The Artichoke Vol 10 No. 3 by Artichoke Magazine

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 03

NOV / DEC 2020

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the team EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ASSISTANT EDITOR WRITERS

GUEST WRITERS

Laura Bourbonnais Teagan Ariss Mash Altaf Victoria Ann Carly Balestreri Reann Bast Kirandeep Bhanot Amelia Calo Joshua Cea Katie Collier Kaela Cordero Marvin Darkwa Kaila Gallacher Melanie Gazvoda Inna Gordeyeva Eduardo Guerra Avery-Rose Hamilton Pyper Johnston Siddharth Koyal Nicole Moos Roshni Nayar Melissa Nicole Shamus Quinn Meg Rethinasamy Nima Salimi Vaiva Slapsys (Brie) Brianna Sutherland Julia Usher Teodora Vilotijevic Cassie Weir Nicole Williamson Shahd Goneid Karriem Merghani

DESIGN EDITOR Sarah Carriere SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Breagh MacDonald PHOTOGRAPHERS Sarah Shahab Saba Sharifi GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER Alexis Burling DESIGNERS Nuha Aneez Jena Angra Daphne Chu Victoria Collins Amy Davidson Sabrina Fortin Maria Guna Kalli Jones Stephanie Lai Kacey Lee Sharyl Man Daye Oh Bailey Paniszczyn Heidi Trautmann Ingrid Wong Phoebe Wong Ha-Yun Holly Yoon

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nov/dec dual issue 02

CREATIVE A Canadian Love Letter to Winter Home whiteout The Christmas Countdown One Person’s Trash The Cold Reading & Connection The Click How Does it Feel? Afternoon Tea Blue Paradox Poem to the Moon The Loop Somewhere in Between

ENTERTAINMENT Movies, TV Shows, Music, & Podcasts

MENTAL HEALTH Feature: Active Minds - Our Journey with COVID

LIFESTYLE ‘Tis the Season Dancing at Home The Proper Promising Future The Pandemic’s Financial Burden on Students, Who Cares? The Art of Taking On Too Much Looking at Mental Health During the Holidays A Morning Routine Food & Nutrition Here’s Looking to You, 2021 Better Days: Looking Towards 2021 Curtain Call

SOCIAL JUSTICE How to Keep Up the Anti-Racist Movement

2020 The Artichoke Magazine Winters Free Press Created in Toronto, Ontario On the cover: Emily Duckett PAST ISSUES issuu.com/artichokemag CONTACT US wintersfreepress@winterscouncil.com SOCIALS IG @artichokewfp FB @artichokemag

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CALENDAR nov/dec nov/dec

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NOVEMBER

25, 26, 27

Minecraft Monday/Club Penguin 8-10pm VIA Discord

The Department of Cinema and Media Arts presents:

A Round Table on the Art and Politics of Black Cinema in Canada

2:30-4pm VIA Zoom

Paint Night with Bob Ross 8-11pm VIA Zoom

AMPD Drop-In Event 4-6pm

Virtual Game Night 8-11pm VIA Zoom, Quiplash

Dance Innovations 7pm VIA dance.ampd.yorku.ca

Murder Mystery Holiday Edition 8-11pm

AMPD Student Social 4-6pm

Rockin Around the Winters Tree (DJ Set) 8-10pm VIA Zoom

Word Night 8-10pm VIA Zoom

DECEMBER

Minecraft Monday/Club Penguin 8-10pm VIA Discord

Karaoke Night 8-11pm VIA Zoom

Disney/PJ Movie Night 8-10pm VIA Discord

Karaoke Night 8-11pm VIA Zoom

Turn Up the Stove 8-9:30pm VIA Zoom

Exams begin Good luck everyone!

Christmas Day Holiday

New Years Eve Holiday

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HAPPY NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, WINTERS! LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

2020 HAS CERTAINLY been a difficult year both in and outside of the Winters community. However, I am so proud of this team, and of what we have been able to publish during this time. I would not have been able to put together and promote these three beautiful issues without our wonderful Assistant Editor Teagan, our talented Design Editor Sarah, our savvy Social Media Coordinator Breagh, and our dedicated team of writers and designers!

And, of course, a special thanks to YOU the readers! Truly. We would not be here without you. Take a look at our pieces this month crafted by our incredibly talented writers and designers - they address a variety of relevant topics namely mental health and resources on campus, maintaining anti-racist practices, keeping up with online school, celebrating the holidays, and looking forwards to the uncertainty of 2021!

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While studying, taking your finals, and putting the final touches on end-ofterm assignments (during a worldwide pandemic, no less!), make sure to take breaks, and allow yourself to rest. Zoom University can be especially taxing, and your health (both mental and physical) should be prioritized. You are worth it. You deserve it. During the Holiday season, make sure to similarly look after yourself, and remember that it is more than legitimate to feel off during this time. This season can be hard for many in non-COVID circumstances, and the restrictions of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s celebrations certainly will not help those in more vulnerable situations. Whatever the circumstances - your feelings are valid and you do not have to plaster on a smile for your peersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; benefit. Take care of yourself. You matter too! That said, we have a wonderful Winters College Council community that has been putting on virtual events these last few months and will continue to do so in the new year so follow them

@wintersscouncil on Instagram, Facebook and Tik Tok to stay up-to-date on all things Winters! This welcoming community can truly become a second home to all AMPD and Education students whether you are physically on campus or not, so check out our November-December calendar of virtual events if you are looking to feel more connected to our vibrant community! Thank you so much for reading (we appreciate you!) and keep your eyes peeled for our exciting upcoming 2021 issues! Take care. Warm Regards, Laura Bourbonnais Editor-in-Chief Winters Free Press Winters College Council

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letters from the ARTICHOKE EXECS Hi Readers, AN INTERESTING SEMESTER to say the least, eh? Hopefully, by now you have adjusted fairly well to online school, or perhaps it is still just as strange as the first day of classes. Although we have been faced with many challenges, I believe there has been opportunity to make new discoveries about ourselves, our relationships, our crafts, and our education. I am so proud of the work that has gone into this issue. The Artichoke simply would not exist without the hard work and commitment of our Editor-inChief Laura, our Design Editor Sarah, and Social Media Coordinator Breagh. I commend our writing team for sharing their words with honesty and vulnerability. And a huge kudos to the design team for making our pages look so magnificently beautiful. I hope in this issue you find something that resonates with you, whether it is advice, an experience that you can relate to, an intriguing photo, or something that makes you chuckle. I am grateful to have a piece from wonderful guest writers from the Active Minds organization at York.

As the semester comes to a close, take a moment to reflect on what you have accomplished (even if it was being able to get yourself out of bed for an 8:30 am lectureâ&#x20AC;Ś or maybe you did not even need to get out of bed, in which case applaud yourself for turning on your computer and joining the Zoom call). I can assure you that during a semester as unique as this one, you have learned a lot more than you may think you have. Working on the Artichoke this semester has been so fulfilling. Thank you, readers, for taking the time to look at what we create. I am looking forward to what 2021 brings... certainly more exceptional content from our writers and designers! Best wishes for the end of your term, and have a lovely winter break! Sincerely, Teagan Ariss Assistant Editor Winters Free Press Winters College Council

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Artichoke fam,

Winters!

WITH OUR NOVEMBER/December issue now published, so ends another semester at York. Working alongside our dedicated Editor-in-Chief Laura (and I mean one of the most hard-working people I know), our Assistant Editor Teagan, and our Social Media Coordinator Breagh, has made Artichokeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s executive team THE Dream Team.

IT HAS BEEN such a joy to work alongside our Editor-in-Chief Laura Bourbonnias, our Assistant Editor Teagan Ariss, and Design Editor Sarah Carriere this term. I feel a remarkable sense of pride in each of our writers and designers. The team seems to effortlessly pull together thoughtful and visually stunning work that I have so much fun sharing on our media.

As you sip on your Pumpkin Spice Latte and virtually flip through the pages of our third issue, I would like you to reminisce on the memories you have of York and Winters. I remember flipping through a printed copy of Volume Seven in my first year, and now I am writing a letter as one of the editors in my final. Time flies, so please stop and smell the Artichoke dip. Thanks to our executive team, designers, photographers, and writers for making this issue possible. The hard work and dedication that occurs behind the scenes is astonishing. I could not be more proud to be a part of the Artichoke family. Looking forward to 2021, Artichoke is celebrating one decade of publications. We will be having a very special issue coming soon, so keep an eye out! Sarah Carriere Design Editor Winters Free Press Winters College Council

The holidays can be a stressful time regularly, and this is no regular year. I urge you to take the time to take care of yourselves in ways beyond bath bombs. Spend time with your loved ones. Organize yourself, your space, and your workload for the upcoming term. Eat good food, whether that means food that provides nutritional value, or simply makes you feel GOOD!!! Make it happen. You have got this. The new year is nearly upon us. There is so much to look forward to. Wishing you a happy happy holiday, and sending positivity your way. Cheers, Breagh MacDonald Social Media Coordinator

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A CANADIAN LOVE LETTER TO WINTER (IN MEMORY OF TOM THOMSON & HIS LAST SPRING “IN ALGONQUIN PARK” 1914) BY MELANIE GAZVODA

A BRISK CANADIAN winter is a summer’s worst numbing nightmare. Winter can be a cold-forested witch, but she is giving to the ones who listen to her whistling winded song. Her dreamy ethereal opal hair covers the past, and reflects the stars. It sprinkles across the horizon calmly, like fallen stardust. A gust, a whoosh, a wandering snowflake pirouettes to the ground. Winter wraps her stiff arms in opulent fences of trees that circle around you. The bare and red bushed trees give way to the wintery death. Cautious shrivelling flowers bundle together, hiding from the heaps of ice water, never to bloom. I wonder, does winter love me? Holding tightly to their last petals, the wind will detach. Does winter love me not? She dances in the tall pines that sway side to side in the bitter frost. Her body of blue mountains stands still and perplexed. A bright sapphire sky shines on a mane of sparkling ice. A reflection of a trillion diamond tresses, make you ponder if winter truly is the brightest time. Her temper swiftly turns from deep dark nights, an empowering battle against her elements with bare-bark protection, to fleeting playful days, she melts with warmth like a cracked candy-coated pond. Her blizzard beauty is worth every icicle. She creates something new with every snowfall.

