Vol 45 Issue 13

THE VOICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO MISSISSAUGA

January 7, 2019 Volume 45, Issue 13 themedium.c a

UTM: A smokeless campus

Free Speech & UTMSU

Are superhereos gods?

New year, new me? Nah.

The price of a fake tan

News, page 3

Opinion, page 4

Arts, page 5

Features, page 8

Sports, page 10

Gertler released from Waterfront project U of T President Meric Gertler was removed from Waterfront Toronto’s board of directors by provincial government ALI TAHA NEWS EDITOR Last month, Waterfront Toronto, a public organization that is working on revitalizing the city’s waterfront, fired board of director Meric Gertler, the president of the University of Toronto, along with the board’s chair, Helen Burstyn, and provincial appointee Michael Nobrega, an accountant and former chief executive of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System.

The three directors were ushered out by the Ontario government for unknown reasons. Burstyn told The Associated Press that the provincial Minister of Infrastructure Monte McNaughton informed her of the decision but declined to provide a reason for their dismissal.

University of Toronto spokesperson Elizabeth Church told The Varsity that Gertler “served at the pleasure of the government and will continue to do work to encourage city-building efforts through his role as President of the University of Toronto.”

The changes to the board of directors comes after the recent resignation of developer Julie Di

COURTESY OF UTORONTO.CA

Reasons for Meric Gertler’s loss of position is unknown at this time.

Lorenzo in July of 2018 amid Waterfront Toronto’s new partnership with Sidewalk Labs, Google’s sister company.

In her resignation letter, Di Lorenzo wrote that she did not believe Waterfront Toronto’s deal with Sidewalk Labs was “in the best in-

terest of the corporation and our country.”

In an interview with The Star, Di Lorenzo stated that the new deal would limit Waterfront Toronto’s independence, as well as fail to address data concerns in regard to the proposal to solve urban prob-

lems with help of sensor-gathered data via wireless sensor networks.

According to an article by The Globe and Mail, the networks would be able to collect data on traffic, noise, air quality and the performance of systems including trash bins and the electrical grid.

The sensors have raised worries over data ownership, security, and monetization.

“Over the past 15 years, Waterfront Toronto earned the trust of three levels of government, to serve as custodian of in excess of 1.2 billion dollars, to complete one of the most important infrastructure projects in this country known as the Flood Lands Restoration Project,” she wrote in her resignation letter.

“We controlled our narrative and our destiny and did not relinquish it to any other until now. I do not believe it was the intention of the three levels of government to allow a single limited company to become our filter, our gatekeeper and our agent. Yet through an unconventional and an opportunistic series of circumstances, I feel we have allowed this to happen.”

The two companies hope to turn the waterfront into a wired community filled with residential, office and commercial space, including new headquarters for Google Canada. Being called Quayside, the area will have an initial $50 million invested by Sidewalk Labs in a yearlong planning process.

Gertler continued on page 3

Student media clashes with students’ union The SCSU voted to be able to control student media accreditation and access to meetings ALI TAHA NEWS EDITOR On December 12, 2018, the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union (SCSU) Board of Directors voted unanimously to create an ad hoc committee on “media accreditation to study, reaffirm, or deny accreditation and recognition of legitimacy from student media.”

Moved by Raymond Dang, the motion stated that student media has been “abusing their positions as disseminators and aggregators of information,” and that “students deserve better reporting from currently ‘accredited’ student media.”

The motion comes after The Varsity, the St. George campus newspaper, covered the SCSU’s November 27 Board of Directors meeting, in which Dang moved a controversial motion to give $4,500 to the UTSC Women’s and Trans Centre, despite students previously voting against the motion at the SCSU’s Annual

PHOTO FROM UTORONTO.CA

The Scarborough Campus Student’s Union Board of Directors vote a new change in media.

General Meeting (AGM).

The ad hoc committee is the first step in being able to control student media accreditation and access to meetings. According to the motion as it stands, student media must apply or reapply for accreditation for

the union to either reaffirm or deny their access, and be able to cover the union’s events and meetings.

During the board meeting, The Varsity was asked to refrain from live-tweeting or photographing the meeting over concerns of online ha-

rassment of board members. Hildah Otieno, the chair of the meeting, stated that the ban was mainly about protecting board members from intimidation.

A similar incident of this kind happened again during the Univer-

sity of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union’s (UTGSU) Annual General Meeting on December 3. Two Varsity reporters were allowed to be present at the AGM on the condition that they would not live-tweet, or take photographs of the event. The reporters were subsequently asked to leave after continuing to live tweet at the direction of their editors.

In light of these recent incidents, the Canadian Association of Journalists president Karyn Pugliese released a statement calling for the student unions at the University of Toronto to end their attempts to block journalists from covering public meetings.

“The Canadian Association of Journalists reminds every government, whether elected by students or the general public, that they do not have the right to control which journalists attend events that are open to the public,” Pugliese stated.

Media continued on page 3

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THE MEDIUM 01.07.2019

UTM hosts remembrance UTM Remembers honoured the lives lost in gender-based violence

December 22nd , 2018 9:53 AM Theft Under $5,000 A student reported the theft of his bicycle.

January 1 st , 2019 12:49 AM Suspicious Activity Campus Police investigated two students inside a locked and secure building. The students were asked to leave the building.

December 23 rd , 2018 11:45 PM Trespass To Property Act Campus Police verbally trespassed a non-community member from the campus. Peel Regional Police attended to assist.

January 2 nd , 2019 8:38 AM Motor Vehicle Accident/Property Damage A vehicle hit a railing and minor property damage occurred. No injuries to the driver.

These reports are those that have been released to The Medium and do not necessarily constitute an exhaustive list.

Students can contact the UTM Campus Police at 905 828 5200, Peel Regional Police at 905 453 3311, or Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222 8477.

Anyone with information regarding any of these incidents, or any other incident, is requested to contact the UTM Campus Police at 905828-5200, Peel Regional Police at 905-453-3311, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Journalists condemn union

UTM EQUITY AND DIVERSITY OFFICE/FACEBOOK

“UTM Remembers” had a memorial and vigil at the Peace Pole located near the Student Centre.

ALI TAHA NEWS EDITOR On December 4, the University of Toronto Mississauga Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre and the Equity & Diversity Office held an event in honour of the fourteen lives lost to gender-based violence at l’Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal on December 6, 1989.

On that day, twenty-five-year-old Marc Lépine walked into a classroom of the engineering school and divided the male and female students. After claiming that he was “fighting feminism,” Lépine shot and killed nine women. He then

moved into other parts of the building, targeting only the women, before turning the gun on himself and committing suicide.

The event, called “UTM Remembers,” had a memorial and vigil at the Peace Pole near the students’ centre where students placed white roses on the ground in honor of the victims. Representatives from the university committed to working against gender-based violence on campus and in students’ respective communities.

Memorials were also held on the two other U of T campuses. At St. George, a keynote address was given

by Rania El Mugammar, a Sudanese

Canadian artist and writer, whose work explores themes of identity, womanhood, Blackness, gender, and sexuality. They also presented awards to honour research that addresses gender-based violence.

The Scarborough campus had a performance by Indigenous singer, songwriter, and activist Aqua Nibii Waawaaskone.

After the memorial, a community showcase was held at the CCT Atrium.

December 6 is now observed in Canada as a National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

Major changes to student services Changes were made to HCC, Career Centre, and shuttle bus

ANUM SYED/THE MEDIUM

The HCC is slated for a newly renovated space with work beginning in Fall, 2019.

ALI TAHA NEWS EDITOR PHOTO FROM THEBLUEDIAMONDGALLERY.COM

Motion proposed SCSU adopt CAJ’s ethical standards.

