Hiaspire Issue 12

HIASPIRE does not take any responsibility for any inaccurate information presented within this issue.

Copyright Hiaspire ’09Issue 12 Fall 2009

Cover Image: “Dawn” Courtesy of Joseph Wu, President of Viewfinder.



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Editor-in-Chief - Vivien Lo

Layout Director - Cheryl Cheong

Finance & Admin Director - Andy Shen

Assisting Editor - Daniel Poirier

Finance Assistant - Francis Leung

Design Team

Adam Dewji

Anna KoniarskaCheryl Cheong

Nicola Sznajder

Authors

Chelsea Szafranski

Ethan Johanson

Daniel Poirier

Mina Jecmenica

Dominic Renaud

Vivien Lo

Tiffany Chang

Special Thanks To:Alanna Kho

Cristel Moubarak

Amy Ngai

Georgina Chaplin

Joseph WuLuyi Wang

Images Source: http://2kgames.com/cultofrapture/index.html

Table Of Contents

Issue Twelve

Note from the EditorStudent Life

7.5 Flavors of AwesomeDare to Inov8TA InterviewSIAT StudioViewfinder ClubFuture of SurreyFlash Fiction: 3 Marks

Beatles Rock Band reviewShort StoryBioshock 2 previewStaff Page

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StudentStudent Life is a very active department on SFU’s Surrey campus. As you may have noticed, Student Life holds several regular events and assists in almost every other event on campus. Some of our major involvements on campus include Orientation, Week of Welcome, Free Weekly Movie Nights, Open House and the Student Ambassador program.

Two of our biggest campus events are Open House and Orientation, in which prospective students are introduced to our beautiful campus in March, and new students are welcomed to our reputable university before school starts, respectively. During the first week of classes, Week of Welcome (WOW) takes place on the Mezzanine level. WOW is a succession of events that take place for students to enjoy visiting and participating at the set-up booths of services, programs, clubs, and Departmental Student Unions (DSUs). Not only do the students play giant games and fun video games, but they also get free swag at the booths and have lunch at the free BBQ organized by the Surrey Campus Committee.

After long days and nights of studying, volunteering and/or working, Student Life makes sure to provide students with fun events to just wind down and relax! One of our events is the Free Weekly Movie Nights where SFU and non-SFU students and non-students are encouraged to come out and watch a newly released movie, enjoy snacks and definitely win a prize and coupons.

All of the events mentioned above (and MORE!) are run with the help of keen Student Ambassadors. Any student that attends SFU Surrey can sign up to become a Student Ambassador (SA) at http://www.surrey.sfu.ca/sa/. Being a SA is an amazing opportunity to develop leadership, communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills through a variety of events. Our SA program recognizes every volunteer position a SA holds on the Surrey campus.

Cristel Moubarak

LifeStudents' Lens into SFU

As a SA you can be our campus info guru to direct crowds and guests, student panellist to share your university experiences, tour guide to give a fun and inspirational tour to visitors, or even be a leader at a Student Union, Club or Orientation leader.

Candy Ho Student Life Coordinator

Cristel Moubarak Student Life Assistant

VISIT STUDENT LIFE(Room 3002 & 3005)

Bioshock 2 also adds a multiplayer feature. At this point, only basic modes like Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch have been revealed, but the main difference is in persistence. As one plays multiplayer matches, they become able to access more genetic enhancements and more weapons. It will be interesting to see how this works out, and if the leveling mechanic makes players more powerful, or simply gives them more options. The latter seems preferable, as that would allow skill to overcome tedious grinding.

From what can be seen so far, BioShock 2 looks promising. We'll find out February 9th, 2010.

More details | beyondunreal.comImage | www.gamespot.com

This has changed somewhat in BioShock 2. Since you are now the one protecting the little sisters, you can choose to adopt them instead of rescue them, or once again, kill them. Adopting them allows you to get more ADAM overall, but puts you into a lot of fights, as splicers, the inhabitants of Rapture driven mad by ADAM-based enhancements, try to kill you while the girl is harvesting ADAM for you.

BioShock 2, developed by 2K's Marin division, is set to take that even further. Set 10 years after the end of BioShock, the player assumes the role of a Big Daddy - large, bathyscape-encased guardians of Rapture and the ADAM-harvesting little sisters therein. These lumbering monstrosities were the equivalent of boss fights in the original, which the player had to defeat to get to the little sister.

As with the original, the player uses a substance called ADAM to give themselves various genetic enhancements, such as the ability to throw bees or go invisible. The little sisters are small, brainwashed girls who happily run around, drawing blood from corpses and recycling the ADAM. In order to get that ADAM, the player could either kill the little sister, or de-program her. While killing the little sister was more beneficial in the short term, the difference in ADAM gained between the two options, along with the gifts received for being nice, makes the rescuing option considerably viable.

As for the story, what is known so far is that after the end of BioShock, where the player character freed the little sisters to live in the world, one of them went back to Rapture, donned a twisted diving suit, and started kidnapping girls to keep ADAM coming. This Big Sister seems to be either the primary enemy, or the penultimate one.

Two years ago, we were introduced to the Ayn Rand-inspired world of Rapture in BioShock from 2K Boston. This world was a dark, stark contrast to what Rand's disciples would have expected from a world produced by unfettered capitalism and unrestricted human endeavour. The game as a whole served not only as a demonstration of problems that go along with this philosophy, but also fielded a deep and broad gameplay experience.

