U.S. election prompts discussions in TMU’s community
By Daniyah Yaqoob
Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) students are beginning to respond to American Presidentelect Donald Trump’s recent win in the 2024 United States (U.S.) presidential election.
Many students at TMU—especially international students from the U.S. and Canadian-American dual citizens—followed the 60th U.S. election cycle closely. Though they may be geographically distanced from the States, students believed the election would impact them and was important to follow.
Mia Greenidge, a first-year RTA media production student at TMU, said she was keeping an eye on the election. She’s originally from California and although she is also a Canadian citizen, she considers the U.S. home.
“I was keeping up with the election all day and feeling very anxious and just really, really worried to see the results,” said Greenidge.
She said she forced herself into bed after a day of refreshing polling data. When she woke up the next morning, a message from a friend notified her of the results.
“[My friend] just said, ‘I’m so sorry, I really thought that Kamala [Harris] was going to win.’ And I immediately broke down crying,” said Greenidge.
She said “the negative things [Trump] stands for” and the number of people who will be “so drastically affected by him being a president” made her emotional.
Iliyan Karim, a fifth-year business management student at TMU, also spent election night tracking Trump’s margins to victory.
“I kind of assumed [Trump] was going to win,” said Karim, a Canadian-American dual citizen. “It wasn’t much of a shock.”
Along with Trump’s victory comes an additional layer of authority he did not have in his 2016 presidency: Republican control over the Senate and lead for control of the House of Representatives.
Robert Speel, a political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania and adjunct professor at TMU, said Canadians can expect U.S. policy changes that will affect their lives as well.
“A lot of things that happen in the United States influence [Canadian] life, the economy, how much things cost. So you want to pay attention to stuff like that,” he said.
Carter Henry, a second-year international Image Arts photography student from Wisconsin, said he does not plan on permanently living in Canada—but no matter which side of the border he’s on, he’s preparing to feel the effects of U.S. policy changes.
“I think the biggest thing Canadians and myself have to worry about is prices,” he said.
Trump has supported 10 per cent tariffs on all global imports—including Canada, who consider the States to be their biggest trading partner.
“That would significantly hurt us,” said Ronald Stagg, professor emeritus of the history department at TMU.
Right now, Canada is protected by the United States-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. But with a renewal due in 2026, Stagg said the president-elect and his “unpredictable” nature may get away with the tariffs anyway.
American-Canadians like Greenidge also worry about their family in the U.S. and how Trump’s presidency will impact social causes such as climate change, women’s reproductive rights and deportation threats to migrants in the country.
Greenidge said she recalls the U.S. leaving the Paris Climate Agreement—a legally binding international treaty on climate change—in 2019 during Trump’s previous presidency. After the U.S. rejoined the agreement in 2021 under current U.S. President Joe Biden, Greenidge said she is “extremely worried” Trump’s administration will leave the agreement again.
Trump has not released an official climate agenda as of yet. Nevertheless Speel said Trump is “definitely going to throw out” any progressive climate change policies in the U.S. and it has the potential to shape Canada’s attitude as well.
“Support for climate change policies has been deteriorating and Canada’s people don’t want to pay higher prices for various things,” he said. “Will Canadians suddenly be more in favour
of regulations to prevent climate change or will Canadians just go along with what Trump is doing? We don’t know yet.”
Trump’s attitude towards women’s rights, especially their reproductive rights, is also a point of concern. The 4B Movement has started trending among American women—a movement created by South Korean women in the mid-to-late 2010’s—where they “boycotted marriage, dating, childbirth and sexual intercourse with men” to reclaim agency over their bodies. Women in Canada are also beginning to worry about how the president-elect might influence their own access to reproductive health.
Theresa Carlson, a first-year creative industries student, is preparing for what a Trump presidency will mean for women’s rights in the States. Though she is a Canadian citizen, she is worried about how Trump’s position on reproductive rights may cause health risks for women.
“I can imagine there’s going to be a lot of misunderstanding, as per usual, when it comes to women [and] women’s health,” she said.
As of now, Trump has said he will not sign a federal abortion ban—and that states would create their own policies. However, his vice-president-elect, JD Vance, suggested he might support a national ban. According to NBC News, the lack of clarity on the party’s stance is causing concern for the future of reproductive health.
Carlson is diagnosed with endometriosis. She said because of Canada’s long wait times for treatment, she hoped to travel to the U.S. to receive faster care—but with Trump’s presidency and his threat to reproductive rights, she said she might have to let go of her hope to get properly informed care
from across the border.
“My hopes…are just shutting down very quickly. And that’s just extremely heartbreaking because I desire to live life just like everybody else does,” she said.
Perhaps most significantly, both Stagg and Speel said the U.S. election would not just influence American-Canadian relations, but also Canada’s domestic politics.
“I have suspicions that a Trump presidency may actually help Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party,” Speel said. He said once Canadians assess how Trump’s policies are enacted in the U.S., they may be inclined to separate from the Conservative Party of Canada who may platform some similar plans if federally elected in the future.
“If you’ve got Trump in office next year for several months before an October election and Trump is doing all kinds of things that are not popular…you may get a fair number of Canadians who said, ‘Well, we don’t want to be the United States,’” Speel said.
Stagg also said Trump’s return to power in the U.S. could fuel a divide in Canada and the rise of a stronger “right-wing” movement.
“The splits in American society are just starting to show in Canada. The Conservative Party is playing on that,” Stagg said. “[With Trump’s win], the rightwing will become stronger.”
Hours after the news that Trump won the election, Greenidge said she was still angry—but had accepted that Trump would be the next American president. She advised Canadians to be informed on the approaching election.
“Canadians should be staying informed on what’s happening [in the U.S.] and preparing for their election… ensuring that they know what they want for their future,” she said.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION, SOURCE VIA PEXELS
TMU to open world’s fi rst digitally-enabled building
TMU set to open the world’s first 100 per cent digitally enabled building dedicated to smart building research
By Dylan Marks
Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) is building the world’s first-ever smart building research facility. The Smart Campus Integration and Testing Hub (SCITHub) is set to open in fall 2025 and will be the world’s first fully digitally-enabled building.
The SCITHub will integrate a large range of building systems technology including heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), lighting, building envelope, security, IT and communications. This will aim to advance Canada’s built environment toward net-zero emissions, according to their website.
The building will be located at 136 Dundas Street East on the northwest corner of the intersection at Dundas Street East and Mutual Street, 300 metres from Yonge-Dundas Square.
The building’s construction figure is approximately $7.5 million and is being funded by a combination of public grants and private donations according to a statement from the university. The Eyeopener reached out to the school for confirmation on
which specific donors for public grants and private donations are involved but did not receive comment in time for publication.
According to TMU architectural science professor and SCITHub principal investor Jenn McArthur, the SCITHub will be “a purpose built research facility and is going to support smart home, smart office, smart campus and smart city research.”
Smart technology includes features like self-regulating thermostats, enhanced security systems, smart home devices that allow users to remotely switch off lights, monitors for flooding and other innovative technologies.
“It sets a really good example for the university in making our buildings and future developments be more sustainable”
In 2021, a finalized design for the structure was submitted and McArthur said construction began on Oct. 22.
When asked about which faculty and students will benifit most from this building, TMU President Mohamed Lachemi said, “I can tell you many departments within different faculties would benefit from this, including mechanical, electrical and computer engineering...but also architecture, building science” in an interview with The Eye.
McArthur said the SCITHub aims to advance the school by prioritizing sustainability in terms of which technologies will be used that won’t be harmful towards the environment, specifically focusing on utilizing net-zero technologies. She added the building will have no gas connections, which will allow the facility to showcase the potential of net-zero technology.
Net-zero technology includes technology that can capture carbon prior to it getting released into the air. This includes clean heating, green hydrogen, smart grids, wood recycling and more.
Plans for the SCITHub began in 2018 when digital automation and energy management corporation Schneider Electric Canada donated $1 million to design a smart buildings laboratory at TMU, though the official plans for development were not finalized until 2019, according to McArthur.
“There’s a lot of worry that I think people have based on this assumption that heat pumps aren’t going to be able to keep buildings warm enough in the wintertime in Toronto and it’s not true, it’s not founded,” said McArthur.
