‘Beyond The Wall’: An exhibition of personal agency within physical barriers opens Feb. 27
By Frances Smith
From Feb. 27 to April 3, the Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) architectural science department will present an exhibition titled Beyond the Wall at the Paul H. Cocker Gallery.
Beyond the Wall will feature a narrative sequence of six case studies of oppressive barriers, examining the Apartheid Wall through the West Bank, the Berlin Wall, the Ireland Peace Walls, the United States (U.S.)-Mexico Border Wall, The North American Highway Program & Claiborne Corridor and the Gaza Blockade & University of Toronto (U of T) encampment.
Heba Al-Fayez, a fourth-year architectural science student at TMU and one of the team leads with Beyond the Wall, said the exhibition is an “exhibition about real people’s experiences that acknowledges both oppression that is caused by built-in design…walls that are built to separate and oppress people but also the ways that people transform those walls, transgress them and change them into something that serves them so they regain agency.”
Al-Fayez explained how Beyond the Wall aims to demonstrate how barriers—like the wall through the West Bank—can be transformed into tools of personal agency by oppressed peoples, highlighting human stories of resistance.
“The story of somebody who climbs over [a] wall. That is a story of personal agency or somebody who paints an image of their homeland that is now cut off by the wall. That is a piece of agency, that is them using a wall as a surface for expression,” said Al-Fayez.
Al-Fayez said the physical exhibit revolves around borders and stories, “that begin and end with Palestine talking about how all of these different case studies of oppression are similar, but also the ways that people naturally fight back and resist and overcome these built-in divisions.”
Each case examines a barrier that was designed and constructed by individuals whose interests lay in the subjugation of others. According to Al-Fayez, each in the exhibition is presented with two perspectives: one illustrating its oppressive impact and the other its intervention impact.
One study explores the U.S.Mexico border wall, severing neighbouring communities, but cross-border coalition and protest art endures.
The Berlin Wall shows a barrier
divided families and communities but was transformed by artists into a protest space. Belfast’s peace walls separated British Protestants and Irish Catholics, yet the use of murals reclaimed the contested space.
The North American Highway Program & The Claiborne Corridor describes how the construction project displaced thriving Black communities, yet they were able to revitalize the remaining space around and below the expressways through art.
Occupy U of T’s People’s Circle for Palestine shows where students turned fences installed around King’s College Circle into symbols of resistance by hanging banners with messages of support.
Architecture students also examine the Apartheid Wall, segregating Palestinians from Israelis, exemplifying how barriers aid in confining and separating people as a part of a system of power and attempt to remove agency from the people it confines.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, the Israeli government has killed over 46,000 Palestinians and displaced nearly two million people in Gaza, destroying homes and land, separating families, bombing Palestinian hospitals and blocking humanitarian aid from entering Palestine.
According to a report from Amnesty International, Israel’s military offensive against Palestine was determined to constitute genocide, citing “during the nine-month period under review, prohibited acts under Articles II (a), (b) and (c) of the Genocide Convention.”
When discussing how physical barriers shape our understanding of oppression, Al-Fayez emphasized “the architecture of inconvenience” and how barriers hinder
groups’ ability to move or connect with others. She added that it “multiplies on a systematic level, for example, the Apartheid Wall in Palestine affects mobility and there it divides up the land and cuts people’s access from one village to another.”
“Even if it’s just a wall. Not a weapon, per se, it kind of has the same effect in the way it…breaks down people and breaks down communities,” said Al-Fayez.
Al-Fayez and the creators of Beyond the Wall hope to have an impact on the visitors by highlighting the importance of understanding similarities in tools of oppression “across different times and places” and how recognizing these similarities can help dismantle structures of confinement through shared human experiences.
Al-Fayez noted that some barriers are seen as oppressive while others are not. “When you celebrate the destruction of the Berlin Wall, but you dehumanize Palestinians and their struggle against the walls that confine them… there’s inconsistency there,” she said. “We want TMU students to see the similarities in the stories of oppression…and the stories of fighting back.”
Even outside conflict zones, barriers are used as structures of control and observation. Amina Jamal, a professor of sociology at TMU, shared in an interview with The Eyeopener that “the way a modern society is organized is to facilitate…the use of space by different groups of people, and also to keep an eye, to observe, to exclude…to demarcate, to contain and observe different populations within the society.”
Jamal stressed that for able-
bodied “mainstream subjects” in society, the social organization of spaces may seem “natural, normal, accidental.”
However, she added that it is important to realize how social organization is used to control, surveil and divide groups by using physical borders as portrayed in the exhibit.
“Borders, even national borders, are artificially constructed to keep…people out…who cannot become a part of the nation…this defines people as legal [and] not legal,” said Jamal.
With the exhibition beginning and ending with Palestine, AlFayez shared what we can learn through it. “I’m Palestinian, and so for me, it was really important to honour [and] acknowledge the immense suffering, control and… oppression that’s going on right now in Gaza and across Palestine. So, for us, we really need to start with acknowledging the truth of what’s actually happening.”
Al-Fayez shared that we have to acknowledge that oppression is designed—there are real, human designers behind systems of control and behind physical barriers.
Jamal said the architecture of inconvenience and segregation is planned out, drawn and methodically built. “Sociologists, philosophers and many contemporary critical thinkers have pointed out that the organization of spaces and society is neither accidentally nor is it just a naturally occurring process, but that spaces are the way pieces [are] split, spaces are organized in society, tells a lot about the power relations in society.”
The exhibit opens with a grand opening on Feb. 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Paul H. Cocker Gallery.
that
KHADIJAH GHAURI/THE EYEOPENER
TMSU general elections postponed until further notice
Candidates frustrated as campaigning plans come to a halt less than a day before polls open
By Daniel Opasinis
The 2025 Toronto Metropolitan Students’ Union (TMSU) general elections have been paused until further notice.
A statement released on the TMSU website indicates the election period is being postponed as a result of “circumstances beyond TMSU’s control.” It also reads, “the ERC was recently notified that the online voting platform traditionally used in TMSU elections will not be available this year.”
New dates for the election have yet to be decided on, according to an emailed statement to The Eyeopener from the TMSU’s Chief Returning Officer (CRO) Tatiana Carrion. Candidates were made aware of the postponement on Sunday night, less than 24 hours before the voting period was set to begin.
Though the TMSU said this year’s campaigning period was scheduled specifically to avoid overlap with Ramadan—as previously reported by The Eye—this postponement may now cause the revised general election dates to conflict with Ramadan.
Ananya Malhotra, a third-year business technology management student running for vice-president of student life under the slate Transparency, told The Eye she was “furious” and “sad” when she first learned about
the delay.
“If you look at our social media, then it reflects the immense effort we had put into creating content, also spreading awareness about elections,” she said. “We wanted some more clear answers but I don’t think [the CRO] was able to provide.”
Carrion said online campaigning will stop at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 23, and nominees must remove printed campaign materials by 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 25.
Elisha Mhernell Filomeno*, a third-year marketing management student running for vice-president of equity with the slate Transparency, said the decision to postpone the election disappointed her. “It was really frustrating, because there was a lot of excitement and hype,” she said.
Filomeno said she was also disappointed by the lack of communication from election officials to candidates. “We have to reschedule a lot of things—adjust all our graphics, social media and even take stuff down,” she added.
No information regarding when the election period will resume has been released at the time of publication.
*Correction: A previous version of this story included a misspelt version of a source’s name. The story has now been updated with the correct spelling. The Eye regrets this error.
SAMMY KOGAN/THE EYEOPENER
TMSU AGM fails to meet quorum for the third straight year
By Jasmine Makar
The Toronto Metropolitan Students’ Union (TMSU) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday virtually at 6 p.m. but failed to meet quorum.
The union has not reached quorum for their general meetings since December 2022, as previously reported by The Eyeopener. According to section 3.4 of the TMSU by-laws, a minimum of 100 undergraduate students must attend for the AGM to meet quorum.
Without quorum, AGM agenda items— including proposed amendments to policies and by-laws—cannot be voted on.
