The Eyeopener: Vol 55, Issue 6

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: LAILA AMER

Volume 55 - Issue 6 November 10, 2021 theeyeopener.com @theeyeopener Since 1967

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NEWS

Indigenous student joins renaming committee after only Indigenous student resigns

By Heidi Lee An Indigenous, fifth-year history student has joined the university’s renaming advisory committee, replacing the committee’s previous lone Indigenous student who resigned citing concerns over confidentiality and the renaming process.

According to Ryerson’s Next Chapter webpage, the new member on the committee is Julianna Alton, a history student and external coordinator at the Indigenous Students’ Association.

“As the president moves forward...I sincerely ask that he revise this committee” Alton, who is Ojibwa, Kingfisher Clan and is connected to Batchewana First Nation and Wabauskang First Nation, is replacing Miranda Black, who was previously the only Indigenous student of the committee’s 17 members.

Black is a master’s student in environmental applied science and management who is Onkwehonewe, with lineage stemming from the

Mohawk of the Bay of Quinte.

Black previously told The Eyeopener that she was concerned about being the only Indigenous student on the committee and the toll it would take on her.

“The amount of emotional labour that is on Indigenous students at the institution already is something that I live with on a daily basis, let alone being on a committee filled with funders and PR reps who do not understand Indigenous protocols or colonial legacies,” Black previously told The Eye. A rally was held on campus on Oct. 6 by Indigenous students and community members who called for the restructuring of the committee.

Wreckonciliation X University, a group of Indigenous students who pushed for the university’s renaming, called on the committee to prioritize Indigenous leadership and represent “the perspectives of First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Newcomers equitably.”

Ryerson University announced its decision to rename the institution on Aug. 26 after accepting the 22 recommendations from the Standing Strong Task Force’s final report. The task force was formed

in September 2020 to examine the university’s relationship with its namesake, Egerton Ryerson.

In an interview with The Eye, president Mohamed Lachemi confirmed Black’s resignation and that another student filled the open position.

“I encourage you to visit the Next Chapter website, which has the names and short bios of all committee members,” said Lachemi.

“The advisory committee for the renaming has been assembled to guide the process of developing a short list of options for the new name of the institution, a name that reflects our university’s stance, values and aspirations.”

In an op-ed published in The Eye, Black explained her decision to quit the renaming committee. She stated that the confidentiality agreement she was asked to sign conflicted with her values and ability to be accountable to Indigenous communities and residential school survivors.

“I recognize that the decisions I make are in respect to elders and community members and it is important to act as if I am living in the shoes of my ancestors,” Black wrote. “As the president moves forward with plans to rename the

PHOTO: JES MASON | PHOTO: NAME

COURTESY: RYERSON UNIVERSITY

Julianna Alton (left) and Miranda Black (right).

university, I sincerely ask that he revise this committee so that Indigenous students and community elders are at the table.”

In the op-ed, Black also alleged that Lachemi and Jennifer Simpson, provost and vice-president, academic, expected to have three potential names for the institution by the end of the committee’s first meeting.

“This shows me that the university is not committed to reconciling the pain and trauma that the residential school system has caused to Indigenous Peoples,”

Black wrote. “Instead, it is pushing forward with a process that does more harm than good.”

Lachemi said he encourages all Ryerson community members to get involved in the renaming process, adding that more information on how to participate will be shared with the Ryerson community in mid-to-late November.

With files from Mariam Nouser To read Miranda Black’s op-ed, head to page 8 or visit theeyeopener.com

Ryerson launching new Black Studies minor in fall 2022

By Nihan Siddiqi

PHOTO: JES MASON ILLUSTRATION: JES MASON

Ryerson University is introducing a new Black Studies minor in the 2022-23 academic year, the school announced on Oct. 21.

The minor will allow students to discover and learn about Black history and culture, while dissecting the ideologies of anti-Black racism.

“It feels as if it’s only something being done as a performative action in light of the Black Lives Matter movement”

“A more inclusive environment is super important during times where crimes against people of colour are so common” In an interview with The Eyeopener, Ryerson president Mohamed Lachemi said the minor will allow students to discuss topics such as “Black resistance to oppression and exploitation, and political strategies and tactics Black activists and allies use to counter systemic and institutionalized oppression in the fight of social justice.”

The minor itself will initially consist of courses run by 13 departments and schools within the Faculty of Arts, The Creative School and the Ted Rogers School of Management.

Minors of this nature have been introduced in many other universities. For example, the Black Studies minor at Dalhousie University, which was the first minor of its kind in Canada, introduced in 2016.

delayed action from schools, it’s “better than nothing.”

Students have also expressed concern regarding the execution of the minor and the method by which it will be taught.

One of the main goals for minors like this one is to “make it easier for students to meet other students with similar interests and help foster a sense of belonging within the university and within a larger community of Black scholarship,” said Anne-Marie Lee-Loy, professor and chair of the English department at Ryerson.

Rajneet Farma, a first-year politics and governance student at Ryerson, said she believes that the introduction of a minor focused on Black studies and even other minors related to different cultural histories and racialized issues could lead to a more inclusive atmosphere.

“A more inclusive environment is super important especially during times where crimes against people of

colour are so common” said Farma.

“With a minor fully focused on Black studies, it showcases attention and acknowledgement of Black history and culture, but also the hardships that Black Canadians face.”

Canadian universities have been trying to fill the curriculum gap regarding cultural, religious and racial studies for a long time by initially introducing individual courses that teach aspects of various cultures and religions, and now by launching minors and diplomas, according to CBC News.

The University of Waterloo has offered Black studies courses since the 1960s, but their Black Studies diploma will be launched 60 years later in the fall semester of 2022. Queen’s University, the University of To-

ronto and McMaster University all either offer or are planning to offer minors and diploma programs related to Black and African studies.

“It showcases attention and acknowledgement of Black history and culture” “It’s a step forward for sure, but it’s a step that should’ve been initiated earlier, and it feels as if it’s only something done as a performative action in light of the Black Lives Matter movement and protests last year,” said Keerat Sandhu, a firstyear politics and governance student at Ryerson.

However, Sandhi said despite the

Farma said that including different persepctives will be very important when teaching the courses in this minor.

“I do think that professors that are Black Canadians are super important, but I also think that professors who have experienced life in different areas of the world and that have a variety of different life experiences are also important as they bring in a new perspective for students that could be critical to their learning” Farma said she also hopes that “[the minor is] given the funding and importance that other minors are given, even if that means enough professors and internship opportunities and even guest speakers too.”

President Lachemi said “we are pleased to see this come together as the Black Studies minor is an opportunity to further address students’ concerns outlined in the Anti-Black Racism Campus Climate Report.”

NEWS

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Fossil fuel divestment not on Ryerson’s agenda

By Samira Balsara Although Ryerson currently has no plans in place to divest from all fossil fuels, president Mohamed Lachemi said the university is working with investment management companies to integrate environmental considerations into its investments.

Following the University of Toronto’s announcement on Oct. 27 that it would be divesting from all fossil fuels by 2030, Lachemi told The Eyeopener that there are no tangible plans yet for the school to do the same.

While he noted that the university is “continuously taking steps to responsibly address the climate change challenge,” a solid plan to divest from fossil fuels is not yet on the agenda.

