Vol 41 issue 9

THE VOICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO MISSISSAUGA

Students learn to unlearn UTMSU DisOrientation Week discusses all-gender washrooms, mental health UMAIMA GHORI UTMSU’s Ministry of Equity hosted DisOrientation Week last week with a series of workshops and events to raise awareness about social issues.

Themed “Unlearn”, this year’s DisOrientation Week aimed to reconstruct paradigms and assumptions.

The week kicked off on Monday with the “Pee in Peace” campaign launch. In an information session, UTMSU’s LGBTQ coordinator Miranda Jurilj talked about the need for the establishment of all-gender washrooms at UTM. She spoke of the physical and verbal harassment transgender people have to face while using gender-segregated washrooms.

“This is going to allow everybody to have a place where they can go and feel safe and dignified in using the washrooms. It’s also useful for parents who have differently gendered children or non-binary people with disabilities.

Folks who avoid using a washroom and end up holding it are at a higher risk of getting infections and illnesses,” said Jurilj in an interview.

November 10, 2014 Volume 41, Issue 9 themedium.ca

Campus Councils see review MENNA ELNAKA ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

tic violence at UTM. The march was part of UTMSU’s “No Means No” campaign, which advocates for consent before sexual contact and works against social issues like victim-blaming, street harassment, rape, and dating violence.

Last week’s meeting with the Committee to Review the UTM and UTSC Campus Councils (CRCC) addressed feedback on the performance of the Academic Affairs Committee, the Campus Affairs Committee, and areas of membership. It also discussed recommendations on ways to improve communications.

The report-back session was held last Wednesday at the Council Chamber in Davis and was part of a broader consultation process that began in September to review the efficacy of the UTM and UTSC Campus Council operations for the previous year and make recommendations.

During the review process, student representatives such as those from UTMSU also gave their feedback.

Week continued on page 3

Review continued on page 2

KHADRA OMAR/THE MEDIUM

The DisOrientation Week’s events included a protest against rape culture.

When asked about the possibility of resistance from “binary” people who felt uncomfortable using allgender washrooms, Jurilj said that the campaign was meant to establish allgender washrooms alongside gendersegregated washrooms. She further added that renovations like taller cells, reduced gaps, and stronger locks will be required to ensure the privacy and

security of all-gender washrooms.

The discussion was followed by a scavenger hunt in which the participants put up posters with slogans promoting the installation of all-gender washrooms in seven different restrooms around campus.

On Tuesday, students marched around the campus in solidarity with victims of sexual assault and domes-

Councillor aims to engage with UTM New Ward 8 Councillor Matt Mahoney promises a focus on transit, communication ATIKA AZHAR The October 27 election made Matt Mahoney the councillor for Ward 8, succeeding his mother Katie Mahoney, who held the seat for 23 years.

Matt Mahoney will be representing the UTM community along with the rest of Ward 8 when his term begins on December 1.

As city councillor, Mahoney said his biggest priorities are “communication, communication, and communication”.

“I think it’s really important for an elected official to listen,” he told The Medium, adding that knocking on residents’ doors and hearing about their concerns during his campaign has helped him understand the issues being faced by the community.

“I’ve been born and raised in Ward 8 and obviously come from a family with a tradition for representation in this area,” said Mahoney. “I will be fol-

Honour the honour roll Scholarship recipients get a private reception with visits from various university dignitaries.

Medium News, page 3

Staying put can be good Why be in a rush to move out? I was too—until friends and family helped me realize it was unnecessary.

Medium Opinion, page 4

Pen pals or art amigos?

Visual studies students wrap up the canvasboard correspondence with a display of the results.

Medium Arts, page 5

MAHMOUD SAROUJI/THE MEDIUM

Matt Mahoney said he would reach out to UTM as part of his plans for Ward 8. lowing up with the good work both my parents did over the years.”

