Volume 47, Issue 6

The Independent Student Newspaper of the University of Toronto Mississauga since 1974

Issue 006 Volume 47 October 19 2020

themedium.ca

ANTIBODIES RESEARCH

STUDENT JOURNALISM

PROTESTS TO END SARS

A study by the University of Toronto researchers found that Covid-19 antibodies last approximately 90 days following contamination.

On October 5, The Medium published its fifth issue of Volume 47. As a section editor, this not only signified a small milestone but personal growth for me as well.

Since October 8, Nigerian youths worldwide have taken to the streets to peacefully protest police brutality. The movement shares one simple message: #EndSARS.

>> ANTIBODIES continued on page 4

>> EDITORIAL continued on page 5

>> SARS continued on page 7

NEWS

U of T research teams work to increase pandemic response efficiency Razia Saleh, Contributor Isik Vera Senel, News Editor

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esearch teams from several University of Toronto departments have undertaken innovative projects to understand and combat Covid-19.

Earlier this month, Scott Gray-Owen, a molecular genetics professor at the Temerty faculty of medicine, received the Minister of College and Universities’ Awards of Excellence.

>> RESEARCH continued on page 2

SPORTS

FEATURES

The impact of Stage 2 gym closures on mental health and wellness

Do we work to live or live to work?

Rachel Lord Contributor

Pearla Hariri Associate Features Editor

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n October 9, the Ford government announced the mandatory closure of all gyms and indoor fitness centres in the Toronto, Peel, and Ottawa regions. The closures were a result of the recent spike in Covid-19 cases, as Ontario hit a daily record high of more than 900 cases on October 9. Although it was a necessary step in slowing the spread of Covid-19, students’ mental health is likely to suffer from the lack of access to fitness facilities.

The closure of gyms may exacerbate pre-existing mental illnesses or weaken one’s mental health. According to a study by Ph.D. student Julie Morgan from the University of Adelaide in Australia, suddenly stopping regular physical activity can increase depressive symptoms.

Students who regularly use fitness facilities are likely to be most affected. According to an article on Help Guide, physical exercise enhances both physical and mental energies, relieves stress and anxiety, and improves mental well-being through the release of endorphins. Due to these positive effects, the sudden loss of accessibility to gym facilities will harm those dependent on a regular gym routine.

There are numerous dangers to the sudden reduction of physical activity. A study on athlete endurance at the University of Maryland by Alfonso Alfini >> GYM continued on page 12

e wanted to encapsulate this idea of work of being a place for you to grow, develop, and learn,” says Dr. Sonia Kang, UTM associate professor of organizational behaviour and human resource management, about her new podcast on the modern employee experience.

The idea of her podcast, “For the Love of Work,” came to Kang prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the aim of beginning production in March. The podcast is targeted for anyone, at any stage of their career and any role, but with particular consideration for those newly entering the workforce and facing challenges in their chosen career paths. “For the Love of Work” emphasizes topics such as resilience, diversity, and inclusion, that are essential to consider before starting a career. Despite the pandemic, Dr. Kang pursued the podcast production, and the first episode streamed on September 21.

Dr. Kang finds it interesting that “all of these topics that were thought of before the pandemic as being important to the employee experience, are still valid now.” Topics of resilience, diversity, and inclusion in the workspace are consistently vital in the present, past, and future. >> WORK continued on page 8

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NEWS

Editor | Isik Vera Senel news@themedium.ca

U of T research teams work to increase pandemic response efficiency “Science will once again save us,” says U of T professor.

Razia Saleh, Contributor Isik Vera Senel, News Editor

>> RESEARCH continued from page 1 Professor Gray-Owen’s research has significantly advanced the province’s reaction and management of Covid-19, making Ontario a safer place in these trying times.

Professor Gray-Owen’s research focuses on the interactions between humanrestricted bacterial and viral pathogens. His contributions to Covid-19 research has been significant in determining the effectiveness of personal protective equipment.

Gray-Owen’s experiments at the molecular genetics department concluded that masks produced by I3 BioMedical Inc. are highly efficient in protecting the wearer. The sanitary layer, which coats, the masks neutralizes the virus almost entirely. This considerably decreases the risk of medical personnel contracting Covid-19 if they were to come in contact with the outer, contaminated layer of their masks during removal or adjustment.

“Rather than fear that robots will one day take over our jobs, our freedom, and our privacy, we can engineer and design the robots that we want to ensure a bright future for this country and its residents.”

This is a huge step forward in fighting the novel coronavirus as it allows health care workers to touch their masks without risking cross-contamination. Thanks to his research, medical personnel can feel a lot more secure

on the frontlines.

In an interview with U of T News, Christine Allen, associate vice-president and vice-provost of strategic initiatives, praised Gray-Owen and emphasized the importance of his research.

“His efforts helped [I3 BioMedical Inc.] bring its essential health innovation to market, supporting a madein-Canada solution to the pressing need for personal protective equipment for frontline health-care workers,” said Allen.

Gray-Owen also discussed the progress of Covid-19 research and the university’s support of students and faculty in their endeavors.

“The natural synergies that arise from U of T’s culture of innovation and collaboration have always driven impactful breakthroughs,” stated Gray-Owen. “But the speed and scale with which our entire community pivoted toward this great challenge has honestly been inspiring to behold and gives me the confidence that science will once again save us.”

In addition to the faculty of medicine, the robotics institute has conducted notable research on Covid-19 and how governments can better respond to the crisis at

hand. The faculty of engineering released an authoritative report on September 21. This report is the product of 14 U of T researchers with a combined 130 years of experience and informs the public about robotics and how it can help combat the novel coronavirus.

Through intensive research and numerous interviews, this report examines the pandemic from a variety of perspectives.

“From disinfection and remote triage, to logistics and delivery, countries around the world are making use of robots to address the unique challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic,” states the executive summary.

“But the story of robots and Covid-19 is not just about which countries are using robots to help manage their pandemic response; it is also about how the pandemic has become an inflection point for accelerating investment in robotics more broadly.”

The report analyzes Canada’s most significant vulnerabilities and advantages, going on to discuss how the robotics industry can help keep citizens safe while also increasing efficiency across sectors. Moreover, it provides decision-makers with necessary information surrounding robotics and its potential roles in the fight against Covid-19.

“Canada has the opportunity to create a roboticized future that reflects the unique cultural, geographic, and economic needs of its citizens,” reads the report. “Rather than fear that robots will one day take over our jobs, our freedom, and our privacy, we can engineer and design the robots that we want to ensure a bright future for this country and its residents.”

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U of T celebrates mental health week Research team develops a mobile application that monitors mental health via artificial intelligence.

Sheryl Gurajada Contributor

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ental health awareness week was celebrated across Canada from October 4 to 10. Through its mental health initiatives, the University of Toronto has shown its efforts to create a more inclusive and healthier environment for students and staff at the university, as well as the wider community. U of T encourages mental health awareness and is currently working on multiple projects to further support the student body.

Established in 1992 by the Canadian Psychiatric Association, mental health awareness week was created as a national education initiative to shed light on the realities of mental illness and promote mental health practices. Six months into physical distancing and isolation practices, mental health awareness and navigation are crucial to maintaining overall health and well-being in Ontario.

A research project led by U of T Ph.D. candidate Daniel Di Matteo, Professor Jonathan Rose, and Dr. Martin Katzman, studies how smartphones can monitor mental health by recording ambient noise. The multidisciplinary research team began their study by installing their app into participants’ phones. By activating the phones’ microphones, the app records ambient sound for 15 seconds, every five minutes.

During the semester of online learning and social distancing, it is essential to take the time to care for personal mental health.

The study tracked the changes in the audio volume of ambient sound throughout the day for two weeks, essentially mapping out participants’ mood against participants’ daily schedules. Through this data, researchers found that systematic and regular schedules were negatively correlated with symptoms of depression.

