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Issues & Experts Archive > SFU Issues, Experts and Ideas: pipe band, security, environment, crime, ferries, literature
SFU Issues, Experts and Ideas: pipe band, security, environment, crime, ferries, literature
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June 21, 2005
Thieves once again target pipe band
It's becoming an all-too-frequent occurrence for members of the SFU Pipe Band. Once again, days before a major performance, an essential piece of band equipment has been stolen from a band member. A set of pipes belonging to Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band member Kirsten Mossington was stolen from the trunk of her sister's car at the Foggy Dew pub near Lougheed and North Road in Coquitlam. The theft occurred at about 2:30 pm on June 19. Mossington needs her pipes, which were in a black backpack, for several solo piping and band competitions, including the BC Highland Games on June 26 at Town Centre in Coquitlam. Mossington is also counting on having her pipes for her first appearance at the World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland in mid-August.
Healing rather than aggravating border wounds
Politicians' and civil libertarians' tempers are flaring again over conflicting views on border policies in the US and Canada. This time, the bilateral rift is over differing views on the American government's demand that passenger lists for domestic Canadian flights coming through American airspace be checked against a US secret anti-terrorist no-fly list. SFU political scientist Alexander Moens warns this latest conflict is further evidence that Canadian and US governments must come up with a new bilateral relations model before their relations crumble any further.
Protecting the environment
Which province is doing a better job of protecting the environment: beautiful British Columbia or Alberta? Rosalind Greenwood's research surprisingly concludes that it is Alberta. Greenwood, who graduated from SFU in June with an honours bachelor of arts in criminology, says her thesis, Cowboys and Eco-Freaks: a comparison of the structural factors influencing the environmental protection strategies of Alberta and BC, shows that Alberta has “one of the best environmental protection programs in Canada.” Greenwood studied environment protection programs in both provinces and says her findings surprised her, given “the stereotypes we have of each province.” She found the state of the economy and an emerging environmental conscience on the part of industry weighed in as key factors. Greenwood, who recently won SFU's Robert Brown award for academic achievement and community leadership, can talk about her study.
New course requirement - bikes, not books
These students will learn on the run - or the ride - as they study urban sustainability from the seats of their bicycles. They're participants of a course offered at the new Great Northern Way campus this summer called Action and Awareness: Focus on Urban Sustainability, which will bring designers, artists, activists, engineers and English majors together to investigate the Central Valley Greenway project, an alternatve transportation trail that will eventually link bikes and rollerbladers traveling from Science World to the New Westminster Quay. Instructor Janet Moore, a post-doctoral researcher at SFU's centre for sustainable community development, says students will learn about the complex decision-making processes involved in community sustainability projects. Other instructors are from UBC, BCIT and the Emily Carr Institute. On Monday, June 27, from 9 a.m. - 12 noon, the media are welcome to attend and learn more about course projects . The course runs until July 29. Check www.learningcity.gnwc.ca
Viewing crimes of passion through the lens of culture and religion
It is often difficult for people to understand how and why crimes of passion can be influenced by socio-political, cultural and religious beliefs. It can be equally difficult for people to accept when there is no correlation. SFU adjunct political science professor Shinder Purewal can offer some thoughts on this in relation to the conviction of a Kitimat man for murdering his teenaged daughter. Rajinder Singh Atwal will find out, this week, how much time he has to serve before becoming eligible for parole. He was convicted of stabbing to death his daughter Amandeep because she was in a relationship with a boy who was not Sikh.
Pay more or travel slower
Those are the options facing passengers on BC Ferries, after the corporation proposed slapping a fuel surcharge on tickets to help defray rising fuel costs. An alternative to boosting the cost of a ticket by 25 to 70 cents, depending on the route taken, and the cost of a vehicle by $2.50, would be slowing the ferries down so that less gas is used. SFU transportation expert Warren Gill can comment on the financial and marketing feasibility of the alternatives.
Canadian literature unplugged
Some of Canada's most provocative critical thinkers will share their views at a major interdisciplanary conference on Canadian literature being held at SFU Vancouver, Harbour Centre campus and the Wosk Centre for Dialogue, on June 23-26. TransCanada: Literature, Institutions and Citizenship will provide a forum for discussion about Canadian literature and the cultural and institutional structures that inform it. SFU English professor Roy Miki and the University of Guelph's Smaro Kamboureli, co-organizers, says the conferenceis in response to the critical juncture they believe the study of Canadian literature is at. “We see this turning point as a critical moment that necessitates rethinking of the disciplinary and institutional frameworks within which Canadian literature is produced, disseminated, studied, and imagined,” says Miki, who can also talk about the conference outcome. For a list of speakers, who are also available for interviews, see www.transcanadas.ca,
It's becoming an all-too-frequent occurrence for members of the SFU Pipe Band. Once again, days before a major performance, an essential piece of band equipment has been stolen from a band member. A set of pipes belonging to Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band member Kirsten Mossington was stolen from the trunk of her sister's car at the Foggy Dew pub near Lougheed and North Road in Coquitlam. The theft occurred at about 2:30 pm on June 19. Mossington needs her pipes, which were in a black backpack, for several solo piping and band competitions, including the BC Highland Games on June 26 at Town Centre in Coquitlam. Mossington is also counting on having her pipes for her first appearance at the World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland in mid-August.