James Southey, a third-year environmental and urban sustainability student and president of TMU’s Environment and Urban Sustainability Students’ Association, said the new SCITHub sets a strong precedence for students on how they can make a difference.
“I think it’s really important that TMU is doing this...it sets a
really good example for the university in making our buildings and future developments be more sustainable,” Southey said.
McArthur stated that one of the main goals of SCITHub is to improve the school with the research conducted by it. This includes using specific decarbonization work to help inform new approaches to running and operating smart buildings.
“We hope that [the SCITHub] might be able to save some energy and make [the] campus more resilient to disasters, in terms of power outages,” said McArthur.
TMU holds annual Remembrance Day ceremony
Administration at TMU speak on the impacts of war and ongoing conflicts around the world
By Jasmine Makar
Toronto
Metropolitan University
(TMU) held its annual Remembrance Day ceremony in Kerr Hall Quad on Monday.
The ceremony included a moment of silence, a reading of In Flanders Fields and a live performance of The Last Post. President Mohamed Lachemi and Provost &
Vice-President, Academic Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano were present and both spoke at the event.
The ceremony began promptly at 10:45 a.m. with a brief speech from Vice-President of Equity and Community Inclusion Tanya De Mello reflecting on the human cost of war.
“When I’m thinking of a day like this, what I want to focus on
is the cost of these wars, the loss of human life, the devastation of communities and the fact that even if you win a war, everybody loses.” she said. “Remembrance Day also needs to be a time to pause and honour the sacrifices of those who have served and continue to serve in our country.”
She also acknowledged the individuals that have gone to war
are amongst the “most marginalized in our community.” De Mello highlighted that the marginalized groups who served include people from lower income communities, racialized, Black and Indigenous veterans.
Iannacito-Provenzano continued the ceremony by describing Remembrance Day as “a time to honour those who sacrificed their lives for our freedoms and to reflect on the profound and lasting impact of war.”
She further emphasized the importance of learning from the past and highlighted the “invisible wounds” and trauma many veterans experienced after returning from war.
“By learning about the sacrifices made, we can foster a more compassionate and equitable society,” said Iannacito-Provenzano.
After her remarks, IannacitoProvenzano, De Mello and Lachemi laid out three wreaths on behalf of the TMU faculty, administration, staff and students. This was followed by a performance of The Last Post and a moment of silence.
Lachemi addressed the TMU community, bringing specific at-
tention to Canadians and their part in the Second World War as well as the current conflicts around the world.
“I encourage you to hold the place in your heart for all those affected by wars and conflicts around the world yesterday and today,” said Lachemi. “Pay tribute to those who volunteered, those who served and those who died, also to those who are suffering today.”
“By learning about the sacrifices made, we can foster a more compassionate and equitable society”
Lachemi’s comments about recent and ongoing wars outside of Canada were reiterated by IannacitoProvenzano earlier in the ceremony.
“Today, we still see conflicts around the world that echo the struggles of the past, from wars beyond our borders and in battlefields to the many voices still silenced by inequity,” she said.
The ceremony concluded with a poem reading of In Flanders Fields and a choral arrangement of O Canada.
NAGEEN RIAZ/THE EYEOPENER
SAMMY KOGAN/ THE EYEOPENER
Ex-ambassador to Israel calls for “two state solution” regarding war in Gaza
By Jerry Zhang
Former Canadian ambassador to Israel and senior fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto (U of T), Jon Allen, spoke at an event called The Israel-Hamas War, One Year Later: How We Got From There to Here on Nov. 6. The lecture examined the historical roots of the ongoing war, narratives on both sides, recent developments and challenges to peace in the region followed by an audience Q&A period.
The event was held in the George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre. It was hosted as a part of the International Issues Discussion (IID) series—a student-led forum between Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and U of T—that aims to foster dialogue on global issues according to Jordan Le Roux, a fourth-year history student at TMU and one of the event’s organizers at the event.
Le Roux said the IID chose to have Allen speak at the event because of his past participation with the IID and his work experience as ambassador in human rights and humanitarian law.
“He treats [the topic] with the respect and the dignity that it deserves,” said Le Roux. She added Allen had spoken on the Israel-Hamas conflict for IID at a talk called A Year in the Middle East: How Israel Got From There to Here last November.
Allen began the lecture by acknowledging his personal connection to the Israel-Palestine region and his potential biases, noting that the ongoing war has left him “deeply depressed.”
“I am Jewish. My wife is the child of Holocaust survivors. I have a sister that lives in Israel. In fact, she lives on the border with Lebanon,” he said.
Allen then discussed his stance on Israel’s military occupation and settlement in Palestine, which he sees as major obstacles to peace. “I have been opposed to the occupation and to the settlement project since long before I was named ambassador to Israel. I strongly believe in the two-state solution.”
The United Nations General Assembly has condemned Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories since 1967, calling for the return of seized land and assets.
Commenting on the polarization surrounding the ongoing armed conflict—both in the Middle East and within Canadian communities between supporters of the State of Israel and Palestinian advocates— Allen described the “dehumanizing rhetoric” used by both supporters and critics of Israel. He strongly believes that neither side fully acknowledges the other’s suffering.
“Too many people are operating completely in their own lanes, rooting only for one side or the other,” he said.
Allen expressed that he sees polarization occurring between religious communities and within them, where some Jewish individuals view criticism from progressives of the State of Israel as self-hating or antisemitic. “Neither seems to understand that…both sides see themselves as victims, both historically and now…and that both bear some of the blame for where they are today,” he said.
The United Nations has also reported that “extreme violence” from both sides continues to hinder progress toward peace.
Reflecting on Oct. 7, 2023, Allen described it as “the worst attack and the most deaths suffered by [Jewish people] since the Holocaust.” He discussed the intense
emotions that followed by Israelis.
“[The goverment’s] immediate reaction, which in many ways continues to this day and explains much of what has happened since, was fear, humiliation, shame and a strong desire for revenge,” said Allen.
He also criticized Israel’s military response, calling it “an unjust war of excessive death and destruction” and highlighting that “Israel is becoming a pariah state,” due to continued attacks and rising death toll.
As of Nov. 10, Al Jazeera’s live tracker reporting the death toll of Palestinians in Gaza has reached at least 43,603, including 16,765 children, with more than 102,929 Palestinians injured since Oct. 7, 2023.
Allen reiterated his belief in a two-state resolution and said it is the “only way to avoid a recurrence of…the last horrific year,” he said.
Allen also discussed his work with Project Rozana, a non-profit healthcare initiative aimed at bridging divides between Israelis and Palestinians, according to Allen.
“We train 250 Palestinians and 250 Israelis [in nursing], we teach the Israelis Arabic and we teach the Palestinians Hebrew, and we offer them courses in conflict resolution and resilience,” he said, noting that these programs are conducted in both Israel and Palestine.
“We treat Palestinian women and children in remote villages in the West Bank…and transport Palestinians from checkpoints…from Gaza as well to their hospital appointments in Israeli hospitals where they’re treated on a regular basis.” He explained that these projects have been continuing despite the ongoing conflict.
After the lecture, an audience Q&A period covered topics rang-
TMU, PDSB launch phase one of new program
By Lillie Coussée
Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and the Peel District School Board (PDSB) launched the first phase of their threephase Future of Healthcare program on Oct. 24 in hopes of creating more careers in healthcare for underserved and underrepresented students.
The first phase, also known as the speakers series, gives over 1,000 diverse PDSB students from grades seven to 12 an opportunity to meet and receive advice from healthcare professionals at TMU, according to a press release from the PDSB.
ing from the potential impact of a second Donald Trump presidency in the United States on peace efforts to Israel’s security concerns with Palestine’s existence.
He highlighted the conflicting narrative of Israel’s role as a Jewish refuge and accusations that Palestinian land has been colonized. He urged students should protest with empathy and avoid creating hostility on campus.
Alex Richler, a Jewish fourthyear professional communication student who attended the event, said the event offered a rare opportunity for open discussion on a divisive issue.
“There’s definitely a hunger for people to be able to actually have these conversations,” she said.
Richler said she appreciated Allen’s willingness to address varied perspectives, including a Palestinian student’s questions on occupation of the West Bank.
She noted the power of someone who loves Israel but also criticizes it while encouraging other people to do the same. Richeler said its also important to advocate for “Palestinian sovereignty” and said Palestinian voices need to be listened to.
