Volume 47, Issue 8 by The Medium

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

Issue 008 Volume 47 November 9 2020

themedium.ca

ELECTION WEEK

PROMISE OF LIBERTY

LITERARY FESTIVAL

November 3 was arguably the most anticipated day of the year: election night in America. With a tumultuous four years in office and an unprecedented pandemic emerging this year, it has been an interesting time for politics and governance in the United States. >> ELECTION continued on page 02

The Charlie Hebdo Prophet Muhammed cartoons and the awful terrorist attack that followed continue to haunt France. On September 25, a stabbing outside the magazine’s former headquarters injured two people.

Toronto is one of the most diverse and culturally inclusive cities in the world. The city hosts thousands of festivals each year, and for writers and readers, few are more celebrated than the Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA).

>> EDITORIAL continued on page 04

>> TIFA continued on page 10

NEWS

Fiona Rawle awarded Minister’s Award of Excellence for contributions to Covid-19 response in Ontario Meghna Parhar Contributor

ecognized for her extraordinary contributions to the Covid-19 response in Ontario, the University of Toronto Mississauga Professor Fiona Rawle received the Minister of College and Universities’ Award of Excellence on October 23, 2020. The Minister of College and Universities’ Award of Excellence was created to put the hard work of Ontario professors on centre stage and recognize its worth during the global pandemic.

>> RAWLE continued on page 03

FEATURES

ARTS

With UTM gone virtual, how have mental health resources fared?

The pitfalls and potentials of American remakes

Alexandria Ramoutar Contributor

Danica Teng Associate Arts Editor

idterms, essays, group projects, and exams are on the horizon and the number of Covid-19 cases rises. It’s only the beginning of November, but the pangs and benefits of the pandemic are just setting in. Student struggle to adapt and keep up with online learning as they face new challenges. A graduate student shares: “Our in-person coop was cancelled, and now we are being provided with an adapted practicum, but it’s more lecture style, so our cohort feels we’ve been robbed of our experience. Also, with online Zoom chats and Facebook Messenger, there is a disconnect between how people react on text versus in-person.” As students grapple with the everchanging circumstances, Erin Kraftcheck, the Health & Counselling Center (HCC) director at UTM, is working to strengthen the UTM community through remote health services. “Mental health and wellness remain our priority and have become even more relevant in light of the pandemic,” says Kraftcheck. In March, universities worldwide closed their campuses and adopted online learning methods to protect their students. Although some courses are still in-person and thus allow for some form on human interaction, “the effect of pandemic measures, >> MENTAL HEALTH continued on page 06

ou’re watching a film and feel déjà vu nagging at your brain. You’re sure you’ve seen this story before, but you can’t quite remember when. In reality, you haven’t. You’re just watching another American remake of a foreign film. Hollywood never seems to run out of ideas, and sometimes it’s easy to forget that American remakes have been around longer than we imagine. In cinema, time continuously produces new remakes of old productions. It’s common for one story to be adapted for a second, third, or sixth time. However, there are differences between an adaptation and a remake of a foreign film. The former typically reinterprets its source in a fresh way. Meanwhile, remakes have more subtle changes and often pass by our radars as “original.” It involves taking movies from different countries and re-presenting the same stories for a Western, particularly American, audience. These remakes often keep the story’s main elements but create stylistic changes to suit viewers, notably by swapping the original actors for Hollywood A-listers. While other countries also remake American films for its audiences— >> REMAKES continued on page 09

NEWS

Editor | Isik Vera Senel news@themedium.ca

Sheryl Gurajada Contributor >> ELECTION continued from page 01

Joe Biden/Twitter

Win McNamee/Getty Images

Joe Biden announced as the 46th president of the US, however, the road to the new Presidency is still a long one.

Party lines were being drawn deeper in the ground, and ideological divisions were resurfacing with vigour. On Saturday, November 7, Joe Biden was officially announced as the 46th president of the United States of America. Suffice it to say, the 2020 elections had everyone on the edge of their seats, waiting to find out who the next commander-in-chief will be. Leading up to the election, polls were showing Biden up 10 points to Trump nationally, predicting a victory for the Democratic party. However, there were some complexities surrounding this election due to the composition of votes expected for each party. For months prior to the election, President Donald Trump was discussing the potential of voter fraud from mail-in voting, encouraging his supporters to go vote in person on November 3. Democrats were more inclined to participate in early and mail-in voting, which were counted after all the in-person votes on election day. Due to this discrepancy, we witnessed a dynamic reporting of votes since Tuesday. In the U.S. electoral system, the winning candidate needs to secure 270 electoral votes to win the Presidency. Trump showed an early lead, with Republican votes accounting for the bulk of the in-person votes counted first. There were impressive victories by the Republican Party in the key states of Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, and the bulk of the middle and southern States. Trump also held initial leads in the crucial states of Pennsylvania and Georgia; however, these were closed in on and finally taken over by Biden on Friday. Likewise, Nevada proved to be a nail-bitter, showing a small but steady lead for Biden, with slow reporting of votes. Biden also took over the lead in Arizona, marking the first democratic victory in the state in 24 years. After Pennsylvania’s call of a Democrat victory on Saturday, Biden was finally able to secure the seats needed. While Biden had the popular vote, and secured the Electoral College, the neck-to-neck election results only amplified the deep political divide within the country. President Trump has been insinuating potential voter interference and fraud for months leading up to the election, with the Republican Party now involved in lawsuits regarding vote counting. The majority of these cases center around Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Michigan. Pennsylvania and Georgia were crucial states that were required for a Republican win, while Michigan proved to be a surprise with a blue victory. There was also a dichotomy in rhetoric from each candidate surrounding the vote counts as well, with President Trump tweeting ‘STOP THE COUNT!’ on November 5, as his lead in many expected states started to dwindle. In an impromptu press conference held at the White

House on the same day, referring to the Biden campaign, Trump said, “This is a case where they’re trying to steal an election, they’re trying to rig an election, and we can’t let that happen.” Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has called for, “every legal vote” to be counted, a sentiment echoed by many other Republican Party members. In response to the claims on vote counts, Joe Biden has called for due process and counting of every vote casted. “My fellow Americans, we don’t have a final declaration of victory yet, but the numbers… tell us a clear and convincing story,” stated Biden in a press conference on November 6. “We’re going to win this race.” The division of ideologies and sentiments in the country appear to be a much bigger issue than vote counts. Race relations are heightened, gender issues are once again brought to the forefront, the judicial and public service sectors are being fought for. On top of this, there is a split in opinion and approach to the Covid-19 pandemic. With the majority of Democrats being pro-distancing and masks, there is a pushback from the other end on the imposing restrictions. These ideas are also sweeping into our communities here in Canada, with anti-mask rallies being held at the Yonge-Dundas square, attended by thousands. The rally held on October 31, included many people flying “Trump Pence 2020” flags and wearing the archetypal red hats with the slogan “Make America Great Again”. Canada’s political, economic, and social culture is closely intertwined and affected by the proceedings in the US. We are the largest trading partners and allies with our neighbour down south, making this election extremely important for us as well. As evident, many of the movements and social issues happening in America find a way up north shortly after. We’ve also seen heavier mandates being imposed by the Trump administration on trade from China and other countries. What took many by surprise, however, was the attempt to place tariffs on Canadian aluminum earlier this year, which were then dropped. This grueling race also has many concerns regarding possible protests and riots. On election day, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland spoke regarding the Canadian response, “it is absolutely a responsibility of our government to be there for Canadians outside our country, and we will be there for them, too,” stated Freeland. “Our federal government is absolutely ready. We have thoughtfully prepared for all eventualities.” Despite the Democratic victory declared Saturday afternoon, the road to the new presidency is still a long one, with the Trump administration prepared to file several appeals and vote recounts in many of the crucial states. These suits could make the journey to the Supreme Court, making it possible that the final results be delayed by weeks. Suffice it to say, Canadians, alongside the rest of the world, will have their eyes on the United States for the near future, waiting and watching.

Covid-19 cases increasing in Mississauga All we want for Christmas is lower infection rates.

