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Album Reviews

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Peak Web
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By: Max James Hill, Courtney Miller, and Natalie Serafini

Chance the Rapper – Coloring Book

Chance the Rapper will take you to church with his third mixtape. Whereas 2013’s Acid Rap was full of youthful longing for Rugrats VHS tapes, Coloring Book tackles more mature themes — fatherhood, religion, identity — without skimping on any of Chance’s charm or contagious enthusiasm. It’s a hell of a victory lap.

Like all of Chance’s work, the album is a joy from start to finish. “No Problem” is so delightful and energetic you’ll almost forget it’s a song about threatening music producers with violence; on the other hand, Peter Pan tribute “Same Drugs” is as tender and thoughtful as the rapper’s ever been. Chance shows an impressive amount of range throughout the mixtape, while recurring themes of devotion to God and loved ones keeps everything grounded.

Less self-absorbed than Kanye, more accessible than Kendrick, and more inventive than Drake; with Coloring Book Chance the Rapper might just steal the hip-hop crown while no one is looking. –MJH

Ariana Grande – Dangerous Woman

Ariana Grande returns with Dangerous Woman, the third release from the powerhouse singer. Her sound hasn’t changed much, it’s simply been refined and elevated to a higher standard of music. Many critics say that it’s her best album yet, and they’re right.

Her maturation and confidence fully shine through in lead single “Dangerous Woman.” The entire album seems to have been bumped up in sex appeal with some of her most sultry songs to date, such as “Everyday” and “Side to Side.” Her pop anthems and ‘90s R&B combine with other styles, like reggae in “Side to Side.” A host of other artists — Nicki Minaj, Macy Gray, Lil Wayne, and Future — are all featured on different tracks throughout.

Is it a musical masterpiece? No, but it’s easy to listen to and the vocals are always on point. Maybe soon Grande will embrace her full potential and give us the dynamite record her previous albums only allude to. –CM

 

Oddisee – The Odd Tape

Rapper and producer Oddisee takes an odd turn on his latest album: there are no vocals. No raps, no rhymes, no finely crafted lyrics. Instead, the album bleeds from one jazz-infused tune to another.

He hasn’t pulled a complete 180 musically, though. There is still a significant amount of hip-hop and soul influence on this record. If you’ve heard Oddisee’s previous works — including Alwasta and the addictive The Good Fight — you know that he’s long flirted with jazz, hip hop, and soul mixology.

Where The Good Fight was perfect get-up-and-go music for the day, The Odd Tape is a sexy set of tunes for the evening. “Right Side of the Bed” feels ready-made for cocktails and dimmed lights, while “Out at Night” is full of hip hop influences. Don’t think this is an album that bounces between styles, though. The album progresses organically: there are no jarring switches from jazz to hip-hop and back. Oddisee takes firm beats and marries them with complex melodies.

The Odd Tape is a must-listen for any jazz or hip hop aficionados. –NS

Once Upon a Time drinking game

By
EIC
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By: Vincent Justin Mitra, Peak Associate

Once upon a time, a show called Once Upon a Time aired the finale to its fifth season on May 15, and there was mild celebration. Evil was defeated (mostly); the curse was broken (temporarily); the heroes learned to accept their shortcomings (again); and, even though the cast has doubled, it’s been another year since they’ve even mentioned your favourite character. 

First airing in 2011, Once Upon a Time is a show which, for reasons confusing and irrelevant, brings all the fairy tale characters you knew and loved into the most mundane and magic-less land in existence: Maine.

It’s a weird show with something for everybody: it has magic, flashbacks, and the killing of a dragon with a taser (wait. . . what?). 

Heck, where else can you see an episode with the Wolf (of Little Red Riding Hood) helping Dorothy (of The Wizard of Oz) to bring a potion ingredient back to Mulan (of Mulan) so she can help save Captain Hook (of Peter Pan) from Hades (of Hercules)? (Don’t believe me? Check out the episode description here.

