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An overview of events marking SFU’s 50th anniversary

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This year, SFU is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the day it opened its doors — September 9, 1965. There are a number of celebratory events being planned by the university in effort to engage the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members in commemorating the milestone.

The associate project director of SFU’s 50th Anniversary Project, Adam Brayford, expressed, “SFU’s 50th Anniversary is so rich with events because events are perhaps the most meaningful and memorable way for us to engage our community.”

With less than 72 days until the big “50th Anniversary Kickoff” and “Celebrate & Savour SFU’s 50th Anniversary,” here are some celebratory events you can attend leading up to September 9.

 

Through a Window: Visual Art and SFU

Where: SFU Gallery (June 3 – July 31), Audain Gallery (June 3 – August 1), Teck Gallery (June 3 – April 30, 2016)

Showcasing the history of visual art at SFU over the past 50 years, this three-part exhibition integrates the works of former students, faculty, and other collaborators in a reflection of the artistic rhythms of the past.

The exhibit literally looks at a window in each of the galleries as “as a social, spatial, and material symbol.” The works display shifts in local, national, and international aesthetics, theory, teaching, technology, and politics over the decades.

In addition to public tours, mobile talks, and sound walks, the three galleries will host various listening events and lectures throughout the summer.

 

City of Surrey Fusion Festival

Where: Holland Park (July 18 – 19)

Music, food, and culture will be at the forefront of the Fusion Festival, featuring a number of ethnic groups and service clubs from the Surrey and South Fraser communities.

There will be over 70 performances on four stages throughout the park, including appearances by the SFU pipe band and highland dancers. The Celebration Stage is being sponsored by SFU, with the aim to “create a celebration of international cooperation in the spirit of harmony.”

“SFU’s presence at the Surrey Fusion Festival,” said Brayford, “is an example of how, as we enter our 50th year, we are more community-engaged than ever.”

In addition to interactive booths put on by groups such as SFU Recreation and the Mechatronics department, the festival will include a 50th Anniversary ceremony and reception, and a welcome address by President Andrew Petter.

 

Week of Welcome

Where: All three SFU campuses (September 8 – 11)

As the university welcomes a fresh batch of faces for the 50th time, all students are welcome to participate in the biggest Week of Welcome in SFU history.

A carnival-themed day will kick off the first week of classes. Students can expect to see photo booths, mini golf, and daily barbeques or pancake breakfasts at the Burnaby and Surrey campuses. A community barbeque will be held at the Vancouver campus on Wednesday September 9.

“Our 50th Anniversary Week of Welcome will provide a fun way to enter the fall semester and will create memorable experiences for students,” explained Brayford. The week promises to engage and entertain with lots of good food, music, performances, and free stuff.

 

50th Anniversary Kickoff

Where: Freedom Square (September 9)

SFU’s official birthday party will be held around on the day the university opened its doors to its very first students. Although the kickoff will be held in Freedom Square around midday, it will be live-streamed to simultaneous celebrations at each of the satellite campuses.

Attendees will have the opportunity to don 50th Anniversary tattoos, and write inspirational chalk messages on the steps of Freedom Square. Live entertainment, food trucks, and — of course — fair-trade birthday cake are on all the menu.

Click here for details on the celebrations.

 

Celebrate & Savour

Where: AQ courtyard (September 9)

The evening of September 9 will see the AQ courtyards transformed into an interactive food festival, featuring the greatest chefs and culinary experts in Metro Vancouver.

An array of ethnic performances, a giant birthday card, photobooths, and more, will be topped off with a display of fireworks at the end of the night.

Click here for more on this unique evening event.

 

Launch of the Change Makers Video Series

Where: Various SFU locations (September 9)

Starting September 9, SFU will be launching a series of videos profiling “change makers” from the SFU community.

The change makers include those who have taken the knowledge and experience acquired from their time at SFU and shared it with the greater global community. The videos will released throughout the year.

 

50th Anniversary Clan Kickoff Football Game

Where: Swangard Stadium (September 19)

SFU Athletics will be kicking off their 50th anniversary celebrations at the first Clan football game of the season. The anniversary season will feature event passport reward programs to allow fans to win prizes by collecting stamps at each game they attend.

Select games throughout the season will recognize some of the Clan’s greatest athletes and athletic achievements. Fans can also expect to see the distribution of commemorative t-shirts and performances by university artists, including the award-winning SFU pipe band, at the games.