Mahoney said that one of his focuses will be transit, specifically on connecting schedules better. “Bus schedules should be in line so that people

can connect to buses without having to wait half an hour or 45 minutes,” he said.

He also said that an LRT on Hurontario requires more efficient routes so that people working along that road

can connect with buses easier and without having to walk six to eight blocks.

Mahoney continued on page 2

Eating right made easier Planning good meals isn’t as hard as you might think. Our features editor has been doing it for years.

Medium Features, page 8

Windsor winds up The Blues came so close to ending the Lancers’ long winning streak, only to slip back at the end.

Medium Sports, page 11

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THE MEDIUM 11.10.2014

Review committee to submit its final report in December October 30, 9:40 a.m.

Theft Under $5,000 Campus Police investigated the theft of a wallet and contents from CCT. Estimated value of stolen property is $142.

October 30, 4:51 p.m.

Domestic Campus Police investigated a domestic occurrence. Peel Police was called to assist and the parties were advised to separate for the night.

October 30, 10:42 p.m.

Theft Under $5,000 Campus Police investigated the theft of a laptop and accessories from the library. Estimated value of stolen property is $1,265.

October 30, 11:10 p.m.

Medical Call Campus Police responded to two incidents involving two intoxicated students. EMS transported the students to hospital for medical treatment.

October 31, 12:35 p.m.

Theft Under $5,000 Campus Police investigated the theft of a bicycle outside OPH. Estimated value of stolen property is $250.

November 1, 1:42 a.m.

Noise Complaint Campus Police investigated a noise complaint from a townhouse unit. The party was shut down for the remainder of the night.

November 3, 11:00 a.m.

Theft Under $5,000 Campus Police investigated the theft of a laptop from the library. Estimated value of stolen property is $1,000.

November 3, 11:26 a.m.

Theft Under $5,000 Campus Police investigated the theft of a cell phone from the library. Estimated value of stolen property is $900.

November 3, 5:30 p.m.

Theft Under $5,000 Campus Police investigated the theft of a cell phone and ID from the gym.

Estimated value of stolen property is $697.

November 5, 07:00 p.m.

Theft Under $5,000 Campus Police investigated theft of a Microsoft tablet from the library. Estimated value of the stolen property is $1,600.

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.

CHRISTY TAM/THE MEDIUM

A session was held on Wednesday to report findings from an earlier call for feedback on the councils.

Review continued from Cover Shirley Hoy, the vice-chair of Governing Council and the chair of the CRCC, said that the first set of activities that the committee has been doing involves meeting with various campus estates, students, faculty, administrative staff, librarians, community members, and senior administrators from both UTSC and UTM. The committee also called for an online proposal to encourage the whole university community to provide feedback to inform their final report, which is to be handed to the Executive Committee on December 1.

The feedback on the Academic Affairs Committee involved concerns that it was seen as a rubber stamp instead of a forum for effective discussion before making decisions. Feedback included concerns that the time given to discuss material prior to the voting is not enough, especially when the material is substantive.

The composition of the AAC was also discussed. Some felt that the smaller bodies that previously existed afforded more specific expertise on the matters their members dealt with.

Others suggested that the presence of the deans in the committee has resulted in a reluctance to challenge or oppose motions, said Hoy. Accordingly, the committee took into consideration a few observations made by the voting assessors on governance bodies. Hoy said that these observations included a lack of awareness by members of the committee, mainly on the availability of the assessors for consultation on committee business outside the committee meeting; the appropriate alignment of assessors’ areas of expertise with the appropriate governance bodies; and the overall need for greater awareness on the part of assessors on the correct processes of the committee.

Regarding the Campus Affairs Committee, the main concern was that the number of representatives from various estates on the committee needed to be increased.

Greater engagement of the membership estates in governance was also an important part of the discussion during the session. The feedback on this point was that the administrative superiors needed to give more support to estates’ involvement in governance.

Another suggestion was to bring in external expertise to inform the review committee and discuss changes to specific academic programs.

