August 2018

the newspaper University of Toronto’s independent community paper

Since 1978

Volume August

XLI

Issue I 31st 2018

Masthead

Cover Maxwell Galley

the newspaper University of Toronto’s independent community paper since 1978 Editor-In-Chief Rel Ryann Senior Copy Editor Olivia Anderson-Clarke Web Editor Zeynel Akkus News Editor Carsten Von Wersebe Comment Editor Manjiri Deshpande Arts Editor Renna Keriazes Music Editor Ben Cannon Public Relations Coordinator Judy Hu Therapy Dog Honeybee Mascot BLARGH! Contributors Amelia Eaton, Frida Mar, Sonia Scarlat, Anna Stabb, Mike X. All U of T community members, including students, alumni, faculty, and staff are encouraged to contribute!

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Email us at thenewspaper@gmail.com to apply!

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BREAKING down THE NEW MENTAL HEALTH POLICY AT U OF T Part I: Diagnosing the PrESENT AMELIA EATON | Contributor

Comments from administrators raise concerns

On June 27th, 2018, the Governing Council of the University of Toronto voted to approve the controversial mandated leave of absence policy (MLAP), which allows administrators to put students with mental health issues on an involuntary leave. From inside the halls of Simcoe Hall, where the vote was taking place, the raised voices of student protesters could be heard—but to no avail. The policy is now in full effect, and the landscape of mental health at U of T is as uncertain as ever.

One of the challenges moving forward from the June 27th decision has been the lack of trust between students and administrators, notes Aidan Swirsky, a former University College representative for the University of Toronto Student Union (UTSU).

Amelia Eaton, Mental Health Director for Woodsworth College Students Association (WCSA), embarked on a project to engage elected student representatives, student activists, and the U of T administration to determine the current state of mental health activism at U of T and the future of its mental health policy.

Climate of uncertainty “I’ve noticed an increase in fear amongst students.”

This is how Kristen Zimmer, a University College (UC) student and mental health activist, describes the climate on campus after the Governing Council voted to approve the Mandated Leave of Absence Policy (MLAP) this June.

The policy allows the U of T administration to place students with mental health issues on an involuntary leave if they are determined to be a danger to themselves or others, or if their mental health is severely impacting their studies. According to Zimmer, students have come to her with concerns when accessing mental health supports on campus for fear of being deemed “too severe” and garnering attention from administrators. “Right now there’s this growing fear of ‘what if this policy could apply to me?’” says Zimmer.

“It’s important that students continue to seek out the mental health supports that they need,” says Vice-Provost, Students and Sociology Professor Sandy Welsh in response to these concerns. According to Professor Welsh, the MLAP is not a policy that would be “about any student with a mental health issue”; rather, she says the policy is “really focused on these rare circumstances where there’s a significant mental health issue and a behavioral concern.” This behavioral concern would arise “where there’s a safety concern, threats of violence—it could be one where a student stops attending class, [or] hears voices in their head.”

Professor Welsh reiterates that this policy is “really about an exceptional circumstance” and highlights the importance of “getting the information out” to dispel rumours about the policy. Welsh has told The Newspaper that she is continuing to meet with “student leaders around campus” and that her office is working on a companion guide to the policy that students will have access to “at some point in the next few months.” In the meantime, students are left to decipher the policy on their own.

Swirsky describes hearing “bizarre” examples of how the MLAP would be applied during his time at the UTSU. One such example given by a student leader was “if a student came to class on a hot day wearing a parka”.

“I didn’t know where that comment came from,” says Swirsky, until he was invited by Professor Sandy Welsh to a meeting with other students in December 2017 to discuss the policy, where Welsh “raised that same example”. Swirsky says that this was not an offhand comment and that Welsh used this example again when she spoke to the University College council in January 2018. The students in the meeting “all had the same really perplexed look” in response this remark, says Swirsky.

Zhenglin Liu, an engineering student at the St. George campus, says that “just as concerning as the impacts of the policy itself was the outdated view of mentally ill students” suggested in statements made by administrators, including Provost Cheryl Regehr and Professor Sandy Welsh, during discussions of the policy. “They mentioned students covering up their residence room windows with tinfoil and wearing heavy jackets in the summer as examples of situations where the policy might be applied,” says Liu, “when neither of those things harmed the university or other students in any way beyond being reminiscent of fearmongering stereotypes of the mentally ill”.

