Volume 48, Issue 17 by The Medium

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

Issue 17 Volume 48 February 7 2022

themedium.ca

EAR TO THE GROUND

BUILDING RESILIENCE

STAR WARS

The doors of UTM are now open, inviting the husks of students back into their once barren halls. The campus is filled once again with the buzz of a student body that has long been kept away from inhabiting it.

Last week, in collaboration with the Health and Counseling Centre, she hosted a Wellness 101 Workshop on building resilience. Dr. Andersen explores important coping mechanisms students can take to help navigate stressful situations.

I’m not here to debate the influence or cultural significance of Star Wars or tell you that it should not be your favourite movie, I am only here to raise a few criticisms to humble the creator, George Lucas, and his fanbase.

>> read more on page 07

>> read more on page 09

>> read more on page 10

NEWS

U of T increases in-person learning and activities starting February 7 Caroline Mekhaeil Contributor

arlier this o m nth, U of T announced that in-person classes would begin on e F rb uary 7 among all three campuses. In - re sponse to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, students can expect to see enhanced safety e m asures implee m nted y b the university. e decision was inuenced y b several factors, including the positive impact of in-person learning for students. c A cording to the Ontario Science d A visory Table, campus presence is critical - to stu dents’ e m ntal health. Nco ERSO>I-P tn inuesa npo ge02

NEWS

ARTS

CSSDP at U of T invites students to discuss functions of campus police

True crime: the good, the bad, and the ugly

Razia Saleh Associate News Editor

Shahed Ebesh Contributor

CW: Murder, sexual assault

n January 24, U of T’s Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy (CSSDP) held their first session towards their goal of abolishing police on campus. Dr. Rinaldo Walcott, a U of T professor of Black Diaspora Cultural Studies at the Women and Gender Studies Institute, spoke about alternative ways to ensure safety. U of T’s CSSDP is a political organization created to question the university’s policies and demonstrate why they could be detrimental to student life. The virtual session, “Imagining a Police-Free U of T,” invited students to voice their concerns about the school’s current system and policies for campus protection. The event collaborated with various organizations across all three campuses including the U of T Law Union, the University of Toronto Mississauga Student Union, Ontario Public Interest Research Group at U of T, and Scarborough Campus Students’ Union. >> CAMPUS POLICE continues on page 03

e all love a good grisly story. Murder mysteries and ghost stories alike dominate the box offices and top podcast charts—even Youtubers have cashed in on the craze. Grim stories sell. So why is there a stigma surrounding the consumption of true crime? Some people argue that because true crime reports on real events, approaching it from a storytelling angle disrespects the victims of these horrific crimes. This is not particularly true; a study from the University of South Carolina found that women who were victims of severe crimes found comfort in true crime. Another critique of the genre is the unproven assumption that true crime fans lack empathy. While not all true crime outlets and fans walk the line of fact and fiction respectfully, there is true crime content out there that still uses sensitive language whenever possible. It is important to explore all angles—from the benefits of a good podcast to the hair-raising serial killer devotees. True crime can be a genuinely positive source of en-

richment by fulfilling the need for escapism. Fans live vicariously through the storyteller, experiencing the adrenaline from the safety of their home. Another benefit of true crime is that fans can learn survival techniques from storytellers. True crime enthusiasts, particularly women, report paying special attention when a storyteller discusses technical details of a crime. A statistic worth noting for true crime is that the majority of the audience is female. When given a choice between a book on gangs, war, or true crime, women overwhelmingly chose the book on true crime. Kate Tuttle in The New York Times describes the thought process behind this choice saying, “If a woman escaped her attacker in this particular way, we think, perhaps I could too.” This genre provides feelings of safety through preparation for the unknown. A healthy serving of true crime can be entertaining, but unchecked obsessive engagement may confuse a desire for preparation with hypervigilance and paranoia. Fans may want to ask themselves a few essential questions when considering a break from the genre. Do you find yourself worrying someone might break in while you are asleep? >> TRUE CRIME continues on page 11

NEWS

Editor | May Alsaigh news@themedium.ca

U of T increases in-person learning and activities starting February 7 Acting Executive Director Nicole Wahl provides insight into what students can expect in terms of safety measures. Caroline Mekhaeil Contributor

>> IN-PERSON continued from page 01 Though many students are thrilled to be back on campus, several are concerned about their safety, especially during the rise of a new variant. The decision has resulted in uncertainty among not only students, but also faculty. During the week of January 24, three Town Hall meetings took place to discuss the transition, including one at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). Nicole Wahl, Acting Executive Director, UTM Communications, provides more information about the university’s expectations for the in-person semester. In an interview with The Medium, Wahl discusses how UTM administrators came to this ruling. She states, “The decision to increase in-person teaching and work was driven by data from U of T’s Dalla Lana School for Public Health, Ontario’s Science Table, the recommendations of public health experts, and the Ontario government.”

Wahl indicates that UTM classrooms will be equipped with hospital-like ventilation and filtration systems to maintain a clean environment. Transportation such as UTM’s shuttle bus and public transit routes will operate as usual. U of T will continue to enforce health measures such as wearing facial coverings in all indoor areas. The university will make masks available for pickup so long as students are able to provide their UTORid. Additionally, U of T will make rapid anti- gen test kits accessible to students as soon as they become available to the university. Updated on January 31, students and faculty must continue to complete the UCheck questionnaire whenever attending campus and provide proof of complete vaccination, as mandated by the Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health. Students can also upload proof of booster vaccination, though not required.

“Students will encounter UCheck Student Ambassadors, raising awareness and providing gentle reminders to complete the UCheck screening. This ensures that we comply with provincial legislation and maximize our public health compliance, to keep our community healthy and safe,” Wahl states. Regarding UTM services, the library will be open for the community and the RAWC will also operate at 50 per cent capacity. Food services will also be available at regular hours. “Our community’s safety is a responsibility shared by all community members. Each of us is obligated to follow the advice and requirements of the campus, university, public health and government, including vaccines, masking, contact tracing, handwashing, symptom screening, staying home when experiencing [Covid-19] symptoms or significant exposures,” Wahl explains. Wahl also emphasizes the importance for administration to maintain contact with public health officials for the safety of the UTM community. “We remain in direct contact with the leadership at Peel Public Health and local

hospitals, along with epidemiologists at U of T and beyond. We’re especially grateful to Dr. Lawrence Loh, Peel’s Medical Officer of Health, for his prudence, care and leadership throughout the pandemic and for his strong endorsement of our plan to increase in-person activity on campus on February 7,” she states. As for hospitality, a few food services including the Davis Food Court, Colman Commons, and Starbucks located in the library will resume on regular hours. However, others will be temporarily closed such as Second Cup, Booster Juice, the Fair Trade Café, North Side Bistro and Starbucks located in Deerfield Hall. Hours of operation for these services are available on UTM’s website. With the return to an in-person learning stream, students and faculty need to work together to maintain a healthy environment. According to Wahl, U of T is working hard to deliver safe protocols for students. “We owe these enthusiastic students a debt of gratitude and expect that all members of our community will treat them with the respect and kindness that they deserve,” concludes Wahl.