Media continued from page 1 She went onto say that “no government is above the law and journalists, including student journalists, have the constitutionally protected right to hold any and all governments to account on matters of public interest.”

In the motion put forth by Dang, it proposed that the SCSU adopt the CAJ’s ethics standards as “guiding principles” for the ad hoc committees deliberation.

Pugliese condemned the motion, stating that “the CAJ is not a regulatory body. Our ethics guidelines are benchmarks for journalists to self-assess their work. The CAJ ob-

jects strongly to any organization that seeks to purposely misuse our guidelines for their own self-interest or to restrict press freedom. To be clear, we oppose the use of our ethics guidelines in the way that is being suggested by the SCSU.” “The CAJ objects strongly to any organization that seeks to purposely misuse our guidelines for their own self-interest or to restrict press freedom.”

The CAJ is the largest professional journalism organization in the country, and the national voice of journalists across Canada. They are committed to protecting the public’s right to know, and promoted to excellence in journalism.

Last month, the University of Toronto Mississauga’s Quality Service to Students (QSS) committee made various changes to services offered to students by the university.

Some of the biggest changes made have been to the Health and Counselling Centre (HCC) in the William G. Davis building. The HCC has extended their hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays until 7:30 p.m., with increased physician and counsellor availability. The centre has also implemented a pilot HCC counsellor within the English & Drama academic department to be a point of contact for students with mental health issues.

According to the meeting minutes, the HCC is also trialing a focus on a single-session approach to counselling each time a student comes in,

which allows students to work on the issues that are most prevalent at the time of presentation, and walk away with strategies to implement and assist them moving forward with academic progress.”

The HCC is also slated for a newly renovated space, with work projected to begin in Fall, 2019. According to notes from the meeting, the renovations will allow for a “greater access to physicians, counsellors, and fully accessible space.”

Revenue for the HCC comes from two primary sources: The Student Service Fees and the medical insurance income (OHIP/UHIP). The former accounts for 75 per cent of total forecasted revenues, while the latter covers 18 per cent. According to the 2017-18 budget Student Service Fees accounted for $1,429,700, and will increase to $1,729,573 in 2019-20.

The HCC’s 2019-20 budget proposal aims to expand the centre’s

Health Promotion team to include a staff position dedicated to supporting “specific messaging and programming on substance use/addictions, and mental health.” Salary, wages, and benefits under expenditures will increase from $1,491,909 to $2,335,387.

The Career Centre is also increasing their salary, benefits, and consulting by $812,691 to offer more support “based on students’ needs.” They also hope to increase their methods of outreach to students, staff and faculty and continue the “implementation of new e-resources for experiential learning.”

The QSS committee also decided to add four additional shuttle buses to UTM-St. George route with enhanced features, including air-conditioning, improved suspension with accessible lift, and a Wi-Fi router. They will also add an additional Sheridan service for Winter 2019.

UTM goes smoke-free A transitory period will allow for smoking in designated areas

JULIA HEALY/THE MEDUM

“Smoke-free” includes the ban of lighted tobacco, cannabis, as well as vaping.

ALI TAHA NEWS EDITOR The University of Toronto Mississauga has gone smoke-free as of January 1, 2019. The new policy aligns with the university’s goal to create a healthy environment on campus.

“Smoke-free” includes the banning of lighted tobacco or cannabis, and the use of electronic cigarettes or other vaping devices.

As a part of their commitment to help students, staff, and faculty on campus to quit smoking, the university has implemented twelve designated smoking areas across campus.

These spaces will be used as part of

the transitionary period before the university bans smoking full-stop.

Some of the main areas include the area between the Kaneff Centre & Innovation Complex and the William G. Davis Building, as well as the area behind Deerfield Hall.

There are also designated smoking areas beside all the major residence halls and townhouse lanes for students living on campus.

Indigenous ceremonial activities that feature smoking will be exempt from the ban, and the policy will accommodate such uses in accordance with applicable law.

In regard to how the policy will be enforced, the university will focus

on educating students, staff, and faculty about the policy and the risks of smoke and second-hand smoke. The university will also be providing support through smoking-cessation programs for students, staff, and faculty who wish to stop smoking.

According to the official FAQ page on the policy, enforcement measures “will depend on the individual’s relationship with the university, the nature of the infraction, and the place in which it occurred.”

For more information on smokingcessation programs, or to book an appointment, students can contact the UTM Health & Counselling Centre.

Waterfront gets political

PHOTO FROM TORONTO.CA

Adam Vaughan states “Doug Ford has beent trying to sabotage Waterfront Toronto.”

Gertler continued from page 1 Liberal Member of Parliament Adam Vaughan, whose riding covers the Quayside district where Sidewalk Labs is proposing the renovations, has stated his concerns over the possibility of the Ontario government using the data privacy concerns to “blow up” Waterfront Toronto, according to

an article in the Financial Post.

“Doug Ford has been trying to sabotage Waterfront Toronto since the days he was on city council and I was on council with him,” Vaughan said.

“He has never won the argument with serious city planners on his vision for the waterfront, but you know, with a couple high-tech activists and a really flimsy, poorly written auditor’s

report, he’s got the cover he needs to reverse 25 years of good, solid work and 40 years of dreaming on the Toronto Waterfront, and I’ll be damned if I surrender that just because you don’t like the way Google or Facebook or Twitter handles personal data.”

The more detailed and refined evaluation framework of the Quayside will be shared in early 2019.

01.07.2019 THE MEDIUM NEWS

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HUMANS OF UTM

“I do tend to make new year resolutions. This year, I said that I wanted to make a whole bunch of smaller ones. I don’t want to do one that’s eating healthier or going to the gym because I find I do that every year. I was thinking more of ones like being more present. You know how your phone tells you how much you use your screen for? I’m trying to slowly decrease that. Not all the way because I’m obviously still going to use my phone, but I want to make more time for things and stop wasting my time being on my phone. I complain that I don’t have time to study, but I probably do.

I’m going to try to be more aware of the fact that I just opened an app and then opened the same app after jumping between social media apps. I’m also going to try to be more active, whether I’m outside or at home doing something, and not just scrolling on my phone.”

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01.07.2019

MASTHEAD EDITORS Editor-in-Chief Mahmoud Sarouji editor@themedium.ca Managing Editor Alicia Boatto managing@themedium.ca News Ali Taha news@themedium.ca

Freedom of the press is dead at UTM…who wants to save it?

How the UTMSU has demolished discourse and is limiting the free press

A&E Paula Cho arts@themedium.ca Features Jessica Cabral features@themedium.ca Sports Vanessa Cesario sports@themedium.ca — Photo Yasmeen Alkoka photos@themedium.ca Design Alexa Neves-Hua design@themedium.ca Copy Mahnoor Ayub copy@themedium.ca Online Olivia Adamczyk online@themedium.ca ASSOCIATES News Kayvon Aflaki Melissa Barrientos A&E Srijan Sahu Features Fatima Adil Liayana Jondy Kevin Kim Sports Amrish Wagle Photo Julia Healy Brittany Semplonius Copy TBA GENERAL STAFF Webmaster Lyndon Amat web@themedium.ca Distribution Manager Adam Sarouji distribution@themedium.ca Ads Manager Mayank Sharma ads@themedium.ca Cartoonist Anthony Labonté COPYRIGHTS All content printed in The Medium is the sole property of its creators, and cannot be used without written consent.

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All articles published in print are also posted on our website themedium.ca LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor will be edited for spelling, grammar, style and coherence. Letters will not exceed 700 words in print. Letters that incite hatred or violence and letters that are racist, homophobic, sexist, or libelous will not be published.