So, if you already watch the show, or if you want to experience the Land of Uneven Storytelling, here is a drinking game to make the show easier to handle. 

Fire up Netflix, pick an episode at random — or, if you’re feeling adventurous, start from the beginning — and drink until you forget everything that happened this season (just like the characters).

Drink when:

    • A character loses their memory.
    • A witch or fairy wears an outfit that draws attention to their cleavage.
    • The Evil Queen makes a fireball.
      • +1 if she doesn’t throw it.
    • The Evil Queen cries or feels guilty. 
    • A heart is pulled out of someone’s chest.
      • +1 if it is not done by the Evil Queen.
    • Rumpelstiltskin offers to make a deal.
    • Rumpelstiltskin says “dearie.”
    • Rumpelstiltskin giggles.
    • Someone says “magic comes with a price.”
      • +1 if it is said by Rumpelstiltskin.
    • A character turns from evil to good.
      • +1 if it is Rumpelstiltskin.
    • A character turns from good to evil.
      • +1 if it is Rumpelstiltskin.
    • A portal is opened.
    • A new incurable/unblockable/unstoppable weapon is introduced.
      • +1 if it is cured/blocked/stopped a few episodes later.
        • +1 if it is cured/stopped by Rumpelstiltskin.
    • A new magical object is introduced.

 

  • If they don’t know what it does, but their first guess is exactly correct, Finish Your Drink.

 

    • An old magical object is reintroduced, but with new powers not previously mentioned.
    • A named character is killed.
    • A character is brought back to life.
      • +1 if the explanation takes less than a minute.
    • A new character is introduced.
      • +1 if they are a Disney character.
        • +1 if they are wearing their Disney costume.
      • +1 if they are white.
    • A character from one fairy tale is revealed to be another character in a different fairy tale.
    • Someone is cryptic when they should be direct.
    • A hero tells a villain too much information.
    • A character makes a huge leap in logic.
      • +1 if another character makes the same leap in the very next scene.
    • A magical character wants to use magic but can’t.
    • The characters consult the Once Upon a Time storybook.
    • They say the name of the town.
    • They make a Disney reference.
    • They make a Lost reference.

Finish your drink when:

  • A curse is cast.
  • A character is added to the Snow White/Prince Charming family tree.
  • “New York City” is obviously Downtown Vancouver.
  • You want to yell at a character.

Hard Mode:

  • Drink every time you see:
    • Magic smoke.
    • A villain wearing a suit.
  • Chug during:
    • A motivational speech.

Sunny with a chance of sexism

By
EIC
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0

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he morning weather report had never been so sexy — until recently. Last week, Liberté Chan, a meteorologist for KTLA in Los Angeles, was so harshly criticized by viewers for wearing a ‘cocktail’ dress on the morning weather report that her colleagues coerced her, while on the air, into putting on a cardigan to cover up.

The whole incident is a blatant example of sexism, and I want to both condemn those who have insulted Chan and applaud her on her maturity during the unfortunate incident.

Wearing a thinner-strapped, black beaded dress, slightly cut above the knee, Chan is simply conducting her morning report when an off-screen hand holds out a cardigan.

“What’s going on?” she asks before taking the cardigan. “You want me to put this on?”

Another hand then reaches in to help Chan put on the sweater. “We’re getting a lot of emails,” replies a male voice.

“What? Really? OK,” she says. “I look like a librarian now.”

And while you’re watching, shocked that this is happening, the man off-screen delivers a painfully sexist comment: “It’s a librarian who’s gone to a cocktail party.”

Within minutes, Twitter and other social media platforms rightfully exploded with anger at the incident.

Firstly, while the comment was probably intended to be innocent, it really demonstrates, on television, that blatant sexism endures in the workplace.

This incident outright discourages women from entering news broadcasting, and delivers the message that women must be very careful in displaying stimulating body parts — such as shoulders, arms, and knees — in a professional environment. 