A total of 32 members were in attendance including TMSU president Nadir Janjua, who served as interim chair for this meeting as the Chair of the Board of Directors was not present in the meeting.
As stated in TMSU by-law 3.6.1, “The Chair of the General Meeting shall be the Chair of the Board of Directors, unless otherwise recommended by the President… In lieu of an approved Chair, the President shall be
the interim chair of the Board of Directors.” Historically, AGM’s and SAGM’s have all been held in-person as per by-law 3.6.3, which states “Unless otherwise decided by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the Board of Directors, all General Meetings shall be conducted in person.”
An emailed statement from the TMSU to The Eyeopener, they said the reason for having an early meeting was to change their legal name from “RSU” to “TMSU,” however it was not amended as they failed to meet quorum.
“If required, we might call another meeting in April as well, but this was scheduled earlier in the semester because usually in the later half of the semester, students are busy with the final exam season,” the statement read.
The statement added, “We planned to call this earlier and make it virtual with a hope that more students might attend.”
Janjua adjourned the meeting without discussing any of the agenda’s topics which would amend different by-laws and policies and motions to audited financial documents.
By Shaaranki Kulenthirarasa
T&T Supermarket opened its second downtown location at 26 Edward St. on Feb. 13, providing a convenient grocery store option for Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) students.
Fourth-year RTA media production student Estella Chiu said having a T&T near campus is helpful for a student who cooks Asian food.
“Getting Asian groceries used to be such a mission because you always had to take a streetcar, which was not ideal. So having
an Asian grocery store like T&T within walking distance from campus is amazing,” said Chiu.
Fifth-year public health student Janani Vijayasanthar said the grand opening was popular among TMU students.
“I actually heard about it on social media. I immediately sent it to the friends that I normally go to H-Mart with,” said Vijayasanthar.
The 31,000-square-foot store offers groceries, hot foods, a bakery and beauty products and more. It is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Concerns of rat sightings at campus Balzac’s resurface
Students call for better hygiene and more health inspections after multiple signs of rodents
By Ria Sidhu
Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) students are voicing concerns following multiple rat sightings at the campus Balzac’s Coffee Roasters.
Reports and videos of a rodent circulating on social media have prompted questions about the cleanliness of the establishment.
One TikTok posted on June 19, 2024 shows a rat scurrying around the establishment’s floor and seating area. The video has since resurfaced online and reignited discussion amongst students.
Prescela Jeevaratnam, a secondyear creative industries student at TMU, recently found out about the cafe’s rodent issue and is now reluctant to return.
“I don’t think I’m going to go there as often now, just because I’m really paranoid about cleanliness so I’d rather not,” Jeevaratnam said.
She claimed she expects more from Balzac’s given how highly priced their menu is.
“If the food is expensive, the
cleanliness of the space should match that too,” she said.
Romy Barakat, a first-year business management student, received a Balzac’s coupon during frosh at the beginning of the school year and was planning on using it in the coming weeks before it expired.
“It is disgusting,” said Barakat. “That coupon has a bit less value to me now.”
“I don’t think I’m going to go there as often now”
Barakat added that she prioritizes food safety over a restaurant’s aesthetics and wanted assurance that the food she is eating is safe.
“When I go to a restaurant, I go there for the food, right? So above all, the food has to be safe for consumption, no cross-contamination,” Barakat said.
She didn’t know about the rodent issue and is now questioning the full extent of the situation.
“If this is what’s happening on the outside, what about in the
kitchen?” she said.
In an email response to The Eyeopener, Toronto Public Health (TPH) explained that DineSafe, their online food safety and hygiene form, is the best route to take when submitting a concern about the health and safety of a restaurant.
According to the City of Toronto’s website, “DineSafe is Toronto Public Health’s food safety program that inspects all establishments serving and preparing food.”
“For rodents, TPH only responds to complaints through our food safety program, DineSafe (food safety inspections for cleanliness). Patrons who are concerned about potential rodent infestations within food premises are encouraged to file a report with DineSafe,” the agency said.
A sign posted at Balzac’s main entrance indicates the restaurant received a “pass” on its most recent DineSafe inspection on July 2, 2024.
Barakat is calling for the establishment to prioritize the issue and not put it on the back burner.
“I haven’t seen a public announcement or anything. So first would have been health inspection like, “Hey, we are taking the measures to improve our health standards” and whatnot. It shouldn’t be something like put back or just completely not acknowledged,” Barakat said.
Additionally, Jeevaratnam saidmore frequent health inspections
should take place.
“I feel like if a food safety professional is able to confirm that the area is safe, then I’m trusting enough of that,” Jeevaratnam said.
Balzac’s has installed rodent traps along the east exterior wall of the café as part of their pest control efforts.
The Eye reached out to Balzac’s for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Campus store’s missing programs make their own merch
Some students create their own program merchandise due to a lack of representation at the campus store
By Ava Whelpley
Some Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) students without official program merchandise in the campus store are designing their own sweaters, emphasizing the significance of these items in fostering identity and community.
The TMU campus store and website sell department hoodies and t-shirts for various TMU programs but programs such as
creative industries, language and intercultural relations (LIR) and public health are among the majors missing from the campus merch store, leaving many students feeling excluded.
“It feels like [creative industries students are] not as established or we’re not as official as other programs,” said Aniqah Khatri, a fourth-year creative industries student and the fourth-year representative on the Creative Industries Course Union (CICU).
“Which doesn’t make sense, because I’ve heard that we’re one of the largest programs in The Creative School.”
Second-year LIR student Elizabeth Hoppe remembers not having official merch during her first-year orientation.
“I would be standing next to my friend who gets to be decked out in her program’s merch but I don’t get that,” she said.
Hoppe described those with program-specific merch as having a
sort of uniform, a “navy blue hoodie with yellow block letters.”
“It kind of makes my program feel small and very insignificant,” she said.
However, many programs have taken matters into their own hands by taking the initiative to design and sell their own merch through their course unions.
“It’s unique, it’s fun and it’s another initiative to do for the year, to connect the students as well,” said Nesrin Hassan, the president of the Occupational and Public Health Course Union and a fifth-year public health student.
Hassan described a particular feeling of ingenuity when her team added the year their program was established at TMU and the year each article of merch was created to their sweaters, adding to its sentimental value.
“It’s unique, it’s fun and it’s another initiative to do for the year”
Fourth-year creative industries student and president of CICU, Sabrina Rajput said, “It can be sometimes a little bit frustrating, because all of the printing, finding the printer every year, finding somebody to supply the sweaters and stuff, it all falls on CICU.”
Hassan also echoed Rajput’s concerns. “It is a lot of work to have to find your own vendor and fight for a good quote and drag the sweaters onto campus, which was a lot for me.”
While Rajput and Hassan discussed the hurdles they jump through to provide merch for students in their fellow programs, their efforts are clear that it is highly valued by these forgotten programs.
“There’s definitely the aspect that we get to decide what we value about the program, and everyone gets to put [in] their input. I’d say that’s a big difference versus the school just designing what they think would work,” said Henil Shah, a fourth-year creative industries student and vice president of Marketing at CICU.
TMU president Mohamed Lachemi expressed that “[the Campus store] maintains stock for a variety of departmental programs based on demand...and the campus works with student groups and departments on a case-by-case basis.”
Shah added that the creative industries program makes an effort to represent their student body by creating merch from their designs that will build an identity and give students something to take pride in.
CHARLOTTE LIGTENBERG/THE EYEOPENER
EUNICE SORIANO/THE EYEOPENER
Personal Essay: ‘Isang Panahon’—Music across my worlds
From the Philippines to Canada, music has always been my constant guide through change
By Gabbie Catral
Music has always been a huge part of my life. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t surrounded by it. My parents used to always wonder where I got this passion from, especially considering most of my family works in medicine or business. I didn’t exactly come from a family of musicians when living in the Philippines but I did grow up in a family that loved music.
