The Artichoke Vol. 9 No. 1 by Artichoke Magazine

SEPTEMBER 2019 VOLUME 9 ISSUE 1

ARTICHOKE

CONTRIBUTERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

KATHERINE COLLIER

ASSISTANT EDITOR

LAURA BOURBONNAIS

WRITERS

AMY FOURNIER

MADDISYN FISHER

MAYA VUKOV

MELANIE GAZVODA

VANESSA SANDOVAL

VICTORIA CARELLA

BRIANNA COGGANS

DESIGN EDITOR

DESIGNERS

CHARLENE LUISA

EMILY ONG

LUISA JAHN

PHOEBE WONG

SAMNEET MANN

SARAH CARRIERE

ZAINAB ALAVI

Artists! Writers! Photographers! Creators of all kinds! WE WANT YOU! We want to spotlight your beautiful creations in The Artichoke. Feel free to send us an email at wintersfreepress@ winterscouncil.com with any work you would like to have featured or any questions you may have! This is not only limited to those who create digital projects. If you are a visual artist and you would like to have a painting or other textile form of art featured, Send us a picture or a scan if possible. If you have difficulty, simply contact us and we will work with you to get your art out to our community! We value your work and we want to show it off to the world! Show us what you got!

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SUBMISSIONS WINTERSFREEPRESS@WINTERSCOUNCIL.COM

III

WITHIN THIS ISSUE

SEPTEMBER CALENDAR

FROSH

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

WINTER’S COLLEGE COUNCIL

12 14 20 22 24 26

THE FROSH EXPERIENCE

OCHAIR INTERVIEW

HEAD LEADERS

TEAM UNBREAKABLE

FIRST FROSH

FIGHTING FROSH FEAR

CREATIVE

28 30 32 34 A WINTER’S FROSH

I SMILE

MYSELF FIRST

A REFLECTION ON FIRST LOSSES,

FRAME BY FRAME

LIFESTYLE

36 38 IF NOT NOW, WHEN?

THE BEST SUMMER / PART TIME JOB

NO ONE TOLD YOU ABOUT

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LETTERS FROM THE EDITORS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF BACK AT IT again already, are we? The year has barely started and we are already making the most out of it, or at least I hope you are. To all the incoming students, whether you are froshing with us or not, welcome! We are so happy to have you. We are so glad that you have made it. We have been waiting with baited breath to finally meet you and see your wonderful personalities bloom. To all the returning students, we are glad you are back. You know we love having you around. You add to the vibrance that is our college. We cannot wait to have you meet our wonderful new students and build upon the relationships that you already have with us. This is my fifth of six years here at York and I honestly could not be happier to be a part of this college. I graduated last year from the music program and am starting education this year, though surely none of this would give you any indication as to why I am in the position I am in today. I am the Editor-in-Chief of this wonderful magazine called The Artichoke. I have been a part of the team here since I began my schooling at York, first as a writer for three years and last year as our Assistant Editor. Being in these positions, I have had

the opportunity to meet and be a part of Winters College Council, which you can read about in this issue in an article written by our current Assistant Editor, Laura Bourbonnais. Being a part of this group has really helped me feel at home in the college of ours, so I say this with utmost sincerity, join clubs and groups while you are here because it will make your stay that much better. Every major has their own student association, so if that is your cup of tea, join them! There is something for everyone, you just have to find it. The Artichoke is always looking for writers, designers and for the first time in a long time, visual artists to add some student made visual art to our magazine. If you would like to write for us, have your art featured, or collaborate on a photoshoot, send an email to wintersfreepress@winterscouncil.com. Designers send your emails to designeditor@winterscouncil.com. We publish one issue each month on the 1st at 10am, so keep your eyes peeled for each new issue and follow us on Issuu and Instagram and like us on Facebook for all the latest updates. Here is to another great year everyone. Katherine Collier Editor-In-Chief Winters Free Press Winters College Council

ASSISTANT EDITOR

DESIGN EDITOR

HAVING ONLY STARTED just last year to write for The Artichoke, I am humbled to be your Assistant Editor this year and I look forward to working alongside Katie, the Artichokeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dedicated Editorin-Chief, Brianna, our creative Design Editor, and our passionate team of writers and designers. I am thrilled to bring my past Winters Free Press writing experience as well as my (in progress) Screenwriting and Creative Writing bachelor background to this amazing team that will no doubt inspire and impress me throughout the year. There is such talent, camaraderie, and work ethic to be discovered throughout our various articles, designs, and photography showcasing our multiple art streams here at Winters. Our magazine will have the honour to share it all with you which is extremely fulfilling. Let us have a creative year!

BEING A DESIGNER for the Artichoke for the past three years, I am excited to step into my new role of Design Editor! The Artichoke is getting a refresher while staying rooted in the classic look readers are familiar with. The Artichoke will be continuing its trend of desktop publishing, making it more accessible than ever to students. I am beyond happy to begin a year with the rest of our great team!

