HUMBER ET CETERA
TAKING IT BACK
PROTESTERS ASSEMBLE AT CITY HALL TO FIGHT RACISM
HUMBER’S FIRST JAZZ SISTERS AT LAKESHORE CAMPUS SHOW P. 8-9
Humber hosts ninth Take Back the Night
Social Justice Reporter
Humber student Swetlana Adhikari held up a sign on Thursday evening demanding that “We want justice for Abhaya.” The placard was to raise awareness and stand up for a woman in her hometown of Kolkata, India, who was raped and murdered by a man.
“On August 9 and August 14, there was a slogan that was to reclaim the night. People from all over the place and back in my hometown went out and did a protest, similar to tonight,” she said.
Adhikari and many others united to march in Humber Polytechnic’s ninth Take Back the Night at North campus on Sept. 19, supporting survivors of sexual violence and noting that people of all genders experience sexual assault and violence.
“These events and everything should keep on happening unless we’re at a point in civilization where this becomes a part of common sense and not an extra sense that people should have,” she said.
Adhikari said after raising her first financial grant, she is beginning her start-up called SEDX, a platform that educates people on sex education because there isn’t much formal sex education in India.
Senior peer mentor for Humber North campus’ first-year experience (FYE), Gurkeer Kaur, sup-
ported and brought in volunteers and first years to this year’s Take Back the Night march.
“I know recently there’s so much stuff that’s happened in India right now and a lot of our students are from that demographic,” Kaur said.
“I feel like it’s just something that they can do here to say I’m still supporting people back home, or back anywhere in this world where we’re standing up against such an important cause,” she said.
SURVIVORS
Humber’s Office of Sustainability had a booth for students to write notes to survivors.
Gabi Hentschke, Humber’s communications and engagement coordinator with the Office of Sustainability, emphasized as someone who identifies as a woman that it’s important to raise awareness of sexual assault.
“Once people enter college, it’s usually the first time that people have sexual experiences, so that’s why it’s so important for us to draw the line and say this is what’s right, this is what’s wrong, it’s unacceptable,” Hentschke said.
“I think awareness is a really important step in the right direction and especially being someone who comes from another country, from Brazil, which is extremely conservative compared to Canada, it’s so important for us to have those conversations,” she said.
Michelle Cho, communications
and events assistant for the Office of Sustainability, said everyone knows someone who has experienced violence against them and writing them a message is a way to remind them that they are not alone.
“This [Take Back the Night] feels very supportive. This feels like there’s a lot of rally in energy. It’s giving everyone the opportunity to come out and see it for themselves, feel it for themselves,” Cho said.
This year’s Take Back the Night also featured lead peer educators for the North and Lakeshore campuses MC’ing before the walk before leading the protest, highlighting how important it is to support survivors of sexual violence.
Associate Dean of Student Wellness and Equitable Learning, Sterling Crowe, who goes by he/they pronouns, followed the lead peer educators with a speech.
“At Humber Polytechnic, we have the opportunity and responsibility to create spaces where every person feels they belong,” Crowe said.
“For those of us who don’t fit the norm, who navigate our lives as gender-queer, as trans, as people of colour, as those in the margins, we often face harm more frequently and with deeper scars,” he said.
“We’re here tonight to build a space where empathy and support aren’t just words, they are actions. Actions that move us toward real, transformative change,” Crowe said.
Humber Et Cetera is the Humber Polytechnic journalism program laboratory newspaper. It is created by journalism students in the Advanced Diploma program. Et Cetera serves to inform the Humber community and give its readers well-rounded coverage on the things that matter to them.
Humber grad Zee Seon, who goes by she/they pronouns, performed with her band for empowerment and to spread some positivity after the speeches.
“This [sexual assault awareness] should be something that is sprinkled into the lives of people all the time, so not just one day and disappears. It’s something people have to deal with the rest of their lives,” Seon said.
“I appreciate coming back to Humber and they have these events to raise awareness and to get people together for a cause and bring people who otherwise wouldn’t be here,” she said.
Humber’s new student advocate Isabella Vergara Bedoya said as a student community, raising awareness will determine what will happen in the future.
“There’s a lot of plans that we have to support our student community. I can have the opportunity to make a positive impact in our community and in different issues like mental health, even physical health, being able to support the students with their workload with assignments. Even international students were facing different changes,” Vergara Bedoya said.
Representatives from Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter and Revive were at the march along with student resource tables such as counselling, Humber’s LGBTQ+ Resource Centre and Public Safety to remind students that they are not alone and that resources are available.
Julia Vellucci
Protesters hold up signs in a march around Humber’s North campus Thursday to raise awareness on sexual assault and gender-based violence.
LUCA TERSIGNI
Hundreds rally for immigrant justice
Satwik Kumar Singh HumberETC News
Hundreds of protesters demonstrated in downtown Toronto on Sunday against racism and demanded justice for immigrants.
The event organized by community groups and activists was a response to rising xenophobic rhetoric from right-wing politicians and policies that scapegoat immigrants for Canada’s housing and affordability crisis.
The demonstration that started at Nathan Phillips Square highlighted the urgent need to shift the focus from blaming immigrants to addressing systemic issues of corporate greed, government cutbacks, and failed policies impacting healthcare, housing, and social services.
The rally aimed to unite workers, citizens, and immigrants against the real beneficiaries of the current crisis: corporations, landlords, and the wealthy elite.
Syed Hussan, an organizer of the event, emphasized the urgent need to hold governments and corporations accountable for the housing crisis by making housing a public right.
“Until the ‘80s, the majority of housing construction in Canada was done by the federal government and there were a lot of affordable units,” he said. “Just in the last two years, half a million, 500,000 affordable units have been taken off the market because private developers bought them and then increased the price above affordability.’’
Advocating for permanent residency status for all migrants, Hussan said it essential everyone in the country has the same rights, “and the only way to achieve that is by ensuring everyone has permanent residency status.”
He urged people to join the movement, highlighting that “everyone is impacted-struggling to pay rent, buy groceries, and facing low wages,” and called for collective action to advocate for equal rights for migrants.
Cain Ibrahim, a demonstrator and a full-time student, articulated the challenges many face in affording rent and making ends meet. He, like Hussan, attributes the crisis largely to corporate greed, criticizing new developments that demolish affordable neighbourhoods in favour of vacant units.
“Right now, there’s a lot of focus on Indian immigrants, but there’s
always been a specific group under scrutiny,” he said.
Though born in Canada, Ibrahim acknowledged witnessing racism firsthand. He expressed hope for change, citing the solidarity of almost 2,000 people from diverse backgrounds attending the rally. “We’re all struggling to afford necessities like food,” Ibrahim said.
DISCRIMINATION
Yang Gao, a local activist and older immigrant, said the challenges newer immigrants face, particularly those with limited English proficiency, included systemic discrimination. She said many immigrants encounter violence and struggle to access essential services like housing and healthcare.
“The government complicates the process to make it less accessible for many people who are already oppressed in their home countries,” Gao said. “When they arrived here, they continue to face oppression within a highly stratified immigration system.”