She added that universities should be places for “hard discussions,” and expressed hope for more dialogue on campus because students “who [are] marginalized…feel like they can’t have a conversation about it.”
Le Roux emphasized the importance of in-person discussions, particularly in today’s digital landscape dominated by disinformation. “It’s something really special and unfortunately, sadly rare nowadays that people can’t get into a room and share their opinions without feeling attacked or feeling like they’re attacking other people.”
Rashmi Swarup, the director of education for PDSB, said this partnership aims to prepare high school students for their future and said many students, especially those from underrepresented communities don’t know the kinds of career opportunities available to them.
“It was an opportunity to open the doors for so many of our students that live in Peel Region,” she said in an interview with The Eyeopener.
The partnership between TMU and the PDSB began in December of 2023.
Current TMU students in healthcare-related degrees believe this program will be beneficial for future students when choosing a career.
Fourth-year nursing student Jalal Ouazzani began his postsecondary education at York University in kinesiology. After three years in the program, he decided to transfer to TMU’s nursing program.
“I just kind of picked [kinesiology] because it was in the science realm and I didn’t know which courses to take,” he said.
Ouazzani said many students who know which programs to apply to usually have parents who also attended university or college. Being the first in his family to attend university, he believes a program like this would have helped him figure out which classes to take in high school and which programs to apply for after.
“I think it would also benefit [first-generation post-secondary students] a lot more than someone whose mother or father is a nurse or a doctor” said Ouazzani.
Read more at theeyeopener.com
JERRY ZHANG/THE EYEOPENER
Toronto to see a ‘Swift’ shift in the city’s economy
By Shaye-Love Salcedo
Taylor Swift’s much-anticipated concert series in Toronto is projected to generate over $282 million for the city’s economy, according to research from Destination Toronto.
Starting on Nov. 14, Swift will be performing six nights in Toronto as a part of her Canadian leg of The Eras Tour. Experts say the economic boom from Swift’s tour will be substantial and made primarily through Toronto’s hospitality and food sector.
Graham Dobbs, a senior economist at The Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), explained the economic impact of Swift’s Toronto concert series, breaking down the estimated $282-million boost.
According to Dobbs, roughly $140 million of the spending is attributed to tourists coming into the city—specifically for the concert— while only around $11 million comes from local attendees, making this event a significant net gain for Toronto’s economy.
“The direct spending will impact the businesses primarily in the downtown core,” he added.
The City of Toronto estimates most of the tour’s concertgoers are expected to travel from outside of Toronto as the city will be seeing up to 500,000 visitors during the two-week period. This includes travel partners and family members who will be in Toronto but aren’t attending the shows.
Travelling for a chance to see Swift perform is not uncommon.
The influx of visitors to Swift’s Toronto performances mirrors the experience of fans like Rachelle Chang, a second-year fashion student at TMU who has travelled internationally to see Swift perform before. She attended The Eras Tour in Seattle after driving three hours from Vancouver and paid $500 for her ticket.
Chang, who is seeing Swift again in Toronto, explained that the high ticket demand created significant travel challenges.
“The drive took a really long time… on top of that, the Blue Jays were [also] playing in Seattle,” she
said. “We ended up being at the border for at least six hours.”
According to Destination Toronto, visitors will make up 93 per cent of the $150 million fan direct spending.
Much like Chang’s costly trip, other TMU students have split pennies for a chance to see Swift in Toronto, including Vaasavi Karunathasan, a second-year professional communication student. Karunathasan dipped into her savings to get to see her favourite artist.
“When I found out Taylor was coming to Toronto, I thought, ‘Okay, this is what I’m saving up for,’” she said.
Karunathasan’s friend resold a ticket for about $300 despite its original face value of $250, reflecting the high demand and market price for tickets to Swift’s highly anticipated concert.
On a student budget, Karunathasan said she mainly spends her savings on commuting. “I don’t usually spend my money frivolously, so the few things that I do spend it on [are] concerts and my PRESTO card,” she said.
The city is also set to gain significant tax revenue from increased
transportation, accommodations and entertainment spending.
Justin Smith, an associate professor of economics at Laurier University, says that some of the indirect tax effects of increased tourism partially include transportation, souvenirs and merchandise. However, he believes these tax effects reflect a reallocation of consumer spending rather than new money entering the economy, as people may forgo other purchases to attend events like concerts.
“There’s not a whole lot of additional spending happening,” he said. “Tax revenues are being shifted towards Toronto and away from other municipalities at the provincial and national level.”
With the event approaching and ticket prices climbing, sales tax has also see a sharp increase. According to StubHub, tickets for the opening night range from $2,790 to $24,147, meaning new ticket purchasers can expect to pay anywhere from $362.70 to $3,139.11 in taxes per ticket.
Along with the purchase of tickets, concertgoers will also be adding to Toronto’s burst of tax revenue through merchandise and food sales. Second-year chemistry student Muskaan Bawjs said her and her friend are planning on spending a lot of money before and during the concert.
“[I’ll] definitely [buy] food, merchandise and probably food after the show as well because it is a three-and-a-half hour long show,” she said.
Bawjs bought her tickets through an online presale a year ago and has been patiently waiting for Swift’s concert. After purchasing three
tickets for $370 each, she managed to sell one to her friend and another to a fan for $800, allowing her to cover any additional expenses accumulated at the show.
Local restaurants and stores are also preparing to attract more customers by increasing their inventories and diversifying their products. This includes The Red Eye, offering “The Swiftie Combo (Taylor’s Version)” which is their smash burger that comes with an exclusive beaded bracelet. Some venues are also hosting special events, such as “Toronto’s Version: Taylgate ‘24,” to engage the Swiftie fan base and further drive business in the surrounding areas.
For TMU students, these new events and promotions not only become more places to spend money but can translate into more job opportunities.
According to Wayne Smith, a hospitality and tourism professor at TMU, hospitality roles like those at the Rogers Centre provide students with reliable income and teach valuable life skills for the postgraduation world.
“The ability to deal with difficult situations are skills that last you an entire lifetime,” he said.
Elina Ninan, a fourth-year creative industries student who works for the Rogers Centre as a retail sales associate, said Rogers has been actively preparing for the large turnout and high volume of merchandise. “It’s definitely going to be our busiest concert yet.” she said.
She explained the large increase in job opportunities Swift’s concerts are creating.
“Our managers are calling everybody who worked in the summer,”
Ninan said. “If Taylor wasn’t coming, then realistically, there would not be that need to call that many people back.”
Swift’s economic impact will affect businesses around the Rogers Centre as well as fans and concert employees who look for places to eat post-concert. Ninan also said people do fun activities before concerts and will be looking for things to do near the stadium
Ninan estimates there will be 16 days before and after the concert series where Rogers staff —including herself—prepare for each day, especially after the event when they audit the remaining merchandise.
Experts like Smith said Swift’s arrival in Toronto will hopefully have a lasting impact on the tourism and hospitality industry as it provides newcomers with a reason to enjoy and learn more about Toronto.
“There are very few cities on this planet where you can visit as many cultures and experience as many different ways of living as you do in Toronto,” said Smith. “It’s giving the people a reason to come here, and then hopefully showing them, there’s a whole lot of reasons to keep coming back.”
As Swift’s concert series brings a temporary yet significant economic boost, Smith predicts the benefits will last about a month, covering the period before, during and after the shows.
However, even with expensive ticket prices and a predicted shortlived economic boost, many fans are just happy to share a place where they feel connected to one another.
“It’s honestly just a very connecting experience between Swifties,” said Bawjs.
SAMMY KOGAN/THE EYEOPENER
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: ANTHONY LIPPA-HARDY/THE EYEOPENER
As Catrina Garvey steps off the plane in British Columbia ahead of her two exhibition matches as a member of the Bold women’s basketball team, the sport she loves so dearly is not the only thing occupying her mind.
The second-year guard is eagerly awaiting a response from one of her professors in regards to an online midterm exam she has scheduled on game day.
The predicament has Garvey overcome with anger and annoyance. Despite her busy schedule, the psychology major has sent four emails to her professor in an attempt to find a scheduling solution.
After waiting weeks for a response, it is now the morning of the exam, and still, there is no resolution in sight.