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A blank canvas, a seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s restart. scattered opaque paint pigment, relays the false ideas of perfection in natural art. Be close and see the painfully detailed strokes, in the maple-leaves tangled veins. Stand far away and see an effortless masterpiece, In the ever-changing landscape, only the same for a brief moment. Stand in the middle and squint your eyes, HARD. The blurred colours of Mother Earth. A thousand paintings on her own. Clouds hang on sticks like cotton-candy arctic swirls subdued. Roots from the trees tangle, trying to touch the intangible sun out of view. Winter smells of crisp watery dew, leftover tears of euphoria early in the dawn. Only a Canadian would know winter is light, bright, and glows, and she loves you back through the chilled wind that blows.

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My mother loves Christmas, and it is a very important time for our little family. We take a whole day to decorate the entire house together with garland and glittery little snowflakes, laughing and listening to holiday tunes and sometimes shedding a tear over souls that do not get to join us this year, and have not for many moons. We hang ornaments in their honour, angels watching over us to sing on high.

HOME BY BRIE SUTHERLAND

We hang the stockings that are all far too easy to fill, and start to wrap gift after gift in secret, slowly watching them pile up under the tree.

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COME THE END of November, my little home of 20 years becomes my favourite version of itself. The entire little bungalow smells of Christmas - cranberries and pine, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, and sweet vanilla. It is the smell of the heat turned on as the snow falls and brings a chill every time the door is opened, the wreath knocking against the glass window.

We have not gotten a real one... Not in a few yearsâ&#x20AC;Ś But I might beg extra hard for one this year. When I come home for that long-needed break, my heart feels whole. I see our little brown brick home dressed up as a gingerbread house, and the tree peeking out through the living room window, a beautiful swirl of red and white lights in the fogged glass.

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HOME Christmas might look a little different this year. We will not be having the big open house on Christmas Eve like we always do, so seeing those people I only see once a year will have to wait until the world is safe again. The tree might not be packed with gifts like normalwhich is okay. I have never loved Christmas for the gifts. My mother, who is the spirit of Christmas embodied may have to work this year at her brand new job she got in September… She will just be down the street, but all the same, the 25th may not feel like it normally does, which breaks my heart. These changes are unlike the ones from before - where the childhood wonder fades away, and instead, it is just another day on the calendar, that goes by far too fast. But that feeling - looking at the lights on every house, seeing the stores filled with holiday goodies and doo-dads, how the world changes into a new world of celebration… Holidays - Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa… And so many others from all over the world happen during the month of December. It is like the world almost stops and takes time for love for once. That is what I look forward to. Happy Holidays.

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whiteout BY LAURA BOURBONNAIS

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crusty love apple crumbles kindle to a crisp on the sizzling stovetop, grand-mamanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s garnished face glistening against the oven lightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s early evanescence. mistletoe mits house plump hands, jolly gingerbread men humming heat on high cooling cookies collecting on the countertop, treasured holiday treats thawing toddlersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sweet teeth. catering carolers croon timely tunes, Christmas trees craving colour in the cold, charmed cardstock burying the busy banister, lilting lyrics lulling little ones to sleep.

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The Christmas Countdown BY AVERY-ROSE HAMILTON

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Dear journal, FALLA-LA-LA-la-la-la-la-la-la-la; it is finally here. Every year, our town hosts an annual event called ‘The Christmas Countdown’. Well, it starts tomorrow. Let me tell you all about it from the history of last year! I am sure once you hear about it, you will want to join in. Everyone is welcome to join in on our festivities. This event takes place twelve days before Christmas Eve. A giant Advent calendar is set up in the town square. Instead of chocolate in each window, there are bulletins on the events occurring that day. There is one main event every day. The first event is a giant tree near the Advent calendar. Once standard working hours finish, everyone is invited to come to trim the tree, and even watch it light up for the first time in the year. Some of the decorations go back to our town’s founding; it is a big honour to be allowed to put on one of those. There is usually a big debate on who gets to put the star on the top. A very tall ladder or a cherry picker is required to put it on. After that, the population gathers at the high school for a gingerbread house competition. In teams of four-six, they must use the HomeEc. kitchens, along with personally brought decorations, to bake, construct, and decorate a gingerbread house in whatever style or theme they want. The winners get their picture in the papers, but all get to enjoy eating the creations afterward. My favourite was one decorated like a mansion ready for the holidays - it was so detailed!

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I remember that there have been times where I am still licking icing off my fingers as my family and I leave for home. I even remember one which was so badly constructed that during the viewing, it looked like an avalanche of icing hit it! No one could stop laughing. Then comes the charity drive. Although we have drives like these throughout the year, this one mainly focuses on holiday things like gifts, and Christmas dinner items. You can either drop off items at the community center or go a step further. What I mean by that is that you or your group or family can be ‘assigned’ a family (be given their names, individual ages, their situation, and desires). You then bring what you buy for them to the center. To do this, ask ahead of time. I was a volunteer last year and I am going to be one again this year - sorting and packaging items as they arrive. It was amazing how much we collected! Hopefully, we can be just as successful this year. After that, the movie theatre holds a movie marathon, showing old and new films all day such as It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf, A Christmas Story, A Christmas Carol, Arthur Christmas, The Santa Clause movies, National Lampoon’s Christmas, White Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Christmas in Connecticut, Santa Clause is Coming to Town - you name it! After that is one of my favourites: our two-day performance nights. For two nights, the community theatre puts on A Christmas Carol, something I have been involved in since I was seven.

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An hour of karaoke is set up as a pre-show. Auditions start in September. Last year, I was a secondary character, and this year I am the stage manager. But once the curtains for that show close, the curtains for another open. Yep! Our holiday fashion show. The auditorium of the high school is turned into a runway. The fashions I remember seeing are either simple and common, new and made just for the occasion, or improvised and plain funny. But, it is all for fun. Then music resonates and laughter echoes through the air as the gates for our winter market ‘Santa’s Village’ opens for four days. There, you can find vendors selling food, trinkets, clothes; great for ‘having trouble’/ ‘something special’ gift shopping, and memory making-family time. There are even musical acts, games, Santa, and a snow globe photo booth - that is a tradition between my friends and I. Finally, before Christmas Eve is our annual Holiday Gala at Town hall. It is a magical night with decorations that make the room look like a winter wonderland under a winking moon and diamond stars. It is one of the social events of the year. Like our Halloween ball, you have to be eighteen or older to be invited. Last year, it was just my friends and I but hopefully I can get a date this year. I just cannot wait for it to begin. It gives the entire town an uplifting feeling that cannot be explained with words - a time where our hearts seem to glow, and smiles are seen everywhere. Happy Holidays, everyone! P.S - do you have any traditions you look forward to?

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One Personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

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BY EDUARDO GUERRA

IT IS NO surprise that this Holiday season will be a lot more different than it has been years prior. Many of us will not be able to get together with our loved ones, unfortunately. However, I did not write this piece to bring the mood down. I have come here with possibly the only DIY hack that I have triedâ&#x20AC;Ś and it worked. To explain this, I have to take you back several winters ago. I was about nine or ten-years-old and I went out sledding with my family, on a hill behind a few houses. All of the kids were enjoying the time of our lives, sliding down the hill. Our faces were freezing because we refused to wear more warm clothes, as we already felt suffocated enough by the snow gear our parents put us in. Anyway, I am at the top of the hill, when I look over at a group of high schoolers, who were also at the hill with us. What struck me as odd was that not one of them had brought a sled with them. Instead, they had trash bags on over their snowsuits, and what they did changed my life and is still one of the most spectacular things I have ever seen.

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They got a running start at the top of the hill and went down sliding down the hill, penguin style. I was enthralled by this, and I could not look away. My tenyear-old mind was blown. Cut to a few years later, I was in eighth grade and December had rolled around. My school had a huge open field in the back, which included a hill that everyone loved going down. The only problem was people would roll down the hill rather than slide down it. It was the last recess of the day, and I was walking to the hill with a few friends. However, what no one knew was the box of garbage bags I had in my jacket. I got to the top of the hill and as I put on my garbage bag. All of the other kids looked at me with confusion. But those looks did not last long, as soon as I went penguin sliding down the hill. For one recess, I was the coolest kid in the entire school. For many winters after that one, I would go sledding with my family but I would never use a sled. My family would come to know me as the Garbage Man… mostly as an insult.

But all of that was many years ago. Now my days are spent stressing over schoolwork and especially stressing over whatever the news is telling me about today’s world. I sometimes think back to those past winters. Every time I look at a trash bag, I will whisper “Rosebud” under my breath (that last part goes out to all the film people; you know who you are). I like to tell this story because we are living in difficult times and many of us feel as if we have nothing to do or nowhere to go. I wanted to share one of the holiday moments I hold close to my heart and give all of you some ideas to keep your spirits lively, as we near the colder weather, and show that we can make memories out of anything. You know what they say, one person’s trash bag is another person’s treasured memory.

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THE COLD A BIT ABOUT COLD This poem is partly about the season (the cold does creep after all) but it is also about how winters (pre-pandemic) already had a tendency to isolate us and how it often awakens some struggles—those of us with mental health struggles or chronic physical health conditions are particularly vulnerable to this. With the impending winter season this year, many of us are worried that all those feelings will be amplified to a whole new degree. They will also (likely) be more difficult to deal with, depending on restrictions and the support you have available where you are. These struggles be they depression, anxiety, or that numb dissociation, they come with a mask on—sometimes, it is almost as if they are trying to convince you that you are friends. They may feel familiar, may make you feel like all you will feel is this, that it will never end, but they are very, very wrong. Cold creeps, but it can also be chased away. This poem tries to capture that, but also reflect the problem with believing these messages. After all, if the cold only wants you to weep, how can it be a friend? I hope this poem provides an opportunity for us all to remember that when these feelings come up, they lie, they are not truth and they do not accurately reflect reality. We have to remember this (this winter especially) and we need to reach out for help, and I am not just talking about counselling. We also need to reach out for social connections among friends, loved ones and peers. The season has come upon us quickly, as it always does. Once school starts the weeks blur into days, and soon enough it is winter break. If you are feeling isolated, are dealing with depression, there are supports available to you that you can access. You are not alone. Reach out to York’s counselling or the Good2Talk phoneline. If you need more specialized help SASSL (the Sexual Assault Survivors Support Line) is here for you too as well there are community resources that you can access. Reach out to friends, or reach out to classmates. Stay connected as much as you can. We will all get through this.