Sincerely, Laura Bourbonnais Assistant Editor Winters Free Press Winters College Council

If you ever have any inquiries about the design of Artichoke or my beloved design team, please reach out through my email, designeditor@winterscouncil.com. All the best! Brianna Coggans Design Editor Winters Free Press Winters College Council

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Letter from the President Dearest Winters, I AM SO excited to welcome you into one of the most spunky and creative communities on the York University campus. We are home to many different people from many different places, and we are so happy to welcome you into our family. Here at Winters, we hope to not only provide you with a space to be your truest, most authentic self, but we also hope to offer you a space to grow; to do better and be better. Winters, however, is not only about how we can improve ourselves. We are a small but mighty community full of dreamers, activists, creators, and change-makers. Whether you are looking to network with people like you or open your perspective toward those who are not, this is the place to be. We offer access to a variety of career, academic, and social supports that you can read about in part on our website. If there is any programming you think we are missing, we are happy to hear about it!

Over the years, through programming and connecting, our community has developed a space that is the heart and soul of Winters â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Absinthe Pub and Coffee Shop. Known to many as The Ab, it has evolved from a rich history of being a casual coffee shop that people stopped at between class, to a rowdy bar at the height of 90s grunge, to what it is today, an alternative to the regular grind. The Ab is a student owned and operated, non-for profit business that is run out of the basement of Winters College. Here, we hold a variety of social events, such as Karaoke Nights, Band Nights, Acoustic Nights, Drag Nights, and more. With 52 years of history and tradition, Winters is a community that is always looking to innovate, refresh, and renew. That being said, the pillars of my Presidency this year are consent, wellness, and accessibility - and I hope that you all not only feel empowered

to uphold these pillars, but to hold me accountable to them as well. I am interested in education and awareness, which means calling in, not calling out. Here at Winters, we would like to believe the best in someone before we believe the worst in them. People may tell you that what you are studying is not worth it, that it is not a valuable use of your time, and that it will lead you nowhere. We would like to prove those people wrong, not out of spite, but out of a pursuit of the truth. The truth is, Winters - society would not be what it is today without art, without education, without people who push the boundaries of modern thinking. This community would not be what it is today without you. And we are happy to have you. LOL (lots of love), Jessie Whyte (they/them) President Winters College Council winterscollegecouncil.com theabsinthepub.com

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WELCOME TO WINTERS COLLEGE 2019 BY JOHN MAYBERRY

WELCOME TO WINTERS College! I am so happy to wish all of you an enthusiastic welcome to Winters College. I am thinking particularly of you brandnew, first-time university students, who are spending your days right now engaging in one of the fastest learning curves you will ever experience. Every moment is probably bringing you something new to understand or navigate, and this can be stressful as well as exciting. Well, the purpose of this little note is to try to alleviate some of the pressures you may be feeling. First, it is quite possible you have no idea what Winters College is. York is divided up into nine colleges â&#x20AC;&#x201C; eight on the Keele Campus, and Glendon College on its own campus. All York students are assigned to a college, and you (since you are reading this) are probably a member of Winters College. All students in Arts, Media, Performance & Design, and also students in the BA in

Education program, are Winters College students. And by the way, we are named after Robert Winters, a politician and benefactor, and not after the season. And what is a college? What can Winters College do for you? And what can you do for, and with, Winters College? The colleges are the centres of student life outside of your academic programs. Winters College, which welcomes so many creative, curious, and engaged people from many disciplines, is especially lively and vibrant. In the Winters College buildings you find the Winters Residence, which for some of you is your actual home for the next 8-9 months. We also have the Junior Common Room (JCR), a space for chilling, playing some pool, ping-pong, or foosball, or just chatting or working. There is the Dining Hall, where you can eat, meet, or hang out. Both the Dining Hall and the JCR are used for receptions, performances, presentations, and even occasionally for rehearsing. We also have

some other spaces: a quiet lounge, a conference room, a Senior Common Room that can be booked for meetings, etc., and the Eleanor Winters Art Gallery (EWAG), where you can see exhibitions of student work – maybe yours! Finally, the jewel in our little part of the University is The Absinthe Bar and Coffee Shop. The only student-owned pub on campus, the “AB” is a well-loved institution, and as well as being a place to grab a bite and a drink, it is the place for karaoke nights, holiday parties, live music, themed nights, etc. In addition to the various social events that are based in the College, Winters is also your invitation to participate in student government (on Winters College Council) and intramural sports. York has the most participation in intramural sports of any Canadian university, and it’s easy to see why. Winters, especially is known for the inclusivity of its sports teams. If there’s a sport you were afraid you would have to give up on coming to university, look no further. You can play for Winters. If there’s a sport you’ve always wanted to try, here’s your chance.

Go Winters! Winters is also where you can get involved in a club, take yoga classes, attend workshops and sessions on study techniques, work-life balance, and other life skills. Anyone can propose an activity, an event, a performance, etc., and we will help you make it happen. So, again, welcome to your new world. To you returning students, welcome back! I wish you all a challenging, fulfilling, and magnificent year. There will certainly be some highs and lows, so if you find yourself experiencing difficulties, whether academic, social, personal, financial, or any other kind, remember that you have immediate access here at York to many skilled professionals who are ready to help you. You can always come to the Winters College Office, room 121 on the main floor of the College, where we can help you get whatever support you might need. Or just drop in any time to say hello, and I will be delighted to meet you, and maybe have a coffee or a tea together. I’ll see you ‘round the College!

