National Sweater Day video spurs negative reaction from faculty

> Video has been called ‘offensive’ and ‘inappropriate’

Max Hill The Peak (Simon Fraser University)

video posted on SFU’s

YouTube page and distributed by SFU Facilities Services has been removed following negative reactions from faculty members and students. The video, originally released in 2014, promotes National Sweater Day, a yearly observation meant to promote energy conservation. It depicts a casual exchange between a female instructor and a male student.

In an entry on her personal blog, Department of History faculty member Elise Chenier criticized the video at length: “When the very place you work promotes the kind of sexism that your intellectual work seeks to contest and ultimately, destroy, you feel like you are being eaten from the inside out. There was once a time when I would have seen the video is simply outdated, idiotic, and yes, offensive, but

now I see it much differently. “Now I feel the harm it does, and not just to Miss Pinkham, but also to her male student who is encouraged to relate to half the population on such a limited level, and who himself then is defined by his heterosexual desire for women.” Chenier also claimed that “the collective outrage of female faculty resulted in the video being removed from the SFU website.” Many took to Twitter to express their outrage at the videos, including SFU faculty members Esther Verheyen, Jeremy Snyder, and Kevin Morse. When the video was first released in 2014, it did not receive the same negative feedback on Twitter, with one commenter referring to it as “clever.” However, The Peak was unable to find any positive comments towards the video from this year. SFU has since sent several apologies via their public Twitter account and deleted the video from their website

and YouTube account.

Joanne Curry, Vice President External Relations, sent an email via University Communications apologizing for the video.

“As the video was produced by an external vendor, I had not seen it. When I did watch it, | immediately agreed with the feedback we had received that the video is inappropriate, sexist, and not in keeping with our equity commitment,” Curry wrote. “We took steps to remove the video as quickly as possible and have followed up with the group who produced and distributed the video to ensure it will no longer be used.”

Curry detailed plans to review University Communications’ policy on reposting videos and other content, noting that “future requests to share information by email to the SFU community will be vetted by leaders within University Communication,” and “staff of the department responsible for this video will be

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required to undergo appropriate training to ensure an equitable and safe work environment for everyone in the SFU community.” An official statement posted on SFU’s website, also penned by Curry, echoed many of her statements from her email,

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adding: “We plan to investigate

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Renovations underway at New West campus

> Growing student population calls for upgrades

Aaron Guillen

Staff Reporter

ince February 8, construction

has been taking place in the 0600/1600 area of the New Westminster Campus, the long hallway to the left after passing through the Bookstore. College officials announced at the beginning of the month that they were planning to renovate the lower area of the campus.

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“This will be the largest renovation at New Westminster campus since its opening in 1982. The project will include classroom upgrades such as energy efficient lighting, HVAC systems and state-of-the-art AV technology for instructors,” states the school blog.

Covering around 3,000 square metres, the renovation promises to improve students’ learning experience and place priority on an Engineering

Foundations Certificate and Engineering Essentials program. There will be 22 new classrooms and lab spaces by the project’s end.

Tentatively on course for completion by August, students should be cautious along Victoria Street, the hub of construction preparation and demolition. For safety reasons, Douglas officials warn pedestrians to avoid the street, due to closed sidewalks and

potential construction fencing. Students should expect single- lane traffic along the road

and periodical closures to the parkade during major renovation days.

“As with any construction, there will be occasional noise and minor disruptions. Some classes will be moved to new rooms to ensure the expected noise does not impact students or teachers.”

Many questions are raised

Image via www.douglaspresident.ca

by this six-month project. Will new students be able to access the new and renovated spaces by Fall 2016? How much will this renovation cost, and will that affect the ever-rising tuition rates for the next few semesters? Douglas College has yet to confirm the estimated price tag, although one could speculate there will be a reveal during

the college’s Annual General Meeting on February 24.