Although there are legal and ethical limitations in place for monitoring and collecting data from smartphones, some believe monitoring apps to be a promising discovery. This U of T app’s tracking can act as an early warning for people susceptible to mental illnesses by notify-

Rachel Lord/The Medium. U of T is encouraging students to take care of themselves.

ing family and friends.

In recent years, many studies have begun to look into the intersection of technology and medicine. In an interview with U of T News, Professor Rose spoke of this technology and medicine fields’ union when talking about his research colleagues.

“It’s a true partnership; they learn what’s possible with machine learning while we learn aspects of psychiatry and statistics,” stated Rose.

The U of T Office of the Vice Provost also introduced a new application to provide students with readily accessible mental health resources.

Navi, short for “navigator,” is an app that offers chat-based assistance for students looking for mental health assistance and support. Navi utilizes IBM Watson Assistant, an artificial intelligence software, to build a language processing interface that can communicate and provide responses. This allows the app to operate 24/7, providing students with essential information regardless of time zones.

In the latest report of the Presidential and Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health, U of T identified a culture of caring and excellence as a goal they aspire to acquire within the university community. University administration believes Navi is a step towards achieving that goal. By making the app available publicly, it is not only accessible to students but also families, faculty, staff, and administrators.

Navi is entirely anonymous and does not require you to present any personal details to get information on available mental health resources. In fact, students are advised not to provide any personal or medical information about themselves or anyone else while using the app. Navi is also meant to act as the first line of help and will not provide any medical diagnoses or personalized treatments. Navi was officially launched to all students this past September.

During this semester of online learning and social distancing, it is essential to take the time to care for personal mental health. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the resources available to them through the university, such as the UTM Health and Counselling Centre, which holds virtual events and workshops each week to encourage mindfulness and self-care.

With many studies and projects such as Navi underway, U of T is moving closer toward ending the stigma behind mental health and promoting healthy lifestyle practices.

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Covid-19 antibodies remain in the system for three months Isik Vera Senel News Editor

>> ANTIBODIES continued from page 1 By analyzing infected patients’ blood and saliva, the immunology study concluded that individuals are largely protected from Covid-19 while their antibodies’ response to the virus remains active.

After being infected with a virus, whether they are symptomatic or not, recovered patients’ plasma cells generate antibodies against that specific virus to prevent immediate re-infection. The adaptive immune system utilizes these antibodies to identify pathogens and

neutralize them before they can attack and infect the host.

The study spanned over 115 days, where the blood plasma of 739 participants and saliva of 247 were tested regularly. With a team of 36 researchers, this U of T study is a significant advancement on the road to developing an effective vaccine.

“This is another tool that can help us better understand and even overcome this virus,” stated Anne-Claude Gingras, a molecular genetics professor, in an interview with U of T News.

Professor Jennifer Gommerman at the Temerty faculty of medicine also argues that by researching how the body responds to Covid-19 infection, scientists can develop a vaccine that provides the individual with an ac-

tive acquired immunity.

The Public Health of Canada states that vaccination is the ultimate protection measure against vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. Thus, by producing a vaccine, Canada can restrain the spread of Covid-19, and the virus could be as preventable as influenza.

“This study suggests that if a vaccine is properly designed, it has the potential to induce a durable antibody response that can help protect the vaccinated person against the virus that causes [Covid-19],” said Gommerman.

Although there is still much left to learn regarding the novel coronavirus and how it affects the body, this research is a hopeful development toward ending Covid-19.

N E WS

FEATURES

N E WS @ T HE M E DI U M .C A

FEATURE S@THE MEDI UM. CA

COMMENT

AR T S

CO MMENT@T HEMEDIUM .CA

A R TS @ TH E M E D I U M . C A

WRITE FOR US

SPORTS S PO RT S @T HE M E D IU M . C A

MASTHEAD EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Paula Cho editor@themedium.ca Managing Editor Ali Taha managing@themedium.ca News Isik Vera Senel news@themedium.ca Comment Aya Yafaoui comment@themedium.ca

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COMMENT

Editorial: Demystifying the process of writing for The Medium, from a writer to a section editor

Features Elizabeth Provost features@themedium.ca

Aya Yafaoui Comment Editor

A&E Chris Berberian arts@themedium.ca

>> EDITORIAL continued from page 1

Sports Sarah-May Edwardo-Oldfield sports@themedium.ca Photo Julia Healy photos@themedium.ca Design Tegwen McKenzie design@themedium.ca Copy Melissa Barrientos melissa@themedium.ca Alexis Whelan alexis@themedium.ca Online Yasmeen Alkoka online@themedium.ca

ASSOCIATES Danica Teng, Arts Paige France, Arts Pearla Hariri, Features May Alsaigh, Features

STAFF Webmaster Vladyslava Diachenko web@themedium.ca Videographer Gabriel Saavedra videographer@themedium.ca

The fifth issue of the previous year, Volume 46, was my first time writing for The Medium. My situation has changed dramatically in the span of a dozen months, going from an incredibly nervous and unsure writer to becoming a section editor. My journey to get to this position, and more importantly, to this place of being comfortable sharing my writing, hasn’t always been easy or natural. If I am completely honest, I’ve struggled a lot with self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and performance anxiety, all of which made it challenging to write and flourish as a writer.

I don’t share this to be self-aggrandizing. Instead, I want to say to all my current writers, future writers, on-the-fence writers, and those who believe they can’t write that I was exactly as nervous, scared, anxious, confused, and curious as you. My breath would catch every time I got an email from my editor with feedback on my piece. I would check and recheck and triple check my article before sending it, and I always worried about the quality of my writing and if it was “good enough.” Who am I kidding? I still do these things. Yet, as an editor, I don’t want this to be your experience.

If anything, this editorial is meant to serve you in two ways. Firstly, I want every student interested in writing for The Medium to know that I am determined to make this Comment section a welcoming place, where all students can voice their opinions on the world they experience. Whether in public, online, or among friends, creating a space for factual, insightful, and meaningful discussion is a valuable and unique purpose. A purpose that can only be fulfilled through the participation of the very audience from which it emerges. In other words, this section needs you and wants you.

The second aim of this editorial is to demystify the process of writing for The Medium to make it more accessible and less intimidating to you. To become a writer for The Medium, one only needs three crucial

@TheMediumUTM

things: the internet (duh), an interest in writing, and an email address.

Notice that I didn’t say you have to possess mastery over the skill of writing; I haven’t even achieved anything close to that.

Once you have your email and courage ready, either send an email to our lovely Editor-In-Chief, Paula Cho, or fill out the questionnaire on our website. You can also email me if you are interested in writing for the Comment section specifically. After that first step, you get added to our list of writers and await my often meme-ridden pitch emails every Sunday. When you’ve finished laughing at my downright hilarious, super woke, lit memes, you can select one of my pitches or pitch your own idea for an article. I will reply, discuss your thoughts about the pitch, ask for a brief outline of your argument and approve it. The outline helps you organize your thoughts and makes writing a bit easier because it gives you a road map. Road maps are important because writing often is a very daunting and confusing task when you get down to it. I am also eager to talk with writers if they need help or want to work through an idea together, so feel free to email or message me.

Then the fun part begins! You have until Thursday night to research, write, and send the piece to me before the clock strikes eight, or you turn into a toad. In the time between Thursday and Sunday, your article will go through several rounds of editing, all to strengthen and refine your piece. During this period, replying to emails is critical because you will often have to revise your article to address the comments or questions that arise from the editing process. However, after all the edits and emails, your article will be immortalized in print and online come Monday morning.

Seeing your name under a headline, attached to an article, and shared throughout online platforms evokes a special kind of pride. It is my sincere hope that every writer wishing to write for The Medium experiences it and uses it to continue their writing journey.