Lachemi said many universities who have chosen divestment have multiple investment managers with committees who actively make decisions about asset mix strategies.

He said Ryerson only has two investment managers: Fiera Capital Corporation, which deals with the university’s endowment—the sum of assets invested by a college or university to support its education and research—and Opus Asset Management, which handles its pension.

“So this active investment activity is not a regular occurrence at Ryerson,” he said.

Nevertheless, the university’s endowment is invested through an “environmental, social and governance” approach.

“Fiera integrates environmental, social and governance considerations into the investment process of each investment strategy,” he said, adding that such considerations involve evaluating whether a company demonstrates efforts to reduce their environmental footprint.

“The fossil fuel industry is one of the main barriers to action on climate change” Fossil Free Ryerson, a student-led grassroots organization founded by former Board of Governors student representative MJ Wright, stated that the university currently invests $17.5 million in the fossil fuel industry, which makes up 12.4 per cent of the endowment fund. Some of the companies the school invests in are Suncor Energy Inc. and Pembina Pipeline.

The university also recently joined the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative, an international group of asset managers committed to supporting the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner, according to Lachemi.

He added that the university is planning on joining the University Network for Investor Engagement (UNIE), a coalition of Canadian university endowments and pension

PHOTO: JIMMY KWAN plans that aims to leverage the collective power of institutional investors to address climate change risks in their investment portfolios.

But the fossil fuel industry remains a pressing issue worldwide when it comes to climate change.

“The fossil fuel industry is one of the main barriers to action on climate change, and it’s been that way for several decades,” said Michelle Marcus, a divestment organizer with the Climate Justice Series at the University of British Columbia and the Divest Canada Coalition.

“Schools that have committed to divestment have had a very active student movement” According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 89 per cent of global CO2 emissions in 2018 came from fossil fuels and the larger industry.

An article from NPR reported that since 2011, the movement to divest in fossil fuels has mainly been a student-led movement.

Evelyn Austin, a recent U of T graduate, project manager for the Banking on a Better Future campaign and coordinator for the Divest Canada Coalition, said the movement has started to pick up in the U.S. and U.K. She noted Canada has been lagging but U of T’s divestment will bring about changes in the country.

When it comes to U of T’s divestment move, Austin described it as “a whole long history.”

She said the momentum started to pick up in 2013 with a petition that got thousands of signatures, but the latest announcement was a bit of a shock to some.

“When it comes to the divestment commitment, that really took us by surprise, none of us knew that was coming. They didn’t tell us in advance,” Austin said She said Harvard University’s divestment announcement in September may have influenced U of T. While the announcement was surprising, Marcus and Austin both said they see this latest move as a

step in the right direction.

Austin said U of T’s announcement will make a big impact because the school is of a high social status and has the largest endowment in Canada—$3.15 billion according to the university’s 2021 financial report.

When it comes to steps Ryerson could take towards divesting, Christopher Gore, a professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration and a member of the school’s Climate and Energy Working Group, said the university needs to be transparent.

“The tricky thing for Ryerson is that its trusts and endowment is not high, compared to a place like U of T. The policies and rules guiding university investing need to be

reviewed and clarified, and should state explicitly where climate change fits into this,” he said.

But Austin added that this needs to be a student-led movement and no change will come without pressure from students and staff.

“Pretty much all the schools that have committed to divestment have had a very, very active student movement. What it’s going to take for Ryerson is pressure,” Marcus said.

Austin added that a presence of some kind constantly drawing attention to the issue is necessary.

“Remember that divestment is very political,” she said. “And so it sort of takes a political effort in that way, on behalf of students or faculty organizing,” she said.

Although the Divest Ryerson group has had minimal activity in the past five years, Fossil Free Ryerson started a petition in March 2020, calling on students on social media to sign it.

According to Gore, Ryerson claims to be an “innovative space to learn” and also claims to champion sustainability. He said the university will not benefit from hiding or failing to address the debate about divestment and fossil fuels.

“Ryerson leadership needs to articulate a clear position on divestment or establish a process for evaluating its future position in relation to fossil fuel investments because the pressure to account for its actions will not go away and the need to respond is high.”

Marcus echoed this and said she thinks divesting from fossil fuels is the right decision for schools and should be a change that universities start to implement.

“Originally with the movement, universities were scared of making this decision because they thought it could tarnish their reputation or relationships with donors,” she said.

“But I think more and more, it’s going to be the opposite where the universities that don’t divest are going to have this reputational risk and it’s just going to look really embarrassing for them.”

With files from Heidi Lee INFOGRAPHIC: HEIDI LEE

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5

BIZ AND CHEQUES

Cryptocurrency sees uptick in interest during pandemic, Rye students dip toes For some Ryerson students, cryptocurrency is the future

By Smiksha Singla and Charlize Alcaraz Despite the first decentralized cryptocurrency being invented in 2009, conversations regarding the new financial phenomenon gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic and have trickled down to students at Ryerson.

Bitcoin is particularly popular among Ryerson students who believe that cryptocurrency is the future. The coin was first mentioned in a paper titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-toPeer Electronic Cash System” which was posted in 2008 to a mailing list discussion on cryptography. The author used the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, whose real identity remains a mystery to this day.

“It is up to this generation to move in the direction of decentralization” Cryptocurrency is a digital currency built on blockchain technology, says Laleh Samarbakhsh, associate professor at Ryerson’s School of Accounting and Finance. The technology allows for a new form of virtual payment without the use of an institutional third party such as banks or PayPal. Investopedia reported that bitcoin surged 90 per cent during the pandemic. Samarbakhsh explains that the fear of another financial

crisis had investors looking for accessible decentralized markets such as bitcoin. Decentralized exchanges enable investors to deal directly with each other instead of operating from within a centralized exchange.

Centralized exchanges are platforms that facilitate the buying and selling of cryptocurrency and function as intermediaries by storing and protecting funds. Coinbase is an example of a centralized exchange, as it monitors transactions and secures assets on the trader’s behalf.

Riley Lamont, a first-year creative industries student, says he first got into crypto earlier this year as he was hearing about bitcoin nonstop on Twitter.

“I had some previous background with stocks and figured I could apply some of my knowledge to this thing,” he says. “I was wrong. Crypto was a whole new world and I was instantly hooked.”

When he purchased his first bitcoin, it was valued at around $62,000 CAD in February, right before it dipped to $18,000 CAD. Lamont says his crypto portfolio currently consists of over 50 coins.

“I wish I would’ve discovered bitcoin much earlier, but I certainly believe this is just the beginning,” Lamont says, adding that he hasn’t actually held any bitcoin for a while now as he explores lesser-known crypto ecosystems.

The coin receives consistent promotion from big names in business such as Tesla, helping to bulk up its

SLANG IN THE CRYPTOSPACE

ILLUSTRATION: ISELA GOMEZ

trading price. In the same month, the electric vehicle company announced that it bought $1.5 billion USD worth of bitcoin and plans to accept the digital coin as payment for its products.

There’s no stopping students from investing in bitcoin. However, Samarbakhsh says that for students, there are multiple financial factors involved that can be addressed before putting money into crypto.

“For example, managing student debt, optimizing tuition tax credit, investing in RRSP or TFSA,” she says.

