Vol 40 issue 23 by The Medium

THE VOICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO MISSISSAUGA

March 31, 2014 Volume 40, Issue 23 mediumutm.ca

Inspire sweeps UTMSU elections Unofficial results show victory by 1,400+ in all exec positions except VP part-time affairs MARIA IQBAL NEWS EDITOR WITH NOTES FROM NICOLE DANESI ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR The unofficial results show a sweeping victory for the sole slate, UTM Inspire after the poll clerks finished counting ballots late on Saturday. The unopposed slate candidates took all positions by a wide margin, all by a difference of at least 1,400 votes between for and against. The contested position of VP internal was won by the slate’s Bryan Chelvanaigum over independent Erik Hernandez-Oberding, 1,413 to 461. The contested position of VP equity was much more narrowly won by the slate’s Melissa Theodore over independent Farishta Amanullah, 1,068 to 848. Independent candidate Amir Moazzami claimed the position of VP part-time affairs, for which there was no slate candidate, in an election of only 38 counted ballots—with 28 in favour. The low number of votes was

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UTM Inspire won all positions except VP part-time affairs, for which there was no slate candidate. attributed by the CRO to the fact that only part-time students can vote and it’s hard to distinguish part-time students while campaigning. Abstentions and spoiled ballots numbered between 100 and 200 each

for all positions except VP part-time, for which there were 6. The candidate statements of all unopposed candidate were posted inside at least some of the voting booths, including in Davis. The Elections Pro-

cedure Code is vague on the matter, forbidding “candidates” and “campaign posters” at polling stations but not explicitly “campaign material”. Current UTMSU president Raymond Noronha condemned the

placement of these statements at polling stations in a phone call with the Medium last Friday. Theodore wrote on Facebook shortly after the results were released: “I’ve never really fought for anything in my life. I always said that I would stand up for what I believed in. During this election period, this is exactly what I did.” Before the results were posted, Farishta Amanullah, a candidate for VP equity, posted about her experience running as an independent. “To be honest, it wasn’t easy,” she wrote, noting that she experienced antagonism during the campaign. Amanullah reiterated that she wasn’t running against the Inspire slate, and complained that on the final day of campaigning, slate candidates were trying to prevent students from talking to her. At Monday’s debate, Amanullah and Theodore often faced off when defending their platforms.

Election continued on page 3

Tunnel, bus shelter, cafés next year UTM admin releases new details on campus renovations and construction projects DYLAN PRIOR STAFF WRITER WITH NOTES FROM LUKE SAWCZAK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The university hopes to offer organic, free-trade coffee in a café called North Side Bistro in Deerfield Hall when it opens, among other changes to appear in the fall, according to new details released last week and earlier this month at a meeting of the Food Services Advisory Committee. The Second Cup in the Davis Building will move to the Innovation Complex and be expanded, along with food items typical of the On the Go stations elsewhere on campus. The Complex will also include 180 classroom seats, 184 seats for casual and lounge seating, and 74 seats in food services. According to blueprints, the rotunda can be rearranged

Bankruptcy finally closing National ad provider’s arguably unnecessary bankruptcy will finally yield dividends for student papers. Medium News, page 2

Seems innocent, isn’t The funding incentives to redesign courses to be online are iffy. Medium Opinion, page 4

Goodbye, grads More than 30 art and art history students give their swan song— at least for their UTM career. Medium Arts, page 6

When we lost Starbucks JASMEEN VIRK/THE MEDIUM

The planned construction projects include the building of the Innovation Complex. for use as formal or informal study space during high-demand times. In Deerfield Hall, the first new phase of the North Building, the new café will include a soup station, ar-

tisan bread, a pizza oven, and European coffee of a brand the university hopes will be organic and free-trade, according to Andrea de Vito, assistant director of hospitality and retail ser-

vices. There will also be a lounge and seating area overlooking the FiveMinute Walk. Changes continued on page 3

The credit machine crash and other infamous moments in 13/14’s food scene: memorialized. Medium Features, page 9

Need to get off the ground U of T’s Varsity sports are so badly underfunded and undersupported, it’s not even funny. Let’s fix this. Medium Sports, page 11

«NEWS

THE MEDIUM 03.31.2014

Suspicion remains as CP bankruptcy closes March 20, 2:45, 3:20, and 4:20 p.m. Theft Under $5,000 Campus Police investigated three thefts of personal property at the library. A laptop, a gym bag, and two wallets were reported stolen. March 20, 11:50 a.m. By-Law Offences Campus Police attended CCT to investigate a report of cigarette smoke. March 20, 4:48 p.m. Personal Safety Complaint Campus Police received a personal safety complaint from the library in regards to a suspicious person. Campus Police attended and investigated. March 21, 12:10 a.m. and 12:58 a.m. Liquor Licence Act Campus Police responded to and investigated two calls in regards to intoxicated persons, one in Davis and

the other in the Student Centre. Both parties were assisted and ensured that they had care for the rest of the night. March 21, 1:17 a.m. Causing a Disturbance Campus Police responded to the Blind Duck Pub in regards to a fight. Both parties were taken into custody by Peel Regional Police and charged with public intoxication. March 22, 11:08 p.m. Causing a Disturbance Campus Police along with Peel Regional Police responded to call in regards to a fight at an on-campus residence. The incident was investigated and everything was in order. March 25, 8:55 a.m. Motor Vehicle Accident Campus Police responded to a motor vehicle accident. No injuries reported.

Courses to go online DYLAN PRIOR STAFF WRITER UTM faculty have been offered financial incentives to transition their courses fully online. According to a March 17 email from Amy Mullin, UTM’s VP academic and dean, faculty can apply for funding to make their courses fully online. The courses would be redesigned over the summer and already be available in the upcoming school year. “Development of online undergraduate courses at U of T is expanding,” said Mullin, confirming UTM’s involvement with Ontario Online, a provincial online learning initiative. The Online Undergraduate Course Initiative will fund the project. First-year students will be the most

affected, as introductory courses have been given priority. Because the project incorporates universities across Ontario, transfer students will have a new means of obtaining credits. International students considering fulltime studies at U of T will also be able to enroll in U of T courses. The University of Toronto aims to redesign up to 30 courses, introducing 10 new online courses each term. Not all faculty and students support the initiative, since converting a course fully online eliminates a potentially valuable in-person interaction and opens the door for bigger class sizes. Class size is a well-established measure of student satisfaction. OUCI is now accepting proposals. The redesigning process is set to begin in May.

This article was recalled following receipt of a letter threatening a lawsuit for libel from Sharon Roberts of Field LLP representing Vikram Seth and Ashleigh Brown of FREE Media. An apology was printed in the following issue. A follow-up series clarifying the article was also initiated.

03.31.2014 THE MEDIUM NEWS

UTM hosts bio conference Annual Ontario Biology Day conference attracts hundreds to UTM

»What was THE highlight of YOUR school year?

Jasvinder Khipal 3rd year, English

Zamera Kabir 4th year, bio and psych

There hasn’t been one yet.

During the snowstorm, a guy screamed “survival of the fittest”and everyone started pushing to get on the bus.

Eric Mogielnicki 1st year, psych

Sean Menezes 2nd year, molecular bio

The day after exams when you get to unwind with your friends.

I did particularly well on my organic chem test for CHM243.

