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Ops of the Hour

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“How ‘Black Panther’ Dissects Tension Between Africans & African-Americans” – Jessica Bennett, Ebony Magazine

The strength of this piece lies in the fact that it addresses a major elephant in the room, one that you may not have realized existed: the recurring tension between African and African-American diaspora communities. The American-ness of the African-American context is often seen as a source of division between African and African-American communities, despite the fact that many of us are treated the same way due to the colour of our skin. While Black Panther is set in a fictional country, the filmmakers brought these real-life themes into the story. Bennett brilliantly explores this by both speaking from her own experience and pulling from the voices of others to provide a balance of opinion.

As an African-American filmgoer, I felt that she was able to provide voice to some of my own experiences of the film, while also forcing me to acknowledge a different perspective. I personally would have wanted to learn a bit more about this idea from an African viewpoint, but this serves as a great starting point that can lead to excellent dialogue within African and African-American communities. Plus, it’s spoiler-free, so you can read it and prepare yourself to experience the film without ruining any of the plot.

“The Men of “Black Panther” Are Black Women’s Thirst Dreams Come True” – Sylvia Obell, BuzzFeed News

The concepts of thirst, desire, and beauty standards are often assumed to lack a political weight and instead are often understood as things that just are. Yet this piece explores how the film creates a very specific space for black women — who themselves are often hypersexualized — to express these feelings and emotions. Obell is herself no stranger to Tweeting her thirst about the cast, and she delves further into exploring why this is so significant.

I am no stranger to many of the feelings that this particular piece discusses, and while watching, I very much appreciated the fact that all of the men in the film had worked out quite vigorously. This piece provided some context for the experience that could just as easily be overlooked or written off as “women’s emotions.” Like the former piece, I think this serves as a great starting point for opening up conversations about how we start to fancy which bodies, and what we do while using this pop culture zeitgeist as a place to begin. Plus, many of the Tweets featured are hilarious and written by some pretty funny women, which is always a bonus.

The soundtrack to a dream manifested

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Peak Web
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By: Youeal Abera

The album begins with the title track of the project, “Black Panther,” a song written and performed by Kendrick Lamar. On the record, curated by Lamar, he emphasizes the concept of being a king. This both works to reference the fact that the main character in Black Panther (T’Challa) is the newfound king of Wakanda — the fictional African country in which the film takes place — but it also seems to assert Lamar’s dominance within modern day hip hop.

     As the album progresses, we begin to hear an array of beautiful and unique sounds and audio flavours from SZA’s enchanting and captivating voice on her duet with Lamar, “All The Stars”; to Khalid and Swae Lee’s summertime serenade “The Ways”; to Zacari and Babes Wudomo’s infectious, Afrocentric banger “Redemption.”

     The most impressive component of Lamar’s Black Panther: The Album is that it offered fans who were anticipating the movie an opportunity to escape into Wakanda before the film’s release. Lamar’s extravagant selection and mixture of live instruments and synthesized resonance provided fans with a prelude that helped familiarize them with what was to come. It is as though, through the music, they were able to experience the emotions and sentiments of the film, but with their eyes closed.

     About an hour after its release in the late evening of February 8, the soundtrack was already trending worldwide on Twitter. On February 11, Lamar Tweeted, “Respect to all the artists/producers that allowed me to execute a sound for the soundtrack. The concept of producing and composing a project other than my own has always been ideal . . .”

     If the movie proves to be as good as its own soundtrack (and according to critics and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, it most certainly is), then Black Panther will truly be remembered as one of the most prominent and profound superhero films of all time.

Kwantlen Student Association petitions BC government to provide needs-based student grants

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Needs-based grants for students were repealed in BC in 2004. (Chris Ho / The Peak)

By: Nathaniel Tok, Peak Associate 

 

The Kwantlen University Student Association (KSA), as part of the Alliance of BC Students (ABCS), has recently completed a student-led campaign calling for action from the BC government to provide more financial support for low- and middle-income post-secondary students in the form of needs-based grants.

The Grants Now campaign was KSA’s response to BC being the only province in Canada whose government does not provide needs-based student grants. The campaign raised awareness about the fact that every other province in Canada gives low- and middle-income students (coming from households with an annual income of $50,000 or less) non-repayable financial assistance. According to Caitlin McCutchen, vice-president of external affairs in the KSA, the grants [in BC] were removed in 2004 in favour of “a tax-credit system.”

