Michelle Young

Film stills from Beba and La Soledad
4 min 0 1845

Two films framing Venezuelans

Peak Web October 18, 2023

By: Michelle Young, Opinions Editor Editor's note: A previous version of this piece misspelled "Rebeca Huntt" as "Rebecca Huntt." It has now been fixed. Content warning: brief mention of enslavement. Latinx Heritage Month may be coming to an end, but that’s no reason to stop watching Latin American films. Both by Venezuelan filmmakers, these two films paint a portrait of Venezuela’s economic collapse and showcase how class and race are deeply seated in the Venezuelan psyche. Beba follows the story of Rebeca Huntt, who is part of the Venezuelan diaspora, while La Soledad centres itself at home. Watching these together…

Continue reading Read more
A group of respirators on a table
6 min 0 1792

BC’s new masking guidance isn’t enough

Peak Web October 17, 2023

By: Michelle Young, Opinions Editor As of October 3, masks are mandatory for healthcare workers and visitors in settings that are accessible to patients, including areas where they receive care. This includes spaces like the rooms where doctors and nurses…

Continue reading Read more
The flags of Argentina and Brazil painted on a wall
5 min 0 1586

SFU should revive their Latin American courses

Peak Web October 13, 2023

By: Michelle Young, Opinions Editor In 2020, SFU suspended their Latin American studies program. There was little explanation for this, and since it’s been three years, I can only assume they aren’t prioritizing its return. As someone who had been…

Continue reading Read more
10 min 0 4483

Debunking COVID-19 myths and misinformation

Peak Web October 3, 2023

By: Michelle Young, Opinions Editor “The COVID-19 pandemic is over and we are ‘post-pandemic’” There have been multiple declarations that the pandemic is “over” — perhaps the most well-known was President Joe Biden’s declaration in 2022. When the World Health…

Continue reading Read more
A deer in a forest
2 min 0 3016

Bright-er Side: Bridges for animals

Peak Web September 26, 2023

By: Michelle Young, Opinions Editor In the midst of raging wildfires, a pandemic, and increasing inflation, it often feels like the world around us is collapsing (and it kind of is). The effects of climate change are creating deteriorating conditions…

Continue reading Read more
A warehouse style grocery store
2 min 0 1936

What Grinds Our Gears: Going to Costco

Peak Web September 21, 2023

By: Michelle Young, Opinions Editor I absolutely hate Costco. Specifically, I hate the shopping experience at Costco. Do not, for the love of god, start lecturing me on what “good deals” they have because I have heard enough from everyone…

Continue reading Read more
News crews congregate outside Adrian Dix's MLA office, gathering around protesters wearing respirator masks and holding signs demanding masks back in healthcare, access to Paxlovid and PCR testing, and holding some of the names of those impacted. In the centre, a young person stands at a microphone telling her story. She holds a yellow sign saying she has had Long Covid for 20+ months.
5 min 0 1927

Advocacy group calls for stronger COVID-19 measures this fall

Peak Web September 19, 2023

By: Michelle Young, Opinions Editor On August 28, DoNoHarmBC hosted a protest in front of the Minister of Health, Adrian Dix’s office to call for the return of universal mask protections in healthcare settings. The in-person protest featured 25–30 people,…

Continue reading Read more
Photo of protestors blocking a road and holding signs against racism
6 min 0 3259

Opinions in Dialogue: Strategies for advocacy work

Peak Web September 5, 2023

By: Nushaiba Nanjiba, SFU Student and Michelle Young, Opinions Editor From climate change and gender inequality, to 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, there are countless issues that could use more of our attention. However, time is limited for all of us. Common forms…

Continue reading Read more
Illustration of disabled people at Pride, some in wheelchairs, holding a white cane, and wearing masks
7 min 0 2171

We can’t forget disabled queers during pride

Opinions July 31, 2023

By: Michelle Young, Opinions Editor Editor's note: This piece was written before the Vancouver Pride Society announced an accessible viewing zone with mask mandates in place, in response to community concerns.  Vancouver Pride is coming up this August. It’s supposed…

Continue reading Read more
In dark, shadowy purple lighting, an intimate film still featuring a closeup of Kawenniióhstha gazing into Malai’s eyes with one hand on Malai’s chin. Both have long dark hair.
3 min 0 1306

This Place is a tender exploration of “home”

Peak Web July 10, 2023

By: Michelle Young, Opinions Editor This Place (2022), directed by v.t. nayani and written by women of colour, weaves together the stories of two women as they find themselves and one another. We are first introduced to Kawenniióhstha (Devery Jacobs),…

Continue reading Read more