Captivated by crypto, Lamont says he spends hours every day researching, experimenting and networking

with others in the crypto space.

“I tend to spend most of my time searching for upcoming projects in the space and catching them before they take off,” he explains. He further elaborates that crypto depends more or less on first-mover advantage, a strategy in which someone intends to be the first to partake in a potential high-growth market.

Although owing his introduction to the crypto market to bitcoin, Lamont says that the crypto space is more than just the coin, with potential to expand to banking, insurance, mortgages and gaming.

“The future is going to be on the

blockchain, and it is up to this generation to move in the direction of decentralization,” he says.

Environmental effects of crypto Manufacturing bitcoin and other forms of cryptocurrency requires large amounts of energy according to Investopedia, as its computation systems require the extraction of fossil fuels and coal mining.

Bitcoin uses 121 terawatt-hours of electricity every year, as BBC reported, which is more than the entire country of Argentina.

Read the full story at theeyeopener.com

Use your words, make your money.

By Charlize Alcaraz Consider yourself a newbie in Cryptoland? Here are some terms to get you started (and make it seem like you know your shit).

WAGMI (We’re All Gonna Make It) When you want to show some type of camaraderie in your newfound community, tell them, ‘WAGMI’ to spread major good news with your fellow investors.

DYOR (Do Your Own Research) Investing in any kind of asset requires vigorous research and background knowledge. Make sure you’re reminding friends who are new to the crypto space with ‘DYOR.’ To the moon The phrase ‘to the moon’ describes a situation where a coin’s price is seeing an upward trend and investors are anticipating for it to reach peak value.

Pump and dump As reported by CNET, pump and dump is a scam involving people creating false hype about a new crypto coin to generate interest. Once investors start buying shares, the price of the coin goes up. When the price reaches its peak, the scammers behind the false hype sell all of their shares, leaving other investors to lose money as the coin’s price drops.

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7

exhuasted and retraumatized

N

ear the end of the fall 2019 semester, Iman Ayla* sat at her desk in her studio apartment in Toronto after finishing up some household chores. It was a gloomy December afternoon when her phone suddenly rang. When she picked up the call, she was told her father had been diagnosed with cancer. Immediately, fear started to settle in as she grappled with the possibility of losing her father while being 11,000 miles away from home.

Not wanting to be away from her father during this time, Ayla tried to book a flight to see him at an overseas hospital, slowly feeling more and more hopeless as she tried to find plane tickets. After two weeks of searching, she finally found one and hastily made plans to leave the country.

However, the reality of Ayla’s studies quickly seeped in. She was enrolled in four courses at the time and was able to complete two of them before travelling.

Ayla saw her father before he was admitted to the hospital for nearly a month-long stay for his cancer treatment. During this time, Ayla discovered he was a lot sicker than she initially thought. At one point, doctors thought they would have to transfer him to the Intensive Care Unit. “It was a very hard time,” says Ayla. “It was a lot of stress; a lot of fear of losing him; a lot of sorrow; a lot of mixture of emotions, and it kept changing every day.”

At that point she wanted to drop her remaining courses because the environment she was in made it difficult for her to continue with her coursework. Since the semester was almost over, the deadline to drop courses had long passed, but school administrators offered a three month extension to complete her exams.

Three months later in March 2020, COVID-19 started to spread worldwide and countries began closing their borders.

Due to travel restrictions, Ayla was unable to return back to Ryerson to complete her exams and ended up failing her other two courses. She decided to take the winter 2020 term off school, instead choosing to spend more time with her father and family.

Prior to her father’s hospitalization, her family had been helping to pay for her education. However, the new costs associated with his immunotherapy, such as medications and accommodations for the family to be near the hospital, made it difficult for them to continue contributing.

Not wanting to burden her family with more expenses, Ayla feels the need to find more money to pay for her education herself. But unlike others, Ayla is unable to work due to her disability. “It was hard for me to manage schoolwork and outof-school work since my disability slows me down.”

Ayla thus relies on applying to financial scholarships. Yet, when asked in scholarship applications to detail examples in her life where she’s had to overcome hardships, she steers clear of this story. Ayla believes she’s more than a trauma story, and because of that, avoids applying to scholarships that ask her to reveal sensitive details about her life.

“When you talk about your challenges, when you talk about your disabilities, you’re always talking about your limitations,” she says. “You’re not talking about how empowered you are, you’re not talking about your successes.”

Applying for scholarships is a necessity for many students pursuing a post-secondary education. Often, before students decide on a school they want to attend, they’re told by high school teachers, guidance counsellors and school brochures to apply for scholarships to fund their post-secondary education.

For racialized students especially, there is an added barrier to accessing education. Rai Reece, a sociology professor at Ryerson University, says the social-economic position of racialized people in our society—for example, the high rates of poverty and the “ghettoization” of racialized people into certain jobs like domestic work​​—positions them without access to wealth. This in turn impacts their access to education.

In Canada, the average national cost of undergraduate tuition for the 2021-22 school year is $6,693 for domestic students and $33,623 for international students, according to Statistics Canada. In Ontario, those costs are even higher, with domestic undergraduate students slated to pay on average $7,938 while international students pay on average $42,185.

Post-secondary institutions also rely more on tuition fees for revenue as provinces reduce funding to schools, as financial support from fees increased from $6.9 billion to $9 billion in the 2013-14 school year. In 2019, Ontario also reduced financial support from the Ontario Student Assistance Plan, slashing the family income threshold to be eligible from $175,000 to $140,000.

With provincial cuts and hikes in tuition, many students

rely on scholarships in order to pay for school. A 2015 survey

by Statistics Canada found that 56 per cent of university graduates in Canada relied on some form of monetary support, including scholarships, to finance a portion or all of their tuition fees.

“Scholarships can play an important role in supporting education for racialized students,” says Reece. But she adds that creating scholarships that are accessible and reflect the social position of these students is equally important.

However, when applying for scholarships, students are often met with a laundry list of conditions that include proving financial need, outlining extracurricular activities, providing transcripts of academic performance and detailing traumatic or sensitive life events. Students like Ayla report spending hours applying for scholarships where they’re expected to put their lives—including their schoolwork—on hold for a chance to be awarded small amounts of money that cover fractions of their tuition costs.

The added financial burden, along with the daily responsibilities and worries of being a student, can cause enormous amounts of stress, according to Hamilton-based psychotherapist Carly Fleming.

Scholarship applications that ask students to detail their trauma can cause more harm than good, she explains. “We know that retelling a story of trauma can be retraumatizing,” says Fleming. She explains that when you retell a story in the right context, for example, to someone who is trauma-informed and sensitive, it can be healing—but context is everything.

“When we take away the sensitivity of the recipient of the story, there’s no doubt that it can be retraumatizing,” says Fleming. “It can bring things up that are very painful and then leave the student without appropriate support to then figure out how to manage that.”

I

t was the end of the day on a fall evening in 2019 when An Kun* finished her school work and put away her books for the night. It was midnight, and the then first-year human resources management student decided to scroll through AwardSpring, Ryerson’s central scholarship application website, looking for scholarships she could apply for.

As she looked through what she had to do, she realized it was the middle of October and application deadlines were just around the corner. This prompted Kun to open up a scholarship application she’d been procrastinating for weeks. As she went through the scholarship’s requirements in order to prepare what she had to write, she found herself rubbing the palm of her hand against her cheeks and chin.

