Volume 56 - Issue 3 September 22, theeyeopener.com2022@theeyeopenerSince1967
He added that getting this vac
Sly said this is the type of vaccine update that we need as we prepare for the gradual transition from pan demic mode to endemic mode.
“It helps the brand image,” he said. “[When stores] give you cou pons, that means you come back to buy more right from them.”
The effectiveness and sustainabil ity of clothing donation programs are determined by the use of do nations, according to Rahman. He thinks programs like these can be problematic if materials are wasted.
Anika Kozlowski, a fashion pro fessor at TMU, noted that large amounts of North American cloth ing donations end up being shipped out to other countries, particularly
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In a email statement to The Eyeopen er, the unversity said, “Swag featur ing the Ryerson name can no longer promote awareness or visibility for theSomeuniversity.”donated materials, such as binders and electronics, will go to wards the Materials Exchange or ganization, where participants can donate a variety of materials which can be turned into equipment and items needed to support education. Other materials like textiles will
Fashion professor Osmud Rah man said the lack of incentive is a
cine is helpful as it involves layering new antigens with existing vaccine antigens. Because antigens induce immune responses in the body and there is the possibility of gaining immunity from infections, Sly said, the range of immunity the new vac cine will give is very valuable.
Shaan Soomro, a second-year business technology management student, said he wishes the project would also help people in need of these“Therematerials.arepeople around the world who would strongly ben
The Creative School at TMU will also be repurposing old merchan dise in a sustainable fashion show in conjunction with Kozlowski and the university’s athletics department.
“It’s not often that you get a chance to to play around in this way and create something special”
“There are more pros to it, and in my opinion, there actually aren’t any cons”
“I’m okay with it. I’m a nursing student so I’ve looked into vaccines [that] we studied and how they work and everything,” she said. “When I weigh the pros and the cons, there are more pros to it and in my opin ion, there actually aren’t any cons.”
Liam Robinson, a first-year English student said he would get the vaccine.
“It helps you and protects you more, but it isn’t something you ab solutely need to keep everyone safe.”
Tsitsos agreed and said allowing
TMU upcycles old merchandise through new donation project
Second-year business manage ment student Demetra Tsitsos echoes Robinson’s belief that it is a personal decision but said she would get“Iit.would like them to not man date but to just highly suggest it,” sheTosaid.prioritize distribution of the vaccine, appointments for those aged 18 and over will be paused until Sept. 26. Currently, clinics are providing appointments to vulner ableChristinepopulations.Elliot, the deputy pre mier of Ontario, stated that the COVID-19 vaccinations and boost ers are the best tool to keep people healthy and out of hospitals. She added that it will ensure that On tario’s economy stays open as kids go back to school and as the weather cools, keeping people indoors.
Toronto Metropolitan Univer sity (TMU) students are divided on whether they will be getting the new COVID-19 vaccine that protects against two strains of omicron, after a government of Ontario announce ment that young people will be eli gible for the new vaccine.
“The bivalent COVID-19 booster is a safe and effective way for people to better protect themselves against the most recently circulating CO VID-19 variants in Ontario,” said Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore in a Sept. 12 press release.
“The original vaccines that were trialed and introduced early in 2021 were based on the original variant and were 90 to 95 per cent effective at that time,” he said. “Subsequently, we have seen those variants replaced by a series of variants and sub-vari ants that are further removed.”
“I like it because there’s a lot of people on campus than before, last year it was only a few people. So I think people should maybe get it,” sheInsaid.an email to The Eye, Timothy Sly, a professor and epidemiologist at TMU, said the new vaccine is an ex cellent opportunity for students and it will protect well against infection.
Sustainability strategies where clothing donations are encouraged by a discount coupon for the next purchase are often successful, ac cording to Rahman.
This booster was created by Mod erna to more effectively target both strains of COVID-19 that are cur rently circulating. The new bivalent
Ari Castillo, a first-year biology student said she doesn’t plan on getting the vaccine anytime soon unless it’s required. Out of personal choice, Castillo would not get the vaccine but will get it if there seems to be future restrictions on those who do not.
“I’ll get it if I have to but I wouldn’t want to get it.”
Robinson said he will be getting it for his own sake and isn’t bothered if others get it or not.
those in Africa and Central South America, which she hopes is not the case with TMU’s project. “It just causes large environmental and so cial destruction,” said Kozlowski.
Although TMU’s vaccination and mask policies are currently on pause, the university said in an email statement to The Eyeopener that it may need to reinstate these requirements if public health indi cators“Wechange.encourage all community members to be fully vaccinated and remain up-to-date with current pub lic health vaccination recommenda tions,” the statement read.
“It costs more money and energy,” he said. “Much clothing is not made from one single fibre, it’s a mix of fibres—that is difficult to separate.”
Adriana Arana, a fourth-year nurs ing student said she’s pro-vaccine and will be getting the shot.
NEWS2
“I’ve gotten all the other ones and it just makes sense to keep going at this point. It seems to be like flu shots where you just wanna keep upping it so you update it enough and you’re protected,” he said.
He also said the new bivalent vac cines are updated to match variants that are currently dominant, as well as the original strain. “Not only will the new vaccines decrease the likeli hood of infection and severe illness and help reduce transmission of the virus; but they could also decrease the likelihood of developing long Covid.”
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Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) has started a new initiative this month to upcycle older Ryerson brandedStudents,merchandise.staffand community members can drop off stationery, signage and merchandise that have the Ryerson branding from Septem ber to October. The materials will be reused, recycled or upcycled as part of the Branded Materials Transition Project (BMTP).
be donated to community sewing programs like The Scadding Court Sewing Hub located in Toronto, which repurposes materials for sew ing“Ifworkshops.TMUisencouraging students to accept our new name by recycling their Ryerson merch, I think the TMU merch should be more afford able,” said Amelia Papaikonomou, a second-year professional commu nications student. She said students might not participate if there is no monetary incentive to donate, such as a campus store coupon.
The project is collecting items on Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC).
vaccine targets the original virus and the Omicron variant that drove the largest wave of infection and hospi talization in the pandemic, acccord ing to a study done by the COV ID-19 Immunity Task Force.
TMU community weighs in on the new bivalent COVID-19 booster dose
missed business opportunity.
efit from the [donation] of old mer chandise more than us,” he said.
“That’s what’s great about up cycling, it’s just that it’s extremely creative, being able to take any kind of material destined for land fills and trying to add value to that,” said Kozlowski.
The fashion show is set to take place in November at the MAC to celebrate its 10th anniversary, along with new uniforms and cheers. Proceeds of the event will go toward the TMU Bold Equity and Inclusion Award, which will “address inequity and the ongoing impacts of historical exclusion of Black and Indigenous students,” ac cording to the university.
The new vaccine is believed to trig ger a strong immune response against both strains and is expected to extend the durability of protection.