“I was pretty stiff and getting concerned that she was not going to answer me,” says Garvey. “I began to think of what would happen if I didn’t write this exam.”
Due to the time difference between the two provinces, Garvey is forced to wake up at 5 a.m. to write the exam and was preparing to miss the team’s routine morning shootaround in preparation for the game as a result.
“The thought of writing the exam at 5 a.m. was freaking me out,” says Garvey.
Athletes are creatures of habit and, therefore, the combination of an early wake up, missing practice and the additional stress from the situation is not optimal for the guard.
With hours to go before the exam begins, the team’s assistant coach Jama Bin-Edward—who is a student success navigator at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)—comes to the rescue by emailing the school and pushing the exam back to a later date.
“I could finally breathe again,” Garvey says.
STRESS ON THE
Words by Sam Beaudoin
bodies and support student-athletes to balance their commitment to academics and sport,” says Asquini.
On top of their academic commitment, student-athletes’ responsibilities include attending team meetings, workouts, practices, film sessions, games and enduring the gruelling early morning and late night bus rides— all while managing the performance anxiety and pressure that accompanies being an athlete.
“Sometimes I ask myself ‘Do I even wanna study? Do I even wanna try?’” year
Post-secondary academics are generally associated with high-levels of stress among all students—athletes and non-athletes alike. A study conducted by McGill University in 2017 found that 60 per cent of students experience “above average to tremendous levels of stress” in their day-to-day university lives.
In addition to their academic life—which alone is stressful enough—student-athletes must also balance the competitive world of varsity sports.
These individuals are still required to enroll in full time courses and maintain their grade point average (GPA), all while handling the additional responsibilities of playing on a team.
The Bold requires student athletes on all competitive sports teams to be registered in a full-time program of study or at a minimum carry a full-time course load (three credits) if registered through the Chang School, in compliance with the U Sports and Ontario University Athletics (OUA) policy.
Nick Asquini, the director of sport operations for TMU Athletics and Recreation, said in an emailed statement to The Eyeopener that if an athlete’s GPA falls below the 1.67 academic probation threshold—which is in place for all full-time university students—“we meet with the athlete to understand what challenges they may be having and what support we can connect them with.”
Asquini says, “If an athlete falls below a 1.0, then we may take a more active approach with respect to the time being committed to sport versus academics. Falling below 1.0 can often be a really challenging task for a student to pull themselves off of probation and academic standing has to come ahead of sport.”
Another policy set by the OUA and U Sports is student-athletes must meet a 2.67 GPA to qualify for an athletic financial award. Players are nominated for these scholarships by their coaches based on athletic merit and team leadership.
“Our objective is not to be punitive but to stay in compliance with the rules set by our sport governing
Student-athletes’ mental health relies
to a university workload is quite difficult on its own, but for Baxter, it was even more challenging while she was beginning university. Having come off of a gapyear after high school, Baxter admits getting back into an academic routine was very tough.
The academic stress and mixed with four on-ice training sessions, three off-ice team workouts and one video session per week was a shock to Baxter’s system.
A 2022 survey conducted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) found that rates of anxiety, depression and mental exhaustion among student-athletes at American colleges have nearly doubled since before the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey concluded that among the respondents who experienced these feelings, 38 per cent were involved in women’s sports and 22 per cent were involved in men’s sports.
While at times hockey seemed like a secondary priority, the Bold captain admits the time away from the textbooks was beneficial.
“When you’re on the ice, it helps remind you why you’re doing it and why you love the game,” says Baxter.
Last year, Garvey’s first year as a studentathlete included many all-nighters. As the hours on the clock ticked away into the night, her stress only intensified.
During that first year, she relied on fellow teammates whom she shared classes with as well as academic mentors—former student-athletes who are made available by TMU to provide guidance, study tips and anxiety relief for current student-athletes.
The academic mentorship program
“There have been nights where I’ve stayed up stressing,” she says. “Sometimes I ask myself, ‘Do I even wanna study? Do I even wanna try?’”
Garvey acknowledges that this lifestyle is a grind and it can be hard to stop and catch your breath at times— especially with a daily schedule that looks like hers.
A typical Wednesday for Garvey this semester goes as follows: the Ottawa product begins her day at 8 a.m. and heads straight to the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC) for technical sessions with her teammates. Following that, she works with the Bold athletic staff on rehabilitation exercises ahead of practice which runs from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and is followed up with an hour of strength and conditioning.
Garvey then heads home and completes school assignments, or if necessary, begins to pack for the team’s upcoming road trip.
Despite this chaotic and tiring schedule, Garvey continues to enjoy the experience. Her love for the game powers her through times of hardship, ultimately making the journey worthwhile.
“I’ve never questioned doing [academics and basketball] together, because I just love them both so much,” says Garvey.
Emily Baxter sits alone in her room during a late night of her first year. She places her fingers on her mouse pad and moves the cursor to hover over the top right-hand corner of her computer screen. As the time appears, it reads 4 a.m. The Bold women’s hockey team forward has no choice but to stay awake into the early hours of the morning to complete an assignment.
is more accessible to first-year studentathletes on all teams, who are new to the lifestyle and are in need of guidance. Often, athletes in older years will become academic helpers and share their routines with newcomers to the school.
It’s the early years of her student-athlete life at TMU, and Baxter—the now biomedical engineering master’s student—questions whether this stressful lifestyle is truly worth it.
“They were very helpful, they were someone who’s been in our shoes and knows what it’s like,” says Baxter.
“Man, sometimes I wish I wasn’t a student-athlete,” she recalls thinking to herself that night.
The harsh reality of being a student-athlete is that these late nights are not outliers. Getting accustomed
Athletics also offers workshop services to help athletes with typical life skills such as finances. Baxter admits she was skeptical about these meetings at
THE SIDELINES
relies on a carefully crafted balance
first, however, as of this year, she has become a regular attendee.
“At first, I didn’t think I needed the workshops, but recently they’ve been very helpful, especially living in a big city such as Toronto,” Baxter says.
Baxter has utilized all the additional resources TMU offers to student-athletes—such as tutors, private study spaces, therapists and academic days off from hockey.
Baxter mentions accessing a tutor as a student-athlete is “super easy” and rather than going through the school portal, Athletics assists athletes with the request.
Sandy Carpenter—academic services and learning strategist at TMU—is also a helpful resource many students utilize. Carpenter’s role entails providing students with a variety of support services, including counselling to ensure student-athletes are on the right track both academically and physically.
The study by the NCAA further mentions that two-thirds of student-athletes know where to go on campus to seek help if needed. The study proceeds to mention that 56 per cent of student-athletes admitted to knowing when a teammate was experiencing mental health issues.
Baxter has had positive experiences with the services TMU offers and has seen outstanding results both on and off the ice.
In her four seasons as a member of the Bold, Baxter has been awarded the Claude LaJeunesse Award twice. The award is given out to the TMU student-athlete who posts the highest GPA during the academic school year.
Baxter credits her success to not only her study habits, but the way she structures her schedule and the time she sets apart for herself to have down time with friends.
“Being in the go, go, go mindset can get exhausting and definitely leads to a burnout,” Baxter says.
“If you set aside time to rest and spend time with friends, it makes the semester a lot easier.”
Baxter returned to TMU this fall to begin her master’s degree. With four years of experience under her belt, she has now mastered the best way to handle all the stresses that accompany her lifestyle.
Whether it’s scrolling through TikTok, reading the occasional fiction book or
Visuals
going on a walk with her friends to Queen’s Park, the biggest lesson Baxter has learned throughout this journey is to prioritize time for herself.
Baxter preaches to younger student-athletes that while the world can seem like it’s crumbling down at times, life will always go on.
“At the end of the day, the world isn’t going to end,” she says.
After a gruelling seven-month season, Kai Edmonds skates out to his crease at the MAC—a place he’s dominated during his two years at TMU. It is one of the biggest weeks of his professional career. However, this time, the building he’s started a number of games in has a different feeling.
He begins shredding the ice in front of the net and takes part in his typical pregame warm-up. But this time, the stakes are especially high. This is not a standard OUA game—he’s about to start his first-ever U Sports national men’s championship game.
“As a [goalie,] I feel I have the power to be the person who wins us a game or the person who loses us a game,” he says. “I want that pressure that comes with being a goaltender.”