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Inspire me, now!szymon.tumblr.com

In need of some inspirat ion to get started on that next project? Inspire me, now is a col lect ion of fun, designy images compiled by information architect, Szymon Blaszc-zyk. Great i f you're suffering from designers block!

Popurlspopurls.com

A massive customizable aggregator for every popular website, video site and blog. Beauti ful ly designed and guaranteed to ki l l boredom for several hours.

Quake Livequakel ive.com

Play Quake 3 Arena in your web browser. Create an account to play from any computer. Requires plugin instal lat ion.

Probaby Bad News probablybadnews.com

This is a website dedicated to showcasing humorous errors and lack of judgment in journal ism, report ing, and ad placement (similar to the "headl ines" segments from nightt ime talk shows).

Supercooksupercook.com

What every student without a mom to cook for them needs. Enter whatever you have in your poor fr idge and get a couple of del icious recipes in return. A great alternative to eating cup noodles every night.

Elsewhere myspace.com/davidelsewhere

David "Elsewhere" Bernal is a world-famous i l lusionary dancer from Cali fornia, who incorporates many contempo-rary dance styles such as popping and abstract waving to create a mesmerizing and f luidly surreal performance. He has appeared in many famous commercials for products such as the iPod and Volkswagen Golf GTI (Gene Kel ly 's face was superimposed onto his body).

Family Photosawkwardfamilyphotos.com

I t 's just l ike i t sounds. Bask in other people's unfortunate moments inf l icted upon them by their famil ies. Simple. Awkward. Awesome.

960.gshttp:/ /960.gs/

7 1 2f lavours

of AWESOME

Every semester we bring you a variety of 7 1/2 f lavours of Awesome. A number of di fferent and random l inks that may interest you.


What is there to say that hasnʼt already been said about the Beatles? Not much. They are a band that needs no introduction, have stood the test of time, and bridge generations. As of earlier this year, they have a video game based on them, and itʼs a good one.

For those not in the know, the developers of Rock Band scored a major upset last year in winning rights to the Beatlesʼ music over the competing Guitar Hero franchise. Not only was this great for them, but also great for fans. Unlike previous Guitar Hero ʻband-focusedʼ games such as the Aerosmith and Metallica editions, which filled up space with acts those bands liked and were inspired by, and had players fill in the shoes of an aspiring player-created band rather than the actual members, the Rock Band team worked extensively with the surviving members and the widows of Lennon and Harrison to create the most focused and Beatles-centric experience possible. Rewards for doing well include photos, info, and video from the groupʼs history.

Occasionally, liberties are taken to avoid bringing the celebratory mood of the game down, such as Ringo drumming on tracks that were recorded while he had temporarily left the group, but these are minor nitpicks only hardcore purists will have issue with.

Overall the difficulty is decent. Nothing will be extremely difficult to music game veterans (a couple tricky songs do stick out), but Beatles music is not necessarily about technical competence, and to falsely add difficulty with extra notes would have felt wrong. As well, this is a

game peopleʼs parents and casual gamer friends are far more likely to want to try, so accessibility is a plus. This is enhanced by an auto no-fail mode on easy difficulty, and all but one track are available to play from the start with no unlocking.

The graphics are excellent even on the Wii version, with all of the fab four recognizable at different points in their career, playing in both iconic venues as well as psychedelic ʻdreamscapesʼ for the era when the group did not tour. Online play works well, and additional songs are available to download and will continue to be added as time goes, with Abbey Road, Sgt. Pepperʼs Lonely Hearts Club Band, and Rubber Soul (UK) already announced to be released in their entirety.

The new feature of harmony vocals is a welcome addition to the franchise, working extremely well at including a key aspect of the groupʼs music, as well as introducing added difficulty by allowing a guitarist or drummer to sing backup vocals. The unfortunate downside of it is that along with clauses within licensing the Beatles music, there is no cross-compatibility in terms of exporting and importing songs with regular Rock Band.

Overall, the game is a great entry point into the music rhythm genre, and a solid purchase for people who are already fans of band games. Hardcore players may take issue at the lack of difficulty, and some may grow weary of only playing Beatles music, but as a party game this holiday season to bridge the gap between casuals and gamers, there are few substitutes.

A review of Rock Band on the Wii

As design students in SIAT, we have plenty of opportunities to work on projects that exercise our creativity and imagination. We are trained in iterative design, and have recognized the importance of the process that leads to an end result. Now what about putting those skills and innovative thinking to use and making a difference in the society we live in?

Inov8 is a SFU social innovation blog supported by the CMA Centre for Strategic Change and Performance Measurement. It is a place where students come together to discuss social issues, plan and develop possible solutions, and make them happen to effect real social change. The common passive attitude toward these larger-than-life problems stems from the belief that individual effort is never enough to solve them. However, Lisa Papania, the development manager of inov8.ca, believes that solving these “out-there” problems like global warming and social injustice really comes down to self-inquiry and discussing how these problems affect you on a local and personal level.

Inov8.ca aims to provide support every step of the way. Upon approval of the projects, the panel awards the SFU/CMA Social Innovation grant to help students get their projects off the ground. In addition to monetary support, access to resources and facilities is also provided, but the nature of the support will vary depending on each unique project.