The sustainable fashion show is slated to feature outfits designed by 20 TMU School of Fashion alumni with a background in sustainability or “It’supcycling.notoften that you get a chance to play around in this way and create something special where you don’t have to worry about sell ing it,” said Kozlowski.
younger people to get the vaccine now is a good thing.
By Jake MacAndrew
By Manroop Aulakh
The ISS added that it continues to consider the difficulties of inter national students continuing their studies online and has developed an “Action Plan.” The Plan provides ap pointments to students who are in need of assistance with their academ ics, finances and social transitions.
ple who are on the advisory [board] but I think it does give potential for new changes and new perspectives. I will be watching Magnet and see ing what the board does.”
Syed said he’s seen some fellow students struggle to find intern ships and “Hopefullyco-ops.this could open up more opportunities for TMU stu dents and possibly facilitate more internship opportunities as I’ve seen some fellow students struggle to find internships and co-ops,” said Syed.
“It sounds like [the board] are looking for ways to increase the number of opportunities, increase utilization of other tools and re ally try to give students one more place they can go to and one more place that they could possibly link to,” Smith said. “It sounds like [the board] are looking for ways to in crease the number of opportunities.”
To use Magnet, job seekers can sign up with their email to create a free account and then fill out a pro file to get matched with employment opportunities. Magnet also offers guided job searches, employer invites tailored to the user’s skills and jobhuntingRamishresources.Syed,a first-year gradu ate student studying mechanical en gineering at TMU, used Magnet to apply to internships and jobs after finishing his undergraduate degree.
by spending as much time with her family and friends as possible and acknowledging that these issues are out of her control.
Unnati Madan, a first-year busi ness management student from India, has been waiting for twoand-a-half months for her Visa to arrive, resulting in constant stress due to Madanuncertainty.washoping to have re ceived her Visa before this month,
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so that she could have participated in classes However,in-person.sinceshe was unable to receive it in time, she had to pivot to online learning, causing her to lose a class she was looking forward to.
“It’s absolutely very stressful to be in this situation and we are only al lowed to wait,” said Wu. “There is nothing else I can do.”
According to Ashish Agarwal, students around the world, especial ly in Toronto, are facing substantial difficulties in getting their Visas.
“We hope that the new advisory board will help Magnet gain new labour market insights, specifically in the area of the future of work, which could in turn help gener ate more opportunities in an everchanging labour market for students and recent graduates,” wrote Wincy Li in an email to The Eye Li is the associate director of ca reer education at the Career, Coop and Student Success Centre at
Students, faculty hope new Magnet advisory board will lead to greater opportunities
TMU. The centre is responsible for offering career development re sources to students and alumni.
ISS said they are trying to in clude international students now and make them feel as comfort able as possible when they arrive in “WeCanada.welcome and support new comers to Canada as they adjust to the new Canadian environment and culture,” said TMU in an email to The Eyeopener
“The delay in my Visa makes me unable to attend classes and meet new classmates,” said Bingwin Wu, a first-year hospitality and tourism student from Japan.
“I had to drop one of my favourite classes because it could only be inperson,” said Madan. “It’s frustrating.”
“There was a decent amount of opportunities available for my pro gram and it’s easy to apply through the website. The smaller user base also made it easier for me to get in terviews,” Syed said.
While job sites like LinkedIn are often the first choice for profes sional development, some students who have chosen to use Magnet re port not having a good experience with the site.
TMU professors are also hoping the advisory board expands opportu nities for students. This is especially welcome in the hospitality and tour ism industry, which Wayne Smith, interim director of the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, said is facing issues with employment and understaffing.
He said due to the delay in their applications, a lot of students have had to defer their semester and de lay their plans.
Students can also attend work shops and meditation sessions run by the ISS.
According to the IRCC, in the first quarter of 2022, 175,000 study per mit applications were received and are in the process of being reviewed.
“It’s a pity that I couldn’t attend the first in-person classes,” said Wu. “I was very excited to be in-person.”
The ISS has a team of Interna tional Student Advisors who can help provide group immigration advice both in-person and online for students who are still abroad.
Stuck at home: TMU international students struggle with delays in acquiring student permits
At TMU, International Student Support (ISS) said they have been working to provide the best experi ence for international students who are still overseas.
With Immigration Canada experi encing a large application backlog, international students at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) are encountering delays in receiving their student permits.
After months of waiting for their permits, international students say the delays are not only adding stress due to piling assignments, but they’re also struggling to meet new people while stuck abroad.
“Parents have been worried, espe cially because they want their kids to
By Julia Tramontin
Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and job hunting site Mag net have created an advisory board to further the platform’s growth.
The board will also be chaired by former finance minister Bill Morneau. Back in 2020, Morneau resigned from his roles as minister and member of Parliament follow ing controversy over awarding a $45.53 million contract from the federal government for the admin istration of a student grant program, despite his close ties with the char ity. Morneau has maintained that he never wanted to serve more than two terms in office.
Government of Canada. He spe cializes in helping students in India get into universities and colleges in Canada and assists with the corre sponding Visa process, with offices in both India and Toronto.
PEYTON KEELER COX/THE EYEOPENER pursue their career in time,” he added.
However, Wu added that she is trying to prioritize her mental health and manage her stress levels
“Our board members are passion ate advisors, leveraging their ex pertise and commitment to ensure Canada’s future prosperity in a vol unteer capacity for a set term.”
By Yanika Saluja
With finding employment often being a stressful and difficult expe rience, students are hoping the ad visory board could potentially ease that burden for those using Magnet.
Wu applied for her Visa in June 2022 and has still not received any updates from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
“A lot of students didn’t want to study online and the universities were giving an option to study on line,” said Agrawal.
“I think I am able to deal with the stress and uncertainty because I think everything happens for a rea son,” said Wu.
Agarwal is a Canadian immigra tion consultant, licensed by the
“We are excited to have Mr. Morneau as the chair of our ad visory board. Mr. Morneau has a wealth of knowledge and experi ence that will be invaluable to our board,” the university said in an email to The Eyeopener
Wu feels that, by being forced to remain online, she is missing out on the in-person class experience.
The advisory board, “brings out standing leaders together from across Canada, representing a crosssection of organizations and inter ests, skills and expertise,” according to an announcement posted to To rontoMetSelf-proclaimedToday. as “Canada’s op portunity platform,” Magnet was first launched in 2014 and has over 170,000 job hunters, 34,000 em ployers and 110 post-secondary schools using its site, according to theItuniversity.isanon-profit, career develop ment site serving both job-seekers andTheemployers.board will consist of 15 members “each an expert in their field and dedicated to driving innovation and systems-level change” in the Canadian job mar ket, the announcement read. This includes some TMU faculty, such as Anna Triandafyllidou, the Can ada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration and Frederic Dimanche, director of the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, who is currently on sabbatical.
