Volume 37 Issue 11
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University of Toronto Students’ Union
Health & Dental Plan
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issue 11 vol. XXXVII 10.14
Letter From The Publisher
Dear Readers, Every month, the newspaper is put together by a lot of very talented and charming people and the less talented and less charming me. I remember when I was just beginning my time at U of T. I was strolling around the UTSU clubs fair, and decided to sign up only because I thought the guys behind the table were the best looking. Little did I know that instead of scoring with the hipster boys tabeling at the fair, I would score a job. How I got here, though, is simple: I took the opportunities that were presented to me. The underlying theme that this issue deals with is how we as young adults approach life’s opportunities and its disappointments. Whether it is grad school applications or STI diagnoses, we all tackle life’s ups and downs in different ways. The last time I had a rough day at school, I may have tried to get my dog to shit on Mert Gertler’s lawn (FYI, my dog does not poop on command, so this didn’t work). What we as young adults forget to do is take huge risks: whether it be to apply to law school, or quitting our jobs and becoming musicians abroad. Without taking risks, or without making the first move we cannot carve a space for opportunity to be presented. Anyways, without further clichés I hope you enjoy the issue. Much love, Your Publisher - Camille Leon Angelo
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The Newspaper visits the recently opened Men’s Centre
“Suck It Up, Be A Man” and Visit the Men’s Centre By Olga Taratuta
For decades now, women’s issues in North America have been treated with sensitive care and attention. Women’s shelters, feminist clubs on campus, and hospitals devoted to serving women are seen across Toronto. But for men’s rights activists, the lack of men’s shelters in Toronto is a dire concern. Relying entirely on private funding, CAFE (Canadian Association For Equality) is successfully opening up Toronto’s first Men’s Centre, which will function as a safe haven for boys and men. The centre will be located near the University of Toronto and Ryerson campuses at Sherbourne and Carlton. Is the idea of a Men’s Centre ludicrous, or can it save lives? I interviewed Adam McPhee, a member of CAFE and a strong supporter of the Men’s Centre to hear his point of view. McPhee notes, “men are stigmatized by women’s groups and helplines, especially by rape and domestic violence helplines.” The common, and very sexist, view that “men can’t be raped” still exists in our society, making it harder for men to seek help in fear of being ridiculed. According to McPhee, men are also more likely to succumb to alcoholism and to commit suicide.
Since boyhood, men are told to “suck says that “being a feminist doesn’t mean you it up” and conceal their emotions. To be want to see men fail. Men too have problems masculine is to be powerful, wealthy, rathat greatly stem from sexism or stereotypitional, and domineering. McPhee says that cal ideas in society.” Being a “true feminist,” the only way to help men surpass these steas opposed to the stereotypical man-hating reotypes is to enforce a “gender transition,” extremist, means aiming for equal rights for ideally creating a men and women situation where alike. It means not men could take lumping all men The common view that “men into a neat cateon traditionally female roles and vice can’t be raped” still exists in our gory of chauvinversa. ists and elites, but society. The men’s rights rather seeing men activist’s ultimate as human beings goal is to make who also need spesuch a gender transition socially acceptable. cial care and compassion. This would require completely changing In principle, feminism supports the idea the definition of “gender equality” in North of a men’s centre, and as McPhee notes, the America. As of now, reaching gender equalproblem of gender inequality “can’t be fixed ity means empowering women (especially by throwing in an equal amount of men and in cases of domestic assault), giving women women into the Senate.” The issue must be equal rights, and minimizing the wage gap. tackled from the ground-up, and the introWhile all of these goals would indeed benduction of a centre teaches men not to simefit society, this postmodern feminist view ply “suck it up.” Perhaps, if men have the on gender equality gives no room for men chance to be heard at a safe place, they will and their struggles. be able to build up their confidence, and, Erin Morris, a member of S.E.R.S.A. ultimately, build a partnership with women (Students Ending Rape and Sexual Abuse) instead of seeing typically “feminine” issues at U of T, and a self-proclaimed feminist, as weak and shameful. This way, women
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Three local races to watch on October 27th
Toronto’s Ward Wars
By Kevin Mills
Despite the endless media/political circus we’ve seen for the mayor’s race, Rob Ford’s successor will inevitably depend on the new makeup of Toronto’s 45-seat City Council to deliver on their promises. While the mayor handily won with 47 per cent of the vote in 2010, the leftward tilt of Council has consistently been an obstacle for the Fords and their populist agenda. While the reelection rate for incumbents is very high, the gridlock witnessed during the past four years could easily lead to a shakeup. The newspaper’s Kevin Mills breaks down some of Toronto’s most contentious council contests.