Razia Saleh Contributor

he increasing numbers of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Mississauga has resulted in public concern. In recent weeks, restaurants, recreational centers, and schools in the Peel region have seen an increase in reported Covid-19 cases. Public Health Ontario is reporting 782 new Covid-19 cases in Peel as of November 4. Peel officials have been following up about their concerns with opening up restaurants and gyms to public use by November 7. On November 4, Mississauga News reported that, between the dates of August 1 and October 24, the areas with the greatest infection rates in Peel were schools and industrial environments. They accounted for a fifth of all cases. Moreover, “outbreaks related to gyms, restaurants, bars and religious services accounted for under five percent in that time frame, according to the province’s numbers.” With the staggering increases in Covid-19 cases, residents of Mississauga should take precautionary measures to decrease the ongoing

trend of infections. During the Peel Council meeting on November 4, Dr. Lawrence Loh, medical officer of health voiced his concerns and strongly recommended residents to “halt get-togethers in and outside private homes beyond those people already living there, until further notice.” While Peel began moving back from Stage Two in early October, residents have been questioning when they will enter Stage Three. Mississauga mayor Bonnie Crombie has claimed that, according to provincial data, gyms and restaurants weren’t a major source of infection. Crombie also emphasized the importance of reopening these facilities safely and swiftly. Dr. Loh echoed the mayor’s statements but reiterated the importance of establishing additional safety measures as a precaution. “All the factors suggest that if we are going to reopen as planned on November 7 […] we’re going to have to take some other measures within the Region of Peel to counterbalance the reopening of these high-risk settings that drive transmission in our community,” stated Loh. Based on the provincial rules, a maximum of 10 people are allowed to take part in private events such as house parties, while outdoor

gatherings are limited to 25 people. “If implemented, the recommendation would put gatherings related to upcoming holidays like Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa in question,” said Loh. Dr. Loh recommended postponing all wedding receptions until February 1, 2021, and limiting indoor religious services and ceremonies to 50 people. The province’s rules state that indoor religious ceremonies are only allowed to fill in less than a third of the room’s total capacity at maximum. After November 7, restaurants will have to confirm that all individuals who wish to be seated together at a single table are residents of the same home. Ontario has responded to the large numbers of new Covid-19 cases to ensure the health and safety of all residents. The official Ontario government website reports that hospitals have increased their monitoring of travel histories and contact tracing. Moreover, Covid-19 has officially been specified as a “disease reportable under Ontario’s public health legislation” which would allow frontline workers to operate more efficiently. Medical personnel are now able to conduct more examinations at a much faster rate.

Meghna Parhar Contributor >> RAWLE continued from page 01

Photo/Lucas Rawle

Fiona Rawle awarded Minister’s Award of Excellence for contributions to Covid-19 response in Ontario Professor Fiona Rawle collaborated with UTM faculty in order to effectively design their courses in preparation for remote learning in the Fall semester.

Each award “[celebrates] the incredible work of professors and instructors on campus, in the community and beyond” and nominations were accepted until August 31 via the Government of Ontario online portal. “The University of Toronto congratulates Fiona Rawle on this important recognition,” shared Professor Christine Allen, U of T’s associate vice-president and vice-provost of strategic initiatives, on the U of T celebrates website. Professor Allen was the first to nominate Professor Rawle for the award. During the earliest weeks of the countrywide lockdown in March and April of this year, Rawle took the initiative to ask her fellow staff and students on social media how they could better help each other through such trying times. By co-developing an online platform for educators and scholars to share advice based on their experiences, Professor Rawle was awarded for driving faculty and student success via e-Learning. “Her creativity and determination to help students learn and thrive had a real impact.” Professor Allen continued. “I’m truly honoured to receive this recognition,” Rawle stated upon receiving her Award of Excellence. “But I want to point out that I’m part of a broader community of faculty and staff that are so dedicated to giving students meaningful learning experiences.” In light of the coronavirus pandemic, UTM educators put a creative twist on the process of phasing over to remote learning by inviting faculty members to take part in an online ‘summer camp’ over the course of eight days in July and August.

Loh pointed out to the Brampton Guardian on October 26 that restrictions should not be lifted at the end of November 6 as per his initial recommendation. He stated that the region should experience a steady decline in confirmed cases for an extended time period—around two or four weeks—before withdrawing the existing safety measures. Despite the medical officer’s concerns, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced during the daily provincial news briefing on November 3 that the Peel region will begin the process of reducing Stage Two safety measures in local business establishments, including gyms and restaurants. To put it into perspective, the rise of Covid-19 cases will cancel any and all upcoming holiday celebrations if individuals do not participate in the precautionary measures to “flatten the curve.” Continuing to wear face masks and social distancing is currently the most effective way residents can help prevent a further increase of infections. The Peel regional officials will continue to regulate safety measurements in communities in Brampton, Caledon, and Mississauga.

In collaboration with colleagues Ann Gagné, an educational developer with the Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre, Simone Laughton, the head of library and instructional materials, and Matthew O’Reilly, a multimedia and classroom technology specialist, Professor Fiona Rawle developed and hosted the aforementioned virtual summer camp whose training was structured as a miniature course in itself. Faculty members participated in daily twohour synchronous webinars, were assigned homework assignments, participated in tests, and were advised of relevant resources on the best practices in remote learning with focuses on how to help students learn and thrive in online classrooms. The sessions also focused on subjects such as dealing with difficult issues in the classroom, developing a course syllabus, and designing an inclusive assessment. Professor Rawle, an associate dean as well as a professor in the department of Biology at UTM, pointed out that both staff and students were under more stress than usual, and that “if ever there was a time for a pedagogy of kindness, it’s now.” Prompted by multiple conversations regarding the difficulty of the new remote reality, Rawle shared a public tweet asking students and professors about the one thing that they wanted the other to know, opening up a heartfelt discussion for all to see and take part in. Professors shared that they missed their students and believed in their resilience while students shared their appreciation for the hard work that they were putting into their courses. Rawle emphasized that, underneath it all, there was a reassurance that “everyone is in this together.” Professor Rawle hopes to demonstrate that solidarity is the key to success when continuing work and education during such an unprecedented time. “The wonderful thing about UTM is our community,” stated Rawle.

MASTHEAD EDITORIAL BOARD

COMMENT

Editor | Aya Yafaoui comment@themedium.ca

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 Features Elizabeth Provost features@themedium.ca A&E Chris Berberian arts@themedium.ca 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

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Editorial: France’s promise of “liberty, equality, fraternity” is woefully unfulfilled Aya Yafaoui Comment Editor >> EDITORIAL continued from page 01 The suspect, a young Muslim man from Pakistan, claims he committed the attack as revenge for the cartoons. On October 16, a French public school teacher, Samuel Paty, was killed by an 18-year-old Muslim Russian immigrant because Paty showed the cartoons in class during a discussion about freedom of speech. In response, French President Macron delivered a speech on “Islamic separatism,” where he said the biggest threat to France’s values and secularism was “radical Islam.” He went on to talk about his country’s failures in addressing the factors that have led to that separatism, saying, “we built a concentration of misery and difficulties. We concentrated populations according to origin and social milieu. We created neighbourhoods where the promise of the republic was never kept and where these most radical forms [of Islamism] became sources of hope.” Yet, even amidst this recognition of failure, President Macron claimed that “Islam is a religion that is in crisis all over the world today. We are not just seeing this in our country.” This statement has drawn the condemnation and ire of Muslims worldwide and prompted Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to question Macron’s mental health. Muslims around the world have also boycotted French products. However, I do agree with President Macron. Islam is in crisis around the world. Though it has nothing to do with the principles or the 1.8 billion practitioners of the faith. Islam is in crisis because it is being used. “By whom?” you ask? By just about every politically salient faction around the world. Extremist groups use it to mask their heinous attacks on humanity. Western governments use it to justify their discrimination and wars. Eastern gov-

ernments, such as Saudi Arabia and China, use it to defend the oppression of their people and Muslims around the world. Xenophobic, racist, and Islamophobic groups use it to strike fear into their societies and defend their paranoid, unreasonable views. All in all, Islam is being used as a tool for many different groups to further their own ends. As such, it is reduced to a monolith—a caricature of itself, if you will.