Oscar Chavez/PHOTO

Students presented their research at the annual OBD conference, which was hosted by UTM this year. NIVEEN FULCHER UTM was the first U of T campus to host the 27th annual Ontario Biology Day conference on March 22 and 23. More than 220 students and supervisors attended the conference, at which undergraduate research students from across Ontario presented their research accomplishments. “We were really excited to host the event, and are so proud of all the students that participated and presented,” said Fiona Rawle, chair of the OBD 2014 organizing committee. The conference involved both sci-

entific and social activities. Students presented their research orally and through posters. Research fit into one of 16 categories, including cell and molecular biology, animal behaviour, and science education. “It was a wonderful opportunity to be able to exchange my research and experiences with other people who cared about research and science as much as I did. We have a lot of great researchers in Ontario,” said undergraduate presenter Matthew Scicluna. Four motivational speakers were featured at the event: neuroscientist

Roberta Bondar (via Skype), UTM’s own cancer researcher Patrick Gunning, ROM paleontology curator David Evans, and Dan Riskin from the Discovery Channel. “OBD was an extreme success, but it wouldn’t have been so without an amazing organizing committee and hardworking volunteers,” said Daniel Almeida, a student presenter and member of the committee. Saturday evening featured a banquet dinner and dance. The event was sponsored by UTM’s Office of the Dean and the Research Office.

EARC ratifies vote counts today

Projects include increased food options on campus

Amanullah says some candidates focused on complaining about their opponents in attempts to get them demerit points or disqualifications. She spoke of her failure to put “Please pass on to a friend or recycle” on her “Wall of Change” banner. Within 10 minutes of posting the banner, CRO Abdul Kamali phoned her saying someone had complained. Amanullah wrote the statement in pen, but after several hours received an email notifying her that she had received eight demerit points. “I focused on my campaign, not [trying] to get others in trouble,” she said. All of the slate’s candidates only included half of that required

phrase on their posters, potentially in violation of the EPC, but received no demerit points. Maaham Malik, elected as a director for Division III, was nearly disqualified last week before appealing the decision. According to the “Wall of Transparency”, the elections notice board posted on the outer wall of the UTMSU office, the Elections and Referenda Committee granted the appeal, instead assigning her 20 demerit points for “unapproved material” and for breaching “generally accepted community standards”. Malik refused to provide further comment on her case. By a much closer vote, the candidates elected for Division III central directors at large are, in addition to Maaham Malik, Frishta Bastan, Naveed Ahmed, Nirmal Patel, Belal

Raifai, Ridwan Olow, and Ming (Patrick) Zang. The difference between Zang and the unelected Emerson Peter Calcada was a mere 16 votes. The elected candidates for Division II directors at large are Rishabh Dev, Mariam Assad, Daniel Lyght, and Abdul Hadi Tariq. The results are not considered official until they’re ratified by the Elections and Referenda Committee, which is expected today. Noronha told the Medium on Friday that he recommends implementing an online notice board for next year’s elections. He also spoke of the possibility of online voting, which he hopes will be implemented before the union is forced to do so, as UTSU was this year.

The building will also include 602 seats; 72 are intended for the café. “It’s going to be something. We’re quite excited,” said Paul Donoghue, UTM’s chief administrative officer. Colman Commons will also be expanded in mid-November, doubling its capacity. The food services will remain open to all students and will include a new late-night café. The expansion will also include landscaping and a patio that Donoghue suggested will be similar to the area outside the Instructional Centre. A pedestrian walkway connecting Deerfield Hall and Davis via a service tunnel will also be accessible next year. Such a tunnel has always existed but has been low-profile.

manent food court and student services plaza. This phase is still in the planning stages. According to Donoghue, none of these projects will compromise UTM’s natural environment but will preserve the “small-town feel”.

Search for Malaysian jet could take years, says U.S. navy

Homes evacuated after Friday’s quake in South Carolina

Body found on shoreline said to be of missing teacher

Stanley Park lion statues vandalized yet again

Premier Wynne asks Hudak to stop gas plant accusations

According to an American naval officer, it could take years to find the Malaysian jet, which has been missing for over three weeks. Search and Rescue officers are trying to trace the plane’s recorder before its battery is expected to die. The plane is reported to have carried 227 passengers and 12 crew members.

Over 80 people have been evacuated from their South California homes after an earthquake on Friday. Firefighters determined 20 apartment units in a Fullerton building were dangerous to enter. No injuries have been reported.

A body found on the shore of Lake Ontario yesterday is believed to be of Jeffrey Boucher, a Whitby teacher who has been missing since January. A passerby found the body on Saturday afternoon. Police said a postmortem will be conducted to determine his identity and causes of his death.

Two lion statues in Stanley Park, Toronto have been vandalized for what is reportedly not the first time. The face of one statue had almost been completely destroyed, while the second one displays damage to its nose and paws. The costs or length of the repairs has not yet been determined.

Premier Kathleen Wynne has warned Conservative Leader Tim Hudak to stop accusing her of deliberately destroying documents concerning the government’s gas plant scandal, or face legal action. In an open letter on Sunday, Wynne demanded that Hudak’s party remove the claim from their website, or she would take steps.

Source: Hindustan Times

Source: Washington Post

Source: CBC News

Source: National Post

Election continued from Cover

Changes continued from Cover

The heated bus shelter that was recently proposed will also be ready in the fall, he said. Further in the future, phase 2 of the Davis Building renovation will be undertaken, including a completely expanded Meeting Place with a per-

The recently proposed heated bus shelter will also be ready in the fall, said Paul Donoghue.

03.31.2014

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No incentive for online courses We would be increasing access, but access to something less valuable You’re a professor at U of T. You get an email from the dean saying you can get up to $12,000 more in funding for your course if you redesign it to be fully online by the fall, an incentive covered in our news section this week. It’s part of Ontario’s $8.5-million project to develop online courses in preparation for the launch of a $42-million centre called “Ontario Online” (whose steering committee, according to the president of the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, quoted in a Globe and Mail article, includes no faculty). Do you take the money? I, for one, am wary. First of all—but this is to be expected—let’s be direct that all the benefits of online courses given in U of T’s 2014 “Online Undergraduate Course Initiative” document concern increasing enrolment (first-year, transfer, and international specifically). So this has to do with increasing class sizes. Now, developing new courses is one thing, but redesigning them is another. And making classes bigger benefits the budget, not the professors or students (in terms of academics and comfort). After all, if funding is offered as an incentive, the motivation isn’t organic. It means that either someone somewhere along the line will make a profit or it’s charity in-

tended to ensure Ontario Online gets a smooth instead of a rocky start. We should also pause and read the Globe and Mail article linked in the very email asking professors to redesign courses. We would encounter this sentence: “Mr. [Brad] Duguid looked to assuage concerns from students that it might erode the in-class experience, saying ‘the idea of this initiative is not to replace classroom learning’. ”

Duguid says the idea here isn’t to replace classroom experiences, but universities are offering profs funding to redesign courses. But even creating new courses is iffy. Depending on how much they’re promotedas the norm—and harmless policies, as one of the faculty pointed out to me, often develop into guides for the distribution of resources—they could mean a dilution of quality. Does that sound curmudgeonly? To my mind, what we mostly pay for when we pay tuition is the professor’s time, presence, and attention. We can

read textbooks on our own. And (yes, this is in response to the growing trend I’ve noticed in classes) we can watch YouTube on our own—for free. What’s left is the chance to hear the professor, talk to them, and visit them after class. A friend pursuing a master’s in education points out that we don’t understand e-learning enough to implement it widely, and adds that if we can replace lectures with videos, something’s up with our educational model; we’re not making full use of our resources. This is besides issues like the greater necessity of self-discipline, the terribly low conpletion rates of massive open online courses, and the difficulty of engaging critical thinking without easily ccessible peer stimulation. Right now, in nearly every course I’ve been in, students’ online communication consists of emails asking for notes and solitudinous, one-thread discussion boards. Do we make these the only means of contact between classmates and hope everyone picks up the ball? We should be asking such questions before taking money to put our courses online. If I were a prof, I would. YOURS, LUKE SAWCZAK

The team next year The results of our editorial board election are in. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LUKE SAWCZAK NEWS EDITOR MARIA IQBAL ARTS EDITOR MARIA CRUZ FEATURES EDITOR MADELEINE BROWN SPORTS EDITOR JASON COELHO PHOTO EDITOR MAHMOUD SAROUJI

See you in September!

