The Eyeopener: Volume 55, Issue 1 by The Eyeopener

Volume 55 - Issue 1 August 25, 2021 theeyeopener.com @theeyeopener Since 1967

PHOTO / ILLUSTRATION: JES MASON / LAILA AMER

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NEWS

Timeline: A brief history of ‘X’ University COURTESY: YELLOWHEAD INSTITUTE

By Sarah Tomlinson This summer—after years of pressuring the university to remove the infamous Egerton Ryerson statue and to change its name—the Indigenous community at Ryerson and campus activists finally saw the statue toppled and beheaded. Although the university said it will not replace the statue, it has not committed to changing its name, which sparked the ‘X’ University movement. If you’re unfamiliar with this issue, here’s a timeline to update you on all that’s happened at the university since 2017. 2017 On June 26, 2017, the Ryerson Students’ Union (RSU) released a statement on its Facebook page criticizing the university’s planned Canada 150 celebrations due to the country’s roots in colonialism, along with a post explaining why a celebration should not take place. While the statement received support from some, it also faced heavy backlash from the wider community.

[CESAX] released an open letter demanding the Ryerson statue be removed from campus This sparked tensions within the RSU when then vice-president student life and events Lauren Emberson brought forward a motion requesting all media statements regarding the “Colonialism 150” campaign to be approved by the entire board. Former RSU president Susanne Nyaga withdrew the motion, adding that it would be policing the decisions of then vice-president equity Olson Crow and almost all members had already approved the statement. On July 1, 2017, Nyaga and Crow presented 11 demands for the university as part of their “Colonialism 150” project, which included removing the

Egerton Ryerson statue and changing the university’s name. Ryerson’s administration agreed to some of the demands—such as creating an Indigenous language course; educating public servants on the history of Indigenous peoples and residential schools; an annual Pow Wow; and a research program with multi-year funding to advance the understanding of reconciliation. However, the university name and statue remained standing. 2018 In January 2018, Ryerson launched a community-wide consultation summary report in response to the final Truth and Reconciliation Commission report in 2015. In April of that year, the university held a meeting to discuss moving the statue to another location. However, along with Ryerson’s Aboriginal Education Council, it opted for the placement of a Truth and Reconciliation plaque recognizing Egerton Ryerson’s role in Canada’s racist residential school system on June 25, 2018. 2020 In 2020, Maaz Khan, a 2019 business technology management graduate, started a petition to remove the statue on June 7, 2020. Since then, it’s received over 10,000 signatures. On July 19, 2020, the Egerton Ryerson statue on Gould Street was defaced by Black Lives Matter – Toronto (BLM-TO) protesters in an art-based action that called for defunding the police. Three

priate in an administrative setting because it trivialized and decontextualized Indigenous ceremonies. In March, the task force began a two-month-long community engagement period regarding the fate of the Egerton Ryerson statue. This was conducted through a survey and a “community tool kit” which allowed community members to conduct their of the protesters got arrested but own discussions regarding the statue. were released after 17 hours of being detained. ‘X’ University A week later, the Continuing Edu- On May 3, 2021, Lila Pine, a catino Students’ Association of Ryer- Mi’gmewi’sgw who teaches at the son (now CESAX) released an open RTA School of Media, wrote a letter to university president Mo- chapter in a book called “Indigenous hamed Lachemi demanding that the Toronto: Stories that Carry This Egerton Ryerson statue be removed Place.” Pine suggested changing Ryfrom campus. The letter was signed erson’s name to a name that “reflects by 19 organizations, 121 full-time the values of the Indigenous peoples faculty and 793 undergraduate stu- of this land before settlers arrived.” dents as of November 2020. The statue was tagged again later In September, the task that week with green paint. No one force is set to submit their claimed responsibility for the secrecommendations and report ond defacement of the statue. to Lachemi In September, the university created a task force to examine what the school can do to “reconcile the A week later, Anne Spice, a Ryhistory of Egerton Ryerson.” In an erson Faculty of Arts professor and announcement via Ryerson Today, Tlingit member of Kwanlin Dün Lachemi said the task force would First Nation, wrote an article for allow for input from “students, fac- The Globe and Mail about the need ulty, staff, partners and others.” to change the university’s name to prevent carrying on his legacy. She 2021 called on community members to In February 2021, the task force, pre- replace the university’s name with an viously called the “Egerton Ryerson ‘X’ in their email signatures, CVs and Presidential Task Force,” changed its other professional communications. name to “Standing Strong,” a Spirit In response to that article, a group of Name written in Cree as ‘‘Mash Koh Indigenous students wrote a letter to Wee Kah Pooh Win.” Ryerson community members echoHowever, several Indigenous ing the call to remove Ryerson’s name. community members at Ryerson According to the students, the disapproved of the name change, symbolic name change was a rearguing that the task force should’ve sponse to the university’s slow pace used local Indigenous languages in- on officially changing the name and stead of the Cree language. removing Egerton Ryerson’s statue Other issues were the lack of con- on campus, which they’ve been desultation with Indigenous faculty and manding for years. the use of a Spirit name, which some In an interview with The Eye, Indigenous faculty said was inappro- Sam Howden, a fourth-year social

work student and a Red River Métis from Treaty 1 territory in Winnipeg, and equity coordinator at the Indigenous Students’ Association, said the letter ‘X’ was chosen for its historical significance. According to Howden, Indigenous communities previously used ‘X’ when signing treaties with settlers. They said ‘X’ is also significant to Black and other marginalized communities who have previously been put into “indentured labour” through colonial governments, giving the example of Malcolm Little who went by Malcolm X, with the ‘X’ signifying his lost, African family name. Statue toppling At the end of May, the remains of 215 children were found at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. Since the Kamloops discovery, the number of suspected graves uncovered at the sites of former residential schools has risen to 1,308. To commemorate the 215 children found, children’s shoes were placed at the foot of the Egerton Ryerson statue at a sit-in on May 31. Then, on June 6, hundreds of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people marched downtown from the Ontario legislature at Queen’s Park to Egerton Ryerson’s statue to commemorate the 215 children. Following the march, videos on social media showed protesters tying a rope to the head of the statue and forcibly pulling it down from its pedestal. At midnight, the statue was beheaded using power tools and taken to the Harbourfront where a small group of protesters shared experiences of colonial violence and held a ceremony with smudging, singing and drumming. Protestors then tied a rope through the head, dropped it into the lake to “cleanse” it and retrieved it from the water after. The head was taken to 1492 Land Back Lane.