I am tired of mourning innocent people’s deaths while also mourning the demise of my liberty and dignity. Quite frankly, I, along with the global Muslim community, am tired and fed up with having to endure this puppet show. We are tossed around from being the victim of Islamophobia to being the terrorist villain. This alternation is illustrated again in France. Following the murder of Samuel Paty, two women stabbed two other hijabi women near the Eiffel tower and called them “dirty Arabs,” telling them: “This is not your home.” A few days later, the Nice stabbing attack occurred in a church where a Tunisian immigrant killed three people. In the span of a few days, the Muslim community went from denouncing the terrorist attack that killed Paty, to decrying the hate crime that injured two hijabi women, to once again having to condemn yet another deadly attack. My point is in no way to argue that Muslims worldwide, and in France, should not stand with their country or mourn the deaths of innocents. Nor am I insinuating that Muslims have suffered more or deserve some privilege. All I am saying is that I am tired. I am tired of having to explain and atone for a stranger’s actions. I am tired of being outraged over hijab and burqa bans. I am tired of mourning innocent people’s deaths while also mourning the demise of my liberty and dignity. Most of all, I am tired of being reduced to one idea,

viewpoint, or entity. My religion is as vast and varied as every other religion or group, including people from every kind of background, culture, and political persuasion. It is this very diversity that not only makes us a major world religion but also creates space for inclusion. I am sure that France is also tired of having to mourn the deaths of its countrymen. I understand their frustration and exhaustion with debating issues around religious symbolism and extremism. I deeply empathize with the fear they experience when they suffer an attack. I comprehend and appreciate these struggles because the Muslim community is a part of these experiences. In the end, I know that the privileges of individuality are only bestowed upon those at the centre of society, such as how a white gunman is a lone wolf or how the KKK doesn’t reflect all of Christianity. However, aside from this monolithic reduction, there are more significant issues that need to be addressed related to young Muslims’ radicalization. As President Macron mentioned in his speech, the neglect that some communities face in terms of jobs, housing, the opportunity for social mobility and more, creates disenfranchisement and pushes people to the margins. According to Pew Research from 2017, most of France’s Muslim population live in ghettos. The number is approximately 5,750,000, or around 8.5 per cent of the French population. As Prime Minister Trudeau noted in his speech following the Samuel Paty murder, “Freedom of expression is not unlimited.” Indeed, the nuance between free speech and hate speech is highly contentious. Still, the key to understanding that difference is respect. No, not a respect for the religion or the culture or any other label, but a respect for the human being. Disagree, question, and debate with the Muslim community, but do not lose sight of the fact that we are people, endowed with unalienable human rights, and deserving of the same level of freedom and dignity as everyone else. In other words, we are all entitled to liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Examining corruption and justice in Brazil Artur Silveira Ferreira Contributor

n 2018, Jair Bolsonaro was elected president of Brazil. Before that, he had been a member of the House of Representatives, the lower house in Brazil, for roughly three decades without any significant achievements in his career. His 2018 presidential campaign opposed the 14 years ruling labour party, Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT). He was undoubtedly elected for his promises to fight corruption and support the Car Wash operation (Operação Lava Jato), a large-scale investigation into corruption within the government. Corruption has been a prevalent issue in Brazil for a very long time. The Sixth Republic of Brazil had eight presidents before Jair Bolsonaro, with six currently being investigated for corruption. Only Tancredo Neves, who died before taking office, and Itamar Franco, are not involved in ongoing investigations. Even the military dictatorship, installed in 1964, used allegations of corruption within the government to justify its coup d’ état. More recently, the most extensive corruption investigation in Brazil is by far the Car Wash operation. Many high-profile politicians in Brazil, including Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil between 2002 and 2010, and José Dirceu, the Civil House’s chief minister between 2003 and 2005, are being investigated and convicted. Some firms are also involved in the corruption scandals in Brazil. One such firm is Odebrecht, which used to be the largest construction company in Latin America. Another company is Petrobras, a petroleum firm that

used to be the fourth largest in the world in 2010. Petrobras was at the centre of the scandal in Brazil. Odebrecht, on the other hand, was involved in the second stage of the operation, which investigated the overpricing of public constructions. These public contracts were used to divert taxpayers’ money away from the government and into the pockets of the firms’ bosses and highranking politicians.

The Brazilian situation is not isolated. The construction firms were used to launder money, with the firms paying the government for construction contracts. In return, the government paid exorbitant amounts for those constructions. The firms then donated funds to political campaigns, causing a vicious cycle. This scheme is an example of public officials using their position to benefit themselves instead of the country. The firms’ involvement, especially Odebrecht in the corruption scandals, transcended borders, with countries like Peru, Angola, Argentina, and even the U.S. investigating alleged bribing and money laundering involving Brazilian construction companies. In Peru, the statue of a Christ (similar to the one in Rio de Janeiro) was built by Odebrecht, which admitted to having paid $29 million in bribes to secure construction contracts in Peru. In Angola, the country allegedly paid $50 million and profited $261.7 million. In Argentina, Odebrecht paid $35 million and profited $278 million. In the U.S., the firm operated primarily in Florida, where it built the Florida International University

Community care is self-care Self-care shouldn’t be an individualistic experience; we need human connection. Ashley Mutasa Contributor

he extension of human life is a scientific pursuit present throughout human history. Since the advent of modernday medicine, physicians and researchers have collaborated to find ways to prolong human life expectancy. Currently, we have treatments for most of the maladies that reduce the human lifespan, and an increasing number of researchers hypothesize that gene therapy will eventually prolong the human lifespan indefinitely. The curriculum in schools reflects this fascination humans have with longevity. From a young age, students are taught that exercise, diet, and lifestyle choices, such as consuming alcohol and drugs, are the most significant determinants of mortality. While I have always accepted these theories, a few weeks ago, in my abnormal psychology class, I began questioning longevity, and more importantly, the human experience. While exercise, diet, and lifestyle choices correlate with better health

football stadium and the airports in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. They also made illicit payments from banks in New York City.

It is proven that corruption can spread quickly across borders and that it might even affect developed economies. economies.

Earlier this month, president Bolsonaro claimed to have eradicated corruption within the government. The president then ordered an end to the Car Wash operation, which came at a very convenient time as members of his own family were being investigated for corruption. Three of his sons are involved in politics. One is a councilman in Rio de Janeiro, the other a member of the House of Representatives, and the third is a senator. All three were involved in recent scandals. Even though the president might say the opposite, corruption is still rampant in Brazil. And it will remain so as long as it goes unpunished. In November 2019, the Supreme Court had the audacity to declare prison sentences from the lower courts unconstitutional, meaning that criminals would not go to prison after being convicted in the lower courts of justice. In other words, even after being declared guilty, an individual would still not go to jail but wait for the upper courts to convict them as well, a process that could take years. In the U.S. and Canada, prison sentences in the lower court are permitted. It should be allowed in Brazil as well, considering that the criminal has already

outcomes, my professor introduced studies demonstrating how social integration and connection outperformed all other well-known factors in improving longevity and health. During this transition from in-person to remote learning and work, self-care has become an omnipresent phrase on social media platforms and conversations. When students describe feeling overwhelmed and exhausted by online instruction, the first recommendation is to practice self-care. The self-care prescribed often encompasses sleeping, exercising, listening to music, and going out for a walk. Very rarely are you encouraged to connect with other individuals. At its roots, this advice reflects the age-old adage: only you can make yourself happy. While this advice may seem innocuous, it reflects the individualistic nature of our society. As a society, we put so much emphasis on what the individual can do. Self-worth has become deeply intertwined with an individual’s grades and accolades. As University of Toronto students, we are continually working toward graduate school. This leads us to view our peers as competition for lucrative and limited placements rather than resources of comfort and reprieve from the hustle and bustle of university. The pandemic has shown me that people’s infrastructures are fragile and easily thrown into disarray. In less than six months, the world has become almost unrecognizable. The only things that remain constant are empathy, love, gratitude, and compassion. All of which are intangible but are linked by one fundamental thing: human connection. As humans, we strive to feel connected, and the human body has been designed to express this irrepressible desire. Studies have shown that the pituitary gland releases oxytocin when people are stressed. Oxytocin is a hormone that encourages us to seek out people to bond with. Furthermore, in times of stress, oxytocin acts as an anti-inflammatory, causing the dilation of blood cells. This hormone can also improve heart health by regenerating heart cells. Thus, while self-care is important, it might not rejuvenate the individual in the way that community connection can.

been convicted. Moreover, nearly 55 thousand people have privileged jurisdiction in Brazil, meaning that the lower courts cannot try them. This privilege does not exist in countries like Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. This jurisdictional privilege has a massive effect on the fight against corruption in Brazil. Many corrupt politicians will go unpunished for years since only the higher courts can judge them. This not only makes the process significantly slower but can also lead to a complete halt in the investigation process as a whole. It is imperative to put an end to corruption across the world. The Brazilian situation is not isolated. It has proven that corruption can spread quickly across borders and that it might even affect developed economies. The U.S. is already showing signs of increased political corruption, as the investigations into President Donald Trump’s tax payments continue, among other allegations against former staffers. Canada is not an exception, with British Columbia’s casinos used for money laundering and the recent SNC Lavalin scandal. For Brazil, the best solution would be to remove the privileged jurisdiction system for everyone and allow prison sentences in the lower court. As a global solution, establishing an impartial international court specializing in judging corruption in countries like Brazil, where the highest-ranking officials in government are involved in bribery, could increase the chance of seeing justice. In the end, we all need to do our best to hold our politicians and governments accountable by voting, protesting, and paying attention.

As a community, particularly during this period of isolation, we need to re-envision community care. I used to laugh to myself about how UTM students were so focused on school that they never attended community events. However, now I realize how detrimental that was to our community. As a peer advisor at the International Education Centre at UTM, I have hosted many events to connect students. Still, I have been the only person in the room on numerous occasions. Many departments have also attested to low turnout rates at in-person events.