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September CALENDAR

1-8

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EWAG WORD NIGHT (WCC)

WINTERS GRAB & GO BREAKFAST (WINTERS COLLEGE)

YOGA 3-4 (WINTERS COLLEGE)

WINTERS GRAB & GO BREAKFAST (WINTERS COLLEGE)

LUNCH WITH THE DEAN 12-1 (WINTERS COLLEGE)

KARAOKE NIGHT (WCC)

FROSH PUB NIGHT (WCC)

GAMES NIGHT (WCC)

YOGA 3-4 (WINTERS COLLEGE)

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Everything You Need To Know About Winters College Council BY LAURA BOURBONNAIS

HEY THERE FROSHIES, Welcome to Winters! We are so happy to welcome you into our creative and loving Winters College community! Oh, wait- Are you still not really sure what Winters College is? No worries! Let’s break it down. Basically, Winters College is the building across from Winters Residence where you can find members of the Winters College Council, ready to answer all of your Winters related questions, at the front desk. After speaking to one of us, you can also find The Artichoke magazine’s office (our very own Winters Free Press, yay)! Around the corner, you will spot the Ab (our very own Winters College student-run pub)! Then, you will see the JCR on the right where Winters regularly hosts events. After that comes the Winters’ cafeteria where you can conveniently grab a bite to eat with your student card. Of course, you have to make sure you have money on there first. In the cafeteria itself, not only

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is there tables where you can eat with your friends, but sometimes on weekends it converts into a practice space for dancers and on certain special evenings the cafeteria stage is put to use! Most of all, Winters College is always buzzing with activity from our various clubs (such as WIBI- our acapella group) and energetic Winters College Council members ready to greet you with a smile. But wait up… Now, what is Winters College Council about? Well, it happens to be Winters College student government that gives a voice to our artistic community and its various streams. You will no doubt get to know our President and everyone else on the team very soon. Each member holds weekly office hours in Winters College and they will be more than willing to help you get around if you are lost or answer any questions you might have regarding our community and its upcoming activities. Want to partake in the Winters excitement well after Frosh Week? Not a problem! See down below for our recurring events from our Social Cultural and Athletics teams. Karaoke Night– Come sign up and sing your heart out at karaoke night happening at the Absinthe Pub located at Winters College. Whether you are a classically trained singer or an “I-sing-in-theshower-when-I’m-alone” type of person, you are welcome to share your passion with us all. We are all there to have fun and we do not judge! Karaoke nights will be happening weekly every Wednesday night, so be on the lookout for dates coming soon! Pub Night– Pub nights happen every Thursday night at the Absinthe Pub! While you can only drink when legal, there is a selection of tasty finger food to order from, great entertainment and the option to play darts to your heart’s desire. Make sure to look out for certain themes and suggested dress codes happening during special occasions. For example, we will definitely be holding the classic Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day pub nights. Movie Night– Come chill out, eat popcorn, and watch a movie in the JCR located at Winters College. There truly is nothing better than bonding with your Winters friends over a film that brings out a good cry or that classic jolly belly laugh. Be sure to look out for the dates coming soon!

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Word Night– Unleash your inner feelings every last Monday of the month with word night! Join us as we share laughs, cries and grand ol' times through the power of speech and literature! Even if you do not love everything the English language has to offer, come on over anyway even if it is just to laugh along with us all! Seriously. A guaranteed good time. Acoustic Night– Got musical talent? Well, we would love to hear it! Do not be shy and come on down to the Ab on acoustic nights for a night filled with creative music and fun! Whether you have originals to wow us with or early 2000’s cover throwbacks we can all jam to, we are there for it. SPOOOOOORTS! That is right! There are not just art kids here at Winters. We have got energetic athletes too! Do you enjoy playing sports and are looking to make friends who share your passion in the Winters community? Consider joining intramurals that run year long here at Winters College! Keep your eyes peeled for the various sports available. Not only will you get exercise out of it, you will represent Winters with pride and maybe even help your team win another championship like Winters did in water polo last year! Our Athletics team will also be highlighting a player of the month in the Artichoke for each issue, making this your chance to be immortalized in (digital) print! Got any more questions or concerns after reading? Come speak with us any time, any place during Frosh, catch us after it in the WCC office, or on campus! We would sincerely love to meet you. Have a Happy Frosh! We are glad to have you. Laura Bourbonnais Assistant Editor Winters Free Press Winters College Council