As if the stress of the game wasn’t enough, Edmonds has the additional challenge of the national tournament aligning with his midterms. On top of the responsibility to deliver solid performances for his team, the goaltender also has to spend time preparing for numerous exams he has scheduled that same week.
“It was a difficult time,” says Edmonds. “It’s just about finding the balance between both and trying to be as successful as you can in every aspect of your life.”
Some of that balance for the business management economics and management science student is acquired in the summertime. Like many of his teammates, Edmonds will occasionally enroll in courses offered during the summer in order to free up his schedule during hockey season.
In order to clear his schedule on game days, Edmonds prioritizes doing only a bit of work everyday rather than huge loads of work at a time. He accomplishes this by grinding away at assignments whenever his schedule frees up.
He finds being vocal with others about his experiences helps ease the stress that builds up throughout a semester. Whether that means talking academics with friends or talking hockey with his roommate and TMU forward Connor Bowie, the goaltender admits disconnecting from hockey has a plethora of benefits.
“I just try my best to get away from the rink from time to time,” he says.
Edmonds had to make adjustments in order to achieve success both on and off the ice over his last two years on the team. As a goaltender, he deals with additional stress that most student-athletes won’t face. However, that has not tarnished his experience as a member of the Bold, which he describes as an exciting journey through two years.
“It’s hard not to get down on yourself after challenging games, but you have to learn how to flush it out,” he says. “You have to chip away everyday, everyday is a day to improve and you can’t let a day go by without doing something.”
While many student-athletes use the lengthy crossprovince bus rides to catch up on much needed school work or sleep, Garvey uses this time differently. Rather, she utilizes this time for something she considers extremely important: listening to music.
“I take the opportunity to listen to music on the bus very seriously,” she says.
According to a study conducted by the University of Nevada, music can have a positive effect on individuals’ moods. It mentions, “A slower tempo can quiet your mind and relax your muscles, making you feel soothed while releasing the stress of the day. Music is effective for relaxation and stress management.”
“Being in the go, go, go mindset can get exhausting and de nitely leads to a burnout”
The Ottawa product acknowledges that summer courses in combination with hybrid courses are extremely beneficial for easing his stress as a studentathlete. To his content, the third-year player only has three days a week this semester where hockey and academics fall on the same day.
For Edmonds, the student-athlete lifestyle has been an adjustment in a different way than other athletes at TMU. Prior to his stardom as a member of the Bold, the 24-year-old made a combined 105 starts in the Ontario Hockey League from 2017–2020. Additionally, he appeared in one game with the Toronto Maple Leafs affiliate—the Toronto Marlies—during the 2020–2021 season.
Because of this, attending class on a game day still feels unnatural for Edmonds.
“Sometimes it’s hard, we’re used to our routines from junior hockey where you don’t have to do school on game days,” he says. “On those days, I try to do whatever I can to free myself from school.”
As a student-athlete, music plays a positive role in the young guard’s life. One of the things she misses the most while living in Toronto during the school year is driving around her hometown of Ottawa blasting music.
“I love listening to music during car rides. Being downtown, you don’t get that opportunity a lot,” she says.
While being far from home has been a challenge for Garvey, she has begun to settle in and take the experience of being a student-athlete day-by-day.
Whether it’s visiting her sister in Burlington, Ont. or cooking dinner with her teammates, it’s the time taken away from sitting behind the keyboard or sprinting down the basketball court that helps to ease the stress the young star faces.
“It’s a challenging lifestyle but it teaches me to grow in different ways,” she says.
That’s the true nature of being a student-athlete. It is not for the weak nor is it just simply playing the sport you love for fun. These individuals endure enormous amounts of pressure, stress and challenges all while coming from different backgrounds.
For Garvey, being far from home only amplifies how difficult this experience can be. The sophomore not only experiences academic and athletic stress but manages it all while being far away from home on her own.
“Being five hours away from home is tough, especially mixed in with the academic stress and always having to perform on the court,” she says.
She acknowledges that school and basketball are both extremely important to her, but despite the stress it can bring to her life, she says if she had to pick one it would be “1,000 per cent basketball.”
by Saif-Ullah Khan
Album Review: Everybody should be able to be whoever they want to be
By Jahrell Teodoro
David Gauntlett—who musically goes by Sculpture Projects—takes listeners to a brave yet emotional world in his four-track extended play (EP) Everybody should be able to be whoever they want to be. Through the use of the four tracks featured, Gauntlett creates an anthem for universal and personal self-acceptance. Each song invites listeners to think, to move, and—above all—to embrace the unrestricted freedom to exist simply.
Gauntlett is the Canada Research Chair in Creativity at The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). With a long history of researching the intersections of creativity, media and identity, Gauntlett is known for his books such as Making is Connecting and Creative Explorations. Gauntlett’s research emphasizes creativity as a way to understand and develop human identities with a focus on self-expression and individual autonomy. With this, his musical practices seem to be all but inevitable.
Individuality and the process of “making” as a means of developing one’s identity have been frequently emphasized in Gauntlett’s academic works. These concepts seem to be a continuation of his previously released singles like “Everything or Nothing” and “Proximity
Inside
Effect.” Each song reflects his ideas of autonomy and free will. Although Sculpture Projects breaks away from his typical academic style, where he ditches his traditional written pieces, to a passion project of musical anthems, this EP incorporates his conceptual themes to provide listeners with a soundscape that is both innovative and intellectual.
With fast beats that listeners can feel in their chest, the EP kicks off with “Isolated/ universe,” a track that feels like floating in space while tethered to a beating heart.
While the song plays, a large and intensely meditative ambiance is produced by layers of hazy synths, quiet bass and eerie vocals. Like trying to find a place among a crowd of stars, there is a tug-of-war between connection and isolation. It feels like complete silence with an aching urge to be heard. Its eerie and hopeful yet painfully relatable energy is a terrific way to open the album.
In the second track, “Everything or nothing (7” mix),” Gauntlett raises the ante. The core of the song leads the listener to question if they should go all in or walk away. Its raw intensity is amplified by a rolling beat and anticipating instruments. The use of various synthesizers creates an atmospheric sound accompanied by the use of a bass, drum machine and guitar that glues the whole song together
in a stunning way. It’s as though Gauntlett’s singing is a reminder that devotion and always being on the edge are key to becoming something big. This creates a massive flood of adrenaline, making the listener feel alive. The song challenges listeners to be bold in expressing who they are in an electrifying rush.
“Everybody” feels different compared to the rest of the EP. The third track opens with soft beats that feel ethereal or dream-like, as if listeners are entering a mystical forest. Here, the EP’s title track takes centre stage with a bright, inclusive vibe that is infectious and filled with wonder. It’s as if Gauntlett channels the spirit of a group of people whose faces are scribbled out. They feel lost in their world, yet in some form or way, are all connected. “Everybody” embodies this feeling listeners didn’t know they needed, like a sense of awe that makes them feel like they can accomplish anything. It feels like celebrating every person’s right to be themselves without compromise. It’s impossible to ignore the oneness in its beat.
“Distant trees” concludes the thrilling EP on a contemplative, somewhat cinematic note. The music captures a sensation of time passing while also remaining grounded within the present, giving the impression that although time may be moving fast, the world is in the listener’s
hands and the opportunities given to them are infinite. Incorporating electronic elements such as synthesizers, drum machines and the bass gives this album an experimental feel.
Hints of Gauntlett’s soft vocals give the song an earthy, almost philosophical feel. It begs questions like, “Is this who we are?” and “Is this what we can be?,” allowing listeners to question their existence and what they can do to become the best version of themselves. “Distant trees” is the ideal, reassuring ending to a project that allows listeners to take a step back, appreciate life around us and experience serenity. The song acts as a reminder that we shouldn’t pressure ourselves into being something we are not happy with. We should simply let things flow and let the universe determine where we’ll end up.
More than just the EP’s title, the belief that everyone should be allowed to be whoever they want to be is a call to embrace our uniqueness and let our hair down. Despite their sounds, each of the songs radiates the same spirit of acceptance, love and fearlessness. Through Sculpture Projects, Gauntlett has created something intriguing and captivating, making this EP a remarkable, wonderfully thoughtful trip through the many elements of identity and self-expression.
the mind of Jowita Bydlowska and her latest novel
By Sorousheh Salman
Content warning: This story contains mention of eating disorders, mental illness and abuse.