Through this editorial, I hope that I have welcomed you to The Medium and its community of writers and removed any uncertainty and intimidation of our publication process. I genuinely look forward to hearing your ideas and discussing your opinions.

I’ll wait for you in my inbox, dear writer.

Hollywood morality is tested again through the casting of Gal Gadot as Cleopatra Aroni Sarkar Contributor

To CONTRIBUTE, email editor@themedium.ca

Editor | Aya Yafaoui comment@themedium.ca

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he recent casting of Gal Gadot as Cleopatra in an upcoming film by Patty Jenkins has sparked a raging debate about Cleopatra’s racial heritage and Gadot’s controversial support for the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Historians have begun to question the longstanding belief that Queen Cleopatra was purely a

white queen due to her Father’s MacedonianGreek Heritage. Moreover, scholars have recently discovered Cleopatra’s father also had Persian and Syrian roots. Additionally, while her mother’s ethnic origin continues to remain unconfirmed, scholars have discovered her family comes from priests in Memphis. Egyptologists have created a 3D image of Cleopatra’s likely appearance based on artifacts found during her reign. These images support the belief that Cleopatra was a mixed-race woman with Greek, Arab, and Egyptian heritage.

These recent findings of the Queen’s heritage have added fuel to the criticism that Hollywood whitewashes historic mixed-race figures. Gal Gadot, an Israeli actress, fits the representative box for Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) representation. However, she also fits into the Hollywood culture of white favouritism, where lighter-skinned minorities that adhere to the westernized aesthetic are favoured. This form of favouritism >> MORALITY continued on page 6

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The US Vice-Presidential debate saw only one candidate speaking While both candidates talked, only one had a conversation on the debate stage.

Alyissa Sheechoria Contributor

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he U.S. Vice-Presidential debate on October 7th was a prime opportunity for Senator Kamala Harris and Vice-President Mike Pence to discuss America’s most pressing issues, including the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, systemic racism, local economics, international relations, and the supreme court. However, while much was discussed, Harris was the only candidate who genuinely engaged with the audience. Harris responded to the questions asked of her and demonstrated that she was listening to citizens’ concerns.

On the other hand, Pence only talked to himself and the Trump fanbase, with fear underlying his non-answers.

Besides the fly that found a home on his head, Pence’s only other notable moment was when he interrupted Harris to which she respectfully reasserted herself with two simple words: “I’m speaking.” As relatable as this moment was for every woman who has ever been spoken over, undervalued, and ignored by men, or in other words, “mansplained to,” it was so much more than Harris asserting her right to be on that stage.

“I’m speaking” encompasses the entire attitude of the debate because Harris really was the only one speaking. In discussing her and presidential candidate Joe Biden’s desire to reclaim and repair America’s economy, environment, health care, and justice system, Harris spoke for those silenced in the last four years during the tornado of confusion that is the Trump administration. Through her demand for racial equality, defence for individual economic success, and compassion for those impacted by Covid-19, Harris spoke for those suffering at the hands of the current administration.

She also readily answered the moderator’s questions and promoted conversation among the American audience by providing policy and vision, while much of Pence’s time was consumed by his attempts to defend the Trump administration’s self-serving and absent “leadership.” Moreover, Pence’s transparent twisting of Harris’ words and fearmongering supported the notion that Pence spoke to and for himself.

When Pence wasn’t playing catch-up for Trump’s meltdown at the Presidential debate, he was trying to emulate his superior’s poor behaviour, mirroring Trump’s numerous interruptions during the Presidential debate.

Besides the powerful “I’m speaking” moment, Harris also made her presence known from the very moment she spoke. Her first words were, “The American people have witnessed the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country.”

Referring to Covid-19, Harris criticized the Trump administration’s disservice of withholding information from Americans. She sympathized with the families who suffered

from the novel coronavirus, which as of October 18th resulted in 219,000 deaths, 8 million virus contractions, and 1 in 5 businesses being forced to close. Harris pointed out that the administration knew sufficient information on Covid-19 since late January of 2020, yet President Trump insisted that the virus was a hoax that would soon disappear.

When asked why the U.S. death tolls were higher than Canada’s, Pence evaded the question and instead remarked on the President’s travel ban and falsely claimed that there would be a vaccine by the end of the year On international relations, Harris discussed how the Trump administration’s indiscretions deprived Americans of 300,000 manufacturing jobs, a fair and democratic election in 2016, trading benefits under NATO, safety under the Iran Nuclear Deal, and swift action during the Covid-19 pandemic. Pence responded strangely by saying, “You are entitled to your own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts,” a laughable rebuttal coming from an administration infamous for popularizing the term “Alternative Facts.” Harris thought so too, as she reminded the Vice President of how their administration continuously denied climate science and even went as far as to remove the words “science” and “climate change” from their website. A statement that Pence did not know how to refute.

Regarding systemic racism in the U.S. and the racially motivated murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, Pence simply said he believes in the justice system. With nothing more to say, Pence continued to deflect and insinuated that Harris’ claims that the U.S. is systematically racist were “unpatriotic.” Harris responded to Harris non-answer by reminding the Vice President that it was Trump himself who refused to condemn white supremacy during the Presidential debate and who called the neo-Nazi’s who marched in Charlottesville, Virginia, “fine people.”

I’m not exactly sure what Pence believed his role was at the debate. Was it to try to be more Trump-esque in his interruptions, or was it to ignore all of the moderator’s questions and instead pat himself on the back for his administration’s incompetency and disregard for human life? The only thing clear about Pence was that he was scared, and he wanted Americans to be scared with him.

So, while Pence talked to himself, Harris looked deep into the camera and spoke to Americans, relating to their hardships and promising policies to support them through this unprecedented crisis. She defended Americans who have been overlooked, talked over, and ignored, a critical action that Pence failed to do. Harris conversed with Americans, and she reminded America of the character and behaviour a leader should possess, something the U.S. has lacked in the last four years. In that moment and throughout the campaign trail, she spoke, and on November 3rd, America will have its turn to speak.

Photo/imdb.com

>> MORALITY continued from page 5 has led to many Hollywood films such as The Ten Commandments and The Mummy franchise to sideline and lessen the impact, influence, and strength of North African characters and figures.

This casting has become another missed opportunity for Hollywood to find an appropriate and inclusive actor for the role, such as an actual Arab, Egyptian, or Greek actress rather than an Israeli actress. Not to mention an actress who has made some controversial decisions to support a military that has invaded and meddled in those very same regions.

Gadot served a mandatory two-year military service for the Israeli army during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon War. She has since used her army background to boost her modelling and acting career in Hollywood. In a 2015 interview for Fashion magazine, Gadot said,“The army wasn’t that difficult for me. The military gave me good training for Hollywood.” It’s questionable what she considered not “that difficult” during a war that lasted more than a month and had a devastating impact, killing approximately 1,300 Lebanese people, displacing almost a million, and destroying Lebanese infrastructure. Additionally, the war resulted in the death of 165 Israeli people and displacing close to 500,000. Through her comment, Gadot suggested her military experience should be applauded, celebrated, and appreciated in Hollywood enough for her to make a profitable career.

In 2014, the Israeli army made a deeply controversial decision to invade Gaza. Gadot publicly supported this move in a Facebook post, saying, “I am sending my love and prayers to my fellow Israeli citizens. Especially to all the boys and girls who are risking their lives protecting my country against the horrific acts conducted by Hamas, who are hiding like cowards behind women and children… We shall overcome!!! Shabbat Shalom!”