The COVID-19 safety protocols you need to know before returning to campus By Heidi Lee

page before arriving on campus. The form asks students to indicate the buildings they will be visiting and their approximate arrival and departure times. Students are also required to answer health screening questions. Staff members might ask students additional screening questions before they’re allowed to enter a building.

As Ryerson prepares to increase the number of on-campus classes and activities for the fall 2021 semester, the university has implemented a number of safety precautions and policies for visitors. Students are encouraged to avoid coming to campus unless necessary—only when they attend inperson classes or have pre-approved appointments. Disclosing vaccine status Here’s what you need to know be- On Aug. 13, Ryerson announced fore coming to campus: that students will be required to attest to their vaccination status in orHealth self-assessment der to come to campus. Students are expected to complete Students living in residence must a health self-assessment through receive their first dose before their the RyersonSafe mobile app or the move-in date, while student athletes RyersonSafe Health Screening web- are required to be fully vaccinated

by Sept. 16. The vaccine must be approved by Health Canada or the World Health Organization, such as the Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca or Janssen vaccines. Students who are not fully vaccinated or who don’t wish to disclose their vaccination status and plan on coming to campus must provide a negative COVID-19 test result. The university stated that proof of vaccination will be required during the winter term, where a full return to campus is anticipated. No further information has been provided yet. Although the Ryerson community COVID-19 pop-up vaccination clinic closed as of July 29, the Ryerson Medical Centre will offer

vaccines to Ryerson community members. Students can also book an appointment with their closest vaccination clinic through Ontario’s vaccine booking site.

The Ryerson Medical Centre will offer vaccines to Ryerson community members Mandatory masks Last July, a face mask policy was passed to ensure that face masks are worn by individuals visiting campus. Visitors must wear a mask or face covering in public indoor spaces. Individuals are not required to wear a mask when there is a designated area allocated for the individual by

the university or when a physical barrier is in place. Masks could be removed when individuals are eating, drinking or carrying out physical activities. The university noted that the policy doesn’t apply to children younger than two years old; individuals with an underlying medical condition; people unable to wear a mask without assistance; or those who are reasonably accommodated for not wearing a mask in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code. Supporting documents are not required for individuals listed above. Ryerson students must comply with the policy as they are subjected to the student code of nonacademic conduct.

EDITORIAL

AH SHIT, HERE WE GO AGAIN

We can’t call it X University, but you can

By Tyler Griffin On June 6, 2021, I received a photo that stopped me dead in my tracks. Our photo editor Jes Mason—who was covering an ‘X’ University sitin at the Egerton Ryerson statue on campus, following the discovery of 215 children’s remains at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C.—captured the moment the controversial statue fell. All I could say was, holy shit. Unable to get anything else out, I showed the image to those immediately around me. After a chorus of gasps and some comments on how emotional it was to finally see it finally come down, a friend quietly said: What took so long? Very good question. It was June 2017, almost five years prior, when the Ryerson Students’ Union (RSU) released its campaign criticizing Ryerson’s “Canada 150” celebrations commemorating the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation. “Colonialism 150” was intended to bring attention to our country’s colonial roots and Indigenous histories, which existed thousands of years before the signing of the British North America Act in 1867. The campaign featured 11 formal recommendations for the university, including the removal of Egerton

Ryerson’s name and campus statue from the institution. Initial reactions were polarizing. Comments flooded the RSU’s campaign posts on Facebook with words like “ignorant,” “get over it already” and “thank god for colonialism.” That year’s RSU executive team erupted with in-fighting. The Indigenous student who put forward the campaign was ostracized, threatened, stalked and eventually forced to drop out entirely. The conversation surrounding Egerton Ryerson, his role in the creation of residential schools and our university’s proud display of his namesake and image looks much, much different today.

If only they cared about Indigenous reconciliation as much as their brand recognition We’re quick to deem campus activists as ‘too radical’ or ‘too reactionary’ to take seriously—until their message makes its way into the mainstream discourse. Last summer, in the midst of sweeping Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality across North America, the statue was defaced multiple times. A petition to remove the statue amassed over 10,000 signatures, and Ryerson University created a task force to “examine Egerton Ryerson’s history” and make recommendations to “reconcile [the] namesake’s legacy.” “The difference was that when non-Indigenous students brought

that forward, it was much better received,” the student behind Colonialism 150 told me. “It’s just unfortunate for the Indigenous students that have literally lost their education and lost their livelihood in different ways.” In 2017, Ryerson had an opportunity to get ahead of the curve, set itself apart as a leader in social justice issues and actually put its money where its mouth is when it comes to reconciliation. University leadership instead chose to sit idly by, hoping for it all to pass. Lacking the foresight and ability to listen to its student leaders, the reputation they’re left with is one of PR blunders every two to four months. Ryerson’s track record in this regard is actually remarkably consistent. Take for example their cancelled special constables program, which they decided to scrap not after years of campaigning against police presence on campus by the Black Liberation Collective, but in the midst of worldwide protests against anti-Black racism immediately after the death of George Floyd. While the statue remains out of sight and out of mind (and the world continues to spin), the name remains. And as the school’s ‘community consultations’ and task forces continue their glacial approach to social change, Ryerson suddenly decided it actually could change names quite easily. To the unwelcome surprise of students, Ryerson announced last month that it would rebrand the Faculty of Communication and Design into “The Creative School” at the cost of approximately $200,000 to $250,000.

PHOTOS: JES MASON

A protestor stands on the toppled Egerton Ryerson Statue on June 6, 2021.