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BY KAILA GALLACHER

cold doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ascend it creeps gradually methodically and if it thinks we sense it it retreats till it wraps itself around us once more it shines, at first a dizzying array that takes your breath away it comes over us encroaches till we lose ourselves to its ache we realize slowly too slowly, we are freezing staring at the lie it is the allure, the pristine clarity, a faĂ§ade cold creeps and then lingers becomes distant an imprint in the mind that creates a scar when we freeze unable to see that the creeping cold only wants us to weep

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READING & CONNECTION BY KAILA GALLACHER

WE’RE CONNECTED, RIGHT now, you and I By simple lines of text on a screen, from a distance Sentences are strings of light where the space That connects each illuminating word takes flight To perch, a visitor, within your mind; while the letters Form words that invoke some meaning and shine

We are far away, right now, from one another Maybe, we’ve never met; yet, here we are Reading together, apart, somehow Connected A two-sided spell in an unending act of (re)creating Meaning from lines of text cast together from A beige couch, in a dark room, on a screen that awaits The life you give words when you read.

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THE CLICK

BY JULIA USHER

SOME DAYS ARE better than others. Some days I wake up and forget, only for an instance until my mind jolts awake. Is it Sunday or Monday? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wednesday? What a blur. Still in the middle of a pandemic? Yep. Just making sure. Gaining new hobbies, sleeping too long, a Tik Tok obsession, our lives have become the same song. When will it come? I have been waiting for the click, the final piece of the puzzle, a resolution. I crave human interaction, been away for too long, loneliness has become my friend, a never-ending thread pulling me. Life is not the same but the show must go on. Distance cannot restrict us; we have become unified as a virtual society, adapting together, learning together, crying together, laughing together. Laughter is the greatest medicine, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what gets us through hardships; to share it with others is the best feeling of all.

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We have learned so much about ourselves, with time to think and feel emotions we have pushed aside, now at the forefront. Being forced to slow down, becoming more in tune with our minds and bodies, a connection we never needed more than now.

This too shall pass, the world will persevere, though we will never forget this year full of challenges. May we take what we have learned into the next, for change will come if we only do whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best; listen and amplify unheard voices, and wear a mask.

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BY NICOLE MOOS

What happens when you feel the world closing in on you? What can you do when you believe that nothing can help you? When the bright rays of the sun do not shine on you. Gloomy days are your solace, you are your own person, your own source of comfort, and your own source of sorrow. In a world full of grey, how does it feel? As I look at myself through the window’s reflection all I see is a teenager, buried in sadness, in fear; there are not any happy days made for me. Sobbing, I feel this is it, no leap of faith in destiny. I have come to terms with my sadness, I have found my longterm companion; this cloud of grey shall never pass. That is what I told myself. I believed that nothing would ever become of me, often too kind to others but most harsh on myself. I dreamed that one day when I open my eyes, it would lift off on its own, it would be as though the sun has come to my aid again. My sad days and endless nights would not be waiting for me in vain. What destiny would do, left me in wonder. Words like, “It will pass,” “Stop this,” “You will be fine” started making me ponder.

It took courage and a lot of self-pity for me to tell my sister. I still remember her gaze, when she brushed it off. “Come on, depression? you have been reading into this… If you want something just go ask dad.” And I left it there, I had nothing else to say. “Did someone say anything?” angrily said my father. “No no,” my voice quailed as I responded. Running down to my room, I reminded myself: “You are all you need.” But appalled a loud voice in my head said, they do not believe you. My family was as small as my ambition and as staggering as my self-love. Dad and Thea, my sister, were my home. Not having a mother meant not having a lifelong best friend, a source of comfort, and less affection. How could I blame Thea, or even expect more from her, she was just three years older, and figuring her own life out. Dad was always busy, he kept himself occupied in work and bills. I was just aloof from them and others too. I never had many friends, the people I spoke to never took any interest in me. It is strange, but I do not even know ‘me.’ The things I long to do, feel so out of reach, the only everlasting thing in my life is this sadness. It prevails, days turn to months, happiness comes and goes as fast as a

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flash of light. Years and years of this endless crusade has left me broken, smiling for my family and loved ones but not for myself. This sadness was my only constant companion. So, I decided to quit. It seemed right, dad and Thea cannot see it, the people I sit with, eat with cannot notice it. I asked myself, is it just me? Do I loathe myself? Did I do this to myself? There are many ways to quit, runaway, self-harm, criticising my family, and blaming others. As much as I wanted the easier way out, the self-doubt and overthinking made me realise, I had to do something. After all, it is my problem, my life, my sadness, my loss. After thinking about it for days, I decided to take that leap of faith. Monday morning, bright and early, I got ready, without sulking or second thoughts. Maybe it was the anxiety or maybe just the feeling of making one good decision in a lifetime. Soon I walked into a passage with blue walls and the smell of chlorine oozing from the floor beneath me. I looked unlike myself, firm and confident. Quivering, I said, “Where is the psychiatry department?” Looking up, straight at my face was a woman, brown hair and blue eyes. You could sense she had a plethora of questions for me.

Imagine 8 a.m. on a Monday morning, an 18-year-old, feeble and shy girl walking up to you asking for a psych evaluation. It would blow me off the bat too. I stood tall and confident, or at least I tried. She said, “Are you the one looking for it?” I responded quickly, “Umm yes.” I was asked to wait. My anxiety was leading me towards the easier path, I wanted to get up and leave. I did not want to make a fool out of myself. Will the doctor judge me like Thea did? Will I actually get better or am I making a mountain out of a molehill? So many questions and doubts clouded my judgement. Until a huge brown door opened and a woman came out, calling my name. Here goes nothing, I thought to myself and walked towards the door. Entering into Dr. Patel’s office, I sensed relief or maybe it was just the smell of chocolate that calmed me down. Maybe this is it, I can try. I greeted her and she asked me to sit, I was shaking profusely. Before she could say much, I cleared my throat nervously and said, “I am sad, maybe even depressed, and always anxious. Even though my sister thinks my chronic sadness is because I am a bore, I have been this way for a while now, I...” There was no doubt that I was rambling, I looked up and what I saw next startled me.

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I could see her smiling from ear-to-ear. I looked at her in dismay, thinking, did I say something wrong or funny? She took my silence and dilemma as an opportunity to respond, “It takes time for patients to accept and admit their feelings, and here you did it in the first two minutes of sitting down.” I did not know what to say so I just smiled back. She was pleasant and a good listener, it felt like she actually cared and that she wanted to help me. I started from the beginning and told her everything, how I missed mom, how I could not even get out of bed sometimes. I poured all my feelings out. This was the first time I was not afraid of letting someone in, whilst being honest about myself. I actually learned a lot about my feelings through her questions and comments. Day after day, session after session, she listened and spoke, then I spoke some more. I liked this, her listening, my venting, and all her advice and exercises. I got better at understanding my BPD, my thoughts, and sadness. Telling my family and friends though was not easy, but most of them were kind and

supportive. At first, my behaviour, feelings, and emotions did not change, it took a lot of effort and time. It took a lot of energy and dedication, but it got better. My life got better and that is all I needed, I felt relieved and even happy. My mind, energy, and conscience were ready to battle now, I came out stronger and more confident than I was earlier. That cloud of grey has finally passed and now it feels like I am ready to take charge. It does not matter if my days are filled with grey or rainbows, my emotions are in check, my mental health is in check and it was all because of the help I received and a little bit of self-confidence. I liked the new me, I got used to it. And I would not want it any other way. Now when people or my loved ones ask me “how are you doing?” I do not hesitate or lie whilst saying “okay” or “I am well.” I actually believe that I am. This constant lie and sadness that I was living in had finally lifted. It felt liberating and I learned that I could be happy too.

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BY MASHIAT ALTAF

BOTTLES OF HERBS I pour. I steep death metal. I can’t stop talking. In my head. Stop me, please. Boiling trouble. Soiling tea in my kettle. Lower the heat, Me. Wait for it to settle. Wishful thinking. Hot. I throw in some wild geese. Bottles of herbs I pour. I steep death metal. Ouch! They attacked me and stole all my betel! Great. My inside is all bloody now, disease. Boiling trouble. Soiling tea in my kettle. I did it to myself. Personal nettle. Forgot to buy cream and sugar! Jeez, Louise! Bottles of herbs I pour. I steep death metal. I’ll drink and drink ‘till I’m in no fettle. I make me as sick as spoiled milk and cheese. Boiling trouble. Soiling tea in my kettle. I garnish with fresh thorns. A rose petal. I hope this brew makes the talking all cease. Bottles of herbs I pour. I steep death metal. Boiling trouble. Soiling tea in my kettle.

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This poem makes use of the villanelle form throughout which I return to the main idea of its content – steeping chaotic tea. I use iambic pentameter with a few added syllables to specific lines. This is done on purpose and there is a visible pattern. For example, “Ouch!” and “Great” are both extra, stressed syllables that appear at the beginning of their respective lines in the third tercet. Also notice the “Me” and “Hot” in tercet #2, etc. The poem brings attention to a chaotic mind. A lot is going on and some things do not make sense, so the speaker here is attempting to shut themselves up. My original intent was to establish a connection with alcoholism and how drinking can sometimes get rid of the “talking” in your head. This also ties into how poisonous

TEA

the tea sounds in the poem. Wild geese, blood, and thorns? Who would want to drink that? “Bottles of herbs” is also a reference to alcohol. Tea and alcohol are on opposite sides of the drink spectrum. Steeping death metal was a hint towards the chaos I was trying to showcase here. However, this poem can also be read as a bad mental health episode. An anxiety attack can lead to feeling like you are bleeding on the inside. Feeling as if you have a disease eating you alive, making you as sick as spoiled milk. The speaker, in this case, is hoping the tea will calm them down, hence the “wait for it to settle”. However, they are failing at making a tea that might be able to calm them.