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To contribute, email editor@themedium.ca

ALEXA NEVES-HUA/THE MEDIUM

Before you begin reading this piece, I would like to offer a disclaimer. This is an opinion piece based on an issue that has been a long time coming at UTM, and which is now starting to boil over. Things get tricky here because while this is my opinion, it’s also rooted in real life events that happened recently. It’s still important to remember that this is not a News article, it’s an unfiltered update on what’s happening at UTM that not many students know about. If you think this doesn’t affect you as a student you better think again.

The past few months have shown a disturbing new trend amongst U of T’s students’ unions across all three campuses. Slowly, each campus has begun to ban student journalists from either live tweeting meetings, or attending public meetings all together without prior permission. By doing so, these student groups have greatly restricted how student journalists can report on events and inform the rest of the student body regarding important issues. Many of these meetings review how the unions have handled their financials and where exactly student money is being used. If there is an issue with financials or the passing of a policy that puts students at a disadvantage than who’s going to know about it?

Over the past few years, the UTMSU has dictated how student journalists are to contact and interact with union members. The union has refused to speak to us in person and will only converse with us via email. This hasn’t always been the case. When I first started writing for The Medium I remember having interviews with the union executives back in 2015. In 2016, after the email policy began to be enforced, the UTMSU president was still quick to answer my questions at an agreed upon deadline. However, over the past two years, the executives have become less concerned with the well-being of the student body and more concerned with keeping their friends employed within the union as well as fabricating a false image of themselves.

During the course of the first semester, I received several emails from

the UTMSU detailing how The Medium staff were to do their job, and how we should address members of the union. They even lodged complaints against our staff. But the catalyst for this specific editorial comes after the UTMSU’s AGM where the union accused us of misdemeanor.

Following the AGM The Medium’s Editor-in-Chief received an email from the UTMSU voicing outrage that our News Editor, Ali Taha, was talking to a UTMSU volunteer after the meeting and asking questions without the UTMSU’s permission.

The UTMSU has demanded that under no circumstance are members of The Medium permitted to approach any executive member of the UTMSU or anyone affiliated with the union in person. Doing otherwise is deemed by the UTMSU to be unprofessional and inappropriate. Since when is asking a question to another person considered unprofessional? Abdullah then escalated the situation by attempting to ban The Medium from freely attending public student events.

They demanded that we ask permission prior to any event for their approval. The UTMSU would do well to remember that they are simply democratic representatives, not royalty, and they cannot control the behaviors and actions of everyone around them. I’d like to take this time to remind the UTMSU executives that up until now The Medium has followed the request for email correspondence out of courtesy, not requirement.

I’m also going to note here that each year The Medium does what it can to establish a professional rapport with the newly elected union executives. We update students on all the goals the union promises to accomplish and we do report on positive events and policies that the union achieves. To be accused as biased reporters with an agenda and constantly restricted in attempts to do our jobs is greatly insulting.

My main issue is this: the UTMSU has always claimed to stand for freedom of speech and yet they try so hard to limit student knowledge of their meetings, they avoid addressing unfulfilled campaign promises, and

the student body turns a blind eye.

Do you know how many times my predecessors and myself have asked for the dates of Board of Director meetings only to be brushed off and ignored? Those are public meetings open to all UTM students and they are kept secret for some reason. On the off chance we do get someone to tell us a date and time, it suddenly gets changed last minute and no follow up date is given. Short of camping outside their office until the next meeting is held, I’m at a loss.

The union was put together to further the interests of students. That goal has long since died out. The current UTMSU only seems interested in furthering their personal and political interests at UTM. Remember, these are individuals who vehemently oppose specific politicians for silencing the voice of minorities and public opinion, yet the UTMSU will turn around in the same breath and try to control how The Medium interacts with other UTM students.

Newspapers and reporters, either at the level of student journalism or national media, are watchdogs. It’s our job to report, ask questions and inform the general public. If someone doesn’t want to answer our questions all they have to say is “No,” and then walk away.

What has further troubled me is that this isn’t a problem isolated to just UTM. Recently the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union banned the Varsity and The Underground from live tweeting and attending events.

This action resulted in a statement by the Canadian Association of Journalists explaining the laws of free speech to U of T’s student unions. How completely arrogant do you have to be to assume you can ban someone from writing about a public event? Apparently so arrogant that the Canadian Association of Journalists needs to remind you of basic rights.

Even more worrisome, is that somehow the students on U of T’s campuses have allowed unions to get so corrupted that no one is brave enough to protest what they do.

Who besides the student newspapers holds these people accountable for

their conflict of interests and broken promises? Vice versa, if the unions pass an important bylaw or policy that can help students why not have that coverage put out in wider circulation? If the concept of media presence at meetings makes student unions so nervous, maybe they should reflect on why that is. There needs to be some sort of unbiased check and balance with student unions. You know, someone besides the unions friends to remind them of their job duties and legalities. You’d think that the student body would also hold the union accountable for their actions but the reality is, students at UTM are too passive to care. After five years at this campus I see how complacent the student body has become and it needs to change. Students pay the union every year, they fund their salaries and for what? You’re literally giving your money away and you don’t know if it’s being used appropriately or not.

When I first attended this school, UTM was actually a fun place where people wanted to hang out together, converse about differing opinions and have a good time. Largely the union was responsible for that environment; they really do set the tone for campus social life. Now no one is allowed to have an opinion differing from the union and what they deem is right.

My favourite part of this is that the union who claims to be a fighter for student rights and freedom of speech have demonstrated a disheartening amount of hypocrisy. It’s time that ends. In conclusion, i’m not abiding by the requests of any union anymore. My reporters and I will attend any and all meetings we desire, and the free press, student journalists or otherwise, do not answer to the union and their overreach for control. I sincerely hope some UTM student or even a faculty member reads this and gets pissed off enough and spreads the word. Because free speech on this campus is essentially dead and I need someone to care.

ALICIA BOATTO MANAGING EDITOR

01.07.2019

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Superhero films as secular religion?

Fans of the increasingly popular superhero films genre revere the Godly protagonists like a religion BELICIA CHEVOLLEAU

A flock of worshippers assemble to watch their god in action—they recite catchphrases, collect memorabilia, and habitually read from their sacred text: comics. The way some fans treat superheroes make the superhero genre seem like a secular religion.

The superheroes fans gravitate towards what often reflect their own personal beliefs. When heathens criticize their favourite superheroes, fans take it as a direct insult to them and quickly defend their faith and god.

With the plethora of biblical allusions, religious references, and the ever-pervasive theme of good versus evil, it is quite easy to draw a comparison to the genre and religion.

DC Comics, in particular, loves pushing this idea. Superman is an alien with god-like abilities: super

way each figure deals with evil and criticism. I would also argue that Superman doesn’t leave after his resurrection. It is not necessarily that Superman is special. If Krypton still existed, he wouldn’t be any different from the other Kryptonians. It is when you juxtapose this “all-powerful” being with the average human that the reverence and dependence is born.

In Batman’s dream sequence, Superman shoots down a sandy tunnel, a plume of dust flies when he lands, and the soldiers kneel at his feet. Kneeling is the ultimate gesture of surrender in superhero films. Kneeling is reserved for kings and gods as a sign of loyalty and submission.

You salute soldiers. You bow to kings. You kneel to gods.

In religions where God is a king, the action of the soldiers in Batman’s dream makes sense.

