UNIVERSITY NEWS

FIRST PEOPLES' GATHERING HOUSE UPDATE

SFU is one step closer to creating a new safe and welcoming space to celebrate Indigenous knowledge and culture as construction begins on the First Peoples’ Gathering House.

PROMOTING THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF INDIGENOUS LITERATURES

Deanna Reder, professor of Indigenous Studies and English, collaborates with colleagues at SFU and across the country to help emerging Indigenous writers find their voice and help long-forgotten authors find an audience.

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WHAT DOES CHATGPT MEAN FOR TEACHING AT SFU?

ChatGPT can be used to write essays, poetry and HTML code and has generated a lot of concern about academic integrity, especially within classes with large writing components. Some SFU instructors are turning that concern on its head by embracing artificial intelligence as a tool to enhance and extend learning.

RESOURCES + OPERATIONAL UPDATES

FIRE STATION CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY ON BURNABY MOUNTAIN

During site preparation and construction, travel along University Drive East will be impacted. Please slow down or take an alternate route, as periodic one-lane closures between Tower Road and Nelson Way are anticipated, as well as other intermittent traffic impacts.

Traffic notices will be updated here.

During the construction of the permanent fire station, temporary Fire Station 8 will operate 24/7 on University High Street. The permanent fire station is expected to be operational in 2024.

WIFI IMPROVEMENT UPDATE HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND

To provide stable and secure Wi-Fi at SFU, the security certificate for SFUNET-SECURE and eduroam networks will be updated at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 4, across all SFU networks and campuses. Although there will be no impact during or after the upgrade, if you experience issues, please contact your local IT support or the SFU Service Desk.

UPDATE ON FACULTY RELATIONS

With input from SFU’s executive, Deans, affected employees and following discussion with SFUFA, all Faculty Relations Office roles and functions supporting collective agreement administration, faculties and faculty affairs, will report to the Provost’s Office. All roles and functions related to faculty equity, all shared operational services, such as faculty benefits administration and immigration support, will remain in the VP, People, Equity and Inclusion.

SPOTLIGHT YOUR RESEARCH AND EXPERTISE WITH THE MEDIA

Contact mediarelations@sfu.ca with your idea/topic. Possible themes for March and beyond are:

New research and stories
International Women’s Day - new research, gender equality and women's rights (Mar. 8)
COVID: Global pandemic declared by WHO three years ago (Mar. 11)
Seasonal weather, Daylight Saving Time (Mar. 12)
World Water Day - new research, climate change effects (Mar. 22)
International: Oil demand and climate, financial markets and windfall tax, world conflicts and protests
B.C.: Surrey policing transition costs, alcohol tax increase (Apr. 1)
Canada: Biden visit (Mar), housing market risks, TikTok, funding for international aid groups, national security, police budgets, food prices and cost of living, healthcare issues and health policy, China relations

FEATURE EVENT

THE WOMAN, LIFE, FREEDOM UPRISING: A TURNING POINT IN THE STRUGGLES FOR LIBERTY AND JUSTICE IN IRAN

March 3 | Hosted by SFU School of Communication

“Woman, Life, Freedom uprising” in Iran, was followed by waves of country-wide protests initiated by women activists inside Iran. Almost six months after the birth of this movement, the SFU School of Communication is gathering to collectively reflect on the multiple grievances that caused the uprising and the horizons it opens up to the future.

Featuring two panel discussions, a networking session for students, and a book talk, this symposium aims to critically engage with the questions that illuminate the possible directions the uprising might take in the months and years to come.

SFU MEMBERS CREATE VANCOUVER'S FIRST-EVER MARCH FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS

March 5 | Hosted by SFU Student Society Women's Centre and Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies.

SFU students and alumni from the department of Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies (GSWS) are leading the Vancouver International Women’s Day March on Sunday, March 5, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza.

Students Yasmin Simsek, Nidhi Ghelani, Maria Kouhi and Spencer Lee, along with GSWS alumna Megan Bobetsis and international studies undergraduate Karissa Ketter, are organizing the event. It will begin with an Indigenous welcome ceremony, followed by speeches from local community leaders and activists. Jen Marchbank, a community activist and GSWS professor, will also speak at the event.

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