“I’ve used it a few times, but I find the search function to be pretty con fusing,” said Kirsten Huber, a fifthyear biology student at TMU. Huber said they only found jobs through the TMU online co-op portal, but are open to trying Magnet again under the new advisory board. “I’m not familiar with many of the peo
Rajat Barmecha posing at the red carpet premiere of Kacchey Limbu.
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Konnor “Blue Collar” Killoran Andrew “Himofey Mozgov” Yang
Though Colm is in his sixties, his extreme behaviour feels like early twenties pretension.
Picture perfect: Editor’s picks from TIFF 2022
Soft
last week, explores how Pádraic’s life is shaken on an otherwise un exceptional afternoon when Colm rejects him and terminates their friendship. “I just don’t like you no more,” he says bluntly.
The bizarrely violent saga also prompts Siobhan to reconsider her own suffocating life, spent living with her brother and chasing his beloved donkey, Jenny, out of their shared home.
COURTESY OF TIFF
Of course, a movie about a com poser must have a tasteful score— and it did. A brilliant combination of compelling visuals, narrative and music, this film is a window into a part of history that is often con cealed as a result of whitewashing.
ThisPlace
Riceboy Sleeps is a powerful repre sentation of the immigrant experi ence in Canada. As an immigrant
apologetically genuine story.
Chevalier
For Pádraic (Colin Farrell) in the dark comedy The Banshees of Inisherin, written and directed by Martin Mc Donagh, it’s simply enough to wear his niceness as a badge of pride as he strolls over sloping green plains to enjoy a daily pint with his best friend,
Pádraic’s indignance gradually de volves from witty, lived-in exchang es with Colm to irreversible fury.
ARTS & CULTURE 5
This year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) was met with big stars and even bigger crowds. Back in full swing, TIFF 2022 hosted some notable premieres of international and Canadian flicks. The festival also showcased work from Toronto Met ropolitan University (TMU) alum ni, including V.T. Nayani, Joseph Amenta and Luis De Filippis.
When Pádraic refuses to accept his decision, Colm presents a sickening ultimatum: for every time Pádraic bothers him, he’ll cut off a finger from his fiddle-playing hand. The threat is less self-defeating than it appears.
The film—or rather documentary filmmaker Zoe (Lily James)—fol lows her childhood best friend and neighbour, Kazim (Shazad Latif), on a journey in the world of arranged mar riages. While it follows the typical rom-com formula, What’s Love Got To Do With It? combines tasteful humour with endearing character dynamics to make for an entertaining film.
Human consciousness is a con tradictory burden in Banshees, free ing and trapping characters as they struggle in their quests for purpose.
By Rochelle Raveendran
to Mozart as a 17th century com poser. Mozart died in 1791. The pressures of intellectualism set us up for hard falls; look no further than a TMU tutorial discussion for proof. For Colm, death—or at least maiming—would relieve him from his struggle for relevance against a ticking
This Place beautifully creates a well-rounded narrative around the two main characters and shapes them to represent relatable people and life stories.
Another TMU grad also had a bigscreen moment at the festival this year. Soft, written and directed by film studies graduate Joseph Amen
For those who didn’t have a chance to attend the festival, The Eyeopener’s arts and culture editor Madeline Liao has compiled a list of must-see films to keep on your ra dar. Lights, camera, action!
Born to Irish parents, McDonagh affectionately lingers on the fiction al Inisherin’s peaceful rural land scapes. When accompanied by a bright choral score, it’s understand able why Pádraic is so content at the film’s opening. Animals are fol lowed attentively, with moments of personality stressing their connec tion to their owners. Even as Pádra ic grows lonelier, his bond with his donkey, Jenny, is unshakeable. Only interspecies friendships emerge un scathed as humans and animals alike hurtle towards the inevitable end.
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Although primarily described as such, This Place is so much more than just a love story. From Kawen niióhstha searching for her estranged father to Malai and her brother con necting with theirs, it is a story of family, identity and formulating one’s own idea of self.
What’sLoveGotToDoWithIt? Shekhar Kapur’s romantic comedy was cheesy and cliche, which means it did its job. A classic friends-to-lovers trope, the film explores the intermin gling of cultures and traditions in a genre that has often lacked diversity.
By Madeline Liao
Farrell plays Pádraic like a baffled puppy, brows contorting as he won ders what he did to offend Colm. News of the feud soon touches every corner of the close-knit community, where social niceties are cardinal and gossip cloaks itself as concern. Eventually, all the villagers, includ ing Pádraic’s long-suffering sister, Siobhan (Kerry Condon), are bad gering Colm about his decision.
TMU journalism grad V.T. Nayani’s feature debut had a memorable pre miere at TIFF. This Place tells the story of two young women, Kawenniióhst ha (Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs) and Malai (Priya Guns), as they explore their respective cultures and come to understand their place in the world.
In a telling scene, Siobhan cor rects Colm for repeatedly referring
this year’s festival had it all
While each person’s experience with immigration and settling into a new space is different, Riceboy Sleeps spectacularly captures the essence of new beginnings and what it feels like to be viewed as different.
RiceboySleeps
It’s the desire to produce some thing meaningful when you feel less relevant than ever before. Univer sity campuses like Toronto Metro politan University’s are inversely bustling compared to 20th century Irish islands, but they make you feel equallyDeathunproductive.anxietypeaks in your twen ties, according to a paper in Death . Colm doesn’t fear death, but he’s crushingly aware of it. Without any children, Colm throws himself into leaving a legacy by achieving culturalWe’veimportance.allbeenPádraic before, hit with a senseless social media softblock. Yet, it was the blocker who struck me hardest in this film. Colm has had an artistic awakening since the end of his friendship with Pa draic. A new devotion to his fiddle means he can no longer tolerate ba nality. “Niceness doesn’t last,” he says to Pádraic’s disdain, “but music does.”
speaks to pretentious quarter life crises
Ambition dies as you age. Our reti nas degenerate, priorities sharpen and we uphold our relationships to be what matters most in life. But on a small, static island off the Irish west coast in 1923, what does ambi tion look like in the first place?
The pressures of us up for hard falls
myself, I reflected on my childhood experiences while watching the film and felt connected to these characters. Scenes of a young Dong-hyun pulling his eyes back and throwing out his lunch because of classmates’ grimac ing at the smell hit hard.
ta, follows three dynamic young per sonalities—Julien (Matteus Lunot), Tony (Zion Matheson) and Otis (Harlow Joy)—as they navigate life in the Greater Toronto Area. The film is so many things at once; celebra tory, tragic and lively, but above all, it is real. It is based off of Amenta’s personal memories and recounted ex periences of other queer people they have met, allowing Soft to portray honest instances and characters that makes the fictional story feel true.