She said access to permanent residency often favours those with assets or businesses, leaving temporary workers and students at a disadvantage.
Although permanent residency was promised for undocumented people in December 2021 by Immigration Minister Marc Miller
New team, new beginnings
Gershon Mbobi, a first-year Fitness and Health Promotion student, was recruited by the Humber Hawks out of high school and is looking forward to the upcoming basketball season.
“I’ll be travelling to new schools and areas I have yet to see,” he said.
it was never delivered. This failure has left many without access to basic rights.
“If I get permanent residency, I would have access to health care, education, and better job opportunities, allowing me to support my family back home in Jamaica,” said Monieya Jess, an undocumented migrant who works with the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.
She said while many are aware of the struggles faced by undocumented individuals, the reality often goes unacknowledged.
“We’re all human, contributing to society, and deserve to be treated equally, regardless of our background,” Jess said.
She said she wants undocumented workers to be recognized for their contributions to society.
“We contribute, pay taxes, and deserve access to the same rights and benefits as everyone else,” Jess said.
Jess and many others in the rally emphasized a collective demand for systemic change and solidarity in the face of adversity, fostering a movement committed to justice for immigrants and a fairer society for all.
The event called on Canadians urging them to continue opposing anti-immigrant sentiment and to stand in solidarity with migrants and workers suffering under the current system.
Mbobi stands at an impressive 6-foot-3. It made the former centre a big man at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School in Brampton, Ont., he will move to the wing in the Hawk’s system.
“It’s a new experience. I played centre all my time playing ball but playing forward and on the wing is a good transition,” he said.
While Mbobi said he’s enjoyed the prospects of the upcoming season, the academic aspects of Humber excite him too.
“Off court, I’m just excited for the education I’m having,” Mbobi said. “Getting the chance to do schoolwork in a very good institution is important.”
Some new challenges come with his new environment, one familiar to most first-year students.
But that comes with growing up in general. He is dealing with possibly the biggest change one can go through, becoming an adult.
“Turning 18, I’d say it’s a big change,” Mbobi said. “I’ve got a lot of responsibilities in my family being the eldest child, dealing with a new school, work as well and basketball. In the end, it’s those four things.”
This report is by Asher Lowry Klaver, Op-Ed Editor
COURTESY OF HUMBER ATHLETICS
Gershon Mbobi plays the position of power forward for the Humber Hawks.
Protesters hold their signs in front of City Hall, depicting messages of anti-racism and unity between Canadians and migrants. They demand inclusivity and justice for marginalized communities across the nation.
LIAM NEILSON
Protesters gather in downtown Toronto demanding justice for immigrants.
SATWIK KUMAR SINGH
Pandemic pressures impact education
Julia-Marie Ilano HumberETC News
Monika Peternel’s eight-year-old son is just like most kids in his grade. He loves playing football, basketball, and video games more than his homework, even though his mom insists he should focus more on school because those things are “a privilege.”
And just like most kids in his class, Peternel’s son struggled with reading until he reached Grade 2.
The issue seems to be that Peternel’s son, like many other children in his grade, had much of his education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her son was first enrolled in remote online learning before eventually being pulled out due to Peternel’s struggle to balance her job and inconsistent class hours with her son. Instead, Peternel became her son’s teacher and did asynchronous learning with him.
“First day, I thought I was going to put my head through the wall,” the Hamilton mom said. “The second day, I thought I was going to put my son’s head through the wall.
“Academically it was a struggle,
especially since junior and S.K. are huge years ... especially for my son,” Peternel said.
She wasn’t the only one to notice these issues.
The Toronto District School Board released a research report on the pandemic’s impacts on kindergarten children in November 2022.
It broke down academic and behavioural issues, and their impact on children’s school experience. This is based on surveys and interviews with parents, kindergarten teachers, and other educators during the pandemic and in the recovery process back to normal.
Despite how much schools did to ensure students aren’t behind academically, kids still lack the typical formal and informal learning from in-person kindergarten that could have given them opportunities to develop reading, writing, and numeracy skills, according to the report.
The TDSB report revealed 32 per cent of Grade 1 students did not meet targeted reading behaviour expectations in January 2021.
Many experts are not surprised, including Todd Cunningham,
clinical psychologist and founder of Bright Lights Psychology Clinic, who is also a professor at the University of Toronto. He observed the struggles among children.
“By the time we’re moving into Grade 1, we’ve laid all those foundations. But again, those kids who went through COVID during kindergarten, we’re still taking some time to learn some of those foundational pieces,” Cunningham said.
He said young boys were seen to have suffered more from these consequences than girls. The typical conditioning within kindergarten that teaches them schoolbased routines is lost on them, “because they’re just being boys.”
Sitting in class for long periods, using language more appropriate for school-based routines, and engaging in language-based activities are a few activities boys were seen to be struggling with as opposed to girls, Cunningham said.
Children aren’t only struggling with academics. Teachers observed new behaviours in children, attributed to the lack of social opportunities and family pressures during the pandemic, according to
the TDSB report.
They included socially withdrawing from peers or adults, physical and argumentative interactions with other kids, and higher levels of separation anxiety.
More extreme instances outlined in the report were the “adultification of children,” where kids incorporated trauma from home.
Some kids would take extra food home from class for their families.
Others would include issues like financial insecurity during playtime rather than make-believe, the TDSB report stated.
“Kids who were very close with their families having now transitioned back into schools, that creates more stress for them as they have to navigate the complex social life of school. So, it’s not surprising that we’re seeing these higher stressors,” Cunningham said.
The TDSB report explored possible methods of tackling these issues, including emphasizing building relationships with families, or incorporating more playing while learning through interactive games. Both strategies were reported to be effective, giving parents and educators more insight on how to support their kids.
Strategies like these, however, are not enough.
Cunningham said mental health literacy is important for educators to help kids struggling with the transition into school. He said he believes teachers should be trained to understand atypical behaviours from students and how to respond to them.
“Teachers understanding about how the behaviours are emotions, understanding how to understand and what creates challenges [in the classroom],” Cunningham said. Kindergarten children weren’t the only ones to feel the repercussions of the pandemic. Gina Franchino, a Mississauga mother of a child with dyslexia, has had ongoing issues with the system dealing with children with learning disabilities.
An empty classroom in the Humber Child Development Centre, located in the JX building. A TDSB report indicates the education of young children were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Monika Peternel, bottom right, of Hamilton, has an eight year old son who’s education has been affected by the pandemic. Learning virtually continue to impact her and her son.
JULIA-MARIE ILANO
Humber ETC launches new website
Annays Fernanda Medeiros Da Conceicao HumberETC News
Humber Et Cetera’s website has a new look.
Humberetc.ca is the online news hub for Humber Polytechnic’s journalism program, said Mike Wise, one of the heads of the department.
He said the redesigned site is the result of a partnership with Village Media, using software and an online platform that runs more than 100 local news websites across North America, Wise said.
Village Media is a media company that focuses on covering small towns, and they started in a small town in Northern Ontario, he said.