Monster by Jowita Bydlowska, a Toronto Metropolitan University journalism instructor, follows Yoveeta, a mother trying to break free from a toxic relationship with her former professor whilst confronting inner demons deeply rooted in her childhood.
“A woman’s life is a life of bleeding,” Bydlowska wrote in the novel, returning to familiar themes of addiction, toxic relationship dynamics and self-destruction that populate her past novels, Guy and Possessed. Bydlowska said she tried to address and express these themes in a responsible way.
“I’m hoping I was considerate and would be able to stand behind everything that I’ve written,” she said.
The main protagonist, Yoveeta, shares a name pronunciation with the author herself, although with a different spelling. Bydlowska said her and her character share the trauma of experiencing culture shock after immigrating to a new country and the experiences of separation and divorce. “Those feelings were very real…where you don’t want to lose your family or your future.”
Despite the similarities between Bydlowska and the character, the author said she tends to avoid writing on heavy topics she has no personal experience with. “There are certain [themes] I’m never going to write about because I have no business or privilege to write them,” she explained.
Bydlowska explores other characters, such as Voytek—Yoveeta’s husband and former professor—and his role in her life. She describes Voytek as an “archetype” of a groomer.
The character was inspired by Polish writer Andrzej Zulawski, who dated a woman decades younger than him in 2008.
“When I was young, those sort of relationships were normalized…it didn’t even occur to me that this was grooming until after…people started talking about their experiences. [People say] you can’t groom a 24-year-old but I’m like, absolutely you can,” said Bydlowska.
“To me, [Monster] is a story of triumph and overcoming”
Throughout the novel, Bydlowska wrote Yoveeta to be “aware of the dynamic” with Voltek by giving the protagonist moments where she considers “trapping” Voltek the way he has trapped her into the relationship, reiterating the symbol of the protagonist’s “monster” coming out in various forms such as revenge and desire to be seen.
As the story progresses, the protagonist’s monster comes out once Yoveeta begins speaking to a man outside her relationship with Voltek. Bydlowska recalled a scene where the man shows Yoveeta her reflection by holding a mirror and she is unable to recognize her own reflection due to the unravelling of her reality caused by Voltek’s gaslighting.
At one point in Monster, Bydlowska writes “I have to look up, and neither of us smiles, we know, we already know, and the air feels different…I raise the glass and take a little sip, my eyes on you the whole time.”
Through the protagonist, Bydlowska showcased the complexities of why people choose to stay with their abusive partners. Yoveeta’s pain is shown through aspects of her life such as her worsening mental health and an eating disorder. In an interview, Byd-
lowska explained, “Eating disorders and body dysmorphia has always been around … that’s our collective trauma [as women].”
“My father hit me in the face and my mother called me fat,” she wrote in Yoveeta’s perspective. “I starved my body to prove her wrong but I let men violate me to prove him right.”
The symbolism of the monster is left for readers to interpret as throughout the novel, the monster is everywhere.
Bydlowska explained a lot of readers think the husband, Voltek, is the monster, alhough that is not directly the case when granted insight into the novel’s rough draft.
According to Bydlowska, in the original plot of the novel, Yoveeta was supposed to be more of a “direct monster.” She was supposed to “go on dates and unalive people” before Bydlowska ultimately changed her mind.
“I thought about it but I don’t want [the novel] to be a murder book,” said Bydlowska. She said that to her, Monster is a story of “overcoming.” Even though the book ends in a way that’s more for the plot and for fun, the fact
that Yoveeta is able to get out of a toxic relationship after years and years of gaslighting and emotional abuse is a triumph.
In the novel, Bydlowska wrote, “I wish I had the strength on my own but women never leave, not even when their lives are in danger, or especially when their lives are in danger. Because what if he changes?”
Bydlowska concluded that Monster is for those who are or have been in a toxic relationship. “It doesn’t have to be romantic…It can be with parents or a sibling or a friend.”
Bydlowska enjoyed writing the character of Yoveeta because she hadn’t succumbed to being a victim. Even after years of Voltek causing her to question reality to the point that he could say “blue is red,” and she’d believe him, she endured. Bydlowska uses Yoveeta’s monster to wake up from the emotional abuse the character endures throughout the story.
“The fact that [Yoveeta] can come out of the relationship, new boyfriend or not, to me it’s a huge triumph.”
Thai dances bridge students to heritage
Thai-Canadian daughters reconnect with their mothers, community and self through dance
By Teresa Valenton
Faint steps of young women graced the hardwood floors of a quaint living room in Toronto. Hollow sounds of traditional Thai instruments spilled out the room’s radio speakers while mothers instructed their daughters to follow their dance movements. These rigid physical gestures are small in theory but perfection and precision remained sought after.
It is through dance that these intergenerational communities found a middle ground to a growing cultural divide. For some Thai-Canadian students at Toronto Metropolitan University, their only exposure to this community is through these dance practices where tradition and identity intersect.
Shoulders continued to bump one another and chatter grew louder through commands.
Dressed in cotton t-shirts and sweatpants, with ponytails tied up high, each daughter sweat profusely to perfect each dance.
For Emalita Natividad, a thirdyear RTA new media student and Jainna Fernandez, a second-year language and intercultural relations student, this is what their weekends have looked like growing up together since they were around three or four years old.
Recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Heritage as Khon and Lakhon Nai, these two dance genres tell religious stories and folklore that date back hundreds of years. Although there are more genres, their names have gone untranslated into the English language. With elaborate headdresses, costumes and music, each dance performance ties deeply into Thailand’s unique history as the only Southeast Asian country to avoid colonization.
Thiti Jamkajornkeiat, assistant professor in global Southeast Asian studies at the University of Victoria, said in terms of geopolitics and history, Thai communities in North America are differ-
ent from that of other Southeast Asian countries.
“Diaspora and migration to North America is always related to politics,” he said. “The Thai community is an outlier in this history of migration…The Thai diasporic community in North America were not those who suffered from [United States] colonial or neo-colonial relationships in the first place.”
He said unlike the way the Philippines or Vietnam suffered from these relations, “Thailand was complicit in and benefitted from American expansion during the Cold War.”
According to the Government of Canada’s 2021 census, 22,270 people of ethnic or cultural Thai origins live in Canada. It is estimated that over 17,000 Canadians live in Thailand.
For one Thai immigrant living in Toronto, preserving a piece of the motherland meant reconnecting with the lessons from her youth. Somjai Srijan, a mother who began to teach various Thai dance forms around 2007, said she wanted her children to learn more about their culture. Srijan was first exposed to the dances as a young schoolgirl in Thailand where she learned the basics as a subject run by the school.
“I did not grow up with the same Thai values that she had, so we tended to clash”
Srijan had many aspirations for her children to learn more about their Thai heritage. Upon her arrival in October 1995, she found that a cultural divide was inevitable.
“I want them to learn everything they should about Thai culture,” said Srijan. “At least when they go to Thailand they know the dances and at the same time have a community here.”
Despite Srijan’s hopes of fostering a sense of Thai identity and community in her children, embracing her heritage has not always been straightforward for
her daughter.
Growing up, Fernandez often found herself caught between cultures, feeling the weight of her mother’s desire for connection. Often questioning the validity of her Thai identity as a Filipina and Canadian as well, concerns about all three cultures was prominent in her upbringing.
“I am still trying to figure out the balance of it all. For my Thai side, I only have my mom since she is the only Thai person that lives with us in the family right now,” she began. “It is already hard for me to sometimes speak and understand her. I did not grow up with the same Thai values that she had, so we tended to clash.”
Regardless of the divide, the mother and daughter duo found consolation in Thai dances which withstood the growing intercultural and generational differences in their family. From the age of three years old and onwards, Fernandez dedicated a few days each week to practice.
Both Fernandez and Natividad took on these dances as a major influence in their childhoods and together, they found both comfort and pride in keeping these traditions alive, creating a space where they could explore their heritage side-by-side.
“My mom pushed me to do Thai dances because she found this whole community in Toronto. During festivals, Thai elders or different women in the community group us together to teach us,” said Natividad. “It just became a whole community gathering and I found a lot of good friends from it.”