 

50th Anniversary Convocation

Where: SFU Convocation Mall (October 8 – 9)

The Fall 2015 Convocation will be celebrated with esteemed guests, including SFU’s Charter (very first) alumni and special honorary degree recipients.

Filmmaker and author Sut Jhally, scientist and educator Bill Nye “the Science Guy,” prize-winning chemist Harry Gray, and ethnobotanist and ethnoecologist Nancy Turner, are just a few of the individuals who will walk the stage with the graduands.

The ceremony will include 50th anniversary heraldry, and the graduands will receive a special momento from the university and Alumni Association.

Tim Hunt deserves better

By
EIC
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Photo courtesy of Nelson Ching (Flickr)

So you’ve completed years of schooling, spent years of your life practicing your speciality, trained and supported pupils, helped advance global understanding in academia, won a Nobel Prize for your work, and then you make a few comments on gender and have your career and credibility destroyed. Sound fair? I don’t think so, either.

Dr. Tim Hunt’s comments have created a storm of social media outrage: “Let me tell you about my trouble with girls [. . .] three things happen when they are in the lab [. . .] You fall in love with them, they fall in love with you, and when you criticise them, they cry.”

While I can see how Hunt’s comments have been interpreted as demeaning to women in science, and may even discourage women from entering the discipline, I believe that it’s absurd that Hunt has had to resign from his position at the University College London and the European Research Council for his statements.

There is still some controversy over whether Dr. Hunt’s statements were truthful or, as he claims, meant to be “ironic” and “jocular.” Since he says his statements were not meant to be taken the way they have been, and because he has received a lot of support from his colleagues who attest to his good character, I believe that being forced to resign from UCL and the European Research Council is extremely inappropriate.

The media unfairly cherry-picks which high-profile individuals they want to call out for their behavior. Hunt, who has dedicated his life to helping us better understand the world, and who has done a damn good job doing it, gets sacked from his career for a few crude, naive comments.

Meanwhile, Michael Tebbutt, a former horse jockey who works with the British Racing School as a coach, made national headlines early June with a completely sexist remark on female riders, but he has gotten off without so much as a slap on the wrist. Tebbutt claims that men make better jockeys than women because of men’s superior physical and mental strength.

I’m sure it’s a demanding task to maintain a proper stance while the horse is running at full speed, but male jockeys don’t exactly strike me as possessing more strength than a female one could acquire through enough strength training.

Tebbutt has received media attention, but unlike Dr. Hunt, he hasn’t been fired or even condemned by his colleagues and the British Racing School. Some of his colleagues even came to his defense for his unmistakable sexism, claiming that it was just a silly comment.

Hunt may endorse gender segregated laboratories and believe that relationships get in the way of science, but these are only his opinions, and no one is seriously considering implementing these ideas. Other celebrities, with a much higher profile than Hunt, have made much worse comments yet received no negative media attention — never mind lost their career.

Woohoo, Boohoo

By
EIC
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Photo courtesy of Canadian Pacific (Flickr)

Woohoo: Atlantic Lobster

Sinking my teeth into this baby feels like I’ve captured heaven right on my plate. From the shores of the Atlantic, my little Nova Scotian friend is a companion to not only my stomach, but to my mind and soul.

The decadent, sweet meat, fresh from the boiling pot, now drips with butter, garlic and an assortment of other spices that have me yearning to gorge on this tasty dish on a regular basis. Aside from the fact that my poor buddy was thrown into the bubbling pot while still alive — its drowning screams silenced by the deathly darkness — the resulting delicacy plucked from the stove has left billions of stomachs pleasantly satisfied for thousands of years.

Thank you, my sharp-pincered, brilliantly scarlet friend.

Boohoo: The McLobster

The box emblazoned with “limited time only” has me curious, excited, and slightly apprehensive. While still coming to terms with the fact that the fast-food symbol of American obesity regularly serves lobster in the Atlantic parts of Canada, I cautiously open the box and witness a confusing hodge-podge of lettuce, cucumber, and something red in a mysterious goopy sauce — a lobster salad in a hot dog bun? Here goes.

My fingers explore the warm, crispy bread-casing and I take a bite.

Ice fucking cold. Really?

A strong lemon-mayo flavour impedes my taste-buds from accessing the good stuff — that sweet, soul-comforting ocean bliss. I expected butter, I expected garlic, I expected it to be hot. Instead what I got was an icy, confusing mess like something my mother experimented with, didn’t like, then forgot in the fridge for four days.

