Volume 48, Issue 15

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

Issue 15 Volume 48 January 24 2022

themedium.ca

LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

LOCKED ON LEAFS

During the second semester of my second year, Laurentian announced their insolvency of $200 million. Staff and students went into a panic because most people found out through Instagram and no one knew what being insolvent meant.

The community, the constant interactions in the hallways and dining halls, living and eating together, formed the foundation of my closest friend group in UTM, and it truly started to feel like a home.

There is never a dull moment here in Leaf Land, and that is why this bi-weekly column is here: to keep you up to date on the latest ups and downs surrounding our source of pride, sorrow, and despair.

>> read more on page 07

>> read more on page 10

>> read more on page 14

NEWS

Annual Town Hall Meeting reveals no more physical distancing measures starting February Amanda Liu Contributor

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n January 19, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) hosted their annual Town Hall Meeting, where students were invited to attend via Zoom. During the meeting, several issues were addressed such as the return to in-person classes that was announced to begin on January 31.

Students were also invited to submit their questions to the university’s Instagram account, @UofTMississauga, via Direct Message. For more questions, the university held a question and answer (Q&A) session for participating students.

>> IN-PERSON CLASSES continues on page 02

NEWS

OPINION

U of T overlooks accessibility concerns for students with medical conditions

We need to talk about the powerful people ignoring pandemic guidelines Shahed Ebesh Contributor

May Alsaigh News Editor

I

n response to U of T’s decision to maintain in-person learning for a few courses during the new semester, several students are expressing concerns over their health and safety—especially those who are immunocompromised.

The rapid growth rate in Omicron infections places those suffering from medical conditions at a much greater risk than others. Students at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) are coming together and holding the school administration accountable for overlooking these concerns.

Started by Transparent UTMSU, #UTMDivided is a movement many students have joined to raise awareness about these issues while combating the barriers UTM has abstractedly established.

On their Instagram, tagged @TransparentUTMSU, the group of student volunteers share testimonies and answers questions regarding these safety concerns.

A hybrid learning approach is one of the many aspects the movement advocates for. >> ACCESSIBILITY continues on page 03

I

n this chapter of the pandemic, we’re all seasoned veterans of the ever-stringent rules to limit the spread of Covid-19. As things become more streamlined, policies lock-in to enforce these rules, like fines for breaking quarantine, or vaccine requirements to sit in enclosed spaces like restaurants. The argument given is that if we sacrifice enough, we can reduce infection rates and prevent unnecessary deaths. To protect our most vulnerable populations, we have all halted nearly two years of concerts, travel, weddings, school, and birthday parties.

But not everyone. Not the rich, and worst of all, not even the ones who made the laws.

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, for instance, was caught attending illegal parties throughout 2020 in what was dubbed “partygate” by U.K. Tories, leading some of his previous supporters to call for his resignation. U.K. Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer on BBC news said, sounding bewildered, “I think the prime minister broke the law. I think he then lied about what had happened.”

Or another example, Novak Djokovic, an unvaccinated tennis player who on January 16, 2022, was deported from

Australia. He left the Australian Open and is now barred from entering the country for three years after omitting on his visa that he had traveled to multiple countries in the two weeks before arriving to Australia, much to his outrage.

Djokovic’s situation sparked anger from the Serbian government, which supported him ferociously, and equal outrage from the Australian public, who have a 90 per cent vaccination rate and are in the midst of huge wave of the highly transmittable Omicron variant. As Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said, denying Djokovic entry was done, “on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so.”

Should the rich and powerful be entitled to a different set of rules? Unless that power extends to some sort of super-powered immune system with zero transmissibility, no.

Johnson and Djokovic are symptoms of a long-standing cultural phenomenon of rich and powerful people treating law as an inconvenient suggestion. A fly you shoo away. A punishment isn’t a punishment for everyone if it’s a sum of money. Djokovic is not, I assure you, kicking rocks in a tiny flat back home in Serbia. It sucks that he missed the Australian Open, but it’s also his own fault. >> GUIDELINES continues on page 05

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NEWS

Editor | May Alsaigh news@themedium.ca

Annual Town Hall Meeting reveals no more physical distancing measures starting February The University of Toronto Mississauga to fully reinstate in-person learning for students and faculty later this Winter term.

Amanda Liu Contributor

>> IN-PERSON CLASSES continued from page 01 During the meeting, the university announced that in-person learning will officially resume on February 7, as opposed to January 31. Principal of UTM and Vice-President of U of T Alexandra Gillespie took this time to discuss the current Covid-19 situation.

“Covid-19 is not likely to go away this winter, but it’s also going to be with us next fall and winter, and probably for many seasons to come,” Principal Gillespie states.

Principal Gillespie also considers why it is important to follow the advice of health officials for the safety of the UTM community. As Harvard Chan School of Public Health’s Dr. Lowe indicates, most UTM classrooms meet, or exceed the ideal standard for air exchanges.

Principal Gillespie explains that there would be no physical distancing measures for in-person classes, as the university is exempt from physical distancing requirements since it is an essential service.

For this reason, UTM will continue to prioritize high-quality ventilation on campus. However, the university will not provide

N95 facial coverings or rapid tests. Principal Gillespie stresses that UTM students should act responsibly by wearing well-fitting masks on campus.

Principal Gillespie states, “In-person higher education is a key source of social connectedness, not just while you’re here at university, so that’s really, really important, but for the rest of your lives. This is where you form networks and learn to network beyond your own family and immediate community.”

During the meeting, Principal Gillespie also stresses that inperson learning is a significant way to boost our society’s health as considered by public health officials.

In terms of hybrid learning for the Winter semester, the meeting reveals that the courses currently listed as “in-person” will continue to be in-person throughout the term. Meanwhile, other classes will fully resume on campus starting February 7.

The university indicates there are no plans for hybrid learning or increased online options for students. In the meeting, it is also mentioned that professors are now able to record their lectures, though they are not required to do so.

Several students demonstrated concerns about the university’s current food service provider being Aramark. According to various sources, the provider has a history of controversy due to scandals such as serving expired foods for consumption.

No clear answer was given rather they stated, “UTM food services contract was awarded via a mandatory, transparent, public RFP process.” Currently, UTM currently has no inten-

tion to remove Aramark Food Services from the list of campus food providers.

For students who require academic accommodation due to a disability, the school encourages them to reach out to Accessibility Services that can be found on the U of T website.

Though several issues during the meeting were not fully resolved, many students at UTM were thrilled to hear some of the new changes such as permitted lecture re c ord i ng s .

With discussion of various ongoing topics, the meeting restored the hopes of many students since many issues were finally addressed.

Recent report outlines steps to achieve diversity and equity in Ontario schools The Peel District School Board observes data that indicates Black students are more likely to be suspended than their peers.

Razia Saleh Associate News Editor

I

n their most recent board meeting, the Peel District School Board (PDSB) reported that Black students in elementary and secondary schools are suspended at a much higher rate than their peers.

Specifically, Black students account for 22.5 per cent of suspensions, even though they make up 10.2 per cent of the student population. The meeting reveals 78 per cent of secondary students and 40 per cent of elementary school students were being suspended for “other’’ categorical reasons, including for wearing hoodies and hoop earrings.

In their report, PDSB observes the Ministry’s Directive #21 Student Discipline, a policy designed to address disparities and disproportionalities in suspensions and expulsions.

The mandate also serves as a guide for

schools to ensure Black and Indigenous students with special education needs are not excluded.

The document provides solutions for educators to implement within the education system to ensure fairness and mitigate bias.

In the report, the Board writes, “Progress Report #2 highlights the steps that the Board has taken to transform our approach to student discipline, to centre student safety, belonging and wellbeing while doing so in a way that is antidiscriminatory.”

These alternative solutions include steps on how principals and viceprincipals handle student misconduct, inclauding “ongoing system” training for principals and vice-principals “to conduct student disciplinary processes in ways that are procedurally fair.”

As stated in the report, “it is critical that the Board creates the

conditions, the policies, and operating procedures necessary to eliminate the disparities and disproportionalities in student discipline and that the Board holds itself and all administrators accountable to that end.”

The training for principals and vice-principals consists of three modules.

The first covers the eliminating of systematic discrimination, the second looks at adhering to regulation, and the third observes applying procedural fairness.

In more detail, Interim Policy #89 outlines that rules surrounding the suspension of kindergarten to grade three students have been expunged from the Boards guidelines.

The Board has taken the initiative to ensure

that past records of elementary student suspension are not used in “progressive discipline decisions.” This practice has impacted Black and Indigenous students in the past making it inappropriate to further allow this policy to continue. Currently, the Board expunged a total of 1,789 suspension records.

Like Interim Policy #89, a new revised framework was structured called Policy #48: Safe and Accepting Schools. As written, “all decisions relating to student discipline at the PDSB are made within human rights and an anti-racism, and anti-oppression framework and require that all disciplinary decisions accord with Part XIII of the Education Act.” This means that decisions on whether a student is suspended or not will follow a more rigid and structured unbiased framework.

By addressing these issues, PDSB has opened alternative ways for Black students to be treated equally and equitably. This will eliminate disparities in the education system and address disproportionate suspensions.

03

UTMSU invites students to virtual Commission Meeting to discuss upcoming campaigns and events Mental Health Awareness Week, Undergraduate Research Symposium, and Sustainability Week are just a few of many campaigns that will be offered to students in the 2022 Winter term.

Anjalli Becharbhai Staff Writer

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n January 17, the University of Toronto Mississauga Student Union (UTMSU) hosted their annual Commission Meeting via Zoom at 4 p.m. The meeting outlined upcoming campaigns, which have a budget of $6,000, for the 2022 Winter semester.