Secondly, I believe that KTLA viewers have no right to comment on the appropriateness of Chan’s outfit. The dress was not overly revealing in any way, and wasn’t distracting during her report. But even if the dress was inappropriate, KTLA viewers should have simply flipped the channel instead of outright insulting Chan via email.

Think about it: do you go up to every individual who you see wearing something you find distasteful, in order criticize them about it? No. You simply keep walking.

However, Chan displayed perfect humility in a response to the incident by saying that she is not insulted by her colleague’s comment; nor did she seem hurt by the overwhelming number of distasteful comments she has since received online. I believe that Chan’s modesty and positive response to the incident should be recognized and applauded.

While Chan didn’t deserve the comment, or the criticism from viewers, she acted very maturely. She serves as a role model to women everywhere on how to dismiss sexism and negativity in the workplace.

Letter to the Editor

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EIC
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Dear editor,

Re: “TAs should be taught to teach”

A previous editorial in The Peak outlined symptoms of worsening quality of education SFU students’ experience. As SFU students and members of TSSU’s contract committee, we’ve seen these symptoms progress despite our best efforts to reverse them. The driving force behind these symptoms is not TAs or professors, who both work long hours to fulfil SFU’s teaching and research mission. Rather, it is an austerity agenda implemented by a cadre of highly paid administrators who control and consume much of the university budget.

The Teaching Assistant system was borne of three needs: for a greater availability of workers able to perform the grunt labour of education; for graduate students to have a means of supporting themselves in their studies; and for an academic system that granted future academics opportunities to gain teaching experience prior to graduation.

Over time, as the university system has morphed, so have the job descriptions of TAs at SFU. Many students enrolled at SFU now spend more time talking to their TAs than their professors, with those TAs, who are students themselves, rarely being given the opportunity to be mentored in their teaching.

The purpose of the TA job as a training and support role for future academics is directly laid out in the Collective Agreement between SFU and TSSU (Article XIII F.2). Since learning to teach is part of the purpose of these jobs, teaching experience cannot be a qualification for TA positions.

While practice is an obvious means by which TAs can improve upon their teaching, TAs will become better teachers much faster with a proper mentorship and training program. To date, the only large-scale training of this nature SFU provides is the biannual TA/TM day — an event that would not even exist had TSSU members not given up monetary benefits to cover the cost.

It is particularly worrying that more and more departments at SFU have begun to deny TAs the opportunity to attend TA/TM day. At the bargaining table, TSSU has consistently tried to negotiate improved access to training and mentorship only to be told it would cost too much.

The effects of austerity on teaching at SFU can be quantified from data available through SFU’s Institutional Research and Planning department. Over the last five years, the number of full-time equivalent students at SFU has increased by five [percent], while the number of TA hours has decreased by two [percent]; combined, this equates to a seven [percent] cut.

This number does not reflect a decrease in the amount of time TAs spend teaching and marking compared to previous years, but instead a reduction in the hours allocated for TAs to plan their tutorials, meet their supervisors, attend lectures, or receive training — all of which reduces the ability of TAs to deliver quality education. The effects of these cuts are particularly concentrated in younger departments, such as the mechatronics engineering program in Surrey — here, TAs have 40 [percent] less time to do the same work.

While this response may paint a bleak picture of the teaching situation at SFU, these cuts could be reversed, and a true teaching mentorship program implemented, at a relatively small cost. TAs account for only $14 million of SFU’s  $500 million budget, [SFU’s budget is listed as $488 for the 2015–16 fiscal year – ed.] or 2.8 percent. Offsetting the aforementioned 7 [percent] cut by increasing TA hours would come at the price of a mere 0.2 [percent] more.

Students have tremendous power to force change at their universities, yet are often reluctant to wield it. Your TAs, TMs and Sessional Instructors will continue to fight for a better SFU education; we hope many Peak readers will join us.