In the early morning before per-
forming in Toronto in 2014, Natividad and Fernandez were two of many young women who found themselves in Thai temples preparing for the King’s birthday. According to Diversity Atlas, the national holiday is celebrated annually on July 28 to commemorate the King of Thailand, Vajiralongkorn, who was born in 1952. The holiday is celebrated with many ceremonies and is a time for Thai people to celebrate their monarchy.
Back at a Thai temple in Toronto, vibrant fabrics reflected the stories of the country. With makeup brushes spread over white counters and hair products aerating the room, the visual component of Thai dances came to life. Adorned with gold accents, headpieces and crowns, Natividad and Fernandez carefully prepared themselves to put on a performance authentic to their adverse upbringings.
“I want them to learn everything they should about Thai culture”
Evidently, the preservation of Thai dance is not only a personal journey, but also a communal one, essential for the continuity of heritage in Canada, Natividad said. When asked about pursuing these traditions for younger generations, she commented, “I feel like there’s something special about the generations of women teaching their younger daughters Thai dance.”
As the Thai community in Toronto continues to adapt their migration experiences to Canadian culture, the validity of cultural adaptability is pushed further.
Jamkajornkeiat reiterated that,
“There is something absolute about certain essences of culture that one can claim. It is very dangerous to use in this time and space where there is a rise of fascism and claims of authenticity where there is none.”
For Natividad and Fernandez, their efforts to pursue Thai dances represented a commitment to preserving cultural identity in a foreign land.
“It was very hard to be open about Thai dancing, especially since we have a very small community. I was only able to perform only one to three times a year,” explained Fernandez. “I was very scared to talk about my Thai identity or exposing that part of me to others.”
Although diasporas are often questioned when making an effort to reconnect with their heritage, the two found that each performance further strengthened their community ties.
“I tend to see every performance of culture in its historical context, whether it is in Thailand or whether it’s in Canada and see what are the meanings that have been created from its renewal or reenactment of culture,” explained Jamkajornkeiat.
Now onstage at the temple, the daughters of the Thai community got in place to perform. Surrounded by Buddhas, monks and money trees on stage, they stood poised, ready to bring their heritage onto Canadian soil. Water flowed through the background, music played through the speakers and flower petals scattered the stage. Taking one deep breath before gracefully walking into position, Fernandez and Natividad stepped forward.
SAMMY KOGAN/THE EYEOPENER
SAMMY KOGAN/ THE EYEOPENER
Emily Porteous: ‘The game was missing you’
The TMU Bold defender reflects on injury, resilience and inspiring the next generation
By Atiya Malik
Content warning: This story contains mention of serious injury, trauma and related mental health impacts.
“I don’t want to do this anymore,” said Emily Porteous, her voice heavy with defeat. She was reflecting on a chapter of her life she was certain had come to a close. A part of her identity and passion had been torn away.
For years, soccer had defined her and driven her, but in the wake of an injury, it all slipped through her fingers. “That part of my life is done.” The thought echoed relentlessly in her mind, a harsh reality she couldn’t escape.
She couldn’t see it then but that feeling of loss was only the beginning of a much deeper, more profound journey.
Emily is currently a defender in her second stint with the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women’s soccer team but her journey began long before she put on a Bold jersey. She began playing at just four years old and rose through the ranks. After playing with the Oakville Blue Devils FC in League1 Ontario, she made the leap to National Collegiate Athletics Association Division 1 soccer at Canisius University. She later joined the University of West Alabama—it was during a game for them where the trajectory of her life would change.
On Nov. 2, 2018, Emily was playing in a match against the West Florida Argonauts when a seemingly routine play turned into a nightmare. As she leaped to head the ball, an Argonauts player collided with her, crashing Emily’s head against the goalpost. The impact left her unconscious for several hours. It was this moment that would not only alter the course of her athletic career but challenge everything she knew about her body, mind and future on the field. She
briefly made her return to soccer with the Bold in 2021 but three years later, she found herself with the opportunity for one last dance with the game she loves.
Following the accident, Emily suffered a severe concussion that took her out of academics and off the field for nearly three years. The road to recovery was long but she resolved to rebuild her strength both mentally and physically. She made her comeback in 2021, stepping onto the pitch for the first time with the Bold. This opportunity came after reconnecting with TMU head coach Natalie Bukovec, who had also coached Emily with the Blue Devils. However, after just one season with the Bold, Emily made the decision to leave the team.
“I would have regretted not coming back, truthfully”
“I quit soccer altogether,” Emily said, her voice sharp with certainty. She turned her focus to coaching, convinced that her time risking it all on the field had come to an end.
Two-and-a-half years later, in a surprising turn this summer, Bukovec reached out again. This time, it was an invitation for her to play for the Blue Devils.
“I did not think I was gonna be good enough. I did not think I was deserving of that role,” she said.
After a mental battle with herself, she decided to give playing one last chance. In a match against Scrosoppi FC, Emily realized for the first time in a long time, soccer felt like it always used to.
After the final whistle blew, Emily was approached by John Yacou, head coach of Scrosoppi FC and the current interim head coach for the Bold. What he had to say was the last thing Emily had expected to hear.
“It’s so fantastic to see you out
there,” she recalls Yacou saying, his voice full of admiration. “You deserve to be on the field. The game was missing you.”
Those words stayed with Emily. She found herself reflecting on that moment, replaying it over and over in her mind. Weeks later, as she stayed in touch with both Bukovec and Yacou through text it became clear this was the turning point. The barrier of self-doubt that had held her back for so long had finally cracked and she could see it now: her place in the game was still waiting for her.
“At the end of the day, it’s an opportunity to try again. It’s an opportunity to get that final season in soccer that I didn’t think I was ever going to have,” said Emily. “So much has changed in those three years. I would have regretted not coming back, truthfully.”
On Aug. 30, 2024—her first game back with the Bold against the Trent Excalibur—Emily returned with a new mindset and role as an older, returning player.
An important feature of Emily’s return this season is a concussion band, a piece of headgear she first started wearing in 2021. According to GameBreaker, a protective headgear manufacturer, a concussion band helps to absorb and disperse impact forces, adding an extra layer of protection.
“When I put it on, it feels like a little superpower”
“It’s kind of like a sense of comfort,” Emily said of the concussion band, which she wears only in games, not practices. “When I put it on, it feels like a little superpower. I feel like I can go for absolutely anything and everything while I’m wearing it.”
To Sydney Sherwood, the Bold’s athletic therapist, concussions are one of the toughest injuries to deal with.
“It’s different from other injuries because with those, you can actually see what’s wrong. If you tear your ACL, for example, you know exactly where the injury is and what needs to be done for recovery,” she said. “But with a concussion, it’s not as straightforward. It can’t really be diagnosed through imaging or tests. It’s more about understanding the symptoms and how to manage them.”
Sherwood emphasizes experiencing an injury as serious as Emily’s is incredibly frightening, and even after years of recovery, the mental challenge of returning to a
sport after such a traumatic experience is no easy feat.
“It’s natural to feel scared and hesitant, especially when facing physical challenges in the game… Overcoming that mental hurdle is one of the toughest parts of recovery,” said Sherwood.
Although Emily’s accident occurred six years ago, she still grapples with its lasting effects.
“I still deal with things like constant headaches, really bad tension in my traps and neck,” she shared. “The mental health side was especially difficult—extremely bad, way worse than I ever expected. It’s gotten better as I’ve gotten older but those two years after the injury were just awful. I was severely depressed, very anxious and honestly just not okay.”
According to Northwest Functional Neurology, post-concussive brain fog describes an individual’s difficulties with cognitive thinking such as poor concentration, inability to focus and memory issues. For Emily, the brain fog was significant.
“I even noticed that my personality changed in ways that people around me didn’t understand,” she said. “The way I think, feel and even speak, it’s different now. I’ll watch old videos of myself and I don’t even sound like the same person.”
“It really made me realize how much of an impact it could have on others”
Despite the challenges she faced, Emily’s concussion band has become an inspiration to those around her. As the head coach of the Richmond Hill Soccer Club’s U13 girls team, she said young players were inspired after seeing her wear the band and go for headers.
“They were amazed and said, ‘Oh
my God, I want to wear one too! Does that mean I can go for headers now?’ It really made me realize how much of an impact it could have on others,” Emily explained.
