Volume 47, Issue 16

The Independent Student N ewspaper of the Univ ersity of Toronto Mississauga since 1974

Issue 016 Volume 47 February 1 2021

themedium. ca

Photograph by Faizah Balogun

A celebration of Black voices, history, and culture

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

REFLECTING ON IDENTITY

ARTIST PROFILE: EHIKO ODEH

The University of Toronto (U of T) community has organized many events and programs for Black History Month 2021.

Well before the “bird and the bees” talk, Black children, like my sister and I, were sat down and taught about race.

One of the best parts about moving to Toronto was discovering the city’s large and flourishing community of Black creatives.

>>HISTORY continued on page 02

>>IDENTITY continued on page 04

>>ODEH continued on page 08

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NEWS

Editor | Isik Vera Senel news@themedium.ca

U of T community prepares for Black History Month Isik Vera Senel News Editor >>HISTORY continued from page 01 The University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU) will be organizing seven virtual events throughout Black History Month in collaboration with the Black Students’ Association (BSA), African Students’ Association (ASA), Black Literature Club (BLC), and Caribbean Connections (CC).

The events will begin with an opening ceremony, titled “Red Table Talk,” on Wednesday, February 3, where an interactive discussion will take place on Black mental health. A monthlong art contest is set to begin following the opening ceremony. Students are encouraged to submit their artwork representing Black Excellence to the UTMSU. February 4 will feature multiple conversation sessions of cross-campus dialogue on being a Black student in Canada. These crosscampus discussions will be hosted in collaboration with the Canadian Federation of Students.

In addition to the annual “Love, Sex, and Relationships” seminar on February 9, a cooking class will be organized on February 19, titled “Black to the Kitchen,” where participants

can learn how to make jollof rice, a specialty dish from West Africa.

The last event in the monthlong celebrations hosted in collaboration with the UTMSU, excluding the closing ceremony on February 26, is the Black Professionals Panel on February 23.

The panel will create a space for students and professionals to discuss “the Black experience in the workforce,” as stated on UTMSU’s platform.

"Members of the U of T community are encouraged to submit their Black History Month events or campaigns to ARCDO." The Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office (ARCDO) will also be hosting virtual events in celebration of Black History Month. The festivities will begin on February 2 with “She’s Malcolm X!” This seminar will explore the impact of Black Muslim women in history and the future.

The seminar is organized in collaboration with Hart House and the Multi-Faith Centre.

Also on February 2 is the event, “Resiliency through Adversities: Still thriving in the face of anti-Black Racism,” hosted by UTM Equity and Diversity Office via Zoom.

The following day, on February 3, Harvard University Professor Vincent Brown will present his lecture on the Jamaican Coromantee War in collaboration with the Faculty of Arts and Science.

Professor Brown’s lecture will draw from his 2020 book, Tacky’s Revolt: The Story of an Atlantic Slave War, and will discuss the historical foundation of the structural inequality that people face today.

“Part of the problem is [that] people think racism is a matter of personal animus, as opposed to something that's a legacy of the way these colonial societies were established,” said Brown in an interview with A&S News. “And you don't just suddenly end all of the consequences of conquest and domination when slavery is abolished.”

On February 5, the U of T Libraries will host a Wikipedia Edit-a-thon where participants will work on promoting and bettering the website’s content on Black history and representation.

The Black History Symposium, called “Honoring the Diversity of Black Leaders and Agents of Change,” will take place on February 8. The symposium will include opening statements by AntiBlack Racism Taskforce Co-Chairs Dr. Njoki Wane, professor and chair of the Department of Social Justice Education, and Dexter Voisin, dean of Factor-Interwash Faculty of Social Work.

The keynote speaker for this year’s symposium will be Dahabo Ahmed Omer, executive director

Mental Health Week at UTM Caroline Mekhaeil Contributor

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he Covid-19 pandemic has negatively impacted Ontario residents’ mental health. Unfortunately, the lockdown that was set up again at the start of 2021 has exacerbated the issue as anxieties surrounding the pandemic increase and people lose their sense of community.

The number of young adults and adolescents suffering from mental health problems continues to increase every day in Ontario. This has led many pediatricians to ask the government to reopen the schools for youths’ mental and physical well-being.

Additionally, both the federal and provincial governments are working to expand various mental health services to support Canadians.

On January 28, the Bell Let’s Talk Day, Ontario Premier Doug Ford encouraged residents to reach out to people who might be struggling with their mental health.

“Whether you call your parents or your grandparents, or simply make a post on social media using the hashtag #BellLetsTalk—every action counts,” Premier Ford stated in a press release. “By letting others know you care, you're making the first

important step in helping someone get the help and treatment they might need.”

Ford’s government is addressing the need for mental health services with an additional $176 million in annual funding for mental health care and $194 million in emergency mental health and addictions funding.

“Showing our love and support can make a huge difference,” continued Ford. “In some cases, it may even save a life.”

Similarly, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie raised the Bell Let’s Talk flag at City Hall to encourage Mississauga residents to support “those who often suffer in silence with a mental illness.”

In addition to the government’s Bell Let’s Talk celebrations, the University of Toronto Mississauga campus (UTM) also raised awareness of mental illnesses and disorders.

The Health and Counselling Centre hosted its annual Let’s Talk UTM Week, organizing several events such as the “Resiliency during Covid-19 Virtual Photo Exhibit,” “Mental Health Resource Fair,” and peer-led activities, among others.

The University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU) also held its annual Mental Health Week to promote mental well-being. UTMSU collaborated with multiple organization to host different virtual events and programs for the UTM

community throughout the week.

On January 25, UTMSU collaborated with the Sustainability Office and Global Sustainable Foods to organize “How to Garden at Home and Beyond.” This event demonstrated how students could grow plants at home as a way to de-stress.

UTMSU also collaborated with UTM Ready Our Youth to host the “Naloxone Training and Harm Reduction 101” workshop, which took place on January 26. During the event, health professionals talked about Naloxone, the medication used to temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

Mental Health Town Hall was the third and final event of UTM’s Mental Health Week and took place on January 27. The town hall aimed to provide UTM students with the opportunity to share their thoughts and concerns about mental health. The event also allowed students to learn more about the mental health services available to them.

The UTM administration and the UTMSU organized this week’s events to highlight the importance of mental health and the necessity to fight the stigma associated with mental disorders. As a community, we need to remember that we are all vulnerable and mental health problems could affect anyone.

of the Black North Initiative. Omer has received many awards in recognition of her contributions to the Black community throughout the years.