For this year’s Frosh Issue, news editor Sarah Tomlinson wrote a brief history of the Egerton Ryerson conversation and ‘X’ University movement. The intention was to catch up anyone who might be new to this conversation on the most pressing issue facing our community, so you can trace its origins and how we got here. You may have noticed in this issue, and in our online coverage throughout the summer, that we’ve continued calling it Ryerson University—not ‘X’ University—in our copy. That’s not because we want to continue calling it Ryerson, but because our function is to provide students, staff, faculty and the rest of the community with fact-based reporting and an accurate institutional memory. Which means calling the university by its name, not what we’d rather it be named. But make no mistake: The Eye stands with the Indigenous community at Ryerson in calling on university leadership to do what it should have done when presented with the

Communities Mariam “Super Mom” Nouser Editor-in-Chief Tyler “Two First Names” Griffin News Thea “Creative Roast” Gribilas Heidi “Scaring Donors” Lee Sarah “Deletes Story” Tomlinson Photo Laila “Send Eggy Head” Amer Harry “Hot Harry Summer” Clarke Jes “Girlboss MLM” Mason Online Dhriti “Gossip Girlin’” Gupta Alexandra “Imprint EICin’” Holyk Features Abeer “U Know I Keep That MF Jungkook On Me” Khan Arts and Culture Elizabeth “TIFF VIP” Sargeant Business and Technology Charlize “Boilin’ the Tea” Alcaraz

Sports Gavin “Marked as Resolved” Axelrod Fun and Satire Rochelle “Frosh Psychic” Raveendran

opportunity years ago, and what the institution itself has proven can easily be done, if only they cared about Indigenous reconciliation as much as their brand recognition. Change the name. If you’re new here, I hope you keep in mind, throughout your short time at Ryerson, that you—an individual on the grassroots level—hold a tremendous amount of agency. Postsecondary institutions maintain the status quo by forcing so much work and bullshit down your throat that you don’t have the time or energy to care about these issues until you’re gone. This is by design. But COVID-19 has pushed these conversations so far into the mainstream that the only way to ignore them is by choice. As we gradually return to campus and some sense of normalcy, I hope we don’t lose that sense of radicalness and refusal to accept the way things have always been. And I hope that this year, and for the foreseeable future, we can continue to use our platform to tell your stories and, together, enact change. Donald “Precious” Higney Maria “Make a Grown Man Cry” Couto Ilyas “TSN Turning Point” Hussein Mariana “Nick Wilde Stan” Schuetze Karly “Proud Cowbell Owner” Benson

Hey X.U. you can do Truth and Reconciliation, I know you can! You have a whole Media admin making real $$$ to do a real job. Norah “K-Drama” Kim You’ve been cashing in on the Indiginations for almost a decade now. Not just Web Developer making money off the folxs but sucking Farhan “Miss U King” Sami up the sass and class all of the First Nations, Metis and Inuit have brought to the General Manager table with courses and institutes. Come Liane “SWEATING” McLarty up with a new name that acknowledges where we are but also who we are and Advertising Manager who we represent. It isn’t that hard. Move Christopher “Cotty Lyfe” Roberts your tired colonial ass before they figure out how much they are TRULY OWED. Design Director J.D. “Mentally in Cuba” Mowat The Eyeopener is Ryerson’s largest and only independent student newspaper. Contributors You can reach us at theeyeopener.com, Jessica “Founder of Ratcore” on Twitter at @theeyeopener or on InsMazze tagram at @the_eyeopener.

ARTS AND CULTURE

TIFF like you’ve never seen it before By Elizabeth Sargeant

Other celebs expected to make an appearance on the big screens and the red carpet include Olivia Munn, starring in Violet—a drama written and directed by first-time filmmaker Justine Bateman. IndieWire has already labelled it one of Munn’s “best roles in her career.” Docu-drama lovers will be delighted to see Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield star in Tammy Faye, a story of 80s televangelists Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker. Travelling even further back in time, Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Thomasin McKenzie in a 60s psychological horror set to premiere during the festival.

award season won’t have to wait much longer, as TIFF 2021 has expanded the amount of exciting awards being handed out this year. According to executive director and co-head of TIFF, Joana Vicente, Benedict Cumberbatch is set to win the 2021 TIFF Tribute Actor Award. “His remarkable range and onscreen presence is sure to captivate audiences at this year’s festival with his upcoming films,” she stated. Other recipients in the past include Joaquin Phoenix, Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep. Other awards set to be distributed this year include the IMDbPro Short Cuts Awards, the Network for the Promotion of Asian CinAwards to watch out for ema Award and the 2021 ChangeMovie fans who are anticipating maker Award.

corn as all concession stands will be dents who have a car can attend Visa closed at every venue. Skyline and RBC Lakeside drive-ins Attending the Toronto Internaor the West Island Open Air Cinema. tional Film Festival (TIFF) is a staThis year’s line up is ple back-to-school event for many What to see chock-full of celebrities Ryerson University students. With This year’s line up is chock-full of thanks to the exciting campus being in the heart of the celebrities thanks to the exciting festival opener city, students have the privilege of festival opener Dear Evan Hansen, picking from a variety of theatres, premiering at Roy Thomson Hall. films and red carpet events close by While barriers are typically set The flick features the talents of when TIFF rolls into town. up around the red carpet, there Booksmart’’s Kaitlyn Dever, as well After TIFF 2020 lacked the op- has been no public comment about as Ben Platt, Julianne Moore, Amy portunity for students to spot celeb- protocols for visitors that gather Adams and Amandla Stenberg, acrities on campus, this year’s festival, around them to get a closer look at cording to a tweet from TIFF’s ofrunning from Sept. 9 to 18, offers the action or a selfie with a star. It‘s ficial Twitter account. Despite some a much more COVID-friendly way been confirmed that there will be controversy surrounding Platt, 27, to still catch some flicks and explore talent, cast and crew live this year, playing a teenage character, this the festival safely. with rapid testing and other proto- coming-of-age musical is highly anFor those who are new to cam- cols in place. ticipated by theatre nerds. pus, or are just curious about how the festival is going to work out this Best spots to go year, The Eye has created the ultimate TIFF has also expanded the number guide for navigating TIFF 2021. of cinemas in which featured films will be played in an effort to create Getting access and attending a safe experience for all attendees. From the protocols and schedules re- These include the TIFF Bell Lightleased to date, this year’s festival seems box, Princess of Wales Theatre, Roy to be unlike any other. According to Thomson Hall, Scotiabank Theatre, members of the TIFF team, all tickets and the Cinesphere IMAX Theatre this year will be virtual and must be at Ontario Place. purchased ahead of time to reduce the In the past, the Ryerson Theatre typical long lines and overcrowding has been a staple venue in the roster. seen at previous screenings. However this year, no films or TIFF In addition to keeping tickets events are being hosted in the space. virtual to minimize risk, all attend- However Roy Thomson Hall, TIFF ees are required to come wearing Bell Lightbox, Princess of Wales and a mask and visitors won’t be al- Scotiabank Theatre are about a 10 to lowed access to any venue without 15 minute commute from campus, or one. Masks are expected to stay on around a 20 to 25 minute walk throughout every showing and film A new addition to this year’s festibuffs who love to snack while they val is a drive-in component for those watch will be unable to grab pop- unsure about indoor screenings. Stu- Julia Roberts at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2018.

