The best and worst washrooms of SFU Burnaby and Vancouver

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June 27, 2016

SFU Burnaby and Vancouver have a diverse selection of vicinities for ladies to do the ol’ one and two. Between the surprising number of seemingly un-potty-trained students and explosive water pressures, choosing a bathroom that’s the right fit for you can be tough.

As an experienced explorer of the SFU bathroom landscape, it is my duty to bestow unto you my knowledge of how to best answer the call of nature. You can find the merit of each bathroom expressed as a clear, concise numerical value at the end of each review.

Blusson Hall 9000 and 10000 levels

These rooms are dimly lit, exuding a relaxing and at times romantic atmosphere. Unfortunately, it takes too much muscle power to flush the toilets, and the sinks’ splash-zone radius reaches at least five miles in all directions.

67/100

West Mall Centre women’s multi-stall

There’s a slightly retro vibe at work here, and the bright lighting makes this a great place to touch up your makeup, work on homework, or find salvation. The stalls can be a little squishy, though.

78.3/100

West Mall Centre individual washroom

The ‘60s mod aesthetic of this room is both fun and a little scary. It’s very spacious, but you may get dizzy from the black and white checkered tile design. Pro tip: Do not make this the venue for your next acid trip. It will probably go very wrong.

87.7809/100

AQ 3000 level multi-stall

With this bathroom’s seafoam colour pallette and modern aesthetic, it is definitely in the running for SFU’s best-designed bathroom. Additionally, the rooms are spacious and provide users with excellent acoustics — a very fitting space for jam sessions or choir concerts.

906/100

Harbour Centre 1000 level near-the-study-area multi-stall

Don’t let its normal appearance fool you: this washroom has an average toilet seat splatter-to-non-splatter ratio of 4:2 and faucets that are liable to induce third-degree burns. Its prime location means it is prone to heavy traffic. It is best to abstain from these stalls during rush times — the 20–30 minute mark of every hour — to avoid lineups, accidents, and slippery conditions.

-18/100

Harbour Centre 1000 level near-the-study-area individual washroom

Is there a secret stash of meth hidden within the walls of this room? I’m not sure, but I definitely wouldn’t rule out the possibility. This single room is vaguely reminiscent of the setting of the first Saw movie. Though I wouldn’t recommend it for regular use due to its tense atmosphere, if you’re finding your menstrual cycle to be particularly painful one day and need somewhere to go die slowly on the floor, this place will keep you out of the way of other people.

(-4)(8) + 14×5 + -(7×4)42/100

Harbour Centre 2000 level multi-stall

This one is all white. Rest assured that you haven’t suddenly entered heaven or that white room from 2001: A Space Odyssey, it’s just a really white bathroom. Though there isn’t anything wrong about this one, there isn’t anything right about it either — it completely lacks personality and pizzazz. One might say it’s the plain oatmeal of SFU washrooms.

40π72/100

Maggie Benston down from Higher Grounds multi-stall

This squishy mouse hole can be tough to find and tough to use. I do not recommend it to anyone whose body circumference exceeds seven inches. Do not use unless absolutely necessary.

-6(e)/100

Maggie Benston across from SFU Bookstore multi-stall

Is this washroom even open? I don’t know, but I do know that it wasn’t there for me when I needed it the most, and can therefore deduce that it is unreliable. There is enough room to practice cartwheeling in there, though.

φ/100

If SFU was more like Hogwarts . . .

By

EIC

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June 27, 2016

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Taking the stairs to class would be far more forgiving on your knees.

Participation marks would suddenly become the most entertaining part of class.

School administration might actually work to ensure the safety of their students from predators.

The Peak newspaper would actually be cool to look at.

Top three things about the Tim Hortons that will grind your gears

By

EIC

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June 27, 2016

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1) Choosing the wrong line

At peak hours, choosing the correct lineup at Tim Hortons is an exercise in economic game theory. There are multiple things to consider: who’s at the till, how many people are in line, how many of said people are in groups, and the lunar orbit. There is nothing more frustrating than standing in line desperate for that double-double while the line beside you zips by to get their sugary snacks.