Gleesonclock.gives a fascinating per formance, distant but with affecting moments that suggest he feels forced to pursue this course. He grounds the film with a life set squarely be tween resolve and regret.
In the film, death looms inescap ably over the villagers. The film’s title refers to female spirits in Irish folklore—banshees—who wail to warn about impending deaths. In sherin’s own banshee, Mrs. McCor mick (Sheila Flitton), freely doles out ominous predictions. As a reac tion to life’s fragility, Colm’s cruel attitude isn’t unfathomable. Tedious
A new devotion to his longer tolerate banality
Directed by Stephen Williams, this breathtaking period drama took me right back to my weekly piano les sons. Featuring an incredible perfor mance by Kelvin Harrison Jr., Cheva lier is a powerful biopic inspired by the life of composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. The film follows Saint-Georges’ rise to musical and reputational greatness, followed by his impending downfall as the French Revolution sets into motion.
This one had me bawling like a baby in the theatre. Vancouver-based di rector and actor Anthony Shim’s film tells the story of a mother and son’s life in Canada in the 90s. After the loss of her son’s father, So-young (Choi Seung-yoon) and her son Dong-hyun, (Dohyun Noel Hwang as a child and Ethan Hwang as a teen ager), leave South Korea and settle in the suburbs of Vancouver.
In addition to giving the audience authentic queer characters, Amenta gives a voice to Toronto’s queer community by highlighting areas like The Village, adding music by local queer artists and telling an un
Three years into his job at the store, Gleasure finally came to the conclusion that he wanted to go back to school, but deciding what he wanted to study was difficult. “Am I gonna pour another $30,000 into a degree that’s going to get me a grocery store job?” He needed a program, unlike the one at Carleton, that would keep him engaged for another four years and get him closer to a career he was truly passionate about—his goal has been to work in fashion purchasing, with the ultimate goal of working in Japan. BY VANESSA KAUK
But less than a year into the new degree, the pandemic hit and Gleasure says the program’s elements, that he thought previously prepared students well for the industry, were taken away from them when classes pivoted online.
A
He remembers sitting at his desk with a cup of coffee, paying close attention to his professor who was explaining the details of an assignment integral to the course. His professor explained
Finally, he landed on the fashion program at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and started in September 2019. He had heard about the program’s reputation for being hands-on and was looking forward to getting the in-person experience he missed out on the last time he was in school in 2014. “[TMU] fashion used to have a really strong reputation for being a technical program,” he says. “People would come under this program and they would be technically competent for the real world.”
fter trying to complete a double major in philosophy and music at Carleton University but being unsuccessful, Joseph Gleasure still found himself working at a Real Canadian Superstore in Mississauga, Ont. In his six years at the grocery store, he worked shifts all over the schedule and in more departments than he can remember. One day during a regular shift, he thought to himself, “What the hell am I doing here? I can’t work here forever.”
no guarantee GRADUATING TMU STUDENTS SAY ONLINE LEARNING HAS IMPACTED THEIR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS WORDS BY MARIYAH SALHIA VISUALS
little opportunities for students to have face-to-face interactions with professors, they aren’t learning how to deal with uncomfortable social interactions, which Joordens says is imperative to being able to get a job.
oday, Gleasure has an end goal of a career in fashion at the front of his mind. With only a year left of his degree to complete, he feels confident about his employment prospects, but he doesn’t think his degree is what’s preparing him for the workforce. Instead, it’s because of his job in marketing for a high-end furniture dealer in Toronto.
For TMU students approaching graduation like Gleasure, working towards a bachelor’s degree feels like an expensive step that’s offering less job security than ever. Coupled with two years of watered down learning during online school, the question of how students will be prepared for future employment after graduation looms heavier than ever on their minds. And that’s if they can even find employment.
Now, Shoebridge says the only reason she feels confident about her job prospects is because of a shortage of nurses in Ontario. Earlier this year, emergency rooms across the province were closed because of depleted nursing staff.
Gleasure, now in the final year of his degree, says there is a noticeable gap in the quality of work students produced during the pandemic, compared to before. He attributes this to a lack of engagement when classes were online, reminiscing about the number of his classmates who’d attend class in their pajamas.
He says getting a university degree is like getting a hunting license—having one doesn’t automatically mean you will get a deer. Similarly, a degree is just one step toward the greater goal of finding stable employment, not the key. As a result, Verma says students will have to work harder to make themselves more competitive candidates, like seeking out additional professional courses, connecting with employers before reaching out about jobs and in some cases, skill tests administered by potential employers.
A Pew Research study found that only 69 per cent of 2020 university graduates were employed by 2021, compared to 78 per cent of 2019 graduates, who were employed by 2020. According to Statistics Canada, 10.3 per cent of university graduates were unemployed in 2021, a considerable jump from 7.6 per cent in 2019. Last month the unemployment rate in Canada rose by 0.5 per cent to 5.4 per cent. While this rate is still low in comparison to the record-high nationwide unemployment rates in previous years, in August, employment dropped amongst Canadians between the ages of 15 and 24.
“Companies need to see that you have this piece of paper on your resume,” he says. Without the degree, Gleasure says people wouldn’t call him back when applying for jobs, so finishing his undergrad was a needed step. Nonetheless, he says he’s still going to make the most of his time left, despite feeling unfulfilled.
“It’s always really important to make the distinction between knowledge and skills,” says Steve Joordens, a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto Scarborough. He says even before the pandemic, universities weren’t doing a good job of preparing students for life after graduation.Byhaving
“I’m gonna test you and then goodbye. We’ll see you next week online,” she recalls being told.
In the winter semester last year, Shoebridge and her classmates came back to campus for one day of in-person labs. She says students were rushed through what felt like 10 weeks worth of content in a mere eight hours. She remembers her instructor saying, “‘OK, we’re gonna do injections, we’re going to do catheters, we’re going to do this, we’re going to do that and then we are out of here by 4 o’clock.’”
“Everybody got hit [by unemployment rates], but certainly students are among the worst. Students at all levels,” says Anil Verma, a professor emeritus of industrial relations and human resources management at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. He says for older students, especially those in university, it was tough for them to enter university, graduate, do lab work, get a job and be integrated into a new organization.
Still, Verma says getting a university or college degree is like a stamp on your forehead. Then, students have to go to employers with their degrees and say, “‘Look, I did my four-year course.’”
As for his degree, Gleasure says he thinks it’s more of a formality.
“If I was relying purely on my education, credentials, I don’t think I would have gotten that position,” says Gleasure. “I feel like there’s a lot of people in that exact same position in my program right now.”
7
“There is a noticeable difference in skill set,” he says.
“I’m just gonna bust my ass and do everything I can to get the most out of this program.”