“And they have built something rare in Canadian journalism, and that is a company that is successful and makes money,” Wise said.
They built a content management system to support their websites, called Villager, which is going to power our new website, he said.
Humber Et Cetera will help Humber’s community to be closer and more connected, said Wise, who became a Humber professor following a lengthy career as the local evening television news host of CBC Toronto.
The website is the focal point of the three-year Advanced Journalism Diploma based at the North campus. It will also host the course’s weekly newspaper of the same name.
“It’s a great opportunity for our students to get like a professional tool and learn how to put these things together, and also train with the mindset of what is it like to cover our campus’s small town,” he said.
The website, formerly known as HumberNews.ca, has a completely new look with a batch of cool features that students will be able to use, Wise said.
He said the website also allows for stories to be read by an AI voice.
“People will be able to log in and post pre-classified ads,” Wise said.
Students will be able to post ads, so if they’re trying to sell a car, are looking for a roommate, or even want to wish their friend a happy birthday, they can post those messages to build a sense of community, he said.
“We’re trying to get other departments around Humber to sign up as partners. They’ll be able to post announcements, and post events. We want a vibrant calendar,” he said.
The website will be a resource for people to learn what is happening around campus by showcasing upcoming events through the daily newsletter, Wise said.
“And while we do that, create an audience for the stuff that all of our journalism students are writing,” he said.
Once people sign up to the website, they will be able to interact with it by leaving comments, voting on polls, and even sign up for the daily newsletter, he said.
It is a tool used to build a sense of community where students, staff, and faculty members could join and share their thoughts and find out what is happening on campus, he said.
A launch event will happen on Sept. 26, 2024, by Starbucks and TechZone, and they’ll have giveaways, hand out copies of the paper, and sign people up to the website, Wise said.
Humber College rebrands as a Polytechnic
the globe,” Vaughan said.
Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning is now Humber Polytechnic.
With Humber’s new name, announced Aug. 29, comes a new brand slogan, Builders of Brilliance. In a media release, Humber said the name change and rebranding in response to “Canada’s productivity crisis.”
Humber’s President and CEO Ann Marie Vaughan said on Aug. 29 that the new vision for Humber is that over the next decade, Humber Polytechnic will lead the change globally in polytechnic education.
“Productivity is the engine of economic growth, and it has been in decline in Canada for many years. The country has struggled to effectively convert innovation into commercial success. We are going to change that,” she said.
“Over the next decade, Humber Polytechnic will lead the definition, discovery, value, and possibilities of polytechnic education by reimagining learning, forging deeper partnerships and driving impact in Ontario, Canada, and around
Senior Vice President, Academic, Gina Antonacci, told Humber Et Cetera that a polytechnic institution is something often called the “third lane” that combines hands-on learning and theory.
She said Humber has been operating as a polytechnic for many years and is now
officially called one.
“Humber has had the attribute of a polytechnic institution for many years. We’ve been acting like a polytechnic institution without being formally called one,” Antonacci said.
She said in the coming years Humber will have more options for programs and credentials.
“What you can expect in the next few years, is we will continue to meet the needs of industry and our communities by introducing more programs in all credential categories and that includes applied masters,” Antonacci said.
“You will see more three- and four-year degrees, diplomas and graduate certificates,” she said.
Antonacci said Humber’s academic focus will be on personalized learning and learning delivery.
“The future of higher education and what Humber will be engaged in is more flexibility for students, more options for students regarding learning delivery modes,” she said. “The other big one we know is coming is personalized learning, which is really about adapting learning to the individual needs of students.”
“It’s about what is the best process for delivering post-secondary education to ensure that they are going to be successful,” she said. “Success is about employability and it’s about graduation.”
Humber’s Building Brilliance Vision Document outlines the pillars, guiding the changes, reimagining learning, deeper partnerships and driving impact.
Journalism Professor Mike Wise is discussing the new Humber Et Cetera website with Editor-in-Chief Annicca Albano.
ANNAYS FERNANDA MEDEIROS DA CONCEICAO
Julia C. Sequeira HumberETC News
Humber College is now a Polytechnic, connecting students to more career opportunities.
LIAM NEILSON
High schools must have journalism education
In the age of information, literacy goes far beyond reading, writing and counting. It involves discerning fact from fiction from downright fraud.
A 2023 survey by the Canadian Journalism Foundation revealed that half of Canadians said they struggle to spot fake news, while 71 per cent said they doubt the government’s ability to regulate AI.
This lack of confidence contributes to the spread of misinformation and may further exacerbate news avoidance, which stands at 36 per cent globally, according to the 2023 digital news report by The Reuters Institute.
Critical thinking is needed to make sense of the world around us. However, a concept so complex must be taught while we’re young. Journalism should be mandatory in high school. Students would learn to ask questions, evaluate sources and seek the truth using research and fact-checking tools.
But journalism isn’t limited to honing intuition.
Communication, ability to work with numbers, information analysis, problem-solving, interpersonal and personal skills are what the Ontario government deems as “essential employability skills” and are the very fundamentals of journalism.
High school journalism can give students a leg up, especially when a quarter of young Canadians are less likely to pursue higher education, according to Statistics Canada.
Writing headlines and employing the inverted pyramid structure helps students broaden their vocabulary and strengthen their grammar skills.
News production also teaches quick thinking, teamwork and leadership skills, which are valuable in nearly every career path, from business and law to medicine.
And while the news industry is
plagued with its challenges, from precarious employment and layoffs to the tragic loss of journalists in conflict zones, many still dream of entering the field.
Early exposure to journalism could help youth mentally prepare for the industry and gain essential training, paving the way for a more accessible profession and diverse newsrooms.
Likewise, reviving school news-
papers could fill gaps in local news coverage and engage more families, fostering a better understanding of journalism as a public service.
While concerns about tight school budgets are valid, journalism could easily complement existing language and humanities classes, possibly reducing the need for English refresher courses in post-secondary institutions.
This idea is not entirely new. Then Finnish government launched the New Literacies Programme in 2020, weaving media literacy lessons into its national curriculum from early education to upper secondary level.
Finland ranked first in the New Literacy Index in 2023.
A plethora of free resources are already available to aid school boards and teachers in invigorating curriculums, including the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs, Media Smarts and Media Literacy School in Finland.
A March 2024 poll by the charity United for Literacy found that 70 per cent of Canadians said they believe low literacy skills lead to lower incomes and limited job opportunities.
High school journalism is less about nurturing the next generation of reporters, though it could be. It is, ultimately, about empowering future leaders who can’t be fooled.
Terry Fox deserves more post-sec recognition
This year’s Terry Fox run is on Sept.15. It promotes messages of hope, unity, community involvement and courage. Canadians across the country, indeed the globe, join together to honour his courage to fight cancer with a five-kilometre run or walk.
Fox lost a leg to osteogenic sarcoma. The B.C. native began his Marathon of Hope on April 12, 1980, after filling a bottle with Atlantic Ocean water at Signal Hill in St. John’s, N.L. The intention was to symbolically unite the country by pouring that water into the Pacific.