2) Getting passed over while waiting for your food

I’m sure we’ve all experienced this. You’ve ordered your chicken chipotle melt, or whatever weird new concoction they’ve decided to push this month. You get your slip of paper, and find out you’re number 100. Then you’re told to wait to the side and stand there until your number is called. You’d expect the numbers to follow some sort of chronological order, but you would be dead wrong. After a while, every number from 101 to 150 is called, and you’re left standing there silently judging every person who decided to order chilli, feeling like the last kid picked in gym class.

3) Not getting a sleeve with your coffee

Ultimately, the most egregious error made by Tim Hortons employees is the fact that they don’t just give you a sleeve with your coffee. This is not a difficult concept to grasp. Coffee is hot. I need something to shield my hands so I don’t get third-degree burns walking to class. I shouldn’t have to ask for a sleeve. It’s my God-given right to have a sleeve with my coffee.

SFU needs to update its architecture to accommodate the rainy season

By

EIC

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June 27, 2016

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[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he SFU Burnaby campus has a lot of green spaces, courtyards, fountains, and a triumphant aesthetic when the brilliant sunlight strikes the brutalist concrete. But our school becomes very gloomy during the rainy season, which can affect mood and overall enjoyment of being on campus.

It’s time we implement a few changes here and there to make Burnaby campus a cheerful place all year round, such as designs that would be enhanced by the presence of rain.

Currently, the AQ garden is delightful in the summer, but becomes completely abandoned and desolate when it rains. This inefficient use of space could be stopped by building a gazebo on the hill and adding rain shelters around the area, so people at SFU can enjoy the fresh air and tranquil rain without getting wet — something I’m sure most people would find soothing, potentially romantic, and possibly cathartic. It could also help provide some seclusion and solitude for introverts.

SFU could also replace useless features, such as the pyramid and the avocado, with ones that are accessible and attractive when it’s gloomy out. Perhaps kinetic art installations that move and transform as it rains, or machines that can generate rainbows? Other replacements could include outdoor table tennis or outdoor exercise equipment, which would need protection from the rain.

The campus could also be improved by using thermochromic paint to create colourful designs that only appear in the rain. This innovative application of technology was popularized by the designers of Project Monsoon, who plan to replace the dreary concrete and pavement on the streets of Seoul with colourful rivers inhabited by sea creatures.

SFU could also look to imitate the success of Rainworks, a project that uses hydrophobic paint to create colourless, rain-activated art along sidewalks. This has primarily been used to spread positive messages in community spaces, but it could also be used to create mysterious clues, riddles, puzzles, and other things that would give the public something to look forward to when it’s wet outside.

Furthermore, decorating the bland concrete around the campus with more public art, colourful designs, or plant life could make a small but impactful difference.

For example, the floor of the corridor from the AQ to the end of Blusson Hall could be redesigned by SFU students in our fine arts and/or interactive arts and technology programs. In addition, SFU could also replace the bland flooring around the Burnaby campus, such as in the WMC, the AQ, and other major corridors, with something aesthetically stunning, cheerful, and even multiculturally significant, such as aboriginal artwork.

By carefully executing innovative and beautiful designs that take advantage of rainy conditions, SFU could become an excellent example for other rain-stricken institutions and municipalities around the world, as well as a hotspot for tourism. But most importantly, it would create a campus that members of the SFU community could enjoy during those rainy Vancouver days.

Humans of SFU: Residence edition

By

EIC

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June 27, 2016

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[dropcap]A[/dropcap]ll over the world, and right here at SFU, this Humans-of-Somewhere style of storytelling has appeared, and made big waves in the way we look at people around us. Last week we went around talking to, and photographing, some of the students who form the residence community on the Burnaby campus — paying homage to the popular Humans of SFU Facebook groups. We are all just people. All too often we put ourselves down, and say that we’re not ‘interesting’ enough, ‘smart’ enough, ‘cool’ enough — but everyone has a story to tell. And there are some great ones right here at SFU.

Peter is a computer science major, who stayed in homestay before residence. He never really felt like he fit in, though. Originally from China, Peter moved to residence last semester after leaving his homestay arrangement. He says homestay gave a false sense of family: “It’s not ‘your’ family; it is a family but not yours.”

He currently lives in the townhouses at SFU residence. Although he is far from his family in China, he gets to make a new family here. He has made many friends in his time at SFU, mostly within the residence community.