Thanks, McDonald’s, for ruining lobster.

SFU throws 50th anniversary kickoff party

By
EIC
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Image Credit: Rachelle Tjahyana

SFU is turning 50 years young this September, and the university is preparing to celebrate in style.

Fiftieth anniversary celebrations will kick off this fall on the university’s official birthday, September 9.

The day program will involve a free event starting in the morning in Freedom Square, with concurrent events taking place on the Surrey and Vancouver campuses. People are invited to hear some speakers, have a piece of Fair Trade chocolate birthday cake, write some inspirational chalk messages, and sign SFU’s giant birthday card.

Later in the evening, the AQ gardens will play host to the “Celebrate and Savour” portion of the festivities. This party will include an address from SFU President Andrew Petter, a food festival of featuring gourmet sponsors, fireworks, and a performance by the to-be-determined winner of the SFU Legacy Song Competition. Participants are encouraged to come in their SFU attire.

Gloria Chu, director for SFU Ceremonies and Events, is one of the driving forces behind the kickoff event. She explained that one of the primary goals for planning this event was to engage the community and bring people together in celebration.

Chu went on to say that they aimed not only to recognize donors, but to make it accessible to everyone by offering free daytime activities and making tickets reasonably priced.

“We want to really engage our community, not just a select few,” she said. “We really wanted to make it accessible and to be very inclusive.”

As of press time, SFU has raised $180 million of the $250 million fundraising goal. The donations will go towards funding scholarships, bursaries, and various programs at SFU. There will be a reception with the president to recognize and give thanks to the donors.

“Something that we haven’t really utilized is our iconic AQ. It’s really symbolic of the university,” she stated. “It’s a magnificent space outdoors, so that’s why we decided we wanted to have this big celebration here.”

Chu detailed some of the plans for transforming the gardens for the event, and alluded to a few surprises. “As it slowly gets darker,” Chu shared that “lights will be glistening around the AQ.”

The food festival aspect will be one of the main focuses of the event. Many of the participating food vendors are partners and friends of the university, with the addition of some other local restaurants, such as The Four Seasons Hotel, Fable, and Cafe Medina.

Voting for SFU Legacy Song Competition will close on August 1. People may vote once a day online for their favourite and the overall winner will perform their composition for everyone in the AQ gardens that night. The legacy song plays into the ultimate goal to “create some spirit on campus.”

There were 35 songs entered into the competition, but it has been narrowed down to the top six. “We were really impressed by the range of submissions,” said Chu. “Some of them were really professional.”

The Howard Trottier Observatory will put on a Starry Nights session, so attendees can check out the recent addition to the Burnaby Campus and participate in some stargazing.

SFU has invited its charter faculty and alumni to join in the celebration and to see the growth of the university since it first opened its doors to them 50 years ago.

“They’re very fascinating people,” said Chu. “Back in the day, everyone went to UBC, so it wasn’t common that people came here. These people were really taking a chance coming up to the university.”

Chu concluded, “I am really excited. This is something that we have never done before.”

Tickets for the evening event are available now at $50 each, which includes unlimited sampling from all the food vendors and one beverage per person before paying cash at the bar. Current students can get their own for $35 each, which only includes the food. There is also an option online to sponsor an SFU student to attend.

Clan women’s basketball forward selected for Team Canada

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EIC
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Photo courtesy of SFU Athletics

SFU women’s basketball forward Meg Wilson has been named to the Canadian team for the FISU (International University Sports Federation) games.

The 2015 FISU games will be held from July 5 to 13 in Gwangju, South Korea.

While playing for the SFU Women’s Basketball team last season, Wilson started in all 27 games she played, and averaged 12.9 points per game, and shot .538 from the field.

Women’s basketball head coach Bruce Langford explained, “The FISU games are university games that happen every two years. They are the second largest games next to the Olympics.”

“It is an amazing opportunity to play with and compete against great teams and players,” said Wilson. “This level of competition both at training camp and during the tournament forces you to challenge yourself and always work to improve. I am looking forward to my senior season and hope that I can return to SFU with new knowledge gained from international competition.”

This isn’t the first time SFU has sent students to this event. “We have had several athletes go from our basketball team over the years. Actually, every year since I can remember,” said Langford.

“She is an outstanding rebounder with very good off-the-ball defence.”