But his marathon-a-day run ended Sept. 1 near Thunder Bay, Ont., after 5,373 kilometres. This time cancer was found in his lungs. He died the following year.
About 600 communities across Canada took part in last Sunday’s
44th annual run. This is celebrated in many elementary and high schools but the conversation or participation in this run fades for many.
I remember participating in the Terry Fox run throughout elementary and high school but did not hear much more about it after almost as if it was forgotten despite the awareness and run still being crucial.
Trisha MacNeill, a breast cancer survivor, said she is old enough to remember Fox running, seeing updates on the news and will never forget the heart, courage and determination he put into his cause.
“I remember feeling scared for him and when I got the news of my own diagnosis not knowing for six months what was going to happen in my other breast. I had to face the fear of dying,” MacNeill said.
“I think cancer is an experience no one forgets. It changes your perspective on life and how you want to live it,” she said. “He didn’t waste what time he had left, he made it count. It’s hard not to find him inspiring even now.”
Everyone is affected by cancer in some way or another. If someone has not experienced it, they usually know someone who did.
The Canadian Cancer Society
reported that every two in five Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
Carolyn Gotay, emeritus professor of population and public health at the University of British Columbia (UBC), said Fox opened the door to a greater understanding and conversations about cancer.
“At the time Terry Fox started his historic run, the word cancer was not even spoken by many Canadians, with terms like tumour used instead, and cancer was seen as an inevitable death sentence,” Gotay said.
The runs raise cancer awareness and act as a reminder to persevere, a message especially relevant for students.
The 2023-2024 Terry Fox Impact Report said $43.9 million was invested in cancer research.
Wendy Fric, the director of school runs for TFF, said fundraising is low among post-secondary students because they don’t have much money.
“I think the greatest success would be to invite the community because even if kids are on a budget, they can still create fundraising pages, they can still reach out to their community of friends and family to support their pages,” Fric said.
“Terry’s character traits really need to live on, even at that age
level [of post-secondary students],” she said.
Fric said schools can register with TFF to receive promotional materials for any Fox-related event, be it a walk, selling t-shirts, or screening a movie about Fox.
Students walking through splashes of colour for Terry Fox.
Frank Cappadocia, Humber Polytechnic’s dean of continuous professional learning, is an active promoter in the Terry Fox Foundation and a participant in the run.
“The foundation’s done a great job on the secondary side and they do have to begin to bridge that into post-sec, and the research stuff that they do is also not talked about a lot,” Cappadocia said.
“In post-secondary, especially now with Humber being a polytechnic, we also do a tremendous
amount of research and this is an area we could partner with them more overtly on,” he said.
Second-year sports event management students organized the first-ever Humber World Cup in 2022, featuring TFF chair Michael Rossi, who gave inspiring advice during the half-time show, with proceeds going to the Terry Fox Foundation.
Cappadocia intends to promote Fox this year and has plans to introduce an annual head-shaving event at Humber next year.
This is all a step in the right direction and it would be amazing if a Terry Fox run could come to Humber and other post-secondary institutions.
Julia Vellucci, she/her, is a social justice reporter and news editor for Humber Et Cetera.
Journalism can boost literacy and critical thinking of young Canadians.
LIAM NEILSON
The t-shirt worn by Terry Fox lies in a display case next to his shoe.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/JEFF MCINTOSH
Julia Vellucci
Humber Polytechnic is not
“No. 1! (Again)”
The headline of the Fall 2000 publication of Humber Today reads “we’re No. 1 (again!).”
This is a statement that will likely not be echoed again for a while as Humber slowly slipped behind other colleges in Canada.
Humber College, now Humber Polytechnic, was above average in the province in every category: graduate employment, graduate satisfaction, employer satisfaction and student satisfaction in back-to-back years.
A quarter century later, Humber was rebranded as a polytechnic.
Humber Polytechnic president and CEO Ann Marie Vaughan announced the change on Aug. 29, stating Humber is moving to be a leader in productivity with aims to lead Ontario, Canada and the world in polytechnic education.
Before one looks into how Humber has grown and developed over the past two years under Vaughan, we should consider who currently is the front-running polytechnic in Canada and what the student population of Canada is like, as funding is given to institutions based on enrolment.
dents between 2023 and 2024, losing a total of 5,648 since 2018.
This should concern Humber, as its Golden Age came with growth within its student body.
Between 2000 and 2011, the total postsecondary student body in Canada grew to two million from 1.44 million.
Since then, it has only grown to 2.19 million. Humber is losing ground on the stagnant student body market and, with that, funding.
While Humber has done much research and improved productivity with a shoestring budget compared to others within its rank, the dollar stops somewhere.
Pessimistic attitudes alone will not solve the issues Humber is facing, and neither will optimism shake things up without actually addressing the hemorrhaging student body and the issues that have come with it.
Humber said in a press release published on Aug. 29 that changing to a polytechnic will credit students “for learning inside and outside of the classroom, ensuring all learners, no matter where they are in their journey, will have the access and support they need to build lifelong employability.”
I do not see an institution that is innovative enough to pull off this move, and neither do the students passing over Humber to go to other schools.
“Over the next decade, Humber Polytechnic will lead the definition, discovery, value and possibilities of polytechnic education,”
- Ann Marie Vaughan
TALES FROM HUMBER
Grief changes people’s perspectives on living
Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Saskatoon is ranked ninth in Canada among post-secondary institutions by Research InfoSource Inc.’s 2023 Top 50 Research Colleges list, six places above Humber, making it the highest-ranked polytechnic. This sets the hurdle to jump if Humber wants to lead Canada.
Humber and Saskatchewan have the least amount of money spent per researcher among the top 15, and yet Saskatchewan spends $36,800 per researcher, just more than double what Humber spends.
Saskatchewan’s student base has grown by more than 2,000 full-time equivalent students between 2022 and 2023, while Humber lost 2,050 full-time equivalent stu-
Humber’s Media Relations and External Communications did not respond to a request for information about how it intends to transform Humber’s educational experience.
A lack of innovation and continuation of shortcomings to match other schools; levels causing the loss of our student body will not only cause the now Humber Polytechnic to not be remembered fondly, making it so it’ll be a long time before Humber is saying “We’re No. 1 (again!)” again.
Asher Klaver, they/she, is a reporter with a focus in covering political events. They are Op-Ed editor of Humber Et Cetera.
The interconnection between being a student and dealing with grief and the correlation of knowing no one is alone.
Students need to know that having conversations like these does not make them weak but can help them rediscover the beauty of life once again.
Ava Corbet, a first-year Social Justice student at Humber, said she felt very shocked that it could happen to someone close to her age when an acquaintance died in a car crash early last week.
“The fact he was my age and it can happen to anyone. I was really shocked,” Corbet said. He was 18 years old when he died. “Whenever I sit, I think this could happen any day,” Corbet said.
People aren’t supposed to die so young, she said.
But in the face of grief, beauty can be found.
“His girlfriend was saying he used to love looking at sunsets and every day I have been seeing the most beautiful sunsets and can not stop thinking about what happened,” Corbet said.