Her accolades include, but are not limited to, the Canada150 Community Builder Award and the Hope Academy Community Contribution Award.

In addition to the keynote speech, a panel discussion on “Reinventing Anti-Black Racism Activism” is scheduled to take place during the symposium. The panelists include Trans Workforce Founder Biko Beauttah and FoodShare Toronto Executive Director Paul Taylor.

February 11 will feature both a Lunch and Learn event discussing Black athletes and an interview with Canadian author Lawrence Hill.

The final event in ARCDO’s Black History Month celebrations is the screening of the 2015 film Ninth Floor by director Mina Shum. Ninth Floor is a documentary film that explores the events which took place in February 1969 at Sir George Williams University in Montreal as students took part in a protest against institutional racism.

Members of the U of T community are encouraged to submit their Black History Month events or campaigns to ARCDO via the Initiative Submission form so that it may be featured on the ARCDO website.

All of the aforementioned events are free of charge to members of the U of T community.

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Mississauga City Council examines Covid-19 updates Mayor Crombie says that while Covid-19 cases in Mississauga is improving, citizens must remain alert.

Sheryl Gurajada Associate News Editor

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n January 20, the Mississauga City Council held a meeting to discuss the city’s Covid-19 strategy and provide the community with updates on the number of Covid-19 cases in Mississauga.

Among the approved motions is a paid sick leave for workers, initiated by Mayor Bonnie Crombie. This motion is targeted toward low-income individuals who do not have access to paid sick leave and paid vacation. Ward Six Councillor Ron Starr also initiated a motion for the safe reopening of small businesses, including new regulations for big box retailers.

All employees at the Canada Post Gateway plant’s Mississauga facility are now required to be tested, following more than 270 positive cases of Covid-19 at the location this month. On January 27, the Missis-

sauga plant announced that one employee had died from Covid-19 complications, prompting employees to follow self-isolation procedures and the plant to initiate rapid testing initiatives.

Given the size and magnitude of the plant, the community is advised to expect shipping delays.

Following the delay in Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine shipments to Canada, Ontario’s Ministry of Health has instructed William Osler Health System and Trillium Health Partners to halt all new administrations of the Pfzier vaccine until enough second doses are in supply for those who have already received the first dose. The delay follows production shortage at the Pfizer Belgium plant as it undergoes renovations in order to increase production capabilities.

Peel region also announced that essential workers and seniors, who are eligible for the vaccine as part of Ontario’s Phase One vaccination schedule, may have to wait longer than initially expected due to the delay.

“We remain focused on administering second doses as planned of the vaccine to long-term-care and retirement home health-care workers, as well as [Trillium Health Partners] patient-facing staff,” said Trillium spokesperson Stacey Brown to The Toronto Star.

UTMSU: Looking Ahead Razia Saleh Contributor

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Hayden Mak/The Medium

he University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTMSU) has had a whirlwind of a semester working around the Covid-19 pandemic and keeping up with its agenda. However, 2021 brings more exciting new opportunities for students at UTM as the UTMSU plans to host several events for academic, financial, and social support during the winter semester.

Mitra Yakubi, president of the UTMSU, spoke to The Medium about the union’s current plans and what to expect this winter semester from her team, Connect UTM. As stated on the UTMSU website, the team is introducing new events in the coming months, providing UTM students with academic and financial support. In February, events like the ones organized for Black History Month, Tax clinic workshops, and the Environmental Justice and Law panel will be taking place. Moreover, the UTMSU will be looking to provide more academic support for students at UTM. UTMSU’s first major initiative for academic support is its launch of the Know Your Academics Campaign.

“This campaign is to raise awareness about academic policies, academic integrity, services, and resources for students,” stated Yakubi.

“The UTMSU held Academic Advocacy Week in collaboration with campus partners such as the Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre (RGASC) and Downtown Legal Services (DLS).”

William Osler hospitals, who have exclusively been administering the Pzifer-BioNTech vaccine, also released a statement that the hospitals currently have an adequate supply of the vaccine to provide second doses to everyone given the first dose.

"Mayor Crombie encourages citizens to continue to remain vigilant despite the promising trend, as the U.K. variant of Covid-19 continues to pose an additional threat."

According to Pfizer, each vial of the vaccine holds a minimum of five doses, while syringe technique may be able to get six doses. Once opened and used, the vials cannot be refrozen, introducing a game of calculation for doses. Likewise, each Moderna vial provides 10 doses, with precise technique allowing for 11 doses to be squeezed out.

“Unused doses absolutely should not be an afterthought,” stated University of Toronto bioethicist Kerry Brown in an interview with The Toronto Star. “This is a pre-

cious commodity and we’re in a health-care crisis.”

The Ministry of Health has encouraged hospitals to take advantage of any extra doses to vaccinate others on site, such as healthcare workers or seniors. Health networks are keeping essential, patient-facing workers at a higher priority on the list, administering any extra doses available to them.

In a press conference held on January 27, Mayor Crombie addressed the downward trend of cases in Mississauga. “The situations at our hospitals, while improving, still remains very serious,” stated Crombie. “We cannot let our guards down, for even a second."

She also addressed the 38 tickets given to lockdown violators the past week. “While the vast majority of residents are playing their part in helping us get there, there are some people who clearly think the rules don't apply to them,” continued Crombie.

“So many residents have made enormous sacrifices for the collective good—we simply won't tolerate those who intentionally, and flagrantly break the rules.”

Mayor Crombie encourages citizens to continue to remain vigilant despite the promising trend, as the U.K. variant of Covid-19 continues to pose an additional threat.

President Mitra Yakubi discusses UTMSU’s initiatives for 2021.

Another major initiative the UTMSU is planning to undertake this year is relaunching the United for Equity Campaign. Yakubi explained that “this campaign aims to challenge all forms of discrimination and oppression on our campuses, in our communities, and in our student organizing spaces.”

Yakubi went on to discuss UTMSU’s weekly educational workshops, titled “Learning and Unlearning Seminar Series.”

“As part of this campaign, we have an educational series every Friday where we share definitions of terms related to equity,” said Yakubi. “A few of the topics that were covered during these series [include] climate change, promoting Indigenous languages, racism in the healthcare system, and gender-based violence.”

One of the most recent events coming up this month is Black History Month. As stated in the union’s Annual General Meeting 2020 report, the events organized within Black History Month create an environment for Black community members to share their experiences.

“Clubs like Caribbean Connection, Black Literature Club, the Black Students’ Association, and volunteers were able to attend and discuss pressing issues that Black students and the Black community deal with on a daily basis,” read the report.

