Media Matters, a report on SFU in the news, is distributed daily and compiled by SFU Public Affairs & Media Relations (PAMR).

RESEARCH

The Public Commission on Legal Aid was in Prince George Tuesday to hear from local individuals and organizations on the future of legal aid services in B.C., reported the Vanderhoof Omineca Express. According to the newspaper, it cited a Simon Fraser University study that said Aboriginal People comprise six per cent of the national population, but 23 per cent of the prison population. http://at.sfu.ca/TMJfCl

FACULTY/STAFF/STUDENTS

PETER CHOW-WHITE, SFU COMMUNICATION

Are we using technology to benefit society, or have we become slaves to it — and to those who would exploit it for evil, anti-social purposes? asked The Province columnist Jon Ferry. SFU’s Peter Chow-White said we should think before we condemn technology. "It's not good or bad, but it's not neutral either,” he said. “It can be used for different things and for different purposes by different individuals and different organizations, from people who 'flame' and these so-called trollers, to governments that watch their citizens."Fairchild Radio and CKNW also interviewed Chow-White. The Province: http://at.sfu.ca/wcvOPT

NEIL BOYD, SFU CRIMINOLOGY

The new head of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry -- former Liberal attorney-general Wally Oppal -- promises he will deliver an even-handed report on or before Dec. 31, 2011, into the "horrific" crimes of serial killer Robert Pickton, reported The Province. SFU’s Neil Boyd supports Oppal’s appointment, calling him "an independent thinker. He was a well-respected jurist and attorney general.” http://at.sfu.ca/UgjmFX

RAAKHI SINHA, SFU CONTEMPORARY ARTS
GURPREET SIAN, SFU CONTEMPORARY ARTS

CBC Radio Canada International interviewed SFU’s Raakhi Sinha, who teaches what is believed to be the only bhangra dance class for university credit in North America. http://at.sfu.ca/eRBhfG. Gurpreet Sian and Sinha were also featured in a Darpan magazine article. They say bhangra dance is about “passion, desire and dedication” and more than being known as the “light bulb dance” or the “windshield wiper dance.” http://at.sfu.ca/CqePqE

ALSO IN THE NEWS

KRIS MAGNUSSON, SFU EDUCATION

The Vancouver Sun education reporter Janet Steffenhagen continued her coverage of the lack of teaching jobs on her blog. http://at.sfu.ca/JvvvGL

COLLEEN COLLINS, SFU BUSINESS

The Financial Post ran a news release from SFU’s Faculty of Business Administration offering a certificate in corporate social responsibility. “The undergraduate certificate encourages students within SFU Business to take business courses with a focus on ethics, social responsibility, sustainable management practices and social enterprise, and to combine them with a broad variety of courses and extracurricular activities outside of the business faculty related to environmental, health, social and cultural issues,” said the news release. http://at.sfu.ca/YLXlNe

WILLIAM LINDSAY, SFU OFFICE FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLES

The Charlatan, student newspaper for Carleton University, interviewed SFU’s William Lindsay regarding the new undergraduate admission policy.