One aspect of living in residence that he has enjoyed is the opportunity to meet people from around the world. He made friends with his roommates, who are from Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Although he has had some issues adjusting to the new rainy climate, he says he welcomes the change. He loves the freedom living on residence grants him, and really enjoys summertime: “The temperature and weather is fantastic,” he says.

Mide is originally from Nigeria. This move could have been tough to get used to, but luckily for Mide, he usually travels a lot, so adjusting to Vancouver wasn’t a complete change of pace: “It’s not like a new environment completely,” he says.

This is Mide’s third semester living in residence. He still enjoys every bit of it. For Mide, residence allows him to remain active, mentioning tennis and partying as some of his favourite pastimes on campus.

Originally, Mide moved into residence to be closer to classes, but he says being here has shown more benefits. Most of his friends already lived in SFU residence when he moved in, but he says that he has made many more friends from the residence community after moving in. “Living with people from different places” is one of the best parts about being here, according to him.

Before living on campus, he says his exposure to other cultures was limited. Being here gives him the opportunity to create bonds with all kinds of people, which he says has made him a better person: “They all have different views and it’s really cool to listen [to] what everybody else has to say.”

Originally from Zimbabwe, Bono has been staying in SFU residence ever since he came to Vancouver two semesters ago. He has made a lot of friends in his time here, a fact that sometimes overwhelms him, but he is learning to manage social obligations alongside personal care. He moved to Pauline Jewett House this semester and is hoping to transition to the townhouses next semester.

Bono says that his life has changed a lot since moving to Vancouver. Although climate is one of the main changes, it’s not the only one — for him, life here is very fast, unlike back home. Despite this change in pace, he believes that he has successfully adjusted in the past eight months. He credits the community on campus for helping him adjust to all the change.

Bono says he likes kicking back with friends on residence, mentioning common areas like the Madge Hogarth House as good places to relax. Although he would prefer to see more events and activities in residence, he is happy to be here. The Dining Hall, the convenience, and the community are reasons he loves living on Burnaby Mountain. Despite a few flaws, Bono doesn’t see himself living anywhere else while pursuing his studies.

Cory is a local who has lived in residence since the fall of 2014. Although she was a little hesitant to move onto the campus at first, her cousin, who is a past student, shared positive experiences with her. This ultimately gave Cory the push she needed to make the move.

Entering the world of university seemed a little scary to Cory, but the orientation — both to the university and also to residence — helped her feel more at home. Soon after that, she started volunteering with the Residence Hall Association, represented Shadbolt House, and helped with organizing events. Later on she took on the role of vice-president of communication, which was a big step up and a great experience for her.

Now Cory works with the Residence and Housing office, sorting out accommodations and organizing events. Although she will move out in the fall for nine months while she is on exchange in Northwest France, she hopes to move back in when she returns. For her, SFU residence has become more about the community than the convenience.

Vicky, who is originally from China, has lived in residence for about a year. Being an international student has been hard for her: “I feel lonely here,” she confesses.

Although she saw her parents in May this year, she still misses them and can’t wait to see them again. While she says that the experience is a challenging one, being in residence with her friends has helped buffer some of the homesickness. She loves swimming and tries to go to the pool with friends as often as possible, but her busy schedule can make it tough.

She also says she loves events like the Spring Formal, which are accessible to all residents.

Catherine is from China, and is relatively new to both residence and the SFU community, having been here for about a month. She is fascinated by the Canadian education system, and loves the fact that you can take as little as one class each day, unlike at home where she had to take classes all day long.

She also enjoys living in residence and having a private room all to herself in comparison to China, where she had to share her residence with at least four other people. “Here I have my own room, and there is a refrigerator here. I like that very much,” she says. For Catherine, the 10-hour long flight has been worth the experience so far.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: The Graduate Student Society at SFU is failing its membership

By

EIC

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June 27, 2016

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Dear Editor,

In 2007, the graduate students at SFU formally created a new, independent student society to represent themselves and their interests at the university. In response to a number of controversial decisions and actions undertaken on their behalf, and without a true democratic voice in the process purportedly created to represent them, grad students separated from the SFSS, and began a project to ensure that their interests, issues, and goals could be more effectively and democratically represented and pursued. As a result of the hard work of many volunteers and a handful of elected representatives, the GSS was born.

And, for some time, [. . .] the possibility of an organization devoted to advocating on behalf of graduate students’ interests started coming to fruition.