When a family member or friend dies, no guide or book is telling you what to do or how you should act.
My grandfather Nino D’Angelo died in July. He was 82, it was a difficult time for my family and it changed the course of our lives.
It happened so fast and so unexpectedly. He will never be forgotten and his memory will always be cherished. Nevertheless, this is a time when everyone is learning and adjusting to the void in their way.
It is common to feel disconnection after experiencing traumatic grief, as well as loss.
When we are aware that a student is suffering from a loss, we can give them support and reassure them that they are not alone.
I was fortunate enough to have such a caring system and reinforcement around me, some can’t say the same.
Sharing compassion and genuine support will help anyone going through loss to know that they are not isolated.
“Nothing puts a person’s support system to the test quite like a crisis,” Eleanor Haley said on her website What’s Your Grief.
“A person often sees their support system accurately for the very first time,” Haley said.
“Many grieving people find that changes and disappointments within their support system become a secondary loss,” she said.
I found that surrounding myself with people who truly wanted the best for me has been very moving.
I now understand that grief is a universal experience and when we connect it is better. It’s all about giving in to connection, communication and celebration.
Isabella D’Angelo, she/her, is a mental health and news reporter for Humber Et Cetera.
First-year Social Justice student, Ava Coret, says talking about grief is not weakness.
ISABELLA D’ANGELO
Humber
Isabella D’Angelo
Asher Klaver
‘Sisters in Jazz’ showcases talent
Julia C. Sequeira
HumberETC Culture
Students gather at the Humber Lakeshore campus to showcase talents with Juno award-winning musicians at Humber’s Lakeshore campus
Rizoma Adkisson, a vocalist and commercial jazz student at Humber Polytechnic, feels that as a non-binary artist, events like Sister in Jazz held at Lakeshore campus emphasize queer inclusivity. But more important to Adkisson is that it allows them to get hands-on
experience comfortably and in a safe environment. Adkisson is one of many “sisters” who met at the Humber Polytechnic Lakeshore campus for an opportunity to work with and be mentored by Juno award-winning artists from across Canada.
The event is open to those who identify as women, non-binary, transgender, two-spirit, and generally a “sister.” The event last Sunday was in collaboration with the Juno award-nominated group
The Ostara Project and was organized by group leaders Jodi Proznick, the director of Jazz Studies at
the Vancouver Symphony School of Music (VSO), and Amanda Tosoff, one of Humber Polytechnic’s music professors. Proznick said she organized and hosted the event at the VSO for four consecutive years. She said Jason Merai, the dean of the Humber music department, showed interest in the event and they brought it to Humber. “It’s a really fun opportunity to find each other,” Proznick said. “We’re still only about five to 10 per cent of the industry, especially with instrumentalists. In terms of gender diversity, it’s not fantastic. I find that these gatherings are a way for those of us who identify
as sisters to find each other and build a community.” Tosoff said the day is a multi-learning experience, combining different areas that contribute to music. “We are doing an orientation and some icebreakers to allow people to network. Then we are breaking out into some workshops on business, grant writing, production,” she said. “Also, composition, improv, different stuff for any level. A bit of playing as well. We’re collaborating with The Ostara Project (and) we’re on tour right now.” The event had a workshop on mindfulness techniques led by The Ostara Project vocalist Kim Zombik. The
event allowed students to network through games and activities such as “Musical Sisters,” a spin on musical chairs. Sarvi Seivani, a York University music student, said she enjoyed networking with other women and non-binary people in the jazz industry.“I thought it would be really cool to meet other people who identify as women and non-binary people in the music community because it’s really important for us to support each other. It’s not always a very welcoming industry for women,” she said. “That’s why it’s all the more important that we try and bring each other up,” said Seivani, a singer,
Sarvi Seivani, a music student at York University, says the band is a safe space to collaborate with musicians.
The Ostara Project performing on stage Amanda Tosoff playing piano, Rachel
JULIA C. SEQUEIRA
talent at the Lakeshore campus
songwriter and pianist based in Toronto. She said the music industry is very male-dominated and that the event was a safe space for her. “I felt very included. Everyone was super nice and welcoming. It was lovely to learn from other women musicians,” she said.
“It provides a safe space for us to get to know other similar musicians, learn from each other, and maybe even collaborate in the future.” Nyla Henry, a Grade 10 student from Eastwood Collegiate Institute in Kitchener, said the event made her feel accepted into the community.“Just by being here
and being around people who have the same interests as me. I definitely feel like I’m a part of something,” she said.
Students from outside of Humber were invited to a separate workshop in the recording studio, led by Heather Kirby, an audio engineer and production faculty at Humber. She introduced students to the fundamentals of the soundboard, microphone, setup and software.
recording studio by improvising on her saxophone. “I really enjoyed it. For my first time recording, I liked the experience of just being able to
“It’s really important for us to support each other. It’s not always a very welcoming industry for women ,”
- Servi Selvani
Henry showed her talents in the
play and get feedback from other people. It was a fun experience,” she said. Adkisson said as a new student and someone who identifies as Queer it can be difficult to
network in a new environment, but the sisters welcomed them with open arms. “I was interested in coming to the event today because I am new to the program,” they said. “I want to become involved with more musicians. I want to connect with other queer people and fem people in the industry. I think having spaces for feminine and queer people to come and connect, network and learn is super important for us,” they said.
“And I’m Latino, so it’s important to have these safe spaces.” They said working a male-dominated industry can be intimidating for feminine-identifying people. “I always worry that if I present myself like this, then male musicians won’t take me seriously,” they said. Adkisson said they hope that one day the industry becomes more accepting, so they can do any project they choose without feeling uncomfortable. “ I would like to be able to participate in whatever. Just one person more. One musician more,” they said.
Rizoma Adkisson, a vocalist and commercial jazz student at Humber Poleytechnic, sings into microphone in a recording studio.
JULIA C. SEQUEIRA
Rachel Therrien playing trumpet and Jodi Proznick playing bass.
JULIA C. SEQUEIRA
Union seeks conciliation with faculty
The union representing faculty at Ontario’s 24 colleges, including Humber Polytechnic, intends to file for conciliation after contract negotiations reached an impasse.
If conciliation talks fail, students could be caught in the middle of a strike of about 15,000 faculty. The contract expires Sept. 30.
After 14 days of bargaining, negotiations between the faculty union, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and the College Employer Council (CEC) are nearing their final stages. If talks stall or fail, the next step is to seek conciliation and if necessary, call for a membership vote to give the union’s bargaining team a strike mandate.
It’s also possible that the CEC could lock out faculty if all steps fail.
In an email sent to union members on Sept. 18, OPSEU said it is filing for conciliation, suggesting an impasse. Both sides must take part in the conciliation process, but the union may also seek a strike mandate vote. Members include teaching faculty, librarians and councillors.
The last strike was in 2017 which lasted five weeks until the
then-provincial Liberal government legislated an end to the standoff.
The College Student Alliance (CSA), which Humber’s student government IGNITE is aligned with, said it’s hoped both sides can reach an agreement without a strike.
