Volume 47, Issue 23

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

Issue 023 Volume 47 March 29 2021

themedium.ca

UTMSU Election Misconduct

ELECTION MISCONDUCT

INDIGENOUS INITIATIVES

ANTI-ASIAN RESPONSE

The Spring 2021 elections for the executive team and the Board of Directors of the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU) have officially ended.

The University of Toronto has continuously worked toward supporting the growth and increasing the representation of the Indigenous community.

On March 16, eight people were shot and killed during a series of mass shootings at three separate spa and massage parlours in Atlanta, Georgia.

>> MISCONDUCT continued on page 02

>> INITIATIVES continued on page 03

>> ANTI-ASIAN continued on page 04

02

NEWS

Editor | Isik Vera Senel news@themedium.ca

Hayden Mak/The Medium

Build Back Better slate faces allegations of election misconduct Transparent UTMSU accuses student slate Build Back Better UTM of harassment and invasion of privacy during the Spring 2021 elections.

Isik Vera Senel News Editor >> MISCONDUCT continued from page 01 However, some UTM community members have come forward with allegations of misconduct and harassment against the UTMSU and the Build Back Better UTM slate.

UTMSU Election Results On March 19, the UTMSU released the unofficial results of this year’s elections, and the student slate Build Back Better UTM team was declared victorious for all available executive positions. Mitra Yakubi was re-elected as president, Lai Wei as vice-president internal, Maelis Barre as vice-president external, Merica Joy Carlos as vice-president university affairs, and Ryan Tomlinson as vice-president equity.

The only other candidates running in the executive team elections besides the members of the Build Back Better UTM slate were Laiba Khan and Maryam Yousefipournigjeh, who both ran for the vice-president equity position.

Transparent UTMSU On March 22, an Instagram account named Transparent UTMSU (@transparentutmsu) began posting on the popular social media account, criticizing the integrity of the Spring 2021 elections. The account posted multiple allegations against the Build Back Better UTM slate, accusing them of violating the UTMSU Elections Procedure Code (EPC).

The Medium spoke with one of the executives behind the Transparent UTMSU Instagram account Shen Fernando, a second-year political science student at UTM. Fernando spoke about the allegations they’ve made against the UTMSU and

Build Back Better UTM and how Transparent UTMSU was formed.

“Transparent UTMSU is a sort of movement or call to action on behalf of the frustrated students who have faced these past spring elections and were honestly quite fed up with the things that were coming out,” stated Fernando.

The members of the movement, which include UTM club executives, alumni, and past UTMSU election candidates, met online on the popular community discussion website Reddit. Multiple students messaged Transparent UTMSU after receiving unsolicited Build Back Better UTM campaign messages on WhatsApp and LinkedIn, despite never giving the slate members their numbers.

After expressing similar grievances towards the UTMSU and Build Back Better UTM, the students came together to discuss their experiences and formed Transparent UTMSU. “Eventually, we accumulated a Google Drive full of evidence, showing the various ways that BBB [Build Back Better UTM] was contacting students, as well as the various responses that students were giving back,” stated Fernando. “We even got signed testimonies from club executives, talking about their perspective of being pressured by BBB into endorsements, particularly newer clubs.

Their executives were handling the pressure of having to get club status. For that, you need the [UTMSU’s] approval.”

After posting on Reddit for a while, Transparent UTMSU expanded to Instagram, where they have been getting a lot of attention from the UTM community.

When asked about the main goal behind Transparent UTMSU, Fernando stated that they hope to start a discussion about accountability and transparency within the UTMSU. “In this past election, there was no accountability for the actions taken on by BBB, and we felt as though the elections procedure

code, or the EPC, was quite vague,” argued Fernando. “Only about an eighth of it concerned online regulations for a primarily online election.”

Allegations of Misconduct and Harassment The two main charges Transparent UTMSU made against the union and Build Back Better UTM were the invasion of privacy and harassment. Regarding the allegations of harassment, Fernando stated that students would receive multiple messages from Build Back Better UTM members despite ignoring their previous messages or leaving them on read. In some cases, the student would block the account sending them these campaign messages, only to receive more messages from another account.

“Within the UTMSU policy guidelines itself, it describes harassment as a vexatious action, and it was causing annoyance and frustration to the students,” said Fernando. “Even if the students weren’t saying ‘no’ or ‘stop,’ some students just don’t feel comfortable saying that to a group on campus that is so well known.”

The second allegation against Build Back Better UTM and the UTMSU is the invasion of privacy, specifically regarding the campaign messages sent through WhatsApp and SMS. According to Transparent UTMSU, the unsolicited messages were sent only on behalf of the Build Back Better UTM campaign, and none of the students received campaign messages on WhatsApp or SMS from the two independent candidates.

“When we first began this, we were thinking, ‘perhaps they were able to get [the students’ phone numbers] from a group chat, perhaps they were able to get it from other sources. We really wanted to debunk our own claims,” stated Fernando.

“But eventually, when we started talking to

the students, we got testimonies back saying that they never gave out their numbers to any of the BBB candidates, nor were they involved in a group chat where they could have possibly met a BBB candidate.”

This led Transparent UTMSU to question the actions of Build Back Better UTM and wonder if misuse of resources had occurred and whether the slate’s candidates had access to the UTMSU database.

“When you give your personal information to places like UTMSU, you expect that it’s going to be kept within UTMSU and it’s not going to leave there, and it’s not going to be used for purposes other than what you specified,” argued Fernando. “However, what’s happened within these elections has proven that that potentially is not the case.”

Another concern Transparent UTMSU had regarding the union’s elections was the vague definitions and regulations within the EPC. While the UTMSU Policy contained a more detailed and inclusive definition of harassment, the EPC remained ambiguous.

“This is where we were really concerned because students would be able to essentially perform any of these actions within the vagueness of these categories,” stated Fernando.

On March 23, Transparent UTMSU submitted an appeal to Fahad Dayala, chair of the elections committee, outlining the amendments they would like to make to the EPC. The appeal was approved the following day on March 24, and Transparent UTMSU received a written commitment from Dayala and the UTMSU’s Board stating that the amendments will be put into place for next year’s election.

In addition to expanding the definition of harassment, Transparent UTMSU was able to establish a regulatory measure for campaign messaging. >> MISCONDUCT continued on page 03

03 >> MISCONDUCT continued from page 02 From now on, candidates will only be able to message students who they follow or are followed by slate members on the given social media platform.

“This is a huge victory in that sense because students can now just not follow these candidates and essentially ignore them,” said Fernando. “If these candidates message them at any point, students can say no or stop, and if the candidate continues to message them, it is basically violating their consent, and that is harassment which can result in five to 25 demerit points.”

Fernando went on to state that this victory is not the end of Transparent UTMSU and that they will continue to advocate for UTM students in the coming years. They plan on being more vigilant during the Spring 2022 elections and campaign for students’ rights, as well work to improve the EPC. “Our goal was to create a discussion, get people advocating for their rights and for the rights of other UTM students, and to really show the Chief Returning Officer (CRO) and the elections committee that we are serious about this,” said Fernando.

“We’re going to put our money where our mouth is and we’re going to show them that students can advocate for themselves.”

Fernando also stated that he has spoken to several people who were previously involved in the UTMSU and are interested in rejoining the union.

“We’re not trying to defame anybody.

We’re not trying to attack these candidates personally. We just want greater accountability, accountability, and transparency,” stated Fernando. “I think that UTM as a whole would benefit from just being more open and having better regulations within the elections.”

UTMSU’s Response The Medium reached out to current UTMSU President Mitra Yakubi, who was re-elected for another year, and the CRO in charge of the Spring 2021 UTMSU elections, Juliana Salsa. In an email correspondence with The Medium, Yakubi discussed the allegations made by Transparent UTMSU against her slate Build Back Better UTM and the EPC. When asked about how members of the Build Back Better UTM team were able to WhatsApp message students who allegedly never gave their numbers to them, Yakubi stated that anyone who was contacted during the campaign had actually met and interacted with the team members in the past.

“The students who were messaged, either through direct messaging on social media platforms or through WhatsApp, were all folks with whom the executive candidates had met and interacted with in some capacity throughout their journey at UTM,” stated Yakubi. “We did not want this election to be a popularity contest, so we reached out to students regardless of whether we were friends with them or not, similar to if this was an in-person campaign.”

Yakubi also stated that she believes there are areas within the EPC that can be improved and updated. Candidates faced many unforeseen difficulties during this year’s elections as this was the first online election for the UTMSU. Yakubi said that she hopes the CRO can make use of the feedback from the students who participat-

ed in the election and help make the election process more efficient.

When asked about Transparent UTMSU’s mandate and the allegations made by the members against Build Back Better UTM, Yakubi stated that, as a team, they believe in a democratic, transparent, and accessible union, and were in line with the rules of the EPC. “The CRO and the Elections and Referenda Committee reviewed the allegations, determined that some were unfounded, and confirmed with our team that there was insufficient evidence to issue additional demerit points,” stated Yakubi.

Regarding the behaviour of herself and her team during the campaigning period, Yakubi argued that they tried to contact as many students as possible on multiple social media platforms and that their messages were pre-approved by the CRO. “We were often caught between not reaching out to people but wanting a high turnout, reaching out to students but not wanting to oversaturate and bother students, not reaching out to students but being told it’s a popularity contest,” stated Yakubi. “Our honest intention was to reach out to students, share our vision for the upcoming year, and ensure that students participated in the electoral process.”

UTMSU’s Chief Returning Officer Juliana Salsa confirmed that the members of the Build Back Better UTM slate had presented their campaign materials and content to her for approval but also affirmed the concerns presented by Transparent UTMSU regarding the lack of regulations for online election within the EPC. “As it stands in the EPC, there are no restrictions regarding what social media/online platforms can be used for campaigning,” stated Salsa in an email correspondence with The Medium. “Therefore, candidates were not required to get that approved by me.”

Moreover, Salsa stated that she has also been working towards improving the EPC and has already submitted her recommendations to the Elections and Referenda Committee (EARC). Similar to the amendments presented by Transparent UTMSU, Salsa expanded on existing sections within the EPC, providing more distinct definitions and guidelines.

“I also recommended that the EPC includes clearer definitions of harassment, sexual violence, and discrimination which is defined in the UTMSU Harassment, Sexual Violence, and Discrimination policy,” stated Salsa. “Currently, the EPC just references the policy.”

This year’s online election was a first for the UTM community, and both candidates and students struggled with adapting to the new platform. However, the UTMSU appears to be dedicated to improving its guidelines and willing to listen to students’ concerns. Transparent UTMSU started a discussion within UTM regarding accountability and transparency and are already working with the UTMSU to strengthen their policies and guidelines.

“Although this election was not like what we had traditionally been used to as a community, we had amazing conversations with students about the issues impacting us most and got clear direction about what students want us to work on,” Yakubi stated. “We’re excited and look forward to working with our members to continue advocating and improving the student experience here at UTM.”

Indigenous voices are louder than ever at U of T Razia Saleh Contributor >> INITIATIVES continued from page 01 Recently, the U of T community has established a virtual tour of Indigenous history spanning throughout its Scarborough, downtown Toronto, and Mississauga campuses.

The Office of Indigenous Initiatives, established by the U of T’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission Steering Committee, supports and guides the U of T community to reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous community.

“The Council of Aboriginal Initiatives supports initiatives, strategies, and programming that advance access, retention, and degree completion for the Indigenous community at the University of Toronto,” reads the council’s website.

“The Council’s mandate includes supporting the University’s commitment to excellence and equity by fostering collaboration across the University and with Indigenous communities, government bodies, and other associates.”

The Indigenous of the U of T website conducts environmental scans, produces a report to establish the impact and progress of Indigenous initiatives on campus, and manages the activities of the Council of Indigenous Initiatives. One of the reports on its website, the Truth and Reconciliation Report (TRC), focuses on the university’s ways to mandate policies that support the Indigenous community.

“Some actions are role-based, others are context-driven or address curriculum issues or research,” stated the report’s overview. “They are intended to provide strong direction and to facilitate positive change.”

In addition to its initiatives, U of T is currently establishing virtual tours throughout its three campuses in celebration of Indigenous history. These tours will be led by students and faculty of varying Indigenous descent. Drew

Rickard, a third-year Faculty of Arts & Science student and member of Woodsworth College, shared with U of T News his plans to work as a tour guide in the Indigenous history tours at U of T. “My interest in this is really in my identity and reconnecting with that,” stated Rickard. “I’m proud of who I am. This is a missing puzzle piece for something that I was already putting together—and so far, it’s been a great learning experience.”

The tours were going to be offered in-person; however, with the Covid-19 pandemic, U of T was forced to shift to an online format of touring where it will offer a 360-degree video experience and other online resources.