She was also pleasantly surprised when some of the teenage players approached her with questions. “They’d ask, ‘Do you think I should wear one? Does it really help?’ It’s a conversation I never expected to have.”
“Overcoming that mental hurdle is one of the toughest parts of recovery”
Now that the 2024 Bold soccer season has come to an end, Emily is eligible to play again next year. She now faces the decision of whether or not to continue.
Emily’s father, Greg Porteous, has been one of her biggest supporters throughout her life. While he is proud of her, he also has concerns, especially for her life-long health.
“When you’re dealing with any kind of brain injury or concussion, you have to think longterm,” he explained. “It affects your future, and that’s what worries me. I’d rather she not play.”
He added that regardless of the decision she makes, he will support her. He just hopes Emily eventually retires from the sport for her own health.
Whether Emily chooses to play another year with the Bold or continue coaching, it’s clear that her passion and dedication will remain central to whichever path she follows.
In the end, an injury does not define an athlete.
“As long as I have the ability to make a change, I don’t want another female player to feel alone,” Emily said. “What’s next is putting my time and effort, on and off the field, to ensure that female athletes are taken care of.”
SAMMY KOGAN/ THE EYEOPENER
SAMMY KOGAN/ THE EYEOPENER
TMU student responsible for Taylor Swift scam arrested
There
has been some Bad Blood on campus after a student swindled hundreds of Swifties
By Peyton Andino
Disclaimer: No Swifties were harmed or robbed in this fictitious article. What you choose to do with your own money is of your own volition.
Students became the Foolish One after a promised Taylor Swift performance in the International Living/Learning Centre (ILC) at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) turned out to be a sham.
John Schmayer, a 22-year-old business technology management student, is being charged with racketeering, theft and damage to public property after a study area in the building was illegally converted into a fake stage for a proposed performance by Swift.
“I knew All Too Well it was just another scam,” said part-time student and full-time Swiftie Betty Smith. “After Offset, can TMU even afford another celebrity?”
Last Friday, an Eventbrite link was posted alongside an AI-generated graphic advertising Swift’s appearance at the ILC. Tickets were priced at $1,000 with a $500 meet-and-greet fee tacked on.
“I knew All Too Well it was just another scam”
The line ran all the way to the end of Gould Street as the students eagerly awaited to be let in. Campus security had to barricade the ILC doors with vending machines due to the size of the crowd.
After the Swifties were escorted inside, they were treated to stale candy hearts, an exclusive TMU friendship bracelet and a photobooth that had a warped picture of a Swift concert as a backdrop.
While initially underwhelmed, they sat down on the floor and waited for the pop singer to make her appearance.
As the lights went down and the curtains opened, the Swifties held
their breath in anticipation. In a flash, TMU Bold mascot Frankie the Falcon came out in a bejewelled bodysuit, stiletto heels and a blonde wig.
“After Offset, can TMU even afford another celebrity?”
Frankie beak-synced to a medley of Swift’s greatest hits as students threw Balzac brews at the performer in an assault later dubbed as The Great War. After being doused in overpriced coffee, the beloved mascot and Schmayer ran outside to a Getaway Car and sped down Mutual Street before being
apprehended by campus security.
“Don’t blame me,” said Frankie, “I feel like there’s some misdirected Bad Blood. If this type of behaviour keeps up, You’re Losing Me.”
The departure of Frankie and the absence of Schmayer caused the students to turn on each other, believing that another in the room might have been the cause. ILC residents were awoken in the night to the sounds of police sirens and loud, mournful screeches of despondent Swifties emanating from the bottom floor.
The room was found in a state of disarray hours after the promised performance. Couches were ripped up, tables flipped, puka
shells scattered and a message reading “All You Had to Do Was Stay,” was scrawled hastily on the windows in bright red lipstick.
“I feel like there’s some misdirected Bad Blood”
Attendees are now calling for Frankie’s exile and Schmayer’s cancellation via posts on X.
“I can’t believe the pipes and the nerve of that bird. Just remember Frankie, KARMA IS A CAT!!” posted user @LachemiLvsSwift.
Another user, @TayRonto4Ever, has taken to X to demand a refund.
“Dear John…that was my OSAP payment. Can’t believe our school lets
these illicit affairs continue.”
Schmayer, who initially refused to give The Eyeopener a statement, had this to say: “ long story short , I’m a Lover of all things Taylor. I Can See You , Swifties, and I know how Delicate this is. You will be okay, and I will be Mr. Perfectly Fine .”
“I can’t believe the pipes and the nerve of that bird”
The Eye reached out to the school for comment, but they did not respond in time for publication as they had all snagged last-minute floor tickets to The Eras Tour.
By Gray Moloy
“Free Soup Day” faces budget cuts, now “Bring Your Own Broth”
The Eras Tour is coming to Toronto, just not to TMU. (PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: SAMMY KOGAN/THE EYEOPENER)
Eyelections details: Join The Eyeopener’s Winter 2025 masthead
Interested in joining The Eyeopener’s masthead? Wait no longer...Eyelections are back! Please read below to find answers to any questions you might have about this special time of year and how you can join our team!
What are Eyelections?
Near the end of every semester, The Eye hosts its masthead elections, also known as Eyelections, to hire new editors. Our masthead operates on an electoral process, meaning members must be voted in by The Eye’s community to take on a position.
Who can run?
Current full-time undergraduate or graduate Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) students are eligible to run for a position. Candidates do not need contribution points to run in Eyelections.
Which positions are available?
During the winter elections, only positions that become available due to mid-year masthead leaves are open to be filled. Here are the roles available for next semester:
News Editor (1)
Arts & Culture Editor (1)
Production Editor (1)
Photo Editors (2)
Media Editor (1)
Who can vote?
All masthead members and any contributor who has accumulated three or more contribution points this semester will receive an email ballot on voting day.
Eyelection day details
The Winter 2025 Eyelections will be held
in the Oakham Lounge on Wednesday Nov. 20 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. It’ll be an awesome night of speeches and Q&A periods for all candidates.
Masthead, eligible voters and candidates are invited to attend, but if you fall outside these categories and would still like to come, you may RSVP by emailing editor@ theeyeopener.com.
Candidates must have all nomination requirements completed by Tuesday Nov. 19 at 11:59 p.m. to be eligible.
How do I apply? How do I vote?
Looking for more information? Scan the QR code to the right to view a full document outlining all position, nomination, election and voting details. Be sure to reach out to editor@theeyeopener.com if you have further questions.
Grab the nearest pen and circle every object on the following list to earn a chance to win three $10 vouchers to the Oakham Café in the Student Campus Centre. Two winners will be randomly drawn on Nov. 20.
What you have to do:
1. Circle every object in the list
2. Fill out the linked Google Form with a photo of your completed Eye Spy
3. Await an email! Winners will be contacted on Nov. 21
Scan here to view all Eyelections details
Instagram - @theeyewideopen
X - @theeyeopener
TikTok - the.eyeopener
YouTube - The Eyeopener
Website - theeyeopener.com
Winter 2025 eligible voters
Eligible voters consist of any current masthead member and any contributor who has accumulated three or more contribution points in a given semester. You can find our contribution point system through the QR code above.
The following list contains this semester’s contributors who have met this quota. If you don’t see your name but believe you should be on the list, please email editor@ theeyeopener.com with your concern.
Angus Blacklock
Atiya Malik
Caleb Jackson
Daniel Opasinis
Dylan Marks
Edward Lander
Eli Silverstone
Emerson Williams
Gabi Grande
Grace Henkel
Gray Moloy
Hailey Ford
Harsh Kumar
Jainaba Loum
Jonathan Reynoso
Keiran Gorsky
Khadijah Ghauri
Lazar Mihajlovic
Luis Ramirez-Liberato
Maggie Stemp-Turner
Matthew Joseph
Nicole Soroka
Noah Curitti
Oliver Ulster
Pierre-Philipe
Wanya-Tambwe
Sam Beaudoin
Sebastian Zucchet
Shaye-Love
Salcedo
Teresa Valenton
Tristan Forde
Victoria Cha
Vihaan Bhatnagar
NOTE: This list will continue to be updated until Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 11:59 p.m. in alphabetical order on the linked document.