The President of the UTMSU, Mitra Yakubi, discusses the budgeting process and how it was allocated. One of the main goals of the group was to provide a budget that is fair and reasonable for students of the UTM community.

To generate funding, the UTMSU collects union dues from each member but also receives additional financial aid from sponsors, services, and government grants like Canada Summer Jobs. Union dues are monthly contributions made by members of the UTMSU, which are then pooled to make up their budgeting, resources, and wages.

“At the beginning of each school year, the UTMSU Board approves a preliminary budget where we allocate funding to different line items,” Yakubi says.

Funding is determined based on spending from previous years and students’ priorities, needs, and suggestions.

“The executives are then tasked with bringing forth proposed budgets for each commission—campaigns and advocacy, student life, student services—where we get feedback, ideas and pass the budget,” explains Yakubi.

To receive final approval, the UTMSU presents the revised budgets to their Board of Directors.

GLADYS LOU/THE MEDIUM

Vice President External Maëlis Barre mentions how these commission meetings are essential for students to benefit from services such as the UPass program.

“The UPass program is something that came out of commissions, it was advocated for based on student ideas to create more efficient transit systems,” she mentions.

During the meeting, the first topic that was discussed was Mental Health Awareness week. The timeframe of this campaign, which includes preparation and execution, will take place from January to April 30 with a budget of $1,000. This budget will cover the expenses of any events taking place during the week.

For virtual programming, gift cards will be administered to winners of raffle activities. The raffles will be used as an incentive to increase participation. Any external speakers will also receive compensation.

For any in-person programming such as care packages, the budget will be used to purchase materials such as notebooks, highlighters, pencils, snacks, granola bars, juice boxes, mittens, socks, and toothbrushes.

The second priority is the Undergraduate Research Symposium. Preparation and the event will take place from January to March with a budget of $3,000. The funding for this event will be used to cover any expenses for the program. For virtual programming, gift cards will be presented to judges as well as grand prizes for the winners and candidates participating in the symposium.

Vice President of University Affairs, Merica Carlos, discusses how this event will give students an opportunity to put forth their research and collaborate with faculty. “It gives students

an opportunity to meet new friends, colleagues, and win a grand prize if you present your research,” Carlos states.

The third priority is Sustainability Week, an event that will take place in March with a budget of $2,000. The money for this campaign will be used for numerous events that will be held in March to raise awareness on how students at UTM can lead a sustainable lifestyle. Some events will give students the chance to win one of many sustainable prizes.

Vice President of Equity, Ryan Tomlinson, mentions this month will focus on specific events that promote sustainability and environmental justice.

“There will be many panel discussions and giveaways including seeds and pots to make athome vegetables,” he states.

This event will promote sustainability and offer educational tips from various speakers.

“Panels will resemble interesting thought-provoking topics similar to last year’s discussion on environmental racism,” continues Tomlinson.

The 2022 budgeting plan is set to provide students with various interactive campaigns and events that relate to healthy lifestyle choices and academics. Students can expect virtual and in-person events offered by the UTMSU throughout the Winter term.

U of T overlooks accessibility concerns for students with medical conditions Students use popular social media platforms like Reddit and Instagram to voice their concerns regarding in-person instruction.

May Alsaigh News Editor

>> ACCESSIBILITY continued from page 01 This approach enables students to choose between a virtual or in-person mode of delivery and, for many, this model is critical.

U of T and its tri-campus system are continuing to implement in-person learning for a few courses, even with current Covid-19 restrictions. On their website, U of T states that with public health guidance, the university has shifted a majority of courses online until January 31 with the exception of a few.

“For students like me, or for students who have family members who are immunocompromised, it’s way easier for us if we are given the necessary online accommodations,” says Shen Fernando, co-founder of Transparent UTMSU. Fernando is a third-year student at UTM currently completing a major in Political Science with a minor in Education Studies and History of Religions.

“They are essentially forcing all of us to risk our health [and] to go into a campus with 14,000 other people with [minimal] physical distancing and limited mask mandates.” Though physical distancing and mask regulations are enforced by the university, Fernando states that only a handful of students actually comply.

Before UTM’s Town Hall Meeting on January 19, some faculty members were unable to record lectures for their courses that have already been subject to an in-person learning stream.

Several professors at UTM were demonstrating concerns, as they were instructed by the Dean to no longer post recorded lecture material on Quercus—U of T’s main online teaching platform—once classes are back in-person.

However, it was announced during the meeting that professors now had the option to record their lectures—a proud achievement by Transparent UTMSU. Using the hashtag #UTMDivided, students are taking it to the university’s Google Reviews to voice their concerns and raise awareness about these issues.

Several are rating UTM a one-star of five and leaving comments about their standpoints. “#UTMDivided—Poor planning of opening in-person classes. Poor communication with students regarding these plans,” one Google user writes.

Not only are students calling out the university for their decisions, but they are also holding the

administration accountable for the disorder that they have provoked.

Another user writes, “#UTMdivided—You are close to losing me as a student for all the mess you guys have created and how little to no action you guys take.”

However, Google Reviews is not the only platform students are using to raise awareness about U of T’s lack of communication and support. Reddit is another network the UTM community is using to voice these issues.

On a particular thread, one user shares a video that holds UTM administrators accountable for their poor decision-making.

Fernando also mentions that several students have emailed the university and Principal Alexandra Gillespie regarding these concerns but have only been faced with indefinite responses.

“The university is actively going against their own policies of equity, inclusion and diversity by doing this,” says Fernando.

Additionally, Fernando claims that the university is not addressing concerns about health and safety. Instead, students who have emailed administration are receiving open-ended responses from the university.

Through these efforts, many students feel that UTM is not adhering to the needs of immunocompromised individuals who are demanding better learning conditions. When it comes to accessibility issues, students feel as though the university administration is contradicting their own integrity policies by neglecting student concerns.

04

PEDRO MIRANDA/UNSPLASH

School of Cities release report on upcoming projects and initiatives An annual report released in December 2021 provides a brief outlook on the new 2022 year with 13 new projects.

Larry Lau Associate News Editor

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ormed in late 2018, the School of Cities (S of C) was formed to provide U of T with numerous urban-focused programs and a place to collaborate among researchers. Recently, the program released its annual review for the 2020-2021 reporting period, enumerating research projects and various initiatives.

“The School of Cities is intended to be a hub for all folks at the university that do research focused on cities.”

“The School of Cities is intended to be a hub for all folks at the university that do research focused on cities,” says Executive Director Ben Liu in an interview with The Medium.

S of C hopes to attract faculty members and students who are conducting research on cityrelated issues regardless of which department they are from.

In their report, S of C reveals they funded 13 projects relating to anti-Black and antiIndigenous racism to support anti-racism education.

There were also numerous urban challenge projects in the previous period, which are ini-

tiatives geared towards specific issues in cities. The S of C funded numerous teams that investigated the effects of urban development on the environment, and the affordability of housing, among many other pressing matters in urban research.

The S of C also extended fellowships to graduate students through the Urban Leadership Fellowship and Academy Program, which enabled the mentoring of student researchers.

This also contributed to a community of students from varying disciplines who shared a common interest in cities and urban research.

The program included 20 fellowship positions for graduate students, where they would be working independently on their projects.

There were hundreds of applicants competing for the 20 limited positions, resulting in many applicants failing to receive a fellowship offer.

To make up for this, students who did not make the position were grouped based on the theme of their research, after which they were extended offers to work in groups as part of the academy.

“There are many opportunities for U of T students to become involved and expand their horizons.”

There are many opportunities for U of T students to become involved and expand their

horizons. Specifically, S of C is working on growing its two existing courses at U of T to offer more opportunities to students.

For the first course, only offered to undergraduates, students form an interdisciplinary team are tasked to resolve certain issues for clients. As each team is assigned a different client, they face unique obstacles.

For the second course, offered to graduate students, there are numerous interdisciplinary teams that work on the same issue but in different municipalities. This year, the teams of graduate students will be working on the concept of the “missing middle” regarding housing.

Liu explains that independent houses and condominiums are seeing increased popularity, while medium-density housing such as rental units in apartments, among other midsized buildings, are now “missing.”

Some families may face housing problems due to affordability issues of independent houses and living space issues of condominiums, having no middle ground option between the two.

Additionally, the S of C will be launching the Data Sciences Core this summer, which is a paid internship program designated for students with data experience. Interns will work for public or not-for-profit organizations, addressing their data-related issues.

To continue facilitating student researchers’ projects, the S of C will be running the Urban

Leadership Fellowship and Academy Program this year with slight modifications. The same funding and mentoring opportunities are present, but only the 20 fellowships remain, with the Academy Program opportunities unavailable.

“The theme of this year’s research projects is on climate and justice.”

Moving on from opportunities for U of T students, this year, the S of C has funded 13 new projects. “The theme of this year’s research projects is on climate and justice,” states Liu, enumerating the overarching concepts of 2022 campaigns.

A research team led by the University of Toronto Mississauga will be exploring the relationship between urban inequality and pollution.

Other research projects include green roofs in Toronto with an emphasis on remote sensing tools, along with a study on the accessibility of natural spaces for residents.

Regardless, all 13 research projects carry great significance and will offer insight into the explored urban issues upon completion.

Results from the projects can be expected one year later.

In essence, with the abundance of projects and programs underway, there is much to look forward to from the S of C for the 2022 year.