Throughout the month of February, students will have the same experience where they will be able to participate in events such as paint night, cooking classes, an open mic “and participate in events that discussed a

range of issues from Blackness and mental health to love, sex, and relationships.”

Following other major events, the UTMSU will hold a Tax Clinic Workshop, in collaboration with the Canadian Federation of Students. The workshop will offer free tax filing services from mid-March until the end of April.

The UTMSU hires and trains more than 20 volunteers to help administer this service, which is available to every student, domestic or international. Due to the current circumstances of Covid-19, UTMSU will host the Tax Clinic on a virtual platform.

“Students will be able to book online appointments and will be assisted by our volunteers and staff,” explained the union.

The UTMSU will also hold a “Learning and Unlearning Sustainability” seminar event, called the “Environmental Justice and Law” panel. On February 10 at 5 p.m. UTM students are welcomed to join Dr, Nicole Laibeter and Dr. Andrea Olive to discuss local and global cases of environmental injustices, challenge Canada’s reputation, and environmental law.

As we enter the last few months of the school year, UTMSU President Mitra Yakubi and her team are ready to close their governance to a new executive team this March.

Unlike the previous years, this year the campaign will take place solely across virtual platforms such as the UTMSU newsletter and social media.

For more information, students are encouraged to visit the UTMSU website for learn about new events and services.

MASTHEAD EDITORIAL BOARD

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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 Sheryl Gurajada, News Aroni Sarkar, Comment Danica Teng, Arts Paige France, Arts Pearla Hariri, Features May Alsaigh, Features Hayden Mak, Photos

STAFF Webmaster Vladyslava Diachenko web@themedium.ca Videographer Gabriel Saavedra videographer@themedium.ca To CONTRIBUTE, email editor@themedium.ca @TheMediumUTM

Reflecting on the education of Black identity in Canada Sarah-May Edwardo-Oldfield Sports Editor >>IDENTITY continued from page 01 When you’re eight, nine, or ten years old, the concept of race feels well above your head. You don’t understand what racism is. You don’t understand what it means to be prejudiced. You don’t understand how being “Black” would mean you would be hurt or targeted. You don’t understand the centuries-long history behind the abuse and prejudice of your race. And it’s not like they taught much of that in school.

But the moment you experience your first encounter with racism is unlike any other. It feels a lot like you had a chair pulled out from under you. Just as you were feeling comfortable, secure in who you were and your place and worth within your community and society, that chair is pulled away without warning and you are left wide-eyed and confused about the sudden confrontation of a sad reality—the reality that you’re born tethered to the colour of your skin and the prejudice and history that comes attached to it. A reality you could no more change than you could the colour of your eyes or the texture of your hair.

From kindergarten to grade three, I attended a mostly white-Italian Catholic school in Toronto. In all of my classes, I was either the only or one of two Black students (I don’t think there was ever any more than that) in my class. Despite these numbers, I was never made to feel any different. I wasn’t treated any

different by my peers or my teachers. In fact, it was the opposite. My sister and I always felt welcome, loved, and included. That being said, I don’t remember our school making any kind of push to acknowledge February as Black History Month. And I don‘t remember a time where we studied any kind of Black history or literature.

In 2003, we moved to Brampton. The younger me didn’t think or want to believe that things would be any different. Yes, we were in a different city, a different Catholic school, but why would things be different?

I was so wrong. Once again, we stood out. But we were treated differently, and we couldn’t understand why. Why did things have to change? What was the difference? I don’t think I ever found an answer to those questions. Things had changed for the worse, and we were never taught why.

When we were older, like many Black children, our mother sat us down and made us watch the television series Roots, and videos of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Finally, now as young pre-teens, we began to understand. And suddenly, in all the encounters with our peers and teachers, we were becoming aware of the prejudices we were previously naive to. For a while, as the realization was still fresh, it was difficult to unsee white people as the enemy, as people who were automatically going to see and treat you in a negative way.

We were questioning everything. We were scared and confused, which was made all the more potent when the topic of slavery and segregation was ever talked about.

When we looked and studied history, as a Black student, it was rarely anything we could relate to. It almost felt like our history wasn’t important enough to be included in our history lessons. And if it was, it was included in a few pages or a short chapter.

"How devastating and all too possible it would have been to lose that history."

Canada has become increasingly more diverse as the years pass, but it’s become increasingly obvious that our education system fails at the most fundamental level of telling the history of all the racial backgrounds of its children. Why did I know more about Christopher Columbus, World War One, the Holocaust, Hiroshima, and Pearl Harbour than I did of the 400 plus years of slavery?

Why did it fall upon the shoulders of my mother and grandmother to make sure I understood where I came from; that I understood and knew of all the brave men and women who fought for the equal rights and opportunities we still struggle to maintain today?

How devastating and all too possible it would have been to lose that history. If it weren’t for my family’s determination to make sure I knew and understood the plight of my ancestors, how easy would it have been for it to fade into legend?

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BY AYOMIDE BAYOWA

Fig. 1.2 Black Skin Diagram (After Claudia Rankine)

tattoo treaties are the inks signed to my skin. fingers poised; pulping morning bursts to pores, burning from the driest of shafts. research-based; loamy soil bears warrior genes thwacking a hydrant's nose-bone. shared lose; bleeding, irrigating across my lid's boulevard. a quick Dolce fashion tryout- as quick as patting a plastic face into a Police car's mirror & its backseat; delinquently air-wicked. free of charge. i lost my bearings yesterday. i’d knocked doors to doors, my phalanges are peeling dry paints. i keep searching. a negro that once lost his son to the milky creek had his inflated body returned overnight. gerundial nonsense- perching by its bench today, a little boy chases after a balloon when he could've just waited for it to return. frostnip stiffness- not trying to grab a miracle by force, the wind paralyzes my fingers, my blood’s not so warm. My prayers quiver for nothing, “& something's supposed to rise from the sea. Isn't it?” I wait a little longer as burnt believers would as if for a Black Friday; to get low-budget rosary & reel Sisyphus-like rocks with ease. a twelfth cassette- existential scene retake of the black kid hoping on white geese for long, clean fingernails. hwit- is the woman privileged to crate the sun in her shades. her baby combat cake's epidermis in its stroller & the remains grain its black apron. no stain to report for being nothing but a child. patience whisk into the eventide. & water does not resurrect- not twice in a week. had i known, i would’ve layered an icy faith over my animal skin and baggy jeans; a bare chest is no good branding. i have always had this sketchy illness of overhearing espionage walls chewing fat scandals into another's ears, "Henry... is him?" "…it?" "…this?" "…thing?"