We need to learn to find solace and comfort in each other. Unfortunately, this lack of engagement and attendance has transferred to online events. Students may feel unmotivated to attend virtual events after a long day of learning and working in front of a screen. Yet now more than ever, the importance of these opportunities cannot be understated. Many courses this semester are asynchronous, meaning we cannot connect in real-time. Even in synchronous lectures, chat functions are sometimes disabled, which further amplifies the feeling of isolation. Attending online activities hosted by student groups allows you to meet people and engage with them in real-time. In fact, some studies have shown that online social interactions are associated with reduced mortality. The U of T community has become complacent with the individualistic nature of our campus. We blame our institution, but our aggregated attitudes are what make up the U of T community. Thus, it is ultimately up to us to affect change in campus culture. Even though we are currently physically dispersed across space and time, the collection of our thoughts and experiences are what continue to make up U of T. We need to learn to find solace and comfort in each other. We need to realize that self-care will never be enough if we neglect community care.

features

Editor | Elizabeth Provost features@themedium.ca

As the second wave grows, UTM’s HCC Director reinvigorates mental health services. Article by Alexandria Ramoutar Photo by Elina Krima/Pexels

Mental health amid the pandemic >> MENTAL HEALTH continued from page 01 while important, have an impact on our sense of community and resiliency,” Kraftcheck expresses. Her comments reflect a shared perspective amongst students. “It’s been hard not to be at school. I miss seeing my friends and grabbing lunch in IB. Some of my friends are in different countries and with different time zones that it can feel overwhelming,” a third-year student expresses. Her friend nods in agreement. “Doing online school was actually better at first until I took some courses that required us to handwrite and upload scans, which is super stressful! [At some point,] online school became a burden.” Since universities and colleges respect city-wide restrictions, the HCC also had to ensure that required infection prevention measures were “balanced with student support from the HCC and other services in student affairs,” says Kraftcheck. So, how is UTM combatting loneliness and stress in a socially distanced environment? “The HCC recognizes that fostering a sense of community is critical in the current circumstances, especially for out-of-province and international students,” continues Kraftcheck. “The HCC has launched a number of virtual peer-led programs and initiatives since the start of the pandemic to promote wellness, resiliency, and community.” The HCC also adopted video communications in an effort to bridge the gap between students. “The Peers Supporting Peers Program offers weekly wellness workshops led by upper-year UTM Peer Mentors on topics such as: Discovering Your Wellness, Creating a Wellness Log, Self-Management, and Building Your Mental Health Roadmap.” I joined in on the Peers Supporting Peers Program’s “Discovering Your Wellness” group workshop hosted by Wellness

at UTM. Free of charge and hosted through Zoom, the upperyear mentors explored wellness and how we can achieve it. With compassion and kindness, the upper-year students encouraged their peers to focus on acquiring a balanced lifestyle. Students may apply the mentors’ goal-setting advice to various areas in their lives, from relationships to diet, fitness, academics, and even finances! The hour of interpersonal interaction, openness, and planning became the building block for new goals and friendships. Participating in virtual workshops also has additional benefits. “Moving into the virtual environments allowed for some students to access mental health support more easily, from the comfort of their homes,” says Kraftcheck. Students can invite their friends to experience these events too, which provides a greater sense of unity. With quirky names and focused topics, students can also seek a balanced lifestyle with Wellness at Home. The HCC created the Wellness at Home Program to provide interactive activities and wellness tips for remote lifestyles. The program “features daily wellness workshops, activities, and resources from Mondays through Fridays.” On Mindful Mondays, mindfulness meditation leads students through meditative activities. “The Together Tuesday series consists of weekly wellness-inspired activities and conversations, offering a safe virtual space for students to connect and share strategies and resources,” explains Kraftcheck. Additionally, Wellness Wednesday: Wellness 101 Workshops, Self-Care Thursday, and Foodie Friday spur students to participate in engaging activities and try new recipes. Along with attending these sessions, Kraftcheck urges students to “make sure to schedule breaks to go screen-free, including going outside, practicing mindfulness or deep breathing, and connecting with loved ones.” Moreover, students can also connect with counsellors virtually. For direct support for mental health concerns, HCC “works to ensure [students] are aware of resources and care options, including having 24/7 access to My Student Support Program (MySSP), which includes options for telephone and chat support in multiple languages,” says Kraftcheck. MySSP offers 24/7 counselling on a one-time or continued basis. You may discuss general, academic, financial, and rela-

tionship concerns. The HCC also hosts “several mental health workshops on a variety of topics including self-compassion, [and] combatting negative body image during isolation,” says Kraftcheck, adding, “Help continues to always be available.” Student have indeed made use of these virtual support programs when needed. A third-year student expresses: “During the pandemic, I dated a guy, and he made me feel really insecure, and that fuelled my depression. Luckily, I had access to a psychiatrist, so my support system has basically been my psychiatrist, close friends, and family that I can open up to.” Beyond their mental health and wellness programs, students can also receive guidance from peer mentors through UTM Accessibility Services. This month, mentors gathered to host a “MidSemester Survival Guide.” “We thought about what we struggled with most personally and came up with: distractions at home and feeling unmotivated and burned out during these times,” explains Elisa Nguyen, one of the leading peer mentors. “We were able to have great conversations, and [the participants] were really engaged in sharing their experiences. It was nice hearing everyone’s answers and talking together,” Nguyen says, smiling. With these events and services available to students, Kraftcheck reminds us to “be kind to yourself and give yourself permission to take breaks for self-care. We are all trying our best and learning as we go.” As we look forward to the peak of the second wave, HCC stands firm in its dedication to student wellness. “Our vision for our wellness UTM programs and initiatives is to cultivate a healthy and supportive campus environment where all students are able to thrive to their fullest. We will strive to continue to bring students innovative events, initiatives, and resources that promote wellness, resiliency, and community,” Kraftcheck shares, and we look forward to seeing it come to fruition.

When will it be enough:

Mercedes Mehling/unsplash.com

The LGBTQ2S+ experience at UTM Hana Khan Contributor

magine the following: You wake up on a Monday morning, and you have class at 11 a.m. It’s your only class today; would it really matter if you missed it? Perhaps it would be easier to stay in bed. Getting up has been difficult recently, anyways. Besides, if you did get out of bed, you’d have to face the ever-present look of disappointment on your parents’ faces. It’s been this way ever since you came out to them. They don’t understand. They don’t want to either. Sometimes you wish you never brought it up. Sometimes you wish you were not who you are. It’s a dark picture to imagine, but it is also the reality for many in the LGBTQ2S+ community. LGBTQ2S+ people are five times more likely than heterosexual people to consider suicide and seven times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual people. These are startling statistics to hear and even more frightening to experience. While some LGBTQ2S+ individuals are able to come out to their close circles of friends and family with the comfort of knowing that they will be accepted with open arms, others are not as lucky. This is where external supports offer a safe space to gain confidence and guidance in exploring one’s identity. For many university students, these external supports come in the form of groups and clubs on campus, as well as services administered by the school itself. These supports create a sense of community. Community is essential to the human experience. We crave close connection with others, yearn to know that we belong, and feel loved and appreciated. This is especially important for LGBTQ2S+ identifying individuals because they face a unique set of hardships and circumstances, resulting in signifi-

cantly higher mental illnesses and addiction rates. For this reason, the community requires additional services catered to their diverse needs. UTM has various societies, organizations, and clubs for a variety of different interests. Among these groups, there are LGBTQ2S+ specific clubs and organizations. While UTM facilitators lead some organizations, others are student-led. However, while these supportive services are available on campus, LGBTQ2S+ identifying students from UTM expressed their mixed feelings toward the availability and promotion of these groups. Kiara Kim (she/her) a third-year student specializing in anthropology and minoring in geographical information systems explained how it’s not always easy to determine if UTM offers adequate support for LGBTQ2S+ students. “It’s hard to say because I haven’t heard UTM talk about LGBTQ2S+ support very much […] I do know about the Equity & Diversity Centre […] and the Sexual Diversity Centre, but I wonder if these centers are getting enough publicity for students to reach out.” Similarly, another fifth-year student (she/her), in the professional writing and communications program, who preferred to remain anonymous also voiced that while there are a few UTM regulated organizations and numerous student-led organizations, they are not regularly promoted. As such, LGBTQ2S+ students are not aware of the services. While UTM often promotes an accepting environment for LGBTQ2S+ identifying students, staff, and faculty, the practical and everyday interactions that students have on campus do not always reflect the same values. Kim discussed how discrimination is still prevalent on campus. “I have been a part of student organizations where members used offensive terms to describe transgender, nonbinary, bisexual, and pansexual people. Because of these