The $5 a Day Food Challenge“Food insecurity is the lack of physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. Over 2.7 million Canadians experience food insecurity every year and in BC, 10.4% of households lack financial access to adequate food.”This is the most recently completed project based on the San Francisco Food Bank Hunger Challenge. It is a week-long challenge to raise awareness about food insecurity. Participants are challenged to spend a total of only $5 a day (or $35 a week) on food, and are obligated to share their experience on the project blog. www.5dollarsaday.ca

Homelessness in the Tri-CitiesAlleviating homelessness in the Tri-Cities started out as a project for the Social Innovation course at SFU, and is now part of a new organization called Homes For Good Society or HFGS (www.homesforgood.ca ). Solutions include the “giving circle” model, where a group of socially conscious investors put a down payment together on a piece of property. This property is then rented to 1 – 2 homeless clients. In another solution, if any 17 individuals donate just $1 a day , a homeless person’s rent can be sufficiently subsidized. HFGS challenges SFU students to get involved in this “$1 A Day” initiative to sponsor a homeless person!If anyone wants to get involved please contact [email protected]

The Politican Foundation Advocating Political Engagement (TPF) is a Vancouver-based organization dedicated to creating greater political awareness and engagement for young Canadians aged 14 to 29, through collaborative social media and communication technologies. TPF works to engage, educate, inform, and inspire young people about politics, issues and ideas in Canada. Ultimately, TPF hopes to begin a movement towards a politically engaged and genuinely interested generation of young people in Canada.www.thepolitican.ca

By: Luyi Wang

This is where the initial discussion is raised. Students first identify a social issue and present it to the blog community. Fellow students respond and post thoughts and opinions regarding that particular issue. A focus is put on relevance to SFU students and the lower mainland.

At this stage, students choose a specific issue they are interested in solving and form teams with other members of the community to develop a plan. Teams apply for funding at this stage. The planned solution is presented to the inov8.ca panel for approval.

Once approved, the project proceeds into the action phase. Project teams track the status of projects, view project details, and advertise the launch date for their solution.

After projects are successfully completed, the students reflect upon the previous stages of the project. Students review what worked and what needs improvement and this links back to stage 1, where new discussion and issues are raised.

1: Talk

2: Plan

3: Act

4: Review

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Teaching assistants - every student has encountered one. Obviously, some seem better at their job than others, but what makes great TAs? Is it their methods, acumen, clarity, attitude, or does it come down to the grade they help you get in the course? Would you evaluate the TA differently if he or she is someone you know?

Below is a conversation I had with Amy Ngai, a TA from IAT 338 (Interactive Objects and Environments, taught by Russell Taylor), about her experience so far in her first semester working as a teaching assistant.

What encouraged you to become a TA (besides the fact that it’s a paying job)?

I’ve always really enjoyed helping people. As a TA, I get great satisfaction from seeing other students succeed. Especially in IAT 338, the students are already established, highly intelligent design thinkers, and the guidance of a TA can push their thinking beyond their current boundaries.

In your opinion, what are essential skills and qualities that a TA should have? What specialized qualities are required of an IAT 338 TA?

Generally, I think all TAs must have patience. TAs should also have the ability to differentiate types of students. I find some SIAT instructors and TAs treat everyone the same, but it’s really important to understand specific needs of different students and teams, what kind of feedback they need, and how to push them further. It’s also important to know when to step back and let the students do their own thing.

As for the 338 course specifically, the TA must be able to connect different ideas together. Sometimes the TA has to see things that students don’t immediately see, make the students aware of them, and provide guidance about the process of addressing them. Whereas IAT 233 is mostly about constructing and building things, 338 is all about ideas, and sometimes people get stuck.

As a TA of IAT 338, what were your main responsibilities to the students and the instructor?

For Russell, the TAs mostly provide backup and support. We help out with giving feedback to students, providing a second opinion beside Russell’s during critiques, and taking care of the little details so that Russell can focus on managing the course.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A T.A • AN INTERVIEW BY VIVIEN LO • WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A T.A • AN INTERVIEW BY VIVIEN LO • WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A T.A • AN INTERVIEW BY VIVIEN LO • WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A T.A • AN INTERVIEW BY

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A T.A • AN INTERVIEW BY VIVIEN LO • WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A T.A • AN INTERVIEW BY VIVIEN LO • WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A T.A

What it means to be a T.AAn Interview by Vivien Lo

3 marks

It was dark when Franz Müller left the small cinema, “Das Lebende Bild.” It was November in Berlin and the small, family-run theatre was playing Metropolis. The film had been out for several years and Franz had seen it before, but on this night he felt like he needed to see it again. One reichsmark had bought him a ticket for the film, a small bowl of stew and a few pints of beer, but standing on the outside, on the walk at dark he was already hungry again. He pulled his coat tighter, but it was so threadbare that it was little more than a jumble of thread and buttons, and the air was sharp and stabbed at him through the jacket. Franz closed his eyes so he wouldn’t have to see the warmth escaping in the fog of his breath and he watched Metropolis play in the theatre of his mind. Behind closed eyes his hands roamed over the architecture, memorizing the shape and lines and angles, and he felt free when he climbed them, to the top of the Tower of Babel. He opened his eyes and all of Germany was cold, but inside of Franz Müller there was a very small place that was warm.