-that I'll look up to the sky of salt pinches on a burnt sacrifice & implore the Lord to save them from how they stare at a foreigner.

Spotlighting Black women and the important work they do today Black women worldwide are leaders and contributors to important causes and they need more recognition.

Aroni Sarkar Associate Comment Editor

I

n recent times, we have all seen and felt the devastating effects of Black tragedy. From George Floyd to Breonna Taylor, countless names of Black death have flooded our minds the past few years, especially in 2020. As important as it is to remember and reflect on Black tragedy to move forward in a progressive way, it is equally important to acknowledge and celebrate Black excellence within our society today and within history.

In celebration of Black history month, let us reflect on a few inspiring Black women today that are changing the world to be a better, more inclusive, and just world.

Tarana Burke (USA) In 2006, Tarana Burke founded the enormously popular #MeToo movement that brought attention to sexual violence in the private and public spheres. She has dedicated decades of her life to supporting sexual violence survivors, focusing primarily on young women of colour. Her contribution to uplifting and empowering women across the globe has helped expose the alarming scale of sexual violence that takes place to various degrees.

It has also created a movement that empowers and shines a spotlight on women’s voices and stories.

Jaha Dukureh (The Gambia) As the UN Women Regional Ambassador for Africa and the CEO and Founder of the NGO “Safe Hands for Girls,” Dukureh has supported, raised awareness, and changed policies regarding Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) among African women and girls. As a survivor herself, she has been very outspoken and politically active in addressing the physical and psychological effects of FGM. She played a significant role in the decision to ban FGM by the Gambian Government after her work with women’s organizations and campaigning with youth across the country.

Valdecir Nascimento (Brazil) In 2015, Nascimento was one of the primary organizers of the historic and monumental Black Women’s March (Marcha de Mulheres Negras), mobilizing over ten thousand Black women in a call to end violence and racism. As a prominent women’s right advocate that has worked to empower Black women for over four decades, she is also the Executive Coordinator of the ODARA–Instituto da Mulher Negra (Black Women´s Institute), based in Salvador, Brazil and coordinates the Rede de Mulheres Negras do Nordeste do Brasil (Black Women´s Network for the Northeast of Brazil).

Lizzo (USA) The most nominated Grammy artist of 2020, Lizzo, has been a champion of body positivity and Black women's power. Lizzo has redefined what it means to be beautiful and successful in the highly judgemental world of the American music industry. She has empowered fans and women worldwide by encouraging them not to cower in fear of unrealistic body expectations set forth by the male gaze, but rather, find joy and celebrate in your own self by never letting anyone shame you for being you.

Allyson Felix (USA) With nine Olympic medals, six of them gold, Felix is one of the most decorated track and field athletes in history. After becoming a mother in 2018, she won gold again in the World Championships. Despite that, she was faced with a 70 per cent pay cut from her sponsor Nike as part of her maternity treatment. In an op-ed for the New York Times, Felix exposed the insensitive and discriminatory treatment she received after becoming a mother and has worked to protect maternity protections for sportswomen and working women across the U.S. Adut Akech Biore (South Sudan-Australia) Twenty-one-year old model Akech was featured as the only model on Time’s 100 Next List, Time’s 25 Most Influential Teens of 2018, and was named Model of the Year in 2019 at the

British Fashion Awards. As a former child refugee herself, she has been working the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to help and support refugees find homes, and the safety and security of a family.

Amanda Gorman (USA) After the delivery of her impeccable and moving poem at the inauguration of President Joe Biden, National Youth Poet Laureate Gorman has become the face of young talent in literature, and now poetry can transcend beyond books to touch our hearts and values directly. Inspired by the musical Hamilton and the work of American activists, her poetry has focused on issues of oppression, feminism, race, and marginalization, speaking to the African diaspora and empowering young people of colour across the U.S. These women are only a glimpse into the vast array of Black women that have changed the way we live throughout history. From inventions like the caller ID by Dr. Shirley Jackson or the heater

by Alice H. Parker, to famous political figures like First Lady Michelle Obama or Vice President Kamala Harris, Black women have been at the forefront of progressive change across the world.

Black excellence, particularly Black women's excellence, should be acknowledged, celebrated, and studied in order to truly appreciate their important contributions to directing our lives toward a more just and equal society.

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features

Editor | Elizabeth Provost features@themedium.ca

Reimagining Black History Month Black History Month fosters the celebration of Black excellence at UTM and worldwide.

Reagan Roopnarine Contributor

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n the past year, modern technology has documented the blatant and systemic racism Black individuals have experienced for centuries. Particularly, the Black community has faced the loss of Black lives to police brutality and the Covid-19 pandemic’s disproportionate impact in 2020.

The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade, alongside numerous other Black Americans, at the hands of the police, led to a powerful civil rights movement advocating for police reform. Black Lives Matter protests were met with even more police violence, prepositioned military defense, and tear gas. However, only a few months later, predominantly white insurrectionists were greeted with an outnumbered police presence and managed to break into and vandalize the U.S. capitol building. In 2021, the rights and sanctity of Black lives is still a debate.

Black History Month is a time to reflect on

the struggle, loss, and double standards that Black communities face each day. However, these challenges are not the only purpose of this important time of year. When it comes to Black history, there is a beckoning bright second half that often goes unnoticed. In 1926, Harvard graduate Carter G. Woodson took action to address the single narrative of struggle by proposing a new kind of Black remembrance centered on Black accomplishments, contributions, and triumphs. That February in 1926, Woodson called for a week dedicated to positive Black history. By the 1940s, there were efforts to transform that week into a month-long celebration. These efforts gained momentum in the 1960s at the height of the civil rights movement. Beginning with President Gerald Ford in 1976, every U.S. president has since issued a proclamation honouring February as Black History Month. Canada followed suit in 1995, designating February as Black History Month in the House of Commons.

Black History Month creates a time and space for learning and unlearning. For many Black students in the classroom, there is a lack of true representation in history books

and discourse. Their entire ancestry is often summarized as being victims of slavery and the Jim Crow laws of racial segregation. Black people are often generalized as “Black,” without a distinction between African, Caribbean, Afro-LatinX, and African American culture.

Even history from the continent itself is generalized as “African,” without a distinction between various regions or any of Africa’s 54 diverse countries. The Black Lives Matter movement has enabled the Black community to communicate their exhaustion in being generalized, labeled, and pigeonholed to one narrative. Whether it's struggle, ethnicity, or triumph, the community is nuanced, and that must be acknowledged.