“

They mentioned students covering up their residence room windows with tinfoil and wearing heavy jackets in the summer as examples of situations where the policy might be applied

”

When asked to comment on her remark in an interview with The Newspaper, Professor Welsh stated that she had “been asked in the consultations with students to provide examples of the kinds of behaviour that might be there” and that her statement “was given as an example” based on behaviours that “over the years some of the staff that provide support in certain kinds of situations have witnessed”. Welsh says that “a student that is having a significant mental health issue or a psychotic issue” may come to class “wearing clothes that are for a different season, and they may also be engaging in other behaviours such as handing in papers that don’t make sense, that our faculty members don’t understand”. She added that “Provost [Cheryl Regehr] also provided some examples” of such cases when the MLAP could be put into effect.

“Professor Welsh’s ‘parka’ comment is a textbook stereotype,” says Kristen Zimmer, adding that comments like this from administrators indicate that “the people behind the [mandated leave of absence] policy lack ba-

sic understanding of mental illness.” She points out that earlier in the year the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Chief Commissioner “cautioned the Governing Council against risk assessment ‘based on subjective views (that may be informed by stereotype).’” Zimmer says the remark “reveals how the policy creators perceive mad/mentally ill students: people with bizarre behaviours who must be observed.”

Symptom of a larger issue To Zimmer and other students interviewed, these comments are not merely impolitic quips from individual administrators—they are symptoms of the university’s larger systemic bias against mentally ill students. The mandated leave of absence policy is “part of [this] larger structural issue” at U of T says Zimmer, who argues that “a shift” is needed “in academia as a whole when it comes to being human”.

The students affected by mental health policies are often left out of consultations, and the students elected to represent them are not always engaged in “critical thinking” says Aidan Swirsky. According to Swirsky, the result is that administrators, even with good intentions, can push through damaging policies because they lack understanding of the “lived experiences” of students.

“Why would you not be in touch with people who would engage with [mental health] resources?” asks Kristen Zimmer. “It seems so simple and yet you don’t see that happening.”

The systemic barriers that prevent students with mental illness from having a seat at the table when it comes to these policies are compounded by a broken consultation process and bad-faith negotiations on the part of the administration, argue student mental health activists.

“The administration burned a few bridges with regards to how they conducted this policy,” says Aidan Swirsky.

Zhenglin Liu recalls that “At the University Affairs Board vote in May, Provost Regehr threatened that she would remove the policy from the board’s consideration if it voted to consider the policy for a longer period of time” which Liu says was “unproductive and frankly undemocratic”.

The protest that took place in June outside the Governing Council’s vote on the MLAP was “the culmination of a lot of frustration” says Swirsky. Although this demonstration may have faded from campus consciousness, Zimmer highlights the need for protest in the face of what she sees as discriminatory policies; “we’re going to be loud and we’re going to be angry about it because we haven’t been heard in the first place.”

“The rage is still here,” echoes Aidan Swirsky, who adds that “the [mandated leave of absence] policy was a wake-up call for activism” on campus. Whether this rage will be productive or corrosive will depend both on the strategies undertaken by students to improve mental health policies and the administration’s willingness to consider student input.

Read the next issue of The Newspaper to read part two of Breaking Down the New Mental Health Policy at U of T by WCSA Mental Health Director Amelia Eaton.

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Arts & Culture at U of T An Event Starter Pack 5 unmissable arts and culture events to look forward to this year ANNA STABB | Contributor

The start of a new school year at the University of Toronto means eight months of new plays, literary publications, fashion shows, and so much more.

Despite the misconception that bigger universities struggle to maintain a thriving student culture, the tremendous and sometimes eclectic talents of the students at UofT ensure that each year will offer countless arts and culture events to look forward to. There are so many events, in fact, that deciding which to attend can be an overwhelming task.

To help new students navigate the vast landscape of UofT’s student culture, here are five not-sohidden gems to mark on your calendars this school year.

Crazy Rich & Misrepresented

Asians A review of the film’s people-pleasing, unrealistic ending

MIKE X. | Contributor Crazy Rich Asians (CRA) was as exciting a movie to me as it was to the legions of young Asian-Canadians who had grown up being misrepresented by an airhead rich girl (Brenda Song in the ever-fantastic Suite Life series) and a non-singer in a show about singing (Harry Shum Jr. in Glee).