Bruce Langford, SFU Women’s Basketball coach

In 2013, Erin Chambers was selected onto the Canadian team. Langford said Chambers being left off this year was a bit of a surprise, as she won the GNAC Player of the Year in 2015, was named to the West Region All-Region First Team, and set the GNAC all-time women’s scoring record.

“I do not know why Erin was not selected, but all teams are made up with coaches of different philosophies who are looking for different skill sets,” said Langford. “Their job is to put together the best team to represent Canada. I am sure they are confident that they did that.”

Being selected to represent your country is a huge honour for any athlete, and Langford hopes this will help Wilson grow as a player. “Meg will benefit from playing in international competition. She is an outstanding rebounder with very good off-the-ball defence.

“Doing that against different styles is beneficial. Offensively, her role will be different from our team, plus, they run a different offense and that always expands a player’s game.”

Wilson is not the first SFU player to be included on the national team. “As I said, we have always had a player on this team and at least one in the national team since before I got here,” said Langford. “We hope Rachel Fradgley makes her age team in a couple of weeks.  Nayo [Raincock-Ekunweis, former women’s basketball player at SFU] is with the national team.

“We hope this success continues, but no team in Canada or the US matches this success, and the competition gets tougher all the time.”

Canada’s first game will be against Hungary on July 5. The gold medal game will be next Monday on July 13.

“Hate” is just a word for those who disagree with you

By
EIC
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Photo courtesy of Quinn Dombrowski (Flickr)

Growing up during the turn of one century and the beginning of another, it’s been pretty amazing to see how we’ve progressed in the fight for equal rights. I was a 10-year-old when same-sex marriage became legal, and in social studies class we learned about the plight and freedom of slaves in America, which impacted me greatly.

Although we still have a way to go, we can say that many major victories have been won in achieving an equal Canadian society. Our Charter of Rights and Freedoms outlines freedom for all people, no matter what race, creed, sexuality, or religion — and that is fair and just.

Last week the Abbotsford City Council decided to fly the Pride flag at City Hall in support of LGBTQ people, and to mark the commencement of the Fraser Valley Pride Celebration. Obviously for many Canadians, this act marks another step in the right direction for equality. For others, such as the “Citizens for a Morally Strong Abbotsford,” they feel that it somehow impedes their own happiness, and contributes to the moral decay of society.

With that being said, basically everything was set for me to write a scathing article on how illogical this type of opposition is, because I personally believe in equal rights for everyone. However, I realized that because I do believe in equal rights, there’s a bigger problem at the heart of this situation.

The beauty of Canada is that our opinions can be shared and debated.

As a Canadian citizen, the right to freedom of speech is something I don’t take for granted. We all have the right to express different opinions and I’m sure everyone would agree that’s how it should be. The real issue is that when people don’t agree with you it most often is perceived as discrimination or ‘hate.’

What these Bible thumpers are doing is simply exercising their civil liberties, and as much as I might disagree with the ignorance behind some of their claims, I believe that they should be able to express those opinions without labels such as “hate” and “slander.”

In general, people can be very sensitive. Whenever the subject of LGBTQ or any minority rights are brought up, it always triggers strong reactions. But that’s the beauty of Canada: our opinions can be shared and debated, even if some people tend to forget this fact. If there is something you disagree with, you can vote to change it.

Clichés aside, “hate” is a strong word, to the point of  it being lazily overused by many today to describe anyone who doesn’t agree with them. Once you start to accuse someone of “hate” due to a difference in opinion, rather than in the effort to prevent someone from infringing on your rights, you have infringed on theirs.

As the great writer Oscar Wilde once said, “I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an ass of yourself.”

Board Gags

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EIC
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Photo Credit: Benjamin Buckley

The SFSS fails to schedule their board meeting for the second week in a row.

It’s so easy to forget

By
EIC
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Photo Credit: Phoebe Lim

I’m going to take a moment to be a hypocrite and try to tell you how to do something that I’m really bad at: recalling names, facts, details, and other important stuff necessary to having your life together.

I once had a teacher who on the first day of class would look each of her students in the eyes and, without breaking eye contact, would repeat their name loudly a dozen times. It was unorthodox and mildly terrifying, but it worked.

If you’re even a little bit like me, you’re familiar with that pit-in-your-stomach, “Oh dear God no, I’ve forgotten something important” feeling. Sometimes it is a text that you forgot to respond to, sometimes it is a dentist appointment, and sometimes it is your best friend’s birthday. Whoops!