Black History Month is a time for celebration. Celebrating the Black music, fashion, art, research, and innovation that is inextricably intertwined into Canadian culture. Black History Month urges credit to be given where it’s due—not only in February but every day.

What does this entail? For example, when “Toronto slang” is used by non-Black folk and appropriated by pop culture, it is eminent to understand the history behind those words

instead of allowing Black communities to be labeled as “ghetto” and denied job opportunities for speaking in that dialect. In fact, the origins of many slang terms are rooted in the rich culture of Jamaican and Somali communities. Similarly, it is important to credit and acknowledge the legacy of Black artists, scientists, athletes, and figures, without centralizing around their hardships as Black individuals in society.

Now more than ever, we need to celebrate Black excellence. One way is to attend UTM’s organized campus events, which are being held virtually this year. The UTM Black History Month Committee is a coalition between the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU), the Black Students Association (BSA), Caribbean Connections (CC), the African Students’ Association (ASA), and Black Literature Club (BLC).

This year, the committee will be hosting their highly anticipated Black History Month celebration via Zoom with collaborations with the Canadian Federation of Students (CFSFCEE) and the UTM Food Centre. The events are as follows.

Friday, February 26, (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.)

Closing Ceremony Open Mic Night The Closing Ceremony will give Black artists a platform in an open mic night. Registration to perform at the open mic night will be open soon.

Performers and the audience will all have the opportunity to win a number of gift cards.

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Thursday, Februar

To be a Black Stu

Wednesday, February 3, (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

Opening Ceremony Red Table Talk

To start off this year’s Black History Month, the Black History Month Committee will be hosting a Red Table Talk. The theme will be “Finding Your Purpose While Black.” This interactive event will cover a range of topics from Black mental health, to life skills, to being Black at a post-secondary institution. This event is student-led and geared towards students navigating their next steps while trying to maintain a healthy personal life.

In addition to these events, the Black History Committee will be running the Black Excellence Art Contest. Starting February 3, students will be able to submit any art piece that they think encapsulates “Black Excellence.” Submissions can be of any art medium, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, dances, and songs. Art pieces can be sent to racialized@utmsu.ca by Friday, February 19.

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Friday, February 19, (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

Tuesday, February 23, (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

Black Professionals Panel

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The Black Professionals Panel will provide students with an in-depth look into the Black experience in the workforce. This event will also allow students to network with others and ask questions specific to their desired field.

Black to the Kitchen (free food delivery and cooking class)

For the “Black to the Kitchen” event, students will be able to pre-register to receive a free meal kit packed with all ingredients necessary to make jollof rice, a West African specialty. Meal kits are available to any student living in Peel, Toronto, Halton, and York. There are a limited number of kits, so register before they run out!

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Tuesday, February 9, (6 p

Love, Sex, and Relatio

This annual crowd favorite w ribbean Connections. The eve positive space for students to and ask questions on all thing and relationships.

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What happens behind closed doors: How divorce affects student success

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udent In Canada

dian Federation of Students, bring Canadian students tocross-campus conversations. he day, the Canadian Fedudents will be holding varipen to students nation-wide. e five events: the "To be a ent in Canada" panel, the Across Movements" panel, izing as a Black Student ntion to Action)" workBlack Students’ Caucus ry premiere, and lastly Healing: Self and Com" workshop.

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p.m. to 8 p.m.)

onships

will be hosted by Caent creates a safe and engage in discussion gs related to love, sex,

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Prisha (Maneka) Nuckchady Contributor

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n the 1960s, divorce became more common. This increase was partly due to women’s newfound embrace of independence as the education gap started to close and politics progressed. In 2020, there were around 2.7 million divorces in Canada. This is a large increase from 2000, with only 1.88 million divorces. It seems that divorce and separation have become so common that we—surprisingly—tend to ignore, or rather overlook, its effects on children.

A divorce occurs when two partners separate and legally terminate their marriage. When the partners have kids, the legal process tends to be more complicated as more details need to be worked out. It usually involves the reorganization of their parental duties, assets, and responsibilities.

This can often result in conflict.

U of T Associate Professor Michael A. Saini, of the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, focuses his research on family law, child welfare, and high-conflict families. Professor Saini found that the amount of conflict between parents in the course of the separation process affects the child the most: the more the child is exposed to conflict during the divorce, the greater its impact on them. “In the 1960s, divorce started to increase the sense that divorce was bad for kids,” explains Professor Saini, “but since then, we have become more sophisticated in how we look [at] separation.

It really does depend on the amount of parental conflict.”

Professor Saini emphasizes that the longevity of the trauma's impact is directly correlated to the amount of conflict between the parents. “Research indicates that only as little as five per cent suffer from long-term emotional consequences,” he adds. However, most children nevertheless feel divorce-related distress at some point in their lives, and limited resources are often available to cater to their perturbations.

The first few years after divorce are the hardest. Children tend to feel anger and emotional distress as a result of their parents’ divorce, often “revolting” against one or both parents.

This period is a crucial transitional phase, and the way parents handle conflicts will be vital in the long-term effects the separation will have on the children. Professor Saini states, “If parents can be happy in the sense that they are not in conflict with each other, then the children are going to be better off.”

Studies have shown that if the divorce is not handled properly, it could go as far as causing the child to develop long-term emotional commitment issues, delinquency, impulsive behaviour, and other behavioural and psychological changes.

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused adverse effects on divorced families, particularly affecting the kids. As Professor Saini points out, while technological progress enables us to communicate with family members, it is not the same as face-to-face interactions with our loved ones. Covid-19 quarantine has created emotional and physical distancing between separated parties, which has created mental distress for children of divorced families.

Moreover, many families with separated parents have not been able to finalize their divorce as a result of Covid-19. This pro-

longs, and could even worsen, the stress imposed on the family as conflict cannot be settled with legal intervention.

Additionally, while Covid-19 has given some families the opportunity to get closer, it has caused the opposite for others. Several families have reported many conflicts amid the pandemic that have ended in separation. However, the divorce process's prolongation has inhibited legal separation and often forced conflicted couples to live together. As such, the Family Court of the Superior Court of Justice and the provincial government must address these growing concerns and organize easily accessible legal and emotional support services to families facing separation. This is especially crucial amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which is already severely affecting youths' mental and emotional well-being.

It is well documented that anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues can adversely affect one’s education. Research shows that students whose parents have suffered a divorce have an increased risk of developing mental health issues.