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BLUE PARADOX BY MARVIN DARKWA

SHEEPISH GRINS FLASH from the men in white They search. They serve. They scour. Forgotten testimonies, haunt an all-consuming devotion. This room, this room, this room Draped in a blanket of white As the Heavens open up to deliver confounding truths. Your body is not yours! What… Your body is not yours! What… Your body is not yours! What… This room… So white. So sterile. So disinviting… Shall be your new oasis Your “woke” mind is not what it seems to be Your “ill” A slayed heart yearning for answers persists long into the night.

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Amidst patient screams Amidst doctor screams Amidst screams from legal aid Amidst screams from a balancing infinity “Truths” dispel into nothingness Words dispel into twilight And night recedes into a careless past One so fragile One so hopeless One so tragically-beautifully However, “they” remind you yet again… Your body is not yours! What… Your body is not yours! What… Your body is not yours! What… And so, you drink from a tormented chalice of: Angst.

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Half-truths. And everlasting melancholy. Floods of pale white sever the bars of your cage “They” enter… Some Lithium for those mood swings? FUCK off. Some Abilify for your chronic depression? FUCK off. Some Fluanxol for your persisting chemical imbalance? FUCK off. Awash in a haze of a careless Nirvana, you watch pill-after-pill-after-pill recede into a forgotten realm of torrid truths and a welcoming silhouette… This new light This new aura This new sunlit princess shall be your guardian eternal. You embrace, the walls of white dissolving into holy nothings You’re all she has… She’s all you have…. Gallivanting knights guarding hearts so lost.

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What’s up with you? A nonchalant grin plastered on her face. She dives. She divulges. She deflects. But still, she is YOURS. You drift in unison Broken people who are together in their woes with mental fortitude. It is at this time the world cast you in a cruel play… It is one without irony. It is one without kindness. It is one without happenstance. That grim production recedes into a blanket emptiness, for you shall never see her again. She’s “cured”… Found the “right” dosage “THEY” say… And still, they remind you,

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Your body is not yours! What… Your body is not yours! What… Your body is not yours! What… The unfathomable joy of a never-ending sadness floods in. As days of a phoenix (so-bright) cling to seconds on the clock. Heavens glow, stars dance, and illusions carry forth God’s plans. It’s genetic. You’re… DAMAGED. BROKEN. “ILL”. Callous are the Gods who toy with us so unjustly… But remember “they” they state, as they smirk in union… Your body is not yours!

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What… Your body is not yours! What… Your body is not yours! What… You slink back into your seat The stares of faceless humans a comforting loss… And for those briefest of seconds Amidst being, DAMAGED. BROKEN. “Ill”. You remember eternally that You are YOU. And as you sit, You acknowledge that welcoming sadness… Thinking about all of its sacred splendor. And… Fucked up brilliance.

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POEM TO THE MOON

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BY INNA GORDEYEVA

AS SOMEBODY WHO is very much interested in all things occult, the fact that there was a full moon on Halloween this year excites me! This last happened 76 years ago, so I feel extremely special and grateful to get to experience this intense energy! The moon is a reflector of the sun, the planet ruling out emotions, and a powerful symbol of all life.

YOU UNDERSTAND ME And as I write these songs You always defend me And as I right my wrongs You never offend me You just reflect my heart Transform the damage Without uttering a word You somehow manage To encourage Your love gives me infinite courage You teach without a gesture It is your presence Your excellence Your essence and patience You would not change me Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re like an angel in the sky You let me be and let me try And try again You are truly the most real friend

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THE LOOP

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BY INNA GORDEYEVA

Is this where the loop ends? I reinvent myself With fire in my veins Accepted truth doesn’t mend It’s merely awareness Time does bend It’s endless Why did I ever pretend To be like you? I love my red and love my blue I am the sun And the moon too This poem is inspired by the idea that we are in full control of the decisions we make in this life. If we are able to identify what no longer serves us, we can stop certain habits or anxious thoughts and close the toxic loop, whatever that may be for you. A new year is around the corner, the the best time to invite all of the self-love you can and decide what you wish you focus on going forward.

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Somewhere in Between

@ALEXISBURLINGPHOTOGRAPHY

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Photography Collection by Alexis Burling Instagram @alexisburlingphotography Models: Sophia Abbas Jasmine Almaguer Sheldrick Petra Bahlmann Olivia Burling Emily Duckett Rowen McBride-Pilon Derek Souvannavong

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MOVIES

TV SHOW

MUSIC, &

PODCAS RECOMMENDATIONS BY REANN BAST

WS,

STS

ENTERTAINMENT

MOVIES THESE ARE SOME of my favourite Christmas/winter movies. The lists do not even scrape the amount of Christmas movies there are. I chose to leave out Hallmark specials because there are so many and they all have similar plots. KIDS • Home Alone (1990) (Disney+) Young Kevin is forgotten at home when his family goes on a Holiday trip to Paris. All alone, he has to defend his home from burglars. Hilarity, of course, ensues. An absolute classic movie, great for anyone to watch, with kids or without. • Rise of the Guardians (2012) (Netflix) When all the Holidays are threatened they must work together to defeat the villain. Though this movie looks at multiple holidays, it takes place predominantly over Christmastime so I am counting it. One of my favourite movies, it is fun and wholesome. • Klaus (2019) (Netflix) A young postman is punished and stationed on a small island where he invents Santa Claus to deliver more mail. When this movie came out last year it quickly became very popular for its unique and beautiful animation, and rightly so.

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WINTER • Frozen (2013) (Disney+) Of course Frozen is on the list. When Elsa accidentally freezes her kingdom, she and her sister must figure out how to save everyone inside. If you Google “winter movies” this movie is on every. Single. List.

• A Christmas Story (1983) (Dailymotion) This movie follows a young boy and family as they celebrate Christmas. Full of nostalgia and famous quotes and scenes, this is a well-loved Christmas movie and it is perfect for watching this Christmas season.

• Happy Feet (2006) (Netflix) Alienated from his colony for not being able to sing, young penguin Mumble tries to find where he belongs. Happy Feet is an amazing movie. The cast, the music, Robin Williams, the dancing. It is funny, adorable, and sends a good message. A truly underrated film.

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• Snowpiercer (2017) (Netflix) After the second Ice Age, the Earth’s population is crammed into a train that travels around the world. The people at the back of the train are mistreated and fed up with the injustice, they band together to take over. An awesome movie, nothing at all to do with Christmas.

• The Goldbergs “A Christmas Carol” (season 3, episode 10) is another great episode that incorporates both Hanukkah and Christmas. This is a hilarious TV show about growing up in the 80’s, and a perfect episode to watch this December.

CLASSICS • Miracle on 34th Street (1947, 1994) (Disney+) When a young girl who is skeptical about Santa Claus meets the real St. Nick, she and her mother learn the true meaning of family and Christmas. • Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983) (Disney+) A retelling of the famous Christmas story, with the beloved classic Disney characters. This movie plays on TV every year, I remember watching it as a kid while decorating our Christmas tree.

• Friends (Netflix Canada) Season 7, episode 10 “The One With Holiday Armadillo” is a great episode that incorporates both Christmas and Hanukkah. A fantastic way to get into the Holiday spirit.

• Arthur (YouTube) “Arthur’s Perfect Christmas” is an amazing throwback. It is such a great episode and it always makes me think of Christmas as a child. • Doctor Who Doctor Who is known for its annual Christmas special, and it rarely disappoints. With so many awesome episodes, it is hard to choose a favourite. “The Runaway Bride” is a great one to start off with if you are new to the series.

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• Simpsons (Disney+) The Simpsons has so many iconic episodes, especially in the earlier seasons. “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” is the very first Simpsons episode ever aired. It is filled with nostalgia and is a great throwback. • Bob’s Burgers (Amazon Prime Canada) Bob’s Burgers does not have a bad Christmas special. Each one is hilarious and festive, but season 7’s episode 7 “The Last Gingerbread House on the Left” is arguably the best. With singing, and gingerbread houses, and a polar bear, I look forward to watching it every Holiday season. MUSIC Every year I add more and more music to my Christmas playlist. These are some of the most played on my list: • “The Cat Carol” by Meryn Cadel is my absolute favourite christmas song, though it is quite depressing. • “3 Generations” by Hawskley Workman is popular in my house, we sing the upbeat lyrics every year. • “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” sung by the Grinch, Jim Carrey himself, has to be on a Christmas playlist. You may not know all the lyrics, but everyone can sing the chorus.

PODCASTS There are a few Christmas podcasts, some that talk about strange Christmas traditions, Weird Christmas, some that shout the spirit of Christmas all year, Tis the Podcast, and some that even discuss the ever growing list of Hallmark Christmas movies, A Very Hallmark Christmas. All of those are great, if you like Christmas that much. What I prefer are Christmas stories. I do not know if they would be considered podcasts, but the CBC’s Vinyl Cafe Christmas stories are one of my favourite things about this season. “Dave Cooks the Turkey” and “Polly Anderson’s Christmas Party” are both a part of my Christmas playlist, and I have heard them so many times I can tell the story along with Stuart McLean. I highly recommend giving these stories a listen this Holiday season. The CBC also does a festive radio show every year called “Sounds of the Season” with local music, performers, and a non-perishable food donation. They have them all over Ontario: Thunder Bay, Toronto, Sudbury, North Bay, London; so be sure to watch out for that in your hometown!

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Active Minds -

Our Journey with COVID ABOUT ACTIVE MINDS BY JULIA DI PARDO

THE ACTIVE MINDS Chapter at York University was established in 2012. Our club is affiliated with the larger nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C. Ever since becoming a recognized group on campus, it has been our objective to advocate for mental health awareness. Our executive team works all year round to provide students with resources and engaging events to help keep our minds and bodies active, some of which include Paint Night, Pet Therapy and Human Library. If you are interested in joining our club and would love to get involved, please visit our website and social media pages.