The 2014 attack is known to be one of the deadliest battles between the Palestinians and Israelis. The attack aimed to destroy the Gaza tunnel systems. As a result, 34 tunnels were destroyed, up to 2,300 Gazans were killed, and more than 10,500 were wounded. Afterward, thousands had to seek shelter, medical care, and food, to which neighbouring countries, including Egypt, supplied. However, these essential supplies were rerouted and blocked. Some claim the supplies were taken by Hamas; others claim it was done by Israeli forces. Refugees and displaced populations sought refuge in schools, which were also attacked by unlawful attacks, killing 17 children. Furthermore, an estimated 370,000 children required psychosocial support, 485,000 went without food, and 1.8 million without water.

There is nothing wrong with supporting your country or your fellow brothers and sisters in arms during contesting times. However, when the army’s actions involve human rights abuses, significant deprivation of resources to those in need, and a disregard for humanity, it is critical to be extremely cautious about what is said and how. Despite the backlash received

from her Facebook post, Gadot has yet to delete it, likely meaning that she stands by her controversial statement.

Israel is currently involved in another exhausting and devastating conflict with Palestine, which has engaged genocidal activities, ethnic cleansing, and blockades for aid. Although Egypt and other Arab countries have voiced their support for Palestine, some countries have begun to enter into agreements with Israel, aided by the support of the U.S. Due to their deeply interconnected histories, the surrounding Arab countries have religious and ethnically connected populations within Palestine that are suffering the consequences of this conflict, but are unable to provide aid due to blockades and interference from Western powers like the U.S. However, it is clear that the consequences of the conflict between Israel and Palestine will impact these surrounding nations in terms of trade, national security, and demographic vulnerability. Having a world-famous movie star and a feminist champion supporting this controversial military’s actions, the significance and urgency of this issue are dismissed. Not to mention, Gadot’s efforts and support inspire indifference among her audience.

Gadot’s unnerving support for the IDF and the military’s lack of condemnation for its actions exacerbate the conflict in Palestine. If Gal Gadot is to be a champion for women, an icon for inclusivity and diversity in Hollywood, her humanistic approach should not be selective or exclusionary. How can one claim to be a figurehead for unity when they publicly support the opposite?

Disney’s live-action Mulan has been widely boycotted and criticized for Liu Yifei’s comments supporting the Hong Kong police during the pro-democracy demonstrations. Priyanka Chopra was subject to a lot of criticism and was briefly “cancelled” for her support of the Indian Army, potentially encouraging nuclear conflict with Pakistan. As global citizens, we need to be particular about who we want as our role models, who profit off our interests, and who we want representing us. It is incredibly hypocritical if two actors of nonwhite racial backgrounds are boycotted and criticized for their public comments but not Gadot, solely because she happens to be part of the “lighter side” of Hollywood.

Despite protests, backlash, and criticism, Hollywood continues to decide to cast controversial actors that support problematic actions that cause abuses to other people. At the end of the day, the movie industry is about making money, garnering fame, and making headlines. Therefore, it is unlikely that Gadot will lose this role. There seems to be a complete disregard for the human impact when actors, like Gadot, support movements that are harmful. We as consumers need to demand change and enforce the understanding that the movie industry needs to be more than just money and attention. It needs to be a place that values all human life by enlisting actors who use their influence to better humanity rather than disregard it.

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features

Editor | Elizabeth Provost features@themedium.ca

Nigerian youths have a simple message: #EndSARS Moradeyo Adeniyi Contributor

>> SARS continued from page 1 The Nigerian Special Anti-Robbery Squad, commonly referred to as SARS, is a unit of Nigeria’s federal police force that has harassed, killed, tortured, and raped Nigerians in vicious act of police brutality and oppression. While corruption is unfortunately widespread within the Nigerian police and government, SARS is particularly notorious for unjustifiably profiling youths. Youths in Nigeria are likely to be stopped by SARS officers and searched for reasons as irrelevant as having tattoos, piercings, braided or coloured hair, owning an iPhone, laptop, or car, and other unfound reasons SARS deems criminal. Ultimately, the risk of being targeted as a Nigerian youth lies in being a Nigerian youth.

Growing up in Nigeria, I vividly remember my parents and relatives regularly receiving calls warning them to avoid certain routes because SARS officials had been spotted in those areas. An encounter with SARS officials would unfortunately often lead to extorting, brutalizing, unlawfully arresting or killing those apprehended.

According to Amnesty International, a non-profit organization that exposes and prevents human rights abuse, Nigerians unlawfully detained by SARS are subject to torture. This includes, but is not limited to “hanging, mock execution, beating, punching and kicking, burning with cigarettes, waterboarding, near-asphyxiation with plastic bags, forcing detainees to assume stressful bodily positions, and sexual violence.”

Having lived in Nigeria for most of my life, it is an understatement to say that SARS has become a societal menace.

Across all 36 states in Nigeria, people have unending tales of SARS’ vicious and extremely unprofessional tactics. My first experience with SARS occurred in what I assumed to be an armed robbery. I was stuck in traffic in Lagos State when I saw SARS officials shooting carelessly at “criminals.” Thankfully, no one was hit with a stray bullet, although this is very often the case.

My cousin had a different encounter with SARS. He was riding a commercial bike with his friend when they saw SARS officials ahead performing their routine searching and extorting practises. Their bike man wanted to outsmart them and drive off. However, the officers cocked their guns at them, so my cousin told the bike man to stop since they had no implicating items anyway.

The SARS officers collected everyone’s phones and started searching the bike. But it didn’t end there. “I complained, and the next thing I got was a slap on my cheek. They handcuffed us and pushed us into their vans and started asking for money.

I had to lie that I was going to call my father who was a ‘Major General,’ and that scared them,” said my cousin. Although the SARS officials let them go, they seized the bike.

Photo/BlueClouds Photos

The reality is, in Nigeria, if you look fresh or clean, then you can be SARS’ victim. They will harass you until you drop money, or until you are beaten black and blue.

This year, Nigerians took to social media to share the ghastly stories of their encounters with SARS, and to raise awareness worldwide about the unjust treatment. We decided that we have had enough of the unprovoked cruelty. We are protesting to end SARS, and eventually, for a complete overhaul of the current government.

In response to the pleas of our protests, Nigeria’s InspectorGeneral of Police, Mohammed Adamu, announced that SARS, alongside other tactical units, have been banned from routine patrols and other conventional “low-risk” duties. Adamu also mandated that all SARS officials must appear in their uniforms while on duty. Yes, SARS officers are very often untrained men in regular clothes carelessly wielding guns.

I, as well as most Nigerians, took this announcement with a pinch of salt. This wasn’t the first time the government promised to check SARS’ abuse of power. In line with our suspicions, the announcement proved to only be ceremonial, as SARS reportedly continued its extortion tactics the very same day of the announcement.

The formation of a Special Weapons and Tactics unit (SWAT) to replace the “dissolved” SARS unit was then announced on October 13, 2020 by the federal police force. Nigerians, aware that this was yet another mere formality with no backing action, aptly changed the message to #EndSWAT. My friend, Dotun, also shared his SARS story with me where he was apprehended by SARS officials who were out of uniform. “It happened in 2017. I had just arrived in Nigeria and had never heard of SARS. I was driving, on my way to a date when these guys stopped me,” said Dotun. The officers were carrying guns, but they weren’t in uniform. Thus, Dotun thought he was being robbed or kidnapped. Dotun asked them what they were doing, but the officers simply seized his vehicle permit and driver’s license and proceeded to “search my car, my wallet, my emails and text messages. They really invaded my privacy.” Afterwards, the officers drove Dotun in his car to a police station where they “threatened to throw me in a cell and wouldn’t even let me make a phone call.” Dotun only regained possession of his phone and car after paying the officers. Since then, Dotun has crossed paths with SARS officers two other times, one in which he was picked up in a van.

Nigerian youths, following these traumatizing encounters, live in fear and are often unable to leave their houses with valued belongings.