This impacts their academic success and emotional happiness. Thus, health professionals always encourage students of divorced families to seek catered help to their experience.

However, Professor Saini emphasizes that even small interactions can aid students in this position. He advises students to “talk to friends, talk to close support […] or perhaps seek some professional support.” He believes that it is vital to talk about these feelings rather than keep them bottled up, as this could result in a boomerang effect and be even more detrimental. Children often find it hard to talk about their feelings after a separation, especially to their parents, as they fear the consequence of having to pick a “side.” This would result in unnecessary tension, which would further harm family ties. Therefore, Professor Saini recommends speaking with a friend or someone not involved in the family affair. For the friends that become confidants to these individuals, the most important thing to do is to simply listen and be there for them through this difficult time. Support is the best way to help.

As the number of divorces continues to increase, the wellness of children that have become entrapped in these legal and emotional negotiations must be addressed. In Canada, the average divorce takes three years to finalize and costs around $18,000 per person. But most importantly, it costs the emotional tranquility of any children involved.

The University of Toronto offers Family Care services, which aid families in dealing with disputes and provide counselling. The Health and Counselling Centre at UTM offers similar services. Covid-19 has heightened our awareness of mental health issues, and services are available online during these uncertain times. It is vital that the University of Toronto puts student mental and emotional health above all else, especially as it is imperative to students' academic success.

Divorce affects students differently.

Some trauma, big and small, may manifest in the separation process or years later.

The crucial part is to have access to help through the transitions and encourwagement from close friends and other support figures.

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Arts

Editor | Chris Berberian arts@themedium.ca

To be young, gifted, and Black: An interview with Segen Assefa Contributor

>> ODEH continued from page 01 I was particularly intrigued by the work of one local artist, Ehiko Odeh, whose art centres around life, the divine, and her Nigerian heritage.

After engaging with her vibrant, sometimes larger-than-life pieces on Instagram (and hopefully, soon, in person), I had the opportunity to ask Odeh a few questions about her creative process. Our discussion also touched upon inspirations, holistic healing, and wisdom she has for other young Black creatives on their own journeys.

Segen Assefa: At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to be an artist, and why?

Ehiko Odeh: I realized it when I moved to Canada in 2015 and was about to graduate from high school in Hamilton.

I knew I wanted to get into art and be more serious with it. Life is all about creativity. Art is magic and my way of connecting with the divine. It’s also been a tool that’s healed me in so many ways. I hate how people see artists as unsuccessful—I want to show that success is what you make of it, not just what it can bring for you monetarily, and that art should be taken seriously.

SA: And just to clarify, do you consider yourself an artist, in the traditional sense, or would you prefer to give yourself a broader title?

EO: I don't like to put myself into categories since there's more to oneself than labels. Therefore, I am a multidisciplinary artist. There will always be multiple ways to express oneself and the divine.

SA: You draw a lot of inspiration for your art from Nigerian culture. Why is this important to you, and why do you think it should be important to others? How has art changed your relationship with your background and your roots?

EO: I wasn't really exposed to my culture(s) that much, growing up in Nigeria, and identity is something that has always been important to me. When I came to Canada, I became obsessed with knowing more about my culture and my history to maintain a grasp of myself and where I come from. I didn't want to “lose” myself. Art was a great way to channel that and to do more research into my heritage. And my journey of cultural exploration is important to me because I gain comfort in knowing about who I am and the people who came before me.

It's important to keep an open mind because there's so much to learn from one another—making art about my background has drawn me closer to my roots, to those who are still here, and to those who are yet to come.

SA: Knowing that you have a Nigerian background,

Photos/Ehiko Odeh

how did your parents feel about you wanting to pursue a less traditional career path in becoming an artist?

EO: At first, they weren't so comfortable with it—they thought I was joking. But I wrote them a whole letter about my intentions on this path, showing them how serious I was and that I wasn't going to fold on what I wanted. Since then, they've been incredibly supportive, and I feel blessed to have that.

SA: I saw on your Instagram story that you have a deep appreciation for herbs and natural healing. How is this important to your personhood, as a creative, a Black woman, and as a person in general?

EO: Yes! Learning more about herbal medicine has been the best thing I’ve ever done for myself, just because it brings me so much joy. For me, herbal medicine began when I was trying to revert my menstrual cycle back to being more regular, after having an irregular cycle for years.

These doctors were trying to put me on birth control, and I said fuck no! I started finding different herbs to heal the womb and began Yoni steaming, all while being more intentional in the different methods I could use to heal myself. The whole process of learning more about natural healing and herbal medicine has been my biggest flex.

I think it’s so important for people— especially Black women—to know there are many therapeutic alternatives than what has been given to us. It's just about doing the work and discovering what works for you. I've had doctors tell me

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that irregular periods and other bodily irregularities were normal, when they're not. And there are alternatives available for healing your body.

Holistic medicine saved my life and has taught me so much about living in balance, respecting nature, and taking only what you need.

Anything can be healed when you address the root of the problem and are disciplined in your healing journey.

SA: So, would you say there's a specific connection between art and health for you?

EO: I'd say in a way there is. To me, making art is medicine within itself. Being on top of my health and aligned with my body allows me to create better and be more in tune with my work and more intentional in my processes.

SA: How has this pandemic changed your creative processes and your worldview in relation to your art?

EO: While I really miss working in the painting studio at school, the pandemic forced me to re-evaluate how I see and utilize the space I do have. I turned half of my room into a mini studio space and it's been blessed ever since. I haven't been able to create really large-scale pieces or work with oil paint, but I find new ways to manipulate other mediums, thus making my works more intuitive and expressive, rather than planned and structured.

SA: Okay, and lastly, if you had to give any advice to other creatives, specifically Black women, what would it be?

EO: Surrender to the process—let it teach you.

Keep creating because you never know who’s

watching you. Trust yourself. Take each day as it comes and try not to compare yourself or your art to others because no one is YOU! Ehiko Odeh is a Nigerian multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto. Her work can be found both on her Instagram, @ehikoo, and on her website, ehik0studio.com.

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ALL THINGS BLACK The experiences of black men are shaped as a result of their skin color. Media representations of black men have real world outcomes. These representations distort who black men are, and in turn society paint an unrealistic portrait of these men. By playing on stereotypes that paint these men as ‘aggressive,’ my concept ‘All Things Black,’ explicitly portrays these

black men according to how society sees them. I was interested in portraying these images in black and white while manipulating the shadows in each of the photographs in order to direct the viewer’s attention to each subject’s eyes. By looking into their eyes, it lures you to want to know more about these individuals, past their exterior. Each of these men have their own sto-

ries in relation to the effects of stereotypes. I would like viewers to question why they have these perceptions of these men and to understand that though these images are black and white, in reality things really are not that simple. They are not just angry black men just because, but they are as a result of the never-ending negative stereotypes pinned on them.