She says it was a coping mechanism she used to get through the application. “I was distracting myself so that I wouldn’t feel the emotion part of it while I was writing, because it was a sensitive topic,” she says. “I knew I had to finish the essay but at the same time, I didn’t want to cause a breakdown for myself.”

The application asked for personal or mental health struggles experienced by students during their studies and how applicants “overcame those challenges,” according to Kun. Now in third year, she describes herself as being usually reserved, not often revealing personal details about herself to others.

“I want the things that are closest to my heart to remain hidden,” she says. She doesn’t feel comfortable sharing her personal experiences, especially those that she feels could hurt her. “As an individual I just don’t want to show my weaknesses.”

Even though she was uncomfortable, Kun continued the application because the funding from it would have helped relieve her parents of the financial burdens of paying for her studies.

Ultimately, Kun decided to write about how she was taking care of her mental health while processing the death of her father and supporting her mother after she was sexually assaulted.

Kun thought if she put the extra effort into writing the 500-word essay for the scholarship application, it would differentiate her from other applicants. She continued this process while experiencing a great deal of emotion for about two weeks before submitting her application, hopeful that she would get it.

Despite all her hard work, Kun was not awarded the scholarship. She realized she spent all that time and effort, and most

importantly, revealed information that she wouldn’t even tell her closest friends, on an application for a scholarship she didn’t receive. Kun was crushed; it was an intrusive process that she thought would eventually benefit and help fund her education.

“I didn’t get it in the end, so I was disappointed, of course. It discouraged me so I didn’t apply for any scholarships in second year,” Kun says. She adds that it’s difficult when you don’t know who’s on the receiving end of the application. “We have no idea who’s looking at them or who’s reading them. It does feel a bit invasive,” she says. “Someone knows my story out there and it’s just uncomfortable.”

Reece says this process can be incredibly harmful. “Putting a premium and value on whether or not someone is worthy of a scholarship based on retelling trauma is a form of violence.”

Reece explains that asking students to retell traumatic experiences without providing a platform of care for that retelling is irresponsible and doesn’t demonstrate an ethic of care.

“What happens to the student who bears their pain and then doesn’t receive the scholarship? They are left to sift through the residual impact of that truth-telling endeavour by themselves,” she says.

Reece also questions why it’s necessary to exploit pain for profit and how the validity of that pain will be measured. “This line of reasoning is fundamentally flawed.”

Kun feels it isn’t completely ethical for the school to be asking for this kind of personal information. She adds that the school probably receives these types of trauma-based stories from hundreds of students in scholarship applications and says it’s unsettling that a committee has the right to validate and invalidate certain experiences.

“They just break these kids’ hearts and they’re probably in financial need as well.”

Kun now only applies to merit-based scholarships that ask about extracurricular activities and academic performance, even though they require her to spend her spare time with various campus groups and volunteer organizations. That way, at least if she doesn’t win a scholarship, she doesn’t have to reveal personal information to people she’s uncomfortable sharing it with.

Merit-based scholarships are financial awards based on academic or extracurricular performance rather than personal struggles. While these scholarships don’t require students to reveal information they’re not ready to tell, they require students to spend copious amounts of time on extracurricular activities while dealing with the stress of maintaining high GPAs and balancing other responsibilities.

At least when she applies to these scholarships, Kun knows she’s being rewarded for her leadership. “But if it was with mental health, am I just being rewarded for having the saddest story out there? It wouldn’t have made me happy,” Kun says.

“Receiving those scholarships made me realize I really don’t like that idea of having to sell our experiences out there for the money.”

O

nce her father’s condition started to improve, Ayla moved back to Toronto and enrolled in summer courses, in which she excelled. Due to her performance, her GPA improved, which made her eligible to apply for more scholarships to offset the costs of her education.

However, she believes the scholarship application process should be overhauled.

Rather than scholarship applications asking for grades or personal trauma, Ayla wants to see more questions about students’ personal development and how they’ve improved in areas such as mental health or emotional intelligence. She wants scholarship applications to place student experiences in a more positive light—where growth in personal relationships, life and spirituality are highlighted, as opposed to suffering.

“We really need to see how a student has managed to evolve themself in many areas,” Ayla says. “That’s not there in many scholarships.” *Names have been changed to protect sources’ privacy and security Read the full story on www.theeyeopener.com.

8

COMMUNITIES

OP-ED: Why I quit the renaming advisory committee A first-person account from Miranda Black, who used to be the only Indigenous student on Ryerson’s renaming committee

A guide to advocating for yourself in student jobs

By Miranda Black In early September, I received an invitation to be part of the advisory committee on university renaming.

I was the only Indigenous student who had been invited. However, within four weeks of receiving the invitation, I quit the committee.

As a woman of both Bay of Quinte Mohawk and white ancestry, I recognize that the decisions I make are in respect to elders and community members and it is important to act as if I am living in the shoes of my ancestors. This means that when I enter a room, I do not come with my own agenda.

By Nishat Chowdhury For many students, working parttime is necessary to support their educational expenses and life neccessities. Juggling school work, extracurriculars and part-time employment can be a struggle, so students must learn how to articulate and fight for their needs.

Here’s a simple guide to help you make sure your needs are being met at work.

I wonder how the injustice of the renaming committee isn’t making front-page news Instead, my responsibility is to make sure that my friends, elders and mentors are well-informed of the decisions I make. Sitting on the advisory committee meant that I had to be accountable to the over 300 Indigenous students, faculty and staff on campus and the external community who Egerton Ryerson’s namesake has harmed most.

However, the confidentiality agreement that the committee wanted me to sign opposed that value. Had I been willing to sign the agreement, I would have signed off my ability to be accountable to the Indigenous community at X University.

Along with this, I would have been agreeing to only speak to the media using a briefing sheet that would be written by the provost and staff. I remained strong in my opinion that I would be speaking with the media about how the renaming committee was harmful to Indigenous and Black students.

In response, I was told by Christa Hinds, manager of strategic partnerships and human resources, to “remember to be kind.”

However, as Indigenous Peoples, we have been exploited by colonial Canada and its institutions for over 150 years. There is no time for kindness when it comes to having our voices heard—there is only time to be firm, push forward and be strong as our communities still face generational trauma and persistent genocide linked to the legacy of Egerton Ryerson.

The push to keep things confidential was in part to uphold the integrity of committee members as they were concerned their words might be used against them. I believe that this was to protect committee members even if they were

Miranda Black (right) and her daughter. to speak anti-Indigenous sentiments. To me, the only good rationale for the confidentiality agreement would be something along the lines of, ‘people have the right to reclaim themselves before being taken out of context.’ To me, this all sounded so very, very wrong.

The university may speculate that this committee has been put together to decide the process that they will take to rename the school.

Yet, in the first meeting, provost and vice-president, academic Jennifer Simpson announced that president Mohamed Lachemi expected to have two to three potential names on his desk by the end of that meeting. This shows me that the university is not committed to reconciling the pain and trauma that the residential school system has caused to Indigenous Peoples. Instead, it is pushing forward with a process that does more harm than good.

