensory information (except smell) through nerve fibers, called axons, then processes this information. Next, the thalamus sends the data back through the axons to the cerebral cortex for interpretation. The cerebral cortex helps with “high-level functions” such as memory and reasoning.

The thalamus’ communication with the rest of the brain via axons “makes it susceptible to indirect damage.” This can potentially lead to corticothalamic circuit dysfunction, where the thalamus’ ability to communicate with the cerebral cortex is inhibited.

Using computer models to measure brain activity with magnetoencephalography, or “magnetic fields produced by [the] brain’s electrical currents,” researchers compared 18 chronic stroke survivors to a group of healthy individuals. SFU researchers concluded that there is “a link between the amount of indirect damage suffered to the thalamus and the level of impairment a patient experiences” after a stroke.

“If certain treatments, such as drugs or brain stimulation, could restore normal function in the thalamus, [ . . . ] researchers believe some long-term impacts of stroke could be alleviated.” — SFU news release

Specifically, researchers noted “decreased thalamic volume, altered tissue microstructure, and decreased blood flow” in those who had experienced a stroke, which “correlated significantly with poorer cognitive and language outcomes.” Researchers stated that because a stroke does not directly affect the thalamus, it can remain “somewhat intact.” Inversely, there is still “brain tissue that dies due to direct damage from the stroke lesion,” Johnston told SFU News. This key difference provides researchers “some hope that new treatments could promote recovery by restoring [the thalamus’] function, or preventing its disruption in the first place.

“If certain treatments, such as drugs or brain stimulation, could restore normal function in the thalamus [ . . . ] researchers believe some long-term impacts of stroke could be alleviated,” noted SFU’s press release.

“These findings also raise many new questions about which facets of post-stroke disability are due to indirect thalamus disruption, and which are due to direct damage from the lesion itself,” said Dr. Randy McIntosh, SFU biomedical physiology and kinesiology professor, who was quoted in the press release. McIntosh also noted that “the thalamus could undergo several types of damage following stroke and we don’t know if one type in particular, or a combination, produces the abnormal brain activity observed in this study. 

“A crucial next step will be investigating how indirect thalamus damage and related abnormal brain activity develops over time, particularly in the first hours and days after the stroke,” he added.

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Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

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© 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