Even though I didn’t have a musical background, music was something I always felt drawn to. It was the one thing that stayed consistent in my life. Though my family back home never pursued music, songs were always in the air.
Family gatherings weren’t just about food and conversation, they were full of impromptu jam sessions and karaoke battles on Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The living room would turn into a stage and the night would go on with the Catral-Fabul family voices layered over each other. The quintessential occasional off-key notes made everyone burst out laughing and yet these dissonant laughs became my grounding.
Then, a lot changed when my family moved to Canada. I was 17 years old at the time and it was a huge transition. There was less grand laughter, not as many family karaoke sessions and a large and unfamiliar community. I had to start over in so many ways—new school, new people and a completely different environment. I left the comfort of my childhood home—friends and family that were a part of my life for years. Yet, this change made me want to pursue music more than ever.
Music has brought me comfort in times when I felt lost or uninspired. No matter what was happening, whether I was feeling overwhelmed with change or struggling to find my place in a new environment, all I had to do was put on my headphones. It was my escape, my way of making sense of everything.
I was about five or six when my dad bought me a pink toy Barbie guitar for Christmas. I would pretend to play Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” and Taylor Swift’s “Love Story,” forcing my parents to sit on our living room sofa and watch my performances. I would play instruments without knowing a single chord, completely unaware of how ridiculous it probably sounded. Maybe they saw my passion—or just couldn’t handle my horrendous guitar playing—because shortly after, they signed me up for guitar lessons at a nearby music centre.
At first, I thought it would be another extracurricular activity, something I would do for fun like when they signed me up for ice skating or tennis lessons as a kid, which never really stuck with me. However, when I learned to play my first full song, it instantly clicked. The moment I could strum along to a melody and recognize what I was playing, I was hooked.
Upon completing my first lesson, I got my first real classical guitar. The first song I learned was “Rude” by MAGIC! and I played it for weeks until I learned another song. Being a seven-year-old girl, it felt like I had unlocked a whole new world, one
where I could bring the songs I loved to life in my own way.
In elementary school, I’d take any and every opportunity to pick up a ukulele or guitar. I fear I was one of those kids who didn’t know when to stop. I started off by performing covers anywhere I could—school performances, talent shows and family gatherings.
I remember how nervous I’d get before every performance, then the second I started playing, it just felt right. My nerves would disappear, and I’d lose myself in the music. It was one of the few moments where I felt completely at home.
“It was my escape, my way of making sense of everything”
Soon after completing lessons, my guitar teacher noticed I had an interest in singing while playing guitar as well, so he referred me to Sir Guy, a vocal and piano teacher based in Biñan, Laguna. He pushed me beyond what I thought I was capable of. I quickly learned how to play the piano, understand basic music theory, and utilize proper singing techniques.
Learning piano was especially challenging because it required me to read and play at the same time. However, the guidance I received from Sir Guy quickly resulted in progress. It wasn’t just about memorizing songs anymore: it was about truly feeling and understanding the music. He didn’t just teach me how to play, he taught me how to listen, how to interpret and how to make music on my own.
As I got older, I started writing my own songs. At first, it was just for fun, a way to experiment with what I was learning on the guitar. But over time, songwriting became something more personal to me. It became an
outlet—a way to say things I couldn’t always express in conversation.
Whatever I was going through, whether it was teenage drama, self-doubt, growing pains or figuring out who I was, music gave me a space to process it all. It was like having a diary, but instead of words on a page, my thoughts turned into melodies and lyrics. Eventually, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and started performing outside of school at open mics and professional gigs.
I kept rehearsing the lyrics and chords in my head before getting on stage for my first open mic performance. I was so nervous but knew I wanted to do it, and I did. It was at Jess & Pats, a little art cafe in Maginhawa, Philippines. Since then, open mics have become a big part of my journey. It wasn’t easy at first. I was naturally very shy, and the thought of performing in front of strangers was very nerve-racking.
Like all beginnings, I knew that if I wanted to grow as a musician, I had to push myself and do it. Each performance taught me something new. One of the biggest lessons I learned throughout all this was that repetition builds mastery and consistent practice turns skill into second nature.
“Music gave me a space to process it all”
Once my family and I settled down in Canada in 2022, I immediately tried to pick up where I left off in the Philippines, except this time, I was blessed with more opportunities. One of my mom’s friends invited me to perform a few songs at a little Filipino picnic gathering.
I got to perform at festivals like Taste of Manila and Fun Philippines, which was an incredible experience. I also started volun-
teering for organizations like Filipino TV and IMSTA FESTA, which opened my eyes to the importance of building connections in the music industry.
My journey has not just been about talent. It’s about my work ethic, who I know and how I can collaborate with others. Now, I’m in my first year at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), studying professional music, exploring the different sides of the industry and most importantly, myself.
I know I have a lot more to learn and that excites me. Every day, I find new reasons to fall in love with music all over again. I’m blessed to have friends and family who support me in what I want to do, especially my parents who work hard and help me be able to pursue my art.
So, what’s next for me? Honestly, at this very moment, I don’t exactly know. But I do know that wherever I end up, music will be at the heart of it.
Maybe I’ll be performing, maybe I’ll be producing, maybe I’ll be organizing the next big music festival. Maybe I’ll be doing all of it.
The music industry is huge and I want to be part of it in as many ways as possible. I want to bring artists together, create experiences and shape how music is shared with the world.
Seven-year-old me never imagined that one day she would be moving from her hometown in San Pedro, Laguna to studying and pursuing music in Toronto. She turned that little girl’s passion into something real. From the Philippines to Canada, music has always been my constant guide through change, and it will continue to do so moving forward. Ipagpapatuloy ko ang pag-abot sa aking mga pangarap sa bawat pagkalabit ng aking gitara — I will continue to reach my dreams with every strum of my guitar.
For professional student Gabbie Catral, music is a guide and an escape. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: KHADIJAH GHAURI/ THE EYEOPENER, IMAGE SUPPLIED BY KATRINA TAN, JODI GAPAN
Harm and harmony: the dissemination of Korean culture through K-pop
K-pop: culture, community and consequences
By Zarmminaa Rehman
Toronto is always riddled with lines but today you’re more than happy to stand waiting, inching closer and closer to the venue. There’s a buzz in the air, a sort of excitement fluttering personto-person. It takes some navigating but you finally enter, crossing the barrier of a curtain that separates you from the interior of the stadium. Watching the crowd in awe, it still feels a little surreal being here.
There is camaraderie between you and the thousands of other fans in attendance. Singing together, chatting up the people beside you, snapping pictures as the anticipation for the clock to strike the next hour ticks by.
This is the kind of feeling many K-pop fans recount after attending their favourite artist’s show. First-year creative industries student Jo*, is one of many who have shared in this experience. They recount their memories of attending a K-pop concert, saying it was more than fun, it was something they loved—a truly memorable event.
“It’s like a whole different universe when the concert starts.” they explain. ”You [feel] like ‘Oh my god, I wanna go back.’”
Jo’s introduction to K-pop was initiated when their cousin introduced them to music from groups such as Big Bang, Girls Generation, T-ara and EXO.
“I was like ‘Whoa, music video’s crazy…music’s banging,” they say. ”Before that I didn’t really have a connection to music…cause all I was ever exposed to was basically Canadian radio music.”
The Hallyu or Korean Wave, according to the Korean government, “is a term that represents the global popularity of Korea’s cultural content.” The word describes the growth and popularity of Korean culture and pop culture sparked by the success of K-dramas and movies across other countries.
According to The Korean Culture Centre, around the mid-90s and early 2000s, the popularity of Korean dramas in surrounding eastern countries such as China and Ja pan gained traction—the first “wave” of the Hal lyu. In the mid-2000s to early 2010s, Hallyu spread to countries around Asia through K-pop groups.
With the new popularity and in troduction to Korean music, the late 2010s saw an increase of concerts and events such as fan-organized K-pop Con held in Canada allowing oppor tunities for Canadian fans to wit ness performances by a variety of pop groups and soloists.