I would have signed off my ability to be accountable to the Indigenous community at X University All in all, the renaming committee is a reflection of white supremacy. A room full of university funders, public relations people and those who make more than $150K per year—with a few tokens thrown in—is not a committee that values Indigenous or Black lives. It certainly does not recognize the intergenerational harm that Egerton Ryerson’s legacy has left Indigenous communities to bear the burden of.

This committee does not reflect the

recommendations of the Standing Strong Task Force or the university’s own commitments to Truth and Reconciliation.

As Indigenous Peoples on Turtle Island, most of us knew the traumatic past of the residential school system. I knew for a long time that unmarked graves at residential schools existed, but I did not know how many bodies lay underground.

In poems that I wrote in 2015, I dedicated my university degree to my ancestors who never made it out of school and instead wound up tortured, abused and buried underneath the ground.

But even after the publication of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report in 2015, settler Canadians seem to have forgotten the extent of pain that the residential school system caused.

Since May 2021, it has been difficult to ignore this pain. It is a year when settler Canadians are finally listening to the truths of the residential school system. At this point in time, I wonder how the injustice of the renaming committee isn’t making front-page news. This university was once the Toronto Normal School, a teachers college that was established in 1847 and oversaw training of some residential school teachers.

Inside the university, I have friends who are part of the Wreckonciliation campaign that have helped to initiate action on the name change. I also know folks who are facing criminal charges and conditions of their arrest after pulling down the Egerton Ryerson statue in June. This thereby means that president Lachemi’s complacency to re-

Clarify your responsibilities early on Know where you’re supposed to be and what you’re supposed to do to begin with. This is to ensure that you’ll do work that’s accurate to your job description and the tasks that are PHOTO: JES MASON required within the position. move the statue (after petitions and open letters had been submitted to the president on multiple occasions) has led Indigenous students, friends and family to be entered into the criminal justice system.

There is no room for this committee to just be a PR stunt

Having found her position on Career Boost, Emma Davie* works as a research assistant for a professor in the Faculty of Arts that she’s been taught by in a couple of classes. Davie applied for the position because it was advertised as being a “collaborative” role. However, she works entirely by herself with barely any communication with anyone else, including the professor.

“I wanted to be social because I’m so isolated right now,” said Davie, Outside of the university, my a third-year arts and contemporary relationships with elders from Six studies student.

Nations has made me witness to the pain and agony that residen- Figure out the standards for diftial school has caused them. I have ferent online spaces watched grandmothers cry when Where and how are most of the telling stories of being raised at communications done? Zoom meetboarding schools where the treat- ings? Emails? Knowing this will help ment was anything but humane. I students figure out how casual the have spoken to women about how workplace is, which is tricker to unthe impacts of residential schools derstand in a virtual environment. continue to perpetuate grief and It’s important to grasp what the digiintergenerational harm. I have tal space means to your workplace been to grief ceremonies where because that’s where a lot of the comresidential school survivors are munications are at the moment, due able to list the names of children to the COVID-19 pandemic. who never came back to class.

These are the people I am most ac- Gather information about countable to. benchmarks As the president moves forward Assess what are reasonable goals with plans to rename the univer- and what aren’t by speaking to othsity, I sincerely ask that he revise er students who are currently in the this committee so that Indigenous same position or who’ve been in the students and community elders position before. Searching by job are at the table. There is no room title on LinkedIn is a good way to for this committee to just be a PR find students and mentors to gather stunt. There needs to be account- information from and learn about ability, transparency and heartfelt what has worked for others. action in order to change the legacy of the school and be liable for the 73 *Name changed to protect source’s emyears that this institution has bore ployment security Egerton Ryerson as its namesake.

Read more at theeyeopener.com

FALL FASHION

9

Rye couture: Students take on back-to-campus street style Words and photography by Negin Khodayari Ryerson University students have been taking a new approach to getting dressed for campus this fall. Now that some classes are back in person and facilities are open after more than a year and a half, it’s safe to say some students are still getting used to being seen from more than just the waist up. Apart from everyone’s mandatory new accessory—a mask, of course—the pandemic has given some students the chance to explore new styles, experiment with new pieces and get comfortable in their own skin and clothing. The Eyeopener took a walk around campus and spoke to some fashion icons right in the heart of Gould Street to talk about their show-stopping fits.

Audrey Ludoux

First-year early childhood studies student

Sherwin Karimpoor

Second-year journalism student

COURTESY: SHERWIN KARIMPOOR

A new aesthetic that’s been on the rise on social media is dark academia. The look romanticizes higher education and the arts, as well as classic Greek and gothic inspirations.

Audrey Ludoux has channeled this in her back-to-campus fashion. She’s wearing a dark brown argyle sweater and a black tennis skirt, both of which are staple pieces in a dark academia wardrobe. Paired with black sheer tights, thick black socks and converse, her look is both preppy and comfortable.

“I saw a TikTok and thought it was cute! Then I put it all together with pieces I had in my closet,” Ludoux said. When asked about what influences her style, Ludoux gushed about actress Barbie Ferreira.

“I love her and everything she does,” she said. “She’s gorgeous.”

Nico Beck

Second-year journalism student

Fall is the perfect time to layer pieces to winterize your favourite summer fits. Layering adds dimension to any outfit and allows you to add more personality into your looks. Second-year student Nico Beck has added a unique spider-web designed pair of tights under a flowy black skirt.

They’ve paired this with an oversized purple and black striped sweater, pleather jacket and the star of the show: a pair of black Demonia boots with neon green detailing. But their accessories make this already unique look even more personalized.

Beck’s general aesthetic is inspired by Japanese street fashion, old Harajuku styles and fashion magazines from the 90s and 00s as sources of inspiration. When putting together outfits, they have one goal in mind: “to feel comfortable, but sexy.”

Students like Sherwin Karimpoor are no stranger to stopping the show with their outfits.

The second-year journalism student, who only has one in-person class this semester, takes every opportunity to shut down the runway (or the campus) with his fire fits.

“I think that if you really look your best, you will feel your best,” he said. “But I would never force myself into a ‘chic’ outfit if I don’t feel good.”

The 19-year-old is wearing his favourite pair of American Eagle mom-jeans, a white turtleneck from Zara layered with a dark grey graphic tee from American Eagle. To top it all off, he accessorized with a pair of staple white Air Force 1s and his favourite clothing item at the moment; a tote bag.

“My tote bag has become the staple piece in any outfit,” said Karimpoor.

Nika Sharifi-Dariani,

Fourth-year computer science student

Nika Sharifi-Dariani didn’t shy away from making a statement when she stepped on campus this fall. Her white trousers are overlaid with a minimalist black line art pattern of funky faces.

Paired with white Nike Air Force 1s and a black T-shirt, this back-to-campus look is simple yet elevated.

“I decided to take a chance and switch up my habits,” she said. According to Sharifi-Dariani, her “habits” consisted of wearing baggy clothes and sweatpants for the most part.

“My sense of style has basically gone out the window since the pandemic started. Funny enough, it felt like I didn’t even know how to dress for a while,” said Sharifi-Dariani.

Her approach to fashion now is comfort first, style second.

10

SPORTS

‘This year is going to be special’: Rams reload for national championship pursuit

By Ilyas Hussein After capping off an undefeated run in their exhibition schedule on Oct. 30, the Rams women’s basketball team is turning its focus to the regular season, which started with a win over Queen’s University on Nov. 5.