| PHOTO:KOSALAN KATHIRAMALANATHAN

7 dreamy tunes to romanticize your Ryerson commute By Elizabeth Sargeant There are many experiences virtual school has robbed us of. Whether it be lounging on the sixth floor of the Sheldon & Tracy Levy Student Learning Centre (SLC) with friends or grabbing a broccoli cheddar soup from Panera between classes, even the simplest moments and staple froshie experiences have been taken for granted. As such, many students have yet to experience a tinge of nostalgia during their commute to campus.

PHOTO: LAILA AMER

This playlist is a compilation of song suggestions from our masthead at The Eye. It crosses genres and decades, and is meant to support you as you re-embark on the journey of a long and often painful commute back to school. So pop in your AirPods and pretend there’s longing eye contact with the only other person on your streetcar. The Eye’s got your back. “Comme de Garçons (Like the Boys)” by Rina Sawayama “Comme de Garçons” was released right on the precipice of the pandemic. It was exactly what many needed as the world went into lockdown. Her pop-y and upbeat single encapsulates the attitude you need to bustle home after a long day. It’s punchy, powerful and can turn any streetcar into a runway. No one can get in your way when you cruise home to this bop. - Rochelle Raveendran, fun & satire editor

and his song “My House” makes you feel as if you’re commuting home to one. This breezy and sweet single touches on life in the city, young love, and the concept of home. “My House” allows you to romanticize what’s waiting for you after three shuttle buses and a double delay home. - Dhriti Gupta, online editor

“Anna Sun” was written by WALK THE MOON vocalist, Nicholas Petricca and his eight-year-old neighbour Jake. The sunny sound of the electronic pop tune combined with lyrics that detail the up-and-downs of life is a gentle reminder to keep in touch with the childish side of you. Even when you must do adult tasks, like commute home from a long day. “Break From Toronto” by PAR- Abeer Khan, features editor TYNEXTDOOR This song is best listened to on the “Love & War in Your Twenties” commute home from the city, star- by Jordy Searcy ing at Toronto’s high-rise apart- Jordy Searcy is the type of artments and twinkling lights. The ist who creates music for hopeless music video follows PARTYNEXT- romantics. With only some soft DOOR as he drives through Toron- percussion, an acoustic guitar and to, highlighting drone shots of the his soulful voice, this song will CN Tower accompanied with shots make you feel as if you’re having a of convenience stores in the West coming-of-age moment every time End. It turns a simple trek back into you step onto campus. His lyrics your neck of the woods into an ad- are written for early adulthood as venture-filled evening. Best listened he sings, “I don’t want to take the to on full blast. world for granted / while I’m still - Charlize Alcaraz, business & trying to understand it.” technology editor - Heidi Lee, news editor

Naughty Boy feat. Beyoncé, Arrow Benjamin “Runnin’” is three minutes and 43 seconds of sheer shimmering magic. The song begins with soft piano chords and Miss Beyoncé herself describing the feeling of being trapped. However, soon enough percussion and strings begin and suddenly, she’s runnin’. It’s the type of song to listen to when you’re in a rush, need a bit of hope that things will speed up and be freed from the tight subway car soon enough. - Norah Kim, media editor

“Don’t Delete the Kisses” by Wolf Alice This is the quintessential dreampop song for romanticizing strangers on the TTC. The music video tracks two youthful and reckless lovers as they meet, fall in love and unravel throughout their daily commute. It’s a sweet reminder to look for beauty in even the most mundane parts of your day-to-day routine. Maybe “My House” by Declan McKenna you’re meant to find love during Indie pop artist Declan McKenna’s rush hour at Dundas Station. voice is like a warm bowl of soup, “Anna Sun” by WALK THE MOON “Runnin’ (Lose It All)” by - Tyler Griffin, editor-in-chief

BIZ & TECH

The Green Line: Redefining how Toronto youth interact with news By Charlize Alcaraz A new Toronto-based digital publication is aiming to change the way Torontonians are centred in modern news reporting. Through multimedia reporting, The Green Line serves the Toronto community with solutions to issues that impact them the most and encourage them to take action. “We fill in gaps in coverage [within] the city, but we’re really focused on producing journalism that actually serves a Gen Z and millennial audience to help them...navigate the city,” said Anita Li, a journalism professor at Ryerson, as well as the founder and editor-in-chief of The Green Line. In 2020, young people around the world participated in groundbreaking social movements like Black Lives Matter, combatting anti-Asian hate and more. As the COVID-19 pandemic forced most of the world’s population into isolation, activism in 2020 was partly amplified through social media.

“We’re really all about producing journalism that gets people to take action on issues that matter to them most” With The Green Line’s digital platform, Li and her team said they hope to engage the youth and challenge their way of thinking to aid their community.

for people with physical disabilities,” wrote Bai. Aina-Nia Grant, director of community resources for Toronto’s Social Development, Finance and Administration Division, told Bai that the city acknowledges they have more work to do in terms of outreach.