Movies where the protagonist is an actual king, such as Black Pan-

PHOTO FROM IMDB.COM

In Black Panther, the characters worshipped the panther God, Bast. practices. Fans wore traditional clothing and more for the movie as one might when going to a place of worship, and many re-watched the movie. Many religions dictate the

CLAY ENOS/IMDB.COM

Wonder Woman is considered one of the most obvious portrayal of gods. strength, heat vision, cold breath, super speed, super hearing, flight, and invincibility to everything except kryptonite—and, arguably, humans.

Is he overpowered? Probably.

Will I watch it anyway? Yes. Their recent films portray Superman as a messianic figure.

In Batman v. Superman, Lex Luthor refers to the impending fight between Superman and Batman as “God versus Man.” In the movie, Superman dies as a sacrifice to save many. Then, in Justice League, he is resurrected and triumphs over evil.

Sound familiar? It is the story of Jesus Christ: a saviour sent to earth to die to save the world and who then rises from the dead.

Like Christ, the humans depend on Superman as a saviour.

The only big difference, according to The New York Times, is the

ther, highlight these similarities even more. Through the ingestion of a heart-shaped herb, T’Challa enhances his physical abilities and he is crowned king of Wakanda, a fictional African nation with advanced technology. The king protects his kingdom and his people from those who seek to use Vibranium for evil.

The difference lies in the complexity through which movies like Black Panther portray humans.

Although, we are usually tempted to categorize citizens of Wakanda as good and Killmonger as evil, the movie pushes us to reconsider.

In that way, Black Panther is not about a god-like character, but humans with enhanced abilities who have strengths and weaknesses.

In addition, the way audiences adore the film through their repeated attendance and their clothing resembles some religious

kinds of attire their congregants wear to differentiate them. Most rules promote modesty and reject

the sexualization of the body.

On the other hand, this dedication to the film has less to do with religion and more to do with the cultural movement. The support for the movie emphasizes the need for culturally diverse films with diverse casts. The thriving nation of Wakanda is a depiction of what the world could have been without slavery and being the first American movie with a predominantly black cast underscores the message.

It is also interesting how writers create god-like characters, then give them their own gods. In Black Panther, they worshipped the panther God, Bast. In the past, the Wakanda people could speak directly to Bast. The first Black Panther got his powers by asking Bast to help him defeat the “demon spirits” that came through the exposure to Vibranium. In later years, the Wakanda tribe become linked to Bast through the heartshaped herb.

Not widely talked about in movies, but sometimes mentioned in the TV show, Supergirl, is the

Kryptonian god, Rao. The faith gets twisted into a cult by Thomas Coville after being saved by Supergirl.

The most obvious portrayal of gods is in Wonder Woman, daughter of an Amazonian queen and a Greek god. One of Wonder Woman’s most popular exclamations is “Great Hera!” and “Hera, give me strength!”—a reference to the Greek goddess of marriage and woman. The exclamation is used to draw comparison since Wonder Woman is a subversive feminist hero.

These beg the question: if these superheroes are gods, how can they worship gods? Does that make them false gods or their gods false?

Ultimately, the increasingly popular superhero film genre is known for its invested fan base and is now being treated by many as a secular religion. Fans revere these strong, good, and powerful superhero figures as if they were Gods, creating a modern, new idea of worship.

PHOTO FROM IMDDB.COM

In the TV show Supergirl, the Kryptonian god, Rao, is discussed.

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THE MEDIUM 01.07.2019

PHOTO FROM MITSKI.BANDCAMP.COM

Mitski released her leading single in May 2018.

Be the Cowboy Mitski JANINA MALAPITAN

PHOTO FROM AMAZON.COM

Hunky Dory was released the same year Bowie had his first child, Zowie.

Hunky Dory David Bowie MONIKA KRIZIC

On January 10, 2016, the world lost music icon David Bowie days after his sixty-ninth birthday. This signature glam rocker is known for his successful career spanning five decades with numerous hit singles and an exemplary catalogue of music to explore. With the third anniversary of his passing days away, it’s only fitting that we revisit an album from an earlier point in his career, Hunky Dory.

Released in December of 1971, Hunky Dory proved to be a success both commercially and critically.

This was the album that signed him a deal with RCA Records, who would continue to represent him for the following ten years and release albums widely recognized by the public like Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, Low, and Heroes, among many others.

Hunky Dory marked the transition from the blues sounds of his previous works into the experimental art rock he would be known for. The album contained a dangerously poppy edge that was different from the sunshine pop and blues rock popular at the time. These songs didn’t contain

culturally dominant themes of the time such as war protests and psychedelic drugs, but rather, down-to-earth songs about his life and themes of culture, relationships of various kinds and spirituality. The themes in Hunky Dory resembled an urban grit that differed from the flowery optimism of the late 60’s. The album represented a musical shift that was starting to occur with the development of what would be known as “alternative music.”

To top it all off, Hunky Dory was released at a pinnacle time in Bowie’s life—it was the year he welcomed his first child, Zowie, who played a big influence on the writing of this record.

The opening and most-played track on the album, “Changes,” encompasses the shift his life took that year. It is a song that encourages people to “turn and face the strange,” which Bowie does by embracing his new role as a parent and making an important lifestyle change, even if he is feeling apprehensive about these changes. The main idea in this single extends to every other track on the record.

“Oh! You Pretty Things” contrasts the dance-y opening track by starting with soft, piano melodies, then breaks

out into an upbeat chorus when other instruments are layered on top of the piano and Bowie’s vocals. “Making way for the homo superior” is a phrase symbolic of the alienation older people feel when they are replaced by a younger generation and have to witness the culture they once cherished transform before their eyes.

Another song, “Kooks,” is a warmer, lighthearted tune that shares a positive message about appreciating and respecting others for who they are. It is one of the more traditional, folksy tracks on the record, though nevertheless catchy and inviting.

The album also manages to captivate its audience with a couple of ballads, notably my favourite of which is “Quicksand.” Here, Bowie catches the attention of his audience by continuously introducing new instruments throughout the song, building up to a grand, dramatic finale.

This album is one of the most memorable works of that era. David Bowie will always remain a music legend, and hopefully this review will inspire you to give Hunky Dory a listen and dig into his catalogue.

In May 2018, Mitski Miyawaki released the leading single for her highly-anticipated Be the Cowboy album. The art for the single “Geyser” shows the Japanese-American indie star against a wall, coyly peeking from behind large sunglasses, and a white-gloved hand. The art is reminiscent of a modern film noir poster.

The art direction is spot-on for the rest of the record. Released in August 2018 Be the Cowboy is, in a word, cinematic. From the art to the filmic lyricism, Mitski forms iterations of Hollywood heroines, oddly Americana. “Old Friend” conjures up a character straight from Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks: “Meet me at Blue Diner/ I’ll take coffee and talk about nothing.” “Two Slow Dancers” opens with the evocative line, “Does it smell like a school gymnasium in here?” like a nostalgic romcom drama.

The sounds of the album are just as varied as its short-film songs.

“Geyser” is an eruptive, epic opener.

“Lonesome Love” is the jangly track that is closest to the eponymous cowboy sound. The shining gem “Nobody” is an upbeat, vaguely 80’s indie pop track juxtaposed with the most melancholic lyrics. It opens with the line “My god I’m so lonely/ So I open the window/ To hear sounds of people,” and the chorus is just the word “nobody” repeated with whimsy.

Since Mitski’s third album (her first two albums were self-produced and piano-heavy) and first label record Bury Me at Makeout Creek, with which she began to break into the indie music scene, listeners have heeded her music as their own per-

sonal catharsis. Both Bury Me and it’s follow up Puberty 2 (2016) and their raw, noise-guitar sound lent itself well to emotional connection, especially for her women and WOC fans.