Jill Carter, (Anishinaabe/Ashkenazi) an assistant professor with the Faculty of Arts & Science Centre for Drama, Theatre, & Performance Studies, told U of T News that the “stories, the lessons they draw from past teachings, the ways in which they have learned to read the land and their experiences as young Indigenous Peoples are crucial additions to First Story.”

Carter also stated that the guides’ training for these tours is working alongside Indigenous elders to reclaim the region’s culture and history and learn from their oratory and storytelling skills.

“These skills and this experience will ultimately serve them well when pursuing future academic and professional goals,” continued Carter. “Soon, they will meet faculty and fellow students across departments and disciplines as they conduct tours.”

The Equity Offices and Office of Indigenous Initiatives will remain open and available to provide support to members of the Indigenous community. As of March 17, 2020, services at the office began to be provided remotely via phone or video, and drop-in appointments are not available at this time.

U of T is working towards creating the due space for Indigenous members of the U of T community to teach their history and encourage the next generation to continue its impact in the years to come.

04

A year at U of T in review Revisiting the most significant events of the past year.

Sheryl Gurajada Associate News Editor

S

tating the obvious, this past year was confusing and complicated in many ways for everyone. Ontario declared its first state of emergency just over a year ago, on March 17, 2020. Borders were closed globally. People flocked to grocery stores to stock up on cleaning supplies and toilet paper. The world as we knew it seemed suddenly different.

University students were particularly impacted by the new restrictions in Canada.

Many students live away from home in student housing, and international students constitute a large chunk of the student body.

On March 13, 2020, U of T announced the cancellation of all in-person classes, switching to virtual classroom platforms, starting March 16. The sudden shift was initially planned to

last for two weeks and is scheduled to be reassessed on April 3, 2021.

“The situation is now accelerating very rapidly,” U of T President Gertler said in a letter to the U of T community on March 13.

“One of the key factors in these decisions is the need to foster a degree of ‘social distancing,’ as recommended by public health authorities,” continued Gertler. “On that front, our goal is to help interrupt the chain of transmission in the wider community, thereby protecting vulnerable individuals and ensuring that our health-care system will not become overburdened.”

Society itself experienced milestone moments, whether r it be the resurfacing of racial relations in North America or women’s advancement in politics and professional spheres. Through it all, U of T staff and students remained resilient and at the forefront of innovation.

On March 5, 2020, Professor Keith Pardee and his research lab received $1 million from the initial $27 million in novel coronavirus research the International Development Research Centre of Canada allocated. The project, coined “lab-in-a-box,” involved taking its previously developed portable Zika virus test

and modifying it to detect the Covid-19 virus.

“What we are trying to do is make that functional clinical capacity available more globally,” stated Pardee to The Medium in March 2020. “Our current test format costs about $2 per test. In the proposed Covid-19 work, our goal is to reduce the cost to [approximately] $0.25 per test.”

A member of Professsor Pardee’s research team Seray Çiçek told the Velocity Fund Pitch Competition in 2020 that their research could change pandemic response on an international scale by enabling doctor’s offices to accurately diagnose viral tests. “Our decentralized model will help keep the world healthy and protected,” said Çiçek.

Back in October 2020, the Office of the Vice President and Provost announced the launch of U of T’s Anti-Black Racism Task Force.

“A recognition of racism is insufficient,” said Hannah-Moffat to U of T News. “Racism is not an issue for Black and racialized communities to address—it impacts everyone, and it is our collective responsibility to take steps to eliminate barriers and create inclusive spaces for Black students, staff, faculty, and librarians. We are committed to creating lasting, meaningful change.”

Most recently, UTM partnered with Trillium Health Partners to launch its mass vaccination clinic and help the province proceed in its three-stage vaccination plan. The clinic is currently operating at a capacity of 2,000 doses administered per day and is looking to expand to 4,000 doses in the near future.

U of T President Gertler wrote a letter addressed to the U of T community on March 8, highlighting the plans for the upcoming fall semester.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has been a long and challenging journey for all of us, with many unexpected developments along the way,” read Gertler’s letter. “But with the vaccine rollout now picking up speed, we have reason to expect better days ahead.”

“Now is the time to look forward with optimism and excitement as we contemplate a return to greater in-person activity on our three campuses,” continued President Gertler. “Let me take this opportunity to thank you all once again for the resilience, dedication, creativity, and consideration you have shown throughout the past year. Your example remains a wonderful source of inspiration as we continue to pursue our academic mission together.”

The House of Commons condemns anti-Asian racism Asian communities continue to face discrimination and violence amid a global pandemic.

Isik Vera Senel News Editor >> ANTI-ASIAN continued from page 01 Six of the victims were identified to be Asian women, causing many people to question whether these crimes were racially motivated.

While the local police have not declared the Atlanta shootings to be hate crimes towards the Asian community, the tragic event did take place during a time where anti-Asian discrimination was exceptionally high. Ac-

cording to a study by the Pew Research Center, racial discrimination towards Asian communities increased significantly following the emergence of Covid-19. Almost 40 per cent of Asians reported that more people have been acting uncomfortable around them after the Covid-19 outbreak. In comparison, only 13 per cent of white people have stated that they’ve experienced the similar scenarios.

Similar findings were made in a study led

by Weiguo Zhang, associate professor at UTM’s Sociology department, and Xiaolin Wei, associate professor at U of T’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Their study found that Chinese immigrants in Canada have experienced “highly visible discrimination” in the past year.

The study conducted two separate surveys, one in April and another in early 2021. 11 per cent of the people surveyed in April reported experiencing acts of racial discrimination since the beginning of the pandemic.

However, that number increased by over 310

per cent in the 2021 survey, with more than 35 per cent of participants saying that they experienced discrimination because of their ethnicity.

On March 22, Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party, presented a motion to the House of Commons and urged the members of Parliament “to condemn the rise of anti-Asian racism and racist attacks throughout North America, and urge the government to take further action to tackle hate crimes.”

The motion passed unanimously.

Singh had previously voiced his opinions regarding anti-Asian racism on Twitter, urging people to take a stand against such discriminatory behaviours.

“Over the past year, we’ve seen an increase in acts of racism against Asian Canadians,” tweeted Singh on March 17. “This ignorant, violent, and discriminatory behaviour has no place in Canada —or anywhere in the world.”

University of Toronto President Meric Gertler released a statement on March 19 in

solidarity with the Asian community at U of T following the shootings in Atlanta.

“The University of Toronto emphatically condemns anti-Asian discrimination and racism, and all forms of hate and racial violence,” stated Gertler.

Gertler acknowledged the increase in discrimination and harassment directed towards Asian communities during the global pandemic and emphasized the services U of T offers to students who are in need of support.

“Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and to the human rights of all people is absolutely fundamental to our values and our excellence as an academic community,” continued Gertler. “Let us remember that, of course, we still have work to do in combatting racism, and let us commit to calling out hate whenever we witness it, and redouble our efforts to combat discrimination and violence on every level.”

05

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

06

COMMENT

Editor | Aya Yafaoui comment@themedium.ca

Challenging gender norms in Western culture In the past few years, Harry Styles, among other celebrities, has exemplified how breaking gender stereotypes can challenge hegemonic masculinity.

Aroni Sakar Associate Comment Editor

T

here is something undeniably charming, charismatic, and inviting about Harry Styles that is outside of his “handsome-prince hair” and good looks. His playfulness with gender norms, sexuality, and masculinity has an air of authenticity that softly and calmly challenges toxic masculinity within and outside of the Western entertainment industry.

Harry Styles spurred conversations with his 2019 Met Gala outfit and his recent 2020 Vogue U.S. December cover. In the former, he wore a sheer black Gucci blouse, heels, and a single pearl earring. In the latter, he wore a frilly gown and a black jacket. While both these outfits should be screaming boldness and rebelliousness, they portray a sense of kindness and comfortability.

Styles isn’t the first celebrity or music star to challenge gender norms. Mick Jagger wore a white cotton dress for the Rolling Stones concert in 1969. The Beatles and Gerry & the Pacemakers were all known to have long hair and wear paisley blouses. The difference, though, was that their masculinity was never questioned, even if their fashion choices were. With Harry Styles, because of the authenticity he exudes, his presence is more ambiguous and innocent, creating a true and honest exhibit of the complexities of gender.

Sociologists have written about how there is almost a coming “apocalypse of old school masculinity” where the “hegemonic masculinity” (i.e., rigid patriarchal and toxic norms for masculinity and gender) no longer make sense in a

post-industrial world where women are more involved in social and economic sectors. This has led stubborn upholders of old-school masculinity to believe any display of androgynous behaviour is a threat to Western civilization. One woman tweeted, “the steady feminization of our men at the same time as Marxism is being taught to our children,” while many men have been calling to “bring back manly men!”

Studies have shown that “men’s career trajectories can depend on how well they fit gendered preconceptions” and that “men are disliked, distrusted, and passed over when they exhibit qualities stereotypically assigned to women.”

Participants of the study have said that “alpha male types” who “goof off ” are selfish and cocky, and those who “use denigrating terms for women and junior staffers” usually advance faster and are trusted more in leadership roles. But, this career advancement is attributed only to the appearance of such masculinity rather than the actuality of the men embodying them.

Janine Bosak, who conducted one such study in Ireland, stated that usually in the Western world, “we ascribe more agentic qualities to men, such as being confident, assertive, and competitive, and more communal qualities to women, such as being sympathetic and caring.” In some studies, men found it “emasculating” to ask for help because they are assumed to be confident. Similarly, they expressed that by changing their opinions after considering different viewpoints, they are seen as “untrustworthy.” Other studies have found that “proving ‘manhood’ is even more exhausting and anxiety-inducing than demonstrating ‘femininity.’”

The distrust of femininity is so ingrained that the forced performance of masculinity is detrimental to the mental health of men and contributes to the perpetuation of toxic masculinity in everyday life. The patriarchy defined what it means to be a man and a woman. A man is someone who must provide, and a woman is someone who cares.

Men and women police their own genders by demonstrating appropriate traits and shun those that don’t. And so, a toxic culture of demanding adherence to rigid gendered norms, regardless of social and political shifts, is poisonous to both men and women.

The reason why many people consider this “implosion of masculinity” as a threat to Western civilization is that although patriarchal gender stereotypes are universal, they are displayed and perceived differently in different parts of the world. For example, cooperation, which is typically attributed to women as a communal quality in the West, is masculine in East Asian nations like China and Korea. Moreover, assertiveness, which is attributed to as a male quality in the West, is more common among women in Peru.

Harry Styles, and the rise of acceptance and openness of exploring gender, isn’t a move to demolish gender or ruin Western civilization. Rather, it is a progression towards honesty and authenticity of the self, irrespective of gender. In our society, where we see the detrimental effects of toxic masculinity, both on the mental health of men and on the lived experiences of women, the openness to explore genderless qualities is critical to paving the way for a more equal and humane society.

07

This letter is our final snapshot—an attempt at condensing three years’ worth of our lives at The Medium into 1500 words.

Paula Cho, Ali Taha

T

he two of us were pushing my mini fridge across campus in a bright red trolly cart on a humid summer day in 2019.

And when I say we were pushing, I really mean you were pushing, and I was prodding you to hurry because we had borrowed the cart from residence after hours and by my friend’s good graces. As you joked about how our ice cream in the fridge was going to melt, my mind wandered off to where in the office we were going to put the damn thing.

I also thought about everything I wanted us to accomplish in the short time we would run this newspaper together.

It has been said that the role of the press is to write the first rough draft of history. At The Medium, we’ve had the opportunity to document it in its first, messy, and evolving form, and to ask tough questions like “who is being left out of the conversation” and “what is an alternative to the dominant perspective?” This is what I hope we’ve done: contextualized the present as students and works in progress ourselves, with unique and varied understandings of the world.

I’ve always loved the sentiment of brevity, of creating a narrative that is inconclusive. By capturing moments on our campus and of our lives into such a compact space, we extend the impact of our rough drafts past their current time. Our work covers everything from reporting breaking news to having conversations with individuals about how their pasts influenced their current perspectives. For the past two volumes, we’ve taken these snapshots so that students in the future can carry these stories with them and draw their own parallels.

We started this year with a video series called Quarantine Stories, where we interviewed students and faculty about their summer of social distancing and how the pandemic has shaped their personal and ac-

ademic lives. From then on, all 23 issues we released shone a light on stories that exemplified not only the challenges we face but also the optimism we possess. Our two magazines, The Essential Issue and The Growing Issue, focused on big ideas in the form of personal essays and features that will hopefully resonate beyond the time they were written. Throughout the year, learning to cover the evolving news and articulate the issues that matter most to our student body has constantly reminded me that there is nothing more powerful than non-fiction storytelling.