Website: www.amyorku.ca Email: amyork@yorku.ca Instagram: @yuactiveminds Facebook: facebook.com/activeminds.yorku/

MENTAL CREATIVE HEALTH

BY SHAHD GONEID & KARRIEM MERGHANI

THE HEROâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S JOURNEY is a common theme found in most stories which consists of a series of stages that a hero must undergo. In it, the hero embarks on an adventure and is presented with a trial they must overcome, leading to their victory and eventual transformation. In our story, we are presented with trials that test our ability to adapt and survive. Some of these trials are beyond our control, akin to a wheel of fortune. In tarot, the Wheel of Fortune symbolizes that change is the only constant in life, with cycles of both joy and grief. On our lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey, the current pandemic is one of the many tests we are presented with. However, while we have little control over it, what we can control is how we respond to it.

The Covid Impact Common to all disasters is the way they uproot economies and disrupt lives, which in turn puts a heavy burden on people's mental health. Most of us will inevitably recover following a disaster and adapt to a new way of life. As human beings, the ability to adjust to even the most difficult of circumstances is embedded within our very nature.

However, while some will gain a sense of mastery over their lives, others will experience adverse effects on their mental well-being. The substantial effect the pandemic has had on our mental health is due in part to its unpredictable nature, which has kept us in a constant state of shock. Losing our loved ones, losing our homes, having income streams dry up, living in fear of exposure, and being quarantined can all lead to us feeling unstable and uncertain, which can make us vulnerable to an array of psychological disorders like depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. More commonly, we may experience distress reactions from sleep disturbances to anger, demoralization, lack of safety and security, and substance abuse (Morganstein & Ursano, 2020). All these feelings can arise from the fear that our sense of identity and purpose are under threat, as the pandemic has disrupted our perceived role within the community (Makwana, 2019). To cope, we might live in denial, attempting to escape reality, which would only worsen our mental health. We can heal by embracing change and regaining a sense of purpose better suited to our circumstances.

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COVID Coping Kit

Some helpful strategies we can use to cope with the pandemic:

SOCIAL CONNECTIONS As human beings, cooperation is key to our survival. Despite physical distancing measures to combat the spread of the virus, our technology allows us to remain connected. The idiom “misery loves company” is attributed to English naturalist John Ray, and for good reason. Staying connected reinforces our existing support systems and helps us build new ones, which serve as healthy coping mechanisms to distract us from overthinking what we have no control over. The pandemic is a shared traumatic experience that has brought us together in many ways. Through it, we have come to share resources and cooperate in the face of everyday challenges. This instills a sense of resilience within us and the communities we reside in, which will help us deal with hardships and prepare us for the future.

“Misery loves company”

MENTAL HEALTH

EXERCISE

VOLUNTEERING

Exercise benefits us in many ways. It creates changes in our brain chemistry that make us feel powerfully optimistic, loving, and connected with others. The endorphin rush experience known as “runner’s high” intensifies our pleasure and teaches our brains to become more sensitive to every reward in life.

Volunteering allows us to look at our situation through a new lens, which instills within us a sense of gratitude and reinforces our sense of purpose. This makes us feel valued and part of something bigger than ourselves.

We can achieve it through running and aerobic exercise, while music, other people, and intensity all play a part in reaching this stage.

Experiencing gratitude and allowing ourselves to receive acknowledgment is essential as it is a social emotion that strengthens our relationships and elicits positive feelings from others. This is the recipe for a positive feedback loop, which continues the cycle of gratitude. Giving back to the community will in itself be an experience that will only help us grow more resilient, appreciative and self-fulfilled.

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ANIMAL CARE

THE MENTAL VACCINE

Unless you have been living under a rock; you have probably seen how pets on the internet provide us with infinite comic relief. It is no surprise that the bonds we make with our pets are precious to us.

While the pandemic has been a devastating event that has cost us our loved ones, our jobs and changed our way of life, even the worst of experiences can open up a window for growth.

It decreases feelings of stress and improves our relationships with others. Caring for an animal is a great way to feel less lonely and isolated during COVID and provides us with a more positive outlook during these trying times.

Our ability to be changed by events can be a good thing for us, because while we have been negatively affected by the pandemic, we are now more sensitive and appreciative to positive events that may come our way. We are not doomed by adversity. Just like the Wheel of Fortune, it is futile to worry about events that are beyond our control. What we can control is our outlook and the way we respond to anything life throws our way.

MENTAL CREATIVE HEALTH

References Makwana N. (2019). Disaster and its impact on mental health: A narrative review. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 8(10), 3090â&#x20AC;&#x201C;3095. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_893_19

Morganstein, J. C., & Ursano, R. J. (2020). Ecological disasters and mental health: Causes, consequences, and interventions. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 1. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00001

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‘TIS THE SEASON BY CASSIE WEIR

“‘TIS THE SEASON to feel like you are drowning in assignments and dealing with seasonal depression!” That is how that song goes, right? In all honesty though, this time of the year can be extremely overwhelming, and it may get you down in the dumps. It is beyond important to know that you are not alone in your struggles. Even when you feel like you have nowhere to turn and the darkness starts to feel consuming, you are not alone. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel and there always will be space to breathe. A daily ritual for myself is every morning and night, I sit in front of my mirror, close my eyes, and breathe until I begin to feel connected with my body. Once I make this breakthrough, I turn

on my favourite tunes (recently, I have been listening to “A Kiss To Build A Dream On” by Louis Armstrong or “4EVER” by Clairo) and I groove. I allow myself to escape the reality of the stress that surrounds me. For that three-minute song, I allow myself to ignore everything and just be. Feel out the worry and allow the fun to flow in. I spent the majority of my quarantine with my eight-year-old brother and if I learned anything it was that you are ALLOWED to have fun. Even if you are 21. Who the heck says you cannot dance like no one is watching all the time? Definitely not me. So bust a move and let the groove get in. In regard to dealing with school stress… I may not have a clear answer. As a fourth-year student, I am still figuring out what works best for me, but if I could

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give you any advice it is to make a list of everything that you would like to accomplish in a day. Whether it be a discussion forum, research for an essay, meal prepping, or time to nap before a Zoom class. It is important that you have it all laid out in front of you so you are aware of current and future assignments. It is beyond satisfying to cross that junk off your list so take it one step at a time. Baby steps are still steps. I hope you will be singing “‘Tis the season to be dancing around like a fool and taking it one step at a time” as you survive these cooler months.

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BY TEAGAN ARISS

A DANCE STUDIO is so much more than a really large room with mirrors, barres, and a sprung floor that does not demolish my knees. Although I very much appreciate all of those things, they are probably the things I miss the least right now. I am aware of how unbearably cheesy it sounds to even start a sentence with â&#x20AC;&#x153;a dance studio is so much more than blah blah blah,â&#x20AC;? but, I have feelings and I am going to share them! Before classes started, I knew dancing in my living room would conjure, at times, some negative feelings. I anticipated that most of my frustration would come from the lack of physical space and therefore feeling confined and restricted in my movement.

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I PROMISE I WILL NEVER COMPLAIN ABOUT THE DIRTINESS OF STUDIO FLOORS EVER AGAIN. Since then, I have discovered that what the space in my home imposes on me, is more complex than physical obstacles, such as kicking a desk or whacking my hands on a ceiling fan. It is challenging to attend classes, do homework, eat, rest, sleep, and be with my family all in the same place. Although I can go to different rooms during various times of the day, I am still in the same house that I grew up in. It is the kind of challenge that I do not know is taking a toll on me until I realize I have ignored my father all day and I must be coming across as a moody, bitchy teenager. I think I find it particularly difficult because for the past three years of my undergrad, I have lived on or near campus, away from home. So, when I came home, it felt totally separate from school and dance training. Since home, school, and training are now all meshed together in terms of location, it is hard to separate them mentally. I cannot help but be in an ‘in-between’ place when it comes to doing these things; I cannot always fully engage in a class because I am in the place where I get to chill out and watch TV. I cannot fully relax because I am in the space where I need to get work done. I cannot efficiently complete my homework because the refrigerator is five steps away! There is no denying that being in a space with a certain history, around certain people garners specific emotions.

Right now I am trying to harvest a sense of belonging, community, engagement, and energy from other people through a Zoom screen… um, it is hard. It is hard to do that while also trying to momentarily dismiss the fact that the space I occupy functions as my family living room, it has for 25 years and will continue to do so. It is hard to do that while everyone else on the Zoom call is also emotionally navigating their physical spaces uniquely. It is overwhelming to realize how much a studio environment affects a dancer. It is a privilege to share a physical space with other passionate people, to be able to sense someone’s presence even when I cannot see or hear them, to indulge in the energy of other movers and musicians. Maybe the whole point of this is to say that I miss dancing with my friends, which I do, dearly. But, I hope that by recognizing and understanding the particular challenges of the new normal, I can work in a healthy, productive way that will be different from what I am used to. I am a believer that limitations breed creativity and I think that we will come out of this at the other end as stronger, more resilient, and more thoughtful people. On a final note, I promise I will never complain about the dirtiness of studio floors ever again.

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THE PROPER PROMISING FUTURE

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BY SHAMUS QUINN

LET’S GET THE obvious out of the way now: this whole Coronavirus situation… drags. It is the shit show to define all shit shows for us, you already know that — you have heard it and thought it and shouted it from your bedroom window a kajillion times this year. Like everybody, I often feel I want it to be over more than I want anything else in life.

arts, hence: we are not scientists). But, we can reorient our focus. We can look ahead, past the day we bid the virus adieu, at the big game. Like I said: most of us are here for the arts. We should be looking ahead at our futures as artists.

But do you remember what we all used to consider to be a promising future? The prospect had more to do with our futures as artists than, you know, a life without a disruptive, rampaging, infuriating, annoying virus.

To make sense of how I have been feeling about all of this, I have been relating how I have felt to how I felt graduating high school (of all things). What stitches these two events together is the basic feeling that I have lost a sense of normalcy, that my comfort zone has been pulled from under my feet.

Okay, that last bit was dramatic. Still, in most of our minds right now, a promising future is simply one without COVID-19. And that is not okay. If we are resting our happiness and wellbeing in the virus getting the boot and things going back to normal, this next year is going to be a garbagefire. But, we have the ability to change that.

We are all out of our comfort zones right now, to say the least. And all most of us want, understandably, is to get them back. But I have to tell you: I remember devoting myself fully after high school to recreating that lost sense of normalcy. I regressed, tried doing things exactly as I did them before. And this left me unfulfilled and miserable.