Ward 7 Giorgio Mammoliti (incumbent) versus Nick Di Nizio Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti will lose his seat to challenger Nick Di Nizio. Good riddance. Councillor Mammoliti hardly goes a month without attracting media attention for his offensive comments. This is the same councillor that called Parkdale a “pedophile district”, says EDM concerts attract child molesters, and is under police investigation for accepting an “impermissible gift” of $80,000, some of which came from city lobbyists. A close ally of the Fords, Councillor Mammoliti has violated the city’s Code of Conduct innumerable times. Just like the Fords, he has also threatened legal action when clearly in the wrong. Mammoliti counter-sued the city Integrity Commissioner for investigating his use of his position and city resources to hold a $5,000-per-plate fundraiser that raised the money for his “impermissible gift.” Challenger Nick Di Nizio is less exciting, which is the perfect remedy to Mammoliti. Di Nizio is active in his community; he sits on the executive committee of his children’s school and is the past President of a local rate-payer’s group. Di Nizio lost to Mammoliti in 2010 by 1737 votes (14 per cent). According to a September 12th Forum poll. Mammoliti still leads with 37 per cent, but his lead over Nick Di Nizio (who is polling very strong at 33 per cent) is well within the margin of error. His approval rating has also tumbled to a troublesome 50 per cent, while Di Nizio has 69 per cent. If Di Nizio keeps knocking on doors, he will ride the wave of anti-Mammoliti sentiment right into City Hall.
Ward 20 Joe Cressy versus Sarah Thomson, Terri Chu, Mike Yen and 18 others. Joe Cressy is running against twenty-one other candidates, and it’s his race to lose. Ward 20 (including U of T’s St. George Campus) was Olivia Chow’s ward when she was a City Councillor. A close ally of Chow, Cressy ran for the NDP in last June’s federal by-election to fill her Trinity-Spadina seat. Cressy handily lost to the Liberal candidate (then) Ward 20 councillor Adam Vaughan. Despite losing, Cressy’s candidacy allowed him to build name recognition and a personal brand. Cressy is therefore polling way ahead of all other candidates (47 per cent) Party affiliation matters in this race. The NDP have lined up behind Joe Cressy but the Liberals and Conservatives are split. Too many anti-Cressy candidates emerged that are all drawing from the same base of volunteers, donors, and voters. One candidate, Terri Chu, is managing to pull together the anti-Cressy crowd, but it is likely too little, too late. Joe Cressy can turn off his phone and go to Bora Bora for a long vacation. He’d still win. Former mayoral candidate Sarah Thomson is in a distant second place (9 per cent). Thomson has name recognition, but a dismal approval rating (25 per cent). Eccentric policies, such as free Viagra for seniors, and unusual publicity stunts, such as riding a white horse into FordFest, are perhaps why people think she is “wacky.” She claims to be “the Liberal candidate,” but many Liberals actively avoid her. She is, however, described as a nice person and has a team of loyal supporters and well-wishers. Terri Chu has a sliver of a sliver of a chance if she can continue to pull together the anti-Cressy vote and if Joe Cressy makes a series of major mistakes. But that’s unlikely. This one is a lock for Cressy.
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How Toronto’s ‘perennial loser’ plans to overcome a decade of political failure
Is the third time the charm for John Tory? By Tommy Dietrich John Tory’s 2014 run for mayor has appeared to be a promising venture for the Toronto businessman, philanthropist, radio host, and now (once again) mayoral candidate. Approaching the final month of the campaign, he holds a commanding lead in the polls, always above 40 per cent. He has eclipsed Olivia Chow over the summer as the mayoral frontrunner. By positioning his campaign between the Ford(s) on the right and Chow on the left, this race is now John Tory’s to lose. However, if history is any indication of what to expect from Tory, he may end up doing just that. During his twenty-plus years in politics, John Tory has made a remarkable shift from being a fierce partisan Conservative operative in Ottawa to a Toronto mayoral candidate with strong ties to the Ontario Liberals. Yet, his career has been considerably marred by blunders and defeats. His critics regularly refer to him as a ‘perennial loser’. During the federal election of 1993, John Tory was the campaign director for the Progressive Conservative Party. Tory released an infamous series of attack ads featuring unflattering close-up photos of future Prime Minister Jean Chrétien’s face. The ads called Chrétien “a national embarrassment” and asked: “is this a Prime Minister?” The attacks hinged on the fact that Chrétien suffers from Bell’s Palsy (a condition that Olivia Chow also recently had). Despite being panned immediately by Liberals and many Conservatives, Tory still went on national television to defend the offensive ads. The negativity in the Tory-led campaign caused a massive shift in public opinion against the Conservatives, as Canadians interpreted the face ads as a simply low-brow attack on Chrétien’s physical appearance. “It’s true that I speak out of one side