“‘What is your main priority next year?

What would you do if you received backlash from an article? How do you decide when not to publish an article? What is your vision for The Medium?’ I feel like we need more ‘everyday stuff ’ questions,” you say, playing with the gold ring on your middle finger.

“What is an ‘everyday stuff ’ kind of question?” I ask.

“I just want to know if they’re going to be able to set stuff down and prioritize The Medium.”

“So, time management?”

“Yeah, exactly.”

We were sitting in the office, listening to the low hum of our mini fridge and drafting questions for the masthead election forum.

With four days until the end of our time at The Medium, we couldn’t help but pick the “big” questions. Our final month had been plagued with anxieties about the future of the newspaper and what its purpose would be going forward.

Most people want healthy, secure, and good lives, so they try their best to make the right decisions. Not all the time, of course, but enough to see an upward trend. Much of what we do is just an attempt at something better. Rules are an attempt at order. Revolt is an attempt at change. Understanding the past can be an attempt at changing the future.

But what happens when we forget the past? Volume 47 is bound by the tradition, rules, and precedent set out by the past 46 volumes. But only by a thread.

When I wrote my first article back in 2017, I had no idea how immense of a beast The Medium truly is. The newspaper is 47

years old. Throughout those years, thousands of students have interacted with the paper, either as readers, contributors, editors, photographers, or designers. The Medium’s archive is a window, and through it is a past that is rich, and fiery, and exciting.

Unfortunately, few bother to look through it anymore.

I’ve combed through The Medium’s archive for hours before, discovering interesting characters and watching the past rhyme with the present. UTM has always had a pep problem. Members of the students’ union have always been zealous. The Student Centre has always been lame. I had thought that the problems we were writing about were original. Instead, I learned that they are eternal. It’s natural to not see the patterns of the past. These are the blind spots of history.

Too much time has passed, and too much of it has been recorded. Where does one even begin?

We’re standing on the shoulders of giants, but the giants have been buried up to their necks. We’ve spent the past two years trying to dig them up.

If you want to innovate and grow, you have to reach back into the past to understand what’s come before. Otherwise, you’ll never know if what you’re doing is truly unique.

But what happens when we forget the past?

For one, we can quickly find ourselves without a blueprint. If everyone forgets the old, everything becomes new. There is no suggested path forward and no customs to follow. There are no opportunities to build on what’s come before. For a campus newspaper, this problem is always present.

Students are transient, and so are the people that make up The Medium team. Every year, a new Editor-in-Chief shoulders the responsibility of leading the newspaper.

They have to coordinate with their staff and editorial board to ensure that all weekly deadlines are met. I would argue that for the past decade, each new Editor-in-Chief has come into the position with only a semblance of what their long-term vision of the newspaper will be. It can get lost among the day-to-day responsibilities and constant stream of work that needs to be done.

Only in the last two weeks of my time here have I really started to think about the future of the paper or what the purpose of

The Medium even is. I had an idea throughout my time as Editor-in-Chief last year, but I never took the time to flesh it out.

The Medium offers a record of the campus history—from life on campus to construction updates, scandals with the administration, student politics, Theatre Erindale productions, and varsity games. We offer students an opportunity to develop themselves professionally. We strive toward the truth. We foster curiosity and we encourage students to play gracefully with ideas through writing.

All of that is borne out of The Medium’s legacy and the conventions of print media.

The publication has lasted this long because each team has followed the rules set out by those who came before.

The two of us started this journey of leading The Medium back on that humid summer day in 2019. We carried a lot of fear about whether we were up to the task—whether we could bridge this enormous gap we felt was at the heart of the newspaper. Over the past two years, we’ve had to deal with constant criticism, an apathetic student body, a poorly thought-out Student Choice Initiative, and a global pandemic. All this has been deeply challenging and troubling but wholly rewarding.

We cultivated a newsroom that we’re proud of and surrounded ourselves with passionate, creative, and ridiculous people who have made these two years so good. We spent countless conversations thinking about what it means to be a newspaper in a time when newspapers are all but obsolete and news media is handled so recklessly by journalists and readers alike.

This letter is our final snapshot—an attempt at condensing three years’ worth of our lives at The Medium into 1500 words. All this time, we’ve endeavored to write the first draft of a new vision for the paper’s future.

Have we bridged the gap? Definitely not.

All we’ve done is pushed the boulder a bit further uphill. We have seen what The Medium has been and know what it could be, and we’ll make that clear to whoever comes next. There’s still a lot of work to do and it’ll require a lot of care, but we’ll leave it here for now. We’re happy with that.

Sincerely, Paula Cho, Editor-in-Chief Ali Taha, Managing Editor

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Goodbye Volume 47, hello new beginnings

EDITOR-INCHIEF

MANAGING EDITOR

NEWS EDITOR

The masthead pays their goodbyes to Volume 47, highlighting favourite moments and unveiling future plans.

Elizabeth Provost Features Editor

F

or obvious reasons, Volume 47 has been like no other. Yet, despite Zoom meetings, email communications, and virtual interviews becoming the “new normal” for journalists like ourselves, 371 articles, two magazines, and 25 podcast episodes later, the outgoing masthead has a lot to celebrate.

Behind every issue is a team of writers, editors, copyeditors, photographers, graphic designers, webmasters, and videographers. It takes a village, as they say.

Nevertheless, the most important part of a newspaper is its readers.

What we write at The Medium shapes our reader’s understanding of our community. We capture the perspectives and ideas of our student body, faculty, staff, and community. To take part in this is indelible.

The Medium also keeps UTM students writing. As an editor, it’s been an honour to work with such talented writers. We are infinitely grateful to those that trusted us with their words and stories.

Volume 47 was about what truly matters. From Black Lives, to Indigenous voices, to student mental health, we spoke about it all—truthfully, honestly, and unapologetically. The Medium is a space where every voice is heard.

With our names appearing in the bylines of our pieces or in the margins of each issue, we thought it would be good to take the time to say farewell to Volume 47 and give our readers a quick glance into the editorial group behind the last 23 issues. So, I present to you, my team, with some goodbyes and some favourite moments of Volume 47.

Paula Cho, Editor-in-Chief Class of 2021

Ali Taha, Managing Editor Class of 2021

Isik Vera Senel, News Editor Class of 2022

Four years later, Paula pays her adieu to The Medium. Before becoming Editorin-Chief, Paula also served as Managing Editor for Volume 46 and Arts Editor for Volume 45. Paula’s dedication to The Medium is evident in her work. But what’s on paper is but a fraction of her passion for the publication.

In our first meeting, Paula told us what she hoped to achieve for Volume 47. Volume 47 was about raising awareness and speaking our truth. Summarizing the year, she says, “Many of our articles this year in the paper and magazines revolved around the pandemic, and my goal was always to try and bring a humanity to the statistics.”

Paula mentions that she will miss editing and reading the work of the publication’s contributors, adding, “They are the heart of this paper.”

As Editor-in-Chief, Paula also worked to foster a space where writers could share their perspectives and reflect on their experiences. She says, “From a personal essay on carrying the weight of being an essential worker to an interview with medical students hoping to reimagine healthcare, I’m still in awe of the stories we got to tell.”

Regarding the future, Paula says, “My time at The Medium has deepened my commitment to making newsrooms and the stories they cover more inclusive, and I can’t wait to continue the work at graduate school.” In the fall, Paula will be pursuing a master’s degree at Columbia University. In New York, she looks forward to “studying journalism with some of the most incredible professionals in the industry.”

Paula attributes the masthead in helping her get through this uncertain year. She highlights that she “couldn’t have asked for a more dedicated, compassionate, and hilarious team of editors and staff.” And the masthead couldn’t have asked for a more open, supportive, and bright Editor-inChief.

Ali became involved with The Medium in 2017. He was News Editor for Volume 45 and Editor-in-Chief for Volume 46.

We all join The Medium with goals in mind. Ali expresses that he has continuously aimed to use The Medium to provide opportunities to students. Ali has achieved his goal by fostering a space where, as he describes, “writers, editors, photographers, designers, and students can come together to learn valuable skills and grow as individuals.”

He also notes that in his four years at The Medium, he “wanted to tell important stories, produce a written record of UTM’s history, and make The Medium a place where curiosity is encouraged.”

Ultimately, the copious support we’ve received from writers and faculty alike is indicative of Ali’s success in bringing an energy and vitality back to the paper.

As his time at The Medium comes to an end, Ali will continue working as an Analyst for Spyder Works Inc., a consultancy for mid-market organizations. He will also continue researching for The Reach Alliance, a multidisciplinary research initiative that investigates social programs for the world’s most marginalized populations.

He credits “music, movies, books, and the past 21 years of my life” for helping him through this hard year. After the pandemic subsides, Ali hopes to travel and live in Europe for a short time. He explains, “I want to explore the world while I’m young. My life is lacking nature and culture,” he chuckles, adding, “and Mississauga has neither.”

Ali leaves The Medium with these parting words: “Everyone should read more, so I’ll recommend The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. But beyond that, people should listen. Listen and be curious.

And play gracefully with ideas.”

With the onset of the pandemic, our news became saturated with the tracking of case numbers, outbreaks in the community, and other Covid-19 related stories. As such, Vera quickly understood the gravity of her role as News Editor in providing accurate data and information to our readers.

Quick to pick up a story and write it herself, Vera made sure that no detail was spared as she highlighted the most important breaking news in our community.

Vera shared with our readers the ins-andouts of UTM’s students’ union, updates on Covid-19 in the GTA, and the rundown of various campus events.

As a team, we spent months preparing for the first issue of Volume 47. Vera notes, “I already knew how talented and brilliant The Medium team members were, but seeing our first issue made me truly realize how lucky I was to be working alongside such a wonderful group of writers, editors, photographers, and designers.” Since then, Vera has enjoyed waking up every Monday to a new issue fresh off the press, reading stories and “looking at the beautiful designs and photographs.”

Next year, Vera will be entering her final year at UTM. Although she will be taking the time to focus on her studies, she also plans to continue writing for The Medium to “expand my portfolio—but mostly because I love the work we do.”

Leaving The Medium, Vera says, “I encourage all UTM students to contribute to The Medium at least once during their university careers and experience for themselves how fulfilling it is to see your own work published in a reputable newspaper.”

09 COMMENT EDITOR

ARTS EDITOR

Aya Yafaoui, Comment Editor Class of 2022

Chris Berberian, Arts Editor Class of 2019

Aya’s favourite moment of Volume 47 was the coordination of Issue 17’s “The Medium reviews the dumpster-fire, world-changing, revolutionary year of 2020.” In this piece, the editorial team reflected on each month of 2020 and the events that took place. Aya attributes her admiration to the piece by saying: “Not only was the article the longest piece I’ve had to edit, [but] it was also really special because I was able to collaborate with my fellow editors and gain their wonderful perspectives.”

Volume 47’s Comment section featured a spectrum of perspectives, which can be accredited to Aya’s ability to flesh out the nuances of different opinions. “In all honesty, the aspect I will miss most about this volume is talking to my writers about their ideas, hearing their perspective, and helping them find the words they need to capture an idea and immortalize it in ink,” says Aya. Despite the complexity of email-communication, Zoom meetings, and the digital adaptation of the publication, Aya notes that Volume 47 will “always be special to me because this team worked so hard to create a paper that we could all be proud of despite the circumstances. It is that perseverance in the face of great hardship that makes this volume so unique and such a treasured part of my university experience.”

Aya’s ability to provide comedic relief with her weekly meme pitch emails, witty comebacks, and commentary on numerous episodes of The Medium/The Message is an integral part of Volume 47. Next year, Aya will continue to contribute to The Medium as she navigates her final year at UTM and prepares her master’s applications.

Like us all, Aya is grateful for “every single person that has had a hand in creating Volume 47. Every person that has written an article, or interacted with the content, or helped on the back end of production is important.”

As Arts Editor, Chris brought art, music, film, and entertainment to Volume 47. His openness to cover a variety of media, genres, and topics quickly made the Arts section a fan favourite among writers and readers.

On memorable moments from Volume 47, Chris says, “If I had to isolate a single, most-memorable moment of Volume 47, I’d say it’s the writers and their consistent ability to exceed my expectations. […] The greatest part of the gig was reading the creative ways a writer took something and the interesting perspectives they’d make. There are many ways to tell a story, and seeing the unique ways made the editing process exciting, rewarding, and fun.”

Just like everyone, Chris will miss the people of The Medium. “The masthead really assembled an Avengers-calibre team,” he says. He characterizes the team as “the type you could go to the office and breeze through work, and also go to the pub and have a laugh with.”

As summer makes its appearance, Chris says, “I plan to leave my basement, dust off the old bicycle, and embrace the warmer weather outside.” He hopes to continue sharing moments with others, including his friends and family, to “create togetherness amid ongoing isolation.”

