SFU Society of Arts and Social Sciences
8888 University Drive V4A1S6 Burnaby, BC, Canada

Follow up from our last post: We would like to share a link of a statement that condemns the violent arrest of a Black SFU alumnus that you can sign alongside other students, faculty and staff. You can read and sign the statement here: https://docs.google.com//1ixOi7bSlWHSqIKjHpSjwVB-uj1/edit

On Friday, December 11th 2020, a Black Simon Fraser University Alumni was racially profiled by SFU security after perceiving him as a threat and following him, and then called the police. The alumni was arrested in the SFU dining hall while he was trying to get food after paying to enter the dining hall. The police used excessive force as they pepper sprayed him, tazed him and continued to restrain him prior to arresting him. Throughout the encounter, the alumni complied and ...showed security his SFU ID, however security proceeded to escalate the situation by involving the police. This event is a clear example of racial profiling and systemic racism within SFU and the police force. Systemic racism has been and continues to be prevalent in Canada, especially within the Canadian criminal justice system. Over the course of the last year, SFU has been preaching its efforts to better itself and promote equity, diversity, and inclusion. This recent incident at SFU highlights SFU’s failure as an institution to provide a safe environment for Black students and alumni in their spaces. SFU’s current mandates and policies allow for white supremacy and anti-Blackness to prevail as they do not address the inequalities present in the institution, which allow for such incidents of structural violence to occur. As non-Black students, our silence on the oppression faced by Black students is participatory, and it is important to acknowledge that we have benefitted from the systemic racism rooted in institutional structures. Time and time again SFU refuses to listen to the concerns of their student population, which shows that they are satisfied in staying complacent and silent about the oppression of Black students and alumni in their institution. We demand that Simon Fraser University acknowledge the systemic racism present at SFU and provide a statement regarding their further plans to address the systems of anti-Blackness and white supremacy that have been rooted the institution. We’ve added a donation link in our Instagram bio (@sfusass) which will help aid the alumni financially for any costs that have resulted from this incident, such as legal support and a defence fund. If you have the means to do so, please donate to the GoFundMe link posted in our bio. Thank you, Society of Arts and Social Sciences

Hi Everyone! If you're looking for a Christmas gift for yourself or a fellow psych major, this might catch your attention! The PSU merch pre-order is back! Pre-...orders can be placed up until next Monday, the 7th of December. So if you missed your chance the first time, or would like to get more of our beautiful merch, this is your chance! The pre-order procedures are the same as last time. One PSU executive will deliver your product to ensure minimal exposure to strangers and enhance efficiency. Lastly, you may have noticed the five dollar increase on the clothing items. Unfortunately, the retailer has increased their production costs and due to that, we also had to make price adjustments. We are very sorry for the inconvenience!

Happy Monday folks! We're bringing you the holiday cheers a bit early Our last newsletter edition for the semester is finally available: https://bit.ly/SASSNov2020 Read through our November recap and find out about special holiday events coming up hosted by our DSUs! We're finally on the last stretch of this semester, you got this!

Missed our by-election last October? Don't worry, we still have some of our year-representative positions available. Get involved and join SASS! Year Representatives will help in planning events, promoting SASS and representing the concerns/needs of FASS students within their year. ? Send us a blurb detailing your platform and why you would like the position to our email at [email protected] ... : : 1. Candidates must be in good standing with the SFSS 2. Be a FASS major, minor or taking at least one course within the faculty.

Happy Spooky Day! We'd make a Halloween joke but it is just too corny Our October 2020 Newsletter is now available! Get a recap of what SASS was up to this month, events coming up and our exec team's Halloween faves. CHECK IT OUT HERE: https://bit.ly/SASSOct2020

INSTAGRAM CONTEST ALERT Join our Fall Bingo challenge to get a chance to win a SkipTheDishes gift card! Contest Rules: ... 1. Complete as many tasks/ squares on our Fall Bingo challenge 2. Share what you’ve completed by reposting the Bingo template on your IG Story! Tag us at @sfusass and 2 of your friends BONUS: Share with us photos and/or videos for proof for extra 1 entry per task. You can send this to us via DM! Contest ends on November 7th 11.59 PST. We’ll randomly pick one winner and announce it on our story. Only SFU students are eligible to win. Keep an eye out for our Bingo template on our story Good luck! NOTE: If your account is on private, make sure to send us a screenshot of your reposted story + DM us to make sure you are entered in our raffle.

TOMORROW: Wednesday, Oct 28 we have a Murder Mystery Night! Join the FASS Mentors and Mentees for a Murder Mystery Night and and find out "who did it" in o...ur last event in our FASS Halloween Series Those who come are entered to win a FASS Swag giveaway! Feel free to come in your best costume! LINK IN BIO https://fassmurdermysterynight.eventbrite.ca Open to ALL SFU Students regardless of Faculty! You might even see our mentor, @riah_stafford puppies!

Important Announcement! The upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) held by the SFSS is voting on key agenda items that could place more power in the hands of st...udents through better representation. The AGM is next Monday (26th) at 3:30pm, your vote is important so come and have your voice heard! This is about your university, your representation, so your presence is vital for their success! More information about the meeting’s agenda is available on the event link below and also in the photos down below. We hope to see you there. Registration: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/sfss-2020-agm-tickets-123256079