He walked to the busier streets and he was smiling. The sensation was foreign to him and he reached up and touched his face to feel the lines and he smiled even wider. Around him Berliners went about their business, heads down and heavily dressed to save the heat, their faces dark and blank - lost. Franz stopped at a street vendor that was packing away papers and books to close for the night, and he looked over some of the stock that hadn’t been put away. There were foreign broadsheets still on display, which didn’t sell very well these days partly due to their increased price, but one caught the eye of Franz and he picked it up to look at the cover. The vendor pulled another stack of papers into his booth and scowled at the sight of Franz who stood in rags with a ridiculous grin on his face. Franz tucked the paper under his arm and pulled out his slim billfold. He opened it and found two marks remaining. He pulled out one and gave it to the vendor who looked at it for a moment like he didn’t recognize what it was, before turning and looking at the mostly-packed booth. “It’s yours,” said Franz smiling and gave a small wave before turning and walking away. He sat down on a bench and looked at the Empire State Building on the front cover, of which the subtitle told him was still mostly empty as no one was lining up to move in to the expensive tower. Franz ran his hand over the image, his fingers wishing for texture, and he was mesmerized by the building’s domination of the skyline as its spire careened into the atmosphere.

He stood up and walked quickly down the street. The alleys of Berlin were getting darker and winter was coming to extinguish the last of the heat, but the fire was still burning in Franz Müller’s heart and he didn’t want it to die, he wanted to fan the flames so they would spread and catch and burn to give a grand rebirth. He walked into a small pub and it was dark inside and the inhabitants were small and isolated, clutching their pints and communicating with the darkness. Franz walked to the bar and handed his third mark to the bartender for use of the telephone. He dialled the number for his friend Max Pechstein and waited. When the connection was made he said, “I feel full of hope. I feel good, Max. It’s a wonderful time to be an artist in Germany.”

Daniel Poirier


3 marks




Daniel Poirier

For the students, the TAs generally help with connecting different ideas, making sure their designs are logical, and being available when they need someone to bounce ideas off of.

What level of assistance do you provide to students? Do you have specified office hours?

I try to advise the students on what NOT to do, but I don’t tell them exactly what to do. If the students do not understand certain concepts, I help them to understand, but I never give them specific answers. If they really believe in their design idea, they should go ahead and do it.

I usually ask students to make e-mail appointments with me, but if it’s a week when lots of people need help, I will set up office hours. Right before the halfway point of the semester students usually require more help. Afterwards, the students start to get the hang of it.

What kind of tactics or methods do you use to stimulate a “good” thought process in students as they are ideating?

I try to be as encouraging as possible. When I see the students, I ask them about how they’re doing and how their designs are coming along. If they’re not on the right track, I let them know that they should try a different route, and I give them some idea about different directions they could go. If they ARE on the right track, I will give them feedback about why I think they’re good. It’s important for them to know WHY their design is good, and not just that they are, so they know what they’re doing right.

What are the most rewarding aspects of your experience as a TA? Are there things you’ve learned from your students as well?

It’s rewarding to be able to help students understand how to design. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I talk to teams that need help, make something “click” for them, and then they understand their how to do their assignment. It’s great when the advice I gave allows the team to produce a well-accepted design at the end.

I’ve learned a lot of new things from students too. Different students have their own perspectives and are creative in their own way. As a

result, they can find connections I sometimes don’t see, and it leads to really innovative ideas.

How many courses are you taking during your semester as a TA? Was it ever hard to manage your time between TAing and schoolwork?

I am taking 4 IAT courses (one of which is a graduate-level course), so yes, it was definitely tough to manage my time. Sometimes my students needed a lot of help during times I had a lot of work to do for my courses. For a while it was very difficult; when I dedicated a whole day to working at school, sometimes half of my day was spent helping students.

Besides finding time, what were your greatest challenges as a TA?

Every time I see a new team, they expect me to give really good feedback, but the fact is that everyone has different, high-level ideas. Trying to process their high-level ideas AND give them good feedback with quick turnaround time is pretty hard. Also, things like info-models take time to examine, so it takes a while to understand what they’re trying to communicate, and then also give a critique of it.

In your opinion, what are the most crucial failings of some SIAT TAs?

The TAs in SIAT are quite intelligent and knowledgeable, but sometimes they just give pretty vague feedback, like “This is good” or “This is bad” and just leave it at that. Their feedback can be quite harsh sometimes. Some TAs also aren’t naturals at teaching, and it might be difficult to know what they’re getting at. I’ve noticed some of the TAs that are grad students, since they didn’t come from the SIAT undergrad school and haven’t actually taken the courses they are TAing, they might not have a good understanding of the tribulations students are going through, and what kind of help they need, simply because they haven’t done the same coursework before. This issue probably does not arise as much in other areas/faculties that are more standardized across different schools.

Would you TA again?

I would definitely like to TA again!



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Rapid growth is a start. At current rates, by the year 2016, athird of all high school students graduating in BC will be graduating in Surrey. This clearly demonstrates the power the city has for attracting new residents, expansion and growth, and with this growth comes progress. While it may never have the beaches and waterfronts to rival Vancouver, there are those that predict a scenario similar to Oakland/San Francisco developing between Surrey and Vancouver, with the latter being the tourist destination, and the former a major and important city of its own right, coming out of a troubled past to be a commercial and business hub.