Canada was included in the Korean Foundation for Interna tional Cultural Exchange’s “2024 Overseas Hallyu Survey” for the very first time, with found con sumption patterns similar to that of the U.S., Australia, the U.K., France and Germany.
The survey also showed Canada with a higher “favourability” toward Korea in comparison to the aforementioned countries, with Korean popular culture being one of the most commonly enjoyed due to variety shows, movies, music, fashion and the beauty industry, only
second to that of U.S. popular culture. However, with this rise in popularity, concerns about cultural misinterpretation and fetishization have also emerged.
After exploring online for some time during the COVID-19 pandemic, first-year creative industries student and member of the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Korean Student Association Joanna Li came across K-pop group SEVENTEEN’s Going Seventeen variety show and soon fell down a rabbit hole.
Li first found herself drawn to K-pop four years ago, admiring the music, visuals and everything in between. “I feel like K-pop has helped me grow so much as an individual,” she says.
“I’ve met so many of my closest friends through the K-pop community by going to cupsleeve [promotional] events or going to concerts or different K-pop events.”
For Li, in-person events allow an opportunity to connect with people, feeling a genuine connection and seeing other fans face-to-face.
“Honestly, every single K-pop concert I’ve been to is an unforgettable experience,” she recalls. “It’s so nice seeing everyone that you know likes the same music [and supports] the same artist in one space.”
Despite the popularity of other aspects of Korean culture in the 2024 Overseas Hallyu Status Survey, as well as a rise in popularity of K-Pop, the favourability towards music was reported low compared to other Korean content.
As Korean culture continues to become more popular in Canada, many K-pop music fans are no stranger to being ridiculed and teased when expressing their interest in Korean pop
Li expresses that despite not being a K-pop fan when she was younger, as a Korean-Canadian growing up in a predominantly white community, the criticism she witnessed others facing because of their interests in K-pop made her hesitant to join the fandom.
“Whenever the topic of K-pop did come up, there were a lot of negative comments,” she recalls.
“Because [male] K-pop idols, they put on makeup and are more feminine…[their peers would] be like, ‘Oh my God, K-Pop is so gay.’”
The sentiment that dismisses K-pop as predominantly feminine often leads to the emasculation of Korean male idols, labeling them as feminine or mocking their makeup and fashion choices and referring to them as “gay” in a derogatory way.
Koreans and other East Asian people in the West have also been subject to stereotypes by being reduced to their appearance and often conflated with one another.
According to writer Grace Kao in the Korea Herald, “Today, Western journalists often
confuse famous Asian Americans for each other.” She stated that, “Some media outlets have trouble telling K-pop groups from one another, much more the members within a single group. Even articles about BTS sometimes used different boy groups in the photo.” This includes NCT 127 being mistaken for BTS at the American Music Awards, or using the image of a different K-pop idol in a show segment.
Similar sentiments conflating East Asian people together can be seen in the instance of American senator Tom Cotton repeatedly questioning Singaporean TikTok chief executive officer Shou Zi Chew whether he had affiliations with the Chinese Communist Party.
Li mentions that there are a lot of benefits to the rise in popularity for the Korean-Canadian community, but not without persistent push-back from some people.
“We’re getting more recognition even as Korean-Canadians in general, [however] there’s still hate towards K-pop,” she says. “People are just reluctant in getting to know and seek out new things. I feel like…there’s definitely gonna be people that are always hating.”
Cassidy Meyer-Hould, a dance associate in TMU K-pop— a group sharing a common love and interest for K-pop and Korean culture at TMU—was first introduced to the K-pop fandom during her high school years.
“I started liking K-pop when COVID first started, when I was in high school and I would listen to it everyday and I would start to learn the dances off You Tube,” she explains. Some of the first groups she listened to were ITZY, EXO, TWICE, ENHYPEN and New Jeans (NJZ). “From there, it led me to taking classes in K-Pop at a dance studio… So it’s just become a really big part of my life.”
Meyer-Hould’s passion for dance drove her not only to take dance classes but to join a K-Pop dance team—Lemonade Punch, where they do “performances [and] sometimes compete.”
For many fans, dance is an appealing element of K-Pop, with synchronized choreographies, striking stage outfits and passionate energy.
“For me initially, it was definitely the music. The performance and their energy while they’re performing is so different from Western artists,” says Li.
As a non-Korean K-pop fan, Meyer-Hould faced backlash and bullying from peers during her time in high school while she was a part of her student council.
“I tried to integrate K-pop and intercultural music into our school…but whenever I tried to host [events] during lunch, I would get bullied so bad from other people in my grade,” she says. Due to the bullying, she found herself ceasing
Visuals by Saif-Ullah Khan
attempts to implement any more programs, eventually quitting student council altogether. “I’d also get a lot of comments like ‘Oh you shouldn’t be doing that because you’re white and it’s cultural appropriation.”
Kyong Joon’s study Transnational fandom in the making: K-pop fans in Vancouver, reveals diaspora fans dealing with stereotypes such as K-pop being for young, immature and/or Asian-fetishizing groups of people, leading to fans hesitating to express their interests in K-pop.
Wanting to avoid certain fan communities, Meyer-Hould keeps a distance from online forums to keep K-pop a fun and enjoyable space for herself.
program period in 2014, Carleton University was able to initiate the Korean Language course.
When she began teaching, Yoo saw that the makeup of her classroom was mostly female students studying linguistics who were also K-pop fans. However, she has recently seen more diversity in her students, appreciating the rich perspectives they bring into the classroom.
“I think that it’s just really nice to come together for one person”
“I like to keep K-pop as something that I can turn to when having a hard day,” she explains. “I feel like in order to keep it that way, I have to stay out [of] the toxic fan behaviours and toxic forums where people are fighting over stupid topics.”
Social media has been a bridge into the consumption of content beyond music, with insight into the personality of groups and the space, however, it can become hostile and act as a foundation for miscommunication between international fans and netizens otherwize known as Korean domestic fans.
Jo has witnessed these interactions first-hand. “I just feel like sometimes domestic fans are very controlling but also, I can’t generalize…but that’s just what I’ve been seeing on my own feed.”
They acknowledge that, though online spaces can be toxic, a lot of positive interactions between fans can take place. From exchanging photos in fan cafes to helping each other maximize voting power during K-pop award shows—online communities do present many benefits.
“I love fan cafes, those are so cute…I feel like that’s just a very nice thing that brings the community together, just the idea of fan cafes or coming together and funding for a billboard for your favorite idol,” they said. “I think that it’s just really nice to come together for one person [Korean idols].”
Arriving in Ottawa from Germany 12 years ago, language teacher Hyounjeong Yoo found that there was a lack of Korean language classes in the city despite hearing of potential demand for Korean language teachers and two prominent universities.
“My son had a tutor…she said that so many [of] my friends, they are into K-pop or [K-dramas] and they [were] really thinking to learn [the] Korean language, but there is no place to learn,” Yoo explains. “I think slowly [Korean was] growing in popularity…but in my understanding…Canada I feel [is] slow to adapt to new things.”
According to BBC News, by 2018, K-pop increased the popularity of Korean learning courses in Canada and the U.S. Already having taught in South Korea and Europe, Yoo and her friend made a package with her resume and teaching portfolio to send to the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.
An hour after sending in her application package, she received a response from the coordinator.
Yoo recalls reading in the response, “I was thinking [about] creating a Korean course at Carleton, but it’s really hard to initiate because I have no idea what the Korean language [is] and then also it is really challenging to find the right person to teach, but you are the person that I [am] looking for.”
After a meeting with the coordinator and the start of the pilot
“They’re really really diverse [in majors] I feel that, and then also they bring some different perspective[s], not only [about] K-pop,“ she says.
With specific beauty standards and aesthetics showcased and encouraged by the South Korean entertainment industry, South Korea has found itself to be known as a cosmetic surgery capital with medical tourist rates rising according to The Korea Herald.
In tandem with cosmetic surgery, K-Beauty, is an important aspect of the Hallyu wave.