of my mouth,” the victorious Chrétien later admitted. “I am not a Tory. I don’t speak out of both sides of my mouth!” A decade later, Tory himself entered politics as a right-wing mayoral candidate for the 2003 election. He had resigned from his position as CEO of Rogers Cable, and pushed a clearly conservative platform aimed at rigorous fiscal discipline, hiring more police officers, fining panhandlers and incinerating garbage. He lost to the NDPbacked David Miller by about 36,000 votes, but ran a respectable campaign that soon catapulted him up the Conservative establishment to Queen’s Park. Tory’s current campaign team would rather play down his past partisan roots. They’d rather that we see him as someone who works with Liberals rather than someone who loses to them. By 2004, Tory revived the Progressive Conservatives as their new Opposition Leader. Well ahead of an unpopular Dalton McGuinty at the start of the 2007 election, Tory’s strange support for increasing public funding to faith-based schools that taught creationism became a hot-button issue that the Liberals capitalized on. By election day, Tory’s position had almost single-handedly caused PC support to collapse. Worse still, Tory promised to run in a Toronto riding and lost his seat to Kathleen Wynne. Her hard-fought triumph over Tory in Don Valley West put the future Premier on the map. In 2009, MPP Laurie Scott resigned in Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock so Tory could return to the legislature in a (seemingly) safe PC riding. He ended up losing that by-election to Liberal Rick Johnson by 900 votes. Fast-forward to 2014. John Tory has now apparently learned that if you can’t beat the Liberals, you may as well join them. Tom Allison, Tory’s current cam-
paign manager, also led Kathleen Wynne’s campaign for the Premier’s office in January 2013. Many of Toronto’s prominent Liberal politicians, including Brad Duguid and Mitzie Hunter, now openly celebrate and support John Tory’s mayoral campaign with very public endorsements. Tory has put away his critiques of the Liberal government (however valid they may be) for political gain. He brands himself as the only leading candidate who can work with Kathleen Wynne and Stephen Harper. Yet, given the premier’s recent lean to the left to secure a majority government, a working relationship between Kathleen Wynne and potential Mayor Chow should be possible. For Tory to win, he’s banking on the general consensus that Torontonians have grown weary of Rob Ford, but are not looking for their taxes to climb. This requires him to walk a delicate line as a centrist: build transit, but don’t hike taxes; support bike lanes, but get tough on cyclists breaking road rules; march in the Pride Parade, but deny funding if Queers Against Israeli Apartheid participates. So far, Tory has maintained the balance, but as he remains the frontrunner and holes are poked in his platform, he must be very careful where he treads. His attack against Doug Ford one day after Rob Ford’s emotional withdrawal from the race already drew criticism. The Ford switch revealed the best of Chow’s sympathetic nature, and the worst of Tory’s political coldness. John Tory is a man who must win if he wants any relevant future in politics. Despite Tory’s sustained lead, we are still in a long campaign. There is still time for Olivia Chow to regain her footing. There is still time for Doug Ford to sling subways and taunt Tory until something sticks. If Tory collapses in October, the aforementioned ‘perennial loser’ label will always be his legacy.
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SOCCER For The World Cup Bandwagoner
By Delia Xenophontos
The FIFA World Cup brings out a lot of new soccer fans, and with the 2014 FIFA World Cup done, its time for new fans to pick a team to follow. Soccer season is now in full swing, so now is as good time to become a fan as ever. With choices from Spain’s La Liga, Italy’s Serie A, and England’s Premier League, the list of teams to follow is almost endless. To make things simpler, I would recommend choosing to follow one of the following three teams:
Barcelona: led by soccer superstar, Lionel Messi (Argentina), Barcelona is one of the top teams in La Liga. Barcelona has other top players, including Luis Suarez (Uruguay) and Neymar (Brazil). With 12 points, Barcelona is currently undefeated and in first place in La Liga. Barcelona is definitely a franchise with a legacy of success.
Real Madrid: Though Real Madrid currently sits in 7th place in La Liga, it’s led by a couple of soccer’s finest players–Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) and James Rodriguez (Colombia)–Real Madrid is sure to make their way to the top soon enough. Real Madrid leads La Liga in title wins with 32, and Champions League titles with 9.
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Juventus: this past May, Juventus won their 3rd consecutive Serie A title. This season, they’re undefeated and tied for 1st place. Juventus is filled with talented players– goaltender Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), forward Carlos Tevez, midfielder Arturo Vidal (Chile), and midfielder Andrea Pirlo (Italy), to name a few. And with such a talented team, Juventus could easily win their league for the fourth consecutive season.