Despite not having read the novel, I looked forward to Hollywood accepting Asian storylines and actors as legitimate players in the industry. But I was more intrigued by how the movie would present traditional Asian societal structures and expectations. In other Asian-centric pieces (think Fresh off the Boat,) the stereotypes of the strict mother, the overachieving child, and the stern-abidance-by-family-rules are present, but merely used as a crutch for comedic effect and/or

TCDS’ Shakespeare in the Quad

Students entering first year with a campus tour under their belts will be very familiar with Trinity College’s classic quadrangle—home to many traditions, including Trinity College Dramatic Society’s annual Shakespeare in the Quad production. If students missed the chance to experience Toronto’s summer attraction Shakespeare in High Park, TCDS offers the next best thing with a new production of a Shakespweare play taking place under the early-fall sun in the quadrangle each year.

The Bob Sketch Comedy Revue

Another event taking place in first semester reminds students that the best remedy for any overworked brain is comedy. The Bob is Canada’s longest running sketch comedy revue and an unmissable experience for anyone in need of a good laugh after the stress of midterms and with final exams looming. What the sketch group “lacks” in seriousness when it comes to their scripts, they make up for in their commitment to creating a show funnier (and some might say sketchier) than the year before. Rumour has it that last year’s show featured an on-stage snack break as the cast feasted on dog food; only those who attend this year’s production will experience the inevitably hilarious way the group attempts to top that.

Winterfest’s “Battle of the Bands”

After the winter break, January promises a new batch of events to start off the second semester, including the week of events in early January called Winterfest.

Hosted by the St. George Roundtable, Winterfest consists of events reminiscent of orientation week specifically designed to welcome students back from winter break. As a highlight of the week, the Battle of the Bands event features a lineup of student musicians battling for a cash prize and the chance to perform at UofT’s Fireball. Featuring acts by carefully selected bands, Battle of the Bands is the best way to experience the talents and passions of student musicians on campus. Last year’s winners, Dorval, took gold with an energetic blues-rock set and students will have to wait for January to find out if the band is returning to defend the title.

setup for the storyline of the episode. The lack of exploration of the tangible effects this has on the family makes it shallow. So when the plot of CRA suggests its cause of friction is a result of the clash between a traditional Asian family and a set of new, alternative values, I hoped that it might be able to visualize on the big screen an everyday conflict of mine.

I found it disappointing that the movie came so close to telling a story that would have successfully encapsulated the strife that defines the lives of many Asian-Canadians’ upbringing but disregarded it in the last fifteen minutes of the movie in favour of a more classic, crowd and box-office appeasing rom-com cliché ending. Not to say I found this movie a complete disappointment; the vast majority of the film succeeds in painting an relatable, yet accurate depiction of traditional Asian familial structures. It’s exaggerated to several times the proportions I experienced growing up, but the core principles of family before all and the expectation of children to succeed for the sake of furthering and supporting the family prevail.

I noticed the wide-ranging reach of these structures taking form in a multitude of ways, from the oft-mentioned but ever-lingering expectation of Nick to ascend as the Young family’s next hierarch, to the fact that Rachel’s NYU professorship means nothing in the face of unyielding family standards. Eleanor, Nick’s mother, and the personification of the stubborn traditions of Asia throughout the movie, crystallizes the feeling many Asian-Canadians, including me, experience growing up when she hisses at Rachel, “You will never be enough.”

However, the fantastic job the film does in capturing how Asian traditions feel only makes its ending even more lamentable. The cinema offers an immersive narrative atmosphere where the audience can experience the overwhelming expectations set out by Asian

Victoria College Environmental Fashion Show

While some may expect the student designers of Toronto to end up at Ryerson or OCAD, the Victoria College Environmental Fashion Show proves that UofT has its own crop of talented and fashion-minded individuals. An annual event showcasing the work of student designers, VCEFS takes stylish shape as a night that celebrates both fashion and sustainability as the designers thrift or make each piece for the runway from recycled materials. With previous themes such as “Celestial Bodies” and “Divine Trash”, each year offers a new and ethereal take on eco-fashion and glamour. In a city rich with diverse takes on style, spending the night basking in the efforts of student designers and models is the perfect opportunity for first years to experience a glimpse of the creative and sustainably fashionable side of Toronto.

Hart House Review launch party

UofT hosts a myriad of literary publications featuring poetry, prose, and illustrations. The most acclaimed of which being the Hart House Review. Founded in 1991, the literary magazine features new work not only by students, but writers across Canada. The launch party held at the end of the year allows students to pick up a copy of the spring edition, listen to poets read their work aloud, and revel in great literary talents. The launch party, like so many other arts and culture events at UofT, is a time to celebrate and be inspired by peers and fellow artists.