Sincerely,

Derek Sahota and Tania Arvanitidis, Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU)

Three places to check out this summer (that you definitely won’t regret)

By
EIC
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0

JANIS PIECE hans peter meyer(flickr)

1. Go to a farmers market

Where: 1100 Comox Street
When: Saturdays, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

Check out the West End Farmers Market to purchase the organic harvests of spring, like carrots, cabbage, broccoli, peas, and garlic — sweet, sweet, organic garlic. Whoa, whoa, whoa friend. . . did you just say that head of garlic is $10? They’re asking for your soul, your spirit, and essentially your entire food budget! You can’t back out now since that would ruin the atmosphere of your indie date — you even wore your special socks! I’m sure munching on raw garlic isn’t that strange.

JANIS PIECE John D McDonald (flicker)

2. Hike at Lynn Canyon

Where: 3663 Park Rd
When: Always!

This beautiful park is ideal in the spring. Make sure to bring both of your inhalers! The park offers winding trails and fearfully steep hills and stairs. . . so very fearful. Do you think you could feign telepathic abilities and effectively lie that you just sensed your great-aunt fell ill and you have to go to her? No, you couldn’t lie to save your life (you’re sort of like Jackie Chan in Shanghai Noon, so admirably loyal). You’re just going to have to get your wheezy body up that hill for the sake of romance, you beautiful son of a bitch.

JANIS PIECE Tiffa Day(flikr)

3. Play at Playland

Where: 2901 E Hastings St
When: Weekends, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Enjoy some cheap thrills at Playland, such as excessively long lines, puking children, and suspicious sweat stains. It’s going to be a long day, filled with wedgies and the swamp of Dagobah forming underneath your tits (have fun washing that out of your white lace bralette!). Try out the Drop Zone with your date for an additional $20 — you’ll be wrapped in a giant adult-body-diaper, making sure that if you shit yourself, most of the mess is controlled. Well, unless you’ve been having diarrhoea! If you find yourself in that situation, then you’ll definitely be having some good Christian fun (and you’ll probably need the Lord afterwards, too)!

Peak Comics: K-Poops

By
EIC
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Peak Comics: Peers

By
EIC
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0

Week7(2)

Study reveals most university students only pretend to like vodka

By
EIC
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0

In a recent study conducted on university students across the country, participants answered questions regarding their vodka consumption in boths group and anonymous one-on-one interviews. The data compiled was intriguing, to say the least.

Of the participants studied, 97 percent of students in groups claimed they “loved” vodka. Curiously though, less than four percent were willing to admit the same when interviewed alone. These strange findings were further highlighted in taste testing rounds.

While participants recorded sentiments such as “nice,” “sweet,” and “smooth,” brain monitoring equipment registered feelings synonymous with extreme revulsion and self-pity throughout their recorded statements.

Additionally, when researchers reviewed their recorded sessions, they discovered that an overwhelming majority of students tried to purposefully spill their drinks when the interviewer’s attention was drawn elsewhere.

In one instance, a participant given the affectionate nickname of “Georgy-Porgy” attempted to conceal his feelings of discomfort even during the anonymous round. He eventually succumbed to a drunkenness so peculiarly severe, researchers still struggle to articulate it today.

At first Georgy-Porgy was brave during the individual taste tests, describing the flavours as “warm, hearty, and cultured,” while biting back tears. By the third taste test he could no longer conceal his twitching eye.

By the fifth taste test he threw his glass against the wall, smacked his knee with one hand, and yelled, “Well, slap me silly and call me Sally! At least I can die knowing what ink toner tastes like.” Shortly after, he collapsed on the floor muttering the words “Georgy-Porgy” over and over again, earning the code name that protects his identity today.

Georgy-Porgy is alive and well, but has since stopped drinking alcohol altogether.

The findings conclude that today’s student body goes to great lengths to feign their enjoyment of vodka. The ramifications, if left unchecked, can be physically and mentally devastating.