Chris will also spend his summer preparing for graduate school and perhaps landing another position at Indigo following his memorable experience as a seasonal employee during the past winter. He also hopes to revive his hockey-scouting-themed podcast project, Cross-Ice Prospects, that he started in March 2020 or begin a new podcast endeavour sharing movie recommendations and juicy hot-takes.

SPORTS EDITOR

Sarah-May Edwardo-Oldfield, Sports Editor Class of 2021 Sarah-May’s deep-rooted ties to UTM’s athletic community have shaped the Sports section of Volume 47 and 46 alike. Sarah-May began writing for The Medium at the encouragement of UTM Professional Writing and Communications professor Robert Price. In her two years as Sports editor, Sarah-May has continuously published stories highlighting UTM’s athletic achievement, athlete and staff profiles, and ground-breaking health news.

On her profile pieces, Sarah-May comments, “Too often we see the athlete and their athletic accomplishments, but we don’t see how they made it to where they were. Some came from war-torn countries, have moved 10 plus times, studied in three or more countries, or almost ended up in jail. It’s incredible how unique these athletes are, and I’ll miss having the opportunity to tell their stories.”

Sarah-May highlights that her athlete and communications background made her time as an editor not “feel like work.” She reminisces on attending sports games, interviewing fellow athlete friends, celebrating their accomplishments, and sharing health news as highlights of her time at The Medium. She adds, “I’ll miss finding ways to make sure our little group of student-athletes is acknowledged and celebrated.”

Another highlight of Volume 47 for the masthead has been putting together our two magazines. In the first magazine, The Essential Issue, Sarah-May shares: “It was a combination of reflecting on the pandemic and writing alongside some of the most talented and dedicated writers I’ve ever worked with.”

She mentions that she was touched to see how well received the magazine was—elaborating that old family friends reached out to tell her “how powerful my words were.”

“It feels like The Medium has given me much more than I feel I’ve contributed.

There’s been so much love, acceptance, and opportunities for creative expression. I’ve been challenged, encouraged, and so very supported,” says Sarah-May. She hopes to continue writing and contributing.

PHOTOS EDITOR

Julia Healy, Photos Editor Class of 2021 With every piece we publish comes a photograph, hand-picked and thought through

by The Medium’s Photos Editor Julia. She has been part of the publication for four years and has held the position of Photos Editor for the last two.

Julia’s ability to represent a writer’s hard work with a picture by showcasing her work or sourcing photographs has brought The Medium’s articles to life.

During this publication year, Julia had to adapt to new circumstances. Unable to send photographers to campus or events, she had to be innovative and problem-solve how to create content for our issues. Julia says, “I feel like [this year] made me more creative in a way as well— or just slightly better at using Photoshop.”

She thanks The Medium for giving her a space to share her photos. As a child, she often focused on the pictures in newspapers, books, and magazines. “Being able to create and curate photos for this newspaper has been a really huge honour for me,” says Julia.

Julia will graduate in November of this year. She mentions that “graduation and the end of this pandemic have been the two things I’ve been looking forward to this whole time.” Once she graduates, Julia will continue working part-time and may begin preparing post-grad applications.

The Growing Issue, The Medium’s second magazine publication, will hit the stand in just over a week. For the entire masthead, the hours of hard-work spent writing and polishing our long-form articles for the magazine will soon pay off when we can hold its glossy sheets in our hands.

Just like everything else this past year, Volume 47 has been a challenge. The support of readers, writers, faculty, and staff have kept us writing, editing, publishing, and creating. Thank you to everyone who took part in this volume.

As we look ahead to next year, Volume 48, akin to everything else in the world, is forecasted to be as much of a mystery. But now we know that no matter the challenge, we can make big things happen. See you next year, UTM!

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features

Editor | Elizabeth Provost features@themedium.ca

Tyler Callahan/unsplash.com

Yet another year of virtual graduation The graduating class of Spring 2021 reflects on their final year at UTM. Pearla Hariri, Associate Features Editor

Graduating from university is one of the most rewarding experiences in a student’s academic career. With the limitations brought forth by the pandemic, the graduating class’s walk across Convocation Hall to receive their diploma has turned to a walk across living rooms as graduates’ names scroll by on a screen. However, graduates are trying to make the best of these trying times. The graduating class of Spring 2021 reflects on their favourite undergraduate experiences and their takes on having a virtual graduation.

Jahnae Jones-Haywood Criminology and Ethics, Law, and Society Reflecting on her undergraduate years at UTM, Jahnae Jones-Haywood says her most memorable experience was the launch of her petition calling for a mandatory anti-racism course at U of

T. She explains that this allowed her to be an activist for topics that she holds dear to her heart. For Jones-Haywood, this was a defining moment in her academic career, an experience she will always reminisce on as a catalyst for her work in activism.

Jones-Haywood’s advice for undergraduate students is to “talk to your professors and TAs when you need help.” She explains how it is important to get to know people, build connections, and take advantage of any opportunities that may arise. A student’s undergraduate life is filled with endless opportunities; whether they choose to take a chance on their success is all in their own hands. Jones-Haywood also mentions that it is also equally, if not more, important to take care of one’s health.

Regarding her virtual graduation, Jones-Haywood says, “I am beyond disappointed. I understand that it’s our reality, but it does not mean it does not

hurt.” She explains that graduating from university means a great deal to her as she was not able to partake in her highschool graduation experience. JonesHaywood believes the largest drawback of graduating amid a pandemic was that many opportunities were cancelled. She mentions that numerous great experiences she planned and looked forward to for her final year did not pan out because of the lack of ability to network.

Despite this, Jones-Haywood explains that friendships kept her motivated through many challenges during the year. “This past year challenged everyone’s interpersonal relationships like never before and it showed me who I cared about most and who cared about me,” she elaborates.

Jones-Haywood hopes to return to U of T to attain her law degree. She explains that she takes a lot of pride in being a U of T graduate and is excited to have a traditional graduation when she returns.

Bhavdeep Virk Political Science “Whether my graduation ceremony was online or in-person, nothing can take away from the fact that I am incredibly happy and content with my years at UTM,” says Bhavdeep Virk as he reflects on his undergraduate experience at UTM. Although Virk is not thrilled about being a virtual graduate, he is grateful that his undergraduate journey has reached its end.

While the pandemic has proven to be difficult in many aspects, Virk still believes that he has just as many opportunities as the previous graduating classes. “At the end of the day, postgrad is entirely dependent on what you make of it and what you choose to pursue and do with your time,” elaborates Virk. He emphasizes that he has not allowed the pandemic to discourage him; if anything, the pandemic has only helped build his character.

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Virk elaborates that he is grateful for the creation of memorable friendships with individuals who continue to inspire him. “From people excelling academically to those that taught me about personal fulfilment and happiness, I am beyond grateful,” says Virk as he speaks of the friendships created at UTM. Nikolas Kilik Criminology and Sociology Regarding his undergraduate experience, Nikolas Kilik says that he is thankful for having met such memorable people at UTM. He is happy to have found stable friendships with different individuals, providing him with the opportunity of creating lifelong memories. Another experience he thoroughly enjoyed was winning intramural leagues. Kilik says, “Playing on those teams with my friends was always a blast, and to win and have our work rewarded was really nice.”

When he first found out he would be graduating online, Kilik was disheartened. He was disappointed he would not be able to walk across the stage or capture graduating pictures because of the pandemic. However, Kilik has now moved on to see what is next for him in his future. “I see more opportunities for my future career since the transition of work and school to online [plat-

forms],” explains Kilik.

To UTM undergraduates, Kilik advises them to “find something you like, or are passionate about, and focus on that.” Kilik’s path to choosing his majors was not linear, switching programs a few times in his early undergraduate years. He explains that once he understood where his passions and strengths laid, he was able to deduce the program that well suited his expertise. Kilik hopes to take his future one step at a time and begin by travelling once the looming pandemic reaches its course.

Tomasz Glod Political Science and History and History of Religions Reflecting on his undergraduate years, Tomasz Glod says that his most memorable moment was in his first-year history class. “Professor Mari Cowan put up a photo of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, and she talked about orange garnished eels. The eels were depicted in the famous painting, even though that food would not have been eaten during Jesus’ time,” he explains. Glod says that this lesson has stuck with him throughout his academic career as it encouraged him

to think about “the way we insert ourselves into history, to make it more appealing and digestible to us.” He believes that this moment created a constant reminder to read history critically and be able to think beyond what is written on paper.

“The biggest lesson that I’ve learned is that university is so much more than just the academic world,” explains Glod. He says that although academia plays a major role in a student’s university career, he believes that there are so many more lessons to be learned outside of the classroom setting. A fundamental component of building a genuine education experience is being able to learn beyond the walls of the lecture hall, whether this is through friendships, networks, or just interacting with other individuals.

Glod states it would be pointless to argue that students graduating virtually have equivalent opportunities extended to them as previous graduating classes.

He says that one of the most important experiences as a graduating student would be to establish a sense of connection and belonging with professors. With classes being online, Glod expresses that this interaction was difficult. “Those small informal interactions that we would have been able to have with professors before or after classes could have fostered stronger relationships,” elaborates Glod. This sense of connection is important, especially when looking for references for future endeavours, but also for students wanting to establish a form of community with their professors.

Glod says that since students graduating virtually will not be able to build these relationships, they will have to go about trying to salvage the smaller sense of community established through Zoom.

The Medium congratulates all U of T Spring 2021 graduates and wishes them the best in their upcoming endeavours. No matter the circumstance of their graduation, there is no doubt that the graduating class’s hard work will be rewarded in many other ways as they continue on their journeys.

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April 3rd, 2000/The Medium Archives

Robert Price: From The Medium’s Editor-in-Chief to UTM professor May Alsaigh Associate Features Editor

“I

’ve been with The Medium for five years now. I started as a volunteer writer and photographer, worked two years as News Editor, and finished off as Editorin-Chief. This is what I’ve learned: there are two kinds of people on campus (and in life, I suppose): the informed and the uninformed.”

This excerpt is from the last article Robert Price wrote for The Medium in 2000.

And although it has been over two decades since he last contributed his writing to the newspaper, his influence can be found in almost every issue since, and for good reason.

Robert Price, a University of Toronto alumnus and professor in the professional writing and communications program, has been a lecturer at UTM for almost 14 years.

He teaches expressive writing, advanced rhetoric, place writing, feature writing, historical writing, and argumentation. Many of the students that come through The Medium have, at one time or another, been acquainted with Professor Price’s direct and honest teaching style—one that aims to teach the principles of writing in an accessible way.

One of five brothers, Professor Price was born in Milton, Ontario, and has since called the Greater Toronto Area home. Professor Price spent most of his childhood in Burlington before moving to Mississauga to attend the University of Toronto Mississauga, then known as Erindale College. He currently lives in Toronto with his wife and son. As a child, Professor Price spent his time drawing and admiring the animations of comic books. He also recalls exploring the outdoors with his brothers. When he first began writing, he started connecting stories with his art by writing excerpts to go with his drawings. It was only in high school that Professor Price fully immersed himself in writing.

Professor Price enrolled at UTM in the fine arts program but opted for a change after his first semester: “I spent about a semester, and I said, ‘this is not for me.’” He changed his major to English and chose two minors: professional writing and religion. To further fuel his passion for writing, he became heavily involved with The Medium. “I spent all my time at The Medium. That was my real major. I liked journalism [and] I liked writing,” says Price. Other than taking English, writing, and religion courses, Professor Price admits that writing in the paper was his true form of education.

He spent a total of five years writing and working for the student-run organization. In his last issue, he wrote, “UTM is a starting ground for the real world where students can practice being a president, where students can own and operate their own newspapers and radio stations, where students can challenge authority.”

One thing Professor Price cherishes most about the campus is the rich history it holds.

Looking back on earlier issues of The Medium, he considers how the student-run publication has evolved over time. “I wish I was studying in 1979 on campus when students were just on fire and in love with writing,” he notes. “With the rapid progression of technology, students have lost the need or want to engage with print media, and lack an awareness of the opportunities that come with being a newspaper writer.”

After consulting with his parents, Professor Price chose to pursue a career in education.

He completed his master’s as part of the joint programme in communication and culture from York University and Ryerson University.

He subsequently obtained a Ph.D. in teaching and learning from the University of Toronto.

His love for teaching and his passion for writing made him the ideal professor at UTM’s Institute of Communication, Culture, Information, and Technology.

Professor Price’s favourite course to teach at UTM is WRI173: Creative Non-Fiction, previously known as Expressive Writing. Although this course is a requirement for enrollment in the professional writing communications program, Professor Price says that it can

also alter an individual’s impression on reading and writing.