For Shoebridge, this was frustrating. “We’re supposed to have so many other hours and days and knowledge and we have none of that.” These are some of the hands-on skills that many TMU students like Shoebridge and Gleasure did not get a chance to learn, especially when everyone was at home during online school.
Verma says in the past, bachelor’s degrees were enough for employers to hire a candidate. Now however, employers are also looking for strong skill sets. “Whether you’ll be hired depends on your ability to demonstrate that you can use your knowledge to solve problems,” he says. “And this trend is increasing.”
She used to think she wouldn’t get hired out of school, because like her fellow peers in the program, she had less experience. Now however she says “I will for sure get hired, no matter where. Because it’s a crisis.”
But when her practical training began in the midst of lockdown in her second year, Shoebridge says she missed out on opportunities for hands-on learning that she’ll now never be able to experience. Instead of using labs and getting in-person instruction, she and her classmates were given a kit to do skills labs at home. “I had to put my fan next to me at my desk here, run an IV and count the drips,” she says. She had to insert a needle into an orange for her skills video assessment, conduct wound care on the back of her binder and practice doing sterile dressings all from home.
K
Now, Gleasure has just seven credits left to complete his degree but any job prospects he’s feeling good about after his impending graduation haven’t come as a product of his degree. Instead, they’re a product of the hard work he’s done outside of his schooling.
“I got that job because of work I had done in social media on my own time, completely unrelated to school,” he says. Earlier this year, he was awarded the Helen and Sulo Hutko Award by the TMU School of Fashion, for his work contributing to fashion magazines like _AD magazine, SHELLzine, Terminal 27 and for co-founding My Clothing Archive, an archival fashion page, which grew to 25,000 followers on Instagram and 13,000 on TikTok.
rista Shoebridge still remembers her first day of university, on a Tuesday in September of 2019. Relieved that it started at 10 a.m. and not at 8 a.m. like some of her other classes were scheduled to begin, she went to her lecture and made conversation with some classmates she recognized from orientation.
T
Since 2017, TMU’s nursing program has consistently made the Maclean’s top 20 list of best nursing university programs in Canada, so the choice of school for Shoebridge was easy. With the program boasting a hands-on approach, she was excited to get
features
For Shoebridge, missing out on these labs in person feels like a loss that’s particular to her graduating class; after that lab, the program didn’t offer the same practical experience again.
that each student was to put together a 50-page book of written and photo content they pulled from other sources. The professor stated that in past years, students had to produce a physical 100-page book, with all original written content and two photoshoots that they produced and shot themselves. He sat at his crowded desk, mouth agape at what the assignment had been reduced to because of the pandemic. “I was like, ‘Oh. This is daycare compared to what it was,’” he says.
into practical classes. Then, the pandemic happened. At the time, the now-fourth-year nursing student was eager to start saving time and money on her commute from Mississauga, Ont., since classes were shifted online. “I didn’t have to worry about loading up my Presto card,” she says, “I knew that I just needed my computer to work.”
COMMUNITIES8
“I’ve had three years of living in the city,” she said. “For first-years it’s definitely different.”
Campus resources like Consent Comes First and the WalkSafe Pro gram are designed to help mitigate sexual harassment and make students feel safe on campus. The WalkSafe Program pairs students with uni formed security members to escort them to locations on campus.
The Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup (GLPC) is a campaign that uses dif ferent types of technology to help re move plastics from the Great Lakes. According to the GLPC, 10 million kilograms of plastic are dumped into the Great Lakes each year.
The group is looking for volun teers to help pack emergency kits for families affected by the floods. Each kit includes a household water purification unit, solar light and es sential hygiene items.
Women students say they want better security amidst fears of sexual harassment
Whether you’re new to Toronto or have lived here your entire life, the city is full of events that are always looking for extra volunteers to lend a helping hand.
By Nalyn Tindall
This year’s run is on Oct. 2 and needs volunteers to help with the event planning. Positions include fun draising, social media marketing, site set-up, entertainment coordinator, corporate engagement and more. Volunteers are asked to look at all
Here are a few spots throughout the city that Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) students can vol unteer for. Check out The Eyeopen er’s website for sign-up links.
CIBC Run for the Cure
last spring, when a student was al legedly assaulted on campus. In March, a university community member reported to T MU Secu rity that they were sexually assaulted in Kerr Hall, according to a security incident released by the university.
The service is available to all TMU community members at all times, while Consent Comes First offers free and confidential support
down Gould Street, despite it being a busyTaimurarea.described feeling unsafe
the available postings within their community or send an email to vol unteer@cancer.ca.
Toronto borders Lake Ontario, one of the five Great Lakes in North America. These lakes are the largest bodies of freshwater in the world, but over 20 million pounds of pollu tion end up in them every year.
PEYTON KEELER-COX/THE EYEOPENER
Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup
has been cat called outside the Victoria building, despite being in a group during the daytime. When asked if she felt safe on campus, she explained she has mixed feelings.
In a statement to The Eyeopener, TMU stated that “TMU Security staff are actively patrolling on cam pus 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide a safe presence for students and community members.”
Meals on Wheels
The Canadian Cancer Society re ported in 2019 that one in four Ca nadians will be diagnosed with can cer in their lifetime. Run for the Cure is an annual charity run dedicated to breast cancer, one of the most com mon types of cancer, according to the Canadian Cancer Society.
PEYTON KEELER-COX/THE EYEOPENER
Global Medic Canada Pakistan Flood Response
According to BCC News, one-third of Pakistan is currently under water, impacting an estimated 33 million people. Global Medic is a Canadian charity that provides disaster relief
The intersection of Church and Carleton streets is currently the site of streetcar construction. This intersection near the Mattamy Athletic Centre is at the edge of the school’s WalkSafe program, forcing students like fourth-year global management studies stu dent Gillian Baker to take alter native, more dangerous routes to reach their
TaimurTaimur.saidshe
She also said she’s been catcalled on campus by other students, in cluding an incident where a large group of male students shouted at her and her friends while walking
By Samreen Maqsood
“[Catcalling] is a very common occurrence”
The organization is also looking for volunteers for their mobile food bank, which provides food hampers to those people who cannot access local food banks in-person.
on Sept. 24 at Mel Lastman Square.
She expressed appreciation for campus security but said she doesn’t
“Yes and no because we don’t ex actly have a campus, it’s just like a big open space in the city,” Taimur said.
to those who have been affected by sexual“Theassault.security walk around, but are they really there? No,” said Ga briele. She explained that she often only sees security guards during the day and would feel more comfort able if there was an increased secu rity presence at night. Though the university did not disclose how many officers patrol campus, the school did state that the number of officers are “un changed based on hours of the day or “Guardsnight.” respond to calls for service in emergency priority se quence,” the school added.