While the preseason results won’t count on their record, the Rams earned a statement victory over the defending U Sports national champions, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, on Oct. 24. After a year away from the court, the players are chomping at the bit to get back on the court.

“Just thrilled to be back playing again, we all missed it during the year away,” said Rams head coach Carly Clarke.

“Not being able to play or be around my teammates was really hard for me” The Rams head into the season with a mix of new and returning players on their roster. Third-year guard Rachel Farwell, who led Ontario University Athletics (OUA) in three-point percentage in the 201920 season, will play a key role for the team. The Rams also welcomed back fourth-year guard Marin Scotten, who was selected as an OUA Second-Team All-Star in 2020.

Fourth-year forward Stefanija Mrvaljevic will also be back with the team. Elsewhere in the lineup, former OUA Third-Team All-Star Jama Bin-Edward continues to work her way back to game action

PHOTO: JAHNICK LAMBERT after suffering an ACL injury that ended her 2019-20 season.

The Rams will feature nine new faces this year, some of which have never experienced playing in a U Sports regular season game. One newcomer is guard Kaillie Hall, who was drawn to the team’s high energy during the preseason.

“Everyone is really pumped to be in a competitive training environment and to get to play together as a group,” said Hall.

Another fresh face to the squad is Tiya Misir. The third-year guard transferred to Ryerson from Long Island University in June 2020.

“A very good word to describe our team is intense. Everybody is just like a tiger, we all go out with the same mentality, we all expect to win and we’re all very competitive,” said Misir.

Another notable addition for the Rams during the pandemic is fifthyear guard Mikaela Dodig. Hailing from Bolton, Ont., she transferred to the team from the University of New Brunswick (UNB). Dodig’s

resume includes being named an Atlantic University Sport All-Star twice and a two-time team MVP for the UNB women’s basketball team.

Rounding out the Rams is head coach Carly Clarke, a decorated coach now in her ninth season and tenth full year in the position. Clarke has been the assistant coach for Canada’s senior women’s national team since 2017. But even with her wealth of coaching experience, she’s expecting some challenges this upcoming season.

“The long layoff has meant we need to return to play and highlevel competition properly,” said Clarke. “That means ensuring we mentally and physically take care of our student athletes as it is a big change from the routine of the last 18 months.”

For Hall, Misir and many other student athletes, the 18 months prior to training camp were difficult.

The long hiatus has left many eager for the opportunity to play the sport they adore again.

“It was probably one of the dark-

est times I’ve had with basketball to be honest. It’s my identity and not being able to play or be around my teammates was really hard for me,” said Misir.

“A lot of times you find comfort in your sport, your routines, being around great people and having a collective family built-in with basketball and not having that was tough,” said Hall.

For some of the players, being on the court in an official match for the first time in over a year felt bizarre.

“It was a bit overwhelming to actually be playing in a game again, so it just took me a while to let that sink in,” said Misir.

The process for playing their respective sport this year will be unlike any other due to the looming threat of another COVID-19 outbreak, which could put a wrench in the team's plans for an uninterrupted season. Nonetheless, one of the biggest challenges is learning how to acclimate to unprecedented circumstances throughout the season.

“We are fortunate to have some

strong leadership to help guide our new players, so that is helping them learn and adapt quickly,” said Clarke.

The leaders of the squad have taken a large step in bringing the new players under their wings so that eventually they can become leaders for others in the future.

The team is heading into the year with optimistic expectations for themselves. During the preseason, one message was passed around, which has helped keep the group concentrated on their goal.

“We’ve been saying, ‘Let’s focus on us, let’s focus on our growth, let’s focus on what we can do.’ Hopefully, all of that will carry into a great OUA season,” said Hall.

The Rams’ undefeated run in the preseason has helped establish greater spirits for the team. However, that also comes with higher standards for the regular season.

“We need to return to play and highlevel competition properly” “We have had some successful moments in preseason, so hopefully that is building some confidence for what our team is capable of,” said Clarke.

Players, fans and coaches are all excited to see women’s basketball return this fall.

“This year is going to be special,” said Hall.

UP NEXT: The Rams women’s basketball team is back in action on Nov. 12, when they visit the Nipissing University Lakers.

Rams men’s hockey team ready for one last dance with current core

By Tom Pepper The Rams men’s hockey team is back on the ice with high expectations after last year’s Ontario University Athletics (OUA) season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team is already off to a strong start with a 3-1-1 record in its five preseason games.

The Rams won over 20 games in the two seasons prior to the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) shutdown and look to continue their success now that hockey has returned in full swing.

“The group has come back in terrific spirit,” said Rams head coach Johnny Duco. “You can really see how much they appreciate the opportunity to be back competing, to be around one another again and to be in a competitive atmosphere.”

Although the Rams were off the ice for a year, the team was still hard at work during its extended offseason. The coaching staff hosted a variety of team activities, including

team workouts and stickhandling clinics on Zoom with associate coach Nathaniel Brooks.

Duco said players were encouraged to keep in touch with their teammates and coaches as well as hold each other accountable both athletically and academically. The end result is a competitive, tightknit team eager to win Ryerson’s first-ever OUA hockey championship, the Queen’s Cup. “We’ve got a team that has a chance to win the Queen’s Cup,” said Duco. “In order for us to get there, it's going to be a process. For us, a big goal this year is player advancement and player development.”

The Rams have a handful of recruits who haven’t played a regular season game with the team due to last season’s cancellation, including Kevin Gursoy, Kyle Bollers, Elijah Roberts, Cole Resnick and Ryan Wells. In addition, some of the team’s most recent recruits will have a chance to make their Rams debuts this season. Jeremiah Addison, Mi-

PHOTO: ROBERT VONA

chael Cramarossa and Lucas Peressini transferred to Ryerson from other schools, while Joe Rupoli, Chris Playfair and Jackson Doherty are in their first year.

Despite the influx of new players, the team’s veterans are expected to carry the majority of the load this upcoming season.

Newly-named captain Jared Walsh, now in his fourth year with the team, highlights the team’s veteran leadership group, accompanied by assistant captains Matt Nosella,

Hayden McCool, Cavin Leth and David Miller. For many of them, it will be their last chance at competing for the Queen’s Cup. “I’ve seen some of the veteran guys on our team work harder than they ever have,” said Duco. “That's kudos to them, the effort they're putting in to make sure that they're successful here at Ryerson, but also working towards the future of trying to play some pro hockey when they're done.”

A whopping 13 players are ex-

pected to graduate at the end of the season, making this year important for the program. The COVID-19 pandemic halted some of the best years in program history. Now they’re looking to make up for lost time following a cancelled season.

“It's just such a unique opportunity,” said Duco. “We’ve had a lot of guys that could have graduated and moved on, but they wanted to come back for one more opportunity with this group.”

Read the full story at theeyeopener.com

11

SPORTS

Women’s volleyball team ready for rare home game

By Joseph Casciaro The Rams women’s volleyball team will make its return to the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC) for their first regular season home game since 2020, taking on the York University Lions on Nov. 13.

The Rams have a new-looking roster this year. There are two sets of recruiting classes and 10 rookies, due to there being no season last year. All first and second-year players are getting their first taste of university volleyball with the Rams.