Today, this is no longer the case. With the exception of creating a position to specifically advocate on behalf of graduate students at the university (i.e., in appeals cases, in dealing with supervisory issues, etc.), and mounting a campaign to draw attention to the dismal state of the deteriorating infrastructure at SFU, the GSS has little that it can point to by way of justifying the fees which it collects semesterly from all students enrolled in graduate programs or courses at SFU.

Take the recent and still developing controversy concerning rape allegations on campus, and the response of SFU’s administration. While this situation has received media coverage from a number of different sources, and has elicited responses from both the SFSS and the TSSU, the GSS has remained conspicuously silent. Should graduate students not also be concerned about these allegations, and about the perceived response, or lack thereof, from the university’s administration?

And yet, no statement, no communication, no apparent interest [. . .] on the part of the organization whose role it is to represent graduate student interests at SFU on this important issue that undoubtedly has repercussions across the university community.

Or, take the slough of recent and upcoming administrative hires that are occurring at SFU. A number of high profile positions have been newly filled, and more are coming. In the midst of these deeply impactful decisions being made at the university, and in spite of having the opportunity to be present and represent graduate student issues in these decisions, there has been virtually no communication, consultation, participation, or representation of graduate students in these processes.

If the GSS exists to ensure that the issues and interests of graduate students are truly represented at the university, why has the organization been so strikingly absent from these discussions? Why have they not communicated these processes to their membership?

In fact, it seems that the GSS has done little, if anything, of late when perusing its website. Meeting minutes and reports are not made readily available, and seem to go months, even a whole semester, before they’re updated. Their “News & Events” seem mostly comprised of socials, contests, and coupons. No new services, initiatives, or projects have been undertaken in what appears to be years now. It’s little wonder that their AGM this year failed to meet quorum, or that the organization keeps trying to (and has done in the past) lower the required attendance for quorum.

For an organization created to ensure the democratic representation of graduate students in the university community, whose stated existence is to work for and on behalf of the interests and issues of graduate students, into which graduate students pay mandatory fees, there is little evidence of the GSS being much more than an expensive social club populated by resumé-padding “representatives.”

Sincerely,

Robert Eaves

Andy Shauf brings The Party to Vancouver

By

EIC

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June 26, 2016

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Andy web — Andy Shauf returns to Canada amidst a full year of touring.

Andy Shauf is in the middle of a very busy year.

Fresh off a spring tour in Europe that ended at the start of June, he’s already back on the road opening for ANTI- labelmate case/lang/veirs, who have a Vancouver date scheduled this week on June 29.

In fact, if you look at his tour dates on his website, September is the only month he isn’t scheduled to play for the rest of 2016. He’ll be touring through North America, with a return to Vancouver planned for October.

“It gets really tiring in a way,” Shauf said about constantly being on. “There are moments here and there that totally make all the ‘work’ worthwhile.

“It’s a totally rewarding experience, I do enjoy it. But I would enjoy some time off, keep writing, keep trying to do the thing I love to do the most.”

It isn’t as if it came as a surprise. In October of last year, Shauf signed to ANTI-, as well as Arts & Crafts here in Canada. The man Exclaim called “one of Canada’s best young folk singer-songwriters” released his new album with them, entitled The Party.

Not only has the album been getting attention from all the touring he’s done, it was also recognized with a long-list nomination from the Polaris Music Prize for the best Canadian album. Should it also make the short-list, it appears Shauf would have plans in September, attending the gala.

He said it was “really cool to be included in this list of really great albums,” and also mentioned that it’s special to be back playing again in Canada.

“I love playing in Canada. I’m really excited to do it again. I don’t even know [when] the last time I played in Canada was,” he said. “I’ve been touring in Western Canada for 10 years, so it’s really nice to play in familiar cities and see all the people who have supported you for a long time.”

The Party is getting well-earned attention right now. For those unfamiliar with Shauf’s work, his bandcamp page lists the music as “pop clarinet dark Canada.” While he does a beautiful job blending clarinet with piano, guitar, drums — and getting some help from Colin Nealis on the strings — it’s his storytelling that draws you in as a listener.