Make no mistake, as too many listeners and critics alike have made in the past: her music is not a confessional, her songs not your personal absolution. In an interview with Pitchfork, she laments this gendered phenomenon: “People say, ‘I cry to your music, it sounds like a diary, it sounds so personal.’ Yes, it is personal. But that’s so gendered.

There’s no feeling of, ‘Oh, maybe she’s a songwriter and she wrote this as a piece of art.’” Perhaps this is why she has framed BTC as such; there is nothing more constructed, more narrative than a Hollywood film.

In a sense, this is what the title has grown to be for the singer. In an interview with The Outline, Mitski explains that the title of her album was about identity formation to cope with her own: “I would always kind of jokingly say to myself, ‘Be the cowboy you wish to see in the world,’ whenever I was in a situation where maybe I was acting too much like my identity. Every time I would find myself doing exactly what the world expects of me as an Asian woman, I would turn around and tell myself, ‘well, what would a cowboy do?’”

This mantra has shot her up to various 2018 Best-Of lists, including the top spot on Pitchfork’s annual ranking. And as we ride into 2019, Be the Cowboy is sure to have us all asking our inner cowboys for guidance, for bravado, and for a little extra step in our boots for the upcoming year.

01.07.2019 THE MEDIUM ARTS» 7

PHOTO FROM YOUTUBE.COM

Astroworld was Travis Scott’s comeback and a highly anticipated album for many fans.

Astroworld Travis Scott

PHOTO FROM WIKIPEDIA.ORG

Ariana Grande’s album feels different from her previous work.

Sweetener Ariana Grande JUANITA LAM Sweetener is Ariana Grande’s latest album and feels different and more honest than her past work. She does not force herself in mournful ballads, and instead, she lets the joy of her title track radiate across her album showing a new form of true love. Sweetener is her fourth studio album; her previous albums include Dangerous Woman, My Everything, and Yours Truly. They were solid, filled with trendy guests and fueled by her bad-girl alter ego.

Everything in Sweetener flows loosely on the popular sounds of pop music. The album contains a colourful, fun, preppy attitude, low-key joy, and newfound love of finding hope in life.

It also contains elements of Grande experimenting with a variety of sounds, such as layered vocals and skittering percussion. Grande co-wrote more songs in this album, 10 out of 15, and formed a particular bond with Pharrell Williams.

The album begins with an acapella intro, “Raindrops (An Angel Cried),” which was originally performed by The Four Seasons. The second song “Blazed” is a funk-influenced song, featuring Pharrell Williams. “The Light is Coming” is an odd track to be featured in the album, mostly because of the prominent Nicki Minaj feature and vocal samples of a man who is shouting at former senator Arlen Specter. The tune and the production of the song sound like an experimental track from the N.E.R.D record.

The song “R.E.M” is built on an R&B and doo-wop beat. “God Is a Woman” is a female empowerment song that contains sexual lyrics. It contains trappop sounds and strong influences of

reggae. “Sweetener,” the title track of the album, features Pharrell Williams vocals in the background. The chorus contains lyrics which symbolizes female empowerment and individual growth in life. “Successful” contains a gospel, trap, and 90’s influence soul.

The track contains suggestive lyrics about individual success, most likely Grande’s herself. “Everytime” and “Breathin” are dance-pop songs with a strong influence of synth-pop. “No Tears Left to Cry” is a pop-dance track about the Manchester Arena bombing and was her first single for the album.

“Borderline” features American female rapper Missy Elliot and contains a contemporary 90’s R&B flow. “Better Off ” presents a strong power ballad of an individual moving on from a toxic relationship. “Goodnight n Go” contains EDM elements with tropical tune influences. The second last track is called “Pete Davidson” which is an interlude of the album and discusses her then-fiancé Pete Davidson and how he gave her happiness. The last track “Get Well Soon” is a laid-back R&B melodic ballad that discusses Grande’s mental health.

Sweetener lives up to its name as an album that contains a different musical and instrumental style while still fitting in the mainstream pop industry.

The production and singing contain breathtaking moments of Grande’s vocal interpretation. With the prominent use of R&B sounds, doo-wop vocals, gospel acapella, cheeky and sweet singing, and rap flow, Grande has paved a new music path in the traditional pop industry.

KEENA ALWAHAIDI ASSOCIATE A&E EDITOR Travis Scott’s Astroworld makes a deep comeback from his debut Rodeo through a distinct visionary sense and his entrance into mainstream rap.

The Houston, Texas native often names Kanye West as his long-time mentor, and has named his album after the Six Flags park that once stood in his hometown. Astroworld also introduces a long register of starstudded songs, including works that feature The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, Drake and Stevie Wonder, among lots of others.

Here’s what I’m guessing Astroworld is supposed to sound like: a hot, long, uninterrupted summer at Six Flags. It manifests the bittersweet chaos of summer—kids running amuck, sweaty t-shirts, and music that’s so loud it hurts, but in a good way. We’ve entered an unruly funhouse, where the heat meets paradise and where summer is a giant roller-

coaster—literally.

If rap listeners were waiting for Scott’s usual elevated, infectious tunes, this is the album that delivers.

Not only that, but his masterpieces are often diverted halfway through his songs. In SICKO MODE, we get more than one clear distinction between the three intros. It’s light and then frantic, and we lose our breath trying to keep up.

What’s most intriguing about Scott’s executions in Astroworld is his ability to spit bars about the world some are so hankering for. If his lifestyle were a table spread, it would be delicious because most people secretly want a bite of it. And by “it” I mean booze, luxury, and a great myriad of morally loose women. These are tied up together, without any of his songs having any literal plot of substance.

Perhaps this wasn’t the vision, but it certainly takes away from any personality we hoped to see through his work.

It’s not a secret that the album

was highly anticipated, but once it arrived it was clear what sound we were missing from Scott’s previous albums. There’s a dynamic voice and rhythm that is synthesised through instruments and sounds that Scott isn’t so keen on usually producing. In Stargazing, we’re hit with some kind of psychedelic, sinister vibes that are paired with his far-sounding voice.

Although deeply influenced by the up and coming rappers around him, Scott proves that his sound is reliant on the many artists who have joined him in Astroworld’s success. The album is a far cry away from Rodeo, where most of his music focused on a persona that didn’t really feel like his own. On Astroworld, he strays away from this but only through his lyrics. That’s probably because we get the sense that Scott has made the music, but perhaps the music is having trouble defining the man behind it.

Scorpion Drake PHOTO FROM WIKIPEDIA.ORG

Drake’s album, Scorpion, is a mix of R&B and Soul.

MAYA SUPER

In the summer of 2018, Drake released his latest album Scorpion.

Drake, a rap star from Toronto, is best known for the corny hits that you heard everywhere for about two months, before reverting back to hearing “Started from the Bottom” —an earlier, yet classic Drizzy song.

Therefore, upon the release of his latest album, Drake delivered.

Scorpion, a mix of R&B and Soul is truly where Drake’s music belongs. A double-sided album—one side R&B and the other Soul—is a combination of catchy melodies and harmonious songs that cause you to delve deep into your feelings. Of course, “God’s Plan” and “In My Feelings” represent-

ed the summer of 2018, with Drake once again reminding us that he truly is a 6ix god. Drake proved to everyone that he is more than just someone able to rap. The second half of the album is full of swooning songs, deep in the heart of soul. This is good for the music industry, as a mainstream introduction to soul is something that has not been seen for a while. Personally, I am more of a fan of the R&B side, due to the catchiness of “Kiki, do you love me?” However, Drake shows his true music evolution over the course of Scorpion.