These five events are only a handful of arts and culture highlights taking place this year. The best way for students to stay up to date on the various plays, launch parties, and productions held each month is to follow campus newspapers and join student group Facebook pages that promote upcoming events.

customs, but CRA spoils it by giving us an unrealistic ending where Rachel triumphs over Eleanor.

For Rachel to topple the traditions and hierarchy cemented through thousands of years, and billions of lives, over a sacrificial play in a game of mahjong is a slap in the face. Tauntingly, the fairy-tale ending of CRA seems to suggest that all I need to overcome the overbearing force of family values enforced since birth is love and some willingness to self-sacrifice. The denouement tosses away the reality it had cultivated through the rest of the film—a reality where Rachel most certainly would have fallen in the face of the Young family’s pressure.

Even assuming Eleanor still gives Rachel her blessing as in the movie, which is unrealistic in and of itself, the grandmother surely would have stepped in, and if not her, the never-present but ever-important father and patriarch of the Young family certainly would have.

Rachel being able to marry Nick despite flying in the face of the family’s wishes is nigh impossible. Structures as historically rooted as those that are the foundations of many Asian families are not so flimsy as to fall under the breath of a single non-conforming outsider.

I didn’t want to see this movie end in despair. Certainly, Rachel could at least shake and perhaps even crack the veneer of those beliefs, or be the first of many to slowly chip away at what is and isn’t acceptable for the Young family. Instead, the movie chooses to sacrifice a faithful portrayal of a struggle against the walls of expectation constructed by Asian society. The movie blatantly betrayed me, as if someone had spent hours sympathizing and sharing in my feelings before flippantly dismissing them as trivial. With the movie’s fairy-tale ending, it is relegated to being yet another tale failing to address the Asian condition as the daunting behemoth it often feels like by belittling it as a foil within the story to be jovially conquered by its characters.

the advice 7

Commuter’s Guide to Wasting Time Filling the hours between classes can be hard, but some coffee and a good playlist can make it easier.

SONIA SCARLAT | Contributor

By the third year of my university career, I have become somewhat of a connoisseur of idling around campus. While those living in residence are free to return to their dorms whenever the mood strikes, hopping on the streetcar four times a day for every one or two hour break seems pretty excessive. And for many commuters, it isn’t even possible to make it there and back again.

So in my desperation to have the perfect autumnal University of Toronto experience, I went searching for the best places to run out the clock, because, let’s be honest, there’s only so many times you can sit in the same Starbucks before you’d go insane.

Wisdom & Warnings for First Years Tips to get through university FRIDA MAR | Contributor

Contrary to popular belief, your first year at this university can give you the best memories and GPA you’ll ever have. Maintaining both a social life and a stable academic career are important in general, but it’s also important to remember that your worth isn’t determined by how many friends you have or how good your grades are.

I’m entering my third year now and I’m here to help you sweet frosh kids navigate all the quirks of this campus.

Academics

Choose courses that you’re passionate about, both inside and outside your field of study. In second year, I took a Korean Literature course that was outside of the prerequisites for my English and Psychology majors, and it turned out to have really good material. I suggest that you also get involved early in research projects or clubs pertaining to your studies. Only buy textbooks if you know that you’re going to keep the class. You can also buy your required readings from BMV, the discount

Kensington Market

If you’ve lived in the city for even a month, you’ve probably already heard of Kensington Market. An eclectic mix of artists, Victorian architecture, and the strongest bohemian atmosphere to entice any post-secondary student, it’s definitely among the best areas that Toronto has to offer. A lot closer than you might think, a short walk to Kensington gives you access to local indie coffee shops and restaurants that cater to just about whatever you’re hungry for (vegan options, too!). I love grabbing a seat at Jimmy’s Coffee to get some school work done, or sitting outside of Ideal Coffee when it’s warm enough. And if you’re looking to stretch your feet out and explore, walk down Bellevue Ave. to Nassau St., or take Oxford St.—you won’t be disappointed.

Willow Books

I am a firm believer that the best way to relax after a particularly long lecture is to browse the shelves of a bookstore. A good option that’s tucked away near the intersection of Bloor and St. George is Willow Books.

Its location ensures that you won’t get lost when you realize you have ten minutes to get to your next tutorial.

They have a great selection of used books (and even textbooks), so if you find something you just can’t part with you won’t be breaking the bank. While it can be a little chaotic, it’s definitely worth a look around if you’re trying to expand your library.