“CSA’s primary concern is for the students, and that they continue to receive the quality of education they have paid for,” said Jasmine Bates, the president of the CSA, in an email. “We are hopeful the parties will put students first and find a way forward that does not include a disruption to the student experience.”
The faculty union is pushing for numerous improvements to the contract, including wages, medical benefits, job stability and updates to the Standard Workload Formula (SWF)
The SWF is a tool to calculate the workload of full-time teaching faculty in Ontario. The report highlights an increase in unpaid tasks faculty perform outside of work.
While CEC said it acknowledges SWF should be addressed, it is calling for a more comprehensive review of data is needed.
In an email to Humber Et Cetera, the CEC said that recommenda-
tions given in a task force report that studied SWF “are based on an incomplete analysis of the data collected” and that it needs time to “thoroughly review the raw data.”
The union tabled its monetary demands of a five per cent salary increase effective Oct. 1, 2024, followed by another five per cent increase on Oct. 1, 2025. In addition to the general salary increases, the union has also sug-
gested revisions to the salary tables for professors, librarians, councillors, instructors, and partial-load employees.
The union has also proposed modifications to the insurance coverage as well. The changes proposed include increasing vision care limits to $800 from $400 every two years for adults and every year for those under 18.
Similarly, the hearing care
coverage limit would increase to $4,000 from $3,000 over three years. Additionally, the union seeks to introduce co-paid systems for partial-load employees, providing access to dental, vision, and life insurance plans, with the colleges covering 50 per cent of the premiums.
The CEC management has yet to reply to the monetary proposals presented.
24-hour work week hurts inter’l students
Reet Arora
International students want the same rights as domestic students because their expenses are the same and they pay more in tuition.
Chelsea Teng, a Humber student in the Business Marketing program, said every student should have equal rights and equal opportunities. A 24-hour cap does not make sense, especially if a student supports themselves, it does not suffice.
She is among about 10,000 international students who are enrolled at Humber Polytechnic.
WORK LIMITS
Immigration Minister Marc Miller said on April 29 that beginning this month, international students in Canada are limited to working 24 hours per week off campus.
“Working off campus helps international students gain work experience and offset some of their expenses,” Miller said.
“However, first and foremost, people coming to Canada as students must be here to study, not
work. We will continue to protect the integrity of our student program,” he said.
Adi Khaitan, the organizer at the Migrant Action Centre, said any restriction on work is “absolutely ridiculous.” They disagree with placing a restriction on work for international students.
“Migrants are already ineligible for most loans, grants and scholarships,” they said. “There is a lot
of layers of inequity from what seems to be policies rooted in colonialism, homophobia and racism.”
Khaitan said people have come to them expressing significant distress.
“They [the government] can hold our healthcare hostage for us to comply and this is something they can only do to migrants, but if they were to do this to a citizen, this would be a major charter vio-
lation,” they said.
“In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development (CSSD) have policies stating that if you [migrants] were to apply for income support, they will call Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to file a report against you,” Khaitan said.
Alison Clancey, national director at The Global Alliance Against
Traffic in Women (GAATW) Canada, said the policy reduces students’ economic stability and employment options.
“I find it very infantilizing, and I wonder if there are some racial factors at play,” Clancey said.
“When it suited the government, they increased the number of hours that international students could work during COVID due to labour shortage,” she said. “However, now ahead of the elections pandering, there is much anti-migrant, anti-immigrant rhetoric and sentiment.”
The government announced on Oct. 7, 2022, international students would be able to work unrestricted hours off-campus starting Nov. 15, 2022, to Dec. 31, 2023.
Clancey said the federal government needs to re-examine the policy around this and understand the role they are playing in being complicit to creating an environment where exploitation and trafficking can occur.
“Once you push students to accept cash-based employment, there is a whole other host of issues that can happen as well,” she said.
About 15,000 faculty may go on strike if contract talks between OPSEU and CEC stall or fail in the next days
Harnoor Kaur HumberETC News
Business Marketing student Chelsea Teng is one of the many international students hit by the working cap.
GABRIEL NODA
HumberETC News
IGNITE offers free soups on campus
Gabriel Noda HumberETC News
The school semester has started and for some students, many food options are expensive.
IGNITE combats the potential food insecurity some students face by offering free soup throughout the school year.
Isabella Vergara Bedoya, the Student Advocate of IGNITE who is based at Lakeshore campus, said this is a part of their food security campaign.
Bedoya said IGNITE has heard stories of students who struggle to get food for several different reasons.
“We’ve heard a lot of stories from students who sometimes struggle to get their food, not only because of financial, but also because sometimes the students were so busy,” she said.
Bedoya said she can relate to those stories as well.
“I’m also a student and sometimes I’m so busy that I don’t get enough time to cook or to get my meals ready for the day,” she said.
“It just started with the frozen soup. Our three campuses have this fridge with frozen soups that students can take,” Bedoya said.
Bedoya said she’s seen good results from the frozen soups and the positive impact of the campaign.
“Students enjoy them so much because they’re delicious and they save them on a day when they don’t have time or they didn’t bring their lunch — it’s especially popular in the wintertime because it’s so nice,” she said.
IGNITE chose soups because the union thought they were the most sustainable food they could give out.
Hot soups can be found at North campus in the LinX Lounge while frozen soups can be found in the student centre.
At the Lakeshore campus, frozen soups are located on the second floor of the L-Commons next to the elevators.
At the IGS campus on Hayden Street, frozen soup are available on the fifth floor in Room 503.
The campaign started with IGNITE getting frozen soups and putting them in fridges across all the campuses.
Services for students at Humber
Humber IGNITE and others provide services for students all year round. Here some:
Health and Dental Insurance Plan
• This includes dental care, prescription drug coverage, extended health and vision care, accident coverage and travel coverage.
• To opt-out of it, students must do so by the fall semester deadline. If you miss the deadline, you are not able to opt out of any following semesters for the academic year.
Tutoring
• Humber provides help in math and writing at the Math and Writing Centre on the third floor of LRC. Students can request one-on-one tutoring for specific courses, depending on staffing availability.
TTC Photo ID Days
• Post-secondary TTC photo ID allows students to purchase the Post-Secondary pass for $128 a month. It allows for unlimited trips on TTC.
• To do this students need proof of full-time enrolment at Humber, have a school or government-issued ID and $7 cash. Only full-time students are eligible.
• Do this on Sept. 24, at the LRC Concourse from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the North campus.
• Lakeshore students can have their TTC pass photos taken on Sept. 26 at L Building, Room L1017 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Anyone who misses those times can have their photo ID made at the Bathurst station Photo ID Office. More information can be found on the TTC website.
Sleep Lounge
• Bring physical ID or class schedule, no reservation required. You can find it on KX204 at the North campus and in KB106 at the Lakeshore campus.
IGNITE Tax Clinic
• IGNITE will help students complete their tax returns. Students will sit down in-person with IGNITE’s trained volunteers. The IGNITE Tax Clinic opens on March 4 and runs until April 25. The clinic will be closed during exam week, April 15 to 19.