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THE FROSH

EXPERIENCE

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BY LAURA BOURBONNAIS

HI FIRST YEARS! So, I know there are probably a ton of people who have shared their thoughts on Frosh Week with you or have tried to get you pumped for it, but here I am regardless! To all the timid and/or introverted folks out there, hi! Nice to meet you. I get why you might be reluctant about Frosh Week. I have done it twice, at two different universities. While I am happy I did it and I have met some great people during it whom I am still friends with, it still gives me butterflies just thinking about it. From one introvert to another, it is kind of intimidating, is it not? Meeting a whole bunch of people all at once and being thrown into new activities in a whole new place, away from home? It is scary and it is honestly okay to feel homesick and awkward. You do not need to plaster on a smile just because everyone else is. Be gentle with yourself and do not be afraid to speak to any of the Frosh Leaders or the Winters College Council members for that matter. We are here to help and I swear we are friendly and approachable. Since I am a transfer student, I have experienced frosh in Ottawa (a not so dry Frosh - hi, Quebec border) and at York (dry Frosh), and honestly, you should not feel the need to do every single activity. (Unless you want to - go for it!) Do what makes you comfortable at first (movie night or paint

night or board game night, whatever you please), then maybe try to work up to doing activities that put you a little out of your comfort zone (maybe that is dancing in the quad with a bunch of strangers looking over at you). You will feel so proud that you overcame that fear. Whatever it is, hold your head high and be proud of who you are and where you come from. There are a bunch of people who think you are super cool and would love to meet you. And remember, a lot of students are away from home for the first time too, juggling with a whole lot all at once, so there is plenty to bond about, honestly. Everyone is different but I would highly suggest going to Wasaga beach if you can. It is a beautiful way to bring your summer to a close; listening to the tide roll in on the shore with your feet in the warm sand. Unless you are allergic to the sun, in that case, forget I said anything! Frosh Week is a great way to meet new people who might or might not become your friends (it does not matter either way - it is all about the experience). You will get a feel of your new independence which in and of itself is pretty thrilling. Whether you do every single activity at Frosh or none of them, be proud of yourself for making it here, at university, on your own (a soon to be almost grown up). Enjoy your first week here at York! We are glad to have you. Truly.

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BY KATHERINE COLLIER

WHAT PROGRAMS ARE you both in? Can you give us a quick run-down for the frosh? Riv: I am in 4th year Film production. I get the opportunity to work on my passions and grow amongst people with shared passions. Simon: I am going into my 5th year of Screenwriting. We are both Film majors. Where Riv handles the production, the lights, the camera, I write the script and I recently got to finish the first draft of a feature-length film. The theme for frosh this year is Turn It Up Winters. Why did you pick this theme? Was it a collaborative pick? R: For me, one of my biggest interests is music. I DJ, I rap and a lot of films have great music. If I was going to make a week, the best way to make the most out of it would be connecting to something I knew well and people would be able to connect to, given how diverse music is and how it reaches a lot of people. A lot of people have their favourite song or songs that they connect with special moments and every time they hear that song, they are reminded of that special moment.

It brings people together. We could not think of a name. We talked about it for a long time and settled on that one song that makes you say â&#x20AC;&#x153;Turn It Up.â&#x20AC;? S: Music is so important for the Winters community. It is not something that is only for the music students. R: Visual Art, Film, Dance, Theatre, everything connects to this. We are so excited to see how people bring their own colour to the week. S: It helps that we have very diverse and different tastes in music. R: Yeah, I listen to everything. S: You do not listen to classical folk music. R: I do when I am with you. Although I have to say I do enjoy it!

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You two seem to have a great relationship. Tell us one interesting fact about your incoming Co-OChair S: Riv can do an incredibly convincing moo but only when he is feeling it because sometimes he tries toR: I have to connect to my inner cow. S: I have seen people ask him to do it and he will get ready and you will hear it build up and he will go “Nope. It is not happening.” 9/10 times when he tries it is no, but that one time when he is ready, it sounds like a cow. R: Simon puts on a lot of great characters and they are not always funny but they are entertaining. If you ever need someone to put a smile on your face, have a conversation with Simon and if he cannot do it then one of his characters can.

R: Oh gosh, what do I remember from my frosh?

S: What do you mean by characters? R: You know, like the Scottish character that you do. Like the coach andS: Oh! My accents. Right! We know that Riv is most excited for everyone bringing their own musical colour to the week but Simon, what are you most excited for? (Aside from meeting the frosh, of course!) S: The chill times. The events are always a bop. Everyone is always so excited at the parties, doing all the activities. In between, where you can just talk and do stuff, that is what I like. I have seen spontaneous games occur that were not planned and that is what I remember from my frosh.

S: I remember a game of Ninja that probably had over a hundred people in it and it was fantastic. R: The most memorable part was meeting all my new friends was the best part. I remember the story of how I met all my close friends. Frosh is good at bringing back those memories, for sure. Would you have ever thought you would be in this position now? R: I did not even know OChairs existed. I missed the first two days. I was barely there. I came on the Monday morning for breakfast and everyone was already in their groups and I thought “Oh no, I am not going to make any friends.” I told myself that was not how it was going to

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be and I went up to two people and said “Riv, nice to meet you,” and those two people are now good friends. I never thought I would be here honestly. Even as a Head Leader, I did not think it would be possible. I am so glad that we are here. It is a learning experience and I am so glad we are going through this together. S: During the lip sync battle for my frosh, where the OChairs were giving a speech and I remember looking up at them and thinking “I want to be that”. Then I looked around at the huge crowd of frosh and thought “surely, out of this countless number of people, it will be someone else”. But no, I am here. R: Whoa, I did not even think about that. That we were one of five hundred frosh. What is the role of the OChairs? What do they do?

