Petra Chase
What Grinds Our Gears: Charity campaigns at the checkout
January 12, 2026By: Petra Chase, Features Editor I recently moved close to a Walmart and inevitably find myself there for essentials. Every time, I’m asked if I want to add a donation onto my bill. This seems like a convenient way for shoppers to make a small difference, with wallets already open. It’s typically only a couple dollars — much less than the five perishable items that somehow came to a whopping $38 being held hostage at the register. But I’m shopping at Walmart because of the rising cost of groceries, like the low-income families that have always been Walmart’s main customer…
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Monday Music: Tropical song for winter blues
December 18, 2025By: Petra Chase, Features Editor This time of year can be mentally and emotionally difficult. As the days get shorter, darker, and gloomier, the winter blues, or in more severe cases, seasonal affective disorder, are common. One thing that helps…
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Mental disorders aren’t personality traits
November 11, 2025By: Petra Chase, Features Editor Content warning: references to ableism and ableist slurs. I recently came across a jarring Instagram reel that said, “All my friends are lowkey schizo.” Surprisingly, the comments were nothing but positive, tagging friends and feeding…
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The Peak’s 60th anniversary: Notable articles from 1965–1995
November 11, 2025By: Ella Pendlington, SFU Student and Petra Chase, Features Editor Since 1965, The Peak has brought issues that matter to students to the forefront, investigating concerns, engaging students in university and local politics, and allowing a space to build community. …
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Remembering Kulbir Kaila
November 10, 2025Interview and translations by: Ashima Shukla, Staff Writer Written by: Petra Chase, Features Editor Kulbir Kaila worked at SFU for 17 years. On July 28, she died at the age of 61 while working a cleaning shift on the Burnaby…
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A letter to first-year students, from a nearly graduated one
November 8, 2025By: Petra Chase, Features Editor Dear first-year students, You might have a concept of what you want your time at SFU to look like, or maybe you have no idea. Maybe you have friends by your side, or a sibling…
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Five subtle recession indicators you NEED to know
June 24, 2025By: Petra Chase, Peak Associate Recession indicators are all the rage. We took a Buzzfeed “What recession indicator are you?” quiz, and apparently, we’re Lady Gaga (ra-ra-ra-rad!). Lipstick sales, Mariah Carey going grocery shopping, and flash mobs are also on…
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Resisting and rebuilding, one delicious Burmese Plate at a time
May 21, 2025By: Petra Chase, Peak Associate Content warning: brief mention of genocide. In Burma, April is a time for celebrating a new year. During the five-day festival called Thingyan, people pour and throw water on each other on every street, a…
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Letter from the editor: We’ve rebranded
April 1, 2025By: Petra Chase, Editor-in-Chief Dear SFU community, It’s time to say farewell to The Peak and welcome our board game magazine. The Pawn is now your weekly source for the latest news, trends, and tips in tabletop gaming on our…
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Postcards from Congo is an artful graphic history
February 27, 2025By: Petra Chase, Editor-in-Chief Content warning: brief mentions of slavery, child soldiers, and war. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the second largest country in Africa, yet its rich, enduring history is often overlooked. Postcards from Congo is an…
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