MASTHEAD EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Provost editor@themedium.ca Managing Editor Elisa Nguyen managing@themedium.ca News May Alsaigh news@themedium.ca Opinion Aroni Sarkar opinion@themedium.ca Features Ricardo Jaroslav Valdes features@themedium.ca A&E Danica Teng arts@themedium.ca Sports Duaa Nasir sports@themedium.ca Photo Hayden Mak photos@themedium.ca Design Manjot Pabla design@themedium.ca Copy Juliana Stacey juliana@themedium.ca Miguel DaSilva miguel@themedium.ca Social Belicia Chevolleau social@themedium.ca Videographer Nikolas Towsey video@themedium.ca

ASSOCIATES & APPOINTED ROLES Larry Lau, News Razia Saleh, News Kareena Kailass, Opinion Haya Abu Ghosh, Opinion Dalainey Gervais, Features Prisha Nuckchady, Features Aidan Thompson, Arts Dellannia Segreti, Sports Gladys Lou, Photo Simrah Siddiqui, Photo Isik Vera Senel, UTMSU Correspondent Julia Skoczypiec, Theatre Erindale Correspondent Robert Bui, Campus Athletics Correspondent Erin Delaney, Satirist Helen Yu, Comic Artist

TO CONTRI BUTE & CONNECT: themedium.ca/contact @themediumUTM

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05

OPINION

Editor | Aroni Sarkar opinion@themedium.ca

UTM 2022: Fun for some, just not for you This year is all about the boundless ways that U of T sets you up to be bound by your OSAP debt.

Erin Delaney Satirist

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othing is quite like a new year. New opportunities to skip class, new friends to make and then stop talking to once the class you share is over, and plenty of new opportunities to be disappointed at U of T. 2022 is all about the boundless ways that U of T sets you up to be bound by your OSAP debt.

For students still zooming through online classes, University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) is proud to announce that they have purchased the copyright to several dances from the hit video game FORTNITE. Professor didn’t like your discussion post? Just dab on them! Is your partner for the final project worth most of your grade not returning your desperate emails? Just nae-nae the pain away! Does academic stress have you feeling depressed? Not when you can do the worm in the middle of a Zoom meeting! Take that, participation marks! The UTM administration would like students to be aware that the copyright fee for the dances will be added to their student invoice with an addition of $17.99 each semester, so be sure to use them!

In campus news, UTM is following its long-term goal of continuing to offer less while charging students more. In 2022, UTM is evolving its culinary experience. Yes, it may be evolving into a new virus strain, but that’s still something new and different!

Our campus is accustomed to the gourmet service Chartwell had previously provided, but now we have a whole new opportunity to experience the delight and wonders of prison food.

Aramark, the company behind maggots à la mode and the Ontario Clostridioides Difficile superbug outbreak of 2011, is going to be exposing, no, spreading, no, bringing a whole new era of consumable classics like stale bread and highly contagious illnesses. Aramark is an exciting new addition to the Ontario food community,

as nothing says Ontario like gross mismanagement and persistent public health issues.

In the new year, if you are ever blessed with the opportunity to actually be on campus, look forward to all of the washrooms being closed due to fecal distancing. Of course, with UTM’s new partnership with Aramark, you’re definitely going to need a new place to be comfortable when you get food poisoning. While you’re looking for a new place to poop, be aware that UTM has not renewed the union contracts with both the geese and the deer populations on campus, so please be wary of crossing picket lines and the usual goose poop.

In addition to angry and upset wildlife, please keep in mind and spare a little prayer for the heartbroken student athletes. With UTM deciding they no longer want to participate in the Ontario College Athletic Association, students who played on varsity will now unfortunately have nothing to focus on at school except their academic careers. With no tournaments and external validation to look forward to, they may die if they do not get enough attention.

The Recreation, Athletics and Wellness Centre (RAWC) intends to implement new measures to meet up with the expected new year demand. Statistics show that students often cope with mental stress of a new year through exercise and physical movement. Always keeping students’ needs in mind with their ever shrinking operating hours, the RAWC is implementing a new policy to help meet demand while boosting the number of available staff. Going forward, the RAWC will now only be open when the chimney on the roof emits a stream of black smoke, as the smoke is declaring that a new personal trainer has been chosen.

With so much to look forward to, it’s hard to figure out what to get excited about first! Be sure to let us at The Medium know what is going to motivate you this new year! Is it the delectable and detestable new food options, the exciting new student fees you’ll get to pay, the joy of seeing student athletes have their dreams crushed, or the faith in a new workout regime?

We need to talk about the powerful people ignoring pandemic guidelines Spoiler alert: they include the people making the guidelines in the first place.

Shahed Ebesh Contributor >> GUIDELINES continued from page 01 Not only do I applaud the Australian government for choosing public health over a tennis championship, I also staunchly support the citizens who have suffered and lost family to this devastating virus, who surely want to rip their hair out in irritation at this selfimportant crybaby.

Money isn’t immunity. Power isn’t a vaccine. Hospital beds don’t open up any faster if people think they deserve exemptions left and right. I speak for us all when I say that no one cares if you miss a party if it means someone else won’t miss next week. Most of us haven’t been anywhere but Walmart in months. You’ll manage.

Whether this mentality arises from a sense of superiority over us

puny peasants, or false invincibility from the fame and notoriety, I would like to ask the Johnson’s and Djokovic’s of the world whether they just assumed the virus would skip them over because they are special. What about the people they interacted with, and their mothers, fathers, children, grandparents? And what does my sacrifice, as an ordinary citizen, mean in the grand scheme of this ridiculousness, if people with more money in the bank get to run around swapping virus variants because they got bored?

Covid-19 has interconnected us all in uncomfortable, upsetting ways, but denial is not the way out. Empathy is. I pray I do not need to explain why you must care about other people even if it is inconvenient.

Bottom line, if you refuse vaccination, don’t expect special treatment, and if you flout the rules your own government put in place, don’t expect an apology to accomplish much for you. In such a bizarre time of life and death and guest capped funerals, international tennis competitions can wait.

Editorial

06

: The Girl Code

Gyms are essential. It’s time they open up their doors The constant closing and reopening of gyms is harmful to our physical and mental health.

Some rules must never be broken.

The Medium

P

Elizabeth Provost Editor-in-Chief

Dear Liz, Women always complain about being screwed over by guys, but for me, it’s always been women. I think I’ve had a bad run with friendships, most ending in some form of un-warranted backstabbing. My “best-friend” dating my ex is my last straw.

So, what are the rules amongst girls? What lines can’t be crossed?

Signed, Friendless and Confused Dear Friendless and Confused,

T

he ability to see the genuine intentions of a friend is a skill cultivated with time. It’ll take more than a few stabs in the back to tune into that gut feeling that can identify red flags as they’re raised. But the key is that gut feeling. A friend’s true intentions can appear in the smallest moments, often at the start of a friendship. For example, when someone agrees with you just because it’s easier, or people that only stick around when you’re doing well, or friends that have a negative attitude towards the smallest of things.

The Girl Code, which I’d argue is more binding than the Bro Code, is one of the pillars of friendships and basic human decency. As women, we often forget to stick together, despite going through the same experiences. So, here’s a reminder on the Girl Code.

The most important rules: Never date a friend’s ex (*cough*), never share another woman’s secret, travel in groups when drunk and at night, and never hate a woman you’ve never met.

For the advanced followers of the Female Bible, here are some other lines that shouldn’t be crossed and some general rules: Never trust a friend that dates a cuffed guy, never stay silent when a friend is falling for an asshole, never put another woman down to get a man’s attention, support your friend’s businesses, never agree when a friend is commenting negatively about her appearance, and always, and I mean always, re-tweet your friend’s funny tweets.

Keep your head up, but never let your guard down. It’s stormy out there.

With love,

icture this: It’s wintertime and you just started a new semester. Days are shorter now, which means that as soon as 5 p.m. hits, you’re ready to close your laptop and chill for the rest of the day—but wait, you can’t. There’s a deadline coming up for that assignment you’ve procrastinated on for week. As you put your thoughts together, you realize you’re hungry and reach for a snack. That snack turns into a munching session. And before you know it, this vicious cycle leads to unhealthy eating habits resulting in poor health.

If this scenario sounds familiar, then you might be experiencing seasonal affective disorder. In other words, the lack of daylight dampens your motivation. As students, it can be easy to put exercise

at the bottom of our to-do list. The constant closing and reopening of gyms makes it even easier for us to prioritize other downtime activities such as doom-scrolling through TikTok. On the surface, gyms may seem like a place where people lift weights for their egotistical needs. After all, anyone can work out from the comfort of their homes.

But gyms are more than that—there are psychological purposes for them. These include having a sense of community, accountability, promoting a sense of wellbeing, and the release of pent-up frustrations.

With the pandemic, our need to be surrounded and motivated by others is essential. Keeping gyms open is essential. Multiple fitness facilities have implemented sanitary procedures to keep members safe across Ontario; procedures that have been proven efficient by previous studies.

It’s time our government stops with the constant closing and reopening of gyms. It’s time students gain their sense of motivation, relieve stress, and lift their mood through workouts.

Social media: A reflection of who you are, or who you want to be?

The popularity of photo dumps opens the door to discussion about how social media can increase gratitude and optimism.

Hamna Riaz Contributor

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s with all new technology, discourse around social media, both academic and casual, is never-ending. There are always new takes and understandings of the ways we use it and the effects it has on us. I recently asked a group of University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) students what their favourite types of posts on Instagram are. The group all agreed that the popularity of “photo dumps” was what they currently enjoyed most.

“Instead of one picture of a person where they purposely look their best, you see a more holistic, casual view,” said thirdyear Life Sciences student, Lina Hasan.