As I’m sure many of you may have noticed over the past years, development in Whalley, the area around SFU Surrey, has been ongoing and improving. Though some towers have stalled in development, there are a myriad of other projects finishing all the time - some residential, others like the improvement to Holland Park (which housed a stellar festival and concerts this past summer). Overall though, the proposed projects that comprise Central City II shall garner the most praise in this article.

So what does this expansion of the Central City concept, (already containing an office tower, SFU, and a mall) entail?

A new library with approximately 65,000 sq. ft. Rather than having separate floors, it is proposed to consist of one continuous looping slope. The plan also involves a performing arts centre situated adjacent to the new library, with both a 1600 seat theatre and a 250-seat studio theatre. Along with these, there will be a proposed hotel/office tower. All of these are to be situated on the far side of the existing Rec Centre from the current Central City.

But wait, there’s more! The transit hub/bus loop is planned to move to the east of the Skytrain platform (which is also planned to be extended to accommodate longer trains), to the area that used to house Stardust, for any of you that remember. The existing area between Central City and the Rec Centre has planned reclamation value as the site of a new city hall, further space for SFU, and another office tower. All of these are to be located beginning on the second floor of the complex, with the lower level providing retail for the newly created civic plaza, generated by the combination of the existing space out front and its to be created mirror.

Advancements are going on in all areas of the city. We are on track to finally get new bus shelters this December. Eventually the Skytrain will be extended into Guildford, Fleetwood, and later Langley, sometime after the Evergreen Line and possibly the extension to UBC.

An international design competition will also be going on between November 2009 and January 2010 to "transform suburban Surrey into a vibrant urban city, focusing on the notion of placemaking and developing urban identity for the long established 5 town centres of Surrey: Guildford, Newton, Fleetwood, Cloverdale, and Semiahmoo."

The Whalley region is not part of the competition, as the enormous plans detailed earlier already have it covered. I encourage anyone interested to look into participating.

Now this is not all going to happen overnight. Nor does it ensure that residents of the lower mainland will refer to the region as Surrey when abroad rather than as Vancouver. All it shows is that the future looks bright for Surrey and it is an exciting time to be a student in the area.

By closing off 102nd St., which would bisect the plaza, a large public gathering space would be created for events such as Winterfest, concerts, or public showings. The area could accommodate up to 10,000 people.

Further developments in the surrounding area include the eventual SFU Surey residences located west of the new complex, beautification of King George Hwy (to be renamed King George Boulevard) by increasing pedestrian space and implementing trees/greenery, and a potential site for a Surrey Stadium on a parcel of land roughly equivalent in size to GM Place, near the BC Lions training centre.

Some of you may be thinking, “This is all nice, but it’s just a small part of Surrey”.

Surrey: The target of many a harsh criticism and stereotyping from people all over the lower mainland. We all know the mythos, and accept that at one point we were indeed the Car Theft Capital of North America. But those days are gone. The shape of things to come suggests strong evolutionfor Surrey that could eventually rival Vancouver for dominance in the region, becoming second fiddle at a bare minimum. How will this be achieved?

Image Source: http://www.surreycitydevelopment.com/pdf/Civic_Centre_Development.pdf

By Ethan Johanson

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By Ethan Johanson


Where can people who are interested in participating get notified of upcoming events?

We have a Facebook page, which we use to post information about upcoming workshops and events, and for suggestions. People interested in joining the club can send us their contact information (name and phone number) to the club email, so they can be notified for upcoming dates. When we meet up, they can sign up on an SFSS club sheet to be added as a member of Viewfinder.

Is the club only for digital photography, or 35 mm photography as well?

The members can do both, though most do only digital photography. There is a dark room on the Burnaby Campus that can be rented out if members want to do 35 mm photography. As well of course, this opportunity is extended to those who want to learn how to develop film and use a dark room. There are a lot of unique opportunities we provide for aspiring photographers, and those who enjoy it as a hobby, such as studio time, or outdoor shoots. That is why students interested in photography should join Viewfinder and take advantage of this fantastic club at SFU!

Contact Viewfinder!Email: [email protected] • Website: www.sfu.ca/~vfinder/ • Facebook page: Viewfinder

By Mina JecmenicaImages: Viewfinder Flickr Poolhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/94501287@N00/


Viewfinder

ViewfinderWho is this club for? Do people have to be experienced photographers in order to join?

Not necessarily. Viewfinder is for people who are dedicated and passionate about photography. In that sense, people can be beginners, but be willing to learn or improve at photography within a group setting. Most people have a digital camera nowadays, and so it is also for those who want to learn how to use the different functions their cameras offer. Members can exchange ideas and gain experience from each other, too.

What kind of activities do you do as a club?

We hold workshops and events like Photo Walk, for example. Photo Walk is an organized event in which a location is chosen and a group of members meet for an opportunity to capture different things on the walk together. In terms of workshops, we also hold some in the computer lab on how to use different programs like Photoshop. Basically, we try to answer whatever questions members bring to us, and there is a lot of opportunity to share different experiences among members.

How often do you have these workshops and events?

Probably once every 2 months. Sometimes it simply depends on the amount of people who can commit to an event. We had some interesting photo outings, like a night shooting event called “One Night Stand”. There is a limited amount of cameras and tripods that we can borrow for people who need them (as long as they notify us in advance), so anyone can attend our events!

