Iran

Cover of Modern Iran and the Avant-Gardes: 1948–78
4 min 0 1100

Book talk explores the nuances between tradition and modernity in Iran

Nejdana Houshyar June 15, 2026

On Friday, May 29, guest curator Pantea Haghighi, along with Iranian architect and artist Hossein Amanat, and scholar Jeff Derksen, came together at the Vancouver Art Gallery to discuss their contributions and the historical backgrounds behind the newly released book, Modern Iran and the Avant-Gardes: 1948–78. The talk focused around Amanat’s design of the Shahyad Tower, or the Azadi Tower, which is widely known as the “Gateway Into Iran,” while Derksen dove into his research on the “dynamic dialogue between tradition and modernism.” The rise of modernism — the 20th century movement in arts that draws focus on experimentation, subjectivity,…

Continue reading Read more
A large group of students march through the middle of the Academic Quadrangle with Iranian flags and signs at sunset.
4 min 0 1109

SFU students rally in solidarity with Iranians amid ongoing protests

Diya Brar February 2, 2026

On January 16, a large crowd of SFU students gathered at the Burnaby campus to show support for Iranians protesting the Islamic Republic. The rally is just one of many internationally, as ongoing internet shutdowns and state violence continue to…

Continue reading Read more
Black and White photo of Gadfly - band members posing
4 min 0 1778

Dip into a real hell with Gadfly instead of imagining sham ones

Kimia Mansouri February 19, 2024

A three-member punk rock band has been sending earthquakes throughout Vancouver’s metal scene, and they plan to release a new album this summer. Named after a book by Ethel L Voynich, Gadfly is an unlikely phenomenon that rose out of…

Continue reading Read more
A snowy exterior shot of the VIFF Centre.
6 min 0 2083

MENA Film Festival is a cinematic journey of Middle East and North African narratives

Sude Guvendik January 23, 2024

Content warning: mentions of war and genocide. The awaited 2024 Middle Eastern and North Africa (MENA) Film Festival is set to captivate audiences from January 27–February 1 at the VIFF Centre. The fifth annual selection boasts 42 feature and short…

Continue reading Read more
6 min 0 3249

SFYou: Pourya Sardari

Clarence Ndabahwerize December 2, 2022

Content warning: mentions of violence against women. Pourya Sardari is an international student from Mashhad in Iran’s Razavi Khorasan province. Sardari is currently pursuing a Master’s in Biological Sciences and recently made a class presentation about his research on the…

Continue reading Read more
2 min 0 1682

Political Corner: Romina Ashrafi’s murder in Iran could have been prevented

Kelly Grounds June 28, 2020

In late May of this year, Romina Ashrafi, age 14, ran away from her home in Iran to be with her boyfriend. The decision came after Ashrafi’s father objected to their marriage. After running away, the couple was intercepted and…

Continue reading Read more
3 min 1 2023

Canadians, overseas wars are too heavy for your jokes

Madeleine Chan January 19, 2020

Don’t get me wrong. I like memes just as much as the next Gen Z/Millennial youngling. Two identical Spider-Men pointing to each other? That’s my shit. Joking about SFU’s lack of adequate response to snow? Chef’s kiss. But when I…

Continue reading Read more
3 min 0 1807

Olympic News Beats

Nathaniel Tok February 16, 2018

  Possible cyber attack during Olympics opening ceremony A potential cyber attack that may have occurred during the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympics is being investigated by organizers. Local media reported problems with non-critical systems, but the organizers have…

Continue reading Read more
2 min 0 1362

World News Beat

Olivia Roberts June 9, 2017

IRAN – Deadly attacks in the Iranian capital At least a dozen people were killed following shootings in the Iranian Parliament and the shrine of former supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini in Tehran. It is reported that the two attacks were…

Continue reading Read more