03.31.2014 THE MEDIUM OPINION» 5

My five-year journey with the students’ union The outgoing president of UTMSU reflects on his rise from unwitting first-year up to the top I very well remember my first experience on this campus. It was Welcome Day and the first time I had ever boarded the 110N to UTM. I got off the bus and had no clue where to go. I assumed everyone on the bus was a first-year student like me, so I just followed the crowd, pretending to know where I was going. I showed my T-Card, entered the RAWC, and was one of the few thousands of students who were asked to be seated. The day started off with a few speeches and then came the time when everyone was introduced to the president of the students’ union: Joey Santiago (2009). I was very impressed by his speech and wanted to get involved with UTMSU. My first few weeks on campus were rough. I had absolutely no friends. Studies were tough (specially when you are taking an economics course with Prof. Bailey!). I had long breaks between classes, ranging from two to six hours, which I usually spent in Spigel Hall chatting with my friends on Skype from back home. I always

wanted to work on campus since it seemed to be fun, and I thought I could make friends this way, too. I then applied to be a poll clerk for UTMSU and I was given the opportunity to work as one. It was during this time that I became more aware of the work of UTMSU. I was also introduced to the WUSC Local Committee by Mr. Henry Sali, who was VP external for UTM (2009/10). Then came the 2010/11 academic year, when Ms. Vickita Bhatt was elected as president of UTMSU. My involvement with the students’ union began to increase. I got more and more involved with WUSC as a Student Refugee Program Coordinator and was also an associate to the VP part-time affairs (Ms. Marium Chowdhury). I also applied to be a U-Pass distribution clerk for the Fall 2010 distribution and was successful. Gilbert Cassar was elected to serve as president of UTMSU in 2011. I applied to be the U-Pass coordinator and successfully got the job. I loved

my job as a U-Pass coordinator, but wanted to work more closely with UTMSU. When the first round of associate hirings was taking place during the fall of 2011, I applied to be an associate to the VP internal and services, Ms. Neghan Alim, and got the position. I worked very closely with Neghan and developed a passion for the portfolio. I decided to run for the position of VP internal and services during the spring 2012 elections as part of Team Engage and was successfully elected. During the 2013 spring elections, I had the privilege of running for the position of president of UTMSU and running with my team, called “Team Connect”. I take great pride in sharing this story today with everyone. I started off as a student knowing absolutely no one on this campus and today I am blessed with knowing so many of them and working with a very passionate and a supportive executive team. I have dedicated more than four years to the students’ union, serving in various capacities. Never

did I think when coming into UTM that one day I would be the president of UTMSU and represent all undergraduate students on this campus. Just like at this campus, the opportunities that we all have in life are endless. You should be willing to work hard to achieve your goals. Choose the right friends who will support you. Take risks. Study when you are supposed to and don’t leave things for the last moment. Always lend a helping hand to those in need. Be conscious of your actions and make sure you leave a lasting positive impact in someone’s life. I will certainly miss those daily interactions with students, club executives, the UTMSU office, my executive team, board members, associates, coordinators, and all those with whom I work very closely, including Mr. Walied Khogali, who has always been very helpful and a great resource. As my journey with UTMSU comes to an end, I would like to thank all the students currently

studying on this campus and those who have graduated for giving me the opportunity to serve them over the past two years as their elected representative. No one is perfect, and I’m certainly not even near. We all make mistakes and learn from them. Your students’ union needs students like you to get involved and make a lasting difference. The opportunities with UTMSU are endless. I’m sure one of you reading this article right now will hopefully want to get more involved with UTMSU. Come out and volunteer. Join clubs and academic societies. Apply to be a frosh leader. Make a change and get involved with your students’ union to make a lasting change. As the academic year comes to an end, I would like to wish everyone all the very best in their upcoming exams. I would also like to wish much success to all those graduating in June this year. Raymond Noronha President, UTMSU

03.31.2014

Blackwood Gallery bids grads farewell The second half of Up One Side + Down the Other opens at the Blackwood and the e|gallery COLLEEN MUNRO A&E EDITOR The Blackwood Gallery is continuing its celebration of student artwork, having unveiled the second half of the annual graduating students’ exhibition, Up One Side + Down the Other, last week. Featuring artwork by more than 30 students graduating from UTM’s art and art history program, Up One Side + Down the Other uses both the main Blackwood space and the CCT Building’s e|gallery to exhibit the diverse works. The first half of the exhibition was on display earlier this month, and now the second half of the grads get their time in the spotlight. Unlike many of the exhibitions the Blackwood Gallery features throughout the year, there isn’t a thematic thread running throughout the exhibition. Instead, each student is able to express their own worldview and artistic vision however they like. This results in a diversity of mediums and themes; visitors to the Blackwood Gallery will experience paintings, sculpture, textiles, video installations, and more when they step inside. The unspoken “anything goes” statement results in a collection that may feel a little chaotic to some, but that, if anything, celebrates that art can be found in so many different forms. Walking into the Blackwood Gal-

COLLEEN MUNRO/THE MEDIUM

Sam Hanrath’s “Attention (tent)” is part of the Blackwood Gallery’s Up One Side + Down the Other. lery, several pieces instantly caught my eye, but none more than one of the exhibition’s largest contributions, Sam Hanrath’s “Attention (tent)”. Occupying a good portion of the gallery’s back corner, the tent is made of paper held together by long strips of duct tape, and it doesn’t look especially glamorous from the outside. But as the viewer gets closer, they notice

a message scrawled on the exterior, reading, “Attention: please doodle on me. Sincerely, the artist.” And indeed, a folded-back flap invites visitors to enter the tent, the inside of which is covered with cartoony scrawls and doodles. It also provides markers so visitors can add their own contributions, and a pillow—presumably to add that nice homey touch. It’s diz-

zying and a little claustrophobic, but there’s something strangely appealling about it, and during the exhibition’s opening reception there was a nearly constant stream of visitors admiring and contributing to the tent. Slightly less conspicuous is Natasha Genevieve’s “Seven”, an evocative oil painting that hangs on the gallery’s back wall. The woozy image of a cas-

cading waterfall is arresting, inviting the viewer to stop and admire each meticulous line of colour. Similarly, detail is key in Laurel Whalen’s untitled sculptures, which combine Rhoplex and organic material to create delightfully jagged little creations that sit in the middle of the gallery. Different pieces will speak to different viewers, and overall the skill on display in Up One Side + Down the Other is impressive. My favourite piece is Laura Krick’s “Non-Street”, a series of three oil paintings on wood tucked away in the e|gallery. The images depict nighttime scenes of an eerily deserted small-town street, and all three feature cars, streetlamps, and a distinct tan and navy palette. I found Krick’s style effectively minimalistic, lending her images a unique Midwestern feel. Her work subtly raises questions and allows the viewer to imagine their own backstory about just who might live in such a desolate town. The other student artists featured in the second half of Up One Side + Down the Other are Sam Abel, Yu Chen, Liz Secord-Gibbs, Laurène Guarneri, Andrew Ihamaki, Olga Klosowski, Adriana Lychacz, Tanya Masson, Katelyn Noyes, Dasom Park, Natasha Ritchie, Breanna Shanahan, and Christina Trutiak. The exhibition will run until April 6 at the Blackwood Gallery and e|gallery.