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My work focuses on telling relevant stories about emotion. My clients include a variety of local and international companies and brands.

FAIZAH BALOGUN

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Lourdes Duah, Self Portrait Series, 2020 Artist Statement

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hese three photos come from a portrait series I created for a photography course in the art and art history program. In photography, I’m interested in experimenting with light, shadow, and contrast, as seen in the entries Stretch and Quiet. Smile: An Honest Self-Portrait also began as an experiment with light and shadow, but eventually took on other meanings for me.

Essentially, my neutral facial expression looks like a frown to most people. This isn’t uncommon, even joked about as “resting bitch face” in popular culture, but it was always a major point of contention for me growing up; my parents would get upset with me for “making my face so ugly” in public, and my teachers would ask if I was “going to smile today.” Whenever I did smile, other students would laugh and say, “hey look, she’s smiling!” as if it was some miracle.

Even (possibly) well-intentioned people—such as a stranger asking me if I was sad, or people who’d say something like, “you have such a pretty smile, why don’t you show it more?”—made it clear that everyone thought something was wrong with me.

I couldn’t understand why something I mostly couldn’t control, my natural expression, prompted so many long lectures from family and backhanded comments from others.

My expression in Smile: An Honest Self Portrait is very close to neutral and is my way of telling everyone, including myself, to get over it. My face is my face. I’ll never understand why that bothers so many people, but I’m fine with my expression and won’t justify it for those who can’t get past it.

Essential films about the Black experience Honouring Black voices, struggles, and triumphs through film.

Ray (2004), Set: 1948-1979

BlacKkKlansman (2018), Set: 1970s

Boyz n the Hood (1991), Set: 1984-1991

o celebrate Black History Month, The Medium has pulled together seven essential films that candidly depict the Black Experience. From jazz legends to literary heroes, ambassadors of peace to the many other men and women who held onto their identity and fought back against racism— these films share their stories with courage and authenticity. To take you down the road of history, we listed these films based on the era they’re set in.

Taylor Hackford’s Ray unravels the private life of jazz legend Ray Charles (Jamie Foxx). We follow Charles throughout his troubled life, starting with the death of his youngest brother during childhood. As he grows older, Charles struggles to contest segregation in Georgia and kick his heroin addiction, all while trying to make it as a musician.

Ray is a film about the real-life musical icon.

Most importantly, it’s a dialogue about integrity, living with a disability, and standing up for human rights. Foxx’s performance as Charles drew massive critical praise—earning him both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Actor of the year.

BlacKkKlansman brings Ron’s Stallworth’s (John David Washington) memoir to life. In this Spike Lee film, Stallworth, the first Black cop in Colorado Springs, goes undercover to get intel on local Klan rallies. He ends up contacting the president of the Ku Klux Klan, the Colorado Springs chapter. Stallworth enlists his White partner in action, Flip (Adam Driver), to go undercover and impersonate him to unearth their crimes. The film is an acerbic exploration of bigotry and its pervasiveness in America.

12 Years a Slave (2013), Set: 1841

Selma (2014), Set: 1964-65

John Singleton’s Boyz in the Hood is a coming-ofage story about Tre Styles (Cuba Gooding Jr.), a Black adolescent, and his upbringing in a violent Southern Los Angeles neighbourhood. Near the end of high school, Tre and his friends, Doughboy (Ice Cube) and Ricky (Morris Chestnut), must navigate the challenges of life as Black teens living in a community overwhelmed by drugs and gangs.

Boyz in the Hood sparked the trend of films portraying Black teens as three-dimensional characters, each with talent, struggles, and regrets. The film also helped change the cultural conversation surrounding Black men. With Boyz in the Hood, John Singleton became the first Black filmmaker to earn an Oscar nomination for Best Director.

Directed by Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave follows Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free African American man who’s deceived, drugged, and shipped to New Orleans as a slave. It’s a harrowing story that dives into the emotional and intellectual depths of humanity and the scars that history leaves for generations.

Solomon’s experience reflects the real-life experiences of many slaves who lost their power, autonomy, and freedom. 12 Years a Slave became the first movie with a Black director to win the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture.

Directed by Ava DuVernay, Selma shares the historical context preceding the Selma to Montgomery protest marches. Martin Luther King, Jr. (David Oyelowo) works to give voting rights to Black men and women in the South. After President Lyndon B. Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) denies these rights, King, alongside other Southern Christian Leadership Conference leaders and civilians, decides to march from Selma to Montgomery—a peaceful protest that’s met with extreme police brutality. Selma depicts the protestors’ unwavering courage in pursuing human rights.

Alexandria Ramoutar Contributor

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Just Mercy (2019), Set:1989 Based on a true story, Just Mercy follows lawyers Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) and Eva Ansley (Brie Larson) as they help marginalized folks facing wrongful convictions. Among whom is Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), an innocent Black man on Alabama’s death row because of a twisted testimony. Stevenson, Ansley, and McMillian must pushback against the racial norms and the criminal justice system that incriminate Black people based on their skin colour.

The film won the Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture, recognized by the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP). It also dispels the white saviour trope common to most legal dramas, instead showcasing the powerful agency of our Black protagonist.

Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am (2019), Set: 1931 - Present This meditative documentary paints Toni Morrison’s life with precision. Known for her honest portrayal of the Black experience in her books, here, Morrison recounts her family’s experience with racism and poverty, and their influence on her writing. Directed

by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, this warmhearted documentary also captures Morrison’s impact on American culture, as she upends stereotypes and casts Black women as individuals with minds, dreams, and souls.

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sports & health

Tchouadep inspires others to be okay being multi-faceted Recent UTM Alumni Annela Tchouadep excelled and was awarded for her desire to be more than just a nerd or just an athlete.

Article by Sarah-May Edwardo-Oldfield, Sports Editor

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

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nnela Tchouadep finished her undergrad at UTM with a biology specialist. Annela described the program as very intense. She heard second year was the easiest for a student in her program, but she found it was just okay.

“In second year,” says Tchouadep, “I had so many bio and stats courses at once. Five tests in a single week was the norm.” In her first two years, all courses were mandatory.

There were only one or two courses she enjoyed. It was in her third year that she was finally able to have some choice.