He also enjoys teaching other writing courses as each one is unique and notable in what they offer. Professor Price compares them to different cuisines: “This one has a spice [and] this one has a sweetness, you know. There’s enough variety in my teaching diet that I feel pretty filled up.”

Regarding his teaching style, Professor Price focuses on what is best for the student and prioritizes teaching the rules and fundamentals of writing. “Some parts of the English-speaking world have descended into the parody of the university, and they don’t teach knowledge; they teach politics,” he says. Price believes the education system has been transformed into an institution that fails to teach students the valuable information they require to succeed in life, such as how to read and write. He argues that universities today facilitate the learning of trivial and controversial subjects with little application to the real world.

He fosters a unique classroom environment and looks for ways to improve the student experience. He reveals that he spends much of his time preparing the classroom and drafting lecture notes for his students. As a writer himself, Professor Price has published and edited numerous books, chapters, and publications, including his own poetry collection titled Tandem Bicycle. He is currently working on his second collection of poetry. Professor Price also enjoys reviewing and sharing his opinion on the literature he consumes.

Professor Price hopes to continue teaching in the future and educating students about writing and reading. Beyond his professional life, he prioritizes looking after his family and providing them comfort and security. Professor Price has taught and mentored many of The Medium’s editors and writers, and his passion for the craft has fuelled, inspired, and shaped the careers of many students at UTM. Twenty-one volumes after his role as The Medium’s Editor-in-Chief, Professor Price remains one of the paper’s most avid readers and biggest critic, a role we appreciate and don’t take for granted.

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The utmONE Scholars Collective Community: A team that feels like family UTM’s unique Scholar Collective Community offers students opportunities to network and be part of a tight-knit group.

Veronika Sizova Contributor

H

igh-achieving first-year students at the University of Toronto Mississauga have a unique opportunity to participate in the utmONE Scholars Seminars. This program offers a wide range of for-credit seminar courses that emphasize interdisciplinary and experiential ways of learning. These courses also prepare students for graduate studies starting in the first year of their undergraduate academic careers, and help them build long-lasting connections with their departments and peers. Entry into this program is applicationbased, and students starting their studies in the fall can apply to the utmONE Scholars for the 2021-2022 academic year by June 20.

However, it is not just the focus on academics that makes the Scholars Program special.

Rather, it is the sense of support and collaboration that keeps the spirit of this community alive even after the seminars are done. For instance, the Scholars Collective Committee created by Rebecca Shaw, an Academic Success Strategist, is a professional team of present and past utmONE Scholars who not only design and host events for the Scholars Community, but also publish a monthly newsletter and manage the Scholars Collective Blog. This academic year, the blog’s theme is “community, connection, and collaboration,” which are essential topics to discuss during this time of uncertainty and stress.

When asked what motivated her to organize the Scholars Collective Committee, Shaw replied that students in their first year tend to feel isolated and that the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated the need for a strong, supportive community. “Moreover,” she continued, “I wanted to engage the past utmONE Scholars because the students themselves knew best how to help their peers—and they are savvier with the online environment.” Shaw admitted that she expected only a few people to be interested, but now the Committee has 12 inspir-

ing members. One of the student volunteers, Leigh-Ann Grant, a second-year Committee Representative pursuing a double major in psychology and biology for health sciences, explained that she decided to become a member of the Scholars Collective because it “provided a safe space to hone her academic skills and learn more about U of T.” Despite its small size—only about 150 students are invited to each event—the Scholars Collective contributes to the entire UTM community because it maintains an intellectually stimulating and supportive environment on campus and online. Shaw noted, “When we think that the straight-A students will be successful no matter what, we are assuming too much. These students are less likely to reach out for help because they are expected to be doing well—but this is not always the case, especially with the ongoing stress of the pandemic.” Dalal Mahir, a second-year Committee Representative, pursuing a psychology major with a double minor in biology and anthropology, further explains the mission by saying: “We host various events that provide high-achievers with the opportunity to explore their personal and academic goals.

One of our main initiatives is supporting the scholars in their transition from high school to university and getting them involved in undergraduate research.”

The first-year experience initiatives, such as the utmONE Seminars, are significant for university students as they are offered tools to ease their transition into the new environment. Shaw explained that the utmONE Seminars help new students “develop a distinct identity by exposing them to different perspectives and ideas.” She also pointed out that it is stressful “to be away from your support network,” yet, at the same time, going to university can be “an escape” from complicated living conditions. In both cases, the utmONE program acts as a guide for students, eventually becoming their “newly found family.”

To Shaw and the committee members, the Scholars Community holds a special place in their hearts. “The students themselves started

to build that family feel,” she continued. She also described the committee’s work as an “inspiring collaboration without a single discord.” There is one key to this excellent work: the focus on the common goal. “Every event and newsletter we publish is energizing,” Shaw added, smiling, “and I feel like a part of the family too—I don’t feel like a staff member.”

“The Scholars Community is a place of belonging,” confirmed Kaitlyn Harris, a secondyear Committee Representative pursuing an English major with a double minor in French and education studies. “Building personal connections is exceptionally difficult in a virtual setting, but being a part of the Scholars Collective has helped me to meet wonderful people,” said Harris.

The committee organized various engaging events each month this academic year. Shaw and her team admitted that, although it was hard to choose, they definitely had a favourite event: Re-framing Failure. During this meeting, present and past scholars, as well as staff experts, shared their insights about dealing with failure. “At one point, the conversation got vulnerable,” Shaw recalled. “The students discussed imposter syndrome and constant fear of failure. By talking about anxiety openly, we are sending a hopeful message. This is a year of change and learning. We can grow, if we try to connect with each other in these most vulnerable moments.”

Regarding the utmONE seminars, there is one for every scholar’s taste. “It does not matter which seminar courses students take— they bring people from all academic backgrounds together,” Shaw assured. She provided an example of the newest utmONE courses, UTM190: Embodiment in Writing—Writing in Place, which combines Humanities and Social Sciences. UTM192: Thinking Badly: Misinformation in the Information Age also offers a blend of humanistic and scientific approaches.

Shaw added that UTM197: Humans in Nature “receives 90% of positive feedback,” and students often tell her that was “one of the best courses” they have ever taken. On the benefits of the seminar environment, Shaw said

she wished one of these courses were a part of her undergraduate experience. “I was shy and rarely spoke up in class,” said Shaw. The utmONE seminar courses provide students with knowledge and confidence, making them motivated and outspoken.

After taking UTM193: Nations Colliding, Aline Uchôa Boghossian, a second-year Committee Representative pursuing a double major in psychology and anthropology, explained how the utmONE seminars significantly improved her university experience.

“I have gained the ability to see different perspectives on the same matter, which is a powerful and useful way to address multifaceted and intersectional contexts,” she said.

Although there are some areas for improvement, the students are content with the work done by this newly founded committee. “The work that has been done thus far has been amazing,” noted Avery Lam-Hong, a thirdyear Committee Representative pursuing a double major in chemistry and biology for health sciences. “I can see the positive impact that the Scholars Collective Committee has been able to cultivate among the current utmONE Scholars.” Lam-Hong also concluded that, despite “the virtualization of most university activities,” the utmONE Program “fostered a space where students can seek out the sense of community and belongingness.”

Organizing events online and reaching out to students from various time-zones became a game-changing strategy for the scholars.

The utmONE seminar committee was only meant to fill the need for support and community outreach this academic year, but with so much feedback from the present scholars, it is likely to continue with more formal processes and, potentially, more members. “This is an excellent way to continue the utmONE program throughout university,” said Shaw. There is also a potential expansion plan: a summer reading group to keep the scholars connected during the holidays. More information about this program will be available following the exam period on the Scholars Collective Community website.

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March, the month of friendship This month, Best Buddies celebrates friendship and acceptance around the world.

Dalainey Gervais Staff Writer

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t’s been almost 10 years since I met one of my closest friends through the Best Buddies chapter at my high school. Paired through the program after an interview process, my Buddy and I spent our after-school time going to the mall and getting our nails done on the weekends. Painting and drawing took up most of our time—we were originally paired for our shared love of the arts. Apart from our one-on-one activities, the chapter would host community events, including holiday dances and, one of my personal favourites, parties at the local bowling alley. The organization was deeply cherished by my high school, teaching our community the importance of acceptance and of developing friendships.

March is recognized as Best Buddies month, and UTM’s Best Buddies chapter has been active with many initiatives. I spoke with the copresidents of the UTM chapter, Fatima Khalid and Shams Al-Badri, about the importance of inclusivity and how students can take the time to celebrate the group. Khalid is in her third year completing a specialist in comparative physiology, and Al-Badri is in her fourth year specializing in psychology.

Best Buddies is a non-profit organization run in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools working to “create lasting friendships between students with and without an intellectual or developmental disability.” Originally founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver in the United States, Best Buddies Canada was established by Daniel Greenglass and Penny Shore in the early nineties. Canada is now home to countless active chapters, with more than 100 chapters in Ontario alone. Internationally, Best Buddies chapters can be found in over 50 countries.

“It’s [a] way to hang out with students with disabilities outside of the UTM campus,” says

Khalid, reminding students that inclusivity is important both on and off-campus.

Events held through Best Buddies Canada primarily involve fundraisers to support the many chapters present throughout the country. For example, the yearly Thrill of Ascott gala raised over half a million dollars in 2020. Additional galas and dances held to bring neighbouring chapters together are also common events hosted by Best Buddies, allowing for the creation of friendship across many cities.

Run in affiliation with Community Living Mississauga, UTM Best Buddies organizes community events and fundraisers for individuals with disabilities on campus. “People with disabilities aren’t always given the opportunity to be part of society,” says Al-Badri.

As such, Best Buddies works to create a safe space for these individuals.

Community Living Mississauga is a nonprofit charity organization supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities in offcampus settings. They offer aid in residential services, community and recreational support programs, as well as child and youth outreach.

Both Al-Badri and Khalid were introduced to Best Buddies by prior executive members when they took part in activities the club held in the early years of the UTM chapter. After seeing the importance of the club on campus, both decided to make a difference and apply as co-presidents to support the organization.

Finding friends isn’t always an easy thing to do, and Best Buddies creates a welcoming space that encourages friendships, and most importantly, social inclusion for those with disabilities. Although official peer-buddy pairings didn’t occur this year, activities held over the course of the semester promoted a hub for students with and without disabilities to develop long-lasting friendships.

Prior to the pandemic, the club organized activities including laser tag, ice cream so-

cials, and trips to the movies. Recently, however, social events have been held exclusively online, allowing members to play games, watch movies, and socialize. The club also holds social events once every month. “We have been staying on track with events even through the pandemic,” says Al-Badri. Although official events through UTM Best Buddies are over for the semester, group members understand the importance of social interactions during times of isolation, and will continue to informally organize get-togethers through the summer. That’s the beauty of friendships and clubs like this—they don’t stop with the end of the school year.

Many students are unaware of the many initiatives at UTM that promote inclusivity.

Although accessibility services on campus provide academic aid to students with disabilities, social opportunities outside of the classroom for these students are rare. “There isn’t much representation for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities on campus,” says Khalid.

“Joining and celebrating the club is the best way for students to honour Best Buddies and what it does for the UTM community,” says Al-Badri, claiming that the key to inclusivity on campus lies in the exposure of clubs like Best Buddies Canada. Students are also encouraged to write a pledge in honour of inclusivity and reflect on opportunities to promote friendship in their community.

Over the years, my Buddy and I have developed an unbreakable sisterhood, a bond that I hope others can create through joining the club. I have learned countless lessons by partaking in Best Buddies; these lessons have helped me navigate through my journey of becoming an adult. To those interested in taking part of the Best Buddies chapter at UTM and truly making a difference in someone’s life, there are two ways to join the club: you can sign up through the official Best Buddies Canada website or email the UTM chapter at bestbuddies@utmsu.ca.

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Arts

The M List: Most anticipated reads for summer 2021

Editor | Chris Berberian arts@themedium.ca

Dalainey Gervais Staff Writer

Finding hope through literature: Five feel-good books to read Danica Teng Associate Arts Editor

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ith Covid-19, the state of American politics, and protests surrounding racial injustices, 2020 was a roller coaster of a year for everyone. For university students, online classes and Zoom meetings only added to the stresses of the year.

But not all is lost.

With vaccines now being distributed, classes possibly returning to campus in the fall, and world politics coming to a more restful place, 2021 seems to hold a brighter future. To help bask in this hopefulness and the beauty of warmer weather, here are five feel-good books to get your hands on this spring.

Swedish author Fredrik Backman kicks off our list with the heartwarming and doleful novel, A Man Called Ove. Published in 2012, the story follows the titular Ove, a bitter, ill-tempered old man who lives on his own and wants nothing to do with his neighbours. While his bitter exterior repels any intimate relationships with others, his new neighbours take an unexpected liking to him.