Spotlight on the SFU Clubs: Photography Club Viewfinder

HIASPIRE has been interested in showcasing Surrey’s own Viewfinder photography club for a while now. The president of Viewfinder, Joseph Wu, sat down with Mina Jecmenica of HIASPIRE’s writing and reporting team to discuss what the club is all about.

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By Ethan Johanson

ASPIREHIFall 2009 14ASPIREHIFall 2009 10

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By Ethan Johanson

Teaching assistants - every student has encountered one. Obviously, some seem better at their job than others, but what makes great TAs? Is it their methods, acumen, clarity, attitude, or does it come down to the grade they help you get in the course? Would you evaluate the TA differently if he or she is someone you know?

Below is a conversation I had with Amy Ngai, a TA from IAT 338 (Interactive Objects and Environments, taught by Russell Taylor), about her experience so far in her first semester working as a teaching assistant.

What encouraged you to become a TA (besides the fact that it’s a paying job)?

I’ve always really enjoyed helping people. As a TA, I get great satisfaction from seeing other students succeed. Especially in IAT 338, the students are already established, highly intelligent design thinkers, and the guidance of a TA can push their thinking beyond their current boundaries.

In your opinion, what are essential skills and qualities that a TA should have? What specialized qualities are required of an IAT 338 TA?

Generally, I think all TAs must have patience. TAs should also have the ability to differentiate types of students. I find some SIAT instructors and TAs treat everyone the same, but it’s really important to understand specific needs of different students and teams, what kind of feedback they need, and how to push them further. It’s also important to know when to step back and let the students do their own thing.

As for the 338 course specifically, the TA must be able to connect different ideas together. Sometimes the TA has to see things that students don’t immediately see, make the students aware of them, and provide guidance about the process of addressing them. Whereas IAT 233 is mostly about constructing and building things, 338 is all about ideas, and sometimes people get stuck.

As a TA of IAT 338, what were your main responsibilities to the students and the instructor?

For Russell, the TAs mostly provide backup and support. We help out with giving feedback to students, providing a second opinion beside Russell’s during critiques, and taking care of the little details so that Russell can focus on managing the course.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A T.A • AN INTERVIEW BY VIVIEN LO • WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A T.A • AN INTERVIEW BY VIVIEN LO • WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A T.A • AN INTERVIEW BY VIVIEN LO • WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A T.A • AN INTERVIEW BY

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A T.A • AN INTERVIEW BY VIVIEN LO • WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A T.A • AN INTERVIEW BY VIVIEN LO • WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A T.A

What it means to be a T.AAn Interview by Vivien Lo

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Daniel Poirier


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Daniel Poirier

For the students, the TAs generally help with connecting different ideas, making sure their designs are logical, and being available when they need someone to bounce ideas off of.

What level of assistance do you provide to students? Do you have specified office hours?

I try to advise the students on what NOT to do, but I don’t tell them exactly what to do. If the students do not understand certain concepts, I help them to understand, but I never give them specific answers. If they really believe in their design idea, they should go ahead and do it.

I usually ask students to make e-mail appointments with me, but if it’s a week when lots of people need help, I will set up office hours. Right before the halfway point of the semester students usually require more help. Afterwards, the students start to get the hang of it.

What kind of tactics or methods do you use to stimulate a “good” thought process in students as they are ideating?

I try to be as encouraging as possible. When I see the students, I ask them about how they’re doing and how their designs are coming along. If they’re not on the right track, I let them know that they should try a different route, and I give them some idea about different directions they could go. If they ARE on the right track, I will give them feedback about why I think they’re good. It’s important for them to know WHY their design is good, and not just that they are, so they know what they’re doing right.

What are the most rewarding aspects of your experience as a TA? Are there things you’ve learned from your students as well?

It’s rewarding to be able to help students understand how to design. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I talk to teams that need help, make something “click” for them, and then they understand their how to do their assignment. It’s great when the advice I gave allows the team to produce a well-accepted design at the end.

I’ve learned a lot of new things from students too. Different students have their own perspectives and are creative in their own way. As a

result, they can find connections I sometimes don’t see, and it leads to really innovative ideas.

How many courses are you taking during your semester as a TA? Was it ever hard to manage your time between TAing and schoolwork?

I am taking 4 IAT courses (one of which is a graduate-level course), so yes, it was definitely tough to manage my time. Sometimes my students needed a lot of help during times I had a lot of work to do for my courses. For a while it was very difficult; when I dedicated a whole day to working at school, sometimes half of my day was spent helping students.

Besides finding time, what were your greatest challenges as a TA?

Every time I see a new team, they expect me to give really good feedback, but the fact is that everyone has different, high-level ideas. Trying to process their high-level ideas AND give them good feedback with quick turnaround time is pretty hard. Also, things like info-models take time to examine, so it takes a while to understand what they’re trying to communicate, and then also give a critique of it.

In your opinion, what are the most crucial failings of some SIAT TAs?

The TAs in SIAT are quite intelligent and knowledgeable, but sometimes they just give pretty vague feedback, like “This is good” or “This is bad” and just leave it at that. Their feedback can be quite harsh sometimes. Some TAs also aren’t naturals at teaching, and it might be difficult to know what they’re getting at. I’ve noticed some of the TAs that are grad students, since they didn’t come from the SIAT undergrad school and haven’t actually taken the courses they are TAing, they might not have a good understanding of the tribulations students are going through, and what kind of help they need, simply because they haven’t done the same coursework before. This issue probably does not arise as much in other areas/faculties that are more standardized across different schools.