NPR Seoul Bureau Chief Elise Hu’s book Flawless describes the strict standards of beauty—pale skin, thinness, narrow noses—which are not only promoted through advertisement in Korea, but are also upheld by celebrities and media personalities. In an article by Forbes, Hu mentions that the aesthetics displayed in Korean content and media can cultivate the desire in viewers to emulate those looks. She says that, “Promoting an idealized look through popular media can lead some people to doubt their self-worth and worry they don’t measure up.”
enjoying Korean culture or even learning Korean doesn’t always mean someone is a Koreaboo.
Exploitation of Korean culture can cause harm to Korean people by promoting stereotyping and the fetishization of Korean individuals, which according to the International Journal of Communication, can reduce them to exoticized ideals rather than respecting their identity.
This appropriation can encourage and push harmful stereotypes against East Asian men and women that have historically been portrayed in Western media, such as Hollywood movies. These stereotypes can borderline on exaggerated portrayals or, described by Qin Zhang in Asian Americans Beyond the Model Minority Stereotype: The Nerdy and the Left Out: “Asians are also stereotyped as “all work, no play” nerds or workaholics, who are technologically savvy, but not interested in fun and social activities, and lacking proper communication, social skills, and cultural knowledge.”
“People are just reluctant in getting to know and seek out new things”
For Jo, the growing popularity of Korean music is almost bittersweet as they recall mockery and stereotyping for their interest several years back. “I remember back in middle school…around high school, I told some of my classmates that I liked Kpop,” they explained, only to be met with degrading commentary. “They [would be] like ‘Oh you like that guy? He looks like a girl, like he looks feminine.’’” Comments from classmates created insecurity for Jo about their interests. They found that after the pandemic when K-pop began to gain popularity, the double standard felt more evident.
“I [felt] like everyone kind of ignored me for it and now everyone was talking about it openly,” they describe. “It’s like ‘What the hell, this is not fair.’”
As a Korean-Canadian, though usually having pleasant interactions with and learning from her students, Yoo recalls experiencing the result of the generalization that comes with glorified images portraying beauty standards and practices in her culture.
“So [the] first time, some of my students [said], ‘Teacher, have you ever done something to your face?’” Taken aback by the comment, Yoo mentions that despite the prevalence of cosmetic surgery in South Korea, this does not apply to all Koreans, especially Korean women.
Love for K-pop and Korean culture can become damaging when that ‘love’ be comes fetishization and includes fan tasies of transracialism. Entered in the Urban Dictionary in 2017, a “Koreaboo” is a person obsessed with Korean culture to the point where they renounce their own culture and call themselves Korean. Common traits or behaviours exhibited by Koreaboos can be, looking or trying to act Korean, obsessive tendencies towards K-pop or Kdramas or the desire to have Korean partners.
British influencer Oli London is an extreme example, as he underwent multiple cosmetic surgeries to look like their favourite K-pop idol: BTS member Jimin. However, simply being a K-pop fan,
Jo feels Asian culture has been ignored, shamed and underappreciated, but now there is an increase in consumption of Asian food and interaction with Asian cultures in Canada. Though this has its upsides, it may leave some feeling resentful for being bothered for having the same interests in the past.
For Yoo, she values the positive light of the globalization of K-culture, however, she acknowledges that the image portrayed may be from rose-coloured glasses–not always magnifying the social issues that affect Korean people.
“K-drama or K-pop shows off the image [which is] inappropriate to [the] Western audience,” she explains, adding that K-dramas seem to glorify the culture to an extent that it is an issue, citing that only positives are portrayed over prominent negative aspects—a highly competitive and pressurefilled society—that are also present in the culture.
Yoo warns that the fantasy and image portrayed from Korean entertainment must be consumed cautiously, acknowledging that Korean culture faces the same risk of misrepresentation as any country, and international consumers are sold only a fraction of that culture’s reality.
Growing up with a lot more white influences, Li admits that the standards she witnessed were to be close to a Eurocentric culture, however, becoming a K-pop fan has allowed her to learn more about herself through the community. Through forming friendships and interactions with people of more diverse backgrounds during high school and university, Li said she finds herself closer in connection to her culture from joining the Korean Student Association and the K-pop fandom.
“Learning about myself and my culture, and being around people of my culture has also helped me [to grow], definitely. I’ve learned a lot about myself through these people and these communities.”
*This source’s name was changed for anonymity
The expanding futures of Syrian students
With the end of a repressive regime, Syrian students have newfound relief and hope
By Rowan Flood
A mountain with sweeping views of the city below. A swing made with rope surrounded by olive trees.
Narrow streets filled with markets in the old city of Damascus. The smell of white jasmine flowers in the air. These are some things Syrian students at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) are looking forward to experiencing again now that life in Syria drastically shifted a few months ago.
It was the middle of TMU’s exam season during the fall 2024 semester when Hamed Bakkar, a third-year computer science student, was preparing to return home to Syria for winter break when “everything changed.” He didn’t end up making the trip home but the reason for its cancellation was welcomed.
On Dec. 8, 2024, Syria experienced a historic transformation: then-President Bashar al-Assad was removed from office. The former ruler’s family had been in power for over five decades and many Syrian people suffered under his rule—from unjust imprisonments, intense mass surveillance, torture and more. The regime’s fall was swift and brought hope and relief to many.
Bakkar was born in Damascus and lived there for 20 years before coming to Canada as an international student. He said he’s supposed to graduate next year, laughing as he explained how difficult his degree is. “Do not go into computer science,” he jokingly warned with a smile.
He last visited his hometown during the summer of 2024 and witnessed people still struggling under the al-Assad regime. On top of financial struggles and safety concerns, he explained there is often little electricity and poor internet.
Bakkar’s grandmother and mother still live in Syria and he continues to stay in touch with them while he’s away. As the regime was being toppled by the armed opposition group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Bakkar had to balance the stress of exam season alongside exhaustive anxiety for his family’s safety.
“I didn’t study anything,” he remembered, not seeming too bothered as a laugh lit up his face.
He described the regime falling as “what we’ve been dreaming of our whole life.” His family tells him that many aspects of life are different and better now. He said although electricity is inconsistent, “basic human needs are there now.”
The new possibilities and opportunities
When Bakkar first came to Canada in August 2023, he planned to build a whole new life as, at the time, a promising future in Syria didn’t seem likely. However, his vision for the future has since “turned 180 degrees.”
While Bakkar feels unsure of what to do now, he can’t stop thinking of newfound possibilities he recently couldn’t consider. He explained that only a few years ago in Syria, he and his friends were planning to graduate and immediately leave the country. Now, his focus is graduating in Canada and then figuring out his life from there—but he’s certain Syria is going to be part of it.
“The biggest keyword is hope, right now in Syrians there’s so much hope”
Bakkar believes now is the time for people like him to “step up” and that young people can help build the country for the better. He hopes to return and that many new jobs will open, sanctions will be lifted and the economy will improve.
“We have so much to work with,” he said, speaking quickly as he imagined what could come next for his country. “We can start multiple businesses, multiple websites”—things that would have been difficult under the regime.
Marie-Joëlle Zahar, a professor of political science at the Université de Montréal, has also worked with the United Nations (UN) as a senior mediation adviser on the UN Standby Team and has been involved with its Syrian file since 2013. She agrees that if economic recovery picks up and gets the support it needs, there will be many more opportunities for young people in the workforce.
“Syria is going to need everything,” said Zahar, “It’s going to need bankers, engineers, doctors, professors, plumbers, electricians.”
While establishing careers and being part of the generation that grows in Syria is one opportunity, Bakkar and other students also plan on enjoying the country’s landscape, cities and culture.
Bakkar plans to return this summer. His eyes drifted up in thought and a toothy smile spread across his face as he described what he’s excited for. First, not being terrified of crossing the border and being accused of saying something he wasn’t supposed to, then returning to childhood spots that have been closed off for years as military zones by the al-Assad regime.
One particular spot is Mount Qasioun in Damascus.
“It overlooks the whole city,” he said, his hand spread across the screen to describe the view. “It’s really beautiful.”