R: Being an OChair means thinking of everything orientation, from a variety of events to transportation to swag. Making sure the resources are showcased to the incoming students and organizing leaders and the structure of the week. S: To put it really basic, we run the week. We make sure it all works and if you do not like it I guess it is on us, but you are going to like it because it is going to be great! DId you have event ideas related to the theme, going into the choice? Did any event ideas come out after the fact that you’re extremely proud about? S: This was an event we came up with after that we are both excited about called neon nights. There are three events tied to this. The dining hall will have blacklights, things will be glow-in-the-dark and you

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will have access to glowsticks. Everything will be colour and lights with music, which will feed off the environment/ atmosphere. The glow sticks will be able to be brought all over. There will be a jam session with glow sticks. We are thinking a 60’s music vibe. In the JCR there will be live concerts projected and board games, as a more chill space with the commuter station. R: The other event is the Winters Junos!

board games so I am glad that we will be continuing that tradition. We have jam sessions so if you are into music you can bring your instrument and play. R: There will be all sorts of parallel events running. Aside from the schedule, which will outline everything, we will have a commuter table, self-care, DIY which will be open all the time so if anyone is uncomfortable, they will still have something to do and will have access to a quiet space.

S: Yeahh!! R: Which we are super excited for. Given our music-oriented theme, there are lots of planned jam sessions and we are hoping for unplanned organic ones as well. The idea is going to be “You all could get together to perform for the Junos! Here is a list if you want to add your name.” It is getting together with the frosh, getting to work on something together throughout the week, going to other jam sessions to practice and support one another. Final one is the “Junos” where you will have the opportunity to perform and do what you love. What sort of alternative events do you have planned for frosh who don’t feel comfortable with certain events, like the parties? S: I was that person. I usually ended up at the JCR, which is the Junior Common room which usually has music playing, there are a bunch of people there. We have board games everywhere. I love

When I froshed, it felt like there was a divide with the OChairs/leaders and us frosh. I felt like I could not talk to any of you. How do you intend to break down that divide between frosh and their leaders? R: I have seen this divide between all groups involved with frosh. Titles make it hard to approach someone. We want to emphasize the opportunity for everyone to talk and get to know each other and have everyone be approachable. Music makes for great conversation. It all starts with the theme. As a commuter, I know how hard it can be to frosh when you need to be on that last subway or bus. How are you accommodating commuting students, who make up the majority of our constituents? S: We have been giving it a lot of thought. Both have been commuters. There will be a commuter sleepover every night

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so if you attend the later events, which we hope you will be able to do, you will have a safe space where you can spend the night here. It is not just sleep either. It is also events and stuff, if people want. Every night gets a theme. There is a safe area for your things during the day, in case you need to bring a suitcase or bag, so you do not need to worry about carrying it around all day.

R: The biggest piece of advice I have is: make the most out of your time at university. A lot of what happens after relies on networking and connecting so use the resources you have access to, especially being a Winters student and realizing that it is a great community that supports you. Do not be afraid to work together and collaborate. Make stuff happen.

R: There are also showers available morning and night. There will also be breakfast for everyone, when scheduled obviously. Some lounge spaces will also be available for those who want to sleep in a more quiet place.

S: I think talk to as many people as you can. So many people I know now, whether it be friends or professional connections, I met during frosh week. It can be nervewracking talking to so many new people but everyone is new people. We are all in the same boat. Put yourself out there.

Our first issue of the year always revolves around firsts. All these students are firsttimers here at York, maybe first time away from home on their own or in a new place, what advice do you have for them?

R: As far as university goes, I look back to 1st year and it seems like it was yesterday because it goes so quick, but we are so lucky to be here and make the most out of it.

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HEAD LEADERS

JESSIE President

FIONA & ANTON Entertainmnet

RIV OChair

ERIN & PAOLO & VANESSA Media

SIMON OChair

JULIA & AMY Position

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BOYAN Commuters

JACOB & LEAH Safety

CAITLIN & GLORIA Commuters

CATHERINE & ABBY Vanguard

NAME Position

JOSEPH & KIERA Health

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BY LAURA BOURBONNAIS

ARE YOU LOOKING for a friendly group with whom you can exercise throughout the school year? Are you tired of walking forever to get to the gym? Would you like to get some fresh air and get to know new faces? Look no further! Team Unbreakable has got your back! Team Unbreakable (a lovely run club) at York University was founded by the sweet Lindsay Keenan who brought us all together and transformed the many anxiety-ridden mornings into smiley afternoons. I can definitely attest that after every run, no matter how long or how short, I always feel more positive and energized. If you are looking for a good way to transform your stress into healthy energy, please feel free to join! We would love to have you.