“We don’t seem to discuss or argue issues in the governing consular boards as much as I see in other universities.”

—Deep Saini, principal With regard to communication and engagement, Hoy stated that it had been a “recurring theme” in all the consultations they have had. She mentioned that most of the feedback the CRCC received was that the orientation sessions are very useful. Some, however, thought the information was too much to take in in one session, and others found the sessions redundant for returning members.

Hoy said that in October, the review committee heard from student representatives on the issues of elections and the appointment of student members to Campus Council.

“UTM students are allowed to run for positions in the Campus Council and its committees, [but] students that run in elections can be removed from their seats if an elected student governor is opted into the council,”

said UTMSU president Hassan Havili in an email. “This can demotivate students from running in the UTM Campus Council elections because they are at risk of being replaced.

“The other issue lies in student representation on the Agenda Committee,” Havili continued. “The executive committee of Governing Council does not adequately represent students. [...]

In the 2013/14 academic year, we had only one graduate student reresent all undergraduate (full-time and parttime) as well as graduate students.”

Hoy said the responses from student representatives would be considered for the final report.

In response to the discussion, UTM’s principal Deep Saini said, “There is a general sense that we are not discussing things enough, that there is broadly an issue across the board in U of T governance that we don’t seem to discuss or argue issues in the governing consular boards as much as I see in other universities.”

However, he added, “We do have a feeling that we are very engaged with the community, but a comment from somebody indicates to me that we probably need to step up” Professor William Gough, the chair of UTSC’s Campus Council, vicedean of graduate education and program development at UTSC, and a member of Governing Council said, “UTSC is actually quite envious of UTM’s engagement. UTM has done a better job at communicating than UTSC.” However, he added that new panels will help provide that campus a more direct means of communication.

After going to the Executive Committee, the CRCC’s final report will be submitted to the Governing Council on December 11.

Campus Council was created in the summer of 2013 to replace Erindale College Council, which was an advisory body only.

Mahoney seeks to improve bus times Mahoney continued from Cover “I think this will also encourage more people to use transit to get to work or school,” he said.

Mahoney also called UTM a “shining star” of Ward 8. “I want to hear your ideas on what you think is necessary to make this the best university in Ontario,” he said.

When asked when the UTM community can expect him to reach out, Mahoney replied that he would be available “as soon as possible”.

Mahoney also said that he aims to improve the conditions of youth in non-profit housing in Ward 8.

“I plan to be very active in the community and make a difference. I am eager and ambitious to help make

Ward 8 the best community. I plan to go to as many events, speaking to as many residents and students as possible,” he said.

“I have big shoes to fill with the job my mum did, but I plan to be a visible elected official here in Ward 8 and across the city. It’s about engaging the community and I’m 100% committed to that.”

11.10.2014 THE MEDIUM NEWS

Reception honours top scholars

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»WOULD YOU GO TO THE PUB IF IT WAS OPEN ON FRIDAY NIGHTS?

GOBEGA RATHAKRISHNAN/THE MEDIUM

The U of T Scholars’ Reception recognized the recipients of entrance and in-course scholarships.

FARAH QAISER The academic achievements of over 100 students were celebrated at the U of T Scholars’ Reception in the Instructional Centre Atrium last Wednesday. The invitation-only reception was for students who had either received an entrance scholarship or an in-course scholarship award for this academic year.

The reception was attended by 135 students and 46 guests.

Professors Deep Saini, principal of UTM, and Meric Gertler, president of U of T, were among the speakers who addressed the scholarship recipients.

“This event is the university’s opportunity to congratulate you on your outstanding work in high school

for those of you who are here in first year, and for those of you who have continued success at UTM,” said Saini.

Saini also noted that UTM was very close to achieving its $60 million fundraising goal, which is intended to support talent, creative ideas, and the learning environment on campus for all students.