He also plans to go to one of his favourite places—the Old City of Damascus.
“It’s mind-blowing how beautiful it is,” he said and explained how its narrow streets—thousands of years old—are filled with markets and Islamic architecture.
Besides seeing his hometown, Bakkar wants to travel the country. He now feels a new sense of security, and with it, the freedom to immerse himself deeper in a place he loves.
The hope spreading through families
Judy Alzain, a third-year industrial engineering student, also pictures herself and her family enjoying newfound freedom. Alzain feels able to enjoy the country she loves but also to see her parents—who were born in Syria—happy and safe. When things stabilize a bit more, she wants to visit with her mother, an idea they had concluded as unrealistic before.
“There’s a real hope,” said Alzain, referring to the possibility of seeing family—aunts, an uncle and cousins—for the first time in nine years.
Alongside reuniting with her family, she is hopeful to return to Boudan, a village not far from Damascus where her parents and grandparents were born.
Alzain is eager to see jasmine flowers, Syria’s national flower, which she said are everywhere. The small white-petaled flowers bring back distinct memories for her.
“I would be walking down the neighbourhood with my mom and could smell the jasmine off the streets. It’s so beautiful. I would pick one and put it in my hair or take it [home] with me,” said Al-
zain, pinching her fingers together.
As she and her family watched the news and got updates from family back in Syria, they could hardly believe that the regime was falling. “It was so surreal,” said Alzain, “We were excited.”
“Syria is going to need everything...it’s going to need bankers, engineers, doctors, professors, plumbers, electricians”
While this excitement didn’t come without some concern, worries continues to decline as her family in Syria gives promising updates. They tell her people are celebrating in the streets and that they feel hopeful.
“The biggest keyword is hope, right now in Syrians there’s so much hope,” said Alzain as she described people talking about opening businesses and rebuilding their homes. Her father, who currently lives in Saudi Arabia, is considering opening a pharmacy and retiring in Syria. He supports whatever Alzain wants to do with her future, but for him, being in Syria with family is his main goal. She recalled once telling her father, “There’s no future for me in Syria.” That no longer has to be the case now. Alzain envisions spending summers in Damascus— a place that holds “my culture, everything I know, our home recipes, the stories my grandparents would tell me, my hometown.”
The complexities that come with the change
Despite many people with connections to Syria feeling encouraged by the developments, returning to the country—whether visiting or residing—is not straightforward. Since 2011, the al-Assad regime—also backed by Russia,
Iran, and Hezbollah—has orchestrated a devastating humanitarian crisis against those who oppose it through systematic murders, displacements and more as explained by Al Jazeera. Much infrastructure has been destroyed and there is a lack of public services as published by CBC. Economic recovery is needed but complicated.
Zahar explained that challenges for recovery arise from international sanctions and the fact that HTS—the group that led the overthrow of the regime and may eventually control the government—is considered a terrorist organization by many countries according to the UN Security Council.
The word “stabilize” is used by some students to express what needs to happen before they return. There remains uncertainty among many surrounding what comes next.
Zahar, whose career expertise lies in conflict resolution, peace operations and post-conflict processes, explained that for Syria to move forward peacefully and successfully, ensuring security, effective control and economic revival of the territory is critical as she said Syria has lost “50 years of development” under al-Assad’s brutal regime.
While leaders of HTS have made themselves available to govern, constitutional reform and elections will take time with HTS’ leader specifying four years.
However, years of transitioning may be positive because generally “transitions that the international community designs for peacebuilding tend to be hurried,” and building a solid foundation is necessary for stability. Zahar said that rebuilding trust within the nation is important for peaceful elections and constitutions need time for consultation and negotiation.
Men’s hockey takes on the world at 2025 FISU games
Duco, Edmonds and Bowie take plenty away from Universiade, including a gold medal
By Eliza Nwaesei
With just seconds left on the clock, tensions soared, players clashed and referees debated penalties. Time stretched on as players and fans anticipated the ending of an intense game on the ice at PalaTazzoli in Torino, Italy. Goaltender Kai Edmonds felt the surreal weight of the moment, using the pause in the game to prepare for what was coming. When the final buzzer sounded, the third-year Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold athlete carefully removed his helmet before his teammates swarmed him. Bodies crashed, shoving him into the boards. As he fought to stay on his feet, he said relief and pure joy flooded over him.
Canada had done it again. They were International University Sports Federation (FISU) men’s hockey gold medalists for the second year in a row.
“You’ve worked so hard, you’ve sacrificed so much—leaving your family, leaving your team and jumping into this experience with both feet,” said TMU Bold men’s hockey head coach Johnny Duco, who served as an assistant coach for Canada. “To come out with a gold medal was truly special and it was a huge relief because when you’re Team Canada, you are expected to win.”
Third-year forward Connor Bowie, Edmonds and Duco found representing Canada at the FISU World University Games from Jan. 13-23 was about more than just hockey—it was an unforgettable experience both on and off the ice.
“You get an opportunity to represent your country, it’s an unbelievable experience”
The journey to Italy started long before the first puck drop. For Duco, it began with a phone call in early September 2024 from the University of Calgary Dinos’ head coach Mark Howell, inviting him to be part of the staff.
“[Howell] laid out my role— working on the video side, doing pre-scouting and helping with the forwards in practice,” said Duco.
For Edmonds, the call from Howell came months later, near the end of November 2024. He learned he was set to perform once again for Team Canada after winning gold at the 2023 FISU Games in Lake Placid, New York, and was the lone returning player on the team.
“I was really excited to have that opportunity again,” said Edmonds.
In a similar boat to Duco, the FISU games marked Bowie’s first time representing Canada on an international stage. Although there were plenty of unfamiliar faces, the few familiar ones made all the difference for him. Bowie and Edmonds weren’t just teammates for Canada and the Bold, they were already roommates back home in Toronto.
“I was lucky enough to know a few, my roommate [Edmonds] and then having [Duco] there just adds another comfort level so everything doesn’t feel really different,” said Bowie.
With the roster set, the focus quickly turned to building chemistry and preparing for the tournament.
Edmonds said he formed strong connections with his teammates through team bonding activities that helped break the ice. He also had a unique experience while rooming with Samuel Richard from the University of New Brunswick Reds and Francesco Lapenna from the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees—Canada’s other two goaltenders—which helped strengthen those relationships further. He recalled some nights at the hotel, they would play cards and just get to know each other.
In a short period of time, Duco saw the team go from individuals representing different universities to a tight-knit group collectively representing Canada and working towards a common goal.
Duco emphasized the importance of those personal connections and how he appreciated working with Edmonds and Bowie, who were integral members of the team.
“They are two unbelievable people,” said Duco. “Having them there makes you feel that much more comfortable when you’ve got a couple of your own guys that you can pull aside or chat with, and have that little bit of home still.”
The Bold trio’s journey was already well underway before the FISU Games opening ceremony, featuring athletes representing 54 nations across 10 winter sports. This year, Edmonds had the honour of being a flag bearer for Team Canada.
“To go out there and represent my country, to start, is an honour and something that is a privilege to do,” said Edmonds. “But then to represent the delegation and be the flag bearer is a really cool moment, cool experience that is something I’ll have forever.”
For first-time FISU participant Bowie, the opening ceremony was a moment he will cherish forever. He knew there would be a cer-
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: KHADIJAH GHAURI, OLIVER ULSTER/THE EYEOPENER
but
for the scale of it.
prepared
He remembered the stadium being pitch black and as soon as they walked out, the packed stadium erupted with overwhelming energy. For him and the Canadian team, the boisterous crowd in Italy and the realization of representing their country set the stage for the games ahead.
“When you’re Team Canada, you are expected to win”
Canada had a series of ups and downs over the course of the tournament. Despite outshooting Czechia 48-13 in their first game, they fell 2-1 in a shootout. They rebounded with a dramatic comeback win against Kazakhstan, erasing a 3-1 deficit in the final minute before winning in a shootout—a memorable moment for Duco—and then closed out the round-robin with an 8-4 win over Sweden. In the quarterfinals, they defeated Japan 9-1 before unleashing a nine-goal offensive spree to dominate Team USA 10-2 in the semi-finals, securing a spot in the gold medal game against Slovakia.