experiences, I refrain from openly expressing my sexual orientation.” Additionally, the anonymous student voiced that while discriminative moments are not common on campus, “There [have been] instances when I’m in class and [the students] say something that is kind of [disturbing]. [However,] I wouldn’t say that I have felt excluded because of my sexual identity.” The student who wishes to remain anonymous also went on to say, “I would be pretty naïve to say there isn’t [ignorance on campus] just like in any part of the world. [It’s visible in the way] professors talk in class and the way that staff and students conduct themselves in public and private spaces.” Despite this, she also says that there are “attempts […] to be more inclusive on campus.” And she is right. There are a few UTM-led inclusion initiatives on campus. The Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Office (EDIO) provides several different programs and services to all staff, students, and faculty at UTM. These programs and services include multi-faith spaces, student equity resources, UTM Indigenous Centre, and U of T’s Positive Space Campaign. U of T’s Positive Space is a campaign that seeks to create and identify safer and more inclusive spaces for LGBTQ2S+ identifying individuals across all campuses. In a statement to The Medium, the organization described its purpose to “challenge the patterns of silence that continue to marginalize LGBTQ2S+ students, staff, and faculty.” However, despite Positive Space’s clear commitment and dedication to supporting U of T’s LGBTQ2S+ community, not many students are even aware of the campaign. Moreover, the UTM branch of Positive Space admitted that “the committee was inactive for a couple of years.” So, it is understandable why many students are not aware of what Positive Space offers. But with the addition of their new

staff co-chair, Ignacio Mongrell, who has re-started regular meetings and has done work toward campaigns, Positive Space at UTM is looking forward to renewing their commitment. In 2020, the organization is focused on “creating and planning events for LGBTQ2S+ members and allies to network and discuss relevant issues. [As well as] working with other departments at U of T and UTM to celebrate LGBTQ2S+ students, faculty, and staff.” There is no doubt that UTM is actively creating safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ2S+ individuals on campus. The question then becomes: is it enough? Is it enough to have one central EDIO for the entire U of T community? Is it enough for UTM to hold a campaign that goes unnoticed? For Kim, the efforts that UTM is making to create a safe and positive space is enough. But could things be better? Yes. While there are organizations on campus that support the LGBTQ2S+ community, she says, “I think that when an institution shows collective pride and support in their oppressed identity, it’s incredibly empowering.” The anonymous student also feels that there are plenty of initiatives at UTM addressing inclusivity and community. “[The] movement towards gender-inclusive washrooms are really good at UTM, [it shows a] good sense of awareness that this movement is needed.” Gender-neutral washrooms play a considerable role in creating an LGBTQ2S+ safe space. Sol (they/them), a teaching assistant at UTM in the Sociology department specializing in gender, family, and critical cultural studies, brings up the same concerns. While transgender individual’s needs are unique, “gender-neutral toilets [are a] visible presence of [a] transfriendly community space, [and] support workers [specific to trans needs] on campus.” If the question of “is there

enough?” cannot be answered, perhaps we should ask: what else can be done? What else must be done to ensure that there are sufficient resources for the LGBTQ2S+ community? An excellent place to start would be bringing in advisors and counselors who are knowledgeable in LGBTQ2S+ circumstances. “[The university needs to instill a] commitment to hiring people of those marginalized identities who are familiar with these issues,” said the anonymous student. Kim explained that what UTM can do is encourage the community’s sense of pride and empowerment. To have differences celebrated and to ensure that these differences and communities are made more public. These are vitally important to the LGBTQ2S+ experience at UTM. Sol also brings in some essential administerial suggestions, “There should be streamlined and simplified institutional processes for gender transition. [For example] it should not be difficult to change your sex/gender designation with the institution. [It should] not [be] difficult to change your legal and chosen names.” Not all of these solutions can be made possible all at once. Implementing these resolutions would take time, planning, and consideration. But in the meantime, it is a great starting point to hear LBGTQ2S+ students’ and faculty’s concerns, create a safe space, and provide an open platform for the community’s expression and opinion. And that is part of the beauty of the LGBTQ2S+ community. Despite the lack of resources, inclusive spaces on campus, and public awareness, we still find ways to voice our needs and opinions. And through this, we can form a community among ourselves that fulfills the essential human experience. One in which intimate relationships are created. One in which we are loved and appreciated. One in which we do not become just another statistic.

The impact of Covid-19 on homelessness May Alsaigh Associate Features Editor

omelessness has always been a prevalent issue in urban cities and the current pandemic has exacerbated the problem as the virus disproportionally affects vulnerable populations, including the homeless. In Canada, the homeless population has suffered following Covid-19 instated governmental laws. With social distancing rules in place, shelters have limited the number of beds offered to the public, resulting in increased homeless encampments in public areas such as parks and other recreational grounds. The lack of safe housing and the unsanitary conditions in shelters leave homeless individuals at an increased risk of contracting the virus. While many already lack access to health care, the spread of Covid-19 may be more rapid and severe for the homeless community. Since the beginning of the pandemic, encampments have opened up throughout Toronto as people avoid visiting shelters in fear of contracting the deadly virus. Additionally, as the pandemic has left many without employment and struggling to pay bills and for other necessities, the homeless population is growing. Precisely, more than one million people in Ontario have lost their jobs since the start of the pandemic. However, even with encampment sites, homeless individuals are struggling to seek shelter. In mid-October, the government denied a request filed by a group of homeless men and women to temporarily override a bylaw that prohibits them from staying in Toronto parks. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the city has moved nearly 950 people out of encampments and increased efforts to re-home them. In preparation for the upcoming colder months within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the City of Toronto has recently announced a winter service plan to help those

experiencing homelessness. The plan’s first shelter opened its doors November 2. However, rather than looking for the homeless population’s best interests, the shelter has implemented glass barriers resembling boxes or cages. The shelter’s prison-like structures and other strict housing rules have been addressed and protested on social media platforms due to its inherent lack of humanity. Physical distancing and isolation interventions have proven to mitigate the spread of the virus. Yet, these regulations hold negative implications for individuals who are homeless in Toronto and globally. Specifically, social relationships and support services have been disrupted due to the abrupt closure of drop-in services and community centers. The lack of these resources have led to the deterioration of homeless individuals’ mental health. Along with the limited access to certain public spaces, homeless individuals struggle to maintain a substantial standard of life with limited services, reducing their hours and capacity. Regarding those struggling with substance use, the closure of relevant services has increased their stress levels, leading to heavier and more dangerous practices. Additionally, the risk of overdose and unsafe drug use is rising due to intermittent use, loss of drug tolerance, and reduced access to supervised consumption services. Similarly, the homeless community relying on panhandling or sex work as a source of income faces significant difficulty in safely continuing work with the physical distancing regulations. With the rising price of real estate, affordability has become a crisis in Ontario. The pandemic benefits, such as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), are not easily accessible to those living on the streets with limited means to learn about and acquire governmental aid. Additionally, they are less likely to attain these modes of assistance. Many homeless individuals lack requirements such as a mailing address or place of residence, social insurance number, bank card, and phone number, among others.

Though not experts on the subject of homelessness, Assistant Professor Yvonne Sherwood and Associate Professor Sida Liu, both teaching in UTM’s sociology department, share some insight on this matter from a sociological perspective. Professor Sherwood discusses that one of the primary causes of homelessness is the government’s extraction of resources. The Canadian government fails to provide effective solutions for homeless individuals. Sherwood also offers alternative perspectives to resolve this matter. “I think that overall we need to humanize the issue. There are so many stereotypes in our day-to-day lives where we think of houseless folks as undeserving. We need to understand that folks experiencing stress and trauma of houselessness are human beings and deserve access to safe places.” Furthermore, to bring light to how the government fails to prioritize minority groups’ access to basic necessities, Professor Sherwood talks about a recent humanitarian issue. In early October, Neskantaga First Nations were forced to evacuate their homes when high levels of hydrocarbon were discovered in their water supply. With this example, Professor Sherwood demonstrates how the government is actively extracting resources from these disadvantaged Indigenous groups, a body that is supposed to be protecting them. “When we talk about houselessness or those sorts of issues, we have to think about all of those other things going on because you have [the] media framing these people as poor and needy, and lacking infrastructure.” Professor Sherwood stresses the need to address public media’s attempts to falsify homeless individuals’ desires and blame them for their circumstances while ignoring the lack of supportive services. Now, how has the pandemic led to the increase of unemployment, and in turn, homelessness? Professor Liu provides some answers to this question. “The increase in homelessness during the pandemic has much to do with the entrenched

inequality in our society,” he mentions. “This has been intensified by the economic shock that Covid-19 generated, which led to unemployment and, repeatedly, the loss of homes.” Professor Liu recognizes that the government has an obligation to help individuals seek protection and health in such uncertain times but ultimately says not all homeless people are willing to go to these government programs. With the continuous lack of resources and stigmas surrounding homelessness, most homeless communities do not wish to rely on the government for shelter. With this in mind, one of Professor Liu’s UTM students, Shankeerth Suresh, conducted an ethnographic study on homeless individuals in downtown Toronto in 2018. His study explored the idea that for some homeless individuals, their lifestyle is a conscious choice. According to the study, there are multiple reasons that argue why the homeless community prefers to steer away from shelters and refuse government assistance. Suresh explains that some of these reasons include drug addiction, lack of trust in the government, and even personal ego. However, these are not the only factors that keep the homeless community from reaching out for help. “The streets are perceived as better for homeless individuals in comparison to shelters since it allows them to live a life with a sense of family and predictability,” states Suresh in his study. As there is currently no cure or long-term treatment for the virus, the spread of Covid-19 exacerbates homeless individuals’ distrust in the government for assistance and safe shelter. With social distancing regulations implemented for all and the lack of effort to provide necessities for this dependent population, pandemic’s impact has strongly impaired the homeless community—both in terms of their physical and mental health. The lack of resources compounded with the new stressors has made it harder to cater to this community of individuals.