SFYou: An interview with SFU’s dancing queen, Melissa Panetta

By
EIC
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0

As she sipped her green tea across from me, I got to know an extremely down-to-earth and light-hearted person, who dares to ask for what she wants in life.

Melissa Panetta, a professional dancer by trade, has done everything from teaching community dance-inspired fitness programs to showing off her moves on Lopez Tonight. She is an SFU success story, but also a source of inspiration to anyone struggling to find opportunities that satisfy their passions.

Panetta began her journey at five years old at Dance Steps in London, Ontario. She later trained and competed at the Oakville Academy for the Arts in Oakville, Ontario. Panetta recently graduated from Simon Fraser University with a degree in dance and kinesiology. Her post-SFU journey is now taking her to Chicago, as she has been recruited by the Thodos Dance Company.

The Peak sat down with Panetta and asked her how she got here, and what’s next.

The Peak: When did you start dancing and what created that interest for you?
Melissa Panetta: I started dance when I was really little, and I have loved it ever since!

P: What made you decide to pursue dance professionally?

MP: It’s always been my passion and I [couldn’t] really see myself doing anything else. So I wanted to give it a shot [. . .]. When I don’t perform [it’s like] something is missing. . . when you get on stage, it’s just a certain feeling that you don’t get [anywhere else]. It’s hard to put into words, but I don’t think I could go without that.

P: Did you ever doubt the path you chose?
MP: Yes, definitely. I mean, it’s a hard career, just because you get a lot of noes along the way. But I knew it was going to be hard and it’s something that I really like doing, so it’s worth it in the end.

P: How did you deal with that rejection along the way?
MP: You just can’t take it personally. It’s hard for the first couple noes, they hit hard. But I also have a great support system at home. It’s amazing having such supportive parents. They really helped me along the way.

You just have to look at [everything] as a learning experience. Even if I didn’t get the outcome that I wanted, I still learnt something from it, so it was still worth it in the end.

P: Why did you decide to come to SFU?
MP: I took a year off after high school because I wasn’t really sure what to do. I knew I wanted to pursue dance, but I wasn’t really sure what school I wanted to go to. I’m originally from Ontario, so I looked at the schools there at first, but nothing really interested me. Then, I found out that SFU allowed me to do both kinesiology and dance programs.

P: So, you knew that your interest was also in kinesiology from the beginning?
MP: Yeah! I wanted to have kind of a backup plan, but just in case dance didn’t work out. I wanted something in my back pocket. SFU was one of the great schools that allowed me to do both! Kinesiology was also a great way to support my dance major, because you have to know the body and all that tech stuff.

P: What did you enjoy most about going to SFU?

MP: I would say the people! My program was so small, so we really got to know each other in depth. Especially when we were collaborating every day. It was great to know so many different people from so many different places.

P: What did you enjoy most throughout the dance and kinesiology programs at SFU?

MP:  I really liked how you get such [a large variety of] teachers and instructors. It was really nice to go through the four years and have so many different genres of dance throughout.

The kinesiology program also offered so many opportunities. I found there was so much outside support. All of the teachers I had were really supportive.

P: How did your years at SFU change you?

MP: I think coming into SFU, talking from a dance perspective I was [very technical]. So coming to SFU really broadened my artistic side.

P: Can you share a bit of your artistic vision with us?
MP: What I lean towards is more of an organic movement style. I really like physicality, which can be seen in so many different ways. Essentially, I really love seeing strength and power in movement. . . I lean more towards the physical part of dance and more strong movements.

P: How did you get selected for the company in Chicago?
MP: I Googled “contemporary dance companies auditions” and found the open audition. So, I made the trip to Chicago in March. There were a bunch of rounds [I had to compete in]. It’s pretty intimidating, because they don’t know our names — all they see is your resumé, your headshot, and what you just did in the audition.