 

“The most indebted generation in history”

Presently, BC students can apply for loans which need to be paid back with interest. McCutchen argues that high tuition cost together with the interest on loans “places low and middle-income individuals at a disadvantage, as those who do not attend university cite the upfront cost of tuition as of the major reasons why they don’t pursue post-secondary education.”

Other sources of financial aid for students include federal grants through the Canada Student Loans program, but according to the research done by the organizers of the Grant Now campaign, these loans only cover up to 30% of the cost of education. While the campaign recognized the bursaries and scholarships offered by post-secondary institutions, they maintained that providing sufficient financial assistance for students to obtain post-secondary education “shouldn’t fall on the shoulders of universities who are already working with a tight budget.”

The campaign organizers found that BC students are graduating with large amounts of debt that limit their ability to engage in the economy for years after they graduate. Other students may simply drop out as their debt levels rise, creating what the organizers calls “the most indebted generation in history.”

The KSA believes that offering needs-based non-repayable grants to lower- and middle-income students rather than loans should see increases in student graduation, help recent graduates who are in debt, and make post-secondary education more accessible to all.

As all other provinces provide student grants, McCutchen and the KSA sees the reinstatement of grants for BC students as a way to “level [the] playing field with the rest of the country” and to give everyone fair access to education. Having more graduates could also help the province create jobs, grow its economy, and allow more citizens to climb the socioeconomic leader.

 

Students respond

McCutchen reported positive results from the Grants Now campaign, obtaining over 750 signatures from Kwantlen Polytechnic University students.

“While campaigning, countless students . . . would often mention the impact that high tuition rates has on their lives,” said David Piraquive, chair of the external affairs committee of the KSA. McCutchen added, “the high cost of living in BC is making post-secondary education increasingly unattainable.”

“[Students] were eager to sign the petition and many were not aware that BC is the only province without a needs-based grants program.”

In terms of implementation, the Grants Now campaign called for grants to be accessible to both undergraduates and graduates students, domestic or international, and part-time or full-time students with special provisions for students with disabilities and dependents. Grants should also not be dependent on finishing the program.

“Grants are not a partisan issue, every other province has a system of needs-based grants, and these systems have been in place under various parties,” said McCutchen. “This is just a matter of the province properly funding education.”

How a stressed out student can get some sleep

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Peak Web
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Illustration by Rebecca Lu

By: Alannah Wallace, SFU Student

You tell yourself that you need a good night’s sleep because you have two assignments, one paper, and one test to study for tomorrow. You settle into bed at 10:30 p.m., but lay there awake unable to sleep. Either you don’t feel tired even though you’ve struggled to make it through the entire day without drifting off or you are stuck in that weird, tired-but-restless state. You keep mentally calculating your GPA after you bomb this test or you’re cursing yourself for not starting your project earlier. Sound familiar? You have probably been experiencing sleep issues for most of your academic career along with the rest of us.

It is estimated that 70% of university students do not sleep enough and that 50% of college students struggle with fatigue during the day. These sleep issues can negatively affect our GPAs, abilities to learn, and overall mood. So, what can we do about this?

Exercise

Yes, that’s right, you’ve heard this super top secret tip before. But what is often missing from this piece of advice is how to exercise. “I did some yoga at lunch and some jumping jacks in the morning, that should help me sleep, right?” Well no, probably not. The duration of exercise and the time of day in which you choose to exercise has the largest effect on sleep. Exercising in the morning can make some people ready for a deep eight-hour sleep by midday, and trying to sleep right after a workout while still experiencing that post-exercise adrenaline rush can be tricky. A study conducted on older adults found that for the best night’s sleep, it is best to partake in around 40 minutes of moderate exercise a few hours before bed.

Trust me, this is the one activity that will not make you feel bad about procrastinating. Gather a list of your favourite songs and go for a jog at sunset. You will feel great after you exercise and a few hours later you will feel the sleepiness hit you. Another plus side of exercising to help sleep is that it is healthy, can be done inexpensively, and does not have the negative side effects that other aids such as sleeping pills can have on the body.