Isabella Vergara Bedoya, IGNITE’s Student advocate with soup from the soup bar. IGNITE provides soups on Humber campuses for free to fight food insecurity and save students time.
GABRIEL NODA
Frozen soups are the most sustainable food option IGNITE can give out.
GABRIEL NODA
Hawks coach continues winning legacy
Formerproplayertakesonmantleofbasketballcoach
In the 2016 Women’s Basketball National Championship final against the Holland College Hurricanes, the Humber Hawks were trying not to put a foot wrong over the thin line between success and failure.
Despite two missed free throws by the Hurricanes, the Hawks were down by 49-47 with just 8.9 seconds left and with no timeouts.
Then, Ceejay Nofuente grabbed the rebound. With nothing but determination instead of intimidation, before the responsibility and the relentless and ruthless passage of seconds, the point guard crossed the court at full speed, brought the ball into the key and kicked out to open teammate Ruth Holland in the perimeter.
Holland hit the three and Humber won its first national title.
Coach Ajay Sharma remains in awe at what he saw from the sidelines.
“So many players would have fallen or turned the ball over in that situation. She wasn’t the fastest or the strongest but she understands basketball,” Sharma said.
“After the three there still was 0.5 seconds left and she didn’t really celebrate. She played defence right away. Next-play mentality,” he said.
The full-of-effort and clutch scene reflected essentially what Nofuente was made of as a best all-time Hawks’ player and what she wants to see on the court as a new head coach: sacrifice and unselfishness.
“It’s all about hustle,” said Nofuente, who was appointed as a new head coach in April as a successor to the 20-year-tenured Sharma.
“Everyone on the court has to give the same hustle and hard. Whether you play one or five minutes,” said Nofuente, who was assistant coach for the 2023-2024 season.
The team made the provincial finals but didn’t medal.
“Offence wins games, defence wins championships,” she said.
The 30-year-old point guard retired in early 2023 leaving behind a legacy that made her deserve the category of Humber’s legend on the court under the mentorship of Sharma.
Nofuente raised the 2016 and 2018 Canadian National Championships (CCAA) banners, multiple provincial championships (OCAA), three OCAA’s Player of the Year awards and is the all-time Humber leader in points, assists, rebounds, blocks and steals.
Besides her trajectory in Humber, Nofuente also played for Canada and had a stint overseas in professional Europe leagues including Sweden and Denmark.
The banner that hangs at Humber Gym in her honour will see her now patrolling the sidelines after orchestrating the show on the court.
“It’s a dream come true. Just playing for the school and for Ajay [Sharma] and coaching after Ajay, it’s a feeling you can’t express. You have to feel it,” the former point guard said.
The upcoming season’s squad keeps nine core players from last year, including
Brooklyn Johnson. The fifth-year player said Nofuente will keep the philosophy of Humber.
“Ceejay is the best possible outcome of getting a new coach. What sets her apart is her story with the school, she knows the culture and this is the best way to keep flowing rather than start with someone new,” Johnson said.
The long-successful stint of Sharma as a coach between 2004 and 2024 will also raise the bar for Nofuente, the executing arm of Sharma as a player and later the right hand as his assistant coach.
“I don’t think I can come close to what Ajay has achieved, but I want to build into it. I don’t know how long I see myself here, but he is one of the most decorated coaches and if I can even come close I will say that is an achievement for me,” she said.
“But as far as pressure, I don’t want to have that pressure to get what Ajay was, it’s being myself,” Nofuente said.
Nofuente thinks as a coach but still looks like a player. Her youth and her innate abilities still allow her to hoop like that hyperactive point guard used to, making it hard to identify who is the coach at first sight.
She seems ready to jump onto the court. And she does it.
Nofuente said an advantage of being a close-to-age players coach is her empathy regarding off-court struggles.
“I’ve gone through things like assignments and needing extra time for school not too long ago. I want them to come to talk because if they hold or hide things there’s no
way we work as a team,” she said.
But despite all the nuances of being in charge of a squad for the first time, for the tough-as-nails Nofuente, it all comes down to togetherness and the emphasis on the hustle.
She insists on the beauty of defence as if it were artwork painted with sweat and the court being the canvas.
“I love defence, I want to show the girls the same love, I want them to feel the same for getting stops that turn into scoring. There’s no other feeling like stealing the ball and getting out in transition,” Nofuente said. This art could turn into history. Instead of painting the play like in 2016, she could draw it on the clipboard in a timeout to engrave the name of Humber in a new National Championship trophy.
“If the game is tied, we have 10 seconds left and I have to call a play, yes, I’ll be ready for it,” Nofuente said.
Ceejay Nofuente, previously a player for Humber’s women’s basketball team, gets promoted to head coach. Nofuente stands on her home court, ready to take on her role as a leader.
ANTONI CANYAMERAS ROJAS
Antoni Canyameras Rojas HumberETC Sports
Humber cricket wins Team of the Year
Playershopetoseeglobalgameasavarsitysportinthefuture
Etti Bali HumberETC Sports
Students and coaches from Humber’s Cricket team made history when they won the Team of the Year 2023-2024 honour for the first time.
The awards ceremony, held last month, saw the team take home several awards. The accolades included the Coaching Excellence Award to coach Uzair Modan, Hawk Hustle to Jinil Patel, the Sportsmanship Award to Shreshth Nirmohi, Extramural Athlete of the Year to Manav Gurnani and the Milan Boronell Excellence Award to Manav Damani.
The team also won several other awards in areas like coaches’ pick, most valuable player and for the most dedicated player.
Coach Uzair Modan dedicates this recognition to “the great players and all my fellow coaches.”
For Shreshth Nirmohi, who hails from the northern Indian union territory of Chandigarh, cricket was a dream he thought he had given up on. He wanted to represent India but couldn’t achieve that goal. He retired from the domestic championship, the Ranji Trophy, last year.
“I thought I was done with cricket but Humber never let that happen and got me introduced to [a] new format of cricket (indoor cricket) and kept my passion for the game alive,” Nirmohi said.
Jinil Patel’s interest in cricket dates to when he was five years old. He says he was always surrounded by cricket.
“I started playing cricket at the age of five with my grandfather,” Patel said. “My aunt is a professional women’s cricket player and I have been fortunate enough to travel with her for her tournaments and witness the struggles a
cricket player goes through.
“This gave me extreme motivation to bring my game at a higher level and perform to the best of my ability,” he said.
Originally from the western Indian city of Vadodara, Patel’s family moved to Africa when he was seven. While there he traveled to Namibia from Botswana for his first cricket tournament.
“I am extremely grateful to Humber College for giving me such a wonderful opportunity to play cricket in a nation where this sport is still at a developmental stage,” he said.
Manav Damani shares a similar tale of being introduced to cricket at an impressionable age.
“I was immediately drawn to the fast-paced and strategic nature of the game and spent every spare moment honing my skills,” Damani said.
He says the Milan Boronell
Award “represents a milestone in my journey and serves as a reminder that my dreams are within reach.”
