Phone Min Thant

A photo of several Filipino activists protesting for queer rights
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Exploring queerness across Southeast Asia

Peak Web August 3, 2026

By: Phone Min Thant, Arts & Culture Editor “Queer Asia does not have a great history; it has never found an institutional home in the region.” This quote is one of the last sentences in Queer Southeast Asia: An Afterword, in a section about finding hope through the study of queer experiences. It is a wonder, of course, why I chose to start with this quote. It does not sound particularly hopeful. I chose it because it perfectly describes queerness across Southeast Asia: a largely grassroots network of movements fuelled by activism, passion, collective reimagination, trial and error, and language…

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A photo of the snow-covered plains of Nunavut
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The Terror brings forth bristling psychological horror

Peak Web June 7, 2026

By: Phone Min Thant, Arts & Culture Editor Snow-covered lands, cold winds, frozen seas, no fresh food — least of all any human contact — to be spotted as far as the eye can see. That is the essence of…

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A collage of Phone and Darren’s portraits, along with a map of Southeast Asia in the middle are pictured.
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SFU’s new Southeast Asian research initiative set to host its first event

Peak Web February 9, 2026

By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer Editor’s note: The Peak’s arts & culture editor, Phone Min Thant, co-led this event. He was not involved in the editorial process of this article.  The School for International Studies’ newly formed Southeast Asian research…

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Gwangju Uprising explores the quest for democracy

Peak Web November 11, 2025

By: Phone Min Thant, Arts & Culture Editor Content warning: Brief mention of military brutality  Beyond Death, Beyond the Darkness of the Age — a poetic name for a book that has so much suffering, death, and destruction. While the…

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This is a collage of the book covers of the books mentioned in the article
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Four book recommendations for Disability Pride Month

Peak Web July 24, 2025

By: Phone Min Thant, Arts and Culture Editor knot body by Eli Tareq El Bechelany-Lynch knot body is a collection of poems, short stories, and letters that address various themes, along with how people with disabilities are treated unjustly by…

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An illustration of Prime Minister Mark Carney in hues of pink and red. He has a maple leaf lapel pin on his blazer.
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Canada should prioritize domestic needs over NATO spending

Peak Web July 16, 2025

By: Phone Min Thant, Arts & Culture Editor On June 25, fresh from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada would fulfill its commitments to the alliance’s new defence budget of 5% of…

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ILLUSTRATION: A classroom filled with students grouped around a tutor
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Friends of Simon: building community through education

Peak Web May 28, 2025

By: Phone Min Thant, Arts & Culture Editor The author of this article is a Friends of Simon tutor. Following The Peak’s conflict of interest policy, the piece’s payment has been reduced.  “It’s the best job I’ve ever done,” Teagan…

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SFU’s artistic history comes to life in A Magical Time

Peak Web May 22, 2025

By: Kyla Wane, SFU Student One step onto SFU’s Burnaby campus, and the word “prison” comes to mind. However, the campus’ grey walls and bleak buildings hold a rich cultural history. A Magical Time: The Early Days of the Arts…

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This is an illustration of a chess board where each of the chess pieces (except the pawns) features the faces of political figures mentioned in this piece. The white pieces are featured at the top, with the black pieces on the bottom.
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Trump loses historic match of geopolitical chess

Peak Web April 5, 2025

By: Phone Min Thant, Staff Writer Editor’s note: This article is rated “CIR” for Chess and International Relations enthusiasts. May contain references to your favourite or most disliked world leader. Knowledge of chessboard coordinates is encouraged. Reader discretion is advised. …

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A set of cards with different animal-like illustrations representing different faculties: A raccoon wearing a suit and tie, holding a phone A raccoon standing on its hind legs, to its right a stack of books. A dolphin with markings on its skin, floating in front of a laptop. A panda in a lab coat holding test tubes An elephant holding a paintbrush and a phone. A rodent-like creature with a nurse's hat and a face mask, holding a syringe. A creature with purple skin and green hair pointing towards a blackboard. A tiger with a leaf instead of a tail and a blue cap.
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Introducing SFU faculty Pokémon cards

Peak Web April 4, 2025

By: Phone Min Thant, Staff Writer Did you know, raccoons aren’t the only critters roaming campus? Here are some of the Pokémon you will face as you wander the concrete halls of the mountain fortress — each belonging to one…

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