Would you TA again?

I would definitely like to TA again!


What is there to say that hasnʼt already been said about the Beatles? Not much. They are a band that needs no introduction, have stood the test of time, and bridge generations. As of earlier this year, they have a video game based on them, and itʼs a good one.

For those not in the know, the developers of Rock Band scored a major upset last year in winning rights to the Beatlesʼ music over the competing Guitar Hero franchise. Not only was this great for them, but also great for fans. Unlike previous Guitar Hero ʻband-focusedʼ games such as the Aerosmith and Metallica editions, which filled up space with acts those bands liked and were inspired by, and had players fill in the shoes of an aspiring player-created band rather than the actual members, the Rock Band team worked extensively with the surviving members and the widows of Lennon and Harrison to create the most focused and Beatles-centric experience possible. Rewards for doing well include photos, info, and video from the groupʼs history.

Occasionally, liberties are taken to avoid bringing the celebratory mood of the game down, such as Ringo drumming on tracks that were recorded while he had temporarily left the group, but these are minor nitpicks only hardcore purists will have issue with.

Overall the difficulty is decent. Nothing will be extremely difficult to music game veterans (a couple tricky songs do stick out), but Beatles music is not necessarily about technical competence, and to falsely add difficulty with extra notes would have felt wrong. As well, this is a

game peopleʼs parents and casual gamer friends are far more likely to want to try, so accessibility is a plus. This is enhanced by an auto no-fail mode on easy difficulty, and all but one track are available to play from the start with no unlocking.

The graphics are excellent even on the Wii version, with all of the fab four recognizable at different points in their career, playing in both iconic venues as well as psychedelic ʻdreamscapesʼ for the era when the group did not tour. Online play works well, and additional songs are available to download and will continue to be added as time goes, with Abbey Road, Sgt. Pepperʼs Lonely Hearts Club Band, and Rubber Soul (UK) already announced to be released in their entirety.

The new feature of harmony vocals is a welcome addition to the franchise, working extremely well at including a key aspect of the groupʼs music, as well as introducing added difficulty by allowing a guitarist or drummer to sing backup vocals. The unfortunate downside of it is that along with clauses within licensing the Beatles music, there is no cross-compatibility in terms of exporting and importing songs with regular Rock Band.

Overall, the game is a great entry point into the music rhythm genre, and a solid purchase for people who are already fans of band games. Hardcore players may take issue at the lack of difficulty, and some may grow weary of only playing Beatles music, but as a party game this holiday season to bridge the gap between casuals and gamers, there are few substitutes.

A review of Rock Band on the Wii

As design students in SIAT, we have plenty of opportunities to work on projects that exercise our creativity and imagination. We are trained in iterative design, and have recognized the importance of the process that leads to an end result. Now what about putting those skills and innovative thinking to use and making a difference in the society we live in?

Inov8 is a SFU social innovation blog supported by the CMA Centre for Strategic Change and Performance Measurement. It is a place where students come together to discuss social issues, plan and develop possible solutions, and make them happen to effect real social change. The common passive attitude toward these larger-than-life problems stems from the belief that individual effort is never enough to solve them. However, Lisa Papania, the development manager of inov8.ca, believes that solving these “out-there” problems like global warming and social injustice really comes down to self-inquiry and discussing how these problems affect you on a local and personal level.

Inov8.ca aims to provide support every step of the way. Upon approval of the projects, the panel awards the SFU/CMA Social Innovation grant to help students get their projects off the ground. In addition to monetary support, access to resources and facilities is also provided, but the nature of the support will vary depending on each unique project.

The $5 a Day Food Challenge“Food insecurity is the lack of physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. Over 2.7 million Canadians experience food insecurity every year and in BC, 10.4% of households lack financial access to adequate food.”This is the most recently completed project based on the San Francisco Food Bank Hunger Challenge. It is a week-long challenge to raise awareness about food insecurity. Participants are challenged to spend a total of only $5 a day (or $35 a week) on food, and are obligated to share their experience on the project blog. www.5dollarsaday.ca

Homelessness in the Tri-CitiesAlleviating homelessness in the Tri-Cities started out as a project for the Social Innovation course at SFU, and is now part of a new organization called Homes For Good Society or HFGS (www.homesforgood.ca ). Solutions include the “giving circle” model, where a group of socially conscious investors put a down payment together on a piece of property. This property is then rented to 1 – 2 homeless clients. In another solution, if any 17 individuals donate just $1 a day , a homeless person’s rent can be sufficiently subsidized. HFGS challenges SFU students to get involved in this “$1 A Day” initiative to sponsor a homeless person!If anyone wants to get involved please contact [email protected]

The Politican Foundation Advocating Political Engagement (TPF) is a Vancouver-based organization dedicated to creating greater political awareness and engagement for young Canadians aged 14 to 29, through collaborative social media and communication technologies. TPF works to engage, educate, inform, and inspire young people about politics, issues and ideas in Canada. Ultimately, TPF hopes to begin a movement towards a politically engaged and genuinely interested generation of young people in Canada.www.thepolitican.ca

By: Luyi Wang

This is where the initial discussion is raised. Students first identify a social issue and present it to the blog community. Fellow students respond and post thoughts and opinions regarding that particular issue. A focus is put on relevance to SFU students and the lower mainland.