Backman creates a character who, over the course of the book, comes to terms with the sorrow that gave rise to his crankiness. A Man Called Ove is an enthralling story about hope, resilience, and the value of warm relationships—perfect if you’re seeking a feel-good book.

Next on our list is a novel that expresses both sorrow and joy. In Jojo Moyes’ Me Before You, Louisa Clark finds herself unemployed after someone closes her bakery. Anxious to get a job so she can keep her family afloat, Lou takes the role of a caretaker for Will Traynor. Will once lived a life full of speed and adrenaline, but after a devastating accident, he’s now wheelchair bound.

As the pair start their working relationship, a deeper relationship begins to form.

Soon, Lou discovers Will’s plans to end his life and she out to show him that, even amid his misfortunes, his life is still worth living.

In Me Before You, Moyes illustrates an enchanting love story, where two unlikely people find love in an unlikely circumstance. The first book in a trilogy, Me Before You is a beautiful story about love, sacrifice, and life’s fragile beauty.

Another novel centred on loss, This Too Shall Pass by Milena Busquets focuses on Blanca, a 40-year-old woman who just lost the most important person in her life: her

mother. To help come to terms with her new reality, Blanca contacts her friends and family and moves back to Cadaqués, Spain. Over the course of the novel, Blanca spends her summer in Cadaqués, where she searches for closure and a meaningful life.

Blanca’s story is a raw illustration of the emotions that one experiences when faced with the loss of a parent. Busquets writes her story to highlight the importance of reaching out to others when it seems like our lives have turned upside down, and the hope that emerges from it.

In Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the reader grows with Ifemelu, a young Nigerian woman who immigrates to America for a better chance at a university education. Growing up in Nigeria and then arriving to America, Ifemelu must quickly adapt to American customs and establish a new life for herself. We find Ifemelu constantly navigating between her Nigerian and American identities.

Adichie is a Nigerian writer who has written many books on the Nigerian experience. Through her enchanting prose, and her own experiences as a Nigerian woman, Adichie absorbs readers into the inspiring world of Americanah, illuminating the vitality of blank.

For our historical fiction lovers, we end our list with Paulette Jiles’ News of the World. Written in 2016, the book takes us back to the aftermath of the American Civil War. Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd travels across Northern Texas to read the news to paying audiences. One day, when he arrives in Wichita Falls, he receives an offer to deliver an orphan to her relatives in San Antonio, in exchange for $50.

Over the expanse of the 400-mile journey, the unlikely pair form an invaluable bond with one another. The captain faces a dilemma once he arrives in San Antonio and must decide whether to deliver the girl to her relatives, who see her as an unwanted burden, or venture off, become a criminal himself, and raise the young girl.

Reportedly based on a true story, News of the World is a charming Western tale that draws out the difficult decisions and moral dilemmas that one faces, and the hope that comes with finding one’s proper path.

Although this list isn’t expansive, it’s an excellent starting point for anyone who seeks some cheerful reading this spring.

With exam time soon approaching, it’s important to find contentment and tranquility—whether that be through a feelgood book or a day of sleep.

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he pandemic has led many people to adopt new skills and pick up new hobbies. A year ago, I spent my summer with weekly breadmaking, crochet tutorials, and reading, which left me with a personal library that’s almost doubled.

Soon, the time to read and bask in the sun will be among us. To get a head start, here are The Medium’s most anticipated reads for 2021. Each book is sure to keep you busy this summer.

Permission to Dream

by Chris Gardner (April 13) Set to publish in a few weeks, Chris Gardner’s Permission to Dream is the perfect inspirational read to kickstart your summer. The book follows Gardner and his granddaughter, Brooke, as they search for a harmonica. Along the way, they get lost and board a bus.

Gardner recounts to his granddaughter his past struggles with darkness and the lessons he’s learned to find success. Permission to Dream is a timely fable about realizing one’s desires during times of uncertainty.

Other works by Garner include the self-help book Start Where You Are (2009) and another autobiography, The Pursuit of Happyness (2003), which was a New York Times Best Seller and became a feature film starring Will Smith.

While Justice Sleeps

by Stacey Abrams (May 25) If you enjoy a political mystery, Stacey Abrams’ While Justice Sleeps is the summer read for you. Expected to release in late May, this thriller tells the story of a junior law clerk, Avery Keene, who must become the power of attorney after her mentor, Justice Howard Wynn, falls into a coma. Keene discovers that Wynn had been meddling in a controversial case, leaving Keene to wonder if Wynn’s sudden coma was a coincidence or a consequence of discovering a dangerous secret.

The story takes place in the U.S. Supreme Court, which has some readers wondering about connections between Wynn’s investigation and the real-world corruption of the U.S. government.

One Last Stop

by Casey McQuiston (June 1) The 2019 young adult romance, Red, White & Royal Blue, made readers swoon, and nothing less is expected from Casey McQuiston’s highly anticipated LGBTQ+ novel, One Last Stop.

This novel follows August, a cynical 23-year-old, having just moved to New York City. August doesn’t believe in magic, true love, or fate, but that chang-

es after she meets a beautiful girl named Jane on the subway. Soon, August must determine whether love is real, and whether a life with Jane is truly for her.

This is a novel for hopeless romantics and New York City lovers.

Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch

by Rivka Galchen (June 8) If you enjoy historical fiction, witches, drama, or all three combined, look out for Canada author Rivka Galchen’s newest novel, Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch. Set in 17th century Germany, this tale follows Katharina, an illiterate widow known for her herbal remedies, during a time based in which women were accused and sentenced to death for witchcraft.

Katharina suffers this accusation by a deranged neighbour and is forced to tell her side of the story to save her life. With the help of her secretive neighbour, Simon, and her scientist son, Katharina works to prove herself innocent. Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch should be equal parts entertaining and provoking, serving a dark, witty story while illuminating the hypocrisy of the ruling Holy Roman Empire.

Ghost Forest

by Pik-Shuen Fung (July 13) Pik-Shuen Fung’s debut novel presents the haunting and unforeseen humorous story of a Chinese Canadian family. After immigrating to Canada with her mother and grandmother, and leaving her father behind in China, the unnamed protagonist grieves and remembers her father after his death.

She’s left to ponder on how her family should grieve when they don’t discuss emotions or why her father was left behind in the first place. Although a fictional novel, Fung’s poetic storytelling illustrates the life experiences of many migrant Chinese Canadian families in the early 1990s.

The Final Girl Support Group

by Grady Hendrix (July 13) Horror fans will know there’s always one person left standing to tell the tale of what happened that dark and scary night, and Grady Hendrix’s next anticipated read is about just that: the final girl.

This novel follows Lynnette, the only survivor of an unthinkable massacre who joins a support group of five other women survivors. After 10 years of group meetings and the formation of an unbreakable bond, one of the “final girls” misses a meeting, leaving the rest of the group worried about her disappearance. They now must work together to solve the mystery, each unravelling secrets from their past.

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Dan Aykroyd on believing in the paranormal, being woke, and embracing Coneheads Paige France Associate Arts Editor

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ith tales of his great-grandfather, Samuel Augustus Aykroyd, and his connections with the afterlife having passed through familial interests, Canadian funnyman Dan Aykroyd’s penchant for the paranormal was no accident. Rather, it was a precursor for a transcendent screenplay, inspiring waves of future ghosthunters to muse into the unknown and frolic among obscurity.

Parallelism is rich within Aykroyd’s megahit film success and his personal life. Like his character’s mission in Ghostbusters, Aykroyd dreamed of a reality where public opinion believed in ghosts haunting New York City’s darkest alleyways.

In an exclusive interview with The Medium’s Associate A&E Editor, Paige France, Aykroyd recounts his experience with Spiritualism, his view on individuality and acceptance, and the importance behind Ghostbusters’ continual ability to educate and enthral curious minds.

Throughout Aykroyd’s prolific career, his selfimage pervades his creative dexterity. The now 68-year-old Ghostbuster confides that challenging the norm was an integral personal conquest.

With Coneheads (1993), Aykroyd identifies with his character Beldar’s eccentric ideology.

“Oh yeah, the Coneheads. Beldar is an alien, and I feel alienated sometimes. I am an observer.

He wants to help, and he’s fitting into a harsh society to get ahead, ultimately becoming a member of an enriching community,” says Aykroyd.

“Playing an alien, is right up my alley. Not the alienation by virtue of my Hollywood career.

The way I was born was just a little outside the norm. I have a view of the world that is certainly not normal. Maybe I have a little aberration that has helped me creatively.”

His outsider status has profoundly influenced his screenwriting, whether in his dreams of acceptance, or refusal to conform in the face of fear. Remaining unmalleable has allowed this heterochromatic comedian with syndactyly (Aykroyd has opposite coloured eyes and webbed feet) to introduce the world to authentic character portrayals.

With his prominence on the big screen, Aykroyd’s creative eccentricity has helped spawn a sense of timelessness between him, his contemporaries, and generations of audiences.

Films with enduring power sparked his trailblazing work, pulling the white cloth off of his family’s research for curious onlookers to see.

The paranormal sensation—Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II (1989)—was conceived and co-written by Aykroyd from an evolving childhood fascination. Aykroyd credits his father, Peter Aykroyd’s book, A History of Ghosts: The True Story of Séances, Mediums, Ghosts, and Ghostbusters, for influencing him.

It’s a comprehensive history of ghost sightings and the Spiritualist movement that swept through the United States. The literature details his family’s passion pioneered from bequeathed tradition, uniting “real empiricists chasing ghosts” alike, and shedding light into the Ayk-

royd household and those early experiences from which Ghostbusters originated.

“My great-grandfather was a long-time Spiritualist. For séances on Sunday, black cars would arrive, and matrons would sit around the table.” Believing that the religion is as valid as any other, Aykroyd’s family was part of a community that believed life does not end.

“Consciousness survives after death and can be contacted from this world to the next. My family grew up in a legacy. My great-grandfather researched these unexplainable acts. He had his own séance room with a family medium. This is what his family was steeped in. Our family business was a belief in the afterlife and the release of the consciousness.”

Raised in a household where the dead were celebrated, Aykroyd found himself years later perusing the pages of the American Society for Psychical Research journals he had grown up reading. Fascinated by quantum physics and comparative psychology, Aykroyd envisioned a concept where the parapsychological vernacular was combined with comedy.

“Would it not be innovative to make an Abbott and Costello-Bing Crosby-Bob HopeBowery Boys-type ghost comedy of scientists who are trying to help a society where nobody believes in the paranormal?”

With the imagination of harnessing subatomic power to trap ghoulish entities, Aykroyd’s childhood passion awakened. With his family religion motivating him to bring his novel idea to film, Aykroyd forever changed attitudes towards Spiritualism, impacting popular culture.

Intertwining the science of how apparitions might manifest in the real world with lighthearted commentary, the screenplay introduced a predominantly unbeknownst element— “ectoplasm.” Despite its 1894 discovery by French physiologist, Charles Richet, Aykroyd integrated the tangible science of ectoplasm, hence, co-star Bill Murray’s iconic line: “He slimed me.”

“It was the perfect marriage of talent and science,” says Aykroyd. “We were working on all 16 cylinders.”

“It is the true nature of the paranormal. We can’t explain it, and that’s the reason I chose to integrate science with the backdrop of disbelievers in the heart of New York.”

“Spirituality is more than the survival of consciousness. I like it because of the notion of hope that it elicits. It is a gentle religion that’s so wonderfully tolerant. To be a Spiritualist means to inherit a legacy that’s tolerant of love, kindness, and equality. Spiritualists of Louisville, New York was a very strong feminine community that supported the suffragettes, underground railways, and encouraged same gender preference couples,” says Aykroyd.

“I feel honoured to be a part of this wonderfully tolerant religion. It is woke. Being a member of a woke culture that explores the inexplicable— there’s something beautiful about that.”

The association of hope and death brings joy to Aykroyd. “With the magic of the religion using the backdrop of Louisville, all available on a summer’s night and the magic of the woods— surrounded by the paranormal entities of your belief—who would want to leave? This is what the world should be about. It’s a Brigadoon without this belief system.”

Aykroyd’s interest in paranormal spirits has parlayed into, well, physical spirits. His brand,

Crystal Head Vodka, was conceived with a desire to create a pure vodka. “I realized that most brands smelled perfumy. Due to their chemistries, most drinks had high viscosity, tasted synthetic, or incorporated unnecessary additives. These companies were religious with their tradition of adding limonene, citrus oil, and sugars that would contribute to the synthetic taste of standard vodka.”