“It’s exciting to finally start forming relationships with everyone” “​​We've got a lot of new faces, so it's exciting to finally start to form relationships with everyone since we had such a long time off,” said fourth-year libero Olivia Yang. “I'm really excited to develop those relationships and hopefully have them transfer onto the court.”

Third-year setter Lauren Wong also had high praise for all the new members of the team.

“They’re so energetic, they bring so many new faces to the team,” said Wong. “I've always called them puppies since coming in and they make us excited and motivated.”

Wong added that the new rook-

ies have a high competitive nature, which leads to intensity in the team's practices and games.

With such a young team, the few experienced players on the roster will need to step into leadership roles. Head coach Dustin Reid praised the most experienced and longest tenured player on the team, fifth-year right side Cailin Wark.

Wark has become a key to success for the team and has put together an impressive resume. In the 201920 season she became the all-time program leader in aces, won H.H. Kerr Female Athlete of the Year, was OUA East MVP, an OUA FirstTeam All Star and was named a U Sports First-Team All Canadian.

As one of the veterans of the team, Yang said she hopes be a mentor to the younger players on the team.

“Providing mentorship and a big sister-type role [is important]—if you need help I’m there because I've been here for a while,” said Yang.

The long layoff, combined with an abundance of new faces on the roster means challenges will arise throughout the season. But Yang pointed out that every university is in the same boat and nobody will know how to prepare for matchups against one another, due to the high roster turnover rate since the pandemic began.

Yang also said it will be hard to create game plans while not knowing other teams’ players and their

PHOTO: CHRISTIAN BENDER

new systems.

“That's probably one of the biggest challenges...having all these schools starting on a fresh slate and having to adjust to that on the fly,” said Yang.

With the lack of intel on opposing teams, Wong and Reid both said their biggest key to success will be their defensive play.

“Our strengths are going to be on the defensive side of the ball, so our ability to serve well and defend well will give us a lot of opportunities to win rallies,” said Reid.

Wong added that they aren’t the biggest team when it comes to size, so their defence will be a key role in getting them points.

Reid also added that this year, the

preseason was much more important than in the past because it was used to learn about the roster and determine the roles of each player.

The team was able to learn where they needed to improve and how they could polish their game before the start of the regular season.

“Our ability to serve well and defend well will give us lots of opportunties” Yang said the group's energy will also be crucial this season. She added sometimes the team has struggled to dig themselves out of holes and that responding to adversity with high

energy will be very important.

Another layer for the Rams this upcoming season is that they only have one home game during the first half of the season. The team faces a road-heavy schedule with five of their six games before 2022 being away from the MAC. It’s an obstacle the rookie-heavy team will have to adapt to out of the gate.

“It is kind of disheartening, but I know how special that one game will be,” said Wong. “It is very sad that we only have one [home] game, but I think we're going to make the most of it.”

The Rams women’s volleyball team is currently 0-2. They’ll be looking to secure their first win of the season on Nov. 13 at the MAC.

By the numbers: A look at the most impressive stats in Rams varsity sports PHOTO: CHRISTIAN BENDER

By Jack MacCool The Rams varsity sports teams have seen a great deal of success throughout their history, and as with any storied sports club, there are a lot of interesting statistics that have sprung up over time. Whether that be a historic winning streak or an undefeated run to the championship, statistics not only help to tell the story, they also help improve it.

9 Rams basketball alumni involved in CEBL The 2021 Candian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season saw nine former Rams either suit up for a team or take the reins in a coaching or management position.

winning streak entering the 202122 regular season. The win streak dates back to November of 2019, with the Rams securing an average margin of victory of 27.13 points while away from the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC).

Men’s soccer have won 82 regular season games in last 7 years The men’s soccer team has totalled 82 wins in the last seven seasons; 90 if you include their eight victories (8-1-1 record) in the current season.

This total is certainly impressive for only seven seasons, but it is especially impressive when you take a look at the rest of the men’s soccer program’s history. From 1986 to 2012 the Rams totalled just 73 victories, a stark contrast from the last decade.

The Rams most recently continued their success when they secured a divisional title with a 3-1 win over McMaster on Oct. 31.

Seven former Rams players are on rosters, including the likes of Jean-Victor Mukama, Jelane Pryce, Ammanuel Diressa, Adika PeterMcNeilly, Jahmal Jones, Aaron Best and Myles Charvis.

In addition, Rams alumni Jermaine Small acted as head coach and general manager (GM) of the Edmonton Stingers. Charles Kissi was head coach and GM of Guelph Nighthawks. Arsalan Jamil and Borko Popic also served as staff Women’s soccer secures second members for the Nighthawks and best regular season winning perStingers respectively. centage in program history After a 1-0 victory over McMasWomen’s basketball team riding ter on Oct. 31, the women’s soccer road win streak team finished their regular season The Rams women’s basketball team with a 5-3-2 record. This record is currently on an eight game road puts them in second place for high-

est winning percentage in program history at .600.

This is also impressive as the Rams only scored nine goals during the regular season—the team’s fewest since 2012.

37 careeer goals. In addition, she entered the year leading the program in game-winning goals with eight.

Before the start of the 2021-22 campaign, over 20 per cent of her tallies helped propel the Rams to victory.

She currently has three goals on Men’s hockey team 2-0 in total- the year and will continue to regoal series in their history write the record book all season.

We’re turning back time all the way to the 1950s and 60s for this stat. Men’s volleyball team currently Back in the day, the Rams compet- undefeated against RMC ed in the Central Ontario Hockey Rams men’s volleyball have a Association (COHA) along with 39-match winning streak over RoyWaterloo College, McMaster Uni- al Military College (RMC). Ryerson versity, Ontario Agricultural Col- has never lost to RMC dating back lege (OAC), Huron College of the to 2004. The two teams will meet University of Western Ontario and again on Jan. 28, 2022 at the MAC. Osgoode Hall.

In the COHA, the two best teams Ryerson’s perfect season competed in a two-game, total-goal An undefeated season leading to championship. In 1956 and 1963 the the first national championship in Rams upped their two-game total- school history is something every goal record to a perfect 2-0, beating athlete dreams of, but for the 2017Huron 7-6 in 1956 and 9-7 against 18 women’s volleyball team that Waterloo in 1963. dream became a reality. The Rams Always bet on the Rams in two- finished the regular season 19-0 and game, total-goal championships. extended that winning streak to 25-0 after a perfect postseason run.

Is Lauren Nicholson the most The national championship ban‘clutch’ Rams athlete? ner that hangs on the walls of the Lauren Nicholson entered the cur- MAC represent the statistical marrent season as the leading scorer in vel that was the 2017-18 season for Rams women’s hockey history with the Rams women’s volleyball team.

12

SHOTS & STARS

5-step guide to taking a professional headshot

PHOTO VIA UNSPLASH

By Karly Benson There’s no worse feeling than applying for your dream job or internship and seeing a Dropbox to attach your headshot. Whether you’ve been shot many times, have old photos that haunt you or completely avoid the camera, headshots are an inescapable part of many professional opportunities. Although it may seem traumatizing to step in front of the camera and smile awkwardly, follow these tips to make the process as pleasant as possible.