The Party is the story of just that: a party that takes place in a “city the size of a dinner plate.” Shauf creates these realistic characters for us to listen to as one night full of little vignettes unfold. Hearts lust away to swooning clarinet melodies, people drunkenly stumble to rich piano lines, and all the while Shauf’s emotional, soothing voice guides listeners through the night’s events.

Shauf selected 10 songs from the 15 he was working on for The Party, which is a much lower number than the 100+ songs he selected from for his last full-length album, 2015’s The Bearer of Bad News.

“I think I just have a better sense of what I like and what I don’t like,” he said of how his writing process has evolved. “On those earlier albums, there’s a lot of searching and a lot of trial and error whereas with The Party it was kind of easier to focus and know what I wanted to do.”

As evidenced by his Polaris nomination, it’s also something that listeners want him to do as well. Hopefully he finds time to appreciate this fact — maybe in 2017.

Andy Shauf is playing at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Wednesday, opening for case/lang/veirs as part of the Vancouver International Jazz Festival. Tickets are available here.

Admin “must be held accountable” for lack of transparency on sexual assault, says prof

By

EIC

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June 25, 2016

1

EMILE_CMYK — Chenier congratulates students who have advocated for a sexual assault and prevention and support centre.

It’s been several weeks since the recent sexual assault allegations came to light at Simon Fraser University, and statements from the administration have been few and far between.

While acknowledging that there are legal issues arising that prevent the specifics from being released to the public, many on campus have expressed frustration by the silence maintained by university officials.

Elise Chenier, head of Academic Women at Simon Fraser University, told The Peak that even though the school can’t talk about the specific cases and what’s being discussed in the media, there is still a lot more that administration could be doing.

“I’d say that, legally and ethically, they can’t speak directly to the accusations of sexual assault. Nevertheless, there are a whole host of other issues that this raises that can be spoken about publicly and openly and directly,” she said.

“For example, what are the procedures currently in place? Did those procedures fail? If they failed, have immediate steps been taken to correct them? And if not, why not?”

Chenier, who is also a professor in the history department, went on to argue that SFU needs to be taken to task for why students were not informed of reports of sexual assault on campus.

“I think there are really complicated legal issues that legitimately do prohibit them from saying certain things that pertain to the case,” she said.

“[But the question is,] why in residence was I not informed that there has been a report of sexual assault? Why was I not informed of that? That is a legitimate question to which I think the SFU admin must be held accountable and must respond to that.”

“There are lots of people who have been aware of these cases for some time. It wasn’t news to Jon Driver, for example.”

She drew a comparison to the 1998 court case of Jane Doe v. Board of Commissioners of Police for the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto. Doe was the fifth survivor of a serial rapist referred to as the “Balcony Rapist,” who committed a string of sexual assaults in the 1980s.

Doe sued the police for not alerting the affected areas of the previous four attacks — which they said they didn’t to avoid raising fear in the community — and won.

Chenier suggested that this shows the court recognizes that there is a responsibility to inform of a known danger. To her, even if SFU didn’t know all the details, or if it was just an accusation, the administration had an ethical responsibility to announce this, and proceed accordingly.

“Unless you are a potential victim [. . .] I think you lack the awareness of just how important that kind of information is, and how valuable it is, and how having that information helps create a safer environment,” she said.

Chenier identified women, queer people, and people with disabilities as those most likely to be potential victims.

SFU admin have been quick to point to the work they are currently doing to create a new sexual violence and misconduct policy, when asked for comment about the allegations. However, Chenier said that it is important to remember these are the same school officials who knew about the accusations before having campus-wide town halls to discuss the policy in May.

“People who are involved in initiating the policy process have been aware of these cases. This may have come to light to the general public, but there are lots of people who have been aware of these cases for some time. It wasn’t news to Jon Driver, for example.”

As far as what can happen next, Chenier acknowledged that while sexual assault can’t always be prevented, there are all kinds of things that can be done here to make SFU a safer place. The aforementioned policy is one of them.

“The policy is essential. You can say in your academic statements all you want [that] we will not tolerate sexual misconduct, but yes you will, if there’s nothing to provide meaningful consequences,” she said.

“I’m not saying there’s nothing now, but if you look at the rate of conviction in society, it’s pretty safe to go commit a sexual assault. It’s highly unlikely you’re going to get charged for it, or pay any kind of price for it.”