Stars will be remembered as home-grounded heroes
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Illustration/A.I. Marin
Jeter and Donovan hang up their shoes By Zach Morgenstern 2014 is the final season for two American sports icons. New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, 40, was long considered an elite in his sport. USA soccer star Landon Donovan, 32, could not quite claim same the stature, playing a game dominated by Europeans and South Americans. Nonetheless, for about a decade, Donovan was the undisputed face of American men’s soccer (USMNT). Neither Jeter, nor Donovan are leaving silently. Jeter was honored with farewell ceremonies by every team he faced in 2014. The Toronto Blue Jays honored Jeter Canadian-style with a three day trip to Banff. Donovan, meanwhile, is regularly praised by Major League Soccer (MLS), the league he’s basically stuck with since being lent to the San José Earthquakes by Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen in 2000. Both Jeter and Donovan have amassed great statistics. Jeter is the first Yankee to reach baseball’s celebrated 3000 hit mark, and will retire 6th on baseball’s all time hit list. While considered a poor defender by statisticians, Jeter has fooled fans and award voters with highlight worthy defensive ef-
forts including a painful 2004 crowd dive against the rival Red Sox, and an iconic “flip” in the 2001 playoffs that narrowly beat Oakland’s Jeremy Giambi to home-plate. Donovan, meanwhile, is the MLS’ and USMNT’s all time leading scorer and has scored five times in world cup play. His most memorable goal was an injury time tiebreaker against Algeria in the 2010 world cup, which qualified the USA for the round of 16. Donovan’s and Jeter’s legacies are built not just on talent, but on the opportunities they were given to continuously play for a single fan base. Jeter has been a Yankee for his entire 20-year career, after dreaming of being the Yankees shortstop as a child. For the past eleven seasons Jeter has been the Yankees Captain. Unlike in hockey, the role of Captain is generally only assigned to a baseball player who it is assumed will play most or all of their career with their current team. Jeter smoothly fills this roll, speaking with a leader’s confidence, while simultaneously sticking to the formulaic talking points expected from professional athletes. Donovan’s speaking style is the oppo-
I’m not going to Brazil
site of Jeter’s. Donovan’s answers to interview questions are often short and timid, yet what his speech lacks in flare is made up for in meaning. When Donovan was shockingly left off the USMNT’s 2014 world cup roster by German coach Jurgen Klinsmann, Donovan admitted to reporters that he secretly routed against the USMNT following the news. Donovan faced flack both for these comments, and for criticizing Klinsmann’s tactics in the USA’s round of 16 match against Belgium. Donovan didn’t just break the script with honesty and frustration- he also broke it with humor. He appeared in a commercial for EA Sport’s 2014 FIFA World video game, in which he grumpily games in a USA robe, singing “I’m not going to Brazil.” While, Jeter won over fans by proudly playing his Yankee roll, Donovan gained support by expressing his feelings against the coach who had disappointed many USA fans by cutting him. Donovan’s willingness to speak his mind, and commit to the USMNT and MLS, rather than bend to the expectations of the soccer establishment, is just as important to his legacy as his talent. Donovan’s decision to play for the San José Earthquakes rather than return to Germany has been attributed to his homesick-
ness, as was his decision to stay with the Los Angeles Galaxy over Everton of the English Premier League. Overall, Donovan established himself as an American hometown sport hero through playing for the USA in 3 world cups and playing in 14 MLS seasons. To top things off, Donovan got symbolic revenge on Klinsmann by scoring on Bayern Munich’s/Germany’s world cup winning goalie Manuel Neuer in the 2014 MLS All-Star game. In this era of free agency, where athletes are seen as individual-stat accumulators rather than team icons, players like Jeter and Donovan are a rare breed. Jeter’s assumed replacement as face of the Yankees, Robinson Cano, left the team last winter, signing a surprise deal with Seattle. Meanwhile, MLS is not yet a top fleet league, meaning it is unlikely that other players of Donovan’s talent would allow homesickness to let them commit to it, rather than try for success in Europe. Being a sports fan is not just about watching talent, it’s about watching a (somewhat repetitive, yet nonetheless captivating) theatrical presentation. With Jeter and Donovan gone, soccer and baseball will continue to have talented performers, but the sports will have a notable absence of protagonists.
We all remember our first time. The first time you realized a specific song could take ownership of a year (does the summer of 2003 mean anything without Outkast’s instant classic “Hey Ya”) or the first time a selection of lyrics from an anonymous voice meant the world to your teenage angst. Essential social experiences are synonymous with music as heartache tangles with a deliberate joyless melody and elation is coupled with an excited, frantic rhythm. Memories fade much quicker and moments become more difficult to pinpoint without the background noise that made them so significant in the first place. We asked multiple students to share the special relationships they have built with certain songs over the past year and why.
PRESENTS
MELISSA VINCENT
Here I was at U of T feeling, for the first time, really alone. No one dressed like me in my long black tunic with leather black pants and black heeled boots. I felt as if I was being fed ingenuine words when friendly strangers striking up conversation told me they listened to Tame Impala too. I was the worst. I met my best friend in Whitney Hall at UC this year and we sat together on his bed, still partially strangers to each other. He looked up from browsing through his Itunes collection and asked me, “we need to rock out to Total Eclipse of the Heart.” It was there that the beginning of countless dorm room duo performances began. Bad music is fun, and it popped my elitist bubble allowing me to accept different genres outside of my aesthetic stereotype. I began to welcome people from different worlds into mine.
Melissa Mendes English major Year: 2
Sad Dads of Toronto (mostly comprised of middle aged men) united to watch The War on Drugs support their critically acclaimed recent album, Lost In The Dream. Preparing for the 80s soft rock that soundtracks their long drives to the cottage, we even heard a couple squeals in anticipation. Their roughly hour and a half set began with the very New
By Micaela Dixon and Katerina Stamadianos
Dessa and Why? Lee’s Palace September 19 2014
Live Reviews
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The War on Drugs The Phoenix Concert Theater September 15th 2014
Children
for the
Muzak
8 A School of High Fidelity
Nestled north of the Arctic Circle lies the Swedish hamlet of Korpilombolo. According to legend, Korpilombolo had a long tradition of voodoo worship after a witch doctor settled there, until Christian crusaders destroyed the village and the surviving townsfolk placed a curse on the land. Even if the legend isn’t true, you can hear the Korpilombolo band Goat conjure black magic on every track of their latest album Commune. Goat hail from the northern reaches of Sweden, but the searing electric guitars, heavily syncopated drumming, and unconventional instrumentation are reverently cribbed from musical traditions around the world. A little bit of everything, from German krautrock to Norwegian black metal, Nigerian afrobeat, Saharan tishoumaren, Haitian conpas, and Indian ragas coalesce together on Commune. Album opener “Talk to God” is a jam propelled by explosive djembe rhythms and “Hide From the Sun” sounds like Black Sabbath discovering tablas and sitars. Goat try to bring the whole world together on Commune – so why don’t you join their voodoo ritual?