In the same statement to The Eye, the university said, “The wellbeing of our community members is one of our top priorities...We take any incidents of sexual vio lence and harassment on our cam pus very Gabrieleseriously.”alsoexplained that she feels fortunate: as a fourth-year stu dent, she has more familiarity with the streets around campus. She not ed that new students may not know which areas are safest when walking around the school at night.
“The security walk around, but are they really there? No”
TMU students say they have come to expect sexual harassment on campus as part of their every day life. “[Catcalling] is a very common occurrence, but that’s just living in downtown Toronto,” said thirdyear business management student Maleeha
Other women say that while they may not experience catcalling on campus, they feel unsafe walking around the construction zones.
Tzu Chi Foundation Canada is an international humanitarian non governmental organization. They have worldwide volunteers that ac tively promote recycling and reduce carbon footprints. This year, they are hosting a community clean-up
“You never know who can come into the buildings”
The group accepts volunteers on a rolling basis, so students can fill out the form at any time.
This program delivers meals to people unable to attend to their own nutritional needs but still want to live independently in their communities.
see security as often in the evening.
The Canadian Red Cross is look ing for volunteers for its Meals on Wheels program in Etobicoke, Ont.
“You never know who can come into the buildings,” she said.
According to 2018 data from Sta tistics Canada, one in three women have experienced unwanted sexual behaviour in public.
“Sometimesdestinations.students have to leave campus to get to their classes and walk through areas with no se curity; that’s when the construction becomes a problem,” said Baker.
Cleaning supplies such as gloves and trash bags will be provided along with a snack at the end of theStudentsday. can sign up to volunteer on the Tzu Chi Foundation Cana da’s website.
Kits will be shipped to Pakistan and given to families. Students can sign-up for various volunteer posi tions online.
Nicole Gabriele, a fourth-year architecture student also said the amount of open space between the university buildings can be both positive and negative.
Many students described the amount of open space on campus as a safety concern after multiple sexual assaults were reported last semester, according to the TMU Community Safety and Security’s website.
Volunteers are accepted on a roll ing basis. More information about signing up can be found through the Meals on Wheels’ website.
Five spots TMU students can volunteer for in Toronto
“We have OneCard access but anyone can walk around campus,” said Gabriele. “It’s part of the city. That’s what I like about it.”
Women students at Toronto Metro politan University (TMU) expressed concern over the frequency of sexual harassment and catcalling on cam pus. As daylight hours decrease, women on campus say they want better security in order to feel safe when walking between buildings.
and humanitarian aid.
Tzu Chi Community Clean Up
TMU launches Red Bull Gaming Hub with a focus on virtual innovation
screen TVs are mounted up on the walls and two fridges, decorated with the iconic blue lights and load ed with cans of Red Bull, add char acter to the Accordingroom.toRed Bull’s website, the Hub has “36 high-performance gaming computers equipped with some of the best AMD technology on the market.” AMD, Advanced Micro Devices, is a semiconductor company famous for their computer processing and graphic technol ogy. The website also states that the room will have surround sound speakers and a library filled with “classic” video games.
Students will be offered training in three core areas at the Hub: video game design, virtual production and esports broadcasting.
Your time as a university student is a great way to discover what op portunities are out in the world for you. Apart from your everyday in-class learning, there are a lot of resources that you can utilize to form connections and find career
According to TMU’s website, there are hundreds of clubs at the school, including many careerbased
He said the Hub isn’t too intimi dating and can give people who are interested in gaming but don’t have any experience, more insight into esports. “It’s really cool because they can say, ‘Hey, I’m not an avid gamer, but I wanna see what this esports or gaming industry is.’”
Gain experience and explore career opportunities through on-campus opportunities
velop skills and gain experience, all through campus.
The program, which employs over a thousand students each
“We wanted to show students the
By Joseph Casciaro
Join a club
These events offer flexible ac cessibility options. Some are on campus, while others provide on line accommodation for those who can’t attend in-person.
“The Red Bull Gaming Hub is the one place where we focus on the components that stem outside of the playing of games,” said Alexan der. “For example, every program at TMU, every job set, has a connection to video games and esports. This hub is to help teach students exactly how and why they could find a career in something they are already passion ate about or have a new interest in.”
“If you’ve ever walked into the space, you can definitely tell it was built by gamers, by people who really want to make this space accessible to everyone who wants to be involved with gaming,” Lam added.
For example, the university’s campus radio station, CJRU 1280 AM, depends on volunteer support to host on-air content or cover and review local concerts—short-term projects which journalism and radio and television arts students regu larly take Organizationson. and events don’t run themselves. Every person in volved in projects held on campus is not only working on something that they care about, but gaining important career experience at the same time.
VANESSA KAUK/THE EYEOPENER
year according to the university’s website, allows hired staff to “put academic theory into practice.” Job postings can range from architec tural science programming to sports broadcasting for the university’s
Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) has officially launched its brand new Red Bull Gaming Hub, in partnership with Red Bull Can ada. Since its doors first opened earlier this month, the room is available for students to visit and enhance their knowledge of video games and virtual production.
Prior to being appointed into a position, students must be ap proved for Career Boost by Student Financial Assistance through the Career Boost Portal for undergrad uate students and AwardSpring for graduate students. Once approved, the program’s paid opportunities are extensive and worth the appli cation process.
TMU regularly hosts events meant to guide and inform students about their career options. Take a glance at the school’s schedule online to see what is coming up.
The Gaming Hub is located on the second floor of the Rogers Com munications Centre and is an im mersiveKristopherexperience.Alexander, a video games professor at TMU, will serve as the director of the Hub. Alexander played a big role in creating the con nections between TMU and Red Bull.
Many events are focused on edu cating students on career opportuni ties and introducing them to resourc es that help them take the next step in their professional lives. For example, the Teaching Pathways event hosted this week helped inform students about the varying types of careers available in education.
VANESSA KAUK/THE EYEOPENER
the chance to hone skills that you can use in your career.
Each club has numerous posi tions, from management, to ac counting, social media and more. Members can take on roles that best suit them career-wise.
Along Gould Street this fall, there was a long, snake-like figure of ta bles that went down the street and wrapped around Lake Devo. The tables were set up by many of the school’s student clubs and groups, available for students to join.
By Jack Wannan
While Lam is also excited to finally have a top-of-the-line space for his team, he said the Gaming Hub allows for a more immersive and enjoyable experience for esports athletes.
“I hope to get in there with my team playing together and being
It’s just one of the various stu dent-run groups that can give you
able to actually be serious about what to do with the game we’re playing and talk about that in per son, rather than online,” he said.
“If you decide to pursue a bach elor of education [after your time at TMU], you can actually work in the tech sector or as a career educa tor. Your degree doesn’t limit you to what you can do.”