Today, amid the movement to end police brutality and oppression in Nigeria, protesters are being attacked and arrested. Unfortunately, protestors have also lost their lives for the cause, and at the hands of the people we are fighting against.

Yet, none of the officers involved have been convicted, or even booked. Although the protests are peaceful and citizens are unarmed, police and other law enforcement officials have shot, tear-gassed, and even sprayed hot water from tankers in a bid to disperse crowds. Street thugs have also been paid to attack protesters.

However, this has not deterred us because we anticipated these poor responses from the government and have made up our minds to not be shaken. Nigerians worldwide have come together to organize funds to feed and transport protesters, medical teams to cater to the wounded, groups of lawyers to work on the release of the wrongfully arrested, and hired private security guards for protection against the government.

When all is said and done, all Nigerians want, is to not have to run away from the people paid to protect us. We want to use our phones and drive our cars without fear of being apprehended. We want to wear nice clothes without being referred to as criminals. We want our parents to be assured that we will come back home at the end of the day. My experience at UTM as a political science and sociology double major has been amazing, and I want my friends schooling back home to experience this same level of security and socio-political stability.

The Nigerian dream shouldn’t be to leave Nigeria.

The message is simple and clear: end police brutality in Nigeria, end SARS.

For the Love of Work: Living to work rather than working to live Dr. Sonia Kang hosts a podcast exploring the modern employee experience.

Pearla Hariri Associate Features Editor

>> WORK continued from page 1 As such, in her podcast, Dr. Kang applies these topics to the Covid-19 working world, with an emphasis on the concepts’ timeless importance.

The name of the podcast itself took time to come into fruition.

Dr. Kang and the production team wanted to encapsulate the idea of work being a meaningful and positive experience, hence the name, “For the Love of Work.” The podcast’s title comes from the recognition that “if you love your job, you will never work a day in your life.” This title gives hope to those willing to develop a love and admiration for the work they do.

Dr. Kang points out that “often, you hear people not finding happiness within their careers. As a result, they want to find meaning, purpose, and happiness in other domains of life.” However, Dr. Kang explains that “you do not have to segment your life into these factions where you can only be happy in one domain and not another.” Unfortunately, many find themselves in careers where they feel unable to express themselves. Various obstacles play into employees’ discouragement to enjoy their work, which, in turn, affects their true potential.

Since its launch, the podcast has been successful and received positive feedback. Dr. Kang enjoys hosting the podcast as it enables her to share the knowledge she attained through her own journey. Dr. Kang states that, as an academic, “we do all this research and write papers, but the impact of our work is not as clear as something as rich and narrative as the podcast.” Dr. Kang knows that those listening to the podcast with an open mindset, and the desire to apply the information to their lives, have the power of changing their outlooks on their careers.

As stated previously, the podcast revolves around three topics: resilience, inclusion, and diversity. Dr. Kang says that “when people think about resilient people, they think that they are people that do not experience stress, but the reality of resilience is your recovery from stress.” Essentially, resilience is the capability of experiencing and being able to deal with stress accordingly. Kang wishes to showcase resilience in a way that shows that it is a skill that can be developed just like any other skill, with practice.

Inclusion and diversity are also crucial to consider in the current working environment, particularly amid the pandemic, a chronic stressor in itself. Dr. Kang states that research shows “higher rates of Covid-19 among minority groups in Canada, as well as the U.S.” As such, the “chronic stressor [of Covid-19], and the chronic systemic racism and violence is influencing and encouraging people to bring their attention to the disparities that

have existed for decades and centuries.”

Moreover, through discussing the relevance of workplace diversity and inclusion in her podcast, Dr. Kang was “able to draw on [her] own research and expertise as well as connect with others in the field that [she] thought did amazing work.” These topics are peripheral to her research as they are all tangibly related. Dr. Kang is trained as a psychologist; as such, many of these concepts are “based on really fundamental psychological principles that are fascinating, especially when you are applying them in a workplace setting, which is what organizational behaviour is about.”

Dr. Kang elaborates that the podcast has allowed her to explore areas that she had not yet addressed in her research. She also utilizes her podcast episodes as primers for her lectures. This enables her students to understand the topics and the research practice behind her lectures, making the podcast a foundation for classroom discussion. Dr. Kang hopes that listeners can develop a new skill or tackle an issue in their workplace in an innovative way after listening to “For the Love of Work.” To Dr. Kang, “podcasting is a storytelling device to connect to people, where you take an idea that you have and distill it into a narrative form that someone else will listen to and share a moment with.”

She explains how a podcast is like a personal invitation with informative advice that one can apply to their daily life once they are ready. Dr. Kang’s research and podcast revolve around creating a connection that allows people to explore ideas that are essential to consider, now more than ever.

“This is a time and opportunity for people to take a step back and think about their priorities,” says Dr. Kang. She explains that, as a perfectionist herself, she found it hard in the past to see and acknowledge when she was struggling. Now, equipped with new skills and personal experiences, she has created a platform that has allowed her to share her expertise with others. Dr. Kang pushes listeners to realize their inner standards of achievement and resilience. Through “For the Love of Work,” Dr. Kang reminds us that self-acceptance is a skill that needs to be practiced and reinforced, and we must acknowledge our realistic constraints in order to overcome adversities.

A brain Fitbit: Elon

Photo/Elisa Barbaro

Mu sk’ s la te st pr oj ec

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Massa Mohamed Ali Contributor

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hat if we could record and download memories? What if we were able to communicate using telepathy and control our devices with only our thoughts? How close are we to making superhuman abilities a reality? Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has recently revealed his latest brain chip project, which seems to answer all these questions. As the field of artificial intelligence expands, our world comes closer to achieving once thought to be unsurmountable feats.

On August 28, 2020, Musk revealed his company’s, Neuralink, launch of a new brain chip through a live demonstration. Neuralink intends to “solve important brain and spine problems with a seamlessly implanted device,” Musk said in the demonstration. Memory and hearing loss, depression, anxiety, dementia, blindness, paralysis, seizures, and strokes are some of the issues that the Neuralink device addresses. According to Musk, the brain chip “could, in principle, fix anything that’s wrong with the brain.”

Musk founded Neuralink in 2016. Since then, he has continuously updated the brain chip designs. Last summer, Neuralink’s device included an external part attached behind the ear. Musk revealed that during testing this model enabled a monkey to control a computer with its brain as it allowed the monkey’s “symbiosis with artificial intelligence.” This particular model was expected to be tested on humans by the end of 2020, but this did not occur. Instead, Neuralink developed a simpler design. This year, the updated chip is small, circular, and is inserted directly into the brain with no visible attachments on the surface of the head, and no long wires. The chip is “about the size of a large coin [and] replaces a piece of the skull,” said Musk. He assimilated the device to “a Fitbit in your skull with tiny wires.”

Through the brain chip, Neuralink can monitor body temperatures, pressures, and even detect heart attacks and strokes. It charges inductively overnight through a cap placed on the head during sleep. The process of implanting the device does not require general anesthesia, takes less than an hour, and can be done with the use of surgical robots, also crafted by the Neuralink team. Besides Neuralink, current technology allowing for a similar reading of brain signals involves the attachment of wires and boxes. The additional heavy and constricting equipment must remain on the head and be operated by a medical expert. Thus, Neuralink provides a simpler and more accessible, yet slightly invasive, method of recording brain signals.

During the live demonstration, Musk explained that Neuralink is testing the brain chip on three pigs named Joyce, Dorothy, and Gertrude. The three pigs received different courses of treatment. Joyce, representing the control group, did not have a chip inserted. Dorothy had a chip inserted and removed to test the reversibility of the chip, accounting for the possible removal or upgrade of the chip in Neuralink patients. Musk expects several versions of the chip to become available over time with technology and engineering advances. Thus, Neuralink is ensuring the chips can be seamlessly replaced without harming patients. Musk also revealed that Dorothy remained normal and healthy, even after the removal of the Neuralink chip.