Canada hit their stride and silenced any doubts with a 3-1 win over Slovakia to claim gold. For Bowie, such a significant achievement was hard to grasp at first.
“I haven’t really won a medal of that extent before,” said Bowie. “On the ice, as soon as the game ended, it was pretty wild [and I] maybe even blacked out for a moment, to be honest.”
After reflecting on the excitement of the win, the team still had a chance to shift their focus and do some sightseeing. While their days were mostly focused on hockey, Edmonds explained
that during the 15-day trip, there were moments to explore the stunning surroundings of Torino and experience its culture while bonding with the team.
Edmonds not only took in the sights but was enthralled with the local food. He recalled the abundance of pasta and breadsticks—a personal highlight of his trip. The scenery also left a lasting impression, with the mountains reminding him of British Columbia, adding a serene backdrop to his most memorable experience: a wine tour.
“Trying some wine in Italy with all your teammates and checking out a little bit of the winery—it was something I’ve never done before and was a really cool experience to do in Italy too,” said Edmonds.
The trip brought out the traveller in the Bold goalie—he mentioned that if he had another week in Italy, he would explore more of Torino, visit museums and check out the Ferrari store. If he could, he’d bring along at least one Bold teammate.
“That would be Kevin Gursoy,” said Edmonds with a laugh. “I think he would be a fun addition to go to Italy with.”
“To represent the delegation and be the flag bearer is a really cool moment”
Though the team missed familiar faces from the Bold on and off the ice, Duco, Edmonds and Bowie had opportunities to meet athletes from around the world.
Duco spoke about forming bonds with players from teams like the United States, Sweden, Czechia and Kazakhstan, even sharing a level of mutual respect with the Slovakian team. The group spent time with Lakehead
Thunderwolves forward Malte Hasselgren, who was playing for Team Sweden.
Duco noted that it was interesting to hear about Hasselgren’s experience as an international player from the U Sports realm playing at the tournament.
“A player from your league, not playing for Team Canada but playing for one of the other countries, I thought was pretty neat as well,” said Duco.
Edmonds said that although interactions with athletes from other teams was limited, after Canada played Japan, the Japanese players returned to the hotel Team Canada was staying at. The teams even exchanged pieces of equipment.
“I traded for one of their jackets because I thought it would be cool to have,” said Edmonds.
With all three members now back in Toronto, the team prepares for the Ontario University Athletics playoffs, applying what they learned in Italy. The gold medal was a tangible reward but they learned lessons on and off the ice they will draw upon this season and beyond.
“I was able to watch all the teams’ practices, so you come home with 30 new drills that you want to test out with your team and implement,” said Duco.
Edmonds learned that playing at a high level requires a lot of preparation and attention to detail. For Duco, the opportunity allowed him to gather new drills to implement with the team and gain valuable insight that will help guide the Bold in the future. It was more than just a victory, it was a journey of growth.
“Anytime you get an opportunity to represent your country, it’s an unbelievable experience,” said Duco.
emony
nothing
him
AI therapy apps: convenient but at what cost?
Students using AI apps for therapy are left feeling disconnected and worried about their data
By Anessa Bhanji
When O Stecina noticed that the journaling app they’d been using for the past five years added a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature, they thought they would give it a try. After paying extra for AI to analyze their journals, Stecina, a fourth-year RTA media production student, said the advice and reassurance it provided didn’t meet their expectations.
“It didn’t feel [like] any deeper of an insight than I would have gotten from somebody that I talked to for an hour,” they said. “It didn’t feel as personal as I expected it to be.”
Journey, Stecina’s journaling app, is an online diary software that announced the introduction of Odyssey AI in December of 2023. The interactive chat-based bot lets users ask questions and receive responses using generated content from their past journal entries, according to Journey’s website.
While Canadian university students might use apps like ChatGPT to help them with their schoolwork, some are also turning to generative AI chatbots for life advice or therapy. According to Forbes, Gen Z uses AI an average of 12 times a week, compared to seven for Gen X and four for Boomers.
Stecina said their experience left them feeling concerned about the possible negative impacts of AI therapy apps, especially when it comes to privacy.
“I looked back at what I had done, and I was like, ‘this is freaky’,” they said. “If everything that [the AI is] reading is coming from me anyway…I don’t know what they’re going to use that data for.”
Stacey Ann Berry, an AI policy research member with the Centre for AI and Digital Policy, encourages students to explore emerging technology but to also consider how they’re compromising their own personal information if they’re unaware of how their data is being used.
“It’s concerning for their privacy, because with these AI systems, it’s not fully transparent as to what is happening to the
data we provide it,” Berry said. “There is no guarantee that your privacy information will be safeguarded.”
According to the Harvard Data Science Review, large language models in AI applications are found to encode biases, hallucinate content and reveal sensitive information that threatens privacy or security.
Berry advised students to be protective of their personal data and mindful of “hallucinations” by double-checking the information’s accuracy.
Even though the AI chatbot may have told Stecina what they “wanted to hear,” they don’t think the app’s feature will be helpful for them in the long run.
“There is no guarantee that your privacy information will be safeguarded”
“I also am very wary of getting advice from the AI, because it has its own set of agendas baked in by virtue of it being created by a company,” said Stecina. “I think that it’s really easy for you to get caught in a feedback loop that can make a lot of your symptoms worse.”
Much like the concerns Stecina has about the backend agendas of certain AI platforms, Huda Idrees, the founder and chief executive officer of personal health data platform Dot Health, said students should be aware of incorrect results when using generative AI like ChatGPT to receive mental health advice.
“The algorithm is designed by a very small number of people and we don’t know how it encapsulates the issues around mental health,” said Idrees.
She also said inaccurate health information generated by ChatGPT can make symptoms worse or lead to a misdiagnosis, which is not a risk worth taking.
For Quentin Stuckey, a 2022 graduate from TMU’s literatures of modernity master’s program, his concerns with AI therapy apps go beyond privacy and algorithms.
Stuckey said that after testing out an AI therapy diary app called Reset, he thinks AI
chatbots can create a sense of disconnection for students.
“There’s a lack of a physical human being there, the lack of connection and empathy,” he said. “There’s something cold and detached about communicating with the machine.”
Stuckey said that elements from a therapist like their body language or feeling “like someone cares,” are what’s missing from interacting with AI.
Stecina suggested that this vulnerability is what can make turning to AI for advice appealing to students.
“Talking about stuff that’s very personal to another human being is scary, it’s embarrassing, there’s a whole host of emotions that go with that. And even asking for advice from a friend or your peers, that is very daunting,” said Stecina.
“There’s something cold and detached about communicating with the machine”
“So I think that people turn inwards, and when they can’t, when they don’t have the answers, then they’re like, ‘okay, how can I do this in a way that as few people know about it as possible?’”
Idrees said students using AI chatbots instead of professional therapy is a symptom of a larger problem.
“Especially [for students] in school postCOVID, we live in a very isolated world, so this increase in a desire to access mental health resources is also a direct result of people not having friends [or] big social circles.”
According to Universities Canada, 74 per cent of students reported that the pandemic worsened their pre-existing mental health challenges and 61 per cent reported developing new challenges.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Diana Brecher said one of the main reasons students are turning to generative AI for therapy is its easy accessibility.
“It’s faster to get an appointment with AI than it is in a counselling centre. And cer-
tainly, if you leave a university and you’re out in the world, it’s pretty expensive to get treatment, so that will be a big factor too,” she said.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information reported that from 2023 to 2024, half of the Canadians who were referred to publicly funded community mental health counselling had their first scheduled session within 25 days of their referral. One in 10 people waited almost five months or more.
Third-year nursing student Emma Lusk said while AI therapy apps can potentially help students on a short-term basis, it isn’t a long-term fix.