 

Napping

I thought you weren’t supposed to nap during the day if you wanted any chance of a full eight-hour sleep in the night, right? Not necessarily. While it is true that a 2–3 hour nap at 4 p.m. is probably not a good idea, just a 10–15 minute nap can improve your mental alertness and increase productivity. It can be hard to make yourself wake up and continue working after those 10–15 minutes of dreamy sleep, so try drinking a caffeinated beverage right before your nap. This way, the caffeine will kick in right as you’re waking up.

Not only can napping make you feel more alert and rested so you can continue on with your day, but it also reduces stress and the risk of heart disease. It’s pretty hard to be stressed out while you’re cuddled up in a pile of pillows and soft blankets. If you are starting to feel overwhelmed to the point where your worrying is getting in the way of your productivity, take a short nap!

Another problem can be the desire to nap too often. Many students complain that doing their readings puts them to sleep. Make sure you are not reading in an area that is too comfortable like your bed. Go to the library and create an upbeat playlist that will keep your energy levels from dropping. It’s hard to feel sleepy with rave music playing in your ear, isn’t it?

 

Tea

Have you ever suffered a serious bout of insomnia only to have your parents suggest to you . . . tea? It seems too simple to work. Maybe it’s one of those placebo effect things, generated by an old wives’ tale. That’s what I thought too, until one day I picked a random tea from my cousin’s cabinet and was surprised that 15 minutes later when I felt a wave of fatigue hit me. I was drinking chamomile tea, apparently known for producing feelings of sleepiness. Additionally, chamomile can also help with an upset stomach, nausea, and anxiety — that’s right, relaxed and sleepy. This sounds like the perfect tea for a stressed out student. If you’re looking for something a bit more flavourful than just plain chamomile, many tea makers combine this herb with lemongrass, hibiscus, and other great flavours such as the tea Sweet Dreams by DavidsTea.

 

Clear your mind

Nothing is going to help your sleeping patterns if you’re having a mental breakdown every night because you just didn’t study for the three midterms you have coming up. While everyone is genuinely busy and stressed, one of the best ways to stop being stressed about procrastination is . . . to stop procrastinating. But this is easier said than done. Here are a couple quick tips to help you get going on those assignments.

  • One problem that many people struggle with is starting a task that will take a long time or a lot of effort. In the book The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, it is recommended to avoid becoming overwhelmed by a large task by first telling yourself you will only work on the task for 30 minutes and then take a short break. Not only is 30 minutes better than not starting it at all, but it keeps the commitment low and less overwhelming. If you start this habit early on before the due date, you will find that chipping away at the task makes it a lot less daunting. Many times, you will even find yourself on a roll and continuing with the task past your designated 30 minutes.
  • Identify your overarching goal, and then start small. If you have to make a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation for class, start by first jotting down some ideas of what will go onto your slides, create an outline, and then eventually start planning out a few slides at a time and adding more detail to your outline. The idea is to just start, even if your start is small.
  • Lastly, even if we have the best intentions to start working on that assignment or presentation, life can easily get in the way — that is, if you let it. Practice saying ‘no’ to friends and family who often offer up other ways to spend your time. Create a schedule that only includes crucial obligations, and then be very sparing about planning anything else while you are suffering through midterm or finals season.

So give these tips a try! Somehow, once you have a good night’s sleep, everything else seems to fall into place. Life seems easier. The two assignments you are working on become less overwhelming, that math equation seems easier to solve, and you get through your readings twice as fast.

World News Beats

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By: Nathaniel Tok, Peak Associate

 

Kosovo and Serbia to sign agreement

The president of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, has announced that Kosovo will reach a “historic” agreement with Serbia that will allow Kosovo to join the United Nations (UN). Kosovo separated from Serbia in 1999 during a counter-insurgency war the elicited NATO involvement, but its independence had not been recognized by Serbia. Russia and China, Serbia’s allies, had blocked Kosovo’s entry into the UN while the European Union pushed Serbia to resolve relations with Kosovo. Many other nations, including the US and Western Europe, recognize Kosovo’s independence. Thaçi believes that the new agreement will normalize Kosovan-Serbian relations. Kosovo will celebrate the tenth anniversary of its declaration of independence on Saturday.

With files from Reuters.