Divergent strikes uncomfortably familiar chords The adaptation the popular book series offers a glimpse into an unfortunately well-worn dystopia KATE CATTELL-DANIELS ASSOCIATE A&E EDITOR The problem with Divergent is that it’s The Hunger Games all over again, but with less fire. Dystopian fiction is a difficult genre because it requires so much exposition. Divergent takes care of most of this off the top by means of voiceover accompanied by beautiful wide shots that really put us in the world of the characters. We learn about the five factions of society to which all citizens must belong. You get to pick your faction, but if you don’t pass the training you become one of the “factionless”— the people who live as homeless squatters on the fringes of society. Not unlike the Seam from The Hunger Games, I thought. At the beginning of the film, Tris (Shailene Woodley) is about to choose her faction and possibly have to leave her family because of it. “Faction before blood” is the maxim that makes this society work, and everyone must obey. Those who read the book will find the adaptation faithful to the source

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Does Shailene Woodley make a convincing hero in Divergent? material. For instance, Dauntless’ headquarters looks exactly like they did in my head, as do each faction’s costumes. What I found, though, is that all the things that barely worked in the book don’t fly at all in the film. Tris really doesn’t get interesting until

the final half-hour of the film when there’s a lot of gunplay and hardly any dialogue. As I recall, Katniss from The Hunger Games was a badass from the moment she realized she could actually win the games. Like Katniss, Tris is willing to make sacrifices, but

I didn’t believe she would actually fight for what she wanted until the end. Similarly, Kate Winslet plays the antagonist Janine Matthews, but even she’s a one-trick villain. Partway through the film, Tris makes a choice that pushes her to her

limits physically and mentally, and she ends up in a dangerous situation when she’s told that she’s divergent— she doesn’t belong in just one faction. This is a problem because one of the factions is systematically destroying divergents while trying to take over the government. Basically, the corrupted government is out to kill the protagonist. Sound familiar? Something I really admired in The Hunger Games was that Katniss is not an anorexic, baby doll Hollywood type. Jennifer Lawrence is strong, not glamorous, and I think we need a little more of that in our movies. Both Woodley and her leading man, Theo James (who plays Four), are too good-looking to make the oddball, misfit characters they portray believable. Divergent asks some good questions about finding your identity and the sacrifices people make (or don’t) for those they’re loyal to. How selfless can you be without losing your own sense of purpose? And how do you stay true to yourself throughout all that? MM½

03.31.2014 THE MEDIUM ARTS» 7

Toronto’s live venues: the best and worst MUST-SEE LANDMARK LEE’S PALACE Lee’s Palace, which opened its doors in 1985, hosted a who’s-who of the biggest names in alt rock during the ’90s, including the Smashing Pumpkins, Elliott Smith, Oasis, and a preNevermind Nirvana. Its distinctive, comic book–inspired exterior has made it a landmark, and it was even featured in the Toronto-set Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. It’s a bit divey, but then again, that’s part of its charm.

COLLEEN MUNRO A&E EDITOR Spring is finally showing tentative signs of still being a thing that happens, which means the summer concert season is just around the corner. While by no means an exhaustive guide, here’s a look at some of the best (and worst) spots for catching live music in the city. BEST DÉCOR WINTER GARDEN THEATRE Originally conceived as a vaudeville theatre in 1913, the Winter Garden Theatre shares a building with the Elgin, existing together as rare “stacked” theatres. The inside of the Winter Garden features striking hand-painted murals and a ceiling completely covered in lanterns and preserved leaves. It’s undoubtedly an atmospheric and slightly eerie concert setting. (When I saw Ryan Adams perform there, he affectionately referred to our surroundings as “the creepy Indiana Jones theatre”.)

Lee’s Palace got its Hollywood close-up in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. LEAST CONVENIENT SOUND ACADEMY Just getting to the Sound Academy is an ordeal. Located way out on the Polson pier, it’s seemingly in the middle of nowhere, and the transit options leave much to be desired. (Driving is feasible, but have fun waiting upwards of half an hour just to exit the sole nearby parking lot after the show.) Despite being a pain to get to, the Sound Academy’s ros-

ter is undeniably impressive. It’s a mid-sized venue, so you can see acts that are right on the brink of becoming huge. It can also be a good place to catch buzz bands that are just past their prime, such as the Killers and MGMT. BEST SPOT FOR FREE SHOWS CNE BANDSHELL Sure, most of the big outdoor summer concerts in Toronto take place at the

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Molson Amphitheatre or Echo Beach. But if you’re looking for something a little more low-key and a lot less expensive, check out the lineup of free summer concerts held annually at the CNE Bandshell during the Ex’s twoweek run at the end of August. Some of the notable past performers are the Arkells, Tokyo Police Club, Walk Off the Earth, and the New Pornographers.

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WORTH THE TREK THE OPERA HOUSE Located in Leslieville, the Opera House is a little bit far for those coming in from the west end, but at least transit’s convenient. Originally built as a vaudeville theatre in 1909, the Opera House was later converted to a movie theatre, and a few of the old projectors can still be spotted up in the balcony. It’s a place with some history, and the charming original architecture, logical layout, and intimate feel make it one of the better small venues in the city.

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THE MEDIUM 03.31.2014

Saying goodbye to old friends How I Met Your Mother ends tonight. We look back on the show

Mashing up art and yoga EMILY KOVACS

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After nine seasons, How I Met Your Mother finally gives fans answers to their questions. MAYANK SHARMA STAFF WRITER Everything that has a beginning has an end. We saw it with M*A*S*H, Seinfeld, Friends, and The Office, and now it’s time for How I Met Your Mother to join that list. HIMYM has given us nine years of entertainment, laughs, tears, and just a nice way to spend an evening. Let’s take a trip down memory lane before the finale airs tonight. HIMYM’s pilot episode aired in 2005 and started Ted Mosby’s (Josh Randor) long and complicated search for true love. (The titular “mother”, played by Cristin Milioti, was introduced in the finale of season eight and became a recurring character in season nine.) He initially had deep feelings for Robin Scherbatsky (Cobie Smulders), a career-driven reporter, and pursued her while ignoring his wingman Barney Stinson’s (Neil Patrick Harris) beliefs about love and marriage. Ted has gone to any lengths to find “the one”, often looking to his college buddies Marshall (Jason Segel) and Lily (Alyson Hannigan) for guidance.

We’ve seen lots of unique choices in Ted’s girlfriends over the course of the series, some of whom even he regrets dating. Over the years the group’s seen their ups and downs and done plenty of maturing. Barney, being a womanizer and sociopath due to a traumatic breakup in his early twenties, realized that there’s more to life than just hitting on girls in bars. Although Barney eventually learned to commit to a single girl, Quinn, he was still heartbroken, only to realize that Robin was the one for him all along. The final season’s been set the weekend before Barney and Robin’s wedding, and we saw many storylines from over the years unfold and finally make sense. Marshal and Lily got into a huge fight over their summer breakup in season two and resolved it by using their famous “pause and unpause” communication tactic. Barney finally realized that he was ready to make a commitment. Ted confronted the non-platonic feelings he’s held for Robin over the years. And yes—we finally know who the mother is! She’s

been the glue binding the group over this entire season, helping everyone individually fight their fears and insecurities. It’s been a long nine years and we’ve been waiting to hear one sentence: “And kids, that’s how I met your mother.” The hour-long finale airs this week and we’re all hoping this series has a happy ending, not just for the sake of satisfaction, but so that Ted eventually gets his “happily ever after”. This show’s really dear to me because there are points where it’s relatable and meaningful. I mean, come on: everyone has a little Ted, Barney, Marshall, Lily, and Robin in them. We’re all going to miss Barney’s catchphrases, Robin’s undying loyalty to Canada, Lily’s authoritative nature, Marshall’s puns, and Ted’s caring personality and alter-egos. I’m going to miss this show a lot, and the stuff that it’s taught me to expect in life and about friendship. So get your tissue boxes ready, bundle up in blankets, and watch the writers give this series the ending we’ve been waiting for, because it’s going to be legen—wait for it— dary!