However, she brings up the drawback noting that, “The photo dumps are compressing a long period of time into 10 pictures which makes their life look exciting but doesn’t really show the boring or difficult side.”

Often, when we talk about posting a selective view of our life on social media, it’s done so in a negative light. However, a large point of social media is to document and be able to look back at the better parts of one’s life. This leads us to the question, can posting the better parts help us in practicing gratitude? Can social media be used as our vision board?

Vision boards are visual displays of an individual’s aspirations that are said to improve motivation. An article by Psychology Today suggests that vision boards help us self-reflect and practice self-awareness. They also mentioned that they

may help us imagine a positive future which is a helpful way to increase optimism and create opportunities.

What is the difference between a vision board, a gratitude journal and an Instagram profile where we post the best versions of ourselves? Why does social media have to be a reflection of who you are and not who you want to be?

We grew up being taught not to post too much of ourselves online to protect us from strangers but are also told that if we don’t share everything, we’re fake. Why does the kid in my chemistry class need to know that I lost my car keys? Why would I want to document and remember the day I got my parking ticket? And as Lina questioned, “Why is the bad of our lives considered personal but the good considered free public knowledge? Just because someone shares their happy moments doesn’t mean they aren’t being authentic.”

At the end of the day, how our social media affects us is largely based on how we let it. There are two things to keep in mind before embarking on your Instagram gratitude journal or vision board journey. Be honest with your claims. If you work out once a month and post, that’s fair, it’s not your responsibility to decode your posts for others. But if you workout once a month and talk about how you practically live in the gym, that’s a lie.

Lastly, be mindful of your intention. If you find that you’re often posting with the hope that others will engage with the content and have a certain perception of you, then are you really using it for gratitude or self-motivation?

Always remember that social media, while it may not always seem like it, is your blank canvas. You can be inspired by the work of others but there is nothing stopping you from using it the way that benefits you most.

07

Laurentian University’s insolvency cut my program, and I’m not the only one The biggest struggle has been the journey of transferring to UTM and figuring out whether I’ll graduate on time.

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espite it being one of Canada’s top universities, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) was not one of my top choices when I initially applied for university. I never even considered UTM because my grades weren’t up to their standards back then. I had fallen in love with Laurentian University (LU) in Sudbury instead. Their campus has 11 kilometres of hiking trails and a beach. Their residences offered community building extracurriculars and I was accepted into a unique program.

The Concurrent Education (ConEd) program at LU would allow me to incorporate teacher’s college into my undergraduate degree, and so, I would be able to graduate in five years as a certified teacher. Regardless of my excitement for the program, things didn’t go as planned. I switched out of ConEd and into a double major in English and Communications in my second year, which I filled with an overload of courses to try and regain my second-year status.

On February 1, 2021, during the second semester of my second year, Laurentian announced their insolvency of $200 million.

Staff and students went into a panic because most people found out through Instagram and no one knew what being insolvent meant.

“Being insolvent means that the institute still has their assets like buildings, but no physical money.

Bankruptcy means you have neither.”

Being insolvent means that the institute still has their assets like buildings, but no physical money. Bankruptcy means you have neither. One of my teachers confirmed that the university didn’t have enough money to

pay their staff from February to April. So, misinformation that the school was bankrupt (thanks Canadian Party Life) ran rampant across social media, ruining what little reputation Laurentian had left.

Cue the uncertainty for many students.

Would the university shut down entirely? Was there even a point to finishing the semester?

It would be two months of waiting until we got answers.

In an attempt to save themselves, Laurentian announced on April 1, 2021 that they were dissolving their partnership with their three federated universities on campus. The federated universities were individual institutes where students could obtain a degree from them directly or through Laurentian using their courses. My second major, Communications, was through one of the “feds,” Huntington University.

I had been taking six courses and putting myself through incredible stress and burnout, only to not have a program after the semester ended.

That was only the beginning.

12 days later Laurentian cut 69 undergraduate and graduate programs that day, not including the programs already cut by their dismantlement of the federated universities. I scrolled through dozens of tweets from Laurentian professors announcing their heartbreak that they would no longer be employed at Laurentian after the semester ended and that their program would disappear along with them.

I applied to UTM for English and I would have applied for UTM’s Communication, Culture, Information, and Technology (CCIT) program, but Laurentian announced their insolvency the same day that most university’s applications closed. Convenient for LU right?

A decision had to be made. Would I stay at Laurentian to finish my one uncut program, or transfer to another school to hopefully finish both? I finally decided to accept my offer to UTM, only to realise almost three weeks later that the same day I had accepted my of-

fer, I was supposed to submit a transfer credit application. Already three weeks late, I had to scramble to get over 20 syllabi from professors no longer employed at Laurentian for classes that no longer existed, as most of my electives were through the federated universities as well. I even messaged one professor through LinkedIn. I was that desperate.

My English credits took a long time to transfer over. By the time they did, I had already enrolled in classes and had to switch all of them again due to the fact that I had signed up for classes that I had technically already taken.

No one told me what POSt was when I first started at UTM. I thought that when I accepted my offer in one program, I could just declare another major and continue on with my studies. When I went to declare my second major (CCIT), I was denied. In frustration, I dropped the CCIT courses I had enrolled in.

Three days before classes started, I got an email from CCIT Undergraduate Program Coordinator Truc Tran saying that, “Given the circumstance with Laurentian University, I have spoken with the ICCIT Director on how we can accommodate your interest in Communications. If interested, we will permit you to take 200-level CCT courses concurrently with CCT109 and CCT110 during the Fall/Winter session.” I tried to get back into the first-year courses I had dropped, but they had a waitlist of over 40 people.

To top it all off, not all of my credits transferred with me. Because of differences between the universities in course content, I only got half the credit for some courses.

This was frustrating because they would have counted towards my final credit total needed to graduate. I currently have 12.5 credits at U of T, when I really should have 14.0.

I met Kyle Saunders in my second year.

Kyle was in their first year studying radiation therapy and was roommates with two of my best friends. Coincidentally, Kyle also transferred to U of T after having their program cut too.

“I wish [the insolvency] never happened. I’d much rather be at Laurentian.”

“I wish [the insolvency] never happened.

I’d much rather be at Laurentian.” Kyle explained that Laurentian took care of their transfer credit application but left them on their own after that. Radiology at U of T differs from Laurentian because Laurentian is a straight from high school four-year program, whereas U of T requires a prerequisite year prior to their three-year program. Kyle is essentially in first year “because they told me that all the things I did at Laurentian are only good for checking off the prerequisite year checkbox.”

Kyle said they could not have taken a year off due to a bursary from his province and the promise of a job after they graduate. If they did, they would jeopardise the bursary. “I didn’t really have a choice,” they said.

I’m aiming towards a specialisation in English and a minor in Professional Writing, which I can’t enrol in until Spring 2022. Being a third-year student and wanting to graduate on time, it’s not a viable option for me to take an extra year to receive a qualification in CCIT. As much as it makes me nervous to not have a degree that is seemingly crucial to my future career path, I’m hoping that I’ll be able to make up for it in experience or in a future master’s degree.

It’s definitely been a whirlwind of stress and uncertainty. I don’t regret my choice of transferring. I do miss my professors and my friends, but I have made a great group of friends so far who have been showing me the ropes around UTM and met professors who are incredibly passionate about what they do.

My experience should be a warning to other Ontario students. The news says that Covid-19 pushed Laurentian over the edge. Who knows what will push other universities over the edge. I just hope you learn from my story.

PRINKLE SINGH/GOOGLE MAPS

Lexey Burns Staff Writer

08

features

Editor | Ricardo Jaroslav Valdes features@themedium.ca

ISAAC-QUESADA/UNSPLASH

Decriminalizing and regulating drugs may reduce overdose rates The current drug toxicity crisis is a public health concern that needs to be addressed.

Dalainey Gervais Associate Features Editor

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he war on drugs has been a failure, according to Dr. Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, a sociology assistant professor at the University of Toronto Mississauga who was recently featured in the news for his insights on drug use in the city of Toronto.

“I’m more in favour of legalizing and regulating than I am decriminalizing drugs,” he says. “This concept would be similar to what we have with cannabis now, where adults would [have] access to what are now illegal substances.”

“This concept would be similar to what we have with cannabis now, where adults would [have] access to what are now illegal substances.”

The legalization and regulation of drugs would entail control over the production and selling of drugs across the country. Depending on the type of drug, and the possible severity of prolonged use, different drugs would be accessible through different means.

“Something like heroin would require a doctor’s prescription,” explains Dr. Owusu-Bempah. “Something less harmful like magic mushrooms would be accessible through a store or pharmacy.”

On the other hand, decriminalization would remove the penalty for simple drug possession. Although better than prohibition, where individuals get possession charges for small amounts of drugs, decriminalization would still leave space for illegal drug production and the potential for a continued toxicity crisis.

“Criminalization of drugs has proved disadvantageous, with a drug and toxicity epidemic spreading across the country.”

Criminalization of drugs has proved disadvantageous, with a drug and toxicity epidemic spreading across the country.

“People are going to use drugs whether or not they are illegal,” adds Dr. Owuzu-Bempah. “Giving people sentences for those possessions is not productive. In reality, it is counterproductive because we know that the last thing that people with substance use problems want is criminalization and penalization from the state.”

According to him, the benefits of legalization would regulate the supply of substances that is causing the toxicity crisis. Opioid toxicity deaths in Canada have risen by 66 per cent since June of 2019. Illegally manufactured drugs containing fentanyl are often the cause. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid used as both a pain medication and a recreational drug, is also used to mix into other opioids like heroin or cocaine. This drug is more efficiently produced, has a higher potency rate, and is less costly than other opioids. Illegal drug producers use fentanyl to increase profit on their sales.