Side Streets of Harbord

I know I’ve already sung this little area’s praises, but if you’re tired of grabbing cappuccino after cappuccino, you can get some air and stretch out by exploring the little side streets that branch off of Harbord. Luckily, because of Toronto’s city planning, you’re most likely not going to get completely and hopelessly lost, meaning you can definitely make your way back to campus, no matter how many twists and turns you take. The best thing about walking around this neighbourhood is getting to discover all that it has to offer on your own, but a good route to explore is Borden St. down to Ulster St, and then just follow your feet.

Museums

The St. George Campus is surrounded by opportunities to engage in cultural activities. The various museums around the area can give you a chance to clear your head and look at some pretty inspiring objects. The best thing? Some of them are free! For U of T students, the ROM offers free admission on Tuesdays, as does the AGO on Wednesdays after 3 p.m. If you don’t have a lot of time to spare, you definitely won’t feel guilty popping in for an hour when you’re not purchasing a ticket. And best of all, you’ll get to see some staples of the Toronto museum scene.

Harbord Street

Frankly one of the best spots near the U of T campus, Harbord St., much like Kensington, offers cafes, restaurants and a lot of speciality stores. Depending on how much time you have to kill, I would definitely recommend walking west along the strip. Further down, you’ll find Sam James Coffee Bar and Art Eagleton Park. If you don’t have time to make it all the way down there, definitely check out Almond Butterfly for some gluten free pastries, as well as Elchi Chai Shop and Think It Café to enjoy a good book and pretend you don’t already have homework due the second week of school.

textbook store on College, and the textbook exchange group on Facebook. I personally rely on Russian hackers to upload free files for me to turn into EPUB files so I can transfer them to my ebook and read them everywhere! Bada bing bada boom! Now you can spend more money on overpriced bubble tea instead. Do your readings! I can’t stress this enough.Ensure that you also plan out your readings, due dates and studying times for each semester. To organize everything that your professors give you, I suggest that you use Google Calendar, OneNote, or an agenda. the University hands out free agendas every frosh. My favourite places to study are the Earth Science library, the breezy walkway in Knox College and the Gerstein Library. Gerstein is a safe zone, Robarts is for the weak-willed.

Romance

Speaking from personal experience, self-love is incredibly important! Make sure to set time for yourself during the week and see a movie for example. On campus, I met a lot of people who don’t devote their time to romantic relationships and I also met a lot of people who use at least one dating app. Personally speaking, you’ll match with entire friend groups using these apps and soon you’ll start wondering if millennial romance is even worth it. Furthermore, if someone you like from Tinder ghosts you, then forget about them. You’re cool, and you deserve all the good things in this world. On the other hand, campus crushes can be fun especially when you find out later on that they’re also on Tinder.

Outside of dating apps, the new litmus test for asking someone out from your lecture is whether they have their laptop webcam taped up.

Finance

Try not to buy food on campus, it’s overpriced. However, if you can’t pack a lunch before your lectures begin, there are some cheap eats on campus if you know where to look. I suggest visiting the brown food truck by

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Robarts, where you can get a medium portion of fries for $3 or a small poutine for $4. The cheapest thing in Robarts is the $4 soup/chilli, which I highly recommend. Innis college has the best cafeteria; they have full breakfast and lunch covered and they have lots of house made options for less than $10. The Cat’s Eye Lounge in Victoria College also holds many events with free food, so make sure to stop by if you’re in the area. To track how much you’re spending on food, I suggest that you download the Mint app. The Mint app keeps you updated with a weekly spending summary, and it notifies you when you’ve spent over your budget for food and other things like health and shopping.

Lifestyle

For fun on campus, I suggest going to a Frat party just once. Frat parties are a regular occurrence during frosh and holidays, and Facebook groups can help you find one (such as Events and Parties). The floors are always sticky at Frats, so bring your most disposable shoes. For a more casual time, I love the Earth Science Greenhouse on campus. The Greenhouse is gorgeous and it’s located on the top floor of the Earth Science building, accessible through either the stairs or elevators. During the daytime, you can visit the sweet iguana that rules over the plants in the first room and the large gathering of succulents in the last room.

Take advantage of these next few years, and be sure to seek out academic or mental health support whenever you need it! If you need more advice from a well-seasoned veteran of this university, you can find me in the Gerstein Library.

I’ll be salvaging my GPA under the moody desk lamps on the first floor while waiting for the perfect opening to steal the Gerstein Skeleton.