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Issues & Experts Archive > Clowns, stun guns, activism, exchange
Clowns, stun guns, activism, exchange
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May 5, 2010
Bring on the government clowns
Upon hearing that former B.C. solicitor general Kash Heed has resigned for a second time over conflict of interest allegations, SFU public policy analyst Doug McArthur laughs and says, “Bring in the clowns and let them run the government show! It’s bizarre that a complete check of Heed before he was appointed as minster didn’t ring alarm bells. It makes me nervous about whether conflict of interest checks are done properly period.” Shinder Purewal, an adjunct professor of political science, can comment on the voter profile of Heed’s riding. Purewal specializes in analyzing ethnic votes.
Doug McArthur, 604.786.0016 (cell), 778.782.5208 (w); doug_mcarthur@sfu.ca
Shinder Purewal, 604.729.4592 (cell); spurewal@sfu.ca
RCMP unveil new stun gun rules
The RCMP has tightened its rules on when its members can use stun guns, in response to the B.C. inquiry into the Taser-related death of a Polish immigrant. SFU assistant professor and criminologist Rick Parent can comment on the effectiveness of the new rules.
Rick Parent, 778.782.8418, 604.946.411; rparent@sfu.ca
Meaningful protests lost in the Ethernet?
Activism or ‘slacktivism’? That is the question to be answered when it comes to evaluating the effectiveness of online social advocacy says SFU communication school director, Martin Laba. He believes digital activism deepens public awareness of social issues but questions how much of that translates into hard, cold donated time or cash because it’s too easy to just click and not commit. “We’re witnessing a decrease in our commitment and capacity to act on social issues because new media requires no effort, and very little thinking,” says Laba. “We live in a culture of intense and relentless consumerism where consumers routinely mix up shopping with acting on behalf of the world.”
SFU psychologist Michael Schmitt notes that the Internet is most effective as an agent of social change when it is used to organize large-scale protests. He adds, “It is also a good place for disseminating information that doesn’t make it into mainstream media, and that can be an impetus for social change.”
Martin Laba, 778.782.5166, 778.782.3383; laba@sfu.ca
Michael Schmitt, 778.782.4342; mschmitt@sfu.ca
Exchange opens window on grad students
SFU will host a one-day special event called the SFU Exchange on Thursday, May 6 at the Harbour Centre campus. Representatives from industry, commerce, government agencies, associations, the investment community and the media are invited to connect and network with SFU’s community of graduate students. They’ll showcase their research, ideas, innovations and entrepreneurial skills through a series of presentations. In addition, a number of local companies will present their businesses, providing an opportunity for exposure and exchange among different facets of the academic, technology and entrepreneurial communities.
For event details see http://www.sfu.ca/uilo/exchange2.html
Mike Volker, University-Industry Liaison Office (UILO), 778.782.4984, 604.644.1926 (cell); michael_volker@sfu.ca
Eunice Au-Yeung, UILO assistant; eunicea@sfu.ca
Upon hearing that former B.C. solicitor general Kash Heed has resigned for a second time over conflict of interest allegations, SFU public policy analyst Doug McArthur laughs and says, “Bring in the clowns and let them run the government show! It’s bizarre that a complete check of Heed before he was appointed as minster didn’t ring alarm bells. It makes me nervous about whether conflict of interest checks are done properly period.” Shinder Purewal, an adjunct professor of political science, can comment on the voter profile of Heed’s riding. Purewal specializes in analyzing ethnic votes.
Doug McArthur, 604.786.0016 (cell), 778.782.5208 (w); doug_mcarthur@sfu.ca
Shinder Purewal, 604.729.4592 (cell); spurewal@sfu.ca
RCMP unveil new stun gun rules
The RCMP has tightened its rules on when its members can use stun guns, in response to the B.C. inquiry into the Taser-related death of a Polish immigrant. SFU assistant professor and criminologist Rick Parent can comment on the effectiveness of the new rules.
Rick Parent, 778.782.8418, 604.946.411; rparent@sfu.ca
Meaningful protests lost in the Ethernet?
Activism or ‘slacktivism’? That is the question to be answered when it comes to evaluating the effectiveness of online social advocacy says SFU communication school director, Martin Laba. He believes digital activism deepens public awareness of social issues but questions how much of that translates into hard, cold donated time or cash because it’s too easy to just click and not commit. “We’re witnessing a decrease in our commitment and capacity to act on social issues because new media requires no effort, and very little thinking,” says Laba. “We live in a culture of intense and relentless consumerism where consumers routinely mix up shopping with acting on behalf of the world.”
SFU psychologist Michael Schmitt notes that the Internet is most effective as an agent of social change when it is used to organize large-scale protests. He adds, “It is also a good place for disseminating information that doesn’t make it into mainstream media, and that can be an impetus for social change.”
Martin Laba, 778.782.5166, 778.782.3383; laba@sfu.ca
Michael Schmitt, 778.782.4342; mschmitt@sfu.ca
Exchange opens window on grad students
SFU will host a one-day special event called the SFU Exchange on Thursday, May 6 at the Harbour Centre campus. Representatives from industry, commerce, government agencies, associations, the investment community and the media are invited to connect and network with SFU’s community of graduate students. They’ll showcase their research, ideas, innovations and entrepreneurial skills through a series of presentations. In addition, a number of local companies will present their businesses, providing an opportunity for exposure and exchange among different facets of the academic, technology and entrepreneurial communities.
For event details see http://www.sfu.ca/uilo/exchange2.html
Mike Volker, University-Industry Liaison Office (UILO), 778.782.4984, 604.644.1926 (cell); michael_volker@sfu.ca
Eunice Au-Yeung, UILO assistant; eunicea@sfu.ca