Have a look at the Instagram page (teamunbreakable.yorku) and Facebook (Team Unbreakable at York University - Run Group). The club works up to one race per semester and you set yourself realistic objectives each run while going at your own pace. The route may vary each time, depending on the runnersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; preference. Having just joined last year and now being a co-secretary this year for this welcoming and charismatic group, I can guarantee that you will not just get exercise out of it. You will definitely make some friends and maybe even be lucky enough to share a vegan snack at the end of a run. Be on the lookout for our run times during the week! Last year, the group ran up to about four times per week and always tried to set up meeting times around runnersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; availability. Looking forward to running with you! Laura Bourbonnais :) Co-secretary of Team Unbreakable

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FIRST FROSH FIRST FROSH FIRST FROSH BY MELANIE GAZVODA

YOU HAVE DONE it. You have graduated from high school. Or maybe you took a leap year… or maybe more than a couple of leap years. Whatever the case you have made it here to York University. York University is a second home to me. In high school, I never felt a sense of belonging as I do at York. But, that feeling did not exist until my first Frosh Week. I was petrified when my mom first dropped me off at school alone. But as soon as I walked inside Winters College, I was taken under the wing of two thirdyears. They were so charismatic and they even guided me to make my own t-shirt which I still have as a souvenir. After we made shirts the frosh events began, starting with a relaxing yoga session. Feeling more zen afterward we went back to the common room where we played card games and shared some laughs with new friends. That night we met up with an old high school friend who is an Engineering student and part of the Lassonde College. We went over to the big party Vanier College was

throwing and not only was the DJ’s music exceptional, but the night got even better. Events were going on all over campus. My friend and I headed inside to paint in Winters College and sat in on spoken word poetry, singing, and dance performances by first to fourth-year students. They included everyone and I saw one of the best and funniest performances. It was an awesome first day and I finished it off by getting hot chocolate with a group of new friends. We stayed up late to talk, and they even played Polar Express in the common room where we all stayed overnight. The next day the welcoming ceremonies began but they did not start until all of the colleges were reunited and hyped up by their group leaders. Winters College sang common camp songs and laughed together. ‘Baby Shark,’ was very popular and everyone got really into it. Even more so than a group of five-year-olds. I will never forget the energy that carried throughout Frosh Week. Afterward, Winters walked as a group to the Family Price Cinema. Little did I know later in the year my first short film would be played

FROSH

there! The welcoming speech opened with an amazing a cappella performance by the York WIBI group. After the speech, we went outside to do scavenger hunts and spot the different clubs. There are so many clubs at York that you will find the right one or the right ones for you. Frosh Week ended on the giant outdoor football field where we got to see live performances, dancers, and the best part of all; fireworks. It was a great experience that I will always remember. Not only has York given me experiences I would have never known about otherwise but, the school introduced me to some of my best friends, helped me become independent, and given me a second place to call home. Some things to note are the hidden gems at York like the student Art Gallery in the Accolade West building or the Scott Library which is a great place to catch up on work or even watch movies! You will meet many people at York who will become your best friends but, you will also meet some weirdos so always trust your gut and welcome to the best years of your life.

ARTICHOKE

BY VICTORIA CARELLA

MY FIRST FRIEND at York University was my roommate Olivia. We were both participating in Winters Frosh but living in The Pond Road Residence. That made it slightly harder to make friends with people in Winters during Frosh Week, but we had each other. Both of us were fairly shy and I, personally, was very intimidated by the high energy level at Winters during frosh events. As a leader, I had a blast during frosh; but as a scared incoming first-year who did not know anyone, it was not really my scene. At first, I was worried that it would mean that I could not really be part of this big wonderful family that is Winters College. Thankfully, I was quickly proven wrong. I learned that there are a lot of quieter, more â&#x20AC;&#x153;chillâ&#x20AC;? activities during frosh, like board games and movies in the JCR. Winters soon began to feel like a safe space for me, and I eventually felt at home. Once classes started, it was a lot easier for me to make friends in my program, and as a result of these friendships, I spent a lot of time hanging out at Winters. I was also very lucky to have a roommate like Olivia to create a welcoming and safe environment as we started university together. Not everyone instantly connects

with their roommates in this way, so if you do not, please remember that there is someone out there who will be there for you. I promise. Winters is a huge community, but it is filled with the most supportive and caring people I have ever met. Winters embraces individuality and is fuelled by love. So if you feel overwhelmed or lonely, please know that there are other people like you here too. You will find people you connect with. I honestly thought I would not, but now I have a great group of supportive friends. Just remember to take care of yourself and keep breathing. Winters truly is a place for everyone, and you are welcome here.

FROSH

ARTICHOKE

CREATIVE

BY LAURA BOURBONNAIS

A SOFT SUMMER wind strokes earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s autumn brow. a new day rises, for the incoming. wavering colours parade, upon cotton fabric, voices rumble, catalectic music. new friends smirk, days greet nights, melodies move eager youth. a sunsetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s canvas paints roaring laughter, buzzing clusters of bonfires, gleefully sing in choir.