Attend events, both on campus
Benson Lam, a fourth-year TMU media production student and presi dent of TMU’s Esports team, is hon oured to have the company sponsor the“[RedHub. Bull] is actually the first ever sponsor of esports and the first company that actually believed in esports,” said Lam, referring to when the company signed its first esports athlete, professional Halo player David Walsh, in June 2006. “So, having such a popular and his
Work for Career Boost
to do with your life yet, you aren’t alone. Across all facets of education at Toronto Metropolitan Universi ty (TMU), students are constantly on the hunt to figure out where they want to go career-wise—and many still haven’t decided.
According to Alexander, various gaming companies have already ex pressed interest in collaborating with the Red Bull Gaming Hub.
“We have already connected stu dents with jobs at Epic Games, Inter active Ontario, FaZe Clan, Behaviour Interactive, Ubisoft, among other companies,” said Alexander. “The hub is now a formalized space which has a mandate that we’ve already been pursuing for the last three years.”
power of their degree,” said Ken Lee, a career education specialist at TMU and organizer of the event.
Theones.Ted Rogers Sales Club, a business-oriented club, aims to teach students about “sales skills and strategies” through events and workshops, according to their LinkedIn profile.
If committing to a club is too timeconsuming than your schedule currently allows, consider volun teering for specific events or proj ects related to a hobby or interest that you Workinghave.on these events al lows students to stay engaged with a passion of theirs while gaining experience managing and getting involved in their chosen industry.
TMU’s Career Boost program is a work-study program that hires eligible full-time international, do mestic, undergraduate and gradu ate students into paid, part-time positions throughout the academic year in various faculties and de partments across the university.
“Every program at TMU, every job set has a connection to video games and esports”
The Hub will allow students with an interest in gaming, the opportu nity to connect with peers and train with the best equipment.
The hub has big Red Bull logos across the walls, above rows of leath er gaming chairs with thin moni tors on the desks in front. Eight flat
Volunteer around campus
The TMU Esports team has high hopes for the Hub and are excited for what it could mean for their performance as a team, said Jaden Luu, the assistant manager of TMU’s League of Legends team.
torical brand partner with us at TMU is really exciting because it shows that we have gathered the attention of top level companies.”
“Having that kind of varsity ath lete experience, walking into campus with your jersey, your mouse and key board, your gear and everything, it’s a really exciting thing to have,” he said.
At the front of the building, the walls were covered in large banners show casing characters from the popular game Overwatch, rather than the usu al banner of TMU’s women’s basket ball team. Players were roaming the facility, but they weren’t tradtional athletes—they were there to play video games. The hockey rink was the most packed it’s been since the pandemic and full of cheers. Every one was there to watch video games.
“Literally everyone was out of their seats cheering us on, which was quite a scene to see,” said Huisu ‘Heesu’ Jeong, a DPS player for the Defiant.
By Ilyas Hussein
Following a disappointing loss on the previous day against lone Eu ropean club, the London Spitfire, the fourth-seeded hosts used their hometown advantage as motiva tion. In their next match, they se cured the win against the seventhseeded Washington Justice—their first win at a major event this year.
Fans were chanting for each of the players as well as rooting for the team with “Let’s go Defiant” chants throughout the tournament.
Pro Overwatch event at TMU was ‘all about validation’
Throughout each day, there was a cool draft coming from the ice be neath the seats as the players set up on stage. Despite the chilly tempera ture, fans were remarkably passion ate about the matches. It seemed as if nobody noticed the cold air.
Toronto went on to win its fol lowing two matches against the Houston Outlaws and Florida Mayhem to ensure a top-three fin ish at the event. The crowd began to look more full for each Defiant match as they advanced through the gruelling lower-bracket.
They were especially emphatic when the Defiant came to play. The hometown team had a differ ent entrance compared to the other squads, walking through the crowd and up to the stage. Other teams would emerge from behind the stageWhenitself.it was Defiant’s time to en ter, every fan in the building stood up and gave out raucous cheers.
The Creative School has also re cently launched the Red Bull Gaming Hub, a gaming facility with dozens of computers for the respective esports teams to practice and play on.
“This is something we needed to do for a long time and I’m glad we’re doing it now because if you put your stocks into esports when it’s early, eventually you’ll see the payout,” said Oshinowo.
“I was really nervous for the matches, but when I was highfiving the fans during the walkout, one person hit my hand so hard that it woke me up and relaxed me,” said Hyeonwook ‘Although’ Jung, who plays offensive output characters, otherwise known as a damage-per-second (DPS) player, for the Defiant.
they may not have had without the tournament.“Beingable to come to an event like this at your university and be surrounded by like-minded people can remind members of the com munity that you’re not alone in liking video games here at TMU,” said Zachary Shami, a second-year mechanical engineering student and Twitch streamer.
“It felt as if our careers could be on the line if we didn’t win today,” said Heesu after their win against theNonetheless,Justice. their Cinderella run came to a halt against the heavilyfavoured San Francisco Shock in the lower-bracket final on the last day of theTheevent.Summer Showdown played a massive role in bringing people from TMU together. Over the course of the pandemic, the es ports community at TMU has grownRosteredexponentially.playersin respective titles grew to almost one hundred people within the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, according to former TMU Esports president Liam Parmar, in an article writ ten for TorontoMet Today back in March 2021.
Hundreds of people flooded the university’s sports complex for the Overwatch League’s (OWL) Summer Showdown event hosted by the To ronto Defiant and OverActive Media.
each other at the highest level of theirTheprofession.mainstage was laid out on top of the ice hockey rink with fans seated in the lower bowl and on top of the covered ice. Lights could be seen flashing across the stage and crowd, emanating from the large screen suspended above the players, showcasing their game play. The commentators’ voices could be heard blaring through the overhead speakers.
For many, the integration of—and investment in—esports at TMU is especially important. They say they’re glad to see the university taking more initiative.
Over the course of the four day event, a large number of fans, includ ing many TMU students, gathered at the MAC to watch professional Overwatch players compete against
PHOTO: STEPHEN KAZUMI
“I’m just really appreciative of all the support from the fans.”
losers bracket semi-final, was played extremely close, going the distance in a best-of-five series.
“One person hit my hand so hard that it woke me up and relaxed me”
PHOTO: STEPHEN KAZUMI
It seemed as if the pieces of the puzzle finally came together for the Defiant. Other teams could be heard chatting around the arena about how they had looked like the best team in practice, but were never able to per form well on stage until this event.
PHOTO: STEPHEN KAZUMI
The Defiant swept the favoured Outlaws in a win considered to be an upset in the Overwatch com munity. However, their following match against the Mayhem, in the
It’s the first week of the fall semester. Hopping off the subway at College Station and heading to the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC), the expec tation is to see the various Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) athletic teams preparing for their upcoming seasons. Instead, there’s a different type of atmosphere in the sports complex formerly known as Maple Leaf Gardens.
