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THE PROOF: ADAM CRISTOBAL

Adam Cristobal, age 20, is a student journalist on the Vancouver arts scene. He writes and edits for The Peak , Simon Fraser University’s student-run newspaper and became the Arts Editor in his second year at SFU.

Adam Cristobal, age 20, is a student journalist on the Vancouver arts scene. He writes and edits for The Peak, Simon Fraser University’s student-run newspaper and became the Arts Editor in his second year at SFU. His writing has been featured in One Cool Word and SAD MAG. The daily work schedule he has straddles a busy student life at SFU as well as a variety of editorial responsibilities: he could be getting new volunteer writers started on their first article, interviewing a local artist for a piece, writing for the newspaper while writing papers for classes, designing the section’s spread for the upcoming issue, arranging upcoming projects with PR agents and writers, or be out on the street and in a Gastown alley, supervising a photoshoot. He often does all six at the same time.

The Proof

1. This is our whiteboard wall at The Peak office where we discuss what will be going into each section of the upcoming issue. Each editor gets a cutesy caricature of themselves, courtesy of me.

2. There is a lot of stuff around the office left by previous editors, and no one can really explain their existence or origin. There has always been a shack on the Arts desk, and I suspect that there always will be.

3. Sam Steenhuus, The Peak’s founder circa 1965. I know—you want his glasses.

4. There is also a wooden mallard on my desk for which I have developed a fondness. Our Sports Editor, Matt Lee, has developed a tendency to kidnap it.

5. Our backdoor goes straight into the parking lot.

6. We are a student newspaper—shit happens. Mike Hingston, one of my forbearers, decided to make this list.

7. I have a small but growing collection of Psyducks at home. It is very difficult to find original 150 Pokemon merchandise these days.

8. The United Way has this annual book sale at SFU; it’s a great place to pick up vintage publications. This year I scored a two-volume Everyman Library edition of Thackery’s The Newcomes from 1910.

The Questions

What neighborhood do you live in?

I live in the charmingly sketchy area of North Vancouver. Yes, it exists. It is right by Phibbs Exchange and is also home to the scariest teenagers known to mankind.

What do you do and where?

I am an editor, writer, and student — all three at the same time, all of the time. I brainstorm stories with volunteer writers, I design spreads, and I scout out unique, independent, and local content for the Arts section of The Peak, Simon Fraser University’s student-run newspaper. I also sporadically write outside of The Peak, but they’re an awesome group of good people at the paper, so I tend to stick with them.

What are you working on?

Aside from the usual newspaper comings and goings, I’m hoping to brew up a second piece for SAD MAG, a local, non-profit, and all-round delightful arts magazine founded Deanne Beattie, an alumnus of The Peak; and Brandon Gaukel, a local photographer. I’m also working on a degree in English literature and Communication, which seems to be a never-ending and on-going endeavour.

Where can we find your work?

The Peak newsstands at all SFU campus locations: Burnaby, Vancouver, and Surrey.  Some of my writing can also be found on the newspaper’s website, the-peak.ca. We prefer PDFs, though.