The talent, experience and commitment they have to the sport is unwavering. With decades of experience, they want to contribute to the growth of the sport in Canada.
Aman Gurnani, who came to Canada last year from India’s capital city New Delhi, says playing cricket for Humber has been “transformative.”
“I’ve had the privilege of representing Delhi and North Zone at various esteemed levels, including the prestigious U-16, U-19, and U-23 categories,” Gurnani said. “My tenure at Humber College has been transformative. Enrolling at Humber revitalized my cricketing ambitions with newfound vigour.”
The men unanimously voiced
aspirations to play for a varsity team and hope for the day when cricket becomes a varsity sport in Canada.
“I would love to compete for the varsity team and would love to promote this game in every way possible,” Patel said.
Gurnani says that he too aims for varsity.
“I am contemplating competing at the varsity level, envisaging it as a conduit to further refinement of my skill set while contributing meaningfully to collective triumphs,” he said.
Modan is hopeful as he sees the sport drawing more attention.
“Every year, the game of cricket is growing at the college level. This year, many colleges are participating in the outdoor cricket season, which is a positive sign for cricket to become a varsity sport in the near future,” Modan said.
Cricketer Shreshth Nirmohi won the Hawks 2023-24
extramural sportsmanship award after nearly giving up on cricket
year, saying Humber kept his passion for the game alive. HUMBER
Humber Hawks catcher Dylan White adding to the 22 total hits gained in the doubleheader leading to back-to-back wins against the Seneca Sting last friday, Septemer 13, 2024.
Soaring Hawks baseball sting OCAA
Humber’sdominancecontinueswithastrongstarttotheseason
Scott A. Blain HumberETC Sports
The Humber Hawks baseball team is off to a perfect 6-0 start to their season, capped off by two blowout wins over the Seneca Sting in a doubleheader last Friday.
The Hawks filled up the score sheet, with a total of 35 runs over the course of the two games, including 15 hits in the first game and seven hits in the second.
Head coach Troy Black, now in his third year at the helm, said the team’s perfect start to the season is based on a mixture of a few elements.
“Our resiliency and having a bit of an older group who have been there and have faced adversity,” Black said. “Being able to trust the same approach, and trust the process, so that when things are going sideways, we aren’t playing the opponent, we’re playing our own game.”
The process seems to be working.
The Hawks have filled up the score sheet. Those 35 runs that peppered the Sting put them first in the Ontario College Athletic Association with 67 total runs as of last weekend.
Black said the keys to victory include the team’s plate discipline at the start of the season.
“The maturity of the group to be able to buy in, to be able to understand what our plan is at the plate, is something that helps with not only walking, but swinging at the
right pitches,” he said.
A highlight of the two games was shortstop Charlie Towers, who scored the team’s first home run of the season with a hit to right field in Game 1, bringing in three runs in the process. Towers capped off his impressive night by tying an OCAA record for the most runs in a single game, with five in Game 2.
“Charlie’s a spark plug for us,” said Black, when asked about Towers’ impact on the team.
“He suffered some really bad injury luck towards the end of the summer season last year, that kind of blended into the season this year, so he couldn’t contribute the way he wanted to,” Black said.
Despite the injury, Black said Towers was at every practice, keeping the energy high in the group.
The energy that Towers brings to the group has now translated into his on-field play. After a slow first few games, Towers now finds him
self in the top three for team batting average at .438, six RBI and four stolen bases. His homer is so far the only one the two the team recorded this season.
“It’s a testament to him and his character and how much he loves being out there,” Black said. “He just goes out there and plays and competes, and you knew things were going to fall into place for him, and it looks like they’re starting to now.”
The Hawks’ hot start comes off of a dis-
appointing end to the previous campaign in 2023, with the Hawks losing in the OCAA Championship to the St. Clair Saints, a pattern that has repeated since 2021.
Despite the loss, Black says the maturity level of this older group has allowed them to stay grounded and not get ahead of themselves, with a rematch against St. Clair lined up for the end of the season.
“It doesn’t matter who the opponent is on the other side, we know the game that we’re capable of playing, our style of baseball, intensity and passion that we have for the game, if we do our job and take care of business on our side, we put ourselves in a
very good position,” he said.
“If we can take care of what we can take care of, and focus on our own group and circle, we try to block out the outside noise, and whatever opponent is on the other side is the opponent we’ll play, it’s a matter of focusing on what we can control in our game,” Black said.
The Hawks continued its hot start to their season Wednesday beating Fanshawe Falcons in the first game 11-1, but lost the second game 6-5 after allowing Fanshawe to score four runs in the seventh inning.
Humber plays two games against the Sault Cougars at Connorvale Park on Sunday.
SCOTT A. BLAIN
Intramurals in full effect around campus
Matthew R. Ziniuk HumberETC Sports
Humber third-year bio technology student
Rashawn Smauling says he loves the opportunity to play intramural basketball.
“The intramurals are a great way for people to get more involved in activities happening here at school rather than just sit around and do nothing during breaks,” he said.
Smauling said he believes that Humber is a great place for the students at school to get more involved.
Students can play intramural, extramural, and drop-in sports at Humber College North campus from Sept. 9 to Sept. 27. Intramural activities are open to Humber and University of Guelph-Humber students, staff and faculty. There are also special events at Lakeshore campus.
DROP-IN SPORTS
James DePoe, athletics facility manager, said there are a wide variety of intramural and drop-in sports available for students.
“Monday to Friday during the day, we’ve got all kinds of things happening,” he said.
DePoe said there are also adaptive activities and learn-to-play activities organized by Campus Recreation Coordinator Jennifer O’Reilly.
Ishan Molstrada, a second-year mechatronic engineering student, said all of these sports available, including basketball, floor hockey and pickle ball, for students is a great thing.
STAYING ACTIVE
“It gives people a chance to move around and stay active rather than being in class for three to five hours,” he said.
DePoe said several extramural sports play in tournaments against other colleges and universities, including men’s and women’s ice hockey and men’s cricket.
“I think there’s a huge push for cricket programming and I know at the Ontario college level, there’s a number of schools that you know, it’s the discussions at the table about adding it to varsity sports,” he said. “But for now it sits in the recreation league and we do have an extramural team which is great.”
Humber’s extramural cricket team last year won the Team of the Year award among other individual accolades.
Tryouts for the extramural women’s and men’s hockey teams are being held on Sept. 23, Sept. 30 and Oct. 7 at Westwood Arena near North campus.
“The program is not only successful but also run by students,” DePoe said. “Our stu-
dent-athletes and sport-interested students have volunteered themselves to give other students interested in joining and getting involved in sports the chance to really have a fun and exciting first or fourth year here at Humber.”
“What we pride ourselves on here in
athletics, we hire a lot of students, so we do provide a lot of student jobs as well, so we hire a number of current students to also run and execute these programs, so it really helps with reciprocating you know, back into the ecosystem of Humber,” he said.
Sebastian Dodge, a student at the University of Guelph-Humber, driving to the basket.
MATTHEW R. ZINIUK
HUMBER ET CETERA SPORTS
DRIVING HOME THE RUNS