By James Li
GOAT Commune [Rocket Records]
Earlier this month, Karen O, frontwoman of New York revivalist band The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, debuted her first album, Crush Songs. Crush Songs is a dialogue created over the span of 8 years that uproots an ever continuing “love crusade.” With that kept in a mind Crush Songs has a positive outlook on love because there’s an essence of not giving up on wanting to be wanted. “Day Go By,” is the circumstance of becoming infatuated in another being. It’s a more upbeat song that carries a catchier chorus and resembles the type of fast paced attraction individuals have to one another. In essence, Crush Songs is deliberately made to sound raw and Lo-Fi because much like love it is not perfect nor is it clean. Each song has a realm of confined uneasiness made for the subconscious dwelling on crushing. Compared to Karen O’s earlier work with The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, it bears a calmer and softer approach to a heartwarming and chaotic subject. Described expertly on “Rapt”, “Love is soft/ Love’s a fucking bitch.”
By Renee Tran
Karen O Crush Songs [Cult Records]
Too Bright, the third album by Perfume Genius, opens with “I Decline”, a song as spare and subdued as anything sole member Mike Hadreas has recorded. First a few soft notes on a piano, then a delicate croon. A single note on a slight guitar crescendoes and decrescendoes. Hadreas breaks his croon and mutters: “I decline”. In comparison track two is crowded. “Queen” is a departure in sound from Hadreas’ previous work, with industrial squelch, a steady rock beat, and swirling Beatles-esque psychedelia. And yet the style remains familiar. The guitar drives but it also drones, and towards the song’s close Hadreas is joined by choral voices. These two tracks set a pattern for the rest of the album as Hadreas alternates between the ethereal and the insistent. Driving synthesizer and drum rhythms are as common as the lone, endlessly reverberating, unmoored piano. This contrast unsettles. While Hadreas’ albums have previously resided in quiet reflection, Too Bright revels in shifts to hostile retaliation. In straddling the divide between bitterness turned inwards and outwards, Hadreas has created his best work yet.
By Michael Baldanza
Perfume Genius Too Bright [Matador Records]
I have been to a few live shows in my lifetime, not because I hate live music, but because I’m a student (according to the thesaurus, student is synonym for poor). When September came along, my friends discovered that the universally beloved Aaron Carter was having a show at Lee’s Palace. We had to go—no, we needed to go. Before the show, we obviously had some drinks, because we were going to an Aaron Carter concert in the year 2013. Carter, age 25, sang all his embarrassing hits, including, but not limited to, How I Beat Shaq. It was a trashy night for everyone; it felt like a coming-of-age novel. I learned that it’s okay to be trashy and love trashy things, because there are trashy people in my life willing to be trashy with me. That feeling is priceless; except for the $30 we each paid to watch Aaron Carter lament about Hilary Duff in between his sets. I love my friends.
Ondiek Odour Double major in Sociocultural Anthropology and Book Media Studies Year: 3
My formative music moment is sappy and sort of singular; it came in the form of a single song–The Sweet Hereafter–by a Toronto band called First Rate People. The song stuck out because of the circumstances of its introduction: this party was the first time any of my friends were meeting the guy I was dating at the time. It was the first relationship I’d been in since high school as well as the first relationship I’d been in with a guy at all. It laid out the anxiety of a relationship that someone isn’t sure they or their partner were quite ready for and listening to it in that context sort of repositioned the whole experience for me. It gave me a sense of how universal so many of these worries are, and how important it was to be honest about them. Hearing it for the first time at this moment managed to smooth out the evening and let me focus on enjoying myself instead of whether or not I was prepared for whatever milestone I’d built it up to be.
Alex Verman Writer for The Varsity Year: 3
Order inspired track “Burning”, launching into a strong set of jam-outs highlighted by a surreal rendition of “Under the Pressure”, the standout track on Lost in the Dream. A clear fan favorite of the set was “Red Eyes”, the radio hit of the album. One fan called out for “Suffering” so extensively during the set that the band broke into their an emotional yet mature break-up ballad when they returned for the encore. On stage, their presence is underwhelming in the best way possible- suiting the no bullshit nature of their aesthetic. Without straying from their assumed spots on stage, they instead let the music become the ultimate focus of the performance. Despite this, Granduciel presents himself captivating frontman. The band is clearly adept in their instrumental ability and the show was undoubtedly one of the most impressive live performances we’ve both seen in Toronto.