 

Plans to find next head of the Commonwealth in motion

The Commonwealth is making plans to find its next head, the successor of the United Kingdom’s Queen Elizabeth II. The title is not hereditary and might not be given to the prince of Wales. The plans are part of the Commonwealth undergoing investigation to review how the organization is governed, and are referred to under the code-named “wider governance considerations,” according to BBC News. The reviewing group will report to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in April which includes the Queen. There is no formal process for choosing the next Head of the Commonwealth. In the case that the position is not conferred to her son, the Prince of Wales will be head of only 15 of the 53 nations that comprise the Commonwealth.

With files from BBC News.

 

Cyril Ramaphosa chosen as president of South Africa

Businessman and anti-apartheid activist Cyril Ramaphosa was chosen by South Africa’s Parliament to be the president after Jacob Zuma was ousted under pressure from his African National Congress (ANC) party. The South African stock market gained 4% after Ramaphosa’s inauguration, but the new president will have to contend with rising economic inequality, a drought in Cape Town, and unresolved corruption charges against Zuma. Ramaphosa was chosen as leader of the ANC party in December and will remain president until national elections next year where he will likely run as the ANC’s candidate. South Africa is Africa’s second largest economy.

With files from The Washington Post.

 

New drug appears to treat psychosis symptom of Alzheimer’s

Researchers at the University of Exeter have found that pimavanserin, an antipsychotic, is able to treat symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease such as paranoia or delusions by blocking a brain nerve receptor. Other drugs aimed at treating Alzheimer’s psychosis symptoms produce side effects which can deteriorate brain function and lead to strokes or death. In a placebo-controlled trial with 180 patients, the study found pimavanserin does not appear to produce those side effects in patients with Alzheimer’s disease psychosis. Pimavanserin is now being tested in American clinical trials for treatment of psychotic symptoms in dementia. Around 22 million people who have Alzheimer’s might show psychotic symptoms.

With files from Sky News.

AQ renewal project to fix leaky roofs on campus

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The 50-year-old damaged terracotta tiles on the AQ plazas are the reason for the leaky roofs below. (Adam Madojemu / The Peak)

A three-year Academic Quadrangle (AQ) plaza renewal project at SFU Burnaby will be fixing the leaky roofs and decreasing the amount of concrete on the campus.

The project is split into two phases: phase one has already begun on the northwest corner of the AQ and will encompass the entire quadrangle, while phase two will begin in January 2019 and will renovate the Freedom Square, Convocation Mall, and the areas above and below the Rotunda leading to the lower transportation centre. The project is expected to take three years to complete, and has a current estimated cost of $38 million.

“Believe it or not, it’s a roofing project which is kind of driving the whole thing,” said SFU’s senior project manager George Venini in an interview with The Peak. SFU Burnaby’s outdoor plazas function as roofs for the buildings with classrooms below. Those roofs are now 50 years old, dating back to when the university first opened in 1965. Over the span 50 years, the materials that make up the floor of the plaza have been worn down due to repeated freezing and thawing, leading to the campus’s leaky roof problem.

“We’ve been repairing [the roofs] in spots,” said Venini, “but basically now it’s time where we have to put whole new roofs on top of those spaces.

“Rather than rip up what’s there and put down exactly what’s there again, we’re looking at ways to enhance it.” – George Vernini, Senior Project Manager

Seeing the light

According to Venini, one of design team’s aims is to pay homage to the concepts SFU’s original architect, Arthur Erickson, came up with for the campus. Erickson was given the responsibility of designing the campus after winning a competition.

“One of the notions that this architect developed, a guiding principle of the design you see on the paving pattern of this campus, [. . .] is enlightenment.” Moving from the lower transportation centre, up the stairs through the Convocation Hall, and up the stairs again to the AQ, the paving material of the Burnaby campus gets progressively lighter in colour.

The design team for the renewal project aims to continue this paving pattern: beginning with dark granite tiles at the transportation center, the paving colouration will become progressively lighter as students traverse up the stairs of the campus, culminating into almost white granite on the AQ plaza.

The project organizers have chosen to use granite instead of the terracotta tiles that currently make up the plaza for their increased durability, ability to weather freezing and thawing conditions, and ease of replacement.

 

Increased approachability – physically and socially

Venini also spoke about how the team is planning to take this renewal project as an opportunity to make some permanent changes to the structure of plazas.