Ontario government constructs vertical elementary school in a Toronto condo The Lower Yonge Precinct Elementary School will be in the heart of the harborfront area convenient for urban, working families. Suhanee Sood Contributor

n November 4, the Ontario government announced their plan to invest $600 million into building new schools and child care spaces across the province. The government aims to create a total of 78 new facilities. Part of the Ontario government’s ten-year commitment is to improve education all around the province. This project has been in the works for seven years and is set to open for the 2024-2025 school year. The investment aims to improve education quality across the province by “putting the necessary infrastructure in place that will help the young, bright minds of our province grow, learn, and develop,” says Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure in Ontario. The government has taken measures to ensure the health and safety of the students, with $65.8 million allocated to the Toronto District School Board for modern ventilation in schools across the city. The Ontario government also put forth $44 million to build an elementary school in a Toronto condo, located in the Har-

bourfront neighbourhood, specifically Yonge and Harbor Street. The project plans to enroll 455 students. Due to the rapid urbanization of the Downtown Toronto area, the population has quickly grown. This includes families with young children. However, there is a lack of accessible schools for families that live in this urban area. Many are forced to commute and deal with traffic to get to quality schools. The Toronto School District Board announced that the school would be much like other schools, including a library, gym, and field. Their goal is to educate students within their communities while making them feel safe and welcome. The Lower Yonge Precinct is quickly becoming a flourishing residential area and “is anticipated to be a high-density, sustainable neighborhood with an animated public realm, large central park, well-designed buildings, range of housing options and commensurate community services and facilities,” as mentioned in their City of Toronto’s report titled “City-Initiated Official Plan Amendment and Precinct Plan.” Menkes Development Ltd is taking on the task of constructing this unconventional school. It will be part of the mixed-use Sugar Wharf Condominium project. This large-scale project will include five residential and one commercial tower. Menkes Development will collaborate with the Government of Ontario to create the school on the third floor of the com-

mercial building along with a childcare center directly below it. This upcoming project is a step in the right direction as the City of Toronto accommodates working, urban families. It was described as a “catalyst for family-friendly buildings in the downtown core,” by Jared Menkes, executive vice president of Menkes Development. The convenience and central location of The Lower Yonge Precinct Elementary School will largely help urban working families in Toronto. This school is a creative solution to the lack of education services in the downtown area that hopes to help families living in high-density condos. “With many families living in condos and high-density urban communities, we believe their children deserve access to modern and safe schools in the hearts of their communities,” said Stephen Lecce, Ontario’s Minister of Education, in his address to the province.

ANDERS HOLM-JENSEN/UNSPLASH

Syrian children overburdened by decade long humanitarian crisis Pneumonia and cholera are several diseases Syrians are exposed to due to devastating living conditions. May Alsaigh News Editor

yria’s current economic disaster has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with 80 per cent of its population living in poverty. With more than 13.4 million Syrians requiring urgent humanitarian aid, the escalation of poor living conditions is significantly impacting children, leaving more than six million in dire need of assistance. After more than a decade of civil war, hyperinflation has left Syria’s education system vastly underfunded and fragmented. Nearly 2.5 million children are being deprived of an education. The Covid-19 pandemic has also exacerbated the disruption of education, as children who attend school are subjected to overcrowded classrooms and insufficient ventilation systems. One in three children is out of school as the war prevented two decades of educational progress. Several school structures remain destroyed and abandoned. On countless media outlets and platforms such as YouTube, footage shows Syrian children losing loved ones, including parents and siblings. Bombs continue to destroy homes while U.S. militants occupy schools and hospitals of the country. Only an estimated 53 per cent of hospitals and 51 per cent of healthcare facilities are fully functioning. The rapidly evolving crisis has resulted in millions of Syrian refugees crossing borders to neighbouring Middle Eastern

countries such as Jordan and Iraq. Nearly 3.7 million refugees have already migrated to Turkey, making Syrians the largest refugee population worldwide. The country’s civil war has left devastating impacts on the physical well-being of children. “I thought these prosthetics would be like the real ones where I could walk, play and work with them, but they’ve never helped,” says one child in an ABC News interview after losing both his legs from the war.

ALADDIN HAMMAMI/UNSPLASH

Due to the incident, the young boy now spends most of his time sitting alone in a refugee camp located in Syria. “When I was told about them, I was excited, I thought they had knees that would bend so I could walk with them. I don’t know what to do, and we don’t have the money to buy better ones,” he continues. The war has also introduced other various health challenges to children, such as life-threatening diseases and malnutrition. With the country’s crisis, children cannot have regular check-

ups, making them far more susceptible to illnesses that stem from poor sanitization and hygiene. Pneumonia is also another prevalent issue due to poor housing structures and cold weather increasing the rate of respiratory infections. In countries undergoing severe economic distress like Syria, children are also exposed to child labour and become the breadwinners of their families. They are exploited in demeaning circumstances for little pay, with no enforced trafficking laws in the nation. There are numerous ways communities can help relieve refugee crises—one is by donating to reputable charities that aid Syrians all over the globe. Several charities in the GTA enable donators to make contributions online. Canada Helps is one of many websites that provide a list of local charity organizations. Individuals can also support refugees through online movements that provide more information about the country’s crisis and advocate for the government to take action. Change.org is another website that lists petitions and motions where individuals can sign and be involved. Islamic Relief Canada, an international aid and development charity, is actively working to provide emergency shelters, food, and medical care for Syria. The organization has been supporting the country for 18 years and is currently accepting donations on their website. As children are the world’s hope for a better future, they deserve access to opportunities that will grant them the means to propel society forward. Though Syria has been facing more than a decade of civil war, there is still time to save its beauty.