Fast and furious, with a different name

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CHRISTOPHER ANTILOPE What makes a good racing movie other than fast, luxurious cars? Some might say a decent cast, and a strong lead protagonist and antagonist. I say a consistent plot with a purpose. By these standards, Scott Waugh’s Need for Speed barely crosses the finish line. Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul stars in this high-octane film that gives fans of The Fast and the Furious and NASCAR something else to watch. Paul plays Tobey Marshall, a street racer with two goals: seeking revenge for the loss of a loved one, and winning a secret race across the U.S. He’s joined by Scott Mescudi (also known as Kid

Cudi) and Michael Keaton. The films in the Fast and the Furious franchise offer a diverse cast with tight chemistry, whereas Need for Speed gives audiences a popular TV star who can’t handle the spotlight alone very well. Where The Fast and the Furious follows multiple dramatic relationships—like the one between Vin Diesel and the late Paul Walker’s characters—Need for Speed forces the obligatory romantic relationship between Marshall and one of the two female characters in the entire film. But its male-dominated narrative and visuals of ridiculously expensive cars being destroyed still resemble the racing films we’re used to.

But rather than comparing the film to other, more popular movies, let’s review Need for Speed on its own merits. Need for Speed is your stereotypical racing flick with a cliché plot, predictable ending, blatant sexism, and annoyingly loud cars. And while Paul’s attempt to break away from his Breaking Bad character is understandable, he would’ve been more successful had he chosen not to play another criminal. The film offers fast races and furious characters, but Need for Speed falls far behind other films of its kind. Other than the extremely beautiful cars on display, the film has little that impresses. MM½

If you love yoga or are just inquisitive, the Art Gallery of Mississauga might be of interest to you. One Wednesday a month, the gallery holds Art and Yoga, a yoga session led by a professional Kundalini yoga teacher, at which you can contemplate the art and your body and spirit all at once. I spoke with Tina Chu, the engagement officer at the AGO, and Salimah Kassim-Lakha, the gallery’s yoga instructor, about how the event came to be and the links between yoga and visual art. Meeting the right person at the right time is the embodiment of yoga, according to Kassim-Lakha. A chance encounter last summer started Art and Yoga: Kassim-Lakha wandered by an AGM info table at Celebration Square that was staffed by Chu, and told her that she was a yoga therapist. One of the gallery’s exhibitions at the time was 011+91 | 011+92, which explored the themes of fluidity and the cross-pollination of South Asian cultural rituals and Western ones. The AGM’s special projects docent, Sana Saleem, was interested in comparing Kundalini yoga to azan, the Muslim call to prayer. After Chu introduced them, Kassim-Lakha and Saleem put together the first Art and Yoga event. It was such a success that the AGM invited Kassim-Lakha to design a wellness residency inspired by the gallery’s exhibitions, says Chu. For Kassim-Lakha, practising yoga while surrounded by art was an uplifting experience. “When I think of art, I think about the artist being inspired by what they see around them. So much comes from community memberships,” says Kassim-Lakha. Like art, yoga is about translating those experiences to another form. During the sessions, each inspired by the gallery’s art, a dialogue takes place between art and yoga. KassimLakha describes this process: “In the

space, I look around. I wait for the moment when I make the connection, and that’s what I teach. It’s always inspired by the theme of the gallery.” The mood is different for each session. “There’s a palpable electricity in how you become charged through visual arts and Kundalini yoga,” says Chu. For Kassim-Lakha, yoga offers a chance to touch the brahman, traditionally the part of your being that’s infinite and undying. “Once you touch the part of yourself that’s lived thousands of experiences, there’s no answer that’s untapped,” she says. According to her, this connection leads to a stronger nervous system. “When the nervous system is strong, emotions of doubt and fear—causing stress—can be moved through with fewer blocks, and you have the ability to bounce back from stress,” KassimLakha explains.

“There’s a palpable electricity in how you become charged through visual arts and Kundalini yoga.” —Tina Chu “For students who are juggling work, studies, and social life, Kundalini yoga is a good way to tune into the needs of one’s body and to re-energize,” says Chu. The program is free, and participants are welcome to pay what they can. “The format allows the community members who might not be able to afford yoga at a studio to drop in and contribute what they can, even if it’s simply their presence.” Art and Yoga gives participants a fun way to become more self-aware through Kundalini yoga while enjoying the AGM’s exhibitions. The next session will be held April 9, just in time for exam season.

03.31.2014

A UTM year in food, glorious food Some of the most infamous incidents on campus are sure to be remembered by students (who continues to blab at the front of the room) takes a deep breath as the student reveals their fate. They raise their eyes to signal it. It’s usually one of three options: a slow head shake of disappointment, a smile and a swift tearing off of the rim, or running out of the room screaming “I won the car! I won the car!” I admit I haven’t actually witnessed the last one, but that’s what I’d do in that situation. Even when you lose, at least remember to roll up the rim—on both sides.

MADELEINE BROWN ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR In the words of Jonathon Larson’s musical Rent, “How do you measure a year in the life?” Now, according to Larson we have a couple options: daylights (no thanks), sunsets, midnights (I go to bed at 9 p.m.), cups of coffee (I don’t even drink coffee), inches (what does he even mean by that?), miles, laughter, strife, and, worst of all, love. Thanks for the suggestions, Mr. Larson, but I think that instead, I’m going to measure my year in food—“food, glorious food”, if we want to keep the musical references going. OUT-OF-ORDER DEBIT, CREDIT CARD, & GIFT CERTIFICATE MACHINES AT STARBUCKS I think every UTM student’s learned that if you want a cup of coffee fast, you don’t bother going to Starbucks. You might attempt to navigate the lines at the Davis Tim Hortons, deal with the limited selection at the North Building location, or just keep it simple and go to Second Cup. But this past fall, those who just couldn’t resist not only had to deal with the typical long lines at Starbucks, they also accepted paying with cash, and cash only. Sara Peters, a third-year professional writing and women and gender studies double major, witnessed the critical moment when the ma-

GEOGRAPHY SOCIETY CORN ROAST, & UBIQUITOUS CLUB BAKE SALES

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The worst possible sight a UTM student can see. chines suddenly went down. “The whole staff went on a frenzied calling spree to their manager while two people tapped buttons, flicked switches, and tugged on wires attached to the register,” she reminisces. “Nothing worked, and since they had already made my drink, I got it for free. The best part: I had a five-dollar bill in my pocket, but they never even asked me if I could pay with cash.” VALUE MEALS AT THE TFC & BUBBLE TEA AT THE DUCK In an effort to offer more affordable meal options on campus, the Hospi-

tality and Retail Services department introduced value meals at the TFC this past January. The meals range from $5 to $7 and include a dish, side, and fountain drink. According to the minutes from the latest Food Service Advisory Committee, there are plans to discuss what specials can be made available at Colman Commons and if the value meals can be offered across campus. They also intend to start using their new Twitter account, @ UTMHospRetail, to advertise the offer. The Blind Duck now also offers bubble tea (two for the price of one on Tuesdays).

ROLL UP THE RIM RETURNS TO TIM HORTONS From a student’s perspective, March is a daunting month. But Tim Hortons has discovered a way to ease stress—even just for a few seconds— with their Roll up the Rim campaign, a beloved Canadian tradition. Cherise Chau, a fourth-year CTEP student shares, “I’ve been going to Tim Hortons more than usual because of it. I’ve won nothing.” I can’t tell you the number of times in class I’ve caught a glimpse of a peer finishing their medium double double and suddenly can’t pull my eyes off them. Then everyone but the prof

Back in September, just after 11 a.m. on a Thursday, I strolled by the Student Centre to discover the Geography Society roasting beautiful Ontario corn on the cob. I bought one, drenched it in butter, and settled down at the picnic table in front of North Building. I ate my delicious corn, blissfully unaware of the year that was to unfold. My only worry was whether or not there were any kernels stuck in my teeth. UTM is never short of food-related club events and fundraisers. From slices of pie on Pi Day to heartshaped Rice Krispies treats for Valentine’s Day, there are always delicious opportunities. The offerings may not be refined or fancy, but they’re comforting. And as a university student you can never have enough of that.

