Town Hall for Student Space – Learn the truth about the SUB

The Town Hall for Student Space is your opportunity to hear directly from the student groups who are at risk of losing space on campus. You’ll get to hear how the loss of space will impact their ability to continue serving students, and why they need to be housed on campus. You’ll also get to ask questions of the panelists, and learn the truth about what’s happening on campus.

The event will include a short presentation on the importance of space for student organizations, presentations from four panelists, a moderated discussion between the panelists, and a Q&A session with the audience!

Panelists

The four panelists are as follows:

• Maisaloon Al-Ashkar (SFPIRG Board Member)
  Maisaloon/ميسلون is a 22-year-old Muslim woman whose ancestors of Palestinian farmers, liberation struggles and refugees inform her unapologetic diligence to disrupt all systems of oppression. As an immigrant-settler, she’s committed to solidarities that actively work to support Indigenous sovereignties on their own terms. Maisaloon has been involved with SFPIRG for the past four years as a volunteer and then as a board member, through which she initiated the Racialized Resistance and Healing Action Group to facilitate a safer space on campus that’s led by, with and for IBPOC students. A recipient of the Rosemary Brown Undergraduate Award in Social Justice as well as the Robert C. Brown Award for outstanding academic achievement and leadership at SFU, she graduated with a double major in First Nations Studies and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies. Maisaloon currently works as a research assistant and women’s centre coordinator.
• Giovanni HoSang (SOCA President)
  Giovanni HoSang is a 3rd Year Computer Science Student hailing out of Spanish Town Jamaica. Giovanni came to Canada after finishing one year of University at the University of the West Indies and transferred to Simon Fraser University where he is taking part in a myriad of groups, initiatives and activities. Giovanni is the current President of the SFU Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry and sees himself as one that brings unity among a multitude of people. His passion is to bring people closer together and using tech and social mobilization to make a change in society. He believes that many of the issues we face that divides us as a people are all based on semantics and if we all stay focused on the overarching goal, we will be successful in our efforts.
• Kathleen Yang (former SFU Women’s Centre Collective member and former SFSS VP External Relations)
  Kathleen Yang is a former Simon Fraser Student Society Board Member who served as the Vice-President External Relations during the 2015/16 term, which was the year the Board secured a 85% vote in favour of obtaining 60 million dollar loan for the purpose of constructing a Student Union Building. She served on the Build SFU working group and was for a short while part of sublease negotiations with SFPIRG. Prior to joining the SFSS Board, Kathleen was Collective member of the SFU Women’s Centre, Rotunda community and the SFSS Advocacy committee. It was through her experiences at the SFU Women’s Centre and SFPIRG that she first began to learn about anti-oppressive social justice, anti-violence work and the importance of student organizing.
• Steven Hall (current SFU student, former Langara student)

The panel will be moderated by:

• Jesse Wentzloff (CJSF Public Affairs Coordinator)
  Jesse Wentzloff is an SFU Alumnus and the Public Affairs & Talk Coordinator at CJSF 90.1FM, the campus & community radio station at SFU’s Burnaby Campus. His work at CJSF is to fulfill the station’s motto of “Diverse, Independent, Yours” by centering and raising community voices, and helping them to share their stories with listeners across the lower mainland.

Accessibility Information

ASL Interpretation

ASL interpretation was booked for this event with a January 29th request deadline. No emails requesting ASL were received by January 29th, and so ASL interpretation has been cancelled.

Scent-Reduction

We would like to emphasize that SFPIRG prioritizes creating a scent-reduced space for all participants. While we cannot ensure a fully scent-free event in this setting, we’re aiming to create a scent-reduced environment by not bringing additional scents into the space. Exposure to laundry products, colognes, hairspray, and many other scented products can trigger serious health reactions in individuals with asthma, allergies, migraines, and/or chemical sensitivities. We ask that you not wear/ apply/ or bring any scented products into this space.

If you do wear/ apply/ or bring any scented products into the space, we may need to ask you to leave so others can safely stay in the space.

We know that this can be a big step for many people. As Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha says in Fragrance Free Femme of Colour Realness, “Cutting out scents may seem like a pain in the ass, but it means that awesome, ass-kicking community members you love can attend events you’re at and make out with you without having seizures, throwing up or otherwise getting really sick.” Please, bring your amazing self, and keep the scents at home!

More info here:

http://thinkbeforeyoustink.com/howtogofragrancefree.html

http://www.brownstargirl.org/blog/fragrance-free-femme-of-colour-realness-draft-15

http://eastbaymeditation.org/accessibility/scentfree.html

Tree Nut and Peanut Allergies

Gender-Inclusive Washrooms

There are gendered washrooms in the Halpern Centre building. The nearest gender-inclusive washrooms are a short distance away in the AQ, next to the Menchie’s. We are looking into whether the Halpern Centre’s washrooms can be designated as gender-inclusive for the duration of the event.

Event Location and Wheelchair Access

Halpern Centre is located pretty well in the middle of the SFU Burnaby campus, nestled between the Library, Convocation Mall and the Academic Quadrangle (AQ). There are stairs and a ramp both providing access to the centre. Due to extensive construction on campus, especially in Convocation Mall, we encourage folks to arrive early with extra time to navigate the campus. The event space is wheelchair and scooter accessible, but will require extra navigation due to the construction. If you have questions or concerns about how to reach Halpern Centre, please email us at info@sfpirg.ca before February 13th.

Electromagnetic Frequencies

Some folks are sensitive and/or get sick from electromagnetic frequency radiation (EMF). This can include radiation from cell phones, Wi-Fi, fluorescent lights, and more. SFU Burnaby has Wi-Fi set up throughout its campus, including in the Town Hall event space. The Town Hall is also in a room equipped with fluorescent lighting. We ask that folks turn off cellphones if possible to help reduce EMF exposure, recognizing that some folks will need to keep their cellphones on (for work, emergency contacts, etc.).