CSSDP at U of T invites students to discuss functions of campus police Dr. Rinaldo Walcott introduces students to the hidden problems of the campus police system and the history behind policing. Razia Saleh Associate News Editor

>> CAMPUS POLICE continued from page 01 Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQ2S+ identifying individuals face the most harm through the policing system revealing tremendous disparities. This has led to some students and faculty calling for the abolishment of campus police. Aside from Walcott, Harsh Naik, a member of the CSSDP Toronto community, also hosted the event. Part of the meeting focused on the topic of police brutality and the over policing of Black people. “To this day, we see the state and police using excessive violence to oppress Blacks [and] Indigenous Peoples,” stated Naik. A main goal of this meeting was to encourage conversations among students and faculty about policing on campus. The speaker series also emphasized the importance of traumainformed alternatives. With these discussions, CSSDP hoped to

facilitate a safe space aside from the academic field for students and faculty to voice their concerns as a community. One of the main topics of the meeting was modern policing and its relationship to slavery. In fact, Walcott argued that modern policing is shaped by slavery. “We can’t think about contemporary logics of policing without understanding that those logics are written by slavery—Indigenous colonization and the attempt to make stolen land appear to be a legitimate process of transfer,” Walcott stated. Using this information, Walcott explains why Indigenous Peoples and Black communities are constantly being targeted by police and why they experience the breadth of police violence in North America. According to Walcott, slavery constitutes current policing structures which is why the only way for individuals to thrive is through the abolishment of police. This also applies to campus police. “Campus policing, as special constables and so on, appropriate the logics of the judiciary to

shape how they relate to people on campus,” Walcott stated. This leads to why campus police impose order and authority not only within the university, but spaces outside of it as well such as nearby parks. According to Walcott, this perception is damaging for the community. Many of the concerns discussed at this meeting were a result of the authoritative power and influence campus police hold—often segregating people. “We know that campus police [are] not in any way deployed to keep faculty and staff safe but are actually an intermediary when more force is [needed],” Walcott continued. The prospect of a police-free campus comes with its challenges, but Walcott believes many of the centers at U of T’s campuses can help enforce better frameworks for students’ wellbeing and mental health. “It’s a doable goal, it’s a worthy goal and [U of T administration] should do it.” For this to take place, Walcott condemns that all policing

systems must be removed for campus to be a police-free environment With several students and faculty expressing concerns over U of T’s current campus policing system, the university is urged to act and respond to the needs of its community. CSSDP will continue to hold meetings at U of T to address these topics, allowing attendees to seek a safe space for conversations. Currently, their next session is set for February 17 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will also take place virtually. Registration is available online via popular ticketing website, Eventbrite.

Suicide rates increase globally as back to school season returns Domestic and international students hit hard with adjusting to life in a pandemic leading to soaring suicidal cases and the need for mental health resources. Anjalli Becharbhai Staff Writer

or many students, the second wave of Covid-19 has led to feelings of isolation and anxiety. With minimal interaction among students and their educators, it is not uncommon for individuals to experience depression-like symptoms and lack of motivation. With these factors, students have been subject to various mental health issues, provoking a mass escalation in suicide rates. Specifically, countries like Israel, England, and France have seen an increase in phone calls to suicide prevention hotlines. The current Israeli economic financial distress prompted individuals to exhibit suicidal ideation, with hotline activity increasing from 4 per cent to 15 per cent between the first and second quarantine. Operators noted an extreme spike of loneliness and depression among callers, as rates increased from 26 per cent to 35 per cent. After the second wave was announced in England in December 2021, Papyrus, a national charity that advocates for suicide prevention for youth, received a heightened amount of incoming calls which forced the country to extend their calling hours. Data revealed 80 per cent of callers demonstrated fear of isolation. A French study conducted and led by Michel Debout, a psychiatrist and professor of forensic medicine in Saint-Etienne, measures the correlation between suicide rates and lockdowns.

“Suicide caused by crises such as international pandemics can take time to materialize for months or even years after a pandemic has occurred.” The report emphasized that suicide caused by crises such as international pandemics can take time to materialize for months or even years after a pandemic has occurred. The report also revealed that among a cohort of French citizens surveyed, 11 per cent of them considered attempting suicide during the first lockdown and 17 per cent after the end of the confinement. The study concluded that this trend prompts the need for robust mental health resources for the future. Concerning international students, a report conducted by One Voice Canada, a nonprofit organization, released

an increase in suicide rates during the Covid-19 pandemic. A lack of financial resources coupled with adjusting to a different educational system was one of many factors that led to these rates. Another contributing factor is the underground economy, where students work illegally and are exploited by employers while struggling to pay tuition fees. Indian international student Amrinder Singh, who attended Douglas College in British Columbia, was a victim of this illicit work force and took his life last September due to financial distress. Dapinder Singh, a friend of the victim, created a GoFundMe to safely transport his body back to his home country. During Dapinder’s time as a student, he also faced suicidal thoughts because of the pandemic and missed an important deadline to apply for a work permit following his study permit. In response to this news, the province is committed to improve the academic experience for international students. The Canadian government will reform work permits and provide students with an additional 18 months to complete required work during the pandemic. The province has also offered a new mental health service called Here2Talk for post-secondary students, where they can access virtual single-session services with a professional in multiple languages. At U of T, students can find ample resources available to them relative to their needs when it comes to mental health support. Available in multiple languages, U of T offers a program known as My SSP, or My Student Support Program, that enables students to access advice over a phone call at no cost. The 24-hour service invites conversations on topics such as difficulty adjusting to life in Canada, relationships with friends and family, and language and cultural barriers. There is also the Health and Counselling Centre at the University of Toronto Mississauga that provides daily workshops, activities, and resources for students. Some of which include mindful meditation, selfcare Thursdays, and together Tuesdays. Activities like these and other university initiatives are vital to the mental health of students as they prevent negative impacts such as suicide rates.

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 Haya Abu Ghosh, Opinion Kareena Kailass, Opinion Dalainey Gervais, Features Prisha Nuckchady, Features Aidan Thompson, Arts Ciera Couto, 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

OPINION

Editor | Aroni Sarkar opinion@themedium.ca

Reflecting on five years after the Quebec Mosque shooting The spread of Islamophobia continues in Canada years after the deadly attack. Hamna Riaz and Waghma Ahamdzay Staff Writer and Contributor

n January 29, 2017, 21-year-old Alexandre Bissonnette walked into the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre and opened fire, killing six worshippers and injuring five more. We remember sitting in front of the television with our visibly Muslim families, watching the news as they showed the faces of the victims who all slightly resembled strong Muslim men we have known. While we did not know them personally, they were our community—our brothers in Islam.