Early Drake albums, such as Thank Me Later (2010) and Nothing Was the Same (2013) showed Drake’s talent as a rapper and ability to craft songs as a love letter to the 6ix, whilst creating catchy tunes and classics. However, in

Scorpion, Drake was able to find his own niche whilst staying true to his Drake-like spins on classic rap. Scorpion features the late Michael Jackson in “Don’t Matter to Me.” This track is my personal favorite from the B side of the album. Jackson’s beautiful voice works brilliantly with Drakes smooth crafting of songs. It stands out as Drake’s true progression from his classic sound to a deeper, heartwrenching tune which puts me “in my feelings.” The Jackson feature is not the only one found on this album.

There are collaborations with JayZ, Static Major and Ty Dollar Sign.

Mariah Carey even collaborated on the writing of “Emotionless.”

To read the rest of this article, visit themedium.ca.

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01.07.2019

What are New Year’s resolutions?

The Medium investigates the history of New Year’s resolutions and shares some of their own goals FATIMA ADIL ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR

If you resolved to exercise more, save money, or learn a new skill at the beginning of this new year, you are not alone. According to a survey conducted by Tangerine, 69 per cent of Canadians made new year’s resolutions for 2018. Approximately half of the resolutions (54 per cent) were centred on improving physical well-being, and a third (32 per cent) focused on managing finances more effectively. The following article examines the history of New Year’s resolutions, maintaining goals, and the resolutions of The Medium’s four section editors.

History While creating New Year’s resolutions may seem like a relatively modern trend, its origins trace back around 4000 years to ancient Babylon. The ancient Babylonians were the first to celebrate the new year, which for them, occurred in midMarch when crops were planted.

During Akitu, a 12-day religious festival celebrating the new year, the Babylonians promised their gods that they would pay their debts and return any borrowed objects. They reaffirmed their loyalty to the reigning king or crowned a new king. If the promises were upheld, the Babylonians believed the gods would give them favour.

New Year’s resolutions were a component of ancient Roman traditions as well. January was significant for the Romans as it was named after Janus, a god with two faces—one looking backwards towards the previous year and one faced ahead into the future. The Romans offered sacrifices to Janus and promised to behave properly in the upcoming year.

The practice resurfaced in Western societies in 1740 A.D when John Wesley, an English clergyman, created the Covenant Renewal Service commonly held on New Year’s Eve.

Also known as “watch night services,” the event was regarded as a spiritual alternative to holiday partying.

Attendees read from scriptures, sung hymns, and renewed their covenant with God. Many evangelical Protestant churches still hold watch night services on New Year’s Eve with individuals praying and making resolutions for the upcoming year.

Today, New Year’s resolutions are nonreligious and are mostly based on self-improvement. The earliest evidence of the word “resolution” being used in a modern context is from the diary of Anne Halkett, a member of the Scottish gentry from the 1600’s.

The full phrase “New Year’s Resolutions” appeared together in a Boston newspaper dated January 1st, 1813.

Maintaining Resolutions Overall, the success rate of New Year’s Resolutions has been found to be dismal. A 2007 University of Bristol study indicated that 88 per cent of the resolutions ended in failure, while a University of Scranton study shockingly found that only 8 per cent of those individuals who made resolutions succeeded. In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, researchers found that only 46 per cent of the individuals who formed resolutions at the beginning of a new year were successful in achieving their goals. However, this result was far better than another group of individuals the researchers studied: the non-resolvers—individuals who had a goal they wanted to achieve but did not make a New Year’s Resolution. Only 4 per cent of these non-resolvers were successful at achieving their goals, indicating that individuals who made New Year’s resolutions were ten times more likely to succeed at achieving their goals than those who decided to make life changes at other times of the year.

There are several reasons why people fail at achieving their goals.

About a third of the participants who failed their New Year’s resolutions

BRITTANY SEMPLONIUS/THE MEDIUM

Improving physical well-being is a common resolution.

PHOTO FROM UNSPLASH.COM

The New Year is a time for resolutions, with 69 per cent of Canadians making them in 2018. stated that they had unrealistic goals while 23 per cent of the individuals forgot about what they had resolved to do. 33 per cent of the respondents did not keep track of their progress and one in ten admitted that they had too many resolutions and were unable to adhere successfully to all they had planned to do.

To improve one’s chances of following through with the resolutions set at the beginning of a year, researchers recommend engaging in goal setting. Goal setting entails specifically defining small goals which are feasible and can be measured. For instance, instead of vowing to lose weight, plan to lose a pound a week and keep track of progress.

In many instances of failure, individuals blame their own lack of willpower. However, in a Stanford University study, researchers tested whether participants believed that they could improve the amount of self-determination they possessed.

The results indicated that participants performed better if they believed that willpower was malleable and worse if they were convinced otherwise. Essentially, you can control the self-determination you actually have by the amount of willpower you think you have.

Resolutions of The Medium New Year’s resolutions are personal and differ according to each individual. It is always interesting to learn what others hope to accomplish in the upcoming year and often, one can derive inspiration from the goals of others. Here we feature the New Year’s resolutions of the four section editors of The Medium: Jessica Cabral, Features Editor, says “if I’m being honest with myself I don’t think I stick with any of my New Year’s resolutions.” Instead, she

admits to “start[ing] a new ‘resolution’ every month.” She considers the beginning of every month as a way to “restart [her] food plans, exercise routines, and short-term goals.”

For this new month, Cabral does “have some goals in mind that [she]’d like to set for [her]self and hopefully achieve.” She admits that she won’t be “creat[ing] a resolution around exercising because those never work out” and instead, she wants to “tackle something [she] deals with and obsesses over a lot: technology and screen time.” Cabral hopes that she can “limit [her] screen time this year, specifically the amount of time [spent] scrolling through social media feeds.”

Another one of Cabral’s resolutions includes trying to stop “comparing [her] paths, [her] successes, and [her] failures to [those of] other people.” Cabral says, “I need to take a step back and realize that everyone progresses at their own rate, that my successes are still successes regardless of how big or small they may be.

I need to understand that what I see on social media doesn’t always equate to real life. I spend a lot of time fixating on what other people are doing rather than celebrating the triumphs in my own life.”

On a larger scale, Cabral would “like to publish a book, save some money, travel to another province, and read more books for pleasure.”

News Editor, Ali Taha, remarks that, for this year, he would like to “focus on three things: [his] academics, going to the gym, and figuring out [his] career path.” He plans to “hone in on these three goals and work on them to the best of [his] ability.”

Paula Cho, Arts and Entertainment Editor, states that she also

doesn’t “normally make New Year’s Resolutions.” However, she “[does] like to constantly remind [herself] to drink less coffee, use reusable grocery bags, and be braver.”

Cho says, “I think my friends would describe me as cautious and somewhat of a perfectionist, so for 2019, I want to remind myself to not second-guess, to be patient and kind with not only others, but myself, and to always keep learning and growing.”

Editor of the Sports and Health section, Vanessa Cesario, has eight New Year’s resolutions for 2019.

“1. I want to continue my routine of going to the gym and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This has really helped me control my anxiety and it also makes me feel really accomplished. 2. I want to eat more healthy and wholesome foods. I’ve always been conscious of what I eat but I do enjoy my sweets so I want to limit those. 3. This one is a little cliché, but I want to love myself more. I’m way too critical of myself and I need to learn to take a step back and realize that I’m doing the best I can,” Cesario explains.

“4. I want to stop stressing about small things that don’t matter. 5. I want to take a photography class and learn how to properly use a camera.

I never take photos and I want to change this,” she continues. “6. I want to travel more, be happy, and love and appreciate what I have because life is amazing. 7. I want to learn how to cook so I’ve decided that I’m going to challenge myself by cooking a meal every other week for my family.