“I wanted a place that felt approachable but still had very rigorous fact-checking and reporting” “She also confirmed that the Toronto Board of Health is acting on... collecting aggregated data on health barriers for people with disabilities.”

COURTESY: ANITA LI

“I wanted to create a local outlet that helps illuminate [pathways] for young Torontonians so they can figure out things like, ‘What do I want? How do I want to live my life? How do I see success?’” said Li. “For that reason, we’re really all about producing journalism that gets people to take action on issues that matter to them the most.” What makes it different? Li’s diverse background as a Canadian journalist led to her noticing some gaps in how local media covers issues within the Toronto area. She started the first half of her career with legacy news companies such as CTV, The Globe and Mail, CBC and the Toronto Star. However, Li switched gears by the second half

of her career and started working with youth and internet culture outlets like Mashable and Complex. The gap, she said, was how they engaged with their audiences, especially the younger demographic. “I’ve never seen a place that merges the rigor of established old school journalism with the modern take of internet culture, youth culture-driven publications,” said Li. “I wanted a place that felt approachable...but still had very rigorous factchecking and reporting.” The Green Line’s debut story features Andrea Boghina, a 45-year-old woman with a disability that made accessing a COVID-19 vaccine a great challenge. Boghina lives in the Scarborough Bluffs area, but was told that her

only option to get her first vaccination was at a clinic in Mississauga. A friend was able to drive her, but if she hadn’t, it would have taken Boghina two hours each way to reach the appointment. “It would’ve been uncomfortable. It would’ve been intimidating for me,” said Boghina in an interview with The Green Line’s Stephanie Bai. “Physically, I just couldn’t do it. It’s a lot.” Alongside Boghina’s story, Bai also reported on the efforts made by the city of Toronto to assist people with disabilities in getting vaccinated and where their programs are still lacking. “Toronto has developed programs to improve vaccine accessibility, such as partnering with Toronto Ride to provide free transportation

Experience the convenience of studying and working on campus By Jessica Mazze If you’re looking to earn some money while you study, then consider applying for a job through Career Boost—a program coordinated by the university to offer students the convenience of working on campus. “Career Boost offers [students]the ability to find employment on campus to help support their financial needs while building transferable skills,” said Thoywell Hemmings, a senior manager for Career Integrated Learning at the Ryerson Career and Co-op Centre. In order to get a job on campus, you’ll need to see if you’re eligible for Career Boost by finding the right application form according to your student status. “We have dedicated positions for domestic undergraduate, domestic graduate, Faculty of Law and international students. Students can access these opportunities on our website with their my.ryerson credentials,” said Hemmings. In an email to The Eyeopener, Hemmings said undergraduate students must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Ontario to

apply for Career Boost. They must also have a full-time course load which equates to three classes at the university per term. Domestic students must have a clear academic standing and minimum GPA of 2.00 to be approved for Career Boost. Students who have applied for the Ontario Assistance Program (OSAP) or a student line of credit are eligible for the program or if they fund their studies through a registered education savings plan (RESP). International students, as well as graduate and law students, have their own application for Career Boost, making the program accessible to a wide variety of students. According to Hemmings, the Career Boost international eligibility checklist states that an international student must hold a valid study permit from Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada and a valid social insurance number. Course load expectations are the same as undergraduate students. “One of the key benefits to working on-campus rather than off-campus is that your work can fit more easily around your study schedule,” said Hemmings.

The Career Boost program provides students the convenience of having their study space and work space in near proximity. “Going into first-year university, I didn’t have a job, so I was looking for some money,” said Francis Humarang, a third-year new media student. Humarang is a production assistant at the Andy Kufluk Equipment Distribution Centre (EDC), an on-campus site where students from The Creative School can rent production equipment. Initially, he was going to apply for jobs around the campus to take shifts after his classes. It wasn’t until he received an email from the school explaining the opportunities of working on campus through Career Boost that he considered applying. When the pandemic hit and universities across the country closed down, Career Boost jobs were forced to transition to online work. For Humarang, the transition was seamless. “I ended up working the summer position last year, so those of us who worked at the EDC had a few weeks off. By the time the summer work term started, they had everything

Why is it called The Green Line? Growing up in Scarborough, Li sees the infamously green BloorDanforth subway line as her cultural bridge to Toronto. “It’s symbolic of accessibility, of connection because it’s a subway system. But not only that, I’m a Scarborough native and the green line was my connection to the rest of the city.” Li also said Scarborough has been historically disconnected from Toronto, but taking the green line to go to school, work and meet with friends alleviated some of the detachment. “Subways, to me, [are] symbolic of every person. Everyone takes the subway. So I wanted a name that felt like it was representative of the average person in the city.” Life is like a sandwich. No matter which way, the bread comes first.

PHOTO VIA @EGGYTHEMASCOT TWITTER / ILLUSTRATION: LAILA

figured out.” Humarang spent that summer and the following school year working from home to create online tutorials and instructional videos for students to access online since they could no longer come to campus for assistance. Many students have benefitted working from home such as Kashvi Sinha, a third-year business management student who found her current job through the program. “One of my friends had a Career Boost job during the school year,” said Sinha, who is a project assistant

at Magnet, an innovation program started at Ryerson University. Sinha wanted a job that would not only offer her a flexible work schedule, but some time off during the exam season. In January, she had applied for multiple jobs at various banks as a way to apply her skills from her program, but there were no responses. She then applied through the Career Boost portal, which is how she found Magnet. Read the full story online at our website, theeyeopener.com.