“The government’s provision of these substances would also help diminish illegal markets.”

“The government’s provision of these substances would also help diminish illegal markets,” continues Dr. Owusu-Bempah. Opioids are a harmful type of drug because they are undetectable to the human eye when mixed with other substances—leading to faster overdoses. This has led drug safety groups to teach the dangers of fentanyl as well as provide naloxone training to victims. Naloxone is a drug typically administered through a nasal spray or injection to combat the effects of fentanyl and potentially save users from lethal overdoses.

In October 2018, the Government of Canada announced the legalization of cannabis to “keep cannabis out of the hands of youth, keep profits out of the pockets of criminals, and protect

CHRISTINA VICTORIA/UNSPLASH

public health and safety by allowing adult access to legal cannabis.” The Cannabis Act introduced strict regulations to the selling and purchasing of marijuana and opened regulated dispensaries across the country—similar to LCBOs. A year following the announcement, cannabis edibles and concentrates were made available to Canadians over 18 through regulated dispensaries.

Several programs established by the City of Toronto to subside the number of overdoses across the city have helped control the rise in the toxicity and drug epidemic. Some of which include drug checking services and safe consumption sites. Drug checking services have emerged as a direct result of the rise in fentanyl overdoses and the consumption of uncontrolled drugs. Multiple locations across the city allow drug users to bring in substances and paraphernalia (such as pipes, bongs, and needles) to check the toxicity of each drug using mass spectrometry technologies. In addition, these sites offer referrals to harm reduction support groups and other services including naloxone training.

“Supervised consumption sites have proven that a clean space for people to use their drugs helps the prevention of accidental overdoses.”

Similar to drug checking services, safe consumption sites allow individuals who suffer from drug addictions to have a safe space to consume drugs in the presence of trained staff. The use of these sites was controversial when first announced to the public, with beliefs that they would only encourage people to purchase and consume more illegal substances. However, the supervised consumption sites have proven that a clean space for people to use their drugs helps the prevention of accidental overdoses. They also decrease the spread of diseases associated with drug use like HIV. “My overall assessment of the legalization of cannabis is that it has been largely successful in achieving its main aims,” concludes Dr. Owusu-Bempah. “The policy is still rather new, and we have a long way to go to see real outcomes. But [this policy] has reaffirmed the need to move beyond cannabis and look at the legalization and regulation of other types of drugs.”

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Paleoanthropologist and Wildlife Conservationist Richard Leakey Dies at Age 77 The Leakey Family was responsible for some of the biggest contributions in the study of human origins.

Hema Ramnarine Staff Writer

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n January 2, famous Kenyan anthropologist, government official, and paleontologist Richard Leakey died at the age of 77.

Leakey was the son of paleoanthropologists Louis and Mary Leakey. Together, they were responsible for the discoveries of many fossils that changed modern understanding of human evolution.

Dr. Lauren Schroeder is an assistant professor in the Anthropology department at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM).

She teaches ANT302: Biological Anthropology: Primatology and Paleoanthropology, a course that discusses the diversity and evolution of humans among other topics. She defines the field of paleoanthropology as “the study of the anatomy, behaviour, and environmental context of our ancient human ancestors. Research in paleoanthropology can tell us about evolutionary relationships between species, the processes that led to our development as Homo sapiens, and how our lineage has changed over time.”

Richard, as a third generation Kenyan, spent most of his life in his home country.

When Kenya became an independent state, he chose to keep his Kenyan citizenship. Richard grew up in East Africa, where his parents led excavations of the Great Rift Valley nicknamed the “cradle of humanity.” There, Louis, Mary, and their team made several important discoveries on human evolution. These in-

clude the discovery of the Proconsul, a common ancestor of humans and apes, as well as the “remains of the earliest man ever found” known as the “Zinj” skull—known today as Paranthropus boisei.

In 1976, Louis, Mary, and their team also discovered the Laetoli Footprints at Laetoli Site G in Tanzania. These became the oldest evidence of bipedalism—walking on two legs—in hominins, species that are humanlike.

Originally, Richard was determined to avoid falling in his parents’ footsteps. He became a safari guide instead. However, while on tour near Lake Turkana, he discovered the site of Koobi Fora, a site that is known today as the “richest and most varied assemblage of early human remains found to date anywhere in the world.” Richard, along with a group of fossil hunters known as the “Hominid Gang,” discovered 400 human-like fossils, amounting to around 230 individuals. The most significant of these discoveries is the “Turkana Boy,” which was discovered in 1984, and is the most complete early hominin skeleton ever found.

Richard moved away from paleoanthropology in the late 80s, but his wife and daughter, Meave and Louise Leakey, continued leading excavations in the Turkana region.

“Louis’s discoveries would form the foundation for the subsequent research into the origins of human life.”

ROB BOGAERTS/ANEFO

Richard’s discoveries, like those of his parents, further supported the growing theory that mankind began in Africa. While some scientists at the time disagreed with Louis Leakey’s interpretations of his findings, they could not argue with the significance of them.

Louis’s discoveries would form the foundation for the subsequent research into the origins of human life.

Richard also put forward contentious theories of his own. His discoveries of hominin fossils led him to believe that there were multiple kinds of early humans, some of which went extinct, while others, such as Homo habilis (the earliest known humans), eventually became Home erectus, our direct ancestor.

“In general, much of the hominin fossil material from East Africa that has provided vital evidence for the evolution of our lineage was discovered during expeditions led by one of the Leakey family members,” says Dr. Schroeder.

She explains that all discoveries since have supported Louis Leakey’s theory of mankind originating in Africa, and it is now considered common knowledge in the scientific community. However, Dr. Schroeder notes that “it is important to point out that other early 20th century paleoanthropologists working in Africa, such as Raymond Dart who discovered the Taung Child in South Africa (Australopithecus africanus), were also advocating for Africa being the Cradle of Humankind.”

Richard Leakey’s achievements do not end with paleoanthropology. As a vocal conservationist, he was the director of the National Museums of Kenya from 1968 to 1989. He also became director of Kenya’s Wildlife Service (KWS), bringing it back from the brink of collapse. At the time, the poaching industry was slowly decimating the country’s elephant and rhinoceros populations, unbeknownst to most.

In that position, Richard became known for his ruthlessness, controversially ordering his park rangers to shoot illegal hunters, poachers, on sight. He also organized the burning of a cache of ivory to bring attention to the overhunting of elephants and rhinoceros. The “cremations,” one in 1989 and another in 2016, were carried out to send a message that ivory is worthless unless it is attached to an animal. In recent years, the KWS has come under scrutiny for the severity of their antipoaching measures, with some even linked to unlawful deaths.

In his campaign to put an end to poaching and combat corruption in 1989, Richard

made a lot of enemies and faced hardships.

Known as being extremely combative, he entered Kenyan politics as the leader of the opposition party against the former president’s corrupt regime. He was publicly beaten in 1995 after joining the opposition, and was known to have bodyguards day and night during his tenure as director of KWS. Richard also dealt with numerous health issues, including a fractured skull as a child, kidney disease and subsequent kidney transplants, as well as having both legs amputated at the knee after surviving a plane crash in 1993.

“As we peer back through the fossil record, through layer upon layer of long extinct species, many of which thrived far longer that the human species is ever likely to do, we are reminded of our mortality as a species.”

After a career in politics, he turned his attention to climate change and telling the story of our evolution with his museum Ngaren: The Museum of Humankind, located in the Great Rift Valley, Kenya. This museum will hold Richard’s work, telling the story of more than two million years of human evolution and history, as well as a look to the future. In a statement, he said “Ngaren is not just another museum, but a call to action. As we peer back through the fossil record, through layer upon layer of long extinct species, many of which thrived far longer that the human species is ever likely to do, we are reminded of our mortality as a species.” Construction is set to begin this year.

The Ngaren museum will also display the work of his family, which has contributed so much to our understanding of humanity and its beginning. Dr. Schroeder touches on this in ANT203. “I discuss most of their major discoveries in my class. However, as they have discovered so much, I usually don’t have time to discuss them all!”

Dr. Schroeder notes that the field of paleoanthropology is continually changing as new discoveries are made. “This constantly changing understanding of our evolution in light of new fossil discoveries is what makes the field exciting, and the Leakey family has often been at the centre of this,” she concludes.

10

A home away from home: The international student residence experience Residence is a bubble that protects international students from the real-world consequences of living off-campus.

Aroni Sarkar Opinion Editor

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hen I first landed in Canada as an international student, I was overwhelmed with fear and excitement. I was beginning a new part of my life independently, but I was also terrified because I didn’t know anybody. On move-in day, my father and I pulled into the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) and saw “Welcome Home!” banners flying high around campus. A parade of students wearing Student Housing Residence Life (SHRL) shirts danced and cheered as every new student entered campus to move into their place of living for the next year. I couldn’t help but smile. The warm and joyous welcome gave the impression that my upcoming year at UTM living in residence would be happy and exciting.

This welcome is a big reason why I chose to stay in residence for all four years of my undergraduate life and worked for two years as part of the SHRL team.

Coming from Singapore, I was a stranger to Canada and everything it had to offer. The subtle differences in which side of the pavement to walk on, what clothes to wear, and what words to use to express the same ideas pondered in my mind.