ARTICHOKE

I Smile

BY KATHERINE COLLIER

CREATIVE

I GO AROUND and around In circles. I think Time and time again Alone. I stop For only a moment And look around. I see Open arms and open faces Greeting me. I smile Wider and wider As I am brought into the fold. I laugh More and more Feeling lighter. Feeling free. Free from my own chains That bound me to the ground That left me feeling breathless. So I smile For every friendship I have made For every new day I have been given. So I smile.â&#x20AC;&#x192;

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MYSELF FIRST BY MADDISYN FISHER

I FORGOT MYSELF. Completely and totally. I put everyone around me first because I deemed myself â&#x20AC;&#x153;not good enoughâ&#x20AC;?. Doing good deeds was how I wanted to prove to myself that I was worthy of anything. However, when you neglect yourself, you lose everything. Your life becomes about regret and unhappiness. I was through with being unsatisfied, so I made a change. This poem is dedicated to anyone struggling right now to make a change. It is time to put yourself first.

CREATIVE

The world turns Slowly Surely Freely. Here I am Stuck Again. My I am stuck because of Fear Anxiety Trauma Abuse Myself. Myself has caused Spirals And spirals Down further And further Until I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t recognize Myself.

Some view this as selfish Narcissistic Careless. I view it as Courage Sacrifice And most importantly, Happiness. I have fought I have struggled I have lived I have lost But I will never Never Give Up Again.

It was time. Time to put myself first Seek help Get help And use help.

I deserve more Better And I am stronger. Myself first Forever and always. Love, MadFishâ&#x20AC;&#x192;

ARTICHOKE

ON FIRST LOSSES, FRAME BY FRAME

BY VANESSA SANDOVAL

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A CLUSTER OF children stand around a bed.

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She only utters a vowel occasionally after a weak exhale.

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They cast long shadows behind them on the expansive white walls.

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The room feels as though it expands and shrinks in synchronization with her.

They have bags under their eyes; grey hairs; liver spots on their skin; they are balding.

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Her hand reaches up to her skeleton-like face with extraordinary feebleness and gives a ghostly tap to the air tube in her nostrils.

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The youngest child scrambles to help, realizing that she is uncomfortable.

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No amount of adjusting helps.

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The youngest child tells her mother she needs it to breathe; it keeps the life-support machine connected.

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Her mother gives her a faraway look, as if she cannot hear.

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At some point, the fidgeting stops.

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A little later, so does her breath.

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The room becomes very,

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They speak in soft voices, as if afraid to rattle the quiet.

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Next to the bed is the patriarch, her husband.

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He stares unblinking at his wife, a stone face made by decades of culturally-instilled masculine stoicism that has seen much worse death than this.

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She is only skin and bones and teeth with some wispy strands of hair that are brushed away from her face by the youngest child.

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Saliva drips from the corner of her weak lips— muscles that has stopped having the energy to contract and form a single consonant.

very still,

CREATIVE

though no one is quite sure when it became that way.

* she passes under a microscopic ethereal light as chaos erupts around the body at 3:03 AM and I unravel & spiral unable to make myself

stop.

ARTICHOKE

If Not Now, When ? BY AMY FOURNIER

FALL CAN BRING a sense of new beginnings, reconnection, and clean slates. However, it can also be a time of fear and anxiety as most students move away from their hometown and enter York Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus grounds. Sometimes it can be difficult to cope with these feelings of being lost, overwhelmed and uncertain. My first year at York was filled with new friendships and opportunities but also with a lot of uncomfortable situations and worries. Am I taking the right courses? Will I graduate? Am I pursuing the right degree? Should I have taken Business instead of Creative Writing? Will I ever get a job in my field? Is this worth my time and money? Basically, I was in a state of confusion and I did not know the right way to cope with all of these questions that often kept me up at night. Until I had a wake-up call. Literally. It was 4 am and all of a sudden I felt a punch in my chest. It was sharp and painful and I honestly felt like I was going to die of a heart attack at the ripe age of nineteen.

I did not want to wake anyone so I tried to walk around my room and turn off my impending thoughts in various ways. I put on my headphones and listened to one of my favourite podcasts, paying attention to each word and trying to not think about the future or any of my distress. I moved around in every possible position to try to stop the pain in my chest. It took almost an hour before I fell asleep from pure fatigue. Only to be awakened two hours later. What I had experienced was my first panic attack. That morning as I made my breakfast I realized I needed to find a way to cope with my anxiety before it started to take over my life.

LIFESTYLE

Here are a few things that have helped me cope with mental stress and anxiety throughout my undergrad and may help you too: ••

Deep breaths and relaxation techniques. Pay attention to your breathing. It can help take your mind off of worrisome thoughts that may be keeping you up and distracting you from sleep. Look into meditation and yoga before bed. There are many free apps and Youtube videos on the internet.

••

Exercise regularly. Rhythmic exercises such as running, swimming, and dancing are proven to be a natural stress buster. There is a great recreational run group at York called Team Unbreakable that promotes good mental health through physical exercise. I joined this club in my third year at York and have found it to be incredibly helpful to my mental state.

••

Connect with others. Join one of the many amazing clubs at York and find your community. Finding the right people to be around can help ease loneliness and increase your happiness. Sometimes it is good to talk with others about the feelings you may have that are making you anxious. It is nice to have a support group.

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Seek professional help and utilize many of York’s mental health resources. Much to my surprise, I discovered that there are a lot of groups on campus that can help you such as Student Counselling and Development, Student Accessibility Services, and the YFS Access Centre. You can find all the contact information for these at www. yfswellness.ca/resources#/resources/mh-resources.