“We wish we could say this came as a total shock to the Muslim community, that we would have never anticipated Islamophobia of the sort, but that would be a lie.” We wish we could say this came as a total shock to the Muslim community, that we would have never anticipated Islamophobia of the sort, but that would be a lie. In 2016, the world changed for the worse, and bigots around the world were fueled by a higher power. Small acts of Islamophobia became common. Our mothers would give us a concerned look every time we left the house wearing the hijab. This shooting was a direct result of governmental failure throughout North America, but that should not stop us from holding ourselves—Canadians—accountable. Many argue that the attack happened five years ago and surely things have changed for the better. To that we say—think again. Just two years after the Quebec Mosque shooting, Bill 21 was passed which disproportionately targets religious groups, particularly Muslim women, from wearing any religious symbols in public spaces. Three years after the Quebec Mosque shooting, MohamedAslim Zafis had his throat slit by Guilherme “William” Von Neutegem while volunteering outside his local Mosque in Etobicoke. Moreover, the Quebec Mosque shooter had his sentence reduced from two life sentences to eligible for parole after 25 years served. Four years after the Quebec Mosque shooting, Nathaniel Veltman ran over a Muslim family in London, Ontario with his truck. Fur-

thermore, Black Muslim women became the targets and victims of a series of hate-motivated attacks in Alberta. These incidents and these laws have continued to perpetuate the fact that Islamophobia is still rampant throughout Canada. Politicians, leaders, and advocates cannot claim to stand against Islamophobia and then refuse to admit that Bill 21 is racist or refuse to pass a bill that protects Muslim communities and places of worship.

“We are tired of pretending to feel ‘safe’ or ignoring these conversations on Islamophobia simply because it makes other Canadians uncomfortable.” As a Muslim, fancy speeches and anniversary press simply doesn’t cut it. We are tired of pretending to feel “safe” or ignoring these conversations on Islamophobia simply because it makes other Canadians uncomfortable. Canadians and students like ourselves can help prevent Islamophobia by educating ourselves, being an active ally, and creating spaces for Muslim voices. For example, this would include debunking and unlearning false information about Islam by asking a Muslim friend or turning towards primary sources of Islamic Law or knowledge. To make room for Muslim voices, we can inform ourselves of issues affecting the Muslim community and of recommendations made by trusted organizations and networks. For example, the National Council of Canadian Muslims has created a list of recommendations for all levels of government to follow and adhere to before the National Summit on Islamophobia. We believe that going through these recommendations and looking for ways in which we can incorporate them in our everyday lives would be a step in the right direction. Overall, Islamophobia and these violent crimes against Muslims are not something that “show up” randomly, but rather it is gradual. Therefore, there needs to be better systems of education that target Islamophobia at onset, before it becomes tragedy and abuse. If you are still not convinced that Islamophobia is an issue that needs to be better addressed in Canada, then we would simply tell you to turn on the news, look at the recent protests, look at the flags, and read between the lines.

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The Metaverse: A virtual utopia? Over exposure to a virtual reality can lead to overstimulation, addiction, and detachment from reality. ating space where we all are equal. But there is still injustice in this new digital world, such as racism, sexism, misogyny, and homophobia—which are forms of discrimination found in reality. The metaverse world reflects who people are. People on social media platforms like Facebook are notorious for cyberbullying, and it is an important matter for capitalist companies like Meta to work toward dismantling prejudices in a virtual world.

Haya Abu Ghosh Associate Opinion Editor

or those that might not know about the metaverse, this three-dimensional virtual world is concentrated on social interactions online. People can customize their own avatar that reflects who they are or wish to be. According to the Metaverse, we would be able to “socialize, learn, collaborate, and play” in the 3D cyberspace.

“Prolonged presence in the online world can lead to ‘real problems on the mental, emotional and physical development process’ for children and adolescents.”

“It is the future of advanced technology.” Many companies have invested in avatar formatting, gaming, and collaborative spaces since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Large companies such as Microsoft initiated a Mesh For Hololens 2, Canadian company Shopify created a game, Shopify Party, for people to gather online and host events. While metaverse seems similar to these other tech companies, it is the future of advanced technology. Some argue this new reality creates a liber-

STELLA JACOB/UNSPLASH

Metaverse is a space to socially interact with other members online but lacks the nuances of in-person interaction. And some experts like child and adolescent psychiatrist Veysi Çeri say that prolonged presence in the

Editorial

An argument for the arts Recognizing the value of creative careers that society often brushes over. The Medium

s a child, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” was a fun question. You could say anything you wanted—even “unicorn”—and people would smile and approve. As a young adult, that question carries more weight. Sure, people might smile at whatever you say still, but they tend to be less impressed by something like “writer” than if you were to say “doctor.”

“Doesn’t an arts career deserve recognition as well?” Perhaps some people look down on arts because it does not seem like a necessity, or perhaps because the salary is often not as high as it would be in the fields of medicine and science. But doesn’t an arts career deserve recognition as well? It is easy to compare arts to other fields and say it is all fun and not difficult, but it is also easy to forget all the work behind the countless productions that we consume. A writer stares at a computer screen for hours, pondering over a blank document. An actor memorizes every detail and line for their role, bringing life to a performance. A dancer strains their body by practicing for hours, perfecting choreography for the stage. An artist draws the same stroke over

and over, polishing the creation of their vision.

“Art has always been a way for humans to express themselves and evolve; it is a timeless mosaic of multiple generations and a multitude of voices.” Art has always been a way for humans to express themselves and evolve; it is a timeless mosaic of multiple generations and a multitude of voices. For many people, having a creative outlet or even indulging in other people’s creations can be life-changing. As Pablo Picasso once said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” There is no doubt that medicine and science are crucial for survival, but what is the point in surviving if there is nothing to enjoy in life?

online world can lead to “real problems on the mental, emotional and physical development process” for children and adolescents. This is especially important for small children who find it a challenge to differentiate between the virtual and real world. Spending hours in the metaverse can cause addiction because metaverse technology simulates reality to the point where people won’t feel like they’re in the digital world. This causes physical and social depersonalization and disturbs the physical and emotional bond of people to real life. People detach from their own life and potentially develop mental illness. In my opinion, the metaverse concept has been pushed too far. Phones and social media are already addicting. We’re heading in the wrong direction if we popularize virtual reality rooted technology that overstimulates. As social creatures, we need in-person interactions with one another. Considering the negative implications of over stimulation, addiction to technology, and detachment from reality, the metaverse is clearly a recipe for disaster.

Ear to the ground:

Welcome back, tributes! I mean, students!