My summer abroad journey to Jerusalem Suffused with history and incredible scenery, Israel offers quite the experience for students LARISSA HO Jerusalem never crossed my mind when I thought of potential places to study during a student exchange. I always thought of Europe as my ideal study abroad location. (Just “Europe”, with no specifics.) But when my good friend Luke departed on a scholarship offered by the Canadian Friends of Hebrew University to study biblical Hebrew for a month at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, I began to consider the possibility of my travelling there the following summer. Jerusalem, I’d heard, was the place where Jesus once walked. Considering my strong Christian roots, you can see why I swooned at the idea of walking where Jesus walked, bathing where Jesus bathed, eating where Jesus ate. It was rich in vibrant history and steeped in beautiful places to see that had been preserved and looked

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Studying abroad offers students opportunities and experiences to last a lifetime. the way it had looked when Jesus looked at it. I couldn’t wait to go. So what if I’d never travelled internationally on my own, didn’t speak Hebrew or Arabic,

and didn’t like extreme heat? The following summer I went with Luke, his brother Caspian, and our friend Paul. We each went on a scholarship from the Canadian

Friends of Hebrew U. The four of us stayed in an apartment on the Hebrew U Student Village while completing different courses for credit. I took a course called “Coexistence in

the Middle East”. We swam in the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean, rode camels in the Judean Desert, felt our way through the water-filled Tunnels of Hezekiah, and walked the Via Dolorosa (the route along which Jesus is said to have walked on his way to the crucifixion) through the Old City. We heard mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Spanish, French, English, and Russian. We saw the Dome of the Rock, which has survived wars and earthquakes since 691. We even went beyond Jerusalem to Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Masada. We saw synagogues, tombs, mosques (most notably the Temple Mount), basilicas, wineries, caves, and museums (most notably Yad Vashem, a famous Holocaust museum).

Summer continued on page 10

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THE MEDIUM 03.31.2014

Well, guys, until next year The experiences that Students share their fondest memories from campus

Students share how they will miss UTM... or not.

ALEXANDRA GEDDES ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR Several events could characterize the past eight months. We watched as our neighbours to the south shut down their government. The Kenyan mall shooting left many shaken and made others question their own safety. Many of us celebrated as gay marriage was first legalized in England and Wales, and then in several U.S. states. Throughout the world, people discovered more about what it means to be a global citizen. The 2013/14 school year also revealed the personal interest UTM students take in their school. We watched our tuition dollars at work as old buildings were renovated. We decided we wanted to direct the course of our campus. When asked whether we wanted a fee hike for a Student Centre expansion through a forceful, one-sided campaign, we said we didn’t want it. We went to pub nights. We stayed up late finishing assignments. We joined campus clubs, met new friends, and discovered more about ourselves. Students took a moment to reflect on what they faced this year and shared these memories with the Medium. “For the first time, I had time to participate in the workshops and extracurriculars UTM offers,” says Tyler McLaren, a fifth-year professional

writing and communications major. “I saw the university in a less daunting light.” “I was more involved on campus this year,” says Jelin Phillip, a fourthyear English major. “I got to meet and become friends with so many unique people. It helped me notice things about myself that I hadn’t realized before.” Others, such as fourth-year anthropology major Danielle Elson, felt this year was about building strong relationships with her classmates. Elson says, “Hanging out at the pub with friends was best for me. I enjoyed talking with them, [and] especially drinking beer and playing cards.” Corey Belford, a fourth-year philosophy major, felt his greatest moment in the term was overcoming an academic obstacle: “I found a loophole in my syllabus. I thought an assignment rewrite was optional—it wasn’t,” he says. “I missed the first deadline. I ended up getting the mark from the rewrite being retroactively applied to the original assignment. I won back 10 percent of my grade! “I’m going to miss the amazing people I had the privilege of meeting this year,” Belford continues. “Some were strange; many were brilliant; they were all so funny. I hate to see them go, but I know I’ll see a lot of them again come next September.”

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The past year helped many students discover more about themselves. For many students, this term is their last at UTM. As their graduation draws nearer, many prepare to say goodbye to university life. “There’s a lot I’m going to miss,” says McLaren. “I enjoyed the courses. I met a lot of really great people. I know it’s time to move on in life, but I’ll definitely remember the times I had at university.” “I’ll miss this school,” says Phillip. “My experiences shaped my ideas immensely. They helped me develop further into the person I want to be.” Many graduating students feel their final year helped them find their place in the world. They believe their university experience helped them find a sense of direction as they move into the workplace or graduate programs. “In my first year, I never would’ve thought I’d be going into a public relations program after university,” says Kayla Robinson, a fourth-year drama specialist. “It’s crazy how much we’ve all changed. University has really changed me.” Phillip offers some final advice to students entering or continuing studies in the fall: “Don’t be afraid to speak up. Plan ahead and research what your program requirements are. Get involved. And above all else, do what you want to do, no matter what anyone else says.”

Getting to read our own thoughts FARAH KHAN Students pay tens of thousands of dollars for an education, and tthere’s almost nothing worse than paying for a course and coming out of it feeling like it was a waste of time. What many students ask for is a reliable way to get a sense of the course beforehand. Course evaluations have been conducted at U of T for years, but the data’s never been available to students. This year, a new course evaluation framework’s been developed to make the data not only more useful to staff, but also available to students. For most students, the opinions of peers who’ve already taken a course is probably the most relevant factor in deciding whether to take it. Many students currently get their peers’ opinions through ratemyprofessor.com, but its information is rarely reliable. Many students who take to the site deliver ratings that are unfair or useless.

Carol Rolheiser, director of U of T’s Centre for Teaching Support and Innovation, says student feedback through the course evaluations is important. “The data’s used by the university in a variety of ways, including to improve course curricula, assess students’ learning experiences related to different assignments, and when instructors go up for tenure and/or promotion,” she says. Not all students find the course evaluations a necessity. Emily Hunt, a forensics student, doesn’t think they’re all that important. “Sure, I’ll fill it out for the sake of giving feedback. It’s online and it’s easy. But I don’t really mind if I can see the other course evaluations or not,” she says. “The course evaluations would maybe be interesting to read for a course I’m taking just to boost my GPA, but it wouldn’t do much to influence my decision in taking a course I have to take for my program.”

abroad courses offer

At the moment, students can see evaluations for courses in various faculties on Portal. More data for UTM will be made available this summer. Rolheiser expects instructors to be able to react more closely to feedback and says they’ll be able to tailor the form to their needs. “The new course evaluation framework also provides instructors the opportunity to add their own customized questions to their course evaluations,” she said. Instructors can also opt not to share data. Professor Christoph Richter finds the course evaluations a great resource to improve his own teaching. “The vast majority of comments are constructive, useful, and sometimes funny. And fortunately, there can also be encouraging comments which can make your day,” he says. “As a professor, I genuinely care about the students in my course and am very much interested in how they experienced and perceived the course.”