Aykroyd challenged standard practice to craft a martini without additives. Working with a virgin canvas, Aykroyd perfected a product that smells as it should—clean—and has a bit of spice and notes of vanilla.

“We found out we had a hit.” Glycerol, a known toxic cleaner used in antifreeze, was excluded. “Without the glycerol, we used a vodka distillation treatment to cultivate a versatile vodka based upon how tequila is made, meaning tequila drinkers, vodka drinkers, and mixologists are loving this.”

“And it’s perfect for UTM students because no glycerol means cleaner consumption and fewer hangovers!”

Sought to craft a vessel deserving of holding this ultra-premium vodka, Aykroyd teamed up with Texan artist and friend, John Alexander. “He handed me a drawing of a skull, and the bottle was born. It was reminiscent of the 13 crystal skulls from the legend. It was exactly what I had envisioned,” says Aykroyd.

“My vodka was an enlightened drink. These skulls were used to enlighten the tribal bands, and those who possessed them by granting them power from the other world. It was the perfect marriage of my passions.”

Distributed within 79 countries and winning 11 gold medals in the International Spirits Challenge, Aykroyd praises the award-winning packaging, innovative chemistry, and the Newfoundland water used during manufacturing.

Exploring Aykroyd’s influence on entertainment, it becomes transparent that his presence has permeated the hearts of his native land, and conversely, his own heart is bound to its roots.

“I am proud to integrate Canadian elements into Crystal Head Vodka. And that’s why I am proud to be Canadian. We are living in a place where there’s tolerance and consideration for those who haven’t had it in a long time. That tolerance is what makes Canada so special.”

Synonymous with many belief systems, thoughts of unification bind those daring to be absolved from prejudice and conflict together. Aykroyd feels that Canadian tolerance allows Spiritualism to thrive.

“I am happy to be associated with the Spiritualist movement because I believe in its importance and lessons of acceptance, something I have been granted as a Canadian. Where people can love who they want and be loved by who they want, where they want, when they want.”

To Aykroyd, Spiritualism, Ghostbusters, Coneheads, and Canadian society are all connected— each symbolizing tolerance and unity as ways to suppress division and embrace acceptance.

“That’s such a wonderful concept. Paige, you and I today, tomorrow, and tonight—as time is slipping into the future—all the planet, all 7.8 billion of us in one stationary moment are sharing in the unknown. People are not as different as we are led to believe. We are all connected by inconclusiveness. And that’s what is most exceptional about human beings.”

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The subtle yet vital message in The Farewell Danica Teng Associate Arts Editor

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elling a lie is often seen as a bad thing. But what about a lie with good intentions?

This is the heavy burden in Lulu Wang’s 2019 drama, The Farewell.

Based on her own life, Wang retells her story about a lie through the lens of 30-year-old Billi (Awkwafina), a Chinese American living in New York City. When Billi finds out that her grandma—her Nai Nai (Zhao Shu-zhen)—is dying of cancer, she’s distraught, not only because of the devastating news but also because her family has decided not to tell Nai Nai her own diagnosis.

While Billi reconnects with her family and sits alongside her parents, her mom Lu Jian (Diana Lin) tells her, “Chinese people have a saying: when people get cancer, they die. But it’s not the cancer that kills them, it’s the fear.”

To keep the secret and give the family a chance to see Nai Nai, they all reunite in their hometown of Changchun, China to celebrate the rushed marriage of Billi’s cousin Hao Hao (Chen Han) and his girlfriend Aiko (Aoi Mizuhara).

During the journey from New York to Changchun, Wang offers us a heartwarming, intimate tale of a family grappling with cancer.

But the film branches out beyond this theme.

It also paints a blunt picture of cultural clashes, and of the humanity that connects us all, regardless of identity.

These meaningful messages wouldn’t have been so impactful if not for the cast’s gripping performances. The charismatic Awkwafina sheds most (but not all) of her usual comedic cheeriness in this sombre role. Here, she moves us through the pain she carries in her body language.

The most memorable character to me was Zhao’s performance as Nai Nai—a tough yet caring grandma whose comforting smile is familiar, even if you’ve never seen her before.

The love she radiates is contagious, and every scene she’s in is enjoyable.

Besides the beautiful cinematography and performances, The Farewell’s charm comes from its subtlety. It doesn’t yell at you for attention or insist upon its own values. It simply contrasts Eastern and Western cultures. Even when nothing critical is happening, Wang captures the subtle similarities and differences between the people and places. The film takes its time to portray the everyday cultural be-

liefs and traditions of each place through action, dialogue, and setting—doing so in an honest and natural way.

As a Chinese American, Billi struggles with this cultural conflict—a lie that’d be illegal in America is commonplace in China. To help Billi better grasp the family’s decision, her uncle Haibin (Jiang Yongbo) says, “You think one’s life belongs to oneself. But that’s the difference between the East and the West. In the East, a person’s life is part of a whole.”

With both views presented, the film acknowledges the contrasting beliefs between the East and the West but doesn’t judge or bias either viewpoint. What the film does compare is the universalities among cultures, particularly in the experience of love and grief. It captures raw emotions that each of us can relate to, no matter where we live or what customs we follow.

And while hate crimes against the AAPI community (Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders) have always existed, today, they’re rising. Art has a remarkable way of connecting people, representing underrepresented voices, and building empathy. In times of overt xenophobia, Lulu Wang’s voice in The Farewell reminds us we all have our differences, and that’s okay. Because it’s our humanity that still connects us.

Nostalgia for normalcy in Lana Del Rey’s Chemtrails over the Country Club The newest album sees the artist at her most intimate.

Sherene Almjawer Contributor

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Photo/ Riot Fest

t’s been one year since we were told to stay home. One year since we could lounge at the park with our neighbours, and one year since we could go to ice-cream shops with family and friends.

Like most things in the world, life stopped when the pandemic started. In the music world, for many artists, that meant delaying the production and release of their works.

On March 19, 2021—one year since this new normal started and rumours began— singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey released her seventh studio album, Chemtrails over the Country Club. The cover depicts Del Rey with her lifelong best friends, each person smiling around a checkered cloth-covered table, donning 1970s-inspired outfits, presumably longing for an idyllic past.

Del Rey’s newest album embodies her sincere lyricism and melody, and blends each together to create a meaningful emotional experience. The five-time Grammynominated artist couldn’t have released Chemtrails Over the Country Club—an album about nostalgia, reminiscing about the times shared with loved ones, and confusion about where life is heading—at a better time.

Comprising eleven tracks, the album thrusts us into Del Rey’s iconic falsetto, introducing us to her “Country Club”—a place to escape to when we need family or friends to comfort us. “White Dress” starts off the album with nostalgic sounds of summer—dogs barking, roller blades whirring on the pavement, and wind chimes clinking in the breeze.

We fall into Del Rey’s breathy tone as she recounts her younger years, when she was surer of herself, happier, and more confident as a waitress in a flowing white dress.

As the song progresses, the verses end and the choruses begin, her voice giving way to the faint piano. When Del Rey returns, she’s still quiet, still comforting, but a little more powerful.

The title track, “Chemtrails over the Country Club,” intensifies this nostalgic sentiment with soft piano and deep vocals.

The lyrics romanticize things such as doing laundry in the bright sun or racing in a little red sports car, while the song slows and distorts like a broken record player. As Del Rey’s voice morphs, more and more unrecognizable, her gentle falsettos return over mangled instruments—this time they aren’t comforting.

“Tulsa Jesus Freak,” “Let Me Love You like a Woman,” “Wild at Heart,” “Dark but Just a Game,” and “Not All Who Wander Are Lost” all feature more of Del Rey’s gentle voice over even gentler instruments.

These five tracks lead us further into our nostalgic daydream. We’re filled with both hope and melancholy—it’s sad we can’t go back to the times we felt freer, but let’s appreciate the time we have now.

From “Tulsa Jesus Freak” to “Not All Who Wander Are Lost,” the album progresses into more rhythmic styling and hints of country, with the squeaking of fingers moving across the guitar’s strings.

The last four tracks, “Yosemite,” “Breaking Up Slowly,” “Dance Till We Die,” and “For Free,” only amplify the country influences.

As the album closes, and the messages within are laid bare, we experience hope.

The world isn’t over. Just because we feel alone doesn’t mean we always will be. While it’s healthy to reminisce, we can’t let current troubles hold us back from floating in a swimming pool on a future summer day.

Chemtrails over the Country Club starts hesitantly, vulnerably, as if Del Rey is unsure how to feel about herself and her future. The album’s first half has dreamy popinspired tones, with haunting falsettos and hearty vocal cracks. Here, Del Rey layers her voice over and over, creating these rich deep harmonies like we’re listening to her in an empty theatre. Her voice is the star; the instruments are the ambience.

The second half of the album transitions to deeper, more powerful, and more harmonious falsettos. They’re entrancing. They give every single song that extra wisp of mystery—Del Rey’s own signature sound.

Through Chemtrails 0ver the Country Club, Lana Del Rey lets us enter her subconscious. The album begins with raw emotion, remembering the happier times spent with family and friends. Amid the newfound melancholy throughout, the album ends holding our hands, reminding us that our Country Club will always be there.

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When Martin Scorsese talks about cinema, we should listen The American filmmaker has once again drawn the ire of Marvel fans.

Cameron Vrckovnik Contributor

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n an interview with Empire in 2019, director Martin Scorsese stirred some controversy. When asked about his opinion on Marvel movies, the iconic American filmmaker deemed them as “not cinema” and equated them to “theme parks.”

The public reaction to this was explosive.

It seemed every entertainment magazine in the world covered the story, and scores of angry Marvel fans stormed social media, lambasting Scorsese as some out-of-touch old man. Many other filmmakers and actors weighed in on the topic, and the meaning “cinema” was fiercely debated.

That was all back in 2019. After the dust settled for almost two years, the discourse reignited in February 2021 when Scorsese wrote a piece in Harper’s magazine, discussing his love for various filmmakers and for cinema in general.

The piece is an example of Scorsese’s profound passion for the art form. In it, he writes nostalgically about growing up in the 1950s and 60s, when prolific filmmakers such as Jean-Luc Godard, Agnès Varda, Ingmar Bergman, John Cassavetes, and Stanley Kubrick were “reinventing cinema with each new camera movement.”

Scorsese dedicates his essay to his love for the masterful Italian filmmaker, Federico Fellini. Fellini—at the centre of cinematic innovation in the 50s and 60s—inspired an entire generation of budding cinephiles and filmmakers, Scorsese especially. Scorsese describes the power of his work, with films such as 8 ½ and La Dolce Vita being these unprecedented pieces of art that revolutionized his conception of cinema.

So why the controversy?

Well, in a small part of the article, Scorsese comments on the state of modern cinema amid streaming platforms and the corporations behind them—which readers focused on most. The famed director observes that streaming services and their algorithms are “systematically devaluing” films as “content” for cheap consumption, rather than more profoundly as art.

“When Scorsese articulates his concern for cinema’s future, perhaps we should avoid the knee-jerk reaction of taking to Twitter to call him an out-of-touch boomer.”

Many other filmmakers have previously expressed this concern, as a handful of major media and tech corporations exert almost monopolistic control over the media industry in pursuit of profit. Although Scorsese states that streaming platforms have benefited him (Netflix produced his most recent film, The Irishman), he worries about the viewer. Films are being pushed simply as content, and handpicked curation is being replaced by algorithms.

Regardless of his argument, it seems whenever Scorsese opens his mouth these days, people get angry. His newest remarks caused another social media frenzy, as many people, still upset about his comments surrounding Marvel, once again labelled him an old man yelling at people to get off his lawn.

There were also accusations of him being some sort of “elitist” snob, made by people who don’t seem to know a lot about him or

his career. For some reason, many rushed to defend the corporation over the artist.

Aside from him being one of the most celebrated and respected filmmakers alive, Scorsese has dedicated much of his career to redistributing and restoring overlooked films from around the world. Through his non-profits, The Film Foundation and The World Cinema Project, the director has helped preserve and celebrate cinematic expression from developing countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. This isn’t the work of an “elitist” but of someone passionate about cinema, its history, and its future.

As a deeply knowledgeable artist who reveres cinema, Scorsese is right to be concerned about the future of the medium. The industry, he argues, only values films for their earning potential. “We can’t depend on the movie business, such as it is, to take care of cinema.”

While smaller curatorial companies such as The Criterion Collection and MUBI strive to keep curated cinema alive, they’re still small compared to the massive corporations that are pushing us into the “content” age.

Whether you enjoy Martin Scorsese’s films or whether you agree with him is beside the point. There are few people on this earth with a deeper love of cinema than the maestro himself, as his almost 60-year-long career can attest.

So, when Scorsese articulates his concern for cinema’s future, perhaps people should avoid the knee-jerk reaction of taking to Twitter to call him an out-of-touch boomer.