Arts

Cultures clash in Emily in Paris Julia Skoczypiec Contributor

lending skyscrapers in a smog-filled sky with cobblestone streets and romantic cafés, Netflix’s newest original series, Emily In Paris, takes us on a cross-cultural journey. Without leaving our living rooms, we board our brainplanes and experience the vast differences between Chicago and Paris. Emily In Paris, starring Lily Collins as Emily Cooper, showcases the struggles of culture clash and the contrasts between North American and European work ethics. In this comedy-drama, Emily is a twenty-something marketing professional in Chicago who gets promoted to a fashion firm in Paris. Her limited knowledge of the industry, love for social media, and inability to speak French pose immediate red flags for the Parisians. By immersing herself within the culture and finding English-speaking friends, Emily finds love and success in her work while retaining her “American” self. Throughout the show, Emily is naïve. Her character cannot adapt to her new workplace and instead touts American practices as the only correct marketing approach. She favours social media. Her platforms, Instagram, in particular, helped her career flourish in Chicago and encourages her company to do the same. From this, the series suggests that social media marketing is only pertinent to North Americans and that Europeans aren’t educated on its potential. Is this true? Likely not, given how pervasive social media is across the globe. >> PARIS continued on page 10

How one model is transforming the fashion industry Paige France Associate Arts Editor

hile fashion and the perception of beauty continue to evolve with social norms, so do industry conceptions of diversity. In the past, the vast majority of beauty and fashion companies emphasized homogenous standards, excluding the very people they claimed to represent. With society’s gradual adoption of more inclusive perspectives and criticism against those who oppose them, the industry has expanded its definition of beauty to include all races, genders, body sizes, and disabilities. For years, Gucci has led this movement. It’s hardly an overstatement to say the company is revolutionizing contemporary fashion and beauty standards. With Gucci’s eccentric façade, the company’s clothing is continuously pushing the boundaries of what we should celebrate in modern fashion—and its next step has been the most applauded. In its newest campaign, Gucci Beauty teamed up with Photo Vogue Festival to explore unconventional beauty through their project #theguccibeautyglitch. This campaign launched on Instagram in January 2020 and was dedicated to highlighting and supporting the theme of non-stereotypical beauty and embracing the complexity and variety of all human beings. Ellie Goldstein, an 18-year-old British model with Down syndrome, joined Gucci through Zebedee Management. This talent agency represents people who have, until now, been largely excluded in fashion, beauty, and related industries. According to their website, only 0.02 per cent of fashion and beauty campaigns feature people with disabilities—a stark contrast to the World Health Organization’s estimate that 15 per cent of the global population lives with some form of disability. In partnership with Vogue Italia, London-based photographer David PD Hyde photographed Goldstein for Gucci’s Unconventional Beauty campaign. Hyde says the movement sought to “push the boundary of beauty” and show that “beauty is everywhere and exists in every person.” In the photo that gained global attention, Goldstein modelled Gucci >> FASHION continued on page 10

Editor | Chris Berberian arts@themedium.ca

The US election: An authoritarian exercise in entertainment Maya Super Contributor

n November 3, the world watched the title bout of the U.S. election between a politician and a reality TV star, the latter of whom had been in power for the last four years. No matter who you wanted to win, the newsworthiness of this event was undeniable and news networks fed on this. Each network offered captions, reporters, and analysts alongside unique presentation styles for the night. Some had live feeds of desolate polling sites while others had colourful touchscreen displays. Whatever the tone or method, the night’s overarching theme was the all-consuming worry that anything could happen. Each channel showcased the election like it was the FIFA World Cup and everybody, soccer fans or not, watched with anticipation. Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump, the world as their pitch. CNN, who often draws the ire of Donald Trump, had political analysts John King and Wolf Blitzer hosting the election event. King, stationed beside his fancy touchscreen, stylized his presentation in a soothing way. He compared graphics of current electoral votes to data from the infamous Hillary Clinton

vs. Donald Trump race in 2016. King’s calm, reassuring personality contrasted Blitzer’s energized, foreboding tone, who ramped up the tension like a broadcaster at the Super Bowl, framing the event as the “battle” of our times. The duo demonstrated the event’s competitive spirit. Blue and red divided the states and the counties within the electoral map like competing colours in a sports bar.

“Without any evidence, Trump says he’s being cheated.”

Despite their competing personalities, Blitzer and King rehashed the same message: democracy is at stake. It’s well known that CNN covers politics in a pro-Democratic way. This can create subtle and sometimes less subtle “us versus them” or “good versus evil” narratives—the hallmarks of classic Hollywood. Blitzer’s less-encouraging words about Biden’s vote totals only amplified viewer anxiety. The almost 24/7 “breaking news” caption made it impossible to leave your seat. CNN’s chyrons, or “captions,” were also entertaining. One read, “Without any evidence, Trump says he’s being cheated,” while another said, “Trump complains mail-

in votes are being counted.” And among their finest comedic moments of the evening, CNN put the chyron: “Donald Trump says he’ll go to the Supreme Court; unclear why.” The following day, CNN host Jake Tapper continued the rapport King had with Blitzer into the second round. In a Freudian slip, Tapper used the word “clitter” when referring to Twitter, which eased some election stress. When vote counts began shifting to Biden’s corner, Trump doubled down on misinformation, asserting he’d won the election, and that the media was suppressing votes. It was a claim with no concrete evidence, one that ruffled even diehard Republican feathers. It also led CNN host Anderson Cooper to compare Trump to “an obese turtle on its back, flailing in the hot sun.” Whether Cooper and Tapper or King and Blitzer, CNN wonderfully framed the election like an entertaining sports game. The inherent tension, along with the continuous graphics updates and energetic reporters, made it the hottest TV show of the season. Meanwhile, Fox News, known for its selection-bias toward Trump, retained some legitimacy uncharacteristic of the network. It surprisingly called states for Biden correctly, prompting Trump to spew his fury >> ELECTION continued on page 10

The pitfalls and potentials of American remakes Danica Teng Associate Arts Editor >> REMAKES continued from page 01 like Unforgiven (1992), remade in Japan more than 20 years after the original, or India’s Sarkar based on the 1972 classic The Godfather— attention and criticism gravitate toward Hollywood because of its dominating presence in the global film market. There’s also the threatening implication that these Hollywood remakes will replace international cinema. There is no concrete answer whether American remakes are good or bad. Much like anything in life, there are pros and cons to Hollywood remakes of foreign films. In some cases, stories get lost in translation, even if the same director works on both projects. Like-

wise, changing certain aspects to fit cultural expectations can often make the remake fall flat or distort the sentiment of the original film. In other cases, no change at all is the problem, and the remake contributes nothing new to cinema creation. Finding a balance can be challenging, which is why remakes are often met with disapproval and an increasingly bad reputation.

