Content warning: mentions of colonialism and generational trauma. The dance of language and power is a historical saga of dominance that’s often sugarcoated with euphemisms. Nowhere in history is this more apparent than when colonialism started, where language was used as a form of cultural suppression. Language is the essence of culture and identity, shaping how we perceive our place in the world. This is where linguistic imperialism rears its ugly head — a form of violence as insidious as it is lasting. Look back into the past, and the aggressive manipulation of language leaps off the pages of history,…
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In a study on facial hair and face masks, SFU researchers have found that beardless faces are slightly better protected than bearded ones — but that the overall factor in protection for any face is securing the right fit. “If you…
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This Halloween season, SFU’s intercultural engagement team is working alongside other university departments, such as Residence and Housing, to prompt conversations around cultural appropriation. The intercultural engagement team is promoting a #notacostume campaign around the university to educate students…
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The First Nations Student Association (FNSA) posted a public letter on their Facebook page detailing their concerns with the conduct of the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS). The letter, posted on September 21, cited examples of alleged mistreatment of…
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[caption id="attachment_593" align="alignnone" width="940"] Image Credit: Alanah Heffez (Flickr)[/caption] The City of Kamloops recently denied a proposal from Councilor Donovan Cavers to add the word “estil,” meaning “stop” in the Aboriginal language Secwepemc, to their traffic stop signs. The council’s…
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