For our 2011 after prom party, a small group of my closest friends and I decided to stay up all night to watch the sunrise on the beach. The moment we saw the sky brighten up, my iPod shuffled onto the track 1979 by the Smashing Pumpkins which echoed hauntingly through our speakers over the deserted beach. It had to be fate because I can't think of another song nor moment that perfectly encapsulates the mix of magic, emotion, and rebellion that was my adolescence.
Niroja Thirugnanansampanthar University College Orientation Co-Chair Year: 4
Lee’s Palace was silenced when Margret Wander, better known as Dessa, took the stage. The Minneapolis native opened with “Children’s Work,” which gave way to a captivating blend of scorching rhymes and soulful hooks anchored by the supporting band’s pounding drum beats and upright electric bass. Leading into a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”, Wander’s shattering rendition of a classic verse shook every corner of the venue, leaving an unsuspecting crowd completely speechless. Most notable was the tangible chemistry between Wander and backup singer Aby Wolf who would lock eyes and, in turn, lock voices which was enthralling to watch and even more hypnotizing to hear. When Why? frontman Yoni Wolf finally took hold of the mic, the expertly crafted setlist opened with “The Fall of My. Fifths” and featured other picks from the act’s 2008 album Alopecia, like “These Few Presidents” and “Good Friday.” Wolf ’s stage presence was awkward, without being off-putting. He held the microphone gingerly and often stared into the far back corner of the venue adding a captivating, trance-like element to the show. Why?’s set picked up unstoppable momentum toward its end. Ending his plight with a refrain of an anthemic line from “Simeon’s Dilemma”, “while I’m alive I’ll feel alive”, Why? provided a mellowed-out close to a dream-like musical experience.
By Rebecca M. Williams UofT students share their favourite music moments of the past year issue 11 vol. XXXVII 10.14
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Life after Robarts: landing a job after graduation By Yasmine Laasraoui
Examining UofT’s role in leading graduates on the right career path
For recent graduates, the celebratory spirit that follows living out the 3am horrors at Robarts library is quickly replaced by the hard reality of finding full-time employment. For students that decide not to continue their studies shortly after graduating, landing a job that will serve as an introduction into their career of choice is a process often plagued with doubt and uncertainty. This doubt and uncertainty often creates feelings of unease; to find a job one qualified for and that will lead to the right career path—not to mention a job that is enjoyable—is not especially easy. The job-hunting pressure that recent graduates feel often comes with the impression that the University of Toronto does not provide the proper amount or quality of resources to facilitate future employment. “Grad Talks” are learning workshops at the School of Graduate Studies meant to help graduates develop valuable workplace skills; they cover various subjects such as practical lessons on Adobe Photoshop as well as more theoretical approaches to topics like leadership and critical reflection. The St. George campus’ Career Centre also hosts résumé clinics and an online job board for both on and off campus jobs. The resources are there, but do they actually aid recent graduates in securing meaningful jobs to further their careers? More importantly, does this responsibility fall under the purview of the university? CBC producer and UofT alumnus Alex Shprintsen does not think so. While he admits that it is far more difficult for recent graduates to land jobs today compared to when he finished his studies in 1988, Shprintsen doesn’t blame UofT for its apparent lack of employment sources. “I am not convinced that [a university degree] should lead directly to a job…I don’t think that is what university is for,” he said. Shprintsen does not believe that helping students find a job is a part of
the university’s role—instead, he believes UofT’s task is to set you up in the long run. Earning a degree ultimately trains students to think critically outside of various comfort zones, and coaches them to deal with new challenges in order to become the most qualified candidates for any given employer. Another important tool offered by the university is the networking potential in the community of alumni. The UTAA (University of Toronto Alumni Association) is a volunteer not-for-profit corporation with a membership of more than 525 000 alumni. Actively seeking out support through a global network of alumni can “open doors and create opportunities,” according to the President of the UTAA, Lenna Bradburn. Bradburn advised, “one of the most valuable things current students can do is seek out a mentor…to help guide you through the process,” of finishing a degree and obtaining career goals. People are the most valuable resource at UofT, and are likely to be more beneficial to graduates in the long term than the two-hour resume clinic offered at the Career Centre. So while it is true that UofT may not have direct links to the company you dream of working for, the institution as a whole, said Shprintsen, “teaches its students to do that job better.”
issue 11 vol. XXXVII 10.14
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A Q&A with the project’s program coordinator and curatorial assistant
Hart House
to feature video and sound installation for Nuit Blanche By Melissa Mendes
On October 4th the city of Toronto will forgo a night of sleep and quiet, transforming the city into an interactive art festival of contemporary projects by hundreds of local and international artists. U of T’s very own Hart house will be showcasing All Together Now, which will employ sound works, video projections, and live performances to focus on issues of participation, democracy, and cultural memory and discord. Program Coordinator Rebecca Gimmi and Curatorial Assistant Daniella Sanader of the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery took the newspaper on a tour of the space that will bear host to the night of live and media installations. the newspaper: Hart House is known as the gathering place for U of T’s arts and culture scene. In a school of over 65,000 students, in what ways do you feel that All Together Now makes itself appeal to the student demographic in a city filled with artistic opportunity? Rebecca: Overall the notion of being involved in Nuit Blanche helps to bridge the gap between the public and the student body by showing them they're a part of this event, and that their house (Hart House) is part of Nuit Blanche. Daniella: From the exhibition standpoint, it’s really looking at the timelessness of this, like why does it seem to be an interest to artists? Why are people so interested in choirs again, and if we’re curious about that, how do we explore that? So it’s nice to have a night where we can do that. tn: What do you hope that viewers of All Together Now take away from their experience at the exhibition? Rebecca: It’s almost like different access points, if people come and visit something they aren’t used to-such as a contemporary art exhibit-if they get a chance to do that, that's fantastic.