Larissa visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Summer continued from page 9 We met the locals, many of whom could speak English. We talked to them about what they thought of the political unrest in the Middle East. They were willing to speak with us— we were not tourists, but interested students. When I told anyone I came from Canada, they would say “You’re welcome” in English. When I needed to order something to eat, I pointed to what I wanted—shawarma, usually— and nodded or shook my head when asked what sides I wanted with it. I picked up how to say “good morning” and “thank you” from Luke (who was studying Modern Hebrew and who learned to speak more than that). I learned about the history of Jerusalem. I saw men—peace activists—cry as they spoke to my class about the wars and uprisings, which meant the deaths of loved ones, and still making it their mission to advocate for peace, coexistence, mutual understanding,

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and acceptance, and not mere tolerance. I realized that Jerusalem gets cool at night, that I had to wear a shawl over my head in holy places, and that I was lucky to have been able to attend school from the time I was a child. That reminds me of another thing—the children. They were everywhere: working in the marketplace at Damascus Gate, shouting prices for figs and spices (and asking me “why?” when I shook my head no), trying to get our money for showing us around to places when we never asked them to, and playing in the streets. Best of all, I walked where Jesus walked and dipped my feet in the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized. You can apply for a student exchange from U of T’s Centre for International Experience and for a bursary of up to $4,000 from the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University online at cie.utoronto.ca/Going/Apply/ Online-Application.htm before Tuesday, April 15 at 5 p.m.

03.31.2014

U of T struggling to fund Varsity teams The Varsity athletic program is looking for ways to improve the disproportionate team funding JASON COELHO SPORTS EDITOR March marks the end of all Varsity Blues sports programs at U of T until their fall return. Sadly, many students likely aren’t concerned. And why should they be? For years Varsity sports has suffered from being underfunded and under-supported. U of T isn’t known as a sports powerhouse. Most teams who’ve worn the blue and white over the years have had trouble finding success in the OUA, and if you scour the history of hockey, one of U of T’s most popular sports at the Varsity level, you’ll find that the last time we won the CIS championship was in 1984. We’ve spent the past six seasons hovering around the .500 mark, swiftly exiting in the first round of the playoffs when we make them. Surprisingly, hockey is one of the better-funded sports at U of T, yet the program is still incapable of establishing a tradition of winning. Although all our varsity programs have been gradually trending in the right direction, they still have quite a way

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Varsity football players are required to pay a fee in order to help fund the football program at U of T. to go. With hockey at the top of U of T athletics’ funding hierarchy, it’s safe to say that the majority of Varsity sports aren’t receiving the support they deserve—and not just financially. Football is a prime example. Varsity Blues football has been a disappointment to the U of T brand, turning in

Lights out at last for UTM hockey PHILIP POWER The skates were laced up and the sticks were taped. Across the rink sat the Jennings Cup, the oldest continuously awarded trophy for ice hockey in the world. Established in 1898, the trophy has been handled by over 100 teams at the interfaculty and intramural level. Last Monday at Varsity Arena, the Jennings awaited the victor of the U of T men’s tri-campus hockey final. UTM had advanced to the final a week prior with a 3-1 win over UTSC in the famed East-West rivalry. The St. George Black were the only team standing in the Eagles’ way. St. George finished atop league standings in men’s tri-campus and received a by, granting them a spot in the finals. St. George brought firepower with them. Eagles goalie Ben Gryshuck was the main reason UTM wasn’t down a couple goals at the end of the first period, sprawling to save anything and everything that came into his territory. Zach Berg had the best scoring opportunity for the Eagles, creating a rush on the opposing goal, dangling the puck around the defender, and battling his way in on goal to no avail. Less than 30 seconds into the second period, UTSG managed to get a puck over the Gryshuck’s blocker despite being shorthanded. It was a shock to the UTM team, who had just begun

their power play. Now the Eagles were angry. Attack after attack was mounted on St. George’s goal, but the defence was rock-solid and avoided any slipups that’d give UTM the equalizer. The bad luck continued. A bounce that tapped off the blade of a UTSG forward and trickled past the Eagles’ goaltender put the downtown campus up two goals. Minutes later a shot on Gryschuk ricocheted and was batted in in midair by a UTSG player who had slipped past UTM’s defence. The UTM fans, who had been carried to Varsity Arena by a shuttle organized by the RAWC, had their hands up in the air over the questionable goal. The St. George player’s stick seemed to be higher than the crossbar, which usually means no goal on account of highsticking. In this instance, the referees didn’t review the call, and the goal stood. Just like that, the Eagles were down three goals, and their future, like the puck, was very much up in the air. Even so, UTM gave their fans quite a game. After putting on pressure in the offensive zone UTSG took a reckless penalty, giving UTM the boost they needed. UTM’s Jacob Berseth scored by picking a spot over the goalie’s glove and reduced St. George’s lead to two goals. Hockey continued on page 12

consistently abysmal performances, at one point going five seasons in a row without a win. Although Blues football has taken some positive strides in improving the program this school year, earning a 4-4 record for the first time since 1993, the student athletes aren’t getting very much respect. The

athletes say Varsity football players are required to pay $500 a year to assist in funding the football program, while U of T pays coaches salaries in excess of $100,000. For students already paying their way through school, a fee to play on a team they’ve earned a spot on seems a bit much. Yet in U of T’s

hierarchy, football seems unimportant, and the team is forced to self-govern in order to continue competing. “The only perk I receive is playing the game I love, and a few free meals and a free dorm room during training camp,” says second-year Blues kicker Eric Hewitson, the leading scorer on the team. Hewitson was ineligible to receive a football scholarship because he’s the kicker, but can receive a grant if he maintains a 2.5 GPA. OUA athletes qualify to receive a maximum annual $4,000 scholarship to play at the Varsity level. The scholarships aren’t as much of a problem for athletes as is self-governance. Varsity athletics has found some interesting ways to help with funding. The Adopt-a-Blue program allows donors to support a team in everything from equipment and road meals to training. Of course, teams that are less mainstream are not often adopted and receive less funding.

Varsity continued on page 12

UTM’s fade to White

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Rotman’s Duncan Milne (42) battles UTM’s Jeff Thorpe (42) in the second half of Wednesday’s final. FERGUS TALBOT ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR UTM White were the favourites for the title in this year’s championship final, but finished their sixth consecutive season without a trophy after a dismal display last Wednesday in the RAWC, losing to Rotman Commerce 62-75. If the opening 40 seconds were any indication, this was going to be a very one-sided affair. The home crowd thought they had come to see a spectacle: their team had gone undefeated throughout the year, were first overall in the division, and had beat Rotman 83-67 in their first game of the season on October 2. But that previous en-

counter may have helped the Rotman squad figure out just how to compete with UTM White, and in fact they did more than compete. Rotman’s sublime big man, Duncan Milne, was immovable and unstoppable throughout the game and led both teams in points in the first half with 15, accounting for one third of his team’s tally by the break. His team was more aggressive and much quicker with the ball than the Eagles from the outset. Their defence nullified almost every White threat to cross into their paint, restricting Coach Juan Nunez’s men to taking shots from behind the three-point line. It took the Whites 13 long minutes to bag their first threepointer through Zakariya Khan.