By: Reid Fournier

Blasting music in a car with friends is what we need as students Research suggests that listening to music in the company of friends is a great tool to relieve stress and anxiety. Kareena Kailass Associate Opinion Editor

t’s been a stressful week. Your friends invite you out and at first you hesitate, because you’re totally exhausted, but you decide to go anyway. As you and your friends drive around, blasting music and singing along to throwback hits, the vibes are immaculate. Everything melts away. For a moment, you’re in paradise. Your head is clear, and you just feel like you. You’re living in the moment. We’ve all felt this way before, but why? Why is a drive with friends and music so calming? What about the atmosphere makes stress and worry melt away? According to an article by the University of Nevada, it is found that music can make people feel more optimistic and positive. It can also relax and soothe you, depending on the tempo. As an effective remedy for stress, music is exactly what you need during a long and gruelling semester. Additionally, when you combine the boost that music gives you with the company of your friends, you’re bound for an even brighter outcome. In an article by Huffpost, it is reported that being in the company of your closest friends is the recipe to reducing stress and uplifting your spirits. Now more than ever, as we find ourselves cooped up at

home, faced by burnout from online school and social distancing measures, estranged from the routines that we once had, and struggling to establish new ones, stress is at an alltime high. Based on the research, here’s what we can do: a spontaneous outing with friends, or, music. Better yet – both. Besides it being calming, putting yourself in a new environment and engaging with a different atmosphere than the one in your room is exactly what you need to take your mind off things. It gives you the chance to live in the moment instead of anticipating what’s to come and what has passed. With the midterm season quickly approaching, many of us are left feeling anxious and worried about the future. Let’s take the chance to engage in spontaneous acts, to shed some weight of the future, and feel like ourselves again. Personally, I found myself benefitting from spontaneity and music in ways greater than I could imagine. Right before a huge test, I have a small playlist lined up. I connect my speaker, blast it, then immerse myself in the words and beat. For a moment, the stress and anxiety don’t have a hold on me anymore. The take away? I go into the test calm and level-headed. Although the pandemic may not permit us to really get out and do what we want with our friends, there are always ways to experiment. Finding what works for you may be trial and error, but once you find it, you’ve struck stress-free gold.

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The perils of everyday university life. Aya Yafaoui Columnist

he doors of UTM are now open, inviting the husks of students back into their once barren halls. The campus is filled once again with the buzz of a student body that has long been kept away from inhabiting it. And as wonderful (or tragic) as it is to go back to in-person learning, there is a phrase echoing softly on the breeze across campus. Welcome back to the 76th Hunger Games. You may ask, what makes in-person learning a ruthless competition that decides whether people live or die at the mercy of others? Allow me to paint you a picture. The most privileged among us are those that get dropped off in the morning, avoiding the messy battles that take place on the bus or between the lines of the parking lots. Those of us that are not so lucky must wait with bated breath as the bus pulls up to our stop, opens its doors, and forces us to fit in an inch of space. Any experienced bus rider knows that the true test is to find a pole or handle before the bus lurches forward and sends you toppling onto another person. Back on campus, every time the clock reaches the top of the hour students rush in and out of classes. To survive the hourly opening of the flood gates, you must be agile, strategic, and knowledgeable of the various routes around campus. In other words, be like a salmon swimming upstream. Of course, the most hectic area of all is The Meeting Place, or cafeteria. Seats are snatched up as quickly as they become available. Finding a place to sit and eat for a hungry and tired student is crucial to surviving. As you survey the changing landscape, other students will also be walking around the space. They are your competition, the one thing standing between you and a hot meal. You will need to wield strategy, swiftness, and luck to bag a seat. All that’s left to say is welcome back UTM, and may the odds be ever in your favour.

Until next time! Aya Yafaoui

features

Editor | Ricardo Jaroslav Valdes features@themedium.ca

LECTURE ME! On the importance of incorporating Indigenous Studies in the syllabus Dr. Sherry Fukuzawa and Dr. Nicole Laliberte join Councillor Veronica King-Jamieson in discussing the role education plays in furthering peacemaking efforts between non-Indigenous and Indigenous Canadians. Shreya Joshi Staff Writer

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t’s important that we acknowledge our privilege and give up our seat at the table to spotlight someone who is typically shadowed,” states Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation (MCFN) Councillor Veronica King-Jamieson. On February 1, she presented a Lecture Me! talk regarding the incorporation of Indigenous education in the Canadian curriculum. She was joined by Dr. Sherry Fukuzawa, an assistant professor of anthropology, and Dr. Nicole Laliberte, an associate professor of geography. Councillor King-Jamieson started the meeting by discussing her involvement with the MCFN community initiative titled “Education for Reconciliation,” a program that aims to mandate the teaching of Indigenous history and contributions within the primary and secondary school curriculum. She proceeded to discuss the 2018 symposium held at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) on the importance of Indigenous Education in Ontario classrooms. The symposium, which was hosted by Justice LaForme, an Elder of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations, talked about the importance

of funding Indigenous education in Ontario classrooms. LaForme stressed that since educational institutions were created by colonial settlers, they are inherently biased towards Anglo-Canadians.

“Truth is hard. Reconciliation is harder. When you bring an Indigenous person to the discussion, it changes everything.” According to LaForme, the only way to completely decolonize education in Canada is to move away from a binary, hierarchical education that overemphasizes the achievements of white Canadians and instead invests in teaching Indigenous studies to students. “Truth is hard. Reconciliation is harder. When you bring an Indigenous person to the discussion, it changes everything,” she stated. LaForme further described the importance of partnerships with local Indigenous communities. Mutual respect, equality, acknowledging different ways of teaching, and facilitating progress are just some of the many benefits. The lecture then delved into the University of Toronto’s education efforts regarding this matter. Currently, the UTM Indigenous Action Group has established an equitable and respected partnership between local Indigenous communities and the

university. This group demonstrates the importance of Indigenous community engagement in post-secondary institutions. As of 2021, they have made a significant stride in incorporating Indigenous education into the academic calendar. For the last few years, UTM has been offering ANT241: Anthropology and Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (in Canada). This course is a community-based, experiential learning class that focuses on Indigenous identity and the significance of positionality in society. Positionality refers to how differences in social mobility shape our identities and access to the world around us. The course also focuses on Indigenous research including topics such as ontology, epistemology, and axiology. The methodology of Indigenous research, its knowledge, and how to advance it is also discussed. Students in ANT241 are taught the importance of terminology and asked to reflect on their personal experience, as well as empathize with those who may not have the same privileges as them. They are also asked to evaluate why it is they are taking the course and what they plan on taking away from it. Each week, a different speaker presents a talk to the students about their personal experience. The course usually ends with a guest lecture by Carolyn King, a former Chief of the Mississauga First Nations. King introduces the Moccasin Identifier Project, an

assignment where students focus on respectability, responsibility, and equity regarding Indigenous knowledge. ANT241 is just one attempt to bridge the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students and further peacemaking efforts through education. By taking this course, students are better able to understand intersectionality, and their role in allying with and advocating for Indigenous people to continue to reject modernday colonialism.