“Third year was when I actually began enjoying the courses I was taking,” shared Tchouadep. She had looked forward to the finish-line for a long time, with her final goal being medical school. She was rewarded with an acceptance to the St. George University of London Medical School in England.

Tchouadep is originally from Montreal, Quebec and came to Ontario to study at UTM. Tchouadep’s family moved around a lot growing up. The second eldest of five children, Annela and her family lived in Montreal, the U.S., France, and Cameroon, before coming back to Montreal. Her father is from Russia and her mom is from Cameroon.

"Everything is a process, and it is important not to carry the weight of a mistake like it's a negative thing."

She had the unique opportunity to study in different school systems. There were aspects of each school system that she prweferred. The U.S. school system, like the Canadian one, had periods and mandatory language classes. You had to take a mandatory secondary language and PE-type period.

In the U.S. system, it was a lot easier to skip grades, as opposed to the Canadian and French Systems. She had wanted to skip grades in the latter systems, but it wasn’t a question of whether she could do it, rather how she could be placed.

The U.S. has a process for helping students skip grades.

Teachers recognize that a student knows everything they are teaching, the student takes whatever test or advance program needed to move on, and then they get placed in a higher grade. “They really got the ball rolling and rolling fast. The next year I went from the first grade to the third grade, opposed to other systems where it is designed because they don’t want to skip classes. Our parents wanted us to skip as much as possible.”

In terms of activities, aside from academics, Tchouadep preferred the French system. “In the other systems, parents had to pay for whatever extracurricular activities they wanted their children to do. Instruments or sports team, they was never free. You could make the school team for free, but there were always some additional costs,” explained Tchouadep.

In the French system, students were presented with a list of activities provided by the school. In France, Tchouadep chose horse riding and gymnastics, and while she had to pay for her own equipment, there were no other additional costs. Training, transportation, and tournaments fees were covered. All students had to do was show up.

“That, I enjoyed,” said Tchouadep. “I was interested without having to worry about how my parents were going to pay for it. And my parents were all for it. As long as it was free I could what I enjoyed.”

Tchouadep didn’t quite have the same opportunities in the U.S. as she did in France. “In the U.S., I really had to pick and choose what I could do. One instrument, one activity per semester.” Although she wanted to do so many different activities, living in the U.S., her choices were limited due to cost.

There was a bit of a cultural shock when she moved to Mississauga for school. There were a lot of things in common between Montreal and Mississauga. “You definitely felt like you were in the same country. People talk differently.

But the biggest thing for me was being so far away from family.”

Photos/Nick Iwanyshyn

>> TCHOUADEP continued on page 14

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UTM Athletics/Facebook. Tchouadep wants to model success in multiple skills.

>> TCHOUADEP continued from page 13 Tchouadep had a lot of trouble with the transportation system in Mississauga. “In Montreal, you can take the one bus to a station, and from there you can hop on any bus to get to where you need to be. Here you must take two buses to get to one place, and then get off at one stop to get to catch another bus. It was so hard for me to get by my first few weeks here. In Montreal, if you knew the city, it was very hard for you to get lost. I can’t tell you how many times I got lost coming to Mississauga,” said Tchouadep.

Sports played a big role in her family. Her father played soccer while her mother participated in Track and Field. The Tchouadep family was keen on making sure their children became well-rounded individuals. While the focus was on academic excellence, her parents encouraged her and her siblings to excel in other areas outside the classroom. “When we were young,” said Tchouadep, “our parents would sign us up for every different type of sport activity until we found the sport that fit us.”

Tchouadep fell in love of soccer after all the rotations of different sport her parents made sure she at least tried. She was trying basketball and her coach at the time asked if she had ever considered playing soccer. “My coach told me that I should try soccer next, because he said that I looked like I had the speed and agility to play. I tried it and realized that I really loved the feeling of moving the ball.” Unlike other sports, soccer was a lot harder for Tchouadep to get the hang

of. Soccer was the one sport that really challenged her. “Unlike with other sports, I couldn’t do any fancy moves very quickly.”

Annela has played for UTM’s Women’s Tri-Campus soccer team since her first year. While she plays a forward, she will occasionally play mid-field. Forward is the position Tchouadep is most comfortable in. It’s the same position she played in high school. “I like the fact I can use my speed. That I can attack using my running speed. I feel like when I’m defending mid-field, I can’t just go for it; I can’t go as fast. I must think more. I don’t have to think about if I should pass back or make a long kick.”

At some point, Tchouadep had wanted to play soccer professionally. Her parents encouraged her to continue pursuing soccer while studying in university. Regardless of whether she could go pro, Tchouadep continued in university out of love for the sport. “I would like to get more wins, but I enjoy the sport itself and meeting new people.”

Now in her fourth year on the team, Tchouadep hopes that she can bring a positive spirit and attitude to her fellow teammates. She also hopes her work ethic, running back when she is exhausted, brings some positive energy to the team.

“I think I’ve been hard on myself. Playing soccer at UTM has allowed me to be okay with making mistakes.” Tchouadep has learned that everything is a process, and it is important not to carry the weight of a mistake like it’s a negative thing. UTM soccer has taught Tchouadep that it is important to improve, and sometimes mistakes are necessary to do that. “It’s also helped me become more resilient. In the past I would marinate on a

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loss. And now I’m able to look at that loss and bounce back because of soccer.”

Tchouadep was awarded several accolades over her time at UTM and with UTM Athletics. She was awarded the Women’s Tri-Campus Most Valuable Player award in each of her years at UTM. She won MVP for Women’s Outdoor soccer in 2018 and again in 2020, and for Women’s Indoor Soccer in both 2017 and 2020. In addition to her four MVP awards, Tchouadep was awarded the Cynthia E. Haddow Memorial Award in 2019, given to the female student who “best exemplifies leadership, enthusiasm, and a strong commitment to her team. She strives for self-improvement and demonstrates true sportsmanship,” according to the award’s description.

In her four years at UTM, Tchouadep hopes she can be an example of how it can be possible to be the stereotypical nerd and an athlete. “In high school there weren’t many examples of that. People would be very studious or very active. There were different groups. I happened to like playing an instrument, sports, and science.”

Tchouadep hopes she can be an example that it is okay to have various interests, and to be multifaceted, even if those areas are seemingly completely different from each other.

“You can do multiple things at once. You don’t just have to be a nerd, or just be into sports. If you think you can manage it, do whatever you want.” Often, we’re told we can just be one type of person. Tchouadep hopes she can be a role model for people who want to be good, or known, for more than just one thing.

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