Daniella: Yeah, and if they can get that sense of being a part of something bigger, even if that means joining in and singing along. tn: With the presence of the online world making it easy to view all mediums of art from inside our homes or simply anywhere with a screen, what importance do you feel Nuit Blanche plays by incorporating technology with art to create a live and in-person experience? Rebecca: It’s great to see, during the evolution of Nuit Blanche, how much more people use social media and their [ability] to encourage their friends to come to certain exhibitions. People are using it to help other people by saying things like, “This place is really great; you can’t miss it”. tn: All Together Now was curated with the focus of themes that explore issues of participation, democracy, cultural memory and discord- what was the motivation behind these particular issues? Daniella: From early on we were talking about how a choir has a promise of participation, everyone’s coming together, everyone’s pitching in their voices to make this one harmonious goal. Then if you look at it from another direction, usually there’s one person leading the project; when any group of people come together there’s always a risk of discord. tn: All Together Now includes local artists from around the city, but it also expands to include artists outside of Canada. What made you reach out beyond the local scene? Rebecca: I think we started looking in a Canadian context, but embedded in the international art world. We view our practice within the international art context. All Together Now will be on display at Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle, on October 4th.
The White Night
IS A BLANK CANVAS FOR ALL INTERPRETATION By Olivia Isajev
With fall approaching we are forced to cast off the carefree thoughts of summer and find ourselves introspective and immersed once again in downtown life. Nuit Blanche offers us a thought-provoking and trendy night in Toronto on October 4th. The arts community can be a tricky one to navigate. It can strike one by feelings of exclusivity and pretension, making artistic events not inclusive and welcoming. Art is a kind of performance, and as spectators we often assume that we will be made to feel welcome, comfortable, and entertained. The line-up for Nuit Blanche exhibits this notion well—several of the artists are engaging in live dramatizations, art that “comes to life,” films, and there is even an “act” this year called “The Night Circus,” that promises to “dazzle,” “entertain,” and “enchant” visitors. No doubt all this will all prove to create a fantastic spectacle for a fun night out with friends and family, and a very integrated experience between the artists and the audience. But what do we, as the intended audience, really want from a festival like this? Is it all about palatability and accessibility? Do we need to be “entertained” in the con-
ventional, spectacular way by art? Or do we almost expect a level of pretension, a level of inaccessibility for us to take art seriously at all? Nuit Blanche is now seen as an excuse for a night to get drunk on the streets of Toronto and to take photos with a dressed up Batman or glow-in-the-dark motorcycle. However, the thesis of Nuit Blanche is; what do the artists themselves think?— what is the best way to reach out to people, and what aura as artists do they want to create for both the audience and the arts community? Before attending Nuit Blanche don’t just be an observer, be a spectator as welI. Not only does this arts fest provide viewers with an alternative way to experience and view art, but it also engages and challenges our perception of the city-scape, allowing the audience to see public spaces transformed and integrated through art. No matter what, the important thing is to have an open mind and a fun time. It may be “Nuit Blanche,” the white night, but amongst all these questions, we should all feel free to be artists of our own and colour the evening with whatever is meaningful to us.
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thenewspaper.ca
Sexy Halloween costumes that (really) shouldn’t exist. No, seriously, REALLY. By Paulina Saliba
Well, it’s getting close to that time of the year again. Halloween is just around the corner and our inappropriately sexy costumes are better than ever! Here’s a list of the top female sexy costumes that you didn’t know existed (and could go the rest of your life not knowing.) “Sexy” Hamburger Nothing says “WOW” like a hot piece of meat. This costume will have men turning their heads as you walk through the door. (See also: Veggie Burger for those vegan boys) “Sexy” Big Bird A brief look behind the scenes of Sesame Street. “Sexy” Darth Vader Welcome to the dark side, in all its skin tight pleather glory. “Sexy” child Can you say daddy issues? “Sexy” hot dog If burger didn’t get you going, this will! “Sexy” twister We’ve all seen this one, but I’m waiting for the Settlers of Catan version; my wheat for your ore, please! “Sexy” plumber That ass (crack.) “Sexy” Watermelon There’s a pun in here somewhere, but for the life of us we can’t find it. Please note: this article excludes inappropriate male sexy costumes, because the vast majority consisted of banana hammocks, jack hammers and woodpeckers.