No, we cannot make the virus go away (most of us are going to school for the

The stuff that kept my spirit alive

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during this time after high school was my writing, filmmaking, photography, film criticism, animation, the list goes on. And something tells me yours does too. (We are not scientists, after all. What else would we be doing?) My craft kept me going and gave me fulfillment, forcing me to look to the future instead of hopelessly to the past. And it lessened that burning desire I had â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a desire I am tempted to lean towards today â&#x20AC;&#x201D; for things to go back

to the way they were. True, lots of the stuff that fulfilled me then has been stunted by the virus restrictions. It has become a lot more difficult to make films, for example. But, I can still write screenplays, study filmmaking and film criticism, draw storyboards. So there is still room to keep it up. And if not, you have to find room and force it. Work with what you have.

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Because we are not in our comfort zones right now, and the light at the end of the tunnel seems farther away than would be favourable — and we cannot afford to think about that.

That is how we are getting out of this shit show with our spirits intact. Here’s to our futures, folks.

Focus on your craft, on what you can accomplish now that might make for a promising future as an artist. Look to what is beyond that light at the tunnel’s end — at the films you will make, the performances you will hone, the drawings you will draw.

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THE PANDEMICâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FINANCIAL BURDEN ON STUDENTS, WHO CARE$? BY CARLY BALESTRERI

As students we are faced with our own unique financial challenges, particularly when it comes to paying for post-secondary education. While the emergence of online school has resulted in decreased use of in-person facilities, tuition costs have stayed relatively the same. There have been vague calls to action by students, but those have, as of yet, not materialized into anything substantial. The York Federation of Students has sent out a mass email regarding a student strike, demanding that the cost of tuition be lowered. There is a petition right now you can sign online that has around 1600 signatures at the time of writing this, but if the 2019 OSAP protests are anything to go by, can we expect to incite change?

If we are asking for tuition to be lowered it would be important to know what we are asking to cut. A few weeks ago I emailed the AMPD department inquiring where I could find an exact breakdown of the cost of a class. I was trying to find out exactly how $705 pays for a three credit course. The department sent me to the registrar and the registrar sent me to a link describing cohort fees, supplementary fees and a myriad of other topics that I had already discovered through my own research â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and largely avoided my inquiry. Resorting back to my own research I ultimately stumbled upon a website that broke down fees by department. Apparently, for domestic students registered in a program under AMPD the cost per credit is $203.93, and for international students it is $1049.88.

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What these costs actually breakdown into, such as instructor fees or costs for using a space, well this information remains a mystery. Rhonda, if you are reading this, feel free to contact me via eClass (unless the server is still down, of course). Within the AMPD department more than one of the programs have expected students to acquire materials and equipment that were previously readily available at the school. A friend in the Theatre program disclosed that she had to spend approximately $500 in fees that would have been non-existent under normal circumstances. As a student in the Film program, I too am expected to spend approximately $500, potentially more, on equipment that I previously would have had access to. A large part of why students decide to go into these programs is to gain access to the equipment and resources made available through the school. Since our access is now exceptionally limited, why is this loss not reflected in our tuition fees? These challenges, at least here in Ontario, did not start with COVID-19. For years tuition has been steadily increasing for both domestic and international students. The most immediate blow that comes to mind is that of Doug Fordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cuts to OSAP early last year. The Ford government cut approximately $670 million in funding for the program, resulting in the elimination of the six month grace period and reductions in funding for lower income households, amongst other detrimental outcomes. We may have gotten a 10% cut to tuition, but this means little when your grants have also been slashed. In response to COVID-19, Doug Ford has so graciously

given us a 6 month moratorium to pay back our loans, which is essentially a resurrection of the previous grace period. This moratorium ended in September. So, how do we students really feel about this? Well, the financial hardships COVID-19 has caused are compounded by the fear of economic recessions all over the world, escalating conflicts and protests in other countries that some of us call home, and the fact that the possibility of catching the virus itself may result in the death of a loved one, if it has not already. This is just another issue added to the 2020 pile. I am stressed and scared and so exhausted. Action feels futile when you have so many layers of institutions working against you. I feel like it is so much easier to say nothing, to simply pay my tuition fees and additional costs. In the midst of all the other things we have been fighting for, it seems like this is one thing we have collectively decided to take laying down. By the time this article comes out it will be November. By January we will have paid our second round of tuition. I can guarantee the school will not be refunding us anything once they have already acquired our money. Are we okay with allowing ourselves to be taken advantage of like this in the middle of a global pandemic? Are we fine with the fact that we are nothing more than a number to these institutions? It certainly seems like it. â&#x20AC;&#x192;

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The Art of Taking On Too Much ROSHNI NAYAR

LIFESTYLE

WE ALL KNOW the person. The one who seems to be doing EVERYTHING. They are doing well in school, they have got great extracurriculars, they probably play some instrument, AND they seem to have a list of hobbies they somehow find time for on top of their social life. At times, we might be inspired by them and at other times, we might dismiss them as a workaholic. Either way, I am almost certain each and every one of us would agree that description sounds like someone we would aspire to be.

On the other hand, as I read through this supposed perfect person the awe was mixed with a sense of dread. Because no matter what they may have you believe, no one is as put together as they seem. That person you see flawlessly balancing 6 classes, a constant ongoing project, and being a club leader is that way because their anxiety refuses to let them sleep unless they are taking on more and more every passing semester. The other one in multiple productions in and outside of school, with a flourishing social life and

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perfect grades, might have had to ask for three extensions on their last paper. And yet these people say yes to every opportunity. We are all guilty of biting off more than we can chew and pushing ourselves to a point where we burn ourselves out or burn the bridges we have built. We curse and we swear next time will be different, next time we will only take on as much as we have time for and next time we will say no. Always, that next time becomes the time after that and then the one after that until we fall into this competition of who is more stressed out. The art of taking on too much does not exist because we have forgotten what â&#x20AC;&#x153;taking on too muchâ&#x20AC;? is. For some reason, we as a society seem to have decided that having a healthy sleep schedule and not being successful at 25 makes us a failure. So we push and we push and we push until we break. And even then, we are put down for not being able to handle it. So here is a proposition. Stop pitting yourself against an unrealistic standard of success. Take a break, a warm shower, a cup of tea, and just sit there. Sit there, close your eyes, and listen to the rainfall against your window panes. For a moment, just be.

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LOOKING AT MENTAL THE HOLIDAYS BY REANN BAST

I HAVE FOUND that as I get older, I understand more and more why the Grinch lived alone on a hill and judged everyone in town. Christmas can be hard. All of winter can be hard. It is cold, dark, the days are short, there are snow and ice, and if you work in retail you have to listen to the same 20 Christmas songs over and over and over again. It is a very trying time. I come from a big family that live in small houses. 15-20 people crammed into a home overstuffed with food and a Christmas tree; just the thought makes me want to take a bottle of wine to the bathroom. So many holiday dinners have seen me sitting in the corner away from family eyes. Used to not being asked any questions, used to not being engaged in conversation. That could just be the middle child syndrome talking, but it takes a toll on a person. And I am sad to say I have gotten used to it. I wish I could say that is because it does not bother me anymore, but I am going to

LIFESTYLE CREATIVE

HEALTH DURING be honest: it does. The tension leading up to a family dinner like that is painful. Made only worse by the fact that I am a vegetarian, so I am an easy target. During these times, I personally enjoy hiding away in my room and doing my homework. Getting essays and assignments done early, studying before exams, watching Netflix and telling my parents I was studying. It is not for everyone, but the stability and routine of school work is calming, especially in the chaos of Christmas. Of course, it is important to not over exert yourself. It is okay to take breaks, and to not pull all nighters every night. Another thing that helps me is getting out of the house. Going for a drive, seeing friends for a little while, or taking a walk when the party inside is too much all help to relieve some of the tension. I have also been known to hide in the bathroom with the aforementioned wine, and that helps too. Another thing that can be a touchy subject for people, myself included, is food. There is so much food at these holiday parties. We have three family dinners before Christmas Day, and

then we eat leftovers for a week after. The food can be daunting but it is important to eat. Indulging during the holidays is not a bad thing, so eat some turkey and then some stuffing and mashed potatoes and then some apple pie. And do not feel bad about it. Remember the holidays are supposed to be fun, we are welcoming another year! Celebrating with friends and family! They can be a lot, but they are only around for a little while. The holidays, but also family. So catch up on sleep, ignore assignments, eat all the food you see, and remember, this only comes once a year. Pop a bottle of champagne on December 31st and say goodbye to 2020. We will see each other in the new year.

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A Morn Routine BY INNA GORDEYEVA

LIFESTYLE

ning e

DURING OUR QUARANTINE moment I was faced with the reality that how I look and feel is a direct result of what I do. I cannot express how drastically having a morning routine changed and improved my mental and physical state. Because we are more free now than ever in our living space, I took the opportunity to use as much of it as possible for my benefit and growth. I also kept in mind that things are going to remain uncertain for a while and there will in fact be a new normal in everything we do in our typical lives. Online learning, although easier to time-manage since commuting is not a factor, can become quite overwhelming when one is not keeping up. This is why a morning routine truly helps me set the pace of my day, have a clear idea of my priorities, and put my mind in a state of receptivity and optimism, escaping the common stress build ups, poor time management, over thinking, and binge eating.

The great thing about morning routines is they change since they are customized to your liking and you begin to discover things about yourself you never really explored. To begin, set yourself an alarm– it helps to stabilize your circadian rhythm. Depending on when you have classes, it can be as late as 11 a.m. for example. Remember, this is your morning, your life and your day – so do not judge yourself if your body wants to sleep a little longer and you hit the bed a little later. Make the alarm a tune you enjoy and upon waking up, the second big tip I can give you is stay off all social media and electronics for an hour at least! You are the priority – not your friends, boss, or crush – YOU! You must take an hour to settle into the day with a clean and clear mind and a positively selfish mentality.