“We are trying to think about how to make educational change in a meaningful way.” The lecture concluded with discussing future steps for reconciliation from an educational standpoint. “We are trying to think about how to make educational change in a meaningful way,” concluded Dr. Laliberte. “Our research is focused not solely on documentation, but also testimony from students.” In the future, there must be a collective movement composed of both Indigenous and settler communities. Under the direction of Indigenous communities, educational initiatives should emphasize the importance of funding directly to First Nations while enabling Indigenous Peoples to take ownership of their culture. The burden to educate should not fall solely upon Indigenous elders and community members. Privileged individuals should reach out to Indigenous communities and use their place of privilege to open a window for reconciliation.

Concerned about in-person classes? Here’s how you can build resilience Relieving stress and setting boundaries can help us balance our physical and mental health. Prisha (Maneka) Nuckchady Associate Features Editor

ith a full return to in-person classes on February 7, 2022, students at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) are expected to feel anxious. While some are concerned about their safety on campus due to Covid-19, others are nervous about the upcoming closed-book midterm season. As such, building resilience is key to preventing mental and physical distress. Dr. Judith P. Andersen is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at UTM. As a health psychologist, her research focuses on the biological, psychological, and social factors that invoke physical and mental stress and impact our health and performance. Last week, in collaboration with the Health and Counseling Centre, she hosted a Wellness 101 Workshop on building resilience. Dr. Andersen explores important coping mechanisms students can take to help navigate stressful situations. At the beginning of the winter semester, she held an online survey for her PSY340H5: Abnormal Psychology class. In it, she found that most of her students were experiencing burnout. “This seems to indicate that, right away, at the beginning of the semester, we’re already potentially dipping into our long-term reserves [as opposed to relying on short-term reserves],” she says. According to Dr. Andersen, humans have short-term and long-term physical reserves. These reserves determine our physical and emotional status. Having low energy and experiencing stress are examples of a short-term reserve—it reflects an imbalance in our nervous system. When left untreated, it can lead to symptoms of burnout, hence dipping into the long-term reserve. Stress has been linked to mental health disorders including depression and suicide, as well as increased risks of heart attack and early mortality. Dr. Andersen explains that our response to stress starts in the brain. Our brainstem controls important bodily functions such as our heart and breathing rate. The brain then uses this information and stimulates a stress response. For example, when we feel uneasy or scared, our brain releases stress-inducing hormones like cortisol to our bloodstream as a “fight-or-flight” response. Currently, Dr. Andersen is working with first responders to develop evidence-based resilience training programs. In her research, she has found that stress contributes to mistakes and lethal force errors. For instance, during high-stress situations that police officers face, vision difficulties may arise and their thinking processes are impaired—thereby resulting in fatal mistakes such as lethal force. Using resilience training, Dr. Andersen found that police officers were less likely to make such errors. Moreover, she found that police officers under constant exposure to stress and trauma were more likely to develop diabetes and cancer. Thus, her research also focuses on “improving the performance and resilience through training.”

“Building resilience can help reinforce our mental and physical health.” For students, building resilience can help reinforce our mental and

physical health. To do so, we need to work on replenishing our short-term and long-term reserves. According to Dr. Andersen, a good night’s sleep, meditation, or any relaxing activity can replenish short-term reserves. However, she points out that sometimes, these solutions don’t work. One might wake up fatigued for a few days instead of refreshed. “Students who aren’t getting help now, or at the end of the semester, may face difficulties meeting deadlines. That’s why it’s crucial to pay attention to our [physical] health and mental health—even when we’re feeling okay,” she adds.

“Body’s natural response to stress is to refocus all our energy onto that perceived threat.”

Dr. Andersen introduces the “reset, refocus, respond” method to deal with stress. Often, in stressful situations, just giving ourselves pep-talks in our heads to calm down is not enough. She notes that the body’s natural response to stress is to refocus all our energy onto that perceived threat. As a result, the positive affirmations get overshadowed. Instead, she advises for us to shift our attention to what she calls a “manual override,” such as taking control of our breathing. When completing the resilience training with first responders, Dr. Andersen found that their heart rates rose prior to arriving at the scene due to the uncertainty of how events would unfold. After performing a one-breath breathing technique, the heart rate of first responders lowered to the optimal level. Dr. Andersen developed the International Performance Resilience & Efficiency Program (iPREP) to “train firstrespondents in techniques that would improve their mental and physical readiness in high-stress situations.” iPREP was implemented by Peel Police in 2016 in hopes of improving well-being and reducing mistakes such as lethal errors. “It’s about finding balance,” concludes Dr. Andersen. “You physically need to rebuild your reserves and protect your long-term reserves because they do get drained.” To avoid drain, she suggests setting boundaries. This could look like not responding to emails after a certain time, blocking a day off every week, or taking the weekends off. By setting boundaries, we’re able to keep time to ourselves and replenish our reserves. In doing so, we avoid dipping into long-term reserves, thereby avoiding burnout and staying resilient.

Arts

Editor | Danica Teng arts@themedium.ca

The celebrity behind the book Questioning the mix of authors in a world of fame. Ciera Couto Associate Arts & Entertainment Editor

he world of celebrities seems to be far removed from the literary world. Celebrities are seen and heard; their primary mediums are screens, where we meet and consume their content. We see them on televisions, hear them on Spotify playlists, and scroll past them on Instagram feeds. So, when we think of a celebrity, we often do not think of books. There is a fine— but not simple—line when it comes to celebrities and books. Can a celebrity really be a respected author? Can authors become celebrities on the same level as the stars of the screens? We often recognize books written by celebrities as memoirs with glossy portraits of a familiar face on the cover. These memoirs are abundant and often declared best sellers, making every other film and television star an official bestselling author. The problem with these

memoirs is that they give the celebrity all the credit and acclaim while oftentimes the celebrity barely puts pen to paper; many are written with “collaborators,” which really means they were written by ghostwriters. This is not to say that the information presented in the book is false, but the name on the cover may not reflect who wrote the words. Some celebrities, after gaining fame, decide to write their own non-fiction books themselves or even new works of fiction. Some examples include musician David Byrne, author of How Music Works, or actor Chris Colfer, who wrote an entire Young Adult series called The Land of Stories. In these cases, their successful careers in other fields do not take away from their written works. The books stand on their own without needing any boosts from the celebrity’s existing fame. These situations are a respectable crossover into the literary world, and the same can be said for many humorous books you would find at a bookstore. Comedians who are already famous end up writing

books about personal experiences in their industry or in their life in general, like Mindy Kaling, who has written three non-fiction books outside of writing for television. These new memoirs or works of fiction seem more genuine than some celebrities who “write” a book for sales. So, what about when authors become celebrities in their own right, through their literary work? It happens from time to time when an author is so successful that they cross the line into the celebrity world. Authors like Stephen King could be considered a celebrity. Contemporary writers like Rupi Kaur appear on late-night talk shows. This line between celebrity and author is complex and often brings the work at hand into question. At the end of the day, regardless of how a book makes it onto the shelf, someone has put time into it; the celebrity aspect can hardly be controlled. TOM HERMANS/UNSPLASH