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issue 11 vol. XXXVII 10.14
The Friends of the Library, Trinity College
39th Annual Book Sale
Kerouac wants you to know: “the best teacher is experience and not through someone’s distorted point of view”
October 23 – 27, 2014 Thursday October 23: 4 pm – 9 pm Friday Saturday Sunday Monday
(Admission $5)
October 24: 10 am – 8 pm October 25: 10 am – 8 pm October 26: Noon – 8 pm October 27: 10 am – 8 pm
(No admission charge Fri – Mon) cash · cheque · debit · Amex · Mastercard · Visa
6 Hoskin Avenue, upstairs in Seeley Hall Museum or St George subway; or Wellesley bus 94 to the door www.trinity.utoronto.ca/booksale (416) 978-6750 Charitable Registration #119269751RR0001
By Jamie Murray For many students, this fall may represent your first taste of higher education, a chance to escape the shackles of mummy and daddy, and to explore yourself as an adult in an exciting new environment. It is to you that I wish to impart the seasoned words of writers and thinkers far wiser than you or I. New students have no doubt heard much the importance of studying hard (all true) as well as the importance of being organized and diligent (also true), but less about the supreme importance of making mistakes and screwing up royally, so don’t let professors, parents or any authority figures tell you otherwise. While it may be true that “the whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows” it is also true that alcohol represents “the rose-coloured glasses of life” so why not do a little interior decorating and give yourself beautifully tinted windows? I’m not suggesting that the night before a midterm you stay out until last call dancing on tables and doing your best Bukowski impression—a man who once said, “some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead.” But it’s important to strike the right balance between work and play before you work yourself to the point of going full-out Edgar Allan Poe and find yourself babbling incoherently in the median of University Avenue. Poe has imparted wise and relevant words for any university student to live by: “the best things in life make you sweaty.” I advise new students to respect the laws of this fine province and abstain from any underage behaviour until they reach the age of majority. This would include not going out and acquiring a fake ID on Yonge street
’
the best things in life make you sweaty
’
or frequenting one of the less reputable ale houses that are known to be rather unselective in their practices. Whether you choose to heed this advice or not, know that it’s important to step out of your comfort zone and experience new things while at university in order to make the most of your time here. During your first year, grab opportunity with both hands and as Mark Twain said, “don’t let your schooling interfere with your education.”
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thenewspaper.ca
campus comment. finally.
’ I turned 19 and went to a bar for the first time.
During Frosh week I was given a cup of water at the end of an activity but it turned out to be tonic water. It was so gross I spat it out!”
What was the most interesting thing to happen to you during your first week of school?
’
I ran into someone I met in Europe last year.
I saw squirrels for the first time!
I really liked my class about marine mammal anatomy and physiology.
issue 11 vol. XXXVII 10.14
Publisher Camille Leon Angelo
was What your rt? once first c
My mo m to the B my took me ackstree t Boy when I was six s I cried . w on surf hen they flew boards from th in e sky.
SENIOR EDITORS Senior Editor - Comment and Sports Zach Morgenstern Senior Editor - Local Comment Dylan Hornby Senior Editor - Arts and Culture Clarrie Feinstein Senior Editor - News Yasmine Laasraoui Senior Editor - Features David Stokes Senior Editor - Music Melissa Vincent Senior Editor - Writer Development Isaac Thornley Senior Copy Editor Anna Bianca Roach
ion graduat ed y M . e s Mu l. I tear ighschoo dition of h r o f t f gi ren ng their up duri led Banner. ng Star Spa
DESIGN Art Director Daniel Glassman Photo Editor Josh Silver Illustrations Editor Daniel Braverman PUBLICITY Public Relations Manager Paulina Saliba Public Relations Associate Jordan Donovan
The Who. wa It s fucking lame.
ASSOCIATE EDITORS Associate Editor - Comment Cassandra Mazza Associate Editor - Music Michael Baldanza Associate Editor - Writer Development Marsha McLeod Associate Copy-Editor Rebecca M. Williams
Kelly Cla rkson. I b that said “behind th ought a t-shirt ese ha My jam b ecause I h zel eyes.” ave hazel eyes.
COPY EDITORS Sydney Gautreau Michael Baldanza Norma Zminkowska Poppy Sanders Philip Metz ♥ CONTRIBUTORS ♥
Izzy Mink Kevin Mills Misara ElGammal Delia Xenophontos Melissa Mendes Olga Taratuta Dian Yu Nina de Taeye Olivia Isajev Jamie Murray Anna Beausoleil Shapiro Cassandra Mazza Astoria Phoenix
Niroja Thirugnanansampanthar
Matthew Celestial James Li Renee Tran Micaela Dixon Katerina Stamadianos Rebecca M. Williams Christina D’Agnillo Ondiek Ondour Alex Verman Kristina Knox Theresa Waclawek A.I. Marin
Times have changed. Shouldn’t financial services?
Manulife
Smart Tech Challenge Protecting, using, and growing money needs to get smarter. How would you do it? Bring your big idea to life with the Manulife Smart Tech Challenge. Your teams could win $12000, MacBooks and more for your pitch. Open to post-secondary students in Ontario. Enter by October 8, 2014 at smarttechchallenge.ca.
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Thank you, come again.