The Departed/imdb.com A common criticism toward American remakes is their quality pale to originals. We saw this with the recent remakes of Asian horror

films. Iconic titles such as The Ring (2002) was originally Japan’s Ringu (1998), The Grudge (2004) from JuOn: The Grudge (2002), The Uninvited (2009) from South Korea’s A Tale of Two Sisters (2003), and Thailand’s Shutter (2004), which was remade four years later under the same name. Online reviews from fans and critics overwhelmingly favour the originals. While the quality may suffer, American remakes can also lead to whitewashing. The 2017 American live adaptation of the original Japanese animated film, Ghost in the Shell (1995), came under fire for this reason after casting Scarlett Johansson as the protagonist, Motoko Kusanagi. It highlights Hollywood’s lack of diversity and circles back to the idea that remakes threaten to replace international cinema as many >> REMAKES continued on page 10

TIFA/Twitter

TIFA 2020: A Unique 41st Season

The Toronto International Festival of Authors welcomed familiar favourites and inspiring newcomers

Reese Halfyard Contributor >> TIFA continued from page 01 Through the decades, TIFA has made significant imprints on the Canadian literary scene. The festival emerged in 1974 and has since gone through many adaptations, growing from its humble start as a newspaper segment to an internationally recognized organization. This year, TIFA

2020 spanned 11 days and featured nearly 200 authors, writers, poets, screenwriters, and illustrators from all over the world. While the festival’s 41st season ran a bit differently this year, it continued its growth in communities across the globe. Each day, events took place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. via an online platform or through live sessions with limited capacity. There was an event for every literary form, with no restrictions based on artistic style or academic level. Many virtual events included masterclasses hosted by TIFA guests, Humber College professors, and industry professionals. Although mostly virtual this year, the festival was just as successful as previous edi-

tions. In fact, holding events online allowed more attendees to join from distant locations. Many famous writers attended TIFA, headlined by Canadian literary icon Margaret Atwood. On October 22, Atwood spoke about her former publications, including her popular novel, The Handmaid’s Tale. This was an inspiring event for fans of the book and those who watched the hit HBO adaptation. Atwood also introduced her newest poetry collection, titled Dearly. This marked her first poetry publication in almost a decade and came from the reflection of prosperity and growth. In Dearly, the Canadian author connects her emotional absences in the past to the passage of time. The festival hosted other

influential artists and storytellers, including Cree author Michelle Good, who discussed her novel Five Little Indians, a nonfiction story about the Native Canadian men and women forced into residential schools. During her conversation, Good detailed her book’s progression from idea to publication, illustrating personal experiences along the way. Other notable speakers at TIFA included Marc Herman Lynch, the author of Arborescent, and Jack Wang, the author of We Two Alone. Both of them offered first-hand accounts of their experiences as young immigrants in their novels. The two books are available for purchase at the University of Toronto bookstore. Many Toronto festivals

only showcase writers and artists established in their industries. While TIFA brought in a few icons, the festival also welcomed local up-andcomers. There was no restriction on content or publishing experience. At TIFA, every author has the space to show their knowledge, talent, and passion. It’s never easy for new and young writers to get their work recognized, especially during a pandemic. TIFA celebrates the work of talented authors worldwide who deserve a platform. While slightly different this year, TIFA’s 41st season was an inspiring event, one you can re-experience by visiting the online catalogue of conversations at the Festival of Authors website.

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Meanwhile, the show depicts Parisians as being exclusively bitter. Most of the lead French characters don’t like or agree with Emily’s “American” perspective and instead favour their lives outside of work. One of the most memorable lines in the series comes from Emily’s co-worker, Luc, who says, “I think the Americans have the wrong balance. You live to work. We work to live.” This phrase mirrors the rest of the series, as Emily tries to find happiness in her work above all else. Darren Star, American writer, and creator of Emily In Paris, posits that the show is an outsider perspective of Parisian life. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Star said, “The show is a love letter to Paris through the eyes of this American girl who has never been there… the first things she sees are the clichés because it’s from her point of view.” By clichés, Star refers to the Parisian characteristics previously mentioned: the lacklustre work ethics and bitter personalities, among other traits.

Beauty’s L’Obscur mascara. Alessandro Michele, Gucci’s creative director, explains the concept behind the cosmetic item. “I designed L’Obscur mascara for an authentic person who uses makeup to tell their story of freedom, in their own way. We called it L’Obscur because this word balances charm and mystery.” For Goldstein, her story of freedom involves being a positive role model and encouraging others to express themselves. In an interview with British Vogue, she says, “Representation is very important to me, to let the world see that anyone can model and act with a disability.” In July 2020, after the L’Obscur promotion with Goldstein launched, Gucci Beauty has received more than 100,000 likes on Instagram and thousands of comments praising their casting decision. It’s the fashion label’s most-liked post on the platform. Since the post, Vogue and Gucci have continued their inclusivity campaigns, quelling any notion of tokenism or forced diversity. Instead, the companies are ignoring the “normal” that other brands continue to emphasize. Now, Goldstein is the sweet face of Gucci’s Unconventional Beauty campaign, making her the first model with Down syndrome to pose for the luxury brand. The young model is making strides in the fashion world, doing so with authenticity, advocating not just for tolerance but acceptance of the disabled community. “It feels so amazing and fabulous to be part of the Gucci Beauty campaign. I feel so proud of myself. All the likes and comments on social media across the world have been overwhelming,” Goldstein said in an interview with British Vogue. “My hope as a model is to become famous one day, showing the world who I am and what I can achieve. If you follow your hopes and dreams, you can achieve anything.”

at the right-wing network and rally his allies to do the same. Like CNN, Fox News also provided some Emmy-worthy moments on election night, some that Netflix could only dream of. One of my favourites came when Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s attorney, was complaining about voter fraud before being interrupted by Fox to announce Biden had won Michigan. His facial expression, and the timing of Fox, made the night. While the American juggernaut networks stole the show, the Canadian side of the border did things a bit differently. CBC News, which has less presentation bias than its Southern counterparts, not only reported the election results but also explained how American politics work. These explanations made the coverage comparatively stale. CBC News, albeit toned down, emphasized bipartisanship and interviewed people from both Republican and Democratic camps. This style is rare in American news stations. CBC News capitalized on that, offering unique angles that refreshed the election retreads. The 2020 U.S. election was a spectacle. Every newspaper, TV station, website, and social media platform was abuzz with predictions for the millions of viewers worldwide. With slightly different styles, news networks captured the cuticlegnawing event that’ll carve itself in history books. During his tenure, Trump was arguably America’s first and (hopefully) last authoritarian president. His constant attacks on the media, controversial tweets, and fear-mongering press conferences have been contentious yet very newsworthy. For the media, Trump losing the election was a moment perfect for primetime television. Whether it was CNN, Fox News, or another, the networks made the election feel like a palm-sweltering sports game or the most satisfying Netflix melodrama. It was compelling TV, with one too many cliffhangers. On November 7, at 11:27 a.m., Joe Biden became the next president-elect of the United States. Minutes later, “You’re Fired!” started trending worldwide on Twitter, signifying one classic end to the storyline that is Donald J. Trump.

aren’t aware of the foreign originals, missing their cultural backgrounds. For example, many people don’t know that The Lake House (2006), starring Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves, is actually a remake of the South Korean film Il Mare (2000). So, why does Hollywood continue to remake foreign films, and why do people watch them? Despite all the potential issues that can lead remakes to become critical failures, Hollywood remakes are often commercial successes.

The show upholds the American perspective and leaves little room to deliberate the nuances of work-life balance. Although it is a fictional narrative, I question whether Emily In Paris holds any truth in its cultural critiques. While watching the show, I thought realistically about careers in marketing and the arts overall. It’s tough to get noticed, especially as a young professional with little experience. According to Emily in Paris, hard work, dedication, and passion are the keys to success. Yet, Emily embodies all these characteristics and still doesn’t find much success in Paris. Are these work values not universal? The show does little to clarify. Although binge-worthy for its romance, comedy, and beautiful scenery, Emily In Paris leaves many questions unanswered and up for interpretation. It’s full of clichés, favours the North American perspective, and becomes easily forgettable. If you seek a show to kill time and go on a virtual Paris vacation, I’d recommend Emily In Paris. But, if you seek a show with unique insights on cultural divides and real-life work ethics, then look elsewhere.

There are millions of stories in the world, and sometimes, it may seem like too much for us. However, a remake doesn’t have to comprise quality to be successful. Done right, remakes can leave lasting, positive impressions and compel audiences in unique ways. Martin Scorsese won an Oscar for Best Picture and Director for The Departed (2006), a remake of Hong Kong’s Infernal Affairs (2002). For Christopher Nolan’s Insomnia—titled the same as the Norwegian original, film critic Roger Ebert said, “Unlike most remakes, the Nolan Insomnia is not a pale retread, but a reexamination of the material, like a new production of a good play.” The most significant difference between substandard remakes from impressionable ones lies in how much the adaptation maximizes its cinematic opportunities. Remakes offer the chance for a new director, or even the same one, to add more nuance to the story. A chance to find a unique angle or amplify a film’s creative potential. There are millions of stories in the world, and sometimes, it may seem like too much for us. Many people are comfortable staying with what is familiar because it can help immerse themselves in the story. But the advantage of remakes is that they can be gateways to foreign films, allowing audiences to explore diverse stories and other cultures they may otherwise have never known existed.

sports & health

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

“Night Owls” and “Morning Larks”: The biology of treating sleep disorders How genetic mutation causes Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD). Mel Ramsammy Contributor

fter a long night spent writing assignments and study notes, many UTM students dread the sound of their morning alarm. Our sleep cycles, however, align with our body’s internal biological clock (also known as our circadian rhythms). It’s no surprise that the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) stresses the “serious consequences” to our health if we continue to interfere with our regular hours of sleep. Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD) occurs when one’s sleep pattern is “delayed” by two or more hours. A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences explains the origins of the disorder by unveiling its molecular makeup, down to its atoms and chemical composition. According to the AASM, Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder is qualified by delayed sleep lasting at least seven days. DSPD does not typically harm the amount or quality of sleep one receives. However, the disorder can interfere with one’s academic studies, work, or social demands. For example, a person with DSPD often has trouble falling asleep and waking up at the desired time. A person with DSPD will likely struggle to wake up for an 8 a.m. exam or fall asleep at an appropriate time before a big day. For this reason, DSPD can often look like insomnia. The AASM notes that sleep problems can result from various causes, such as medication use or mental health disorders. In any case, unhealthy sleeping patterns work in sync with our

Becca Schultz/unsplash.com

body’s internal clock, affecting our all-around performance throughout the day. Carrie L. Partch and her team of researchers looked closely at a specific mutation of core clock genes—the genes involved in our sleep cycle. They discovered that this mutation lengthens the circadian period that, in turn, causes Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder.