Don’t show your personality whatsoever In a professional headshot, the most important thing is that you look blandly hireable. Channel your inner blank canvas by wearing neutral tones and avoiding printed shirts, unless you want your future employer to think you’re trying to distract them from the total job hunt fatigue behind your eyes.

As well, smiling with your mouth only will create a presentable yet suitably detached image that will elevate any punched up resume.

Showing teeth in a headshot is like saying “I love you” on the first date; you’re getting way too intimate, too soon. While it seems nice in theory to have a mid-laughing shot capturing your goofy side, it’s important to remember that employers are hiring you to exploit your physical and emotional capabilities for their corporate aims, not your sense of humour.

Showing teeth in a headshot is like saying ‘I love you’ on the first date Don’t try out a new look for the first time, including hair, makeup or general aesthetics While headshots are anxiety inducing for some, lots of people get ex-

cited for their opportunity to shine in front of the camera. Don’t—I repeat DON’T—get ahead of yourself.

No matter how excited you may be, don’t experiment with a new look in preparation for the shoot.

This is not the time to try out blunt bangs with your hair; instead, go for loose curls or a naturally windswept vibe, like you always do. If you decide to wear makeup, blend your foundation meticulously and all the way down your neck.

You could also opt to brave the mean employees in Sephora to ensure it’s still a good colour match.

Standing in front of a high definition camera is the worst possible place to test out a new look, second only to high school prom and meeting your partner’s parents.

Standing in front of a high definition camera is the worst possible place to test out a new look Practice posing in the mirror There’s absolutely no shame in researching your good side! Going in blind to a photoshoot is often times a recipe for failure. To prevent yourself from freezing in front of the camera, you must become closely acquainted with your bathroom mirror. Do you prefer a certain side of your face or do you like it straight on? Should you twist your shoulders to the left or to the right?

How serious of an expression do you want to make? Are you presenting yourself as the person who would bring in mini cupcakes on the Friday shift after a long week or someone who is strictly business and no play whatsoever? Do you look constipated? These are all important questions you can ask yourself and find the answers to in the comfort of your own home.

If the mirror isn’t working for you, set up your phone to record yourself and your poses from a new

perspective. Portrait mode could be exactly what you need to bring out your inner stock photo model.

Hype yourself up internally On the day of your shoot, it’s most important that you feel good. Confidence is key when it comes to having your photo taken, and confidence always comes from within.

Don’t be afraid to listen to your favourite Shania Twain song in the Uber if that’s what it takes to get you in the mood. If you’re lucky enough to have a photographer that’s cheering you on and reminding you of how great you look, lean into that and listen to them! But if they’re silent—as most business photographers are—it’s time for you to become your biggest cheerleader. Picture yourself in your dream job and tell yourself that you are qualified, calm and collected over and over again. As you stare down the lens, imagine all your LinkedIn connections basking in how great you look.

Imagine all your LinkedIn connections basking in how great you look Keep your expectations low Although I’m rooting for you and hope your headshots will be everything you dreamed of, it’s important to be realistic. A stagnant photo of you smiling in a suit and tie is certainly not an accurate representation of who you are, what you look like or your skill set.

When you’re finally sent the Google Drive link with all the photos in them, you’re bound to feel disappointed or underwhelmed, but remember: that’s just your face, not your sparkling work ethic. Perhaps your slightly awkward crooked smile means you’re no Brad Pitt or Kendall Jenner, but do you think they could navigate Microsoft Word or display proficient leadership skills as well as you? DEFINITELY not.

Your November horoscope

By Maya Al Afghani

wheels like a caffeine-addicted hamster. Set easy goals to feel good about The stars aren’t always merciful, yourself when you reach them. but their plans for you won’t be denied this November. Make sure you Libra check your sun, moon and rising You might be struggling to complacements to be totally prepared plete something or to find a sense of for all possibilities this month... closure. Something is holding you back, and you can’t cut corners to get Aries there. Don’t allow yourself to become You’re feeling suffocated by group a victim of your circumstances like a dynamics. You don’t want to be the pre-2009 Disney princess; step up and ‘fiery best friend’ character in the in- reclaim your power, like a post-2009 die movie of your life anymore. It’s Disney princess! Finding that closure time to be the emotionally stunted will allow you to enter a new period but well-dressed lead who’s start- of clarity and freedom. ing their journey of growth. Evaluate what’s best for your emotional Scorpio health, and leave whoever’s stifling It’s time for you to take steps toyou behind. Trust your intuition to wards healing old wounds. Mendspot the snakes in the grass! ing your heart is possible; it’s just that a Band-Aid won’t be strong Taurus enough to heal your wounds. You Be honest with yourself and others; need industrial-grade medicated any deception could lead to difficul- bandages. The key to healing is ties this month. Avoid catfishing, avoiding apathy. New experiences catfish and fish that eat cats this could help draw you out of your allmonth. If you’ve already overcome consuming thoughts this month. some obstacles, now is the time for rest, relaxation, recovery and recu- Sagittarius peration. Be sure to look after your- You might be feeling lost or misself spiritually, emotionally, physi- guided. It may be time to abandon a cally and cardiologically. path you’ve committed to for a long time. Remember: you’re not giving Gemini up, you’re just seeking your bliss!

This month you could be sharing November should be a time of deep your opinions with people who introspection for you. Look within genuinely care about what you and ask yourself: ‘What do I actually think or feel. For too long, you’ve want?’ The answer may suprise you been blabbing your mouth at listen- (it’s probably Diet Coke). ers who truly couldn’t care whether you lived or died. But don’t let your Capricorn anxiety prevent you from sharing You may be avoiding dealing with your voice. Push thoughts of doubt conflict. You tend to ignore tension aside, however valid they may be. until it goes away, but sometimes we need to embrace conflict as a necesCancer sary step for understanding! There’s You’ve gone too far relying on your- nothing like pummeling someoneself! No man is an island, but you may with words to let off steam. You may as well be Bora Bora because you’re have difficulties opening up, or you romantic as hell but you’re floating may feel someone else is guarded. Do all by yourself in the South Pacific. your best to be selfless and generous.

You need to start being open to the opinions of others when making im- Aquarius portant decisions. There’s something This month you have some good you may be struggling to come to luck or positive change coming in. terms with or need to let go of. Re- You can expect an idea to be prosmember, it’s not a loss; it’s a lesson. perous, you just need to trust it and run with it. The only way this won’t Leo work out is if you fake yourself out.

The universe wants to remind you Don’t allow negative thoughts to that you’re not living up to your prevent you from taking advantage full potential. Stop doubting your- of this opportunity! The trick is to self and find more opportunities to stop thinking about anything at all. shine like the blinding supernova that you are! But while you’re ex- Pisces ploding, be careful you don’t act You’ll find comfort in simple pleanaive or make immature decisions. sures. Now won’t be a good time to You may have youthful energy, but start any new adventures. Stick with that doesn’t excuse your toddler what is tried and true—like your temper tantrums. toothbrush which you haven’t replaced in several months. It’s also Virgo important to recognize when you’re You could be stepping into a lead- being guilt-tripped into fruitless arership position this month! It’s vi- guments. If you find yourself in this tal you keep your energy focused situation, be the better, more boring so you don’t end up spinning your person and walk away.