Amy Mullin, VP academic and dean, highlighted the various opportunities available to students including the research opportunity program, international exchange program, available graduate programs, and the introduction of new courses that would offer experiential learning to students next year, which would be designated “EXP”.

For the remainder of the ceremony, students had the opportunity to mingle with faculty.

This year, 628 incoming students were awarded entrance scholarships, and 56 received in-course scholarships, awarded to those who earn a CGPA of 3.85 or above.

“You should reach beyond the classroom—network with your colleagues, TAs, and professors. Take part in research projects, if that is what interests you, in extracurricular activities, in clubs, societies, sports, and recreational activities and above all, ask questions,” said Saini. “Our most successful students are those who, from time to time, lift their noses and heads out from their books and look sideways and get involved.”

Marielle Detorres 2nd year, psychology

Heba Al Sabbagh 5th year, bio & psych

Yeah, I would go to the pub since I’m already on campus.

No, because I think the pub is ugly and needs a renovation.

Yuri Valere 3rd year, biology

Farjad Abbas 2nd year, comp sci

It’s not open on Friday night?

Sure, I would. It’s the best relief after midterms.

Week’s events include protest against rape

“We want to give people the knowledge of growing your own food because our food is controlled

by Monsanto. There are a lot of things

like GMOs and people don’t know whether or not we can trust them,” said UTMSU’s VP equity, Melissa Theodore. “Educating people about growing their own food will allow people to know what they are putting in their body and perhaps have access to more food as well.”

The event was originally scheduled to be a Food Centre Town Hall, but was changed after a lack of response from Food Bank members, according to a Facebook post

by Food Bank Coordinator Noura Afify.

The indoor gardening event was followed by an annual open mic night held in the Blind Duck the same evening, which provided a forum for student artists to express their views on the theme of unlearning social constructs.

“Putting a Face to Mental Illnesses” was a workshop held on the last day of DisOrientation Week that was intended to address the stigma surrounding mental illness. The workshop addressed the way language norms disadvantage the mentally ill and allowed students to share their struggles with mental illness and discuss ways to address them.

In the first part of the event, UTMSU’s accessibility coordinator, Tasneem Abdelhaleem, criticized the ideas that society associates with mental illness. “You are not weak if you are suffering from a mental illness. In fact you are strong that you are going through it,” said Abdelhaleem.

DisOrientation Week is an annual event. Last year, the event was held in both semesters.

Suspect back in custody after mistakenly being released

One dead after TTC bus collides with car and hits building

Man saved after being trapped in Markham well for five hours

Saudi council advises softer restrictions on female drivers

A married Christian couple was beaten and burned to death at a brick kiln during a mob attack last Tuesday in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The attack came after the couple was accused of blasphemy following the discovery of burnt pages of the Qur’an near their home. The wife was reportedly pregnant at the time of the attack.

An inmate at a correctional facility in Nova Scotia has been returned to custody after mistakenly being released while awaiting trial. 22-year-old Eliahs Knudsen Kent is facing multiple charges including attempted murder and robbery. Kent was returned to the facility a day after his release, following a short chase. The facility is reportedly investigating the error.

A collision between a TTC bus and a car early Sunday has left one person dead and nine injured. The TTC bus crashed into a CIBC building after the collision with the car. One of the persons within the car was pronounced dead at the scene and two others are in critical condition.

A man was rescued on Sunday after spending five hours in a well in Markham. The man had been walking on Saturday night in a debris-covered area when he fell into the well.

Fire officials were alerted after the man’s 6-year-old son contacted police about his father’s situation. The man was not harmed.

An advisory council appointed by the monarchy in Saudi Arabia has recommended the country’s ban on female drivers be softened to allow some women to drive. Among its recommendations, the Shura Council proposed that women over 30 be permitted to drive during certain hours in the week with permission of a male guardian.