I was constantly aware of how different things were, and how I had to navigate this unknown space all by myself. As an introvert, orientation events such as games intimidated me. A lot of the icebreakers were unfamiliar. Within my orientation group, I could see that a lot of people were already friends— making me feel even more isolated and alone. I didn’t notice I was doing this, but I always drifted and stuck to one person in all those activities—the girl who lived across the hall from me in Oscar Peterson Hall. The community, the constant interactions in the hallways and dining halls, living and eating together, formed the foundation of my closest friend group in UTM, and it truly started to feel like a home. And this feeling is one that a lot of international students share.

The bubble of residence As the number of international students increase over the years, so does the demand for safe and convenient housing within university campuses. Even now, amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, international student applications and approvals are on the rise. On-campus residence is instantly appealing for those who are unfamiliar with the Canadian housing system and lifestyle. Having the convenience of guaranteed resources like food, water, and electricity, as well as the safety of campus and the sense of comfort and community, draws many students in.

Hosting more than 1,500 spaces, five small neighbourhoods of townhouses, and three buildings of apartment-style housing, the SHRL is a thriving community at UTM. First year students typically live in Oscar Peterson Hall, Erindale Hall, Roy Ivor Hall, and McLuhan Court. On the other hand, upper years stay in Putnam Place, Leacock Lane, Magrath Valley, and Schreiberwood.

All students living in residence are divided up into smaller communities, each led by a Don. Dons lead weekly or biweekly community gatherings that follow a curriculum set out by SHRL. This curriculum focuses on providing

tips, tools, and understanding of transitioning to a new country, as well as making meaningful connections with people, understanding diversity and differences, and well-being.

Salma Abdalla is a former Don at SHRL and a fourth-year Psychology specialist and Education Studies minor. As a Don, one of her most rewarding yet challenging tasks was “being responsible for initiating, fostering, and maintaining one-on-one and group relationships with and among individuals that could be complete strangers to one another and yourself,” she says. Abdalla lived in residence for the first two-and-a-half years of her undergrad be- fore she moved back to Saudi Arabia due to the pandemic. Since the members of her residence community and fellow Dons were of similar age, she formed meaningful connections on shared interests much easier.

There are other ways that international students can familiarize themselves with the UTM community.

Incoming first years can enrol in residence groups like Living Learning Communities, where students that share similar interests and courses can live together and participate in activities focused around those interests. Students can network with professors to ease their transition and receive helpful tips from professionals. First years can also apply for a Peer Academic Leader (PAL). A PAL is an upper year student that helps newer students transition into their programs by offering guidance on how to study—they provide tools for academic success.

The transition to off-campus living However, considering that living spaces are limited for upper years in residence, and that international students don’t have priority in residence applications, they eventually must look for off-campus housing.

This is a daunting process because most international students are unaware of Canadian housing practices.

After living on residence for three years and facing two Islamophobic incidents while performing her Don duties, Abdalla looked for off-campus housing. “My decision to leave residence was also informed by my yearning to begin my post-graduation life,” she explains. “I thought, why not initiate the transition of living off-campus early instead of scrambling for housing at the end of my fourth year?”

Her search for off-campus housing happened vir-

tually from her home in Saudi Arabia. She wondered which websites were reliable, which locations were safe and close to campus, and how much typical rental prices were. “What are utilities? Which utilities are necessary and should be included in rent? What is a credit score and why do I need it to rent a place? What is the Ontario Standard Lease? And most importantly, what are my rights as a tenant?” she adds.

Residence is a bubble; it protects international students from thinking about these issues and provides all these facilities within residence. But when it’s time to burst out of that bubble, international students are overwhelmed with information.

The UTM SHRL website offers some assistance in beginning the searching process. They provide links to search for houses, a breakdown of how much rent and facilities might cost, advice on how to avoid scams, and what rights tenants have.

Although these resources are helpful, they only cover the initial stages of house search. Roommate selection, reliability of a landlord, location of housing, safety of the area, access to public transport, payment methods, and lease agreements are steps students must figure out themselves without much aid.

As a female student who wears a hijab, Abdalla looked for three types of safety in her off-campus housing: physical, psychological, and financial. Physical safety includes freedom to practice her religion safely, study, and work peacefully inside and around her house. Psychological safety means having good relationships with her roommates, neighbours, and landlords. Financial safety means being able to afford the rent and facilities.

Luckily, Facebook pages and a few other websites allow U of T students to make posts in search of roommates. After narrowing down to people that are somewhat reliable, there comes another set of challenges: coordinating a time to discuss personal requirements, meeting with the landlord virtually to commit, and accommodating for all time zones as well.

As Abdalla searched for off-campus housing, she faced those struggles, but perhaps her most challenging one was making a rental agreement when her source of financial support was outside of Canada. This meant a whole set of new paperwork and documentation was needed, which wasn’t explained in much detail to a novice house-hunter like her on SHRL and outside resources. “[This information] should be integrated in lesson plans in residence from the very beginning to prevent overwhelm and confusion when it’s time to look for housing,” concludes Abdalla. She advises anyone living off campus to “start early, ask questions, and know what you want.”

For me, it wasn’t the furniture, the layout of the house, or the utilities in the common areas that made the UTM residence a home. It was the community I was a part of; the dayto-day interactions in hallways, bumping into each other in the dining halls; planning sleepovers and movie nights; and chatting with neighbours at 12 a.m. in the parking lot. Residence is a place where strangers live together but form lifelong bonds and relationships. I have been happy to be a part of the residence bubble for all these years, but not everyone is able to do so.

11

Arts

Editor | Danica Teng arts@themedium.ca

The Dilemma of Reality TV Questioning the guilty pleasure of watching other people’s lives.

Ciera Couto Contributor

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p until I was about eighteen years old, the only reality television I consumed was the competitive type—you know the ones, The Amazing Race and American Idol. The kind of reality television that seems family-friendly and nearly void of production’s meddling.

I was livid at ten years old when everyone at school made G.T.L jokes while my mother banned me from watching Jersey Shore; her defence was that the show was a bad influence (completely fair, in retrospect). So, like half the people my age, my impression of reality television as a child was that it was bad, raunchy, and frankly, dumb.

This view changed when I could not find anything decent to watch on a Monday night and stumbled upon The Bachelorette. By the end of the two-hour episode, I was completely hooked. This reality television that I was always taught was bad, raunchy, and dumb was actually wildly entertaining. I felt awful watching it, but I could not stop.

So, what is it about reality television that makes it so addicting? There are a few theories

I have, and I will warn you that none of them are completely flattering. The first is that we watch reality shows like The Bachelor or 90 Day Fiancé because it gives us a little bit of an ego boost. These shows feature real people in their most vulnerable states, making decisions that seem so based in emotion that an audience sitting at home will pity them while feeling better about their own, logical life decisions.

This feeling of moral superiority often does not come from watching scripted programs the way it does with reality shows. Although the conscious viewer may understand that there

are editing tricks and emotional manipulation at play, the fact that we are presented with real people making very real mistakes is enough for us to feel like we are above these people, as we sit safely in our living rooms.

Theory number two is neither new nor mine, but as with any form of media we consume, we find an easy escape through reality television. Reality television is produced for many reasons—one being for the audience that has had a super stressful day and just wants to sit down and watch something that will require absolutely no critical thinking. Can you NETFLIX

watch a show like Too Hot to Handle and think critically about it? Of course, like how it glamourizes unhealthy relationships with our bodies, sex, and money. But that is not the goal.

The goal is to sit down and not have to think anymore, to just simply enjoy the entertainment that these real people are providing. The escape comes from watching people in situations we either desire to be in or situations we would want to avoid our entire lives, like wishing to fall in love the way people do on Love Island while thanking God we have no part in their screaming matches. Either way, we escape into these overproduced bubbles of what real life is supposed to be.

The final theory possibly paints reality television and its audience in a better light. Perhaps we watch reality shows because we believe in happy endings, which we get at the end of every season—we get a winner! Every single reality show tries its best to bring some sort of positivity to the viewers amid the chaos and drama, and some of us watch it just for that.

Seeing something good come out of a mindnumbing show is enough validation and justification for reality television to continue being so popular—whether we like it or not.

A cycle of copied content A thumbs-down to reposts and thumbs-up to authenticity.

Sherene Almjawer Contributor

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f the last few years have taught me anything, it is that I should be wary of people, places, the news, and whatever content surfaces online. Though this has not stopped me from indulging in social media to waste the extra time on my hands.

While people push through another lockdown, what else is there to do but film ourselves—or others—doing something funny, impressive, or embarrassingly problematic and post it to TikTok? By default, videos get repetitive—such is the “bad side” of the mass amount of content posted during the lockdown.

Sometimes you get an original song posted by an aspiring musician. Most times you get another “I shout at people at a red light PRANK!!!” A video that documents socially unacceptable behaviour is one too many, but the problem arises when others become content copy-cats. It happened at the height of Squid Game’s popularity—people built their own “games” and successfully missed the entire point of the show—and it continues to happen with other viral content.

Copy-cat content, usually done without giving credit to the original creator, can cheapen the content. Not only is it unoriginal and disruptive, but one viral copy-cat encourages other copy-cats. The worst is when the original content is a prank video. Stressing out minimum-wage workers under the guise of a prank should not be copied, but because the sliceof-life videos are so popular, others recreate it for their own moment of fame. Perhaps part of the desperation for atten-

tion comes from both the lack of human contact in lockdown and the need to fit in to evolving trends.

This cycle, which is not unique to TikTok, continues to overshadow genuine content. I have become cynical to any viral content, regardless of its sincerity. My first assumption is that the content is either fake, a rip-off, or promoted. This cynicism harms genuine creators because now they are put under scrutiny so that the audience can determine if they are “authentic”—which is subjective to each person—before a user will want to support them.