A prime example is the aluminum ramps on either side of the stage in Convocation Mall and the wooden black ramp that extends further east off the stage. While these ramps were originally intended to be temporary, they will become permanent fixtures of the redesigned plaza for greater accessibility: “We’re going to build a whole new stage with permanent ramps that look more like it was supposed to be built that way [. . .] to make the stage more accessible to everyone.”

Many currently empty areas around campus will also be installed with new furniture to create new spaces for students to socialize. The area below the Rotunda, currently barren, will be installed with new planting materials, better lighting, and benches. The old fountain in Fountain Square will be ripped up and replaced with a new one. The Convocation Mall will also be receiving more furniture, further acknowledging Erickson’s vision for the Convocation Mall to function as a town square. Green coverings and seating will be replacing the plots of gravel currently in front of Trottier’s Observatory. Venini hopes these new instalments of greater greenery and seating areas will make these locations on campus more socially successful.

 

Safety first

Significant changes will also be made to the plaza design to incorporate newer building codes which emphasize safety that wasn’t considered when the plaza was first built.

The bridges on either side of Convocation Hall will see higher railings after they are renewed. A decorative metal cut-out will be added above the current railings to make them higher. These cutouts will also be an opportunity celebrate the financial and academic contributions made to the university by displaying names of significant people in the university’s history.

The lighting on external spaces, such as underneath and on the walkways, will also be improved.

Extensive research has been done by the team to improve plaza drainage and decrease puddling and pooling of water in the plaza, making it safer and cleaner in the aftermath of heavy rain or in freezing weather.

 One of the last areas to be redone will be the roof of the Rotunda. “Some people quite love the roof of the transportation centre – it’s got wonderful views up there,” said Venini. But he also noted that there are currently no guardrails in place, which can be a safety hazard when people admiring the view move right up to the edge of the area. The project will completely redo the roof of the Rotunda, adding glass guardrails to enhance safety while maintaining the view, as well as adding benches and other structures to make the roof more desirable and inviting for students to lounge on.

 

Bridging the communication gap

An initiative of the construction team that will coincide with the beginning of the renewal project is new approaches towards communication with students regarding construction projects.

“We want to do a better job of telling people on campus what’s going on with all our projects, “ said Venini. To this end, students around campus will begin seeing large signs — 12 feet long and four feet high — detailing the construction projects occurring on campus, including their expected duration and cost.

“For all our projects, we’re going to start putting up this kind of signage so people who are wandering by can see what we’re doing to enhance campus.”

 

An unexpected head start

The renewal project received an unexpected headstart when the plaza in front of Starbucks needed to redone immediately.

“We’d just done a renovated math space below there,” said Venini, referring to the new Math West space on campus, “and so we needed to [repair the plaza] right away, otherwise we’d be damaging the whole new space below.”

The area in front of Starbucks is currently covered with concrete pavers, which we’ll be replaced with granite later on as the project progresses.

According to Venini, despite the extensive construction that this renewal project will entail, students attending class will be minimally inconvenienced. “Because the project is occurring in tiny phases, we don’t think it’ll significantly impede the use of, say, the AQ,” he said.

The most direct inconvenience he can foresee for students attending classes is noise while construction is taking place. The team plans to mitigate this interfering with classes by communicating to everyone in the vicinity that there will be noisy work, and also by scheduling noisy work to occur before classes begin.

 

SFU Bookstore scavenger hunt

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Peak Web
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The SFU Bookstore, Burnaby. Photo credit, The Peak.

Written and photographed by Victoria Lopatka

If you’re looking for exotic protein snacks, uterus-centric fridge magnets, or incredibly expensive leather book bags, look no further than your local SFU Bookstore. Shout-out to bookstore staff member Saadiyah, who helped me track down some of these things!

Most aesthetic thing for your dorm room

Kikkerland string of 20 silver LED lights for $9.95 each

No aesthetic Tumblr room is complete without at least one string of these babies. Nice ambient lighting is key to having a well put together, non-depressing room, whether or not you live on campus. They also make perfect background lighting for Netflix-watching or even romantic Netflix and chill sessions, especially with Valentine’s Day right around the corner.