Chenier also identified comprehensive education as key in preventing sexual assault, and pointed out the need for more resources on campus. She singled out the proposed standalone sexual assault prevention and support centre which was discussed earlier this year.

“You have to have robust services. And it can’t be one person here and one person there. And the message that we’re hearing from the administration is, ‘Well, we have health and counselling.’ That in and of itself is not sufficient,” she said.

“This is why one of the things I’m supporting is those people who are advocating for a standalone sexual assault centre. I support that, and I think they’re absolutely right. I agree with them, and I will do everything I can to help that come to fruition. We’ve seen elsewhere, we have irrefutable evidence that this works, that this is effective.”

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY

By

Peak Web

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June 24, 2016

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By: Courtney Miller, Jessica Pickering, and Jessica Whitesel

Follow The Peak on Spotify to stay up to date on New Music Friday.

“Time of the Blue” – The Tallest Man on Earth

Jessica Whitesel: I love the Tallest Man on Earth and this song is no exception. This is just a really nice laid-back indie-folk track with simple guitar, and really well-done layering when it occurs. This song is definitely making it into my regular rotation.

Courtney Miller: The guitar is beautiful. The vocals are a little nasally but, for the most part, it works with the rural, simplistic vibe from this song. It’s a very calming and soothing track.

Jessica Pickering: The intro really made me want to dance, which probably makes me weird. What makes me even weirder is that I kind of was dancing to it and then the vocals started. This is not the type of song you should dance to. I really like this song but the next time I listen to it I’m just going to sit still (like I should have in the first place).

“Rest in Peace” – Yellowcard

JW: When I was younger, I really liked the entire Ocean Avenue album. But now that I am older I really just am not a huge fan of the same three chords being pounded out accompanied by almost scream-singing. While their fans have grown, the band has not. This song can RIP.

CM: It’s not fantastic, but it’s not bad either. It picks up on the guitar solo and that’s about the high point because otherwise it’s middle of the road pop-punk/alt-rock. Definitely no “Ocean Avenue.”

JP: This feels a little too angsty teenage years for me. If you feel like reliving your Grade 9 emo phase, this is the song for you. Overall, this song is pretty consistent with everything I’ve ever heard from Yellowcard.

“WILD” – Troye Sivan feat. Alessia Cara

JW: This is a really pleasant pop duet. I wasn’t too sure if I was going to like the combination of these two artists who have distinct voices, but they actually sound good together, which is a plus for a duet. The backing track wasn’t really the greatest, but the vocals more than make up for that.

CM: “You make my heart shake, bend, and break” — it’s not A+ song-writing but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t catchy. Sivan’s and Cara’s voices work well together, which elevates the song from the depths of mediocrity.

JP: I really love the sound of this guy’s voice but I think he’s in the wrong genre. Alessia Cara’s vocals fit way better with the backing track. This song could be great but there are some parts that just aren’t working for me. It’s not bad but it could be better.

“Óveður” – Sigur Rós

JW: Sigur Rós is one of my favourite background music bands. There is just something about the mix of Icelandic lyrics and the post-rock track that I find incredibly soothing. While this is not going to be everybody’s cup of tea, it is mine and I can’t wait for a new album from them.

CM: I’m not feeling this. It starts off like there’s an apocalypse coming — which I am all about — and then it gets these movie-majestic vocals. Awesome, if I could stop it there that’d be great. Alas, the vocals shift into subpar, trying-too-hard-and-not-getting-better, sounds-like-someone’s-dying vocals and the music has this huge disconnect with the melody and I’m just out.

JP: This feels like a song I’m not going to get. The music is weird and staticky. The vocals are really slow and a little creepy. Update: I am 100 percent sure that I don’t get this song; there is now what sounds like a T-shirt gun going off repeatedly. This song has unsettled me.

“Champion Lover” – Nina Sky

JW: The only song I ever remember them having was “Move Ya Body” from 2004. And while I can respect them for continuing to make music, they should crawl back under their rock. While they have been around longer than Fifth Harmony this sounds like they picked up one of their reject songs in an attempt to make it big and not a comeback.

CM: This was all around ‘meh’ for me. It was boring, highly conducive to zoning out, and never really went anywhere. “Champion lover, number one spot” won’t be winning any awards lyrically — I hope. And honestly, I thought it was “number one slut” until I looked those lyrics up.