These are the few things that have personally helped me. Everyone is different so I highly encourage you to seek help as soon as possible to try to figure out the best coping method that works for you if you sense that you are developing anxiety, depression, or any other mental health issue.

ARTICHOKE

THE BEST BY MAYA VUKOV

NOBODY SEEMS TO be swiping right? Not enough work opportunities where you live? How was your love life this summer? Not as exhilarating as you had hoped? What about going out and meeting new people? Too busy working in a factory or retail job (or both) to go out an d make new friends? Did you have any new experiences? Go to any new places and do anything fun? Did that 9 to 5 make it difficult to do much when you were not in charge of your own schedule? You may have sweated out a long twelve-hour shift, only to come back home too tired to enjoy anything most days. What if I told you that if you spend next summer in the GTA, there’s a better way to make $14 an hour, make new friends, meet new attractive young people, get free lunch, and only work when you want to (which is still probably a lot since you’re a #brokecollegestudent).

& PART TIME JOB NO ONE TOLD YOU ABOUT

This summer I worked as an extra or “Background Actor” (BG for short) on film and television sets in Toronto. What with Netflix setting up a new production studio in the city, there are a lot of shows and films shooting here right now, even more than usual. I spent my summer as a high school student at a pep rally, a hip-hop dance squad member, a stylish market-goer from the 1920’s, a rock-and-roll chic at a New York concert in 1969, a random person walking down a street, and many other things. Whether I was vaping in a closet with a cute guy at a party in a mansion on the set of a Netflix show, or getting hot rollers put in my hair and my make-up done before buying some vegetables

at a market in 1926; I got paid, I got free food, I met tons of new people in their 20’s, and I got to work whenever I wanted. Getting into extra work is surprisingly ridiculously easy. You don’t have to have connections or know casting directors – heck, you don’t even have to submit a resume. Simply go to the website of a Toronto background acting agency online, fill out some basic measurement information (do you know your shoe size? What about your inseam length?), attach a couple clear profile photos, pay a onetime fee (usually around $75 — don’t worry you’ll make it back within the first day) and you’re

LIFESTYLE in. You don’t have to be attractive (of course it doesn’t hurt if you are), they will take anyone. If you look like you could play a high school student, even better. You will get lots of work, and spend lots of time waiting around on set playing Uno with really cute people all around the age of 22. Being on set is a great experience, especially for anyone wishing to know more about what filmmakers and actors really do on the big shows. I have been on a couple of Netflix series, so I have gotten to see them mount cameras on massive cranes to do those fun (but expensive as hell) swooping shots. Of course, a lot of being an extra is simply waiting in the holding area until you are needed, sometimes for hours. Consider, while you are sitting there doing nothing (wish means you are free to do anything – socialize, play cards, read a book, go on your phone, listen to music, write poetry) you are getting paid just as much as an exhausting minimum wage job, yet all you have to do is sit there (and maybe applaud or walk when the Assistant Directors tell you to). Being an extra is different than a regular job, because your agents (yes plural, it’s good to get a few of them if you want to get enough work to fill up most week days) are not your bosses. They will send you bookings for jobs, but you only have to take them if you want to. You are free to decline as many of them as you want whenever you feel like it. Whenever you accept a job, even

if you only work for three hours (not common but it happens) you will always get paid for a minimum of 8 hours, even if you work less. Of course, often you might work twelve hours; I have even worked sixteen before. So in that way, it is very possible that you could only work for three days, but still make your 40hour work week. Many people I have met on set tell me that they met their significant other while doing extra work. Whether they got partnered up at a ‘prom’ or had to mime flirting in the background of the camera, many many relationships have blossomed because a lot of young, often attractive people were forced to spend twelve hours sitting together on set or playing cards together in holding because they were too bored to do anything else. You might think your phone can entertain you for an entire day, but soon enough there will be nothing to refresh on that Instagram feed, in which case you might actually have to look up to see that the cute ‘football player’ across the room has been staring at you with his dark chocolate-brown eyes for quite a while. Did I mention the free food? There is a myth that extra food is just crappy sandwiches and juice boxes on set. Not True! Extras usually eat the same food that the crew and actors eat, which is cooked by a caterer and is almost always amazing. There is always too much food at lunch

for anyone to finish, so no need to worry about packing your leftover Chinese takeout from the night before. So that is it, that is the best summer job where you can meet tons of new young people, get paid to do nothing except stand around watching actors perform in real life on a Netflix show, get to eat for free every day, experience new places, costumes and environments regularly, and have an entirely flexible schedule to work literally only when you want to. There is no catch (except you are of course never on any day ‘guaranteed’ work, which is why it is good to get a few agents to fill up more days of the week with bookings). You can even do it year-round, although there are less things shooting in winter and you cannot work on days you have classes. And yes, I also thought it was sketchy and too good to be true when I first signed up, but I was wrong. The only reason more people do not do it is because they do not know about it. Just do not be like some people and expect extra work to lead to bigger things. If you are an aspiring actor, go get an actual principal agent that will book you for actual acting roles. You will not get noticed if you are an extra, I promise. It is called background acting for a reason.

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