I would love to say every week but I’m not sure that would be realistic!

8. I have a long list of books that I’ve wanted to read and I want to finish them all this year.”

01.07.2019 THE MEDIUM FEATURES» 9

Guide to Winter 2019 on a budget The Medium highlights ten winter activities and events that are affordable for students after the holidays JESSICA CABRAL FEATURES EDITOR

As the holiday season ends and we ring in the new year, we often find ourselves reflecting back on the past twelve months. Between purchasing gifts for family and friends, indulging on expensive champagne, and splurging on plane tickets, we may notice that our wallets feel quite empty after a relaxing and eventful winter break.

However, as we mourn the loss of money, this doesn’t mean we must grieve over our lost social lives too.

Here are 10 fun and frugal activities to do in Winter 2019 that won’t break the bank or strain your wallet.

Ice Skating: If you’re tired of sitting at home scrolling through Bird Box memes or re-watching Bandersnatch, then lace up your skates and hit the ice. There are endless ice rinks in Mississauga, Brampton, and Toronto that offer free admission to the public. One of the closest options to campus is the rink at Celebration Square, but if you’re looking to skate in shapes other than plain old circles, we suggest that you check out: the figure-8 Colonel Sam Smith Skating Trail in Etobicoke, the figure-8 Bentway trail beneath the Gardiner Expressway, or Brampton’s Gage Park Outdoor skating trail.

Most rinks remain open until midMarch, weather permitting.

Allan Gardens Conservatory: Looking to escape the cold and hang out indoors? You can visit the Allan Gardens Conservatory for free and browse through their six greenhouses. From tropical plants like bromeliads, to cacti and succulents, this conservatory may help distract you from the winter blues. You can also visit their Winter Flower Show, for free, until January 9, 2019.

Trinity Bellwoods Flea Market: On January 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., you can browse through the vendors at the Trinity Bellwoods Park “New Year Flea Market.” Admission is free, but you can purchase local goods and edible treats.

The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery: You can visit The Power Plant, located on Queens Quay W, for free all year around. Currently, they’re hosting an exhibit by Maria Hupfield titled The One Who Keeps on Giving until January 18, 2019. Starting January 26, 2019, they’ll add three more exhibits by Alicia Henry, Omar Ba, and Shuvinai Ashoona.

Toronto Light Festival: From January 18 to March 3, 2019, the Distillery Historic District will host its third consecutive Toronto Light Festival. The event will feature local and international art exhibits that use light forms as their medium of expression. The festival is free for the public and people are encouraged to enjoy the light during the “cold, dark days of winter.”

Fire and Ice Winter Festival: Located in rural Caledon on the weekend of January 19, 2018, this festival will feature an after-dusk fire sculpture, food and drink, all day skating, curling, and art workshops.

Admission is pay what you can, but the suggested donation is $10 per adult.

The Dance Cave: Located upstairs at Lee’s Palace in Toronto, The Dance Cave is free with student ID for those 19 years and older every Friday and Saturday night. For those who want to escape the winter chill and stay indoors, we recommend checking out this venue for live music and entertainment. For the remaining Fridays and Saturdays in January, you can join DJ Trevor as he plays indie tunes or DJ Pat as he bumps alternative tracks. If you forget your student ID, cover is $10.

KISS 92.5/FACEBOOK

The Toronto Light Festival is running from January 18 to March 3, 2019.

IceFest 2019: From February 9 to February 10, 2019, you can visit the Bloor-Yorkville IceFest and explore over 70,000 pounds of ice sculptures. This event is in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Admission is free.

Winter Stations: From February 18 to April 1, 2019, Woodbine Beach will host the fifth year of Winter Stations, an international design competition of temporary public art installations. The 2019 theme is Migration, and the exhibit will allow six artists to transform six lifeguard stations into artwork. The installations will feature artists from places like Mexico, Poland, and even our very own Mississauga. The event is free to the public.

THE DANCE CAVE/FACEBOOK

The Dance Cave in Toronto is free for students 19 years and older with ID.

Sugar Shack: The fourth year of Toronto’s Sugar Shack will be held on March 9 and March 10, 2019. Admission is free, but you can purchase authentic Ontario maple taffy, browse the Winter Marketplace, view ice sculptures, listen to live music, and witness maple sugaring demonstrations.

BLOG TO/TWITTER.COM

IceFest in Toronto has over 70,000 pounds of ice sculptures to explore.

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THE MEDIUM 01.07.2019

Shayna Jan learns perfect isn’t possible A fourth year’s perspective on studying, taking the LSAT, and being accepted to law school SHAYNA JAN Being a perfectionist means putting in 100 per cent and not being satisfied until your efforts have been rewarded with a result that meets your standards. Sometimes the standards you set for yourself are too high, your goals too grand, and the means you afford yourself to accomplish those goals are not generous enough. However, as a perfectionist, you don’t take these barriers into consideration. When you fail, you only blame yourself.

This need to achieve perfection, although damaging, allows a student in the traditional education system to thrive. Since your intelligence is determined by a mark out of 100, a perfect score is what you aim for and a “good” mark simply isn’t good enough. As a self-identified perfectionist, this attitude was prevalent throughout my schooling, from kindergarten up until my final year of university. I studied hard to get the grades I wanted and the validation that came with them.

I used my A’s as concrete proof that I was capable of achieving anything I set my mind to. It wasn’t until this past summer, that I suffered an identity crisis, one that would change my entire outlook on life.

Summer 2018, though technically a break from my classes at UTM,

wasn’t a break at all. When I finished my exams at the end of April, I had a plan in mind. I was finishing up my third year of undergrad and looking to pursue a career in law after graduation. I had wanted to be a lawyer from a young age and I knew I had all the credentials needed to make my dream a reality.

I had the grades, I had the references, and as a History and English student who lives and breathes essay writing, I wasn’t worried about the personal statement. This meant all that was left for me to do was write the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). This didn’t worry me either, despite warnings from fellow students, who insisted the test was unlike any other. I was scheduled to write on June 10th, meaning I planned to give myself just a little over a month to study. This may sound crazy, given the fact that most people take the better part of a year to prepare. However, I’ve always been a good test taker, so I was confident that I’d be fine.

I refused to take a prep course, so I simply bought a few LSAT practice tests and hit the library.

At first, it started out rough. I wasn’t getting the marks I was used to. Not only was it nearly impossible to achieve a perfect score (180), but scoring in the 80th percentile was a challenge. 160 was the magic num-

ber, the score I thought I needed to get into Osgoode, one of the most reputable law schools in Canada.

Most law schools recommend you score a 155-160 to even be considered, but of course the higher the score the better. I remember all the tears I shed those first few days, as I convinced myself that my scores ranging in the low 150s meant that I simply wasn’t smart enough to do this. I was so used to everything coming easy to me, especially when it came to school, so I felt helpless.

It took weeks of me having to rewire my brain to think analytically and weeks of constantly having to reassure myself that a bad practice test score did not mean I wasn’t capable.

On June 10th, I wrote at McMaster University, and that was a huge mistake. We were situated in the basement, in an old classroom with those desks you pull out from under your seat. Not only was I shivering and wiping away my runny nose the whole exam, but I was also writing on my lap because the test booklet wouldn’t fit on the table. After about five hours of scratching away at my paper, I escaped back into reality. I remember thinking I failed the test, just due to the circumstances I’d written in.