The flawed spaces in Star Wars Star Wars IV: A New Hope hits its target of success but misses opportunities for character and plot depth. Aidan Thompson Associate Arts & Entertainment Editor

Spoiler warning: this article discusses the plot and scenes from the original Star Wars trilogy.

efore we begin, there are two things to get out of the way: One—there is a difference between quality and enjoyment. I always distinguish between the greatest movie of all time (The Godfather) and my favourite movie of all time (About Time) and try to remember that they do not need to be the same. The former is a film hailed by critics and audiences as a dramatic masterpiece; the latter is a quirky romcom about a romantically stunted time traveler. However, I have spent as much of my life watching About Time as Francis Ford Coppola spent directing The Godfather Trilogy. Two—it is okay to like a bad movie. When someone says they think your favourite movie is a heaping, smelly, collegedorm-sized pile of trash, you do not have to obnoxiously explain why they are wrong. Do not take your taste too seriously. Liking bad movies or hating good movies does not matter, do not feel obligated to rationalize everything you enjoy. Now that those disclaimers are out of the way, I should clarify that they are here to avoid any retaliative aggressions from the Star Wars community, although those might be largely unavoidable. I’m not here to debate the influence or cultural significance of Star Wars or tell you that it should not be your favourite movie, I am only here to raise a few criticisms to humble the creator, George Lucas, and his fanbase. However, to satiate the self-gratifying Star Wars community, allow me to acknowledge some of the good things about Lucas’s 1977 film

Star Wars IV: A New Hope, including but not limited to: the imaginative score by John Williams, the expansive worldbuilding, and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew). But enough with what is good about Star Wars, we have all heard it before. Let us look at what missed its mark. The first criticism is that so many important plot points go strangely unexplained because of the narrative’s agenda. The first time Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) witnesses the power of the force is when Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) uses it to influence the minds of two Stormtroopers outside of the Mos Eisley Cantina, a tavern on the planet Tatooine. Does the movie explain how that happened? No. Luke asks one question; the only reply is a janky transition, then the Cantina Band tune starts playing and everyone seems to move on. I am not saying that this scene needs to be explained for the audience’s sake. By all means, preserve a little mystery. But the continuity of the film is going to suggest that Luke just lets that slide?

IMDb.com

This is not the only time that the film overlooks certain plot points for the sake of brevity. Many of the film’s most dramatic moments are brushed over. And yes, it is an adventure film. Obviously, they will not linger on the lasting trauma of seeing your entire planet blown up by a space station, but not even a little bit? Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) goes from being a scantilydressed slave, to being tortured by her father, to kissing her brother, and yet the only time her emotions seem to boil over is when Han Solo (Harrison Ford) gets frozen? Luke returns home to find his aunt and uncle burned alive, and he only gets a few seconds of screen time before he goes off to the planet Alderaan? And that is fine. I can already hear people rationalizing their stoicism. But it is interesting that for all the film’s efforts to create a sense of realism, at least within a fictional framework, it persistently resists any emotional depth within its characters—unless of course that emotional depth was confined to love, jealousy, or revenge. The second thing that has always bothered me about Star Wars is that its fanbase tends to continuously snub Stanley Kubrick and 2001: A Space Odyssey. They praise the special effects in Star Wars IV: A New Hope without any recognition for the leg work Kubrick did nearly a decade earlier with 2001: A Space Odyssey. Yes, Star Wars pioneered some incredible visual effects, but people tend to praise it as though it were the first film to bring a depth of realism to space. Without the innovative set designs and special effects of Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Wars would not have been what it was. Now, does this mean you have to pick a new favorite movie? No. It just serves to show that Star Wars is an unparalleled cultural text whose influence stretches wide but nonetheless is a film that has technical flaws.

The M ’s Playlist – February’s fragments with Duaa Returning to childhood comforts in the cold and chaos. Duaa Nasir Sports & Health Editor

tories have always played a huge role in my life. It is a bit cliché, but as a kid, I always formed stronger connections with books than with my peers. When I was not reading, I was thinking about what I had read. Narratives that ended on paper continued to flourish and grow in my mind. The music I listen to always connects back to this. When someone asks me to describe what kind of music I like, it is always hard to answer. My only criterion is that the lyrics and music resonate with something I have read. In a way, the songs are like fragments of a narrative, capturing a character, scene, or mood. Some songs, such as Boyce Avenue and Kina Grannis’s “Fast Car” cover, directly tell a story. With other songs, such as Taylor Swift’s “illicit affairs” or Jasmine Thompson’s “Mad World” cover, it is the complex, haunting atmosphere that has stayed with me long after I first heard them. I am not always big on trying new things. I like structure and familiarity, and I can cycle back to the same songs every few weeks. This is especially true in situations where I feel overwhelmed or out of control in my own life. If I temporarily cannot understand the real world, it is relieving to lean on a fictional one.

True crime: the good, the bad, and the ugly There is nothing wrong with a few good murder mysteries, but where does fascination turn to obsession? Shahed Ebesh Contributor

>> TRUE CRIME continued from page 01 Do you obsessively pay apprehensive attention to strangers? If you have internalized the anxieties of the content you consume, it may be time to take a step back, reassess, and possibly reduce your true crime consumption.

Fans should keep in mind that the human psyche mirrors whatever environment you leave it in, and if that environment consists solely of true crime, anxiety and paranoia may come with the experience. Requiring a break from the genre does not reflect individual strength. Fans should keep in mind that the human psyche mirrors whatever environment you leave it in, and if that environment consists solely of true crime, anxiety and paranoia may come with the experience.

With the good and the bad, there is also the ugly. Within the fanbase of true crime, there is a separate small population of serial killer fans. These serial killer fans venture further than other true crime fans because of their interest in discussing the motives of serial killers and delving into the psychology of a criminal’s patterns. Fan communities stretch across the internet, and while their niche is unconventional, most true crime fans generally maintain the unspoken but encouraged empathy for victims far more than empathy for the serial killers. Their interests may be c ons i de re d unusual, but many of

them approach their fascination with criminals from an anthropological perspective. The issue lies in the serial killer fans who admit attraction, even sympathy, for these criminals; these fans overshadow the abominable misdeeds of serial murderers and rapists in favour of inappropriate levels of empathy. In an interview with the magazine New Statesman, Rebecca—a Ted Bundy fan—admitted, “I was attracted to him physically, I am not going to lie. There was something compelling about him.” Rebecca believes that Bundy’s murders do not define him as a person, insisting that she does not “think the Ted Bundy who killed people is the real Ted Bundy.” Statements like these dismiss the tragic crimes Bundy committed and disrespect both the victims and their surviving families.