“I feel like the instantaneous reply, instead of waiting for an email from a therapist or getting put on a waitlist to see somebody, is very beneficial for students,” Lusk said.
“But if you want more of a personalized care, then having an actual therapist is a better idea,” she said.
Idrees added that although AI may have positive outcomes when used in collaboration with other resources—such as seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist—the technology is not “there yet” in becoming a replacement for therapists.
“We haven’t really reached the sort of Skynet-level AI that James Cameron depicted in Terminator. We overestimate the power of AI. Humans are far, far superior,” Idrees said. Until then, Idrees suggests students find a community to build a sense of friendship amongst others—which is exactly what Stecina decided to do.
“I found a lot of joy was added to my life when I joined a choir. Just having something to go to every week where I’m with a bunch of people really helps to ground me in reality,” they said.
Stuckey also said that having a close group of friends, even at a commuter school like TMU, is important for students to feel less isolated. “I think that establishing a community, even if it’s just a close group of personal friends, really goes a long way, because you really don’t have to go through things alone,” he said.
SAIF-ULLAH KHAN/THE EYEOPENER
Bold chokes out Horned Owls in three sets
The
fun and satire section performs a Bold attempt at writing a sports recap
By Tristan Forde
Disclaimer: This is a SATIRE recap, any correlation or similarities to any real people are purely coincidental.
The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men’s volleyball team dominated the Whenton Horned Owls with a 3-0 sweep in Matthews’ Actual Church (MAC).
The game kicked off with the Horned Owls on serve. Right off the first serve, the Bold took control of the energy in the gym with a quick kill from eighth-year middle Arthur Pendragon, as he flew through the air and plunged his sword down.
“Pendragon is one of our best hitters, he’s been a part of the program for like seven or eight years now,” said third-year hitter Simon Rooky. “It’s safe to say he might be the one true king.”
The Horned Owls picked up their game and first-year setter Michael Christian utilized the left-handed second-year right side Rowan Blanshirt. Just like an advanced physics midterm exam, the Bold couldn’t find an answer.
As the Horned Owls were fast approaching the Bold’s tail feathers—and two points away from tying up the game—Rooky made the decision to sub in second-year outside hitter Charlie Jones. The Australian student is known to support the Bold’s backline well.
“G’day mate, me an’ the crew had a ripper start to the day. We kicked the footy around while the snag sizzled on the barbie,” said Jones. “But fair dinkum, playin’ against this mob was a walk in the
park compared to throwin’ down with roos back home.”
“It’s safe to say he might be the one true king”
Immediately thrust into action, Jones sent a miracle pass to fourth-year setter Aaron Prazzle who fired the ball out to Pendragon as he swung Excalibur straight into the ground.
From then on, the Bold looked back as the Horned Owls started losing altitude. The Bold carried their flow to win the first set 25-19.
Both avians took off flying in the second set. Christian gifted the horned owls a few well-placed setter dumps and they took an early six-point lead.
“Playin’ against this mob was a walk in the park compared to throwin’ down with roos back home”
To put a stop to their run, Prazzle showed fifth-year outside hitter Michael Sky-Flyer a pretzel motion with his hands. Understanding the signal, Sky-Flyer ran up and swung at the ball, scoring for the Bold once again.
“Our pretzel run is something we’ve been working on for quite some time, [assistant coach Raiden Hare] gave us the brilliant idea when we were at a pretzel shop,” said Prazzle.
Having spent the majority of their time on the Bold together, Sky-Flyer and Prazzle formed a strong connection the Horned
Owls could not keep up with. Every time the duo ran a “pretzel run,” a group of fans in the crowd could be seen holding up a large pretzel sign.
“Our pretzel run is something we’ve been working on for quite some time”
Both avifauna held each other at the neck as the game tied up at 1515. A two-minute long back-toback rally initiated where the Bold came out on top.
“Honestly the Horned Owls, they’re a good, great team. But we just took it this time you know,” said Sky-Flyer. “It’s all thanks to Prazzle, you know we just pass it, he sets it, and we hit it.”
The Bold took the second set 25-23. Pendragon started the third set at the service line—silencing the crowd. Many fans in the crowd called it the “Excalibur Effect.”
Much like Michael Bublé, the Bold were ‘Feeling Good,’ and subbed in fourth-year outside hitter Ken Weezel, well known for his powerful jump serve. However, the Horned Owls’ second-year libero Petite Fille proved why he is a national-level libero.
“It’s all thanks to Prazzle, you know we just pass it, he sets it and we hit it”
“[Fille] is like 5-foot-1, can we even consider that a man?” said Weezel. “He might be good, but he doesn’t have an army of fangirls stalking his Instagram to
find out if he’s single, so who really won here?”
Fille became the traitorous knight to Pendragon’s Camelot, constantly butting heads and denying them points. A quick set from Prazzle to Sky-Flyer had him free on an open net but Fille managed to scoop the hit up into the air. Christian retaliated by feeding the ball to graduate student middle Jeremy Goliath, as he put a massive crater in the floor.
“That’s like the sixth hole we’ve had to fix this year,” said the Bold’s resident handyman, Bob LeBuildher. “I love our boys, but they gotta lowkey chill out sometimes, y’know?”
The Bold retreated to their nest during a timeout to regroup, preen their feathers and recollect their plans before moving onwards.
Second-year middle Night Easton was called on to turn things around. Easton showed himself to be the only one who could send Blanshirt south by building a wall and locking him out.
The Bold carried this rhythm all the way to the finish line. With Pendragon’s mighty Excalibur, they clipped the Horned Owls’ wings, and Bold fans indulged in roasted bird for dinner that night.
“That’s like the sixth hole we’ve had to fix this year”
“Wait what is The Eyeopener, do people actually read those recaps?” asked Sky-Flyer. “Y’all do a recap after every game? Damn. That’s tough bro, someone should tell those sports editors to take it easy.”
UP NEXT: The Bold take on former league champions the Munching Meowsters in a litter box near you. First serve flies at 3:65 p.m. PLEASE READ THE RECAPS, TWO OTHERS AND I HAVE BEEN TRAPPED IN THE EYE OFFICE SINCE SEPTEMBER AND WE’VE BEEN FORCED TO WRITE RECAPS EVERY WEEKEND. PLEASE SEND HELP!
SAIF-ULLAH KHAN/THE EYEOPENER
Written by Liana Yadav and illustrated by Sarah Grishpul
Bubble Tea Crossword
Have you ever needed a sweet treat after that long 8 a.m. lecture to help escape those squeaky chairs and bad slideshows? Let The Eyeopener treat your lecture fatigue with Chatime! We are giving away one of five Chatime giftcards valued at $20 each.
Entering the contest is simple. Complete the crossword, take a photo of the page, scan the QR code and use it to submit your completed version along with your contact information. This contest closes Mar. 10 and winners will be contacted by Mar. 14. Rules can be found in our Instagram bio @theeyewideopen.
Easy Puzzle #1
Sudoku
Source: sudokutodo.com
How to play Each column and row must contain every number from one to nine without repetition. Each box must also have numbers one to nine with no repetition.
ACROSS
4. Chewy pearls in bubble tea
5. Another popular name for bubble tea
8. Green tea powder used in drinks and desserts, often said to taste like "grass"
Contribute to The Eyeopener
We're looking for... Writers Photographers
Videographers Models Illustrators
Video Hosts Animators
DOWN
1. Bubble tea topping from a plant with healing properties in a gel form
2. Used to sip bubble tea
3. Classic bubble tea base
6. Tropical fruit flavor option from South East Asia
7. Popular bubble tea chain first founded in Canada in 2011
10. Fragrant tea variety derived from a flower Source:
9. Purple root fl avor in bubble tea
Sign up to contribute to your student newspaper or email: editor@theeyeopener.com
Words to find
CHILL
Fill in the puzzle so that every row across, every column down and every 9 by 9 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
Sudoku requires a keen eye and the process of elimination to solve it. Want to check your progress? Flip the paper upside down and reference the answer key to the right.