Lastly, Neuralink inserted the chip inside Gertrude and it successfully recorded her brain signals. Her neural activity was recorded live while she was sniffing straw. Musk aims to use these recordings of brain activity to decode the signals of the brain. In turn, the data presented by the signals has the potential to cure diseases and, in the future, allow for telepathy and memory recording.

Neuralink is currently working on getting approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to begin testing on humans. During the presentation, Musk suggested the Neuralink chip could be ready to be implanted inside a human patient as early as 2021.

When asked about concerns regarding the newest Neuralink product, UTM Psychology Professor Jacob Ellegood said the Neuralink device is invasive, could require many unnecessary brain surgeries due to constant updates, and may not allow for accurate MRI scans.

Since Professor Ellegood’s research focuses on autism in mice, he performs many MRI scans and believes that studies on animals like mice and pigs can be transferrable to humans. While there are alternative brain imaging devices, such as CT scans, Ellegood believes they do not provide the same contrast and resolution as MRI scans. Moreover, even if the Neuralink chip is not magnetic, signals around the chip area in the brain would still be disrupted and a black void would appear on the scan—similar to the effect of braces on an MRI signal. Ellegood also notes it is critical for the device to account for the brain’s natural environment that may be corrosive to the chip over time.

Professor Ellegood believes more research is needed on AI-driven brain chips, and that Musk’s timeline may be too optimistic. To Ellegood, Musk is “years and years away from getting to some of the aspects [he’s presenting].” Since experts are still studying the brain and its functions, perhaps it is not currently plausible for implanted technology such as Neuralink’s chip to answer all these questions. However, while advanced AI technology and telepathy may seem far-fetched, it is now a possible route in the future. “It’s going to be decades before [Musk] gets to some of what he wants to do but it is still helpful that he is doing it,” Ellegood said.

Professor Ellegood believes that the power of brain chips like Neuralink lies in the improvement of neurological and physiological diseases, instead of the enhancement of daily life with “superhuman abilities.” He thinks that the potential to help cure spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s tremors, and seizure disorders is viable and could be expanded to ideas like wireless cochlear implants. “The actual neuroscience that [Musk] is proposing is not necessarily new […] recording neurons in the brain has been done for a while,” said Ellegood. “The new technology and deep learning are where the innovation is going to be.”

Elon Musk has many ambitious goals, projects, and ideas that have spurred technology and engineering advances worldwide. Musk has been awarded numerous entrepreneur and Innovator of the Year awards and continues to expand on his inventions. His projects include Tesla, Space X, Hyperloop Alpha, The Boring Company, SolarCity and, most recently, Neuralink. Musk’s ambition and his companies’ research has sparked people’s interest worldwide. Through the technological advancements, many are identifying ways to benefit society and improve living conditions. As Elon Musk wirelessly connects our brains with technology, allowing for the treatment of brain injury and trauma, the quality of life of people across the world can be improved.

The plausible capability of Neuralink’s chip may take years to come; however, its creation and resulting research allows scientists and engineers worldwide to gain a comprehensive understanding of the brain. Perhaps in a few years, a brain chip will become like our phones, laptops, and other devices—a new normal.

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Arts

Editor | Chris Berberian arts@themedium.ca

Revisiting childhood memories at the Winnie-the-Pooh exhibit The ROM’s newest exhibit honours the world’s most lovable bear.

Hema Ramnarine Contributor

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he Hundred Acre Wood has come to Toronto.

Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends are familiar favourites for many people, including myself. Whether it was through the original books by author A. A. Milne and illustrator E. H. Shepard, or the later reimaginings by Disney, many of us grew up with stories of the calm honey-loving bear.

Winnie-The-Pooh: Exploring a Classic first opened at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) back in March 2020 but closed due to Covid-19. On September 1, after a long and lonely summer for many, the ROM reopened its doors and welcomed back visitors for a taste of nostalgia.

This exhibit, which debuted at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, is the last stop on its world tour, fit with added homages to Pooh’s Canadian roots. During the first World War, Lieutenant Harry Colebourn purchased a bear cub in White River, Ontario, and named her “Winnie” after his hometown, Winnipeg. The cub was then secretly brought to England, becoming the mascot for Colebourn’s regiment, before being donated to the London Zoo. It was there that A. A. Milne’s son, Christopher Robin Milne, would see her and name his own teddy bear Winnie-the-Pooh.

At the exhibit, you’ll find photographs, letters, first drafts, colourful displays, and interactive settings. You can browse images of Christopher Robin’s toys and Ashdown Forest, which inspired the creation of the Hundred Acre Wood. Original sketches of Winnie and his friends line the walls. There’s also a mini Hundred Acre Wood and even a Thoughtful Spot (complete with a birch log and fire) for visitors to pause and reflect.

The exhibit also features correspondence between Milne and Shepard, whose illustrations would bring it all to life. Through all this, visitors experience Pooh Bear’s journey from Christopher Robin’s childhood teddy to a cultural icon for children worldwide.

While walking through the exhibit, I suddenly found myself back in the Hundred Acre Wood. Shepard’s drawings, minimal but remarkably expressive, with Milne’s familiar words, had the

same quiet magic they did when I was young. At that moment, they weren’t just Christopher Robin’s friends, but mine too. It’s mind-blowing how Winnie-the-Pooh continues to evoke these feelings not only in myself but in millions of fans for almost a century. That countless people worldwide having a personal connection with the loveable bear truly speaks to the power of Milne’s creation.

The exhibit also shines a well-deserved spotlight on Shepard’s illustrations. Though his contributions were almost as significant as Milne’s, we rarely hear his name. It was Shepard who gave Winnie-the-Pooh his distinctive cuddly appearance, and Milne even begins the original books with one of Shepard’s drawings.

The exhibit was a welcome reprieve from these lonesome and uncertain times. Watching visitors of all ages enjoy the exhibit was a lovely experience, and the afternoon breezed by.

What felt like just a few minutes turned out to be an hour.

While it was easy to forget the world’s current state, the ROM certainly hasn’t and has adjusted their practices to make your visit a safe one. Tickets can be booked on a timed basis to ensure greater physical distancing. You’ll also find signs and stickers on pre-set paths to further promote a two-meter distance between guests. Masks are mandatory in the museum, and certain interactive portions of the exhibit have been removed to prevent any potential spread of illnesses.

Though Winnie-the-Pooh had humble beginnings in a young boy’s nursery, he has become a massive cultural phenomenon, and the final part of the exhibit showcases this.

You can see the first editions of A. A. Milne’s books and their transition to full-colour print. Visitors can also see examples of Winnie-the-Pooh’s international iterations (did you know he’s named Vinni Pukh in Russia?) alongside the many Pooh Bearinspired products over the years.

During these challenging times, Winnie-The-Pooh: Exploring a Classic offers a welcome return to childhood memories.

Though we may feel isolated, we’re never too far from those we love and who love us, and we’re never too old to find joy in life’s little wonders.

It’s also never too late to return home. As Pooh Bear says, “the forest will always be there, and anybody who’s friendly with bears can find it.”

After years of anticipation, Blackpink drops The Album Danica Teng Associate Arts Editor

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n album titled The Album may sound questionable, but for fans of the K-pop girl group Blackpink, it’s a statement. The title announces the longawaited arrival of Blackpink’s first full-length album four years after their debut, Square One. While K-pop fandom grows around the world, Blackpink has been one of South Korea’s major names in America. The girl group formed under YG Entertainment, one of the “Big Three” K-pop agencies, and is comprised of four members: Jennie, Lisa, Jisoo, and Rosé.