 

 

 

Honourable mention: Handcrafted East 2nd Soap in Peppermint Twist for $13.95

 

 

 

Most stylish clothing item

SFU lounge/pyjama pant for $39.95

If you’re looking for a no-fuss, yet professional outfit for class, hanging out with friends, waiting in line for coffee, really any activity, look no further than these stylish pyjama pants. These say, “I’m educated, but I also like to sleep. A lot.” I couldn’t resist buying myself a pair.

 

 

Coolest snack

Coast Cricket Protein Bars for $3.95 each

I’ve heard about these before but had no idea where to find them, until now. A new addition to the Bookstore menu: protein-rich, local, sustainable, high fibre, dairy and gluten free, and apparently, very tasty! They come in two flavours: peanut butter and dark chocolate raisin.

 

Best drink

GoodDrink Mango Tea with Hibiscus and Vanilla for $2.75 a bottle

THIS STUFF. This stuff is so good, I would drink it every day if I could. My favourite is the Mango Tea, but all of them are really great and relatively affordable at only $2.75 a bottle. They’re refreshing and sweet, so make sure you don’t pass them by in the cooler at the front of the store.

 

Most random thing                                          

Coprolite Fossilized Poop for $9.95

If you asked me, “Hey Victoria, what’s one thing you’re not expecting to find at the Bookstore today?” I wouldn’t have even thought to say “really old turtle poop” because that’s how random this is. I can’t even knock people who buy this though, since I have memories of being a kid and being fascinated by an owl-barf-pellet version of this, ripping it open with my grubby little fingers to find plastic mouse bones. University-age me just wonders, “Why, though?”

 

 

 

Honourable mention: Jabba the Hutt Vinyl Bobble-Head for $19.95

 

 

 

Best magnet to put on your mini fridge

“Cat Hair on Everything is the New Black” magnet for $4.95

I’m currently staring at my bare mini fridge, thinking about how I should’ve bought one of these magnets. If you have a cat, you just get this one, and you understand the struggle. I can’t even pet someone else’s cat or dog without fur coating my black leggings. The second one, though, I need an explanation for. A picture of a cartoon uterus karate-chopping a block of wood, amid the letters “Kung-Fu Uterus.” What does this mean? Is this supposed to resemble my uterus at that time of month? Who came up with this?

 

 

Honourable mention: “Kung-Fu Uterus” magnet for $4.95

 

 

 

Most expensive item

Vintage Tribe Leather small school bag for $320.00

When I asked about the most expensive non-textbook item, staff members immediately pointed me to this book bag, kept behind the cashier counter. The tag describes it as a tough, yet soft, waterproof, durable, leather school bag from a family-operated tannery in Italy. Maybe I don’t know good bags (my pleather $12 backpack with a twice-fixed strap says I don’t), but I don’t understand this insane price tag. Who is this for???

 

Best greeting card for any occasion

“Aye Papi!” Drake greeting card for $6.95

OK, this, THIS is fantastic. I can’t think of an occasion I wouldn’t want to send or receive this card. If I’m in the hospital, send me this card. If it’s my birthday, send me this card. On graduation day, send me this card. When I retire from a lifelong profession, SEND ME THIS CARD.

 

 

Most unnecessarily SFU-centric item

Matching SFU ribbon and bow for $4.95

I have a hate-love relationship with this item. On one hand, I think it’s awfully cocky for someone at the Bookstore to be like, “You know what we need? Expensive ribbons and bows with SFU’s logo and colours.” On the other hand, though, I might go back and buy it, give it to my parents and ask them to wrap my graduation gift in it, two years from now. I appreciate SFU’s extraness in this case.

 

Best thing in the clearance bin

The Art of Rock & Roll 2018 calendar for $29.95 (minus 50% discount)

I want to preface this by saying I’m a sucker for a good deal. I’m also a sucker for buying things that make me look like I have a better taste in music than I actually do, and that make my room more aesthetic. So if you’re like me, go clearance bin diving for this treasure.

 

 

Most expensive pen

SFU Signo Uniball Pen for $5.50

I may waste my money on SFU ribbons and Drake greeting cards, but you won’t catch me wasting my money on a $5.50 pen, especially when there’s a bin of simple blue ones for 25 cents each right beside it.