- Kirsten Mossington, 604.888.5742Rob MacNeil, band publicist, 604.657.8695 (cell); 604.552.5674
Healing rather than aggravating border wounds
Politicians' and civil libertarians' tempers are flaring again over conflicting views on border policies in the US and Canada. This time, the bilateral rift is over differing views on the American government's demand that passenger lists for domestic Canadian flights coming through American airspace be checked against a US secret anti-terrorist no-fly list. SFU political scientist Alexander Moens warns this latest conflict is further evidence that Canadian and US governments must come up with a new bilateral relations model before their relations crumble any further.
- Alexander Moens, 604.291.4361, alexander_moens@sfu.ca
Protecting the environment
Which province is doing a better job of protecting the environment: beautiful British Columbia or Alberta? Rosalind Greenwood's research surprisingly concludes that it is Alberta. Greenwood, who graduated from SFU in June with an honours bachelor of arts in criminology, says her thesis, Cowboys and Eco-Freaks: a comparison of the structural factors influencing the environmental protection strategies of Alberta and BC, shows that Alberta has “one of the best environmental protection programs in Canada.” Greenwood studied environment protection programs in both provinces and says her findings surprised her, given “the stereotypes we have of each province.” She found the state of the economy and an emerging environmental conscience on the part of industry weighed in as key factors. Greenwood, who recently won SFU's Robert Brown award for academic achievement and community leadership, can talk about her study.
- Rosalind Greenwood, 1.780.437.1955, roseg@telus.net
New course requirement - bikes, not books
These students will learn on the run - or the ride - as they study urban sustainability from the seats of their bicycles. They're participants of a course offered at the new Great Northern Way campus this summer called Action and Awareness: Focus on Urban Sustainability, which will bring designers, artists, activists, engineers and English majors together to investigate the Central Valley Greenway project, an alternatve transportation trail that will eventually link bikes and rollerbladers traveling from Science World to the New Westminster Quay. Instructor Janet Moore, a post-doctoral researcher at SFU's centre for sustainable community development, says students will learn about the complex decision-making processes involved in community sustainability projects. Other instructors are from UBC, BCIT and the Emily Carr Institute. On Monday, June 27, from 9 a.m. - 12 noon, the media are welcome to attend and learn more about course projects . The course runs until July 29. Check www.learningcity.gnwc.ca
- Janet Moore, 604.268.7821, jmoore@sfu.ca
Viewing crimes of passion through the lens of culture and religion
It is often difficult for people to understand how and why crimes of passion can be influenced by socio-political, cultural and religious beliefs. It can be equally difficult for people to accept when there is no correlation. SFU adjunct political science professor Shinder Purewal can offer some thoughts on this in relation to the conviction of a Kitimat man for murdering his teenaged daughter. Rajinder Singh Atwal will find out, this week, how much time he has to serve before becoming eligible for parole. He was convicted of stabbing to death his daughter Amandeep because she was in a relationship with a boy who was not Sikh.
- Shinder Purewal, 604.729.4592, 604.599.2184, Shinder.Purewal@Kwantlen.ca
Pay more or travel slower
Those are the options facing passengers on BC Ferries, after the corporation proposed slapping a fuel surcharge on tickets to help defray rising fuel costs. An alternative to boosting the cost of a ticket by 25 to 70 cents, depending on the route taken, and the cost of a vehicle by $2.50, would be slowing the ferries down so that less gas is used. SFU transportation expert Warren Gill can comment on the financial and marketing feasibility of the alternatives.
- Warren Gill, 604.291.5005, warren_gill@sfu.ca
Canadian literature unplugged
Some of Canada's most provocative critical thinkers will share their views at a major interdisciplanary conference on Canadian literature being held at SFU Vancouver, Harbour Centre campus and the Wosk Centre for Dialogue, on June 23-26. TransCanada: Literature, Institutions and Citizenship will provide a forum for discussion about Canadian literature and the cultural and institutional structures that inform it. SFU English professor Roy Miki and the University of Guelph's Smaro Kamboureli, co-organizers, says the conferenceis in response to the critical juncture they believe the study of Canadian literature is at. “We see this turning point as a critical moment that necessitates rethinking of the disciplinary and institutional frameworks within which Canadian literature is produced, disseminated, studied, and imagined,” says Miki, who can also talk about the conference outcome. For a list of speakers, who are also available for interviews, see www.transcanadas.ca,
- Roy Miki, 604.773.4810; miki@sfu.ca