At this stage, students choose a specific issue they are interested in solving and form teams with other members of the community to develop a plan. Teams apply for funding at this stage. The planned solution is presented to the inov8.ca panel for approval.

Once approved, the project proceeds into the action phase. Project teams track the status of projects, view project details, and advertise the launch date for their solution.

After projects are successfully completed, the students reflect upon the previous stages of the project. Students review what worked and what needs improvement and this links back to stage 1, where new discussion and issues are raised.

1: Talk

2: Plan

3: Act

4: Review

Dare to Inov8

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STAGE

Current Projects

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Inspire me, now!szymon.tumblr.com

In need of some inspirat ion to get started on that next project? Inspire me, now is a col lect ion of fun, designy images compiled by information architect, Szymon Blaszc-zyk. Great i f you're suffering from designers block!

Popurlspopurls.com

A massive customizable aggregator for every popular website, video site and blog. Beauti ful ly designed and guaranteed to ki l l boredom for several hours.

Quake Livequakel ive.com

Play Quake 3 Arena in your web browser. Create an account to play from any computer. Requires plugin instal lat ion.

Probaby Bad News probablybadnews.com

This is a website dedicated to showcasing humorous errors and lack of judgment in journal ism, report ing, and ad placement (similar to the "headl ines" segments from nightt ime talk shows).

Supercooksupercook.com

What every student without a mom to cook for them needs. Enter whatever you have in your poor fr idge and get a couple of del icious recipes in return. A great alternative to eating cup noodles every night.

Elsewhere myspace.com/davidelsewhere

David "Elsewhere" Bernal is a world-famous i l lusionary dancer from Cali fornia, who incorporates many contempo-rary dance styles such as popping and abstract waving to create a mesmerizing and f luidly surreal performance. He has appeared in many famous commercials for products such as the iPod and Volkswagen Golf GTI (Gene Kel ly 's face was superimposed onto his body).

Family Photosawkwardfamilyphotos.com

I t 's just l ike i t sounds. Bask in other people's unfortunate moments inf l icted upon them by their famil ies. Simple. Awkward. Awesome.

960.gshttp:/ /960.gs/

7 1 2f lavours

of AWESOME

Every semester we bring you a variety of 7 1/2 f lavours of Awesome. A number of di fferent and random l inks that may interest you.










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StudentStudent Life is a very active department on SFU’s Surrey campus. As you may have noticed, Student Life holds several regular events and assists in almost every other event on campus. Some of our major involvements on campus include Orientation, Week of Welcome, Free Weekly Movie Nights, Open House and the Student Ambassador program.

Two of our biggest campus events are Open House and Orientation, in which prospective students are introduced to our beautiful campus in March, and new students are welcomed to our reputable university before school starts, respectively. During the first week of classes, Week of Welcome (WOW) takes place on the Mezzanine level. WOW is a succession of events that take place for students to enjoy visiting and participating at the set-up booths of services, programs, clubs, and Departmental Student Unions (DSUs). Not only do the students play giant games and fun video games, but they also get free swag at the booths and have lunch at the free BBQ organized by the Surrey Campus Committee.

After long days and nights of studying, volunteering and/or working, Student Life makes sure to provide students with fun events to just wind down and relax! One of our events is the Free Weekly Movie Nights where SFU and non-SFU students and non-students are encouraged to come out and watch a newly released movie, enjoy snacks and definitely win a prize and coupons.

All of the events mentioned above (and MORE!) are run with the help of keen Student Ambassadors. Any student that attends SFU Surrey can sign up to become a Student Ambassador (SA) at http://www.surrey.sfu.ca/sa/. Being a SA is an amazing opportunity to develop leadership, communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills through a variety of events. Our SA program recognizes every volunteer position a SA holds on the Surrey campus.

Cristel Moubarak

LifeStudents' Lens into SFU

As a SA you can be our campus info guru to direct crowds and guests, student panellist to share your university experiences, tour guide to give a fun and inspirational tour to visitors, or even be a leader at a Student Union, Club or Orientation leader.

Candy Ho Student Life Coordinator

Cristel Moubarak Student Life Assistant

VISIT STUDENT LIFE(Room 3002 & 3005)









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Editor-in-Chief - Vivien Lo

Layout Director - Cheryl Cheong

Finance & Admin Director - Andy Shen

Assisting Editor - Daniel Poirier

Finance Assistant - Francis Leung

Design Team

Adam Dewji

Anna KoniarskaCheryl Cheong

Nicola Sznajder

Authors

Chelsea Szafranski

Ethan Johanson

Daniel Poirier

Mina Jecmenica

Dominic Renaud

Vivien Lo

Tiffany Chang

Special Thanks To:Alanna Kho

Cristel Moubarak

Amy Ngai

Georgina Chaplin

Joseph WuLuyi Wang

Images Source: http://2kgames.com/cultofrapture/index.html

Table Of Contents

Issue Twelve

Note from the EditorStudent Life

7.5 Flavors of AwesomeDare to Inov8TA InterviewSIAT StudioViewfinder ClubFuture of SurreyFlash Fiction: 3 Marks

Beatles Rock Band reviewShort StoryBioshock 2 previewStaff Page

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Hiaspire Issue 12

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