Khan was a bright spot for UTM, giving a good performance in the first half as the only Eagles player capable of sinking shots in the opposition’s paint. With UTM fighting for their lives, Eagles shooting guard Josh Cordinera gave the fans something to cheer about, faking the three-point shot and dribbling around two Rotman defenders to score. His basket had the crowd of some 200 supporters cheering at their loudest. But Milne and Rotman made up for mistakes on the defensive end with a stellar offensive performance, leading White at the half with a commanding 46-33 lead. White continued on page 12

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THE MEDIUM 03.31.2014

Fixing funding at U of T Varsity continued from page 11 Varsity athletics has found some interesting ways to help the funding situation. The Adopt-a-Blue campaign allows donors to support the team of their choice in everything from equipment and road meals to training. Of course, this could explain why some less mainstream teams may not be “adopted” and receive equal funding. U of T’s looking to rectify this in the coming years after completing the final phase of their new sports model. This summer, The Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education will complete its third and final phase of a new intercollegiate sport model that it hopes will change the culture of sports at U of T. The model will provide athletes at the Varsity level—in what it refers to as the “university division”— the resources to compete nationally and provincially in the OUA and CIS. It’s always useful to track the funding, too. According to a budget plan from the athletics department, intercollegiate athletics and “program business” are the two biggest expenses, both at about $3,600,000. The university will be also spending $2,620,000 on administrative services, $879,000 on development and alumni affairs, and $501,000 on communications, compared to $288,000 on intramurals and $215,000 on instruction—both of which are often involved in the journey to competing at a higher level. In terms of financial support, the model proposes league and playoff competition funding for 10 varsity sports teams and support for alumni and recruitment. In addition to funding, the university is in the process of completing the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sports for the 2015 Pan Am Games, which will be an extension of the current Varsity Centre. All of these improvements are made in hopes of attracting and retaining more student athletes. A description of phase one of the model says, “A small number of programs will be identified as having the greatest potential to enhance campus spirit and school pride, generate additional revenue, and enhance the intercolle-

giate program’s marketing initiative.” Although the plan’s vague wording doesn’t mean much until it’s put into effect, it’s refreshing to see that U of T’s finally interested in fixing an issue they’ve struggled with for many years. Meanwhile, with the NCAA March Madness tournament underway, what better time to be enthralled by the world of college sport? The level of competition at American colleges and universities is far superior to anything at Canadian universities, so far. The unfortunate truth is that many of Canada’s top student athletes in sports like football and basketball dream about playing professionally—something not quite possible in Canada outside of hockey. The overall incentive to play at the university level isn’t as enticing in Canada as it is in the States.

“We don’t have our best players staying home to play in the CIS. That takes the appeal of watching our game away.” —Michael DeGiorgio UTM’s Manny Sahota knows what it’s like to play at the university level in Canada and the U.S., having played on the Cornell University Big Red basketball team in 2011/12 before returning to Toronto to play on the Varsity Blues. Sahota thinks funding and media coverage is what differentiates these two markets more than anything. “A lot of the [universities] in America bring in huge sums of money; the NCAA is a multi-billion-dollar industry. While Canada’s getting better with covering athletes and CIS games, our networks come nowhere close to ESPN and the amount of coverage American schools get.” This is evident right now as Canada’s biggest sports network, TSN, is giving extensive all-day coverage to the NCAA while Canadian university sports receive rarely any coverage throughout the year.

The sponsorships these college teams receive from large corporations are one of the driving forces that give the NCAA its edge over the formal competition in Canadian universities. And although U of T’s model will try to instill some school spirit, there’s little chance that we can outmatch the support student athletes at American universities receive from their peers. The infectious sense of community that gives these students school pride is painfully lacking at U of T and at many universities throughout Canada, and the dwindling attendance at Varsity games is a sign that a change is needed. “I think that as a whole, the American university culture is much more fan-based,” says Michael DeGiorgio, assistant coach of the Varsity Blues men’s basketball team. DeGiorgio thinks Canada’s improved in how it markets athletes, but sees the American market as more appealling. “We don’t have our best players staying home to play in the CIS. That takes the appeal of watching our game away,” he says. Though DeGiorgio agrees there’s a long way to go before Canadian universities can get close to the NCAA level, he thinks introducing more scholarships would attract more homegrown and overseas talent. The attendance issue isn’t exclusive to basketball. Varsity Blues men’s hockey goalie Brett Willows has seen low attendance throughout his tenure with the team. “Being a primarily academic[s]-focused school, I understand that sports aren’t a big priority for the school body,” says Willows, who adds that social networking isn’t effective for getting an audience outside of student athletes to attend games. There’s a long way to go before U of T can tout its sports programs as comparable to other Canadian universities like Western or Queens, but the Faculty of KPE seems enthusiastic to roll out this new model and write another chapter in its athletic history. The plan won’t be complete until the fall, when students will see if these initiatives really alter the fabric of varsity sports, or if it’s yet another ruse.

Undefeated streak ends White continued from page 11 Milne wasn’t done when the second half began. The 6’9” centre managed to get on the board with an emphatic dunk over a helpless Haris Nurkanoviz while getting fouled. The home crowd was hoping for a comeback. UTM White was making it into the offensive end and around Milne and his supporting cast, but they had a steep hill to climb. The team had to overturn a 17-point deficit the same way that, a week prior, their Woodsworth opponents had done in the semifinal to force the match into overtime. Under Nunez’s coaching, Eagles were aggressive in the paint, finding the open man and grabbing the rebound when a shot didn’t fall— and, unfortunately, few did. But Milne broke the hearts of any UTM fans still holding out for a comeback when his

second dunk solidified a 20-point gap. It became evident that White was to end their stellar season in disappointing fashion. The team didn’t put their heads down, though, but nabbed a few more buckets. In the final minutes, another awful blow was dealt to UTM when Josh Cordinera suffered an ankle injury that made him watch his team’s undefeated streak come to an end. The final score of 75-62 meant Rotman had their first-ever championship title. Nunez was heartbroken. “This game was primarily lost due to the fact that our energy rate was not constant,” he said. “We were doing well in some periods and not in others. We put in a lot of effort in the first half. Our lack of effort in the second half came from our fear of Milne, who was very much on his game today, and of losing the game. Mistakes can happen, but a lack of effort is a choice.”

However, he is very much determined to lead his team to another successful season next year. “I love my guys,” he said. “It’s a tough loss, but we have to keep our heads up. Last year we were in the semis [and] this year we made it to the final, so if we keep on progressing, then we’ll end up winning the championship next season. “It’ll be our vengeance year,” he said. MAN OF THE MATCH Duncan Milne (Rotman): A dazzling display by the tall #42 from the first minute until the last. Milne was a monster on offence and defence. He finished the game with 27 points. “It’s wonderful to win here,” said Milne. “We were much more prepared for this game than the last. We were especially ready for their famed press. They were the hardest team we’ve had to deal with this season.”

UTM hockey is out of time

CAELB SUI/PHOTO

UTM lose championship game 4-3 against St. George. Hockey continued from page 11 The team couldn’t pot another one, but their pressure in the offensive zone had the St. George defensemen anxiously scrambling and significantly rattled their goalie after he was mowed over by a UTM player. The third period was the biggest of this young team’s season up to that point, and they delivered. A backhanded shot soared to the top right corner of the net, beating the UTSG goalie and reducing St. George’s lead to a slim 3-2. The Eagles had found their game again, and used this momentum to their advantage. Berg went five-hole to light the lamp for his second of the game, tying it up 3-3. Suddenly, the reason these two teams were in the finals was apparent: they were on equal footing at this point and the game could swing in either direction with a single shot. Then the scoreboard stopped working. It was one of those hockey oddities, the type that tends to happen in the biggest games with no explanation. The score and time on the clock went black. But, as any player in hockey knows, you play no mat-

ter what. And so the game continued, with the timekeepers between the penalty boxes using their cellphones to count down the time left in the game. The scoreboard is a player’s best friend. It’s reassuring to look up at the clock and see the time remaining, allowing a team to strategize on how to make the most out of what’s left in the game. It’s tough to say whether that uncertainty was what let St. George score their fourth goal, but it’s a possibility. Amid the confusion, UTSG took the lead and made the remaining few minutes, or however much time was really left, a period of desperation for UTM. Forwards Zach Berg and Mike Florindo rushed the goal and facilitated the offence without result. Then, all of a sudden, that desperation turned to hope. St. George took a penalty. UTM called a timeout. It was evident there was little time remaining because the goalie was pulled when play resumed. UTM had a 6-on-4 in the dying seconds of the game, throwing everything they could muster at St. George. It wasn’t enough. The whistle blew, time ran out, and UTM lost 4-3.