Prior to the test, I told myself that if I scored above a 155 I’d be hap-

PHOTO FROM UNSPLASH.COM

The LSAT is known to be a test unlike any other. py and, despite my fears, I scored resentative. I was confident that, just shy of a 160. However, being despite my lower LSAT score, my a perfectionist, I wasn’t satisfied. other credentials would grant me I decided to put myself through an acceptance somewhere, if not all the stress for a second time, Osgoode.

Little did I know that come Dethinking I could certainly do better in more comfortable conditions. cember, only a month after submitHowever, when I retook the test for ting my application, I’d hear back the second time in September I had from my top school. Osgoode sent been ill the week of and I ended up me an acceptance letter in record scoring the same. At this point, I time, considering I wasn’t expectdecided that since perfect wasn’t ing to hear back until the spring. possible, I should just submit what All my stress about not being good I had and hope for the best. I had enough or smart enough or pera 4.0 average, I had collected stel- fect enough was discarded and relar references from my professors, placed with relief and reassurance. and I had spent hours meticulous- I learned that my self-worth cannot ly crafting six different personal be determined by a number on a statements (one for each school) page and that my value as an indiwhich creatively poured out my vidual involves so much more than hardships, accomplishments, and just how well you do on a test. aspirations to the admissions rep-

01.07.2019

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Spray or bake: which one is better?

Tanning beds and natural sunlight are the most common cause of skin cancer because of UV rays VANESSA CESARIO SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR

As the weather cools down and our tans begin to fade, the realization that summer is over begins to set in. Although that beautiful bronzed glow makes us feel more confident, it comes at a very high risk as exposure to ultraviolet radiation, whether it be from the sun or a tanning bed, is the most common cause of skin cancer.

According to an article by Harvard Health Publishing, “It doesn’t matter whether you get it from the sun or from artificial sources such as sun lamps and tanning beds—ultraviolet (UV) radiation is linked to skin cancers […] and to other sorts of skin damage, particularly premature skin aging (photoaging).”

Although the sun does provide us with a variety of benefits such as vitamin D, lower blood pressure and an improved mood, too much exposure can lead to severely damaged skin that is wrinkled or leather-like.

It is extremely important to protect your skin using a reliable sunscreen

PHOTO FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The Skin Cancer Foundation reveals that people using tanning beds before 35 are more at risk. and it is key to continue reapplying it throughout the day. This ensures that you don’t go through periods of having unprotected skin. UV rays damage your skin regardless of whether a clear change in colour is apparent on

your skin or not.

The Skin Cancer Foundation states, “people who first use a tanning bed before age 35 increase their risk for melanoma by 75 percent.” There is a possibility that tanning beds

can increase our levels of vitamin D, however it is recommended that people consume vitamin D through their diet or take vitamin supplements.

As said in an article by Love Well, “According to the American Can-

cer Society, over 3.5 million people are diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer in the United States each year.” They go on to say, “This doesn’t include the 70,000 diagnosed cases of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.”

Spray tans serve as a better alternative to tanning beds and natural sunlight. Although the results may not be as desirable as from UV rays, it is a much safer way to still get some colour while not increasing your chances of skin cancer. Finding a good self-tanner is also another alternative to tanning beds or natural sunlight because, like spray tans, it is not damaging the DNA inside skin cells.

As stated previously, making regular trips to the beach or the tanning salon will severely damage your skin and vastly increase your chances of skin cancer, regardless of noticeable colour changes to your skin. Spray tans and self-tanners may not give us the long-lasting natural tan that we desire, but it can still provide us with a little extra colour that doesn’t harm your skin.

The services provided by SEC at UTM SEC at UTM provides a variety of resources such as pamphlets, condoms, and reference books LABINA KHALID

The Sexual Education and Peer Support drop-in Centre (SEC) is a service group under the University of Toronto Student Union (UTSU) and has been running for over two decades now. The center is available on all University of Toronto campuses.

The head executives are Aalam Virk and Minah Tariq. Virk is a fifth-year undergraduate student, majoring in criminology and minoring in political sciences and ethics. Tariq is a fourth-year student, double majoring in biology and biological anthropology. They have been head executives for two years now and they essentially train volunteers and run the centres.

UTM SEC offers a number of services which include phone-in service, library services, and Sexuality Awareness week. In addition to this, they have drop-in hours from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every weekday. Drop-in services include general information, one-toone peer counselling sessions, and referrals. They also have a number of resources available at their office in the Student Centre. These resources include free condoms and lubricant, free literature and pamphlets, and reference books and videos which can

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The Sexual Education and Peer Support drop-in centre has been running for over two decades. also be rented. All services, resources, rentals, and visits are free and confidential.

In addition to these services, the centre holds a number of events throughout the semester. According to Amrit Gill, the external education executive, they hold at least five events per year. They hosted an event on November 12th called “Sex Work

Best Practices,” where Maggie’s Toronto, a sex workers’ organization, came in as guests. Their aim was to educate, advocate, support, and assist the lives of sex workers.

Virk highlights that the volunteers and executives at the centre are “tasked with just providing resources to the student body,” “geared towards creating a safe space for any student

who wants to come in,” and responsible for running “workshops on campus.”

Tariq says, “the focus of these workshops is to try and identify the key issues within the community that we believe need to be discussed or we believe need to have attention brought to them.” These are the issues that affect “the student body regarding

sexuality [and] gender identity.” Tariq further explains that they conduct workshops and “work with speakers outside of campus who come in and provide informative sessions, mostly lecture-based, activity-based things that allow us to have a nuanced discussion of these topics with people who are experts on them.”

For the peer support individual sessions, SEC has a separate room to help provide a safe and private space for students who wish to share any concerns or just seek to talk to someone privately about their personal matters. SEC engages in active listening and discussion carefully with the individual, but they do avoid giving advice to students during such sessions as they aim to keep it professional and allow room for personal choices. The separate room is specifically utilized only for one-to-one peer support. Students can seek to speak with either an executive or a volunteer.

The executives invite students to apply for volunteer positions as the applications are now open for the next semester. Students are encouraged to drop by at the SEC office for information, individual sessions, picking up any of the available items, or just to talk.

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«SPORTS

THE MEDIUM 01.07.2019

Tips for starting your fitness journey A common misconception is that we must join a gym to workout but at-home workouts are just as effective VANESSA CESARIO SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR Here are some tips to get you started on your fitness journey this year: 1. Find a fitness influencer with a similar body type as you. This will allow you to see how your body can transform if you continue to work out. It’s very important though that you do not become too fixated on looking a certain way. Everyone’s body is different; therefore, everyone will see different results. How you feel should always outweigh how you look. Results will come so do not focus too much on what you see in the mirror.

2. Find a workout partner. Gyms can be intimidating. Having a workout buddy can help alleviate some of the stress and anxiety that you may feel at the gym. After having a work-

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The Medium’s Sports Editor provides five tips to help students on their 2019 fitness journeys. out buddy for a while you will hopefully gain some confidence to go on your own. Having a workout partner will also create a healthy pressure for

you to continue working out by fear of letting the other person down.

When we work out on our own it’s very easy to make excuses not to, but

having the pressure of not wanting to let your partner down will hopefully act as that motivation you need to continue going.

3. Buy some new fitness wear. The phrase “look good, feel good” definitely applies in this situation!

4. Join a class or purchase a workout guide. Most gyms offer free classes when you become a member so definitely take advantage of this. If you are looking for workouts you can do on your own then there are a variety of workout guides available online or through your app store.

5. You don’t have to join a gym.

Gym memberships are not always in our budgets and they can definitely become quite pricey. If a membership isn’t in your budget this year, then why not invest in a yoga mat and a few dumbbells and do your own workout?

There are a variety of at-home workouts that can be found on YouTube or by searching on Google.