On the rare occasion, a video of an animal making a strange rhythmic sound will go viral, and the musicians of TikTok band together to create a short song. The “duet chains” have quickly become my favourites on TikTok. Duet chains— where a user links their video with another to add onto the original—embody a level of spontaneity and sincerity.

Over the last few years, society has simultaneously formed and destroyed our sense of community. When content considered insincere goes viral, phrases like “lost faith in humanity” accompany them. On the other hand, with sincere content, people’s faith in humanity is “restored.”

I believe that the type of content that goes viral at any given moment influences people’s overall morale. The day’s tone either shows distrust or hope in fellow humans. The dilemma lies in how we can and cannot control what goes viral. There will always be a subset of people who enjoy the attentionseeking, copied content, and it will continue to block out the more amiable videos. Platforms like TikTok are built in a way where replicated and shock-value content are favoured because they encourage people to post their own versions and beckon others to criticise them.

VISUALS/UNSPLASH

My solution, if you can call it that, is to ignore copied content, especially if they are obnoxious. Viral content is meant to be reactionary, so our attention only fuels the cycle of disingenuous content. By completely disregarding them, we give honest creators a window to reach each other and a larger audience.

The best way to look at this is that for every disingenuous piece of content, there are a handful of genuine creators.

12

DAHLIA KATZ

DAHLIA KATZ

Behind the scenes of Theatre and Drama Studies What are those theatre kids doing? Elif Coşkun and Nell Senkevich share an inside look at the program.

Julia Skoczypiec Theatre Erindale Correspondent

F

or many students, Theatre Erindale is a space to showcase years of acting training. As casts and crews get ready for the winter semester of performances, most graduating students prepare to part ways with the Theatre and Drama Studies (TDS) program. Amid online shows and distanced rehearsals, this year’s graduating TDS class has been through it all.

Still, non-theatre students often wonder: what is TDS?

“Unlike any other program at UTM, TDS provides a mixture of practical actor training and academic teaching.”

TDS is a collaborative program between UTM and Sheridan College. The professional acting training each student receives translates to their work on the Theatre Erindale stage and beyond. Unlike any other program at UTM, TDS provides a mixture of practical actor training and academic teaching. Through the UTM campus, each student is required to complete drama courses that focus on the historical, cultural, and research-based components of the-

atre. On the Sheridan side, students take studio classes taught by acting professionals. These courses focus on movement, dialect coaching, realism, animal work, the actor’s presence, and much more.

While the mixture of academic and practical training may appear strenuous, it is this blended approach that draws students to the program and allows them to fully understand the practice of acting. According to fourth-year students Elif Coşkun and Nell Senkevich, TDS has not only been a program but a life experience, too. “[The] first and second year[s] are about building technique,” said Coşkun. “We took everything slow and did things like tension release, breathwork, and movement work to build the basis for acting. In the third and fourth years, we get into things like dance, singing, and stage combat that allow us to grow on those basic techniques.”

While these courses make up the Sheridan portion of the program, Senkevich noted that many of the UTM courses bring forward the “worlds of each play” and allow the option to pursue minors such as English—an aspect that not many acting programs offer.

Additionally, TDS provides options for students to learn alongside professionals in the industry. Both Coşkun and Senkevich had the opportunity to take the Shaw Festival course, a two-week intensive summer half-credit where

students participate in the creation of repertory theatre—which follows a specific repertoire of work for a set time frame—at the acclaimed Canadian Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

“I really loved the Shaw Festival course because we got to talk to artistic directors, actors, directors, and so many other people in the industry,” said Senkevich. “We had opportunities to do writing workshops and scene studies, and because I took [the course] in the summer of 2020, my classmates [and I] really got to explore what scenes could look like online. It was challenging, but it actually proved to be really important in [my] third year when we had to create our shows on Zoom.”

Another course that both Coşkun and Senkevich hold near and dear to their development as actors is “Realism,” a Sheridan course taught by the program’s Head of Acting Melee Hutton.

“You can’t really act without knowing.”

“Realism really gave me a huge insight on what acting is really about,” said Coşkun. “I think one of the first things Melee said in the realism class was ‘you can’t really act without knowing.’ To learn proper acting, we [have to] create our own perceptions and characters out of what actually happened during the time these plays were written.”

Outside of theatre and acting work, TDS students master the art of time management. The

dual-campus program places an emphasis on professionalism, which includes attendance at all rehearsals and classes. Coşkun mentioned that the third and fourth years spend up to 24 hours of rehearsal per week, which often becomes a challenge.

“It’s so great to have the UTM section of things, but for four years, your Tuesdays and Thursdays are dedicated to Sheridan courses,” Coşkun said.

However, amid the hefty schedules, TDS students share a strong sense of community and support each other in the pursuit of becoming better actors, better creatives, and better people.

“TDS has challenged me to explore the ways in which I can create,” Senkevich said. “All the [students in different] years get opportunities to work with each other [to] write, act, and direct. I find that community is really important to have within a program, and we really value that.”

For people who have seen TDS students gather in Deerfield Hall, you know that these students have a positive energy and passion for art that is rambunctious and contagious. While the program enrollment is based on auditions, many other opportunities exist for students outside of the program to get involved with theater on campus. To find out more, check out the many drama courses offered at UTM. And feel free to say hello to a TDS student next time you are in Deerfield hall!

13

Speedrunning’s popularity shows no signs of slowing down Exploring the evolution of a community capable of raising $3.4 million for charity in one tournament.

Aidan Thompson Associate Arts & Entertainment Editor

W

hat started on a 1980 Atari 2600 video game called Dragster now captivates millions of people worldwide— speedrunning. The goal is simple: complete the game as fast as you can. Nearly every single-player video game in the world has a speedrunning record attached to it.

In 2019, a speedrunning tournament called Summer Games Done Quick raised $3,032,114.62 for Doctors Without Borders, a humanitarian organization. The marathon consisted of hundreds of players competing across hundreds of games. For 2022, Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ)—a bi-annual fundraiser that ran from January 9 to January 16—raised $3.4 million for the Prevent Cancer Foundation.

So, what is speedrunning?

The video game that kick-started speedrunning’s popularity was id Software’s Doom (1993). In the game, players assume the role of a space marine as they fight through hordes of demons invading from hell. The original game had nine levels that players needed to beat sequentially.

What set Doom apart was that it had a timer embedded in the game, setting your time against a par time—or a “time to beat.” It allowed players to record video files that they could watch, study, and share with others. Players could publish their achievements on online forums. Evidence of a record was no longer reliant on a blurry screenshot of a timestamp, now there was video proof.

The use of video files not only lent credibility to players’ achievements, but because the game’s mechanics were complex enough to encourage creative strategies and competition, being able to watch someone else’s speedrun helped propel the community forward.

Beneath this was an underlying philosophy: speed is equal to skill. Anyone could complete a level in Doom if they were given the rest of their life, and the nature of video games allows them just that. But to complete the level with perfect execution at a speed that no one else had achieved, now that is the challenge.

Across all forms of elaborate achievement-driven competition, those who distinguish themselves from their peers are not just fundamentally stronger, faster, or smarter, but they also approach the challenge like no one else before. Speedrunning demands this, and that is why it continues to captivate audiences. It generally does not matter how you do it as long as you are the fastest.

As the internet and video games evolved through the 1990s, chat boards and forums became clubhouses where players could theorycraft—find prime strategies through mathematical analysis—and admire the achievements of others. Pretty soon, games like Metroid, Mario Kart, and Perfect Dark had hundreds of players competing in speedruns.

Speed Demos Archive, a website founded in 1998, created a virtual space where players could publish their recordings and discuss strategies. It consolidated a community that was previously spread across dozens of different forums and websites.

The website opened the door for speedrunning to expand to games that had not been previously challenged, and the community flourished.

In 2005, YouTube gave speedrunners the platform the community was waiting for. Suddenly there was an intuitively designed website where players could upload more than just their record-breaking runs. Now, players could document their progression toward breaking a record by documenting all the work that went into it. They could showcase their strategies, publish their calculations, and demonstrate their triumphs. This was an important development in speedrunning’s popularity because it emphasized the how. What captivates the attention of fans is not

so much the timestamp that legitimizes a record but rather the strategies the player used.

As YouTube was not reserved for speedrunning, it helped draw a wider crowd toward the challenge because it exposed speedrunning to people who would never have come across it otherwise. When the streaming platform Twitch was released in 2011, viewers could now witness the time and effort that went into setting records live. It also helped monetize speedrunning so that players could make a living off what they spent so much time doing. This monetization also attracted sponsors and helped catapult the gaming community to where it is now; to where it can raise $3.4 million for the Prevent Cancer Foundation.

Today, players compete across a variety of different games and categories in speedrunning tournaments all over the world.

Some people attempt to speedrun a game blindfolded or compete against another to see who can do it the fastest.

AGDQ is set to have its next fundraising event, Frost Fatales, from February 27 to March 5. It is an all-woman speedrunning event that will raise money for the Malala Fund, a charity that aims to bring education to women across the world.

GDQ GAMES DONE QUICK

Escape with Euphoria The highly anticipated release of season two opens the door to more viewers and more criticism.

Sidra Durrani Contributor

Spoiler warning: mentions plot of seasons one and two of Euphoria.

S

ince Euphoria first aired, the show saw growth while the world went into lockdown. The critically acclaimed HBO Max original series, starring Emmy-award-winning actress Zendaya, premiered to 577,000 viewers in 2019. Almost two years later in 2022, the second season premiered to 2.4 million viewers.