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This is your selfish moment! After making up your bed so you are motivated to move into a new space, fill yourself a tall glass of water. Adding lime to the water will help eliminate any mucus and your digestive system and skin will thank you for this small, crucial hydrating step. Next, I like to make my way to my yoga mat or rug where I can stretch my body. It does not have to be fancy yoga, it can be any kind of movement which allows your body to open up and gets the blood flowing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the best thing you can do is actually dance! If you prefer to do a workout before eating that works too (just take it easy). You can actually do this step in your bed upon waking up- stretch in any way you can and you will feel gratitude flow through your body. With an energized body and a clear mind, you can proceed to take your shower. A tip is to visualize all the negative energy and blockages and stress being washed away from your body as the water falls. For maximum health benefits, stand under cold water for 15 seconds at the end of your shower- this gives the cells a great shock and wakes you all the way up. Afterwards is a great time to do your meditation or prayer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or anything that allows you to connect with your divine self.

LIFESTYLE

While you are drying, pull out your journal. Write whatever you want! Write about yesterday, about your dreams, your workout, plans for the day, what you are grateful for, how you feel this particular morning. Scribing truly allows us to confront the thoughts we keep ignoring to eventually clear them and sets the stage for creativity to flow. New ideas, projects, and even essay arguments will begin to form without you even trying. When you are finished with the journal, come up with your priority list for the day on a piece of paper or in your planner. Who do you need to call? What chores do you want to get done today? This list will allow you to have a general idea of what your day will be like and once you complete your important tasks, you can proceed to the optional ones. The list is not for check marks, and sometimes even when one thing on it gets done, you know you did what you had to do for that day.

Stay with me - we are still NOT checking our phones! As one of my favorite authors Thich Nhat Hanh said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mindful eating simply means eating or drinking while being aware of each bite or sip.â&#x20AC;? We are truly able to enjoy what we eat and allow our body and mind to process it without distraction if we simply focus on just the task at hand without having anything in our hands! Now that an hour or so has passed, you can begin to check your phone, email, and anything else that is required of you. Waking up to the notion that you have things to do for others or to get somewhere takes away from the magical experience of self-care and selflove. My mental health, a bumpy thing, has been drastically better since I started waking up and paying attention to my energy before allowing anything else to come in the way. I recently read that energy exchange happens through Instagram and other social media, and I entirely believe it! If you are feeling drained and unmotivated, take a break from devices. If you want to carpe diem, customize a morning routine for yourself! Include something that allows you to cleanse and refresh yourself (e.g. shower), attract abundance (e.g. scribing), connect mindfully (e.g. breakfast), and set intentions for manifestation (e.g. priority list).

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FOOD BY INNA GORDEYEVA

NUTRITION

SOMETIMES FOOD IS the toxic trait of our relationship with the body â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and what a shame that is. Our body, full of wonder, unique and beautiful, capable of so much and able to carry us throughout this life, truly does require love and nurturing. The best way to approach food I find is to recognize that what we put in it is how we choose to nurture it. I find that through all the comparisons we may come up with inside our heads, nothing affects one worse than comparing bodies. Social media and beauty standards have truly caused many people to develop some sort of expectation for themselves, and nothing could set you back more than a goal with no foundation. I recommend

you go ahead and block any social media accounts which make you feel like your body has to achieve something. It is not that it is unrealistic to achieve that very thing, it is the fact that your focus and mindset is in a place of judgment and force. Imagine forcing yourself to shower for an hour but being entirely clean after 15 minutes? Or forcing yourself to eat an ice cream flavor you find gross just because others like it? Approval of something does not make it right just because the majority of people approve. Just because a certain look, diet, or lifestyle is trending does not mean you are to hop on the trend. This does not do justice to the unique body you were gifted with, and takes away from the gifts you can give back to it.

LIFESTYLE

What I like to do is be in tune with my body and aware of my mind. Ask yourself: is this a craving of the mind of a request the body has? Should I push myself to eat less because I would look better or should I be more attentive to what I eat because my body would feel better? Find out what your body needs, not what your mind wants, and then be extremely patient with it. If you want to have a transformation physically, whether it is size or skin, start implementing tiny changes. For example, my friend and I know that one day we would like to go vegan but we do not tolerate anything that makes it seem like this journey is timed. We decided to choose one day each week where we abstain from meat and send each other everything we eat so it is engaging and encouraging.

The only thing I can truly say is to drink plenty of water and find a few people who inspire you to be true to yourself and your body. Some role models who truly spark a positive feeling inside my soul when it comes to my relationship with food are Vicky Justiz (Instagram @vickyjustiz), Dr. Bobby Price (@doctorholistic), and Brooklyn (@beatsbybrooke). You can find some yourself by typing in key hashtag words like #mindfuleating #nutrition or #motivationnotdeprivation.

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HEREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LOOKING TO YOU, 2021

LIFESTYLE

BY SIDDHARTH KOYAL

2020 sucks. There is no other way of looking at it and there is no other way of saying it. Okay maybe there are other ways of saying it, but if I began to list them all this would not be a very familyfriendly article. The reasons it sucks may be different for each person. For some it sucks because they have to stay at home and not meet their friends, some had amazing plans for the year or God forbid, New Year’s resolutions, and none of that has panned out. But, for most of us it is because we have lost out on our time oncampus, going to classes, making new friends, staying in residence, and getting away from our parents for a long time (that last one is personal). Regardless of the reasons, the general consensus does seem to be that 2020 sucks. And you would assume that I am going to stop saying that now, but that would be a wrong assumption. 2020 also sucks because the world is going through a lot of problems, whether it is massive fires, cruel injustices, terrible world leadership, and of course, the cherrytopper, the no-end-in-sight virus that seems to have set all this off, and so I guess my point is, yes you guessed it, 2020 sucks. That is why I am looking forward to 2021. Now yes, I have heard the argument, “The virus isn’t going away on the 1st of January.” And yeah that is an absolutely fair argument. I do not expect the world

to go back to normal on January 1st but hey, world, if you are going to have a New Year’s resolution that would be a pretty good one. I am looking forward to 2021 because I know by that time, though the virus will not have necessarily gone away, I think we will have learned to deal with it. I mean, even this year, people are adapting to this virus. We wear masks (I mean most of us), we social-distance, we try to stay home as much as possible, we are washing our hands like there is no tomorrow, and we have even stopped touching our faces (which was the hardest thing to do)! But I hope by next year, we get a miracle vaccine, designed by whoever, that is for everyone, so that we can go back to normal. Or, something like herd immunity works out, or by some strange act of nature, this virus just leaves as quickly as it came. Maybe I am expecting a little too much from 2021. But let us assume that this situation becomes slightly more manageable in 2021, and we can go back to doing something that resembles normality. So, assuming that, what is the thing that you would look forward to in 2021? I will say mine first because after all this is an article and not really a conversation. I am looking forward to lots of things actually, in-person classes,

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hanging out with my friends while we are all on our phones, sitting in a movie theater and watching a Marvel movie. But, the thing I am probably looking forward to the most is going back to Toronto. I, like many people at York, am an international student and because of this virus, I flew back in March to my home country of India and I am going to be here until December. The thing about being in India is that we are nine and a half hours ahead of Toronto, so my classes have been at odd times. My classes finish some days at 3 a.m. and on some days at 4 a.m. Over and above that, I have also been having problems with

clubs and other activities I want to take part in, because they want to have meetings at 7 p.m. Toronto time which is 4:30 a.m. for me. Now, I am a realistic person and realistically, I am not going to be a fun person in a Zoom meeting at 4:30 in the morning. But that is just the card I was dealt. Do not get me wrong, I am not complaining. Okay I am complaining a little bit. But also, I am glad to be at home with my parents, these months of lockdown have been amazing because I got to spend time with them, watch lots of TV shows with them, and do housework with them. Okay, that last one was not

LIFESTYLE

fun, but we did it anyway. I am super happy to be here in my own house, sleeping in my own room, but I also miss taking the subway to downtown, and trying to figure out what to eat at York Lanes. That is the inner conflict I have, and I am 100% sure I am not the only one. I am lucky to know for a fact that I am going back to Toronto at the end of this year and maybe you will not be going back for the winter semester, but 2021 is a long year. Maybe you will not be back next semester, but there is always Fall 2021 to look forward to. 2021 is a mystery to all of us, but I am looking forward to something and my

advice to you would be to do the same. Look forward to the future, because complaining about the present is only going to lead to you writing â&#x20AC;&#x153;2020 sucksâ&#x20AC;? five different times in the same article. I do not know what 2021 is going to entail, but I am hoping it is better, and I bet all of you are hoping too. Maybe if we all hope enough, we can will 2021 into being a better year, filled with hanging out with friends, watching movies in theatres and maybe, just maybe, seeing each other in class.

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BETTER DAYS:

LOOKING TOWARDS 2021 BY MELISSA NICOLE

LAST YEAR, IF someone asked me what my hopes were for the year 2021, I probably would not have had any idea what to say. Thinking about the future is something that I usually keep in the back of my mind and do not think about in advance. However, as this year commenced, I only thought about what next year would bring. During my time in quarantine, I was constantly reminded by the inclination that isolation was going to last for the remainder of 2020, however, I was not sure if it was going to continue in 2021. Even as I sit here writing, I still have my concerns for next year and the feeling of uncertainty attached. Since numbers are beginning to go up once again, I fear that society is going to spend another year in seclusion and we will face the same issues that were brought on by the virus this year. Part of me wishes that I could stay in my house and do nothing like I have been for the past few months. I loved the feeling of waking up not worrying if I am going to be late for something or the annoyance I have when I have to get dressed to ‘look presentable’ at school. With online school, I do not

have to worry about any of that- I just put on a t-shirt, turn on my webcam, and go. I also do not have to worry about procrastinating as much since there are no events to go to or really anything interesting to do other than work. Most of my nights now include me, homework, and watching a movie after I am done; it really is not all that bad! Although, part of me would also love to get back to a place where I could go meet a friend for a cup of coffee or at a restaurant to catch up on everything without fear in the back of my mind. I am waiting for the day I get to see my entire extended family together again to celebrate birthdays and holidays. I would like to see a day where I could once again go into a crowded movie theatre on the opening day of a film and be immersed with the rest of the crowd. The more I sit in isolation, the more I remember how I felt during these events. The emotions of happiness, excitement, and comfort I felt, sometimes all at the same time. I miss going to my work and seeing my co-worker’s smiling faces, I miss the times my sister would drag me to the mall to shop around with her, I even miss the feeling of exhaustion when

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leaving the plane after a five hour flight, only to feel a wave of excitement when you remember that you have reached your destination. I realized how much I took for granted when quarantine was not happening. Even though crowd gathering regulations are changing, such as the ability to sit on a patio, gatherings of 10 people in indoor settings, and being able to go to the movies, I still do not feel completely safe to do so. I want to get back to a place where I no longer feel nervous everywhere I go. Even though my worries do outweigh the other thoughts I have, I am still clinging on to hope for the upcoming year. I hope that we will see a decrease in

cases, I hope to see more stores opening up without a fear of contraction, due to the virus being more under control or hopefully gone, and I hope to see a vaccine in the next year. I would love to see York open, allowing me to see my friends and learn in a lecture hall once again. Although it is much safer right now to stay at home and learn, it takes away from the experience of university - coffee runs during class breaks, sit down lunch dates with your friends after class, heartto-hearts in the Scott library, and the hustle and bustle of Vari Hall- everything that makes university memorable! I am longing to get back to that next year.