In 2016, Blackpink debuted with the release of their two singles, “Boombayah” and “Whistle.” Both were immediate hits and left fans clamouring for more. But in the years since, Blackpink only released a few singles and EPs, finding themselves stuck in “YG Dungeon,” where YG artists are silenced for too long.

With The Album’s much-anticipated arrival, Blackpink fans are finally getting their wish. Featuring eight tracks, the album is a treat, especially for Western audiences. Two songs on the album feature big names like Selena Gomez and Cardi B, and half of the tracks are in English.

These collaborations, among others, are fuelling Blackpink’s surging popularity in the West. >> THE ALBUM continued on page 11

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Rewind: As Good as It Gets (1997) Paige France Associate Arts Editor

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>> THE ALBUM continued from page 10 Back in 2018, the band collaborated with Dua Lipa on the single, “Kiss and Make Up.” The group has also made it on multiple Billboard charts, appeared on shows like Good Morning America and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, went on tour in North America, and even collaborated with Lady Gaga for the song “Sour Candy.”

With all these influences, Blackpink appeals to a global audience. Their turn to English tunes isn’t surprising when you get to know the members a little better. Minus Jisoo, who’s still learning, all group members speak fluent English.

Regardless if their songs are in Korean or English, Blackpink is captivating fans all over the world. Before The Album’s full release, the group teased us by dropping its first two songs, “How You Like That” and “Ice Cream.”

Released back in June, the music video for “How You Like That” has racked up more than 589 million views. I wasn’t a fan of this song initially, but after a few listens, it crept into my playlist on repeat. “How You Like That” has that classic Blackpink sound, which catches you at the chorus with unique beats.

The song has a way of making you feel confident as the lyrics encourage you to bounce back up after hitting bottom.

“Ice Cream” with Selena Gomez was released in August and now has more than 341 million views. Except for Lisa’s Korean rap verse, this song is among those almost entirely in English.

I like how it’s catchy and fun, but I wish the song was more dynamic as the same tunes repeat throughout. That said, it’s interesting to hear this mix with Selena Gomez, and her voice doesn’t seem out of place. It’s a great listen for that casual summer chill.

The other three English songs on the album are “Bet You Wanna (ft. Cardi B),” “Crazy Over You,” and “Love to Hate Me.” The one with Cardi B has the most Western influence. It’s lively and uplifting, showing you Blackpink’s range of talent.

Cardi B’s voice doesn’t blend in like Gomez’s does, but I admire how authentic her addition feels. While “Crazy Over You” and “Love to Hate Me” have underwhelming beats, there’s an alluring charm that’s distinct from the band’s prior work.

“Lovesick Girls” and “Pretty Savage” are some of my favourite songs on the album. The former is the title track, partly written by Jisoo and Jennie. It has a softer retro sound, which is a pleasant change from their occasional heavier vibes. Meanwhile, “Pretty Savage” shows off Blackpink’s iconic confidence and empowering vibes.

The Album ends with its only ballad, “You Never Know.” The vocals here are calming and a perfect reflection of the album’s deeper meanings—namely, the struggle to stay resilient in the face of constant criticism.

tarting out bitter and then becoming sweet, the romantic comedy is a tired genre, but director James L. Brooks refuses to let it derail his film. Instead, he exposes the genre’s vulnerabilities, taking us on a journey of self-discovery. As Good as It Gets is about fighting for love and acceptance from even the harshest of big-screen characters.

Bigoted, ill-tempered, and homophobic, Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson) is an obsessive-compulsive novelist devoted to writing romance novels, a feeling he ironically doesn’t subscribe to nor believe in. Asked by a fawning fan how he writes his female characters so convincingly, Melvin replies, “I think of a man. And I take away reason and accountability.”

This pavement-crevice-avoiding curmudgeon despises everyone in his apartment, and the movie opens with him slamdunking his neighbour’s dog down the trash chute, bellowing, “This is New York. If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.”

The first half-hour of the film is both hilarious and hard to watch, as Melvin spews venom at all unsuspecting New Yorkers in his path, including the kind-hearted waitress Carol (Helen Hunt), who serves him daily, “just the way he wants.”

Carol—a single mother bound by her own stressful circumstance—good-heartedly tolerates Melvin’s diatribes. But she draws the line when Melvin mocks her child’s severe asthma attacks, demanding he apologizes. Albeit small, it’s Melvin’s first sign of vulnerability, which is monumental for a character as cynical as he.

Later on, Melvin’s neighbour, Simon (Greg Kinnear), is hospitalized after a botched robbery. This leaves Simon unable to care for his dog, Verdell, and leads Frank, his agent and love interest (Cuba Gooding Jr.), to convince dog-hating Melvin to take care of him. After unwillingly agreeing, Melvin, to his amazement (but not ours), develops a grudging affection for the ugly but endearing pooch that wags its way into his corroded heart.

Now, Melvin is a sinner on the road to redemption, kicking and screaming along the way. His reluctant good deeds—covering Carol’s son’s medical bills and caring for his neighbour’s dog—reveal a different, more hospitable side of him.

Eventually, the three main characters converge on a road trip to Simon’s estranged parents’ house. Along the way, Melvin forms an unlikely friendship with his neighbour and falls in love with the caring waitress. Amid the troubled waters that they all seem to share, they begin to mend their scattered selves, sparking the film’s iconic, tear-inducing line: “You make me want to be a better man.”

This politically incorrect movie depicts a love that’s transformative, exploring traditional romantic elements and a freshspin on the changed man trope. Meanwhile, the music parallels Melvin’s progression, from abrupt violin squeals in the opening to softer instrumentals by the end credits. Change is imminent for everyone willing to pursue it.

As Good as It Gets reveals our need for companionship.

While Melvin flirts with abandonment, the other characters, those he insults most, help divulge his dormant humanity—all done in a believable fashion.

As one of only seven films in history to earn Oscars for both Best Actor and Best Actress, As Good as It Gets enraptures us through its leading roles. Both Nicholson and Hunt embody complex characters as we rummage through this refreshingly raw storyline. Under the influence of love, Melvin becomes a man who, while still brash, finds warmth and optimism in life.

It’s a testament to why As Good as It Gets remains a superior piece of sentimentality. One that’s uncompromisingly human and true.

Niki’s Moonchild embraces the unknown With her new album, the Indonesian singer delves into the indie world.

Sherene Almjawer Contributor

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n a time where half the Earth’s population is daydreaming to escape, and the other half is denying it’s already October, Niki’s Moonchild couldn’t have graced us at a more perfect moment. As her first full studio album, Moonchild not only deviates from the music we’re used to hearing from Niki, but it represents a fresh chapter in her musical career—personal growth through experimentation.

Niki, born Nicole Zefanya to Indonesian parents, started her career opening for Taylor Swift when she was just 15 years old. Naturally, growing up with the music your parents listen to makes it seem like that’s the only genre that exists. Back then, all Niki knew was R&B and soft rock. It only makes sense that both her EPs—Zephyr in 2018 and Wanna Take This Downtown in 2019—draw heavily on the R&B from her childhood, filled with beautiful vocal runs, deep bass, and mellow drum lines. Now, in 2020, with the release of Moonchild last month, Niki proudly represents Indonesia with an indie album.

The opening track, “Wide Open (Foreword),” holds our hand and leads us into the lyrical and musical world of Moonchild. It’s a simple layer of instruments and vocals with a foreboding tone. Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a magical forest, presumably on the moon. You’re lost and scared. There are creatures you’ve never seen before. But just as you’re about to sob, a soothing voice reassures you to “straighten up and keep an eye wide open.”