COMMUNITIES

New Black Initiative Fund launches for student projects By Mariam Nouser Student Life and Learning Support at Ryerson has launched a new fund for Black students to gain seed funding for their initiatives towards Black communities. The Black Initiative Fund (BIF), is similar to the Student Initiative Fund (SIF), where students submit a written application and are invited to pitch their ideas to a committee. Applicants must be students at the university and have events centred in equity, diversity and inclusion as well as community engagement. SIF is a university-based fund for existing and new student projects to gain funding. They fund items such as honorariums, food and prizes. a separate rubric tailored towards it. “The applications are looked over by the SIF committee, but the “The fund is a direct BIF committee which comprises response to an Antiof Black students, will get the final Black Racism Campus say,” said Egbewmi. Climate Review” The fund was started by Stephan Allen, a former orientation and The BIF will award students up to campus events facilitator and Ryer$5,000 in additional funding to SIF son alumnus, who saw the need to for student initiatives and projects. prioritize Black experiences and iniPelumi Egbewmi, SIF administra- tiatives at the university. tive assistant and a final-year psyAllen said, “The fund is a direct chology student, said the criteria is response to an Anti-Black Racism similar for BIF with the addition of Campus Climate Review recom-

students and community members. In addition to the standard questions on the SIF application, BIF will also have tailored questions catered towards inclusion and representation of Black students.

“It was important to proritize the leadership of Black students through this fund”

COURTESY: STUDENT INITIATIVES FUND

mendation about student life.” The recommendation states, “Funding of events, meetings and information sessions that specifically support and centre Black students should be created and/or enhanced.” Egbewmi said the process for students to apply for funding was already in place through SIF which made it easier to create BIF. “It was important to prioritize the leadership of Black students through this fund.” She said the funding for BIF is separate from SIF and is not restricted in terms of the amount of

initiatives that can be accepted. Students can apply to the Black Initiative Fund through the SIF portal from now until Sept. 21. To apply to BIF, students must organize an initiative between this September and next January. An additional round of applications will open in October for the winter semester. The application consists of questions requiring detailed answers to show how the funding will be used. Some of the questions cover topics like how accommodations will be met and how the event will serve Ryerson

Once an application is approved for pitching, the students will move forward to “pitch weekend” from Oct. 1 to 3, where they’ll present in front of a committee of student representatives. The two representatives from BIF will listen to the pitch and finalize their decision as to whether the funding will be granted and if so, how much money will they receive. Egbewmi hopes this fund will allow students to hold events and initiatives that they’ve been wanting to plan but haven’t been able to due to funding constraints. Allen said the funding is something he wishes were around when he was a student, but he’s thrilled that Black students will get the chance to enhance their campus experience.

What you need to know about learning supports and accommodations By Mariam Nouser Navigating university life as a firstyear presents a wide range of new challenges, especially for those leaving the comfort of home. If you find yourself struggling in ways you never have before, it might not immediately be clear where you can look to for support. Student Life and Learning Support and Academic Accommodation Support (AAS) at the Ryerson are services meant to help students, new or seasoned, navigate their classes. Students with diagnosed mental illnesses and disabilities that allow them to take extra time on assignments and exams have support from a facilitator.

Previously under the same unit as Learning Support, AAS offers students more tailored resources when it comes to their classes. Typically, a medical professional has to fill out the form that’ll indicate what supports the student needs and if they’re temporary or permanent. If your concerns are coursespecific, you can access four types of services through learning support: writing and language support, math and computer science support, study skills and transition support and graduate student support. Sessions are available in individual and group settings to meet your needs when it comes to class work. For courses outside of math and

ILLUSTRATION: LAILA AMER

English programs, there are courserelated peer sessions where students can learn from others who’ve taken the class before.

Over 90 per cent of students registered are living with an invisible disability Krystal Valentine, manager of student learning and academic engagement at Student Life and Learning Support, said students can access academic support programming virtually and in-person this fall semester. The Sheldon & Tracy Levy Student Learning Centre’s fourth floor has partially reopened for in-person sessions, to allow for students to come and seek support. According to Valentine, there was a slight increase in students using Learning Support services in the 2021 winter term after a slower start in the fall semester. “There was a slight drop in the fall 2020 semester as everyone adjusted to a fully online semester for the first time,” said Valentine. “However, the numbers picked back up to pre-pandemic levels and increased a bit in the winter term.” Additional OSAP grants are also available to support students who are approved for permanent accommodations due to disability. For disability-related expenses

such as psychotherapy and mobility devices, there’s a bursary for students with disabilities that can help offset costs during the school year. According to the AAS website, one in 10 students are registered with AAS at Ryerson and over 90 per cent of students registered are living with an invisible disability. But the process to file for accommodation can be triggering to some and make the student seeking support feel that they’re fighting for something that’s their right. In a 2016 article by Maclean’s about university support for students with invisible disabilities, a former student at the University of Waterloo felt the process in getting accommodations “re-stigmatized” students with disabilities. Further, a 2013 survey by the National College Health Assessment found that 56 per cent of students said they experienced “overwhelming anxiety.” The Waterloo student said, “When you’re living with something and suffering, it’s hard to say, ‘I’m entitled to this.’” For recent alumnus, Katie Grey*, accommodation support was smooth-sailing until her facilitator went on maternity leave and she was placed with someone else. Due to anxiety and depression, Grey’s doctor put in a request for her use of memory aids during exams.

When she brought in the supporting documentation to her facilitator, Grey recalled her advisor calling her situation a coping issue rather than a medical impairment. “[My advisor] went through my doctor’s note and determined that she would not be giving me a memory aid,” said Grey. “She disregarded not only my diagnosis but my feelings as well.” Many times, the student has to relive their experience with mental illness or other invisible disabilities in order to receive the supports they need, according to the Maclean’s article.