Many members involved in TMU Esports attended the event to support the growth of gaming at the university. This was the first live esports event for a great number of people. It was also the first time some members of the university’s competitive club team met eacho ther in person—an opportunity
“People have had many doubts about esports at the school for a long time”
SPORTS10
“This event has been absolutely amazing. This is my first ever live esports event and the vibes are unreal—it’s so hype,” said Xavier Oshinowo, a third-year media pro duction student and member of TMU’s Overwatch team.
“This is all about validation,” said Benson Lam, a fourth-year media production student and president of TMU’s Esports club. “People have had many doubts about es ports at the school for a long time and things like this show that es ports is a real industry.”
“It felt as if our careers could be on the line if we didn’t win today”
The tournament was structured in a double-elimination format with the eight teams that qualified for the event, many coming from outside of Canada to attend. Participants in cluded the Washington Justice, Dal las Fuel, London Spitfire, Vancouver Titans, San Francisco Shock, Florida Mayhem and the Houston Outlaws.
schools coincidentally convenient.
Virgo
Their joy was alike to that of a Brown boy whose beard finally con nects or to a Brown girl who finally fights her sunset curfew. Fast for ward, I ended up switching to To ronto Metropolitan University, pre viously known as Ryerson.
day I got my acceptance mail said it all. The news of their smartest child get ting accepted into Canada’s Harvardequivalent spread like wildfire across family group chats with WhatsApp forwards and Facebook posts.
stand back, tilt your head and close your eyes, TMU is just like UofT
The shift from UofT to RU was a devestating blow to my parents
Aries
You spent the entire summer in front of the mirror (slay). The hu midity turned your hair into a frizzy mess resembling a lion’s mane. You also realized there are no group projects to dominate over the sum mer, so you opted to stay indoors and rehearse your alpha skills for next year. Not even mercury can take away your alpha status.
You decided to flake on every single plan & snoozed all the alarms you made for the first two weeks of sum mer. Then, you spontaneously de cided to quit your job and jet off on a luxurious vacation to a foreign coun try for the rest of the summer.
Aquarius
Capricorn
Pisces
The shift away from UofT was a devastating blow for my parents, who still refuse to accept it to this day. But let’s be fair, all immigrant parents are always in some sort of denial. Just last week, I was told by my mom that my stress-induced hair loss was in fact caused by me not oil ing my hair regularly.
You refused to abandon the comfort of your 1000-thread count Egyptian cotton sheets. You also spent every dime available on Godiva choco lates, artisan red wine and face masks shipped directly from South Korea. The only time you spent in natural sunlight was inside a 100 per cent pure cashmere housecoat for less than an hour daily.
You picked up the slack at work be cause your Sagittarius co-worker quit after only working two days. While working all the overtime and kissing any chance of a social life goodbye, your spare moments were spent counting the heaps of money you made.
You refused to ignore the glaring red flags at the beginning of your sum mer fling and spent the remainder of the season nursing a broken heart. When deciding between eating take out while re-watching the Lord of The Rings trilogy and going out clubbing, Orlando Bloom’s blonde locks won every time.
Taurus
Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) name change from the for mer Ryerson finally came through for hopeless University of Toronto (UofT) rejects and dropouts, who can now wrongfully identify as UofT students. Rejects just like me.
Our new name makes getting my family adjusted to the change in
Gemini
Cancer
Whilst everyone else was having what you thought was a hot girl summer, you were simply different. You decid ed it was a good idea to DIY split-dye your hair hot pink and green, which is also why you didn’t go out in public for three weeks.
Scorpio
FUN & SATIRE 11
chitecture?I’mgonna be honest, I dig the new name. Despite the full title making it sound like I study at a subway sta tion, I enjoy getting royal treatment at family events.
Why your sign didn’t have a Hot Girl Summer My parents think I go to UofT
Since I was at the Mississauga campus, going from UTM to TMU doesn’t entirely seem too bad, just a little rearrangement of the let ters, right? Wrong! Unfortunate ly, my entire family—including relatives back home—think I go to UTM and am pursuing a pres tigious degree at one of Canada’s top-ranked university.
With the weather dipping under twenty degrees, it’s time to unpack why several (all) the astrological signs were unable to enjoy their summer to the fullest. Or, more im portantly, why the global phenom ena known as a ‘Hot Girl Summer’ turned into a Hot Girl Bummer.
You were way too exhausted from trying to please everyone you crossed paths with that you didn’t attempt making plans. The one time where, by chance, you found an ounce of en ergy to be spontaneous, you couldn’t manage to make a definitive decision on a plan and took a nap.
By Rebecca Morrison
By FatimaIfRazayou
Growing up in an immigrant household, there were only three things required of me: 1) Get good grades, 2) Get better grades than the neighbour’s children and of course, 3) Get into UofT. I man aged to fulfill all three require ments. Well...sort of, because I did get into the University of Toronto, Mississauga campus (UTM). The smile on my parents’ faces the
Leo
Visuals By Jes Mason
It’s not always rainbows and but terflies but I live for the free respect. It does get really awkward, though, when a relative of another relative happens to know someone down the street whose daughter also wants to get into UofT and reaches out to ask how I like the university. Do they mean the classes I take in a movie theatre with dingy cup hold er lap tables and NOT an ornate lec ture hall? Or my campus that’s basi cally a mall surrounded by deserted alleyways and endless construction, which is definitely not the epitome of woodland core and high-end ar
Libra
Managing both of your person alities took up your entire sum mer schedule, leaving no time for actual fun activities. You tried to make sure that any parties you attended featured esteemed socialladder-climbing guests. There were too many parties to remember and attend, so you ended up not going to a single one.
Sagitarius
You couldn’t stop rearranging bed room furniture or colour coordi nating closets long enough to check the weather. Once you realized that your newly-enhanced closet wasn’t going to solve the chaos in your per sonal life, you took a two-month mental health hiatus.
You were too busy baking treats for family & friends or giving serious relationship advice to anyone will ing to listen. The times you did step outside were for those 3 a.m. Mc donald’s runs with your high school besties. Even then, you became the designated human hair clip and barf cleaner after they hurled their entire Happy Meal.
I’m sure my name comes up in the “good role model” conversations far more often than I deserve. I’m prob ably the child every other kid in the family gets compared to, thanks to my parents’ inability to differentiate two acronyms.
You spent the entire summer waiting for Halloween because you find joy in terrifying all of your loved ones with pranks. You also couldn’t go outside because you decided to only wear black as a fashion choice and obvi ously it was way too hot for all-black ensembles under that scorching sun.
You couldn’t decide between brawl ing with or obsessing over anyone who was mildly exciting and as a re sult, you didn’t see anyone at all. You also refused to give a second chance to anyone that glanced at you in even a slightly passive-aggressive way. You spent the entire break conversing with your furry companions instead.
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