Several factors can explain this massive rise in viewership, including the long wait between seasons one and two—especially since the first season only has eight episodes (minus the two specials filmed during the pandemic to tide viewers over). Not only was season two a highly anticipated continuation, but it released when most of the world was in yet another quarantine.

The first set of lockdowns in 2020 served as the perfect time for many new fans to discover

the show, which reflects in the doubled viewership of season two’s premiere. However, this larger audience can come to the detriment of the show as Euphoria is receiving an increasing amount of criticism for glamorizing toxic lifestyles to its young, impressionable audience—whether it is turning drug usage into a beautifully shot aesthetic montage or showing teenagers engage in unprotected sexual activity with each other and with adult characters.

Viewers have called out the rampant oversexualization of teenage characters, mainly Cassie (Sydney Sweeney). Cassie has her fair

IMDb.com

share of nude scenes in season one, which was met by the criticisms of the exploration of an underage character becoming a cam girl. With a surge in viewers, people are bound to be more critical of all the unnecessary sex scenes and gratuitous nudity. A few concerned fans even worry if the actors are exploited despite the cast being vocal about how comfortable and safe they feel working with an intimacy coordinator on set.

Depicting sensitive topics like drug use and sexuality can be tricky, but Euphoria shows the realistic negative side effects that can occur— such as a character’s relationships suffering because of addiction and relapses. The show also explores complicated themes of internalized homophobia and abusive relationships.

While Euphoria’s first season centers around Rue (Zendaya) and how her addiction affects her family and relationship with her crush Jules (Hunter Schafer), the show’s second season has been criticized for ignoring these characters in favour of focusing on the supporting cast. Much of the discussion surrounds the secret relationship between Cassie and her best friend Maddie’s (Alexa Demie) abusive ex-boyfriend Nate (Jacob Elordi), es-

pecially the infamous bathroom scene the two characters share. There are also hints of a future romantic pairing with fan favourites Fezco (Angus Cloud) and Lexi (Maude Apatow).

However, all this focus on their plots leaves little room for Rue and Jules, who the story used to revolve around. So far, it feels like the show is wasting the talents of arguably the two best actors on the show while many viewers wonder why they should root for Cassie and Nate’s miserably unhealthy relationship.

While the show has been criticized for being unrealistic, the critique falls apart because media should not have to be realistic to be enjoyed. The show is clearly intended for a mature audience capable of differentiating fiction from reality and can understand that the depicted situations are dramatized for entertainment. Euphoria has affectionately been dubbed “Degrassi for Gen Z” with both shows being highly fictionalized soapy teenage dramas at their core and understanding this is the best way to enjoy them.

With stunning visuals, a hypnotic soundtrack, and painfully messy characters, Euphoria creates a perfect world for the audience to get lost in for an hour every Sunday.

14

sports & health

Editor | Duaa Nasir sports@themedium.ca

Our Source of Hope and

Heartbreak

An introduction to the team and their frustrating history.

Omar Khan Columnist

T

he Toronto Maple Leafs currently hold the longest championship drought of all active NHL teams. This is a somewhat astonishing fact given the team and league’s history spans over a century. However, the term ‘embarrassment’ perfectly represents this organization, not for its championship drought, but for the 55 years of disappointment after disappointment.

Maybe it’s the blown leads, maybe it’s the playoff losses, or maybe it’s the fact that this organization has not won a single round in the playoffs since 2004. All that we know is that there has never been a team that gives you hope and heartbreak simultaneously, like the Toronto Maple Leafs. For example, in four of the past five games, the Leafs have built a 3-1 lead (hope) and have subsequently blown the lead each time (heartbreak).

Regardless, there is never a dull moment

here in Leaf Land, and that is why this bi-weekly column is here: to keep you up to date on the latest ups and downs surrounding our source of pride, sorrow, and despair.

Oddly enough, the recent game against the New York Rangers perfectly sums up who the Leafs are. They came out of the gates flying, having an incredible start to the game and building up a 3-1 lead. Then reality slapped them in the face as the Rangers went on to score five unanswered goals, winning the game 6-3.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe, who is typically reserved in his post-game interviews, did not hold back when stating his disapproval for how the Leafs played: “Today I just thought that we played soft. I just thought we got exposed for being a team that was just soft and purposeless.”

What may surprise you is that this team is actually not bad. The Leafs are currently seventh out of 32 teams yet their fanbase seems the most distraught. This can be attributed to the culture of losing this organization has displayed that seems to poison every player and member of staff hired.

To some, the Leafs are simply cursed. They

have the personnel, the system, and the staff to make runs deep into the playoffs. This team has skill, but it might not have the will to fully understand how good they are and how far they can go. If this trend continues for the sixth year straight, there will most likely be big changes to this team and, most would say, it starts with the core four: Matthews, Marner, Nylander and Tavares.

Auston Matthews, the first overall selection in the 2016 NHL Draft, will likely go down as the greatest Toronto Maple Leaf of all time.

Expect a statue of this goal machine outside of Scotiabank Arena. To give you some idea of how good he is, in his first NHL game, he managed to score four times, something no other player has ever done (and yes, the Leafs somehow managed to lose this game too). Last season, he scored 41 goals in just 52 games, eight more than hall of fame rival Connor McDavid, and won the Rocket Richard trophy for leading the league in goals.

Mitch Marner is one of the best playmakers in the game. Marner has led his team in assists every year since entering the league. His com-

bination of offence and defence makes him one of the best players in the world.

William Nylander, perhaps the most eccentric personality on the team, is a very interesting story. Drafted eighth overall in 2014, Nylander comes from a hockey family. His father, Michael Nylander, had a long career in the NHL and his brother, Alex, is a prospect in Pittsburgh. The fanbase has grown to love Nylander since he was the best Leaf in the playoffs and at times this season, the most consistent.

John Tavares, another former first overall selection in 2009, grew up in Mississauga, played most of his career in New York, then chose to sign with Toronto back in 2018, fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a Leaf. He now serves as captain and is the definition of leadership by example.

The most important goal for this team should be to win a round in the playoffs. If that doesn’t happen, there will likely be large scale changes perhaps of player and management.

All one can do now is to let go of hope and prepare for heartbreak, because as a Leaf fan, that is all we are ever given.

Student athlete Vanessa Cesario shares how her physical and mental health impact her athletic and professional life A UTM alumna and former S&H Editor discusses her time at university, the importance of soccer in her life, exploring her interests, and her advice to other students.

Robert Bui Campus Athletics Correspondent

I

SA ES N

VA O

RI SA CE

n 2013, Vanessa Cesario finished high school and decided to pursue her post-secondary education with a soccer scholarship at Laurentian University. It w a s n’ t until 2014 that she realized that Laurentian was not right for her, after she battled with bouts of confusion and anxiety regarding her future at the school.

As Cesario struggled with this decision, her mom suggested that she return home to Mississauga, an option Cesario hadn’t considered. “I feel like a lot of students feel that way, where they already put in two years and they

think ‘I can’t quit now,’ when yes, you absolutely can if it’s not conducive to your mental health,” she says.

After mulling over her options, Cesario gave post-secondary education another shot at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). This time, Cesario was in a better frame of mind. She had her experiences at Laurentian to reflect on, studied closer to home, was surrounded by friends from her childhood, and enrolled in subjects that she enjoyed.

After getting into the English and Communication, Culture, Information & Technology program at UTM, Cesario inquired about her chances to play soccer. She was delighted to hear that UTM was entering varsity level competition in 2015, which fueled her desire to play. While she did spend all four of her years at UTM on the varsity soccer team, times were not always smooth.

Cesario suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sidelining her for a whole year. She recounts the moment she got injured: “I asked him [team medic], because he was checking out my knee, ‘Is it ACL? Please don’t tell me it’s ACL. Tell me it’s ACL because I need to know, but also don’t tell me it’s ACL because I don’t want it to be.’”

She describes the rehabilitation process as brutal and worrying, ideas creeping into her mind about her abilities afterward and getting her confidence back.

Outside of participating in soccer on the pitch, Cesario studied hard in the classrooms. Once she graduated, she, like many, continued to find her way in life. After some experience at a public relation agency Cesario realized that the job was not the right fit for her and moved on. She completed a digital marketing bootcamp to build up some of her skills and is now working in marketing for her family’s business.

Being part of a sports community makes the transition into

university life a lot easier, according to Cesario. “You’re with a whole group of girls or guys that are in the same boat as you and have a lot of shared interests,” she says. After university, the alumna still keeps in touch with her teammates, noting that they will always remain friends.

But what about nowadays in a pandemic-stricken world? Varsity sports are off the table at UTM and for student athletes who have played a sport their whole lives, this means one less extracurricular for their future. This can potentially impact one’s future. For those who are worried about this, Cesario says, “I would just say don’t stress so much about that because you still have more to offer, and you are still an athlete. Nothing changes that.”

Although some students are devastated that varsity sports are unavailable, it can also push some people out of their comfort zone and encourage them to try new things they end up enjoying.

Cesario was also the Sports and Health Editor for The Medium from 2017-2019. “Having to interview players and write articles on games, it was a little bit overwhelming. But the opportunity came up and I’m so happy I took it because it was such a great experience,” she says.

When asked for words of advice, Cesario capped off our conversation with this: “Life will work itself out, you’re going to figure it out. Take any experience that comes your way because even if it turns out to be something that you don’t want to do, then that’s still valuable. Figuring out what you don’t want to do is just as valuable as figuring out what you do want to do.”

Our profile athlete continues to figure things out in her career, and although her ACL injury had her sidelined in the past, she continues to play co-ed soccer recreationally. We hope the best for Vanessa in 2022!