P: Will your interest in kinesiology be something you get to further pursue in Chicago?
MP: For sure! Through the company that I’m working with they have on-site physios and chiros, so we get to work with them personally. We will need them on site, of course, in case of injuries, but I’ll also get more exposure to the field through them.

P: What are you looking forward to most about moving to Chicago?

MP: I’m excited about moving to a new city. I’m excited to just take that next step and explore. I am a traveller for sure, so I love a new adventure!

P: Any advice to dancers? Professional or hobbyists.

MP: I think just remind yourself why you are doing dance. If you really love it, [remember] why you really love it. What made you start that very first dance class? Sometimes people really think about the technical side of it, and trying to make everything perfect. But you have to remind yourself of your passion, and don’t ever lose that.

P: Any words of wisdom for current SFU students?

MP: I think just enjoy the time you have here, because it goes by so quickly. I didn’t realize how quick four years goes [by]. Just enjoy the ride and have fun.

Elbowgate is one of the stupidest things to hit Canadian Parliament

By
EIC
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1

[dropcap]“[/dropcap]Elbowgate” is the affectionate misnomer the media strapped onto a minor hiccup by Prime Minister Trudeau in the House of Commons on May 18. But the name isn’t the only unfortunate circumstance — this entire thing is ridiculous.

Of course, we will never truly know what intentions (or lack thereof) were behind the embarrassment that transpired in Parliament. What we should know is that the entire story was blown out of proportion by politicians and thirsty media, and gobbled up by a ravenous public.

Trudeau walked across the floor to escort the Conservative party whip Gord Brown to his seat. When Trudeau pushed through a group to reach the man, he accidentally elbowed an NDP member in the breast.

At this point, I would like to remind everyone that even though Trudeau is our Prime Minister, he is still a human being. As such, it is completely understandable that he would accidentally knock into someone in a crowded area as he went by.

He apologized. Everyone should have moved on. But they didn’t.

Trudeau shouldn’t have left his seat to try and help the Conservative through — which he acknowledged and also apologized for. That should have been the end of it. Ruth Ellen Brosseau, the aforementioned NDP member, stated that she left after being elbowed in the breast because “it was very overwhelming.”

OK, but why? Hasn’t anyone ever tried to squeeze past her and accidentally nudged or elbowed her before? I understand that in Parliament physical touch is unacceptable, but adding accusations on top of mistakes seems like the worst possible way to calm down a non-situation.

All I can do is shake my head at this honest-to-God idiocy.

NDP leader Thomas Mulcair then decided, for reasons unknown, that this was an act of utter disrespect. Mulcair’s misguided and deliberately inflammatory comment to Trudeau, “What kind of man elbows a woman?” caused the two men to get into a shouting match in the middle of the House. All I can do is shake my head at this honest-to-God idiocy.

There have been parliamentary sessions in other countries, such as Ukraine, where legislators have literally broken out into physical brawls on the floor; yet Canadian politicians and media are getting this wound up over a simple accident.

There is something to be said about media’s portrayal of Canadian political ‘issues,’ and it’s not good. For whatever reason, any problem or mistake Trudeau encounters is slapped with a ‘gate’ suffix. No, that’s not how it works. An issue isn’t a problem just because you’re naming it after Watergate, which was an actual crisis. All it does is reinforce the idea that you have nothing bigger to bug Trudeau and his Liberals about — you’re grasping at straws.

It’s trite, it’s immature, and frankly, it’s embarrassing.

This entire bad dream should have ended on the legislative floor with Trudeau’s apologies. Mulcair shouldn’t have resorted to screaming insults, and Conservative leader Rona Ambrose didn’t have to fuel the fire with her arrogant, self-entitled speech on how appalled she was at all this childish behaviour.

I understand that Canadian politics don’t have a lot of drama, but that doesn’t mean we need to create some, or over-magnify the tidbits that do occur. Come on, Canada. We’re better than this.

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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