Tracks two through 10 guide us through Moonchild’s narrative arc, going from a weak to a blooming conscience. With touches of psychedelic-indie, “Switchblade” takes the advice of “Wide Open (Foreword),” opening our eyes and pushing us through that unfamiliar forest. In “Nightcrawlers,” we enter an otherworldly musical space, part indie, part Ariana Grande.

Elsewhere, Moonchild stretches genre boundaries with the groovy, jazz-inspired beat in “Selene,” the classic distorting voice modulator in “Tide,” and the piano-based ballads in “Pandemonium” and “Lose.” Other times, Niki returns to classic indie but with much lighter tones, like in “Plot Twist,” “If There’s Nothing Left…,” and “Drive On.” In Moonchild, every song leaves you thinking about its message. The album also has entrancing qualities: the smooth transitions between tracks, the introspective lyrics, and the intertwined genres shifting one sound to another. Through a fantastical narrative journey where lyrics, music, and tone harmonize, Moonchild tells the story of someone who’s scared of what may happen and who uses this fear as motivation to keep moving forward. With this album, Niki seeks to twist what people understand as genres, and how these twists mirror our intrinsically fluid existence.

Moonchild is a test. It’s an experience, a symbol of what true art should be: unrestrained and ever-changing. For Niki, what better way to express her genre experimentation than with an album named Moonchild. Niki breaks so far out of her old music that she makes it to the moon and takes us with her.

This is what Moonchild is all about: slowly breaking free from our material and mental constructs and realizing that the world keeps spinning, and there’s no time to waste feeling trapped. So, imagine yourself floating in the ocean, giving way to its push and pulls. The soothing ripples rise into tidal waves, turning us and Niki towards a new chapter, one of personal growth and embracing the unknown.

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sports & health

Editor | Sarah-May Edwardo-Oldfield sports@themedium.ca

How gym closures can significantly impact mental health Rachel Lord Contributor

>> GYM continued from page 1 and his colleagues, found that after just 10 days without exercise, athletes showed less blood flow to certain regions of the brain such as the hippocampus—which contributes to one’s memory and learning functions, among others. Additionally, the study showed how the body’s ability to take in oxygen decreased by seven per cent just three weeks without cardio training.

Consequently, blood pressure will jump to a heightened level, body fat will increase, and bones will weaken in the longterm, according to Cheat Sheet. Regarding mental health, individuals may experience a shift in their mood because they are no longer releasing endorphins. Hence, many may feel irritable and fatigued. These effects are why we see so many community members feeling angered and upset by the closure of facilities

that are crucial to their mental and physical health. Prior to the closures, Michael Hoglund, the co-owner of a Toronto F45 gym, told the Toronto Sun, “If there’s another lockdown, we will see mental health issues skyrocket.”

Following Premier Doug Ford’s gym closures announcement, many turned to social media to voice their concerns about the consequential effects of a return to a modified Stage Two On Instagram, many gym-goers have started a hashtag, #KeepGymsOpen, calling on the government to reassess their decisions.

In a discussion with Emily Sevcik, a second-year student at UTM, she told The Medium, “The gym is my mental escape and my happy place. It helps me keep healthy, mentally and physically. Ever since it closed, it’s been a struggle [to find] an alternative. However, I still find ways to keep healthy and active, like working out at home or spending more time outside in the fresh air.” Although the government’s actions have upset many, it is crucial to do what we can do to maintain some physical fitness amid these uncertain times.

Listed below are recommendations for maintaining your health and physical fitness during the challenging weeks ahead

as we collectively wait for a loosening of restrictions or alternative fitness options.

1. GET OUTSIDE. Take in the beautiful fall colours and hike with a friend or family member (that is a part of your safe social bubble!)

2. TRY AN AT-HOME YOGA CLASS. YouTube has some great yoga instructors that post follow-along videos for free.

3. FOLLOW @UTM_ATHLETICS ON INSTAGRAM. The UTM Athletic Department posts some great fitness challenges and programs to follow, such as a six-week running plan to build toward running five kilometres.

4. Many gyms, such as the YMCA, are offering AT-HOME WORKOUT CLASSES taught by live fitness instructors. Be sure to check out your local gym to see what they are offering for at-home situations.

Circadian rhythms’ effect on Olympic performance Mel Ramsammy Contributor

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ircadian rhythms are 24-hour internal clocks that are essential for our bodies to function well. Ticking in the background, our circadian rhythm influences psychological and physiological performances throughout the day, although it’s most commonly known to align our sleep cycle. When this clock is “out of whack,” you’ll likely feel it.

In a University of Groningen-funded study published in Scientific Reports, Renske Lok and her team of researchers looked to understand how the time-of-day and circadian effects can optimize sports performance. Using Olympic swim times from 2004 to 2016, Lok and her team found clear time-of-day effects on Olympic athletes’ physical performance.

Circadian rhythms affect muscle strength, muscle flexibility, grip strength, limb movement speed, and the perceptual and cognitive aspects of athletic performance. However, Lok and her team acknowledge that other factors may also affect this relation, such as core-body temperature (CBT), oxygen uptake, melatonin release, type of exercise, and psychological considerations, among others.

Regardless, the study’s purpose was to determine if Olympic athletes are affected by circadian fluctuations in physical performance. Olympic athletes are often required to perform at different times of the day while adjusting to different time zones. For their study, Lok and her team analyzed Olympic swim data from the Games of Athens (2004), Beijing (2008), London (2012), and Rio de Janeiro (2016).

Compared to other sports, swimming requires minimal aiding equipment that could increase variation between participants, such as shoes, and uses the regulated water temperature in Olympic pools. Lok and her team reasoned that Olympic swim performance might reflect a clear generalization of the daily variation in physical performance.

For the study, Lok and her team included data of 144 athletes who made it to the finals, recording individual swim times over race type (heat, semi-finals, finals), for each stroke (backstroke, butterfly, etc.), distance, and Olympic venue. The study found that race type significantly affected swim performance.

Athletes performed slowest in heats, faster in semi-finals, and most quickly in finals. This can likely be attributed to psychological motivation.

According to Lok and her team, early chronotypes perform best around mid-day, intermediate chronotypes around midafternoon, and late chronotypes in the evening.

However, performance differences between race types also varied between Olympic venue locations. The percentage difference between heats and finals in Beijing was much smaller than in the Athens and London Olympic venues. To understand their findings, Lok and her team turned to possible timeof-day effects.

After plotting all 1722 data points into a sine fitted model, Lok and her team discovered that swim performance was worst in the early morning (5 a.m.) and best in late afternoon (5 p.m.). There was no significant difference between sexes.

In 40 per cent of the finals, the time-of-day had a more significant effect than the time differences between gold or silver medal finishing times. Timeof-day also exceeded the time differences between silver and bronze in 64 per cent of the finals, and the time difference between bronze and fourth place in 61 per cent of the finals.

Lok and her team demonstrate that, despite following training schedules from sun-up to sun-down,

time-of-day still affects professional athletes’ performance. The study concluded that time-of-day, the indicator of our circadian rhythms, affects physical performance.

Of course, we also have our individual chronotype to consider. Chronotypes describe an individual’s biological optimal timing for activity and sleep. According to Lok and her team, early chronotypes perform best around mid-day, intermediate chronotypes around mid-afternoon, and late chronotypes in the evening.

Lok and her team note that a selection bias toward earlier chronotypes can exist. For example, swim training times are often scheduled in the early morning. Later chronotypes may also have more daytime variation in performance, threatening their selection for the Olympics in favour of early chronotypes.

Based on these findings, Lok and her team suggest that optimal physical performance might depend on several factors: a combination of mental performance, time awake, and circadian rhythm in muscle cells, among others. In the upcoming Olympics, Lok suggests athletes may need to perform at times of day that do not coincide with their circadian peak performance. With this foresight, athletes may consider adjusting their circadian system to ensure they give it their best when it’s time to win a medal.