Grey recalled her advisor calling her situation a coping issue rather than a medical impairment Grey recalls it being difficult to get accommodations due to financial constraints. Her mental illness, was present during high school and her teachers and counsellors insisted on a psychological assessment. She said the assessment “seemed like an interview” and she felt overwhelmed by having to explain what she had experienced and how she felt. *Name changed for privacy

SPORTS

Rams athletes eye a return to play after lost season By Donald Higney The last time the majority of Ryerson’s athletes had the chance to play competitive sports was during the winter season of the 2019-20 academic year. After losing a year and a half due to the pandemic, Rams athletes are preparing to finally return to play. On June 2, Ontario University Athletics (OUA) announced its intention for league-based sport to return and the structure of its plan was released three weeks later on June 23. Divisions in basketball, hockey and soccer were re-shuffled to accommodate fewer games between teams that are further away from each other, while volleyball maintained its two division format. All OUA sports are limited and it is always such a great game of to divsional play during the regu- talent, grit and resilience.” lar season. “To me, that’s what sports are all about, pushing each other to be better and shaking hands afterwards, “I’m excited for the although I’m sure that will be taken whole process of away,” she jokes. watching our team grow” Soccer will be the first sport at Ryerson to return to play on SaturJyoti Ruparell, a libero for the day, Sept. 25, when the men’s and women’s volleyball team, hoped to women’s teams take on the Uniplay against all the OUA teams this versity of Toronto Varsity Blues at year. Ruparell had her sights set on a Varsity Stadium. Men’s and womquarter-final rematch from two sea- en’s basketball, hockey and volleysons ago against Guelph. ball all start their seasons the first She says she’s looking forward week of November. to playing against the University of Teams at the university are alToronto and Queen's University be- ready preparing for the upcoming cause of how intense and competi- season with practices underway. tive the games always are. Ryerson’s women's volleyball Setter Lauren Wong is also look- team is focused on learning how ing forward to playing UofT’s Var- to play with each other again as sity Blues again. “I love the intensity well as incorporating new players and rivalry between us and Toronto to the team, according to Ruparell

PHOTO: JOSEPH SHENOUDA and Wong. “I am excited for the whole process of watching our team grow and be better not only with volleyball, but I love the chemistry we make with each other,” said Wong. Women’s basketball guard Tiya Misir says going to the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC) has made her feel like a new person. “The environment is so encouraging and competitive,” said Misir. However, not every athlete has been able to take part in being on the court again or practice with new teammates. Jama BinEdward, a forward for the women’s basketball team, isn’t cleared to play from an ACL injury that ended her 2019-20 season. Her surgery was pushed back due to the pandemic and she wasn’t able to see a therapist in-person for almost five months.

A guide to using Ryerson’s fitness facilities By Ilyas Hussein

(MAC) reopened July 26 with a 20 per cent capacity limit in its fitness Ryerson students will have priority area “to ensure a safe and enjoyable access to fitness centres at the uni- experience” under the current COversity this fall. VID-19 guidelines. The Mattamy Athletic Centre In a statement released by the

“Sports are all about pushing each other to be better and shaking hands afterwards, although I’m sure that will be taken away” “It’s just not the same as being able to have hands-on care,” she said. Ryerson University is also mandating that all student athletes from the school’s 33 varsity athletics and competitive club teams be fully vaccinated by Sept. 16, a decision that follows in the footsteps of the majority of OUA schools.

According to Ruparell, Ryerson has also implemented testing protocols and health screening procedures for athletes at the MAC. Returning to the MAC felt eerie for Wong when she saw her friends in the weight room and wanted to hug them, but remembered the safety protocols and decided against it. “It was an awkward encounter where we stood there deciding if we were able to hug anymore and it was disheartening,” said Wong. “Volleyball is a very physical contact sport and that part of the game got taken away when the pandemic hit, but we are finding ways to continue to show support.” Despite the turmoil of the last year and a half, the goals for varsity teams have not changed. Now more than ever they’re looking to compete for U SPORTS championships.

Bookings, completion of health and safety protocols required

university, it was also announced Ryerson’s other fitness facility, the Recreation and Athletic Centre (RAC), would be open in late-August. However, no further information on the RAC’s reopening has been released.

“Great consideration is being given to risk management”

PHOTO: LAURA DALTON

A lot of her physical therapy during that time was dealt with by the team’s athletic therapists through Zoom. She’s been able to work on dribbling and shooting, but hasn’t been able to fully practice.

“All of our reopening decisions are based on two priorities: First and foremost, the safety of our students, members and staff,” reads an update on the university’s website. Bookings and reservations can be made online using the Ryerson Recreation website and students are limited to one 90-minute booking per day. Masks will also be required while exercising. Students must also self-screen 24-hours prior to entering the facilities via the RyersonSafe app or

website and provide proof of their completed screening before arriving. “While our initial reopening is focused on students, we are hopeful we will be able to welcome our members back in late-August,” the update stated. A new participation waiver will also have to be completed prior to a student’s OneCard being activated to allow access to the facilities. It can be completed through Ryerson Recreation’s website. The university urges students to complete this process prior to arrival. “Don't be surprised if you haven't completed your waiver and your OneCard doesn't work at the RAC and MAC turnstiles.” It was announced Aug. 13 faculty, students and staff coming to campus will have to disclose their vaccination status effective Sept. 7. This will be applied to the MAC and RAC starting this fall, but it isn’t clear if students will have to provide proof of their vaccina-

tion status yet. “Those who have not been fully vaccinated or do not want to disclose their vaccination status will be required to be tested [for COVID-19] in order to come to campus,” said Ryerson president Mohamed Lachemi in a statement posted Aug. 13. After finishing their workout, students will have to take their stench home with them as showers are currently unavailable at the MAC Fitness Centre. Activities like intramurals and drop-in sports are also not up and running at this time. “Great consideration is being given to risk management and activities are being selected and modified to meet the evolving public health requirements,” the university’s website reads. Reservations will be mandatory for all activities at the MAC as long as capacity restrictions are still in place. With files from Thea Gribilas

HOMECOMING

Non-COVID-19-related icebreakers to use on campus By Mariana Schuetze If you’re returning to Ryerson inperson this fall, COVID-19 may seem like old news—but keep in mind the Delta variant is just as excited as you to get back on campus. Still, you’re probably sick of talking about the pandemic, so here are a few non-COVID-19 related icebreakers in case you don’t remember how to socialize. Plans for the future This reliable conversation starter could lead into conversations about your career paths—famously the least anxiety-inducing subject ever. But think of the potential LinkedIn connections; it may even lead to a job opportunity! Or you can discuss all the crazy places you’d like to visit once the pandemic is over, like your best friend’s sick basement that you haven’t seen since 2019. Or you could share your plans for the weekend. Who knows? You may even end this conversation with a networking date—and you can take them to your best friend’s basement! Embarrassing stories Share some funny stories about all your awkward life moments so you all bond over a good laugh. Perhaps you can tell them about that time in the fourth grade when you went on a field trip and bit your brother’s arm on purpose because he wouldn’t give you his digital camera and then