 

 

 

Best gift for your parents

Woodlands Morph Mug for $13.95

Originally, I thought the tacky red ““Best. Mom. Ever.” SFU T-shirt was the best gift for your parents (because parents love anything you buy them, right?), but then I saw this magical mug. The concept is that it’s dark and pretty plain until you pour hot liquid into it, then it morphs into a colourful forest scene. I had one of these as a kid (it had a scene from Harry Potter on it), and 10/10 would recommend this mug as an entertaining gift.

 

 

Honourable mention: “Best. Mom. Ever.” SFU T-shirt for $18.50

 

 

 

 

Heaviest book in the non-fiction section

Humans of New York Stories by Brandon Stanton for $34.50

This book is both physically and emotionally heavy, hence why I chose it. (Jokes aside, though, it’s actually a really lovely book and would make a great gift for the aspiring photographer or journalist in your life.)

 

 

Prettiest/coolest notebook

Purple and gold orbits notebook for $19.95

Maybe it’s just me, but I find cute and aesthetic notebooks just make me enjoy class more (or maybe I use my favourite notebooks for my favourite classes, hm . . .) Either way, if you’re not a fan of the generic light blue, lined, spiral bound notebooks, you may want to venture into the non-fiction book section for these beauties. If only they were spiral bound, they would maybe come close to being worth $20.  

Honourable mention: Peter Pauper Press cannabis journal for $10.99

SFU lacrosse win home opener 15–9 over Idaho

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Peak Web
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The Clan are now 3–0 in this young season. (Photo courtesy of SFU lacrosse)

After a snow-filled day on Friday, the Clan hosted their season opener against the Idaho Vandals on Saturday. SFU had a very strong game, leading for nearly the entirety of it and never letting the end result be in question. After starting the season in sunny California, the team did not let the snow deter them, in what was a very Canadian-esque environment.

Senior Greg Lunde built upon his strong beginning to the season with four straight goals in the first quarter. His fourth goal came after a strong penalty kill from the Clan in which goalkeeper Tej Grewal made a fantastic save, before the ball found its way to Lunde and into the back of the Idaho net.

The game would be relatively smooth sailing from there on out, with the Vandals cutting the lead to three in the second quarter, the only time of unrest for the Clan. Also notable from the second quarter was freshman Jordan Roberts getting his first goal of his collegiate career. The teams would go into the half with a score of 8–3.

SFU would keep this five-goal advantage going into the fourth, as both teams scored three goals in the third quarter. Notably, however, the Clan did give up three straight goals to the Vandals at the end of the third quarter.

Simon Fraser then went on to do what they had to in the fourth quarter, coming away with a comfortable 15–9 victory. The cherry on top of the sundae was placed by SFU’s Zach Gould, who scored a rocket with 19 seconds left in the game.

The No. 20 ranked Clan will get away from the snow next week as they head to California to face off against No. 19 ranked Concordia-Irvine and San Diego University on March 2 and 3, respectively. Concordia-Irvine are the reigning Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association Division II national champions.

Black Panther has built up our expectations, but it doesn’t disappoint

By
EIC
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Every member of the cast delivered strong performances, and there was no shortage of interesting characters. (Image courtesy of Walt Disney Studios)

By: Grace Rose

Marvel’s Black Panther is easily one of the most anticipated films of 2018. Beginning with the cast announcement at San Diego Comic Con back in 2016, the film features a stellar cast led by a young visionary director as they bring this fictional world to life.

     The story revolves around T’Challa, the newly appointed king of the fictional nation of Wakanda. This nation masquerades as an impoverished developing country despite being one of the most advanced civilizations in the world — all built using the fictional mineral vibranium. It has remained untouched by European colonialism and has flourished under the leadership and protection of the Black Panther, a title given to the king of Wakanda, who is armed with heightened physical abilities, powerful technology, and is supported by an incredible group of women called the Dora Milaje. The film sees T’Challa protecting Wakanda from Erik Killmonger, an unknown figure with a dark past.

     One of the most significant components of the film is the fact that it is a major blockbuster featuring an almost all-black cast with a story that doesn’t revolve around black trauma (i.e. a film about slavery, Civil Rights era, modern day hood stories, etc.). Instead it focuses on creating complex characters with depth. It is important to note that this character was originally created by two white men as an attempt to diversify the mainstream comic book character landscape which was predominately white. This means that the characters are not imaginations of how black people see themselves, but instead how white people would create and establish them. With that said, director Ryan Coogler does a brilliant job of remaining true to the original source material, yet reimagining them within a black lens. He is able to pull a complexity out of the characters that enables the audience to both revel in the glory and celebration of black royalty while simultaneously addressing the traumatic consequences of being black in a colonized world.