However, another person interviewed in the same article named Geri said, “I’ve definitely encountered a fair share of serial killer groupies and it can get a little offensive […] I feel like I can’t relate to those people at all.” Thankfully, the niche serial killer fanatics are largely disowned by most true crime fans. If true crime entertains you, then a tasteful murder documentary in the morning does not hurt. If you are new to the genre, you can check out Dateline NBC, a classic true crime podcast and show that reports the facts documentary-style; True Crime Obsessed, a laid-back podcast that feels more like a fun conversation with friends; and Bailey Sarian’s Mystery & Makeup series on YouTube, where Sarian does her makeup while covering famous true crime stories.

RODNAE PRODUCTIONS/PEXELS

sports & health

Editor | Duaa Nasir sports@themedium.ca

The perks of participating at the RAWC Anthony Hertadi discusses the differences between studying in Indonesia and Canada, as well as how he found his current community. Robert Bui Campus Athletics Correspondent

n January 28, The Medium interviewed Anthony Hertadi, a first-year commerce student here at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). Hertadi hopes to join the finance stream while also majoring in economics. Hertadi’s parents are Indonesian, but Hertadi was born in North America. After living between the United States and Vancouver for three years, he moved to Indonesia. In his high school, named Kolese Kanisius, Hertadi experienced the developing side of Indonesia when he taught underprivileged students in the tough sub-district of Papanggo. This was one of the proudest experiences of his life. “I feel like if you contribute to someone’s success, especially someone who really values you being there, it makes you happy,” he says. At Kolese Kanisius, Hertadi struggled to find time to simultaneously participate in sports and do well in his studies. So he left his basketball club in grade nine to set a good record for future university applications. When Hertadi graduated high school, he ended up at UTM. When, we asked him about the differences between living in Indonesia and living in Canada, Hertadi commented on the level of development. While Indonesia is advancing, it is still a developing country, which makes it distinct from Canada.

Regarding academic differences, Herdati pointed out the varying teaching styles. This can represent a cultural difference between North America and Asia in general, but Herdati notes some distinctions: “Here in North America when they teach you, they want you to understand why. In Indonesia they want to bash you with books and tell you to memorize without understanding anything, but your range of understanding becomes wider naturally.” The success of teaching styles is subjective and Herdati thinks that it depends on the course. For example, courses like Math are studied better in Indonesia while courses like Economics are studied better in Canada. We asked Herdati about his experiences with the Recreation, Athletic & Wellness Centre (RAWC) and he mentioned his participation in intramural badminton. While he initially felt out of place, he also got to meet a group of friends. Being a part of the sports community here at UTM

does not mean you need to have years of experience. In Herdati’s case, he had explored tennis. While the Varsity team might not be his goal, there are still clubs like the UTM Tennis Club which welcomes new members every year. Outside of academics, Herdati joins UTM virtual town halls to voice his concerns about issues such as the return to campus. Additionally, in the short time he has spent here, he has been able to create a network of friends, some of whom have come together to introduce a start-up company named Osiris Farms. Transitioning to a new environment can be overwhelming at times. You may be unsure about committing to new things, but the change can turn out to be exactly what you need. We hope that Herdati, along with other students here at our university, gain the confidence to join new clubs and try new experiences here at UTM! ANTHONY HEART DI

All smiles for the all-stars The all-star break offers the Toronto Maple Leafs a moment before one of their tightest schedules in the NHL. Omar Khan Columnist

hile consistency is an ongoing issue, the high-flying Toronto Maple Leafs look to rest and recuperate during the all-star break and continue their winning ways in their busiest month of the season. The Toronto Maple Leafs are currently on a five-game winning streak, following a rough few games where opponents were able to take advantage of the team’s defensive woes. Starting goalie Jack Campbell seemed to be out of gas after he started the season so well. The truth is, a goalie can only be as good as their team is defensively, and for the Toronto Maple Leafs, their defensive stats, relative to the rest of the league, are surprisingly good. Some will point out that the Leafs are in the middle of the pack defensively, having a 2.48 goals against per game, good enough for 18 in the league. While this may not seem good enough for a contender, the team is also seventh in shots against, with a 52.26 shots against per game. Offensively, the team constantly outscores and outshoots their opponent 3.04 goals

for and 58.59 shots for. These numbers where the driving force behind the Leafs five-game winning streak, along with key performances from the team’s top line, consisting of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and Michael Bunting.

to score. The past two years in the playoffs, he failed to score at all, causing some fans to want him gone. Now, Mitch has broken his personal record for consecutive games with a goal, having eight goals in his last seven games.

MARKUS SPISKE/UNSPLASH

Auston Matthews, perhaps the best goal scorer in the world, tallied his eight career hattrick (three goal game) giving him ten points in his last four games. The franchise centre is now set to participate in his fourth All Star Weekend and challenge for the Rocket Richard trophy, awarded to the player who finishes the season with the most goals. Mitch Marner, the Robin to Matthews’ Batman, has reached a whole new level. The biggest question with Mitch Marner is his ability

Another issue Marner faced was scoring on the power play. Marner went more than 100 games without a power play goal, and now, has three power play goals since returning from injury. It is safe to say that Marner has earned his back spot in the good graces of Leaf fans, even though that is never a permanent position. Speaking of good graces in Leafs Nation, Michael Bunting, a player that is becoming a fan favorite in Toronto, also notched a hat-trick, his first with the Leafs and the second of his career.

Bunting was signed by the Leafs this past offseason to replace another former fan favorite Zach Hyman. Burdened with the task of filling the role of a player some thought was unreplaceable, Michael Bunting has exceeded expectations and helped lead his team on this winning streak. He is also tied for the most penalties drawn, with the best player on the planet, Connor McDavid. Looking forward, the Leafs have two players representing them at the All-Star weekend, Auston Matthews and Jack Campbell. Matthews, who is only 24 years old, has already been an All-Star three times in his young career and Jack Campbell, who is 30 years old, will be going for the first time. Campbell has certainly earned his place as an All-Star, being among the league leaders in all the major goalie statistics. He will also most likely finish the season in the conversation for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the goalie who is voted as the best in the league. For the rest of the team, it is important that they use this break to the fullest because once they get back, they have a difficult schedule of 11 games in 20 days. This will be one of the tightest schedules ever seen in the National Hockey League and a true test for this team.