PHOTO VIA UNSPLASH

you were grounded by the teachers and had to stay on the bus for the whole trip and then you fell asleep and your friends drew a mustache on your face and everyone who was cool enough to have an iPhone in the fourth grade posted a photo of you on their Instagram. Or maybe that’s too specific.

with a hamster? Do you like showering? Perhaps, you and your new besties can join the recent celebrity showering debacle and discuss whether you should only throw children in the bath when you can see stink lines wafting off them. That sounds fun… right?

Your showering habits After such a long time staying at home, our shower routines have definitely changed. Talking about personal hygiene is an interesting way to get to know each other and may even lead to a heated debate. Do you shower at night? In the morning? How many times a day? Or a week? Do you use 3-in-1 shampoo? Does your pet join you? Is there a difference between showering with a dog versus showering

Why not pull out a copy of this year’s IPCC report? Ways to save the world Why not pull out a copy of this year’s IPCC report and explain how human influence has warmed up the Earth at an unprecedented rate and that we’ll all probably combust before we even find a job in our degree field? Then you can all just cry your-

selves to sleep together. Discuss your favourite memes Memes are always a fun way to spice up a conversation and to know if your peer is in tune with the cultural zeitgeist. It’s also a good way to move on from that weird niche joke you blurted out which no one got. But maybe don’t bring up the Karen meme when everyone was talking about their mother’s names (yes, some of them will inevitably be named Karen). If you’re feeling confident, you can even show your new pals those TikToks you did during the darkest days of quarantine. Now you can judge everyone’s personalities based on their audio choices and decide who to keep in your inner circle.

If you already have a crush on one of your classmates and want to ask them out, open the conversation by talking about your fictional crushes—and what better place to start than animated characters? Let’s be real: they have a confusingly hot aura about them. And since they’re animated and behave like human beings, there’s nothing wrong with being attracted to animals, toys and monsters, right? Bring up the characters that were responsible for your sexual awakening and your thing for bad boys (Scar from The Lion King), or the ones that you surprisingly find very attractive (Sully from Monsters, Inc.) and even the character that made you start questioning your sexuality at a very young age (Megara from Hercules). Finally, bring it home with the hottest animated character there ever was: Nick Wilde, the fox from Zootopia. Now you and your new friend are already on the subject of dating hot people/animals, ask them out on a date to watch a few of these movies together (maybe in your friend’s basement???).

Congratulations, you’re now fully equipped with several ways to start a conversation with a classmate you’re meeting in-person for the first time! Pat yourself on the back; you’ve just made a new friend. Disclaimer: The Eyeopener is not responsible for any diseases, heartbreaks Crushes on Disney and Pixar an- or fatalities that may result from usimated characters ing these tips.

Report: 50% of Ryerson students have no idea where they’re going By Karly Benson A new report suggests 50 per cent of Ryerson students have absolutely no idea where they are going on campus, as scores of clueless first and second-years enter an already chaotic campus for the first time this fall. For first year students, navigating downtown is always an adjustment. However, they’re joined this year by second-years, who have also never been on campus. The report, conducted by The Rams Inquirer, obtained its data from a collection of students anxiously clutching tote bags whilst standing outside the Student Campus Centre. With its many outdated buildings and endless staircases to nowhere, Ryerson challenges its students’ navigational abilities more than their readiness to enter the working world. Senior students say they feel as though they’re in high school again, watching ninth graders struggle to find classrooms and eating their lunch in the bathroom. “If one more business major with an iPad Pro asks me where TRSM is before giving me their elevator

pitch for their new pyramid scheme, I’ll lose my mind,” said fourth-year student Noah Paciense. The ten-minute “Ryerson time” grace period has proven insufficent to travel across campus, especially as mounds of new students are walking around with their faces buried in campus maps. Delays are compounded by navigational mishaps; upperyear students have already noticed an overwhelming increase of volume at the Victoria Street Tim Hortons and odd corners of Kerr Hall.

“We’re looking into putting cow bells in everyone’s orientation goodie bags” “I just kept turning left and left and left,” said first-year student Manny Ragrets about his first time attempting to find his popular culture course in Kerr Hall. Ragrets, like many new students, turned left all the way through his first lecture of the semester. The struggle is real for secondyears as well. After a year of mak-

PHOTO VIA UNSPLASH

ing online friends and complaining about professors they’ve never met, they’re doing it all again in-person. “I ran into this girl at the SLC who was my partner for a biology lab last year,” said second-year engineering student Mel Onhead. “I didn’t recognize her until she asked if I ended up going on a date with this guy who was ghosting me last semester.” The complications of downtown Toronto also pose a challenge to students. Unlike other schools, Ryerson prides itself on being a city within a campus, TTC delays and

all. Compared to the Zoom University routine of waking up 30 seconds before class starts, commuters now must spare several extra hours for travel time. Latesa Allways, a second-year English student who usually only commutes from her bedroom to her kitchen, spent half her first lecture “on the train at Sherbourne station” instead of getting off at Yonge and Dundas. However, there’s some hope for new students thanks to Ryerson’s orientation leaders. “We created a TikTok with videos on how to not

end up in the Eaton Centre on your way to Pitman Hall and finding a textbook in the Campus Store,” said fourth-year leader Eric Moore. The orientation leaders also set up a booth on the sixth floor of the SLC with several resources, including campus diagrams and “Help! I’m lost!” stickers. However, few supplies have been picked up, as students are struggling to locate the booth. “There’s really only so much we can do,” said Moore. “But we’re looking into putting cow bells in everyone’s orientation goodie bags so we can herd them to where they need to be.”

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