JP: This song is fun. I can see it playing in a mall or something. It’s really upbeat and the words are repetitive so I can see it being overplayed. Don’t be surprised if you hear it the next time you’re shopping at Forever 21.

“Sucker For Pain” – Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, and Imagine Dragons feat. X Ambassadors, Ty Dolla $ign, and Logic

JW: I was prepared to hate this song just based off how many artists were involved with its creation. I would listen to this more than once, and bless Imagine Dragons and X Ambassadors for making this not some crazed rap song. The only low point was Wiz Khalifa’s verse, which just didn’t fit stylistically with the rest of the song.

CM: Bless Imagine Dragons for influencing this song. It’s creepy, but dynamic and complex to showcase real musicality, which I live for. The rapping isn’t bad, but it’s not great either — some notes fall flat, others sharp. It has a “too many cooks in the kitchen” feel to it with all the different rappers in it.

JP: This song is for the Suicide Squad movie soundtrack and you can totally tell. It’s like the studio gave them a list of words they had to use. It just sounds really forced. Also the number of artists they packed into this is insane. I don’t know who is behind this song, but they are trying too hard.

“No Future” – Blink-182

JW: I miss Tom DeLonge. He just brought something to the band and now that he isn’t there they just kind of suck. Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio wasn’t a good fit for replacing DeLonge and it really comes through in this song. It sounds like some weird Blink-182 and New Found Glory mash-up and nobody wants that.

CM: This is a great morning song to get you up and pumped, ready to take on the world. Fast tempo, and lots of rollicking drums make this another Blink-182 winner, as long as you like their style.

JP: I think Blink-182 plagiarized one of their own songs. I swear I’ve heard this song before, just with different lyrics. Either that or all of Blink-182’s songs are starting to sound the same to me. Honestly, it’s probably the latter. Is this what getting old feels like?

“Some Other Summer” – Sebastian Drums feat. Roxette

JW: It is an inoffensive electronic dance track, but that is about all I can say about it. It just kind of reeks of store brand cereal, like sugar-frosted flakes. You know that if you are given a choice you are going to pick the name brand. That feeling is this song.

CM: It’s neither upbeat enough nor catchy enough to actually be a summer song. I like that the music evolves throughout the song, and that it’s not repetitive in the aggravating fashion that’s popular these days. I’d still pass on listening to it again after this though.

JP: This is it. This is the most autotuned song in existence. I heard the intro and I thought it was going to be a good song. I was let down. I just want it to be over already.

“Crazy Shit” – Hannah Georgas

JW: I have mixed feelings about this song. I feel like I need to listen to it more than once to fully appreciate it, but I’m not fully in love with it on the first listen. I’m hoping that it will be one of those sleeper songs that I will end up actually loving.

CM: The first time through it’s kind of whimsical and just kind of pretty — at least in the chorus. The second time it’s a little grating and the vocals start losing their appeal. Again, we have a song that doesn’t really go anywhere.

JP: This song is literally nothing. The lyrics are mediocre at best, Georgas sings the same note the whole time, and the music is boring. The worst part is I can see it becoming crazy popular. Mentally preparing myself for it to be overplayed on the radio, just in case.

“Door” – Nice as Fuck

JW: This is just kind of blah. It isn’t bad, but it isn’t great either. It is super repetitive though, so it has that working against it. The further you get into the song you just want to slam the fucking door so it will stop. Which makes it less blah and more bad, but the beginning is kind of fun.

CM: This song doesn’t capture your attention, like it’s super easy to ignore. It’s fine for background music until you get annoyed at the repetitive melodies and lyrics.

JP: This kind of reminds me of Dragonette but I like Dragonette better. I really like the music, and the vocals aren’t bad, but I’m getting really tired of hearing “Don’t close the door.” I’m not exaggerating when I say half of the lyrics are the line “Don’t close the door.” The other half is “do doo do.”

“Hangin’ On” – ROZES

JW: This is a fun dance track, and has the potential to do really well on the charts, especially after the success of “Roses.” My only complaint is the repetitive nature of the lyrics, but if you are dancing in a club or your living room that really won’t be that big of an issue.

CM: This song grows on you. It’s got great rhythm and vocals that work with the music and it never stays in one place for too long. It could become a solid addition to a playlist made for dancing.