The lengthening of the circadian period enables people, or “night owls,” to stay up late into the night and sleep late into the day. As explained in a previous article by The Medium on circadian rhythms, “circadian rhythms are 24-hour internal clocks that are essential for our bodies to function well. This clock coordinates our physical and psychological behaviour throughout the day, most commonly known to align our sleep cycle.” Within this clock are two essential proteins: CLOCK and BMAL1. Together, CLOCK: BMAL1 forms a feedback loop of transmitters that automatically allow cells to operate within this 24-hour cycle. A feedback loop can either promote a biological process (positive feedback loop) or end it (negative feedback loop). Attached to the CLOCK: BMAL1 protein is the CRY1 “tail,” a repressor that shuts down this feedback loop at the appropriate time. As Partch and her team note, any mutation to these

core clock genes will lead to changes in one’s circadian rhythm. Partch and her team questioned how a mutation to this CRY1 “tail” could lead to Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder. They found that the mutation allows for easier identification of relevant properties between CLOCK: BMAL1 and the cell’s repressive states. By turning the tail’s focus away from its “shutting down” function, the mutation forms a closer bond to the CLOCK: BMAL1 proteins, telling cells to “keep going!” instead. As a result, the circadian period lengthens, causing a delay in releasing melatonin and onset sleep associated with DSPD. This lengthening of the circadian period enables people, or “night owls,” to stay up late into the night and sleep late into the day. In contrast, a shortening of the circadian period allows “morning larks” to go to sleep early and wake up early the next day. Through their study, Partch and her team uncover how understanding our molecular makeup underlies physiologically relevant effects on our circadian rhythms. By learning how these mechanisms work, Partch notes that we can “suggest strategies for treating prevalent circadian rhythm and sleep disorders.” Healthy sleeping habits are essential for our overall health and wellbeing. If you or someone you know might be struggling with the effects of poor sleep, please contact the UTM Health & Counselling Centre for support.

Can being cheerful reduce memory loss? Being frequently cheerful and enthusiastic may help decrease age-related memory. Matthew Bennett/unsplash.com Massa Mohamed Ali Contributor

any of us have experienced the disorientation that comes with memory lapses. Whether it’s talking about a movie and realizing you can’t remember its title, suddenly blanking on someone’s name, or standing in the middle of a room not knowing why you entered in the first place. Forgetting can be frustrating. When we are young, memory issues are not a significant concern. However, as we age, our brain changes, and mental processes begin to slow down. We start needing more time to encode and recall information. This can often be mistaken for dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease. Age-related memory loss, including occasional forgetting, does not indicate major cognitive problems or diseases in the brain. However, aging should not impair mental abilities or interfere with simple daily tasks. If it does, it can be a sign of a more severe issue. It’s common for people to report memory decline as they age, claiming that they cannot remember things as easily or quickly as they used to. The likelihood of experiencing this age-related memory loss can be reduced. Factors including our habits, lifestyle, activities, and attitudes, contribute to our brains’ health. According to a HelpGuide article, “The brain is capable of producing new brain cells at any age, so significant memory loss is not an inevitable result of aging.” This suggests that if we take good care of our brain’s health, we can help it work optimally throughout our lives. A recent nine-year longitudinal study by Emily Hittner and her colleagues at Northwestern University revealed that positive feelings and attitudes could help decrease age-related memory decline. The study examined age, gender, education, depression, negative

affect, and extraversion. Throughout the years, participants were asked to report the range of positive emotions they experienced. Participants then performed memory performance tests, and trends in the data collected were analyzed. The study found evidence of memory decline as all the participants aged. However, those who reported higher positive affect levels had a memory loss curve that was less steep than those who reported lower levels of positive affect. Positive affect is defined as feeling enthusiastic, attentive, proud, active, optimistic, and cheerful. Therefore, over almost a decade, those who more frequently reported positive emotions showed less memory loss. This suggests an association between positive emotions and age-related memory decline, supporting the increasing research on positive affect’s role in healthy aging. Therefore, feeling enthusiastic and cheerful often not only betters your mood, decreases stress levels, and helps you be happier, but it might also save your memory! Other than having a positive outlook on life as you age, different ways of decreasing the chances of experiencing memory decline include: - Challenging your brain by learning and trying new activities that require attention and mental effort, such as new skills or difficult tasks. - Exercising regularly and staying active. This can entail short walks, jumping jacks between online lectures, or an energy-boosting workout. - Ensuring that you get between seven to nine hours of sleep every night and eating a balanced diet. - Maintaining an active social life. Interacting with friends (while following health and safety guidelines) can stimulate the brain and positively impact memory. Stay connected, even if it’s remotely!

Covid-19 death totals don’t tell the whole virus transmission story Duaa Nasir Contributor

hen people talk about the severity of Covid-19, they focus on the number of cases and deaths. However, the death rate ranges depending on the region of the world. Moreover, the risk of infection can increase or decrease depending on age and underlying medical conditions. On November 2, 2020, Nature published an unedited manuscript titled, Age-specific mortality and immunity patterns of SARS-CoV-2. The paper utilizes age-specific data on deaths from Covid-19 to “investigate the consistency of infection and fatality patterns across multiple countries.” Covid-19 and mortality. With the news outlets continuously announcing the elder populations’ higher risk of contracting the virus and the high number of deaths in nursing homes, many are aware that age increases risk of mortality due to the novel coronavirus. However, this does not necessarily mean that the number of deaths indicates the severity of Covid-19. According to Dr. Megan O’Driscoll, “The level of transmission among the general population can be difficult to disentangle from large outbreaks in vulnerable populations, such as nursing homes and other long-term care settings.” In several countries, including Canada, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, more than 20 per cent of all Covid-19 related deaths are in nursing homes. In other countries, such as South Korea and Singapore, very few deaths have been reported in nursing homes. “Nursing homes are enclosed communities of people, and once the virus gets in, it can spread quickly, resulting in higher levels of infection than in the general population. We’re seeing an excessively large number of deaths from Covid-19 in this older age group, particularly in countries that have many nursing homes,” Dr. Henrik Salje from the University of Cambridge’s Department of Genetics and senior author of the report, told Science Daily. Examining the total number of deaths may not accurately indicate “the underlying level of transmission,” but focusing on death data in the younger population will. Age-specific mortality patterns. O’Driscoll and her team compared the relative number of deaths by age in 45 countries, using ages 55 to 59 as the age-reference group. They found that the relative risk of death for individuals under 65 was consistent, regardless of country or continent. “Our model shows that the number of Covid-19 deaths by age, in people under 65-years-old, is highly consistent across countries and likely to be a reliable indicator of the number of infections in the population. This is of critical use in a context where most infections are unobserved,” says O’Driscoll. However, the data also showed some inconsistencies in the death rate, which could be due to numerous factors, according to Henrik Salje, another researcher on the team. “It seems that people living in places such as Slovenia and Denmark have a low probability of death following infection with SARS-CoV-2, even after accounting for the ages of their populations. [This] is very different from what we’ve seen in New York, for example,” says Salje. “There are likely to be fundamental differences in the populations across countries and might include their underlying health [conditions].” Potential explanations for this include variations in the percentage of high-risk individuals, variations in the seroprevalence [measurement of a pathogen in a population, Covid-19] studies, variations in care availability and quality, and variations in how Covid-19 deaths were reported. The researchers acknowledged that “translating the number of Covid-19 deaths into estimates of the number of infections requires careful consideration of fatalities from outbreak events in highly vulnerable populations.” By using the age-specific data to predict the expected number of deaths in older individuals, countries can identify where more outbreaks in nursing homes could occur.