I’ve searched for the solution to fill the gaps in my sieve-like mind, and most sources recommend making up cute rhymes and using mnemonic devices. Here’s some advice that I would actually probably take, but please don’t hold me to that. I’ll consider it a public service announcement for my fellow forgetful friends.

Use your mobile calendar and notepad

As soon as you make an appointment, put it in your phone and set an alarm or you might be sorry. I don’t carry a pen and paper with me every moment of every day, but I do always carry my smartphone so there’s no chance of missing my high-priority Snapchats and Instagram direct messages.

Leave notes in places you can’t avoid

Your computer monitor, the dashboard of your car, the bathroom mirror: all places that you’re probably going to look at on a regular basis where you can post fun colour-coordinated reminders of all the crushing responsibilities weighing on you.

Be happy already

Research shows that when you’re happy, healthy, and well-rested you retain information more effectively. Well, shoot! I was so anxious trying to remember the dates for my exams, I forgot to be happy. I foresee this being a terrible, awful downward spiral.

Put the onus on somebody else

This should really be tip number one. You’re a busy person! Doesn’t your mind deserve a rest? Tell the person nearest to you to remind you and then you have an irrevocable licence to forget.

Pay attention

It’s your life, so I wouldn’t feel guilty concentrating on it more than other things if I were you — or if I were me, for that matter.

 

Here’s one last pearl of wisdom before I go: borrow ebooks from the library. You don’t even have to step foot in a library to return them and you’ll never pay another fine since they just disappear from your account at the end of your loan. Technology has sprung leaps and bounds for us forgetful people. What a time to be alive!

Board Shorts

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EIC
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The fall kickoff will be on a smaller scale than previous concerts. - Erik Sagmoen

Fall Kickoff Update

The SFSS is planning another fall kickoff, but on a smaller scale than previous concerts.

Keeping in mind the other priorities of board members, the board will only have two or three board representatives on the formal concert organizing committee this year. The rest of the committee will be comprised of student volunteers.

SFU’s 50th anniversary committee, among other departments, have expressed interest in partnering with the SFSS for the event. The 50th anniversary committee has offered to commit at least $10,000 sponsorship for the concert.

In addition, they will provide the assistance of the 50th anniversary community ambassadors for the event itself, and will include the fall kickoff in official communications as a signature event of the 50th anniversary.

Surrey Space Expansion

VP student life Deepak Sharma and sciences representative Jas Hans presented on the progress of the Surrey space expansion/renovation project, which will be creating additional study space for students at the Surrey campus.

Three spaces have been narrowed down to undergo renovations — two in the 5th floor galleria and one in the 4th floor galleria.

A consultation process will take place from June 29 to July 10, under the supervision of the Surrey campus committee and Surrey affairs officer.

The consultations are meant to be an interactive way to engage students in the planning process, to ask them to voice which of the tentative layouts they prefer, and gauge opinions on more minor details such as upholstery fabric.

Student Union Development Summit

The board approved spending a total of $1,461 to send three members of the board of directors to the SUDS conference, which is taking place August 13–16 at UBC.

The conference is hosted by the Alma Mater Society, and brings together members of student unions from across the country. Topics covered at last year’s SUDS included advocacy, finance, and student services.

Although the conference fee — currently $435 per person, including UBC accommodations — will increase by $75 each after July 1, the board indicated a chance for adding to or changing who will attend the conference at a later date once more details are released.

Satellite Signals

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EIC
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Woodward’sWEB-woodward

The next event in the Creative Mornings lecture series will feature Giant Ant founders Jay Grandin and Leah Nelson at 8:30 a.m. on July 3. Giant Ant is a creative studio in Vancouver that dabbles in animation and documentary.

Grandin and Nelson will be imparting some of their wisdom in the field, having collaborated with clients around the world including Facebook, TOMS Shoes, and Target.

Harbour Centrevancouver

Vancouver campus will be hosting a special talk on “Prospects for Economic Reform in Ukraine” on June 30 from 5 to 6 p.m.. This free public lecture will be hosted by Leszek Balcerowicz, the former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister for Poland, and currently a professor of economics and expert in financial crises at the Warsaw School of Economics. He is currently tasked with the position of Head Advisor for Ukraine’s economic reforms due to his prior experience with the Polish government’s own reforms.

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Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

Contact us: [email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society 1965-2024

Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

Contact us:
[email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society 1965-2024