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LIFESTYLE

BY JOSHUA CEA

I STILL VIVIDLY remember that crisp September morning, my father had called a cab and rushed out towards work, my mother and I stayed home watching a morning program when suddenly the unimaginable had happened. Interrupted by the broadcasting of the September 11 attacks on New York City, I witnessed the immediate second airplane impact on the Twin Towers. I was five years old, and yet I, like everyone else alive during this time, still recall that event like it was yesterday. The repercussions that day had were immense, airports heightened security and implemented rigorous counter-terrorist measures, since then air travel never did return to its “normal.” The following invasion of Iraq caused a domino effect in the Middle East that eventually propelled the massive refugee crisis we still see into Western European Countries, as land border crossings became more bureaucratic and restrictive.

Throughout my childhood I had always thought I would never see another impactful event in my lifetime that changed the way we live our lives…. maybe I spoke too soon. A century later after the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic that killed more people than the entirety of World War I, we are experiencing another life-altering event, in this case the Covid-19 2020 Pandemic. An unprecedented event that has completely halted daily routines and brought every social event to shutdown, it has caused a rupture and a crippling effect across industries from entertainment to tourism. Higher education is in limbo as various small independent businesses close and shutter up. Stretched out hospital staff, shortages on public school teachers, poorly funded elderly housing, and the never-ending rise of cases, are few of the countless issues that are continuously addressed on the news.

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On the surface we can blame the current global situation on the closure of small businesses, high rates of unemployment, and the tragedy of the countless people that have lost their lives to this plague. Yet if we dig deeper, we can notice that most of the problems that we are living with were already pre-existing before Covid-19. Since the recession of 2008 the economy never did fully recover, moving out of your parents house which was a rite of passage after graduating high school, became more of a fantasy given the inflated rent and housing market in major urban centers across the world. How many times did I during high school have a conversation with a guidance counselor persuading me to go into trades as majoring in liberal arts would lead me to unemployment and student debt, when decades before the majority of university graduates in the 60s to mid-80s

held liberal arts degrees and were given the opportunity to work and scale the corporate ladder. When I went to primary school, I was taught that Western Countries were meritocracies. We all have heard the age-old story of the American Dream and the tale of the European immigrant with only a dime in his pocket but transformed his life from rags to riches by the sheer â&#x20AC;&#x153;sweat of his brow.â&#x20AC;? But, in all honesty who would still believe that story these past two decades. For the average college and university graduate, without the proper contacts it has been a struggle to get a foot in the workplace, often drowned in mounting student debt with little opportunities towards social mobility. The lack of government funding, the privatization of the public sector, and the

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deregulation of the private sector has been one of the major causes of the stagnation and of the failing infrastructure we see in our city streets. Just in Ontario we can notice the push towards the dismantling of the public and health sector, the reduction of grade 13 in public high schools, the privatization of Hydro One, Drive Test, and the garbage collection in the city, illustrates how the dismantling of the public sector has jeopardized and crippled our society. Retirement housing in the province has been a major contributing factor for the high mortality rate among the elderly, as the Ontario government under Mike Harris in the 1990s reduced its role in the long-term care homes, opening its gates to an unregulated private sector that cared about profit first and its clients second. The final outcome was a lack of humanity, mistreatment, and regulation, that ultimately led to the rampant spread of Covid-19 into these retirement homes. Covid-19 has pushed for immense changes in the way we live our lives, migrating to an all-digital life. Workplaces have gone online, universities that had previously pushed for online courses are now achieving that goal, as big corporate giants like Amazon and Walmart have tripled their profit all the while small retails and restaurants are going bankrupt by tenfold.

Covid-19 exposed major flaws and cracks in Western Society that were hidden in plain sight, but what does it all mean? Given the escalation of political polarization and antagonism that was lived throughout the last decade, the current lockdown, and our financial situation, it has created the perfect storm for social divisions that are up to a boiling point. Will life be the same way as it used to be before Covid-19? Was life ever the same after September 11? I believe we are living in a transition period in a similar vein to that of 9/11, where there was a clear before and after. Will the impact be greater than the events of 2001? Yes, without a doubt 2020 will mark an end of an era and a start of a new one, for better or for worse we can only expect drastic changes to occur. The current pandemic does not only represent the disease but decades worth of poorly advised planning, social and political antagonism, resentment, privatization, and a lack of opportunities for my generation. We are living in one of the most turbulent times of this new millennium and it is clear that this decade will delineate what the future has in store for all of us in the next quarter century and beyond.

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HOW TO KEEP UP THE ANTI-RACIST MOVEMENT BY REANN BAST

SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE LAST SIX months have been a trying time for everyone. With a pandemic at full tilt, the threat of a climate apocalypse looming over our heads, Donald Trump, and a social justice uprising long overdue, I do not blame anyone who is at the end of their rope. But, the most important thing right now is to not lose the momentum. Keep reading books and doing research, keep signing petitions, keep going to protests, keep donating to people and organizations, keep sharing posts, keep following the right people. It does not stop for us just because we do not see it in the media anymore, and remember, this issue is not isolated to America. It is very prevalent in Canada. As a white person, it is not my place to speak over the voices of Black, Indigenous, or people of colour (BIPOCs), but I have also learned that it is important for me to use my voice to amplify the message. It is

our responsibility to educate ourselves. When I say do research, I mean use Google, or a library, or find a book. It is not the responsibility of the Black community to answer questions about the Black Lives Matter movement. Just because a person experiences injustice, does not mean they are your own personal resource. Look it up for yourself. See them as a leader, not a datasource. Insert yourself into the conversation when no one else does. That means have those difficult, awkward conversations with your dad, or uncle, or best friend. You may think it is fruitless, that they are too stubborn to change their mind, or it is just unnecessary yelling. But, think about the people exposed to their mindsets. A younger sibling, a cousin, another friend, they all may be susceptible to these harmful mindsets and little comments. You may change their mind, or open their

ARTICHOKE

eyes. The arguing is not pointless, but your goal should not be to change their mind. Only influence them and the people around them to educate themselves and look at how their views are harmful. We can look into, buy from, and support businesses owned by people of colour. A few Black-owned cafes to consider in Toronto are Loveless (1430 Dundas St. W.), Kaspace Cafe (1183 Queen St. E.), and Mofer Coffee (1040 St. Clair Ave. W.). Bilal Restaurant (321 Rexdale Blvd., Etobicoke), Entertainment Kitchen (1561 Eglinton Ave. W., York), and Patâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Homestyle (558 Queen St. W.) are all also Black-owned restaurants. Clothing stores including Adrift Shop (16 Spadina Ave.), Get Fresh Company (498 Queen St. W.), and Legin Knits (421 Dufferin St.) are all also located in Toronto. If you are not in Toronto this year, look online: The Cedar Basket Gift Shop, Dorothy Grant, Cheekbone Beauty, and Indigenous World Winery (wine that can be bought online!) all have easy and ready-to-use websites that are owned by Indigenous peoples. A quick Google search will provide information about BIPOCowned business in your area. Do not stop at businesses! Support BIPOC authors, not just with books about antiracism, but in other genres as well. Audre Lorde is a well known female Black poet and her book Your Silence Will Not Protect You is great. Magical Negro is a more recent poetry book by Morgan Parker. Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments:

Intimate Histories of Riotous Black Girls, Troublesome Women and Queer Radicals by Saidiya Hartman is a nonfiction book that covers quite a few important topics. The Hate U Give is an excellent fiction novel by Angie Thomas. Indigenous authors like Joseph Boyden who wrote Three Day Road and Through Black Spruce, and Richard Wagamese who wrote Starlight and Indian Horse are both vocal and telling about Indigenous stories based on real life experiences. A simple Google search can yield many books to choose from, fiction or nonfiction, on numerous topics by BIPOC authors. Lists like these are good places to start, but they barely scrape the surface. Social media is an important source of information. Twitter has been known to share videos that change the narrative of stories that the media tells. Instagram has been an amazing tool for starting a conversation and educating people quickly. But it all depends on who you follow. Following people that continue to keep the conversation alive is pertinent to keeping this movement, moving. Accounts like @nastyfeminism, @feminist, and @theangryambisextress on Instagram are well known for keeping their followers informed on current events and helping to start conversations. Accounts like @jmaseii, @soyouwanttotalkabout, and @antiracistdaily are more informative and quick and easy to read. Again, all of these accounts are starting points, it is essential to double check information, look

SOCIAL JUSTICE

into sources, and do your own research. Sharing posts from accounts like these stop the flame from burning out, it is an easy way to stay informed, and to spread the information. I think the most important thing for maintaining anti-racist practices is to stay informed and be open to challenging others, as well as your own views. Everything I have listed in this article are ways to keep yourself and those around you informed on what is happening right now. Look into what is happening in Nova Scotia with the Miâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;kmaq Indigenous people and their fishing rights; look into what just happened with Breonna Taylorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s murderers; or how Black people are being disproportionately affected by COVID-19. My main point is, do not go back to the way it was. It was not good then, it is not good now, and if we do not keep this up, it will not be good in the future.

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