JP: I like this song in spite of myself. I think I mostly just like the beat. It’s a good dancing song so expect to hear it a lot this summer. I really like the steel drums; it makes this song more interesting than a lot of the other pop music out there.

“Young Like Us” – Frans

JW: This is just a fun and happy song. The lyrics are kind of simple, but it works. It just makes me want to drink with my friends at a house party, and then have the night turn into some sort of drunken adventure — even if it just to the door to get pizza. Those are the best nights and they fit the feeling of this song perfectly.

CM: This song is borderline too repetitive, but it’s just slightly too feel-good and catchy for it to be a negative aspect of the song. It’s a little bit of fun that won’t rub too many people the wrong way.

JP: This might be my favourite song on this playlist. It’s not a fantastic song, but for me it’s the best one I’ve heard today. The chorus is kind of cheesy: “I’ve got a feeling the night is young, young like us” is definitely not the best lyric I’ve ever heard but overall the song is pretty good. Seven out of 10, would listen again.

CENTRE STAGE: Small Stage and Ballet BC join forces

By

EIC

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June 24, 2016

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Small stage ballet bc – the gerogia straight — Dance performances like no other will grace the grounds of Deer Lake park.

Ballet BC dancers have a long history of appearing in Dances for a Small Stage shows. Peter Smida, Maggie Forgeron, and Makaila Wallace, among others, have graced the small stage, but this is the second time the two companies have formally collaborated on a show. In 2010, shortly after Emily Molnar had taken over Ballet BC, she connected with others in the dance community, including Small Stage artistic producer, Julie-anne Saroyan, and their companies joined forces for the first time.

This time, the dancers are together as an ensemble, choreographing works on each other and driving the creative process and vision of the show. “The first one was more presentational, but this show is coming from the dancers,” said Saroyan. Among the pairings are SFU dance alumna Vanessa Goodman who is choreographing a work on Ballet BC dancers Gilbert Small and Christoph von Riedemann.

“It is such a pleasure to be able to work with Gilbert and Christoph,” said Goodman. “Their artistry and generosity are creatively inspiring and have fed the process in a really important way. It’s great to be able to work with new people as each time I get to engage with new artists it brings forth new questions about my artistic practice and enables me to be able to grow and evolve within each creation.”

With the show being performed to a smaller audience in an intimate outdoor setting, this provides an opportunity for Ballet BC dancers to perform in a different atmosphere and express themselves in a different way; they have more artistic control over the performance. Dancing in Deer Lake Park is quite different from dancing on the Queen Elizabeth Theatre stage: in this show there are no wings to run into, and no theatrical tricks to hide behind. “They have to rely solely on their choreography and this can be the most meaningful experience for a choreographer where their work can really shine,” explained Saroyan.

Goodman’s piece involves a large wooden set piece shaped a bit like an ice cream cone with the pointed end cut off. “This work is not only centred around the environment of Deer Lake Park,” explained Goodman, “but also has a very striking set that is influential in the structure and the engagement of the work. The set piece is built to amplify the environment and the soundscape.”

I look forward to seeing how this large sculpture is incorporated into the work, as Goodman explained that it’s not often she has the opportunity to work on a scale this large with a set piece. “It has been a remarkable collaboration to construct the set,” said Goodman. “Julie-anne is amazing! When I told her what I wanted to do, she said let’s find a way to make it happen. It’s thrilling for me as an artist to challenge my process in new ways, and the combination of this set piece and working with Christoph and Gilbert has done this.”

All of the dancers have been working on their pieces since February, and everyone met up for the first time on June 20 to put it all together. They had a few days to polish everything, as well as decide on the order of the show and the specific locations in the park for each piece. When interviewed, Saroyan hadn’t even seen any choreography yet. “I’m looking forward to seeing what they all come up with,” she said.

The format of the show is similar to that of other Small Stage shows, other than the outdoor venue. There are 10 short pieces of five to seven minutes each, and the audience is led around the park to a few different locations. The choreography is sure to be risky and exciting, but they’re hoping the weather will treat them well.

The audience is invited to arrive early and enjoy a barbecue in the park from Big Rock Brewery. This is sure to be an enjoyable evening of innovative dance in a laid-back environment, and I hope to see more collaborations between these two mainstays of the Vancouver dance scene.

This article originally appeared on Tessa Perkins’ blog.