Perhaps we should stop and listen to what he has to say.

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sports & health

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

How stress destroys your metabolism Stress is a major culprit of post-secondary student weight gain.

Ricardo Valdes Contributor

M

y life changed when I transitioned from high school to university. Finally, I could drive to school, make new friends, and bring food into my lectures without professors giving me the stink eye. There was one thing I didn’t anticipate at the end of my first year: the extra 25 pounds around my waist.

My friends and family told me I looked like melted vanilla ice cream––and I wasn’t alone.

As I scrolled through Instagram, I noticed that my high school peers had also put on some weight. This made me feel a bit better about myself, but it also made me curious. Why did we all gain weight?

University students have a lot of responsibilities: meet deadlines, study for exams, attend lectures, balance health and maintain a social life. This brings a lot of stress for the majority of students.

Stress propels our bodies to enter the “flightor-flight” mode. Hormones, such as cortisol, release into our bodies. Cortisol regulates mood, motivation, fear, and metabolism. When cortisol levels are high, we get more headaches, have trouble sleeping, and gain weight. But why?

Researchers at the University of Minnesota may hold the answer to that question. In 2015, they published a study in Frontiers in Nutrition that determined how stress impacts appetite and obesity in mice. Researchers exposed adult

mice to a model of chronic subordination stress (CSS). They individually housed the mice for one week before introducing another mouse in the cage. The mice interacted for 10 minutes before they fought. After the fight, researchers placed a wire mesh in the cage that allowed continuous sensory contact between the winner and the loser. The loser was stressed; the winner wasn’t. Researchers fed both mice the same high-fat diet and analysed their eating behaviours. They found that: first, the stressed mice ingested food at a higher rate than the non-stressed mice, and second the stressed mice gained a lot more weight than nonstressed mice under the same diet.

Maria Razzoli, the lead author of the study, concluded that the mice developed an increased appetite shortly after exposing the mice to stress. Under the same high-fat diet, the stressed mice were more vulnerable to having a stroke, becoming obese, and developing Type-2-diabetes than the non-stressed mice. “The outcome of the CSS model resembles many features of human [binge-eating disorder],” added Razzoli.

Stress plays a big role in how hungry humans feel. In the short-term, stress shuts down our appetite. The nervous system tells the adrenal glands (an organ responsible for hormone production) to release adrenaline.

This activates our “fight” mode and increases our blood pressure and heart rate, enlarges our eye pupils, and decreases our appetite.

In the long-term, stress increases our appetite. The nervous system tells the adrenal

glands to release cortisol. Cortisol alters blood sugar levels and triggers symptoms of low metabolism and weight fluctuation. When humans live under constant stress, levels of cortisol remain high. This prevents insulin from interacting with our cells. Insulin helps our cells absorb glucose and break it down into energy. When insulin is blocked, our blood sugar and weight increases.

Stress is something we can’t avoid in our lives. But does it influence the type of food we eat?

In 2015, researchers at Yale University published a study in the Journal of Health Psychology that investigated the relationship between chronic stress, food cravings, and body mass index (BMI). Researchers measured all of the participant’s BMI and had them fill out two surveys that assessed their chronic stress and food cravings. In the chronic stress survey, participants rated their perceived difficulty with ongoing interpersonal, social, and financial relationships from “not true” to “true.” In the food craving survey, they rated how often they craved high-fat foods, sweets, and fastfood fats over the past month from “never” to “always/almost every day.” Researchers found that chronic stress was correlated with highfat food cravings and higher BMI. Ariana Chao, lead author of the study, concluded that stress increases cravings for nonnutritious foods. “[Our findings] suggest that creating interventions to help adults cope with stress and with food cravings may help them attain a healthier weight,” stated Chao.

Regardless of the type of food we eat under stress, cortisol will still be present and it will still make us gain weight.

Chao’s solution isn’t to replace unhealthy cravings for healthier ones. Instead, she states that people should learn stressmanagement strategies to prevent weight gain and live a healthier life. After all, less stress means lower cortisol levels. Lower cortisol levels means stabilized blood sugar and metabolism.

Stress management aims to keep exercise, diet, sleep, and relaxation at a healthy balance. None of these should introduce more stress into our lives. Exercise could look like taking a walk, going for a run, using the stairs instead of the elevator, parking as far from the door as possible, or cleaning the house. Diet could look like taking nutrients that lessen the effects of stress such as Vitamin C, Magnesium, or Omega-3 fatty acids. Relaxation could look like meditating, taking deep breaths, or making time to hang out with friends and family.

My life changed when I transitioned from my first to second year of university.

I went to the gym more often, I stopped pulling all-nighters, and I started bringing healthier snacks to class. My face went from looking like an inflated balloon to looking like an inverted egg. Baby steps.

There was one thing I didn’t anticipate at the end of my second year: I focused a lot more and got better grades.

Can schools safely operate in-person following CDC guidelines?

Duaa Nasir Associate Sports Editor

O

ver this past academic year, UTM has shifted the majority of courses online. Certain courses continued in-person and the campus remained open with modified hours for certain buildings and services. For those regularly visiting the campus, masks were made mandatory. As we near the fall semester of 2021, it is unclear how online and in-person learning will proceed.

Numerous findings from several US states have examined how significantly precaution measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 actually affect transmission of the virus. A study from K-12 schools in Missouri allowing in-person learning published their findings on March 19, 2021, in the journal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

“This work is imperative because keeping kids in school provides not only educational enrichment but also social, psychological, and emotional health benefits, particularly for students who rely on school-based services for nutritional, physical, and mental health support,” Johanna S. Salzer, one of the researchers on the study, told ScienceDaily.

The study, led by Patrick Dawson, involved 57 public schools and two private schools in St. Louis Cunty and the Springfield Public School District in Greene County in southwest Missouri. Each of these schools made it mandatory for students and staff, on campus or busses, to wear masks. They also emphasized hygiene, physical distancing, and daily screenings for Covid-19. They installed physical barriers within classrooms, permitted virtual learning, and increased ventilation within buildings.

These schools notified the research team of any infected or quarantined student or staff member for two weeks in December. Someone could be quarantined if they were in close contact of someone infected by Covid-19. The study

involved 193 participants. Of them, 37 (24 students and 13 staff members) were infected and 156 (137 students and 19 staff members) were close contacts. Only 102 of these close contacts agreed to a saliva test to test for infection; two of these people received positive results.

Despite high rates of transmission in December, no outbreaks occurred in the participating schools. This was true even when Springfield schools permitted students who had been in contact with those infected to stay in school.

“Schools with proper prevention strategies remain a safe environment for students and teachers during the pandemic,” said Randall Williams, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Jason Newland, one of the study’s lead researchers, agreed: “Schools can operate safely during a pandemic when prevention strategies are followed. The pilot study demonstrates low transmission in schools and no student-to-teacher transmission—and this was during the height

of the pandemic in December, with high rates of community spread.” Newland has advised school districts in Missouri on reopening schools.

This study also examined strategies to prevent transmission of Covid-19 and quarantine policies. “We are pleased to continue to work on this joint project with the CDC, Washington University, and the Springfield-Greene County Health Department,” said Jean Grabeel, director of health services for Springfield Public Schools.

“The initial results helped verify that our mitigation strategies have been successful in the school setting. This continued work will help to further guide the full-time return of students to in-person learning, five days a week, in a safe manner.”

Mark T. Miles, superintendent of the Rockwood School District with over 22,268 students, agreed: “I am grateful for Rockwood’s opportunity to participate in this collaboration. We all share the same priority: keeping schools safe for students, teachers and staff as well as the community at large.”

20

Shaquille Dav

id/UTM Athle

tics

From behind the camera lens to the center of the basketball court

UTM alumna Celine Polidario reflects on her legacy as a photographer and basketball player.

Sarah-May Edwardo-Oldfield Sports Editor

R

ecent UTM alumna, photographer, and artist Celine Polidario was sure she would study sociology coming out of high school.

Her eventual goal was to go into social work, but as she was about to submit her application on the last day, she had a drastic change of heart. “I went through the list of programs and saw CCIT at UTM,” she says. “It looked cool, and it was close to home. I went to an open house and fell in love with the campus.”

Celine took this opportunity with a CCIT major to study art history as well. An art teacher from her high school inspired her to pursue it. “I told my parents I was doing an art minor so they wouldn’t recognize I was doing a whole major.” Polidario took art classes all throughout high school. She’s drawn to abstract painting and loves the fact that there’s no pressure to be perfect.

Polidario moved to Canada with her parents from the Philippines when she was four years old. Celine and her parents are huge basketball fans. She admits that the sport is a huge part of Filipino culture, despite the stereotypes. “I remember waiting for my dad to come home, because he worked the night shift, and we would watch basketball.” As a child, she didn’t know what the rules were but watching the Miami Heat verse the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA finals piqued her interest. Polidario became a big Boston fan, and became heavily invested in the Boston Celtics -L.A. Lakers rivalry.

For six years, Polidario watched every single Raptor’s game. Her family went as far as recording games they missed to watch later.

“Even when we’re on vacation, we find a way to stream it. And my mom loves it, she loves cheering. She’s the loudest fan.” Her family seemed to live and breathe basketball, watching hours of the game, from recorded games to coaching videos.

Polidario played basketball in her elementary school and on the high school varsity team. But she hung up her shoes when she came to UTM. She didn’t start playing again until her third year and didn’t join a team until her final year. “I don’t know why really. It’s probably one of my biggest regrets.” Celine felt intimidated. She didn’t feel good enough. “I didn’t think I could compete with others [at a university level]. I didn’t even know there was a tri-campus team.”

Up until her second year, Celine had tried to get involved in different ways outside athletics. But nothing she tried had the connection or experience she wanted. She wanted to be involved in sports and as well as photography : “I started going to my brother’s games and taking pictures for them.” This bolstered her courage to take photos for UTM and get paid as well. She fell in love with the job after taking photos during the Varsity Men’s basketball practice. “Kyle Boorman went for a dunk and I captured the moment. It was best photo I’d ever taken.”

For Polidario, her job with UTM Athletics never felt like work. She took pride in her work. One of her favourite things about the job was finding “that moment” to capture with her camera.

This role as sports photographer also marked a turning point for Polidario and her return to the game. “I think it was when I was sitting on the sidelines taking photos. I would come to games and see how much team spirit and fun there was. I would ask myself, ‘why didn’t I do this earlier?’” That summer Celine made a promise to herself that she was going to join a basketball team no matter what.

In her final year, Celine played shooting guard for UTM’s Women’s Tri-Campus Basketball team. Her coach has praised her for her work ethic, humble personality, and openness to learn and improve her game. Celine’s passion and love for the game is clear every time she steps onto the court, whether that be for a late-night practice of a game or while dealing with a family crisis, like her mother’s cancer diagnosis.

Throughout the ordeal, her mom was still one of her greatest supporters. “In the beginning of my senior year she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and as much as I tried to make every doctor’s appointment to support her, she would never hinder me from missing class or any games.” Celine found a silver lining with the stay-at-home orders during the pandemic. They allowed her to spend the time with family she missed during her final year. “I was able to be there to support [my mom] during those moments.” Today, her mom is now cancer free.

Celine’s favourite player growing up was NBA championship guard, Rajon Rondo. “I love his hustle. I love how he makes his teammates look better. He’s so skilled at passing the basketball, [in a way] that puts others in a good position. If you’re actually watching the

game, you’re going to understand his impact.

He’s like Kyle Lowry in that sense. It won’t show up on a stat sheet, but what he does on and off the court matters.” Nowadays, Celine’s favourite team is the Toronto Raptors, and her favourite player is Kyle Lowry.

Polidario believes she’s had a unique experience within the UTM athletic community.

While she hasn’t been an athlete for all her years at UTM, she’s been heavily involved and invested in sports and athletics at UTM. She was the Lead Sport Photographer and considers herself a Tri-Campus athlete. “I feel like I’ve touched all these levels within the department, both in sport and behind the scenes. I’ve been to the meetings and on the bus rides with the athletes. I’ve played intramurals and Tri-Campus, and I’ve photographed all those games.”

It was a fun environment, and everyone is very close. Although she was a photographer and had to take a step back to observe, she still always felt a part of the community. She felt like she was a part of something so much bigger than herself.

Celine has now brought her talents into the role of Social Media Content Coordinator for a transportation company. As a tri-campus athlete, Celine hopes that she’s fostered a relationship with younger athletes. And she hopes she can inspire a love and passion for the game of basketball.

“I hope I helped athletes remember their time [and legacies] at UTM. I like having my name attached to something great, but at the end of the day I want people to remember and reflect 10 years later on a photo I took.

That would be the dream”.