     Extending from this, the women in this film are presented with a regal excellence that allows them to flourish as standalone characters. Newcomer Letitia Wright stands out as Shuri, T’Challa’s sister and the technological mastermind behind many of Wakanda’s technological advancements. Her character has a balance of youthfulness, brilliance, and fun that causes her to shine in every scene that she’s in. Yet when she is on screen with Danai Gurira and Lupita Nyong’o, she maintains a fierceness and boldness that makes her just as magnetic as Gurira and Nyong’o. I’m excited to see where she goes from here.

     Visually, Coogler and production designer Hannah Beachler pull upon the Afrofuturist visual arts tradition while infusing it with elements of various existing African cultures to create a stunning piece of work. From various natural hairstyles, to  costuming and lighting, the artistic elements of the film create a lush tapestry that serves as both a stunning background and an integral element of the story. It subverts the images of an impoverished African continent and does the vital work of changing the narrative of how African nations are understood. While the country may be fictional, the story is able to pull together a variety of real life influences to create a piece that celebrates blackness, black people, and black culture in a very real and authentic way.

Crushing OT loss relegates SFU hockey to third place finish in BCIHL

By
Peak Web
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0
Lyndon Stanwood is the winningest goalkeeper in SFU history. (Photo courtesy of SFU hockey)

By: Dylan Webb

On Saturday night, the SFU hockey team made their last trip of the regular season to the Castlegar Recreation Centre for a game that had important playoff and rivalry implications, to say the least. Fighting for the right to host a first-round playoff series, SFU failed to repeat the consistent 60-minute effort that has had them on a hot streak throughout most of the second half of the 2017–18 season. The Clan now face the tough reality of playing out the remaining two games of the season before heading back up to Castlegar to start the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) playoffs in the second week of March.

In a tight checking first period, Mac Colasimone scored the only goal of the period on the power play as SFU took a much-needed early lead and set the tone in an unfriendly barn. However, Selkirk goaltender Patrick Zubick made some key stops in the frame that prevented SFU from establishing a larger lead, which would end up being huge as the game progressed.

The Saints responded to a good first period from the Clan by scoring early in the second period, with league-leading goal scorer Dallas Calvin picking up the goal to even the game. This would again be the only goal of the period. The score would sit at 1–1 heading into the most important period of play for either team in the BCIHL season thus far.

Nothing would be decided in the third period as the teams would exchange goals to keep the stalemate intact and force overtime. However, simply forcing the game to overtime was enough for Selkirk to ensure a second-place finish in the BCIHL standings. Clinching second place now simply requires a win in their final game of the season, or an SFU loss in one of their two remaining games.

In overtime, Brandon Sookro, one of the most clutch Saints players throughout the season, would seal the win. This would give his team a clear path to home ice advantage, scoring the goal with just twenty seconds remaining in the overtime frame. The frustrating loss for the Clan is undoubtedly one they will have to quickly recover from as they make plans to hop back on a bus to Castlegar in March and seek their first win of the year in that building.

In net, Lyndon Stanwood enjoyed another solid performance, stopping 30 of 33 shots faced in what was a tough overtime loss. Stanwood, a fourth-year veteran of the team that will graduate at the end of this season, could possibly see some rest in advance of the playoffs starting now that SFU’s place in the standings is all but locked in. Stanwood has started the most games in the BCIHL this season (22).

SFU and Selkirk have played extremely tight contests all season and the rivalry will unquestionably make for an entertaining playoff series. With the loss, Simon Fraser gives up the season series to Selkirk and, barring a surprising loss by the Saints to Vancouver Island University in their final game of the year, will finish third in the league and line up to visit Castlegar in the first round.

You can catch the final game of the season at home at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre against the University of Victoria Vikes on March 3 at 7 p.m. as the team looks to tune up in time for playoffs.  

 

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Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

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For promotional inquiries: [email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society

Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

For advertising inquiries: [email protected]
For promotional inquiries: [email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society