Source: BBC News

Source: The National Post

Source: The Toronto Star

Source: The Toronto Star

Source: The Toronto Star

The event was inspired by the activism of Columbia University student and rape victim Emma Sulkowicz, whose case was dismissed when she reported it to the university. A visual arts major, Sulkowicz decided to protest by preparing a performance piece called “Carry that Weight”, in which she carried her mattress everywhere she goes on campus to symbolize the violation of her privacy.

The march started from outside the Davis Building and ended in the Student Centre. Students marched while chanting slogans and carrying signs demanding an end to rape culture and promoting the importance of consent before sex. Marchers also carried a mattress to symbolize their

solidarity with rape victims who “carry” the burden of societal blame and injustice.

“It is very important that we stand with the victims,” said Sierra Calleghan, a member of the Women’s Coalition at UTM. “Coming forward is very difficult. […] In the court of law it’s often referred to as the ‘second rape’ because of the testimony and the brutal humiliation.

The system is designed to shut up the people who have gone through this horrifying experience.”

The Women’s Coalition presented a list of demands for the improvement of women’s safety at UTM, which would be forwarded to the dean.

Tuesday night also marked the launch of the “Roots in My Skin” campaign, involving a workshop to

educate students about the origin of racism and the history of oppression associated with racism.

The following day, the UTM Food Centre hosted an indoor gardening event to promote local food growth and challenge food supply monopolies.

Christian couple killed in brutal mob attack in Pakistan

Week continued from Cover

“The [legal] system is designed to shut up the people who have gone through this horrifying experience [of rape].”

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11.10.2014

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How I didn’t move out (again) There’s no shame in going to school from home. It often makes more sense One of the articles on the front page of features this week talks about moving out. A Globe and Mail writer who tried it said it wasn’t worth it, without too much detail besides the debt factor and the fact that for her, living away from home during university wasn’t “real life” yet. The writer of our article collected a number of student quotes in response that more or less say it’s very worth it. As someone who almost moved out this year—in fact, I was so set on it that I made sure to let everyone know I’d be moving out— but didn’t in the end, I thought I’d chime in, for what it’s worth.

To clarify, no, I’ve never fully moved out, so I can’t speak from experience. I’ve lived for a total of 10 weeks in an apartment with four other U of T students on study abroad trips I was lucky enough to go on, and I adapted well for someone who staunchly hated travel all his life and always fought to stay home, but surprising as it was, it wasn’t long enough for me to really settle in. And so, having been hooked on the thrill of the adventure of independence, once I saw that I had somewhat of a guaranteed income this year, I thought I’d try moving out. It especially seemed like a fitting idea in the spring, when it looked like I was going to be the only child still at home in the fall. Besides, I was living in Georgetown without

a car, just a 30- to 40-minute drive from UTM that can’t easily be done by public transit if a family car isn’t available. You’d probably have expected me to move out years ago and just rely on the bigger OSAP loan I would have been allotted. That might also have allowed to me to have more of a social life with my UTM friends.

U of T’s listings were the ones I went to first, and they had a couple of plausible places after applying my filters, but I also mixed Kijiji in there in the end. Among the townhouses I tried was, of course, Homestead. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s the neighbourhood just at the corner of Dundas and Mississauga, a cheap go-to for students. (Not that it’s bad; neighbours often give students the short end of the stick—see “Take a closer look at Homestead”, Sept. 12, 2012).

It smelled, and the person who was selling her room let me know right off the bat that I would have to be okay with weed being smoked in there.

Not a good sign. When we got to the room, someone else walked in and said he was also interested in renting it. “We meet again!” I declared, an outdated, somewhat obscure allusion to an episode of Seinfeld. Their reaction told me that they might not be my kind of people. I headed on out, with a good friend who’d visited with me laughing beside me.

Another good one was the family who invited me in for a quiet, sincere talk on their living room couch.

I realized that this was one of those “too good to be true” deals. The owners, a middle-aged couple, told me that their son had just moved to Toronto for grad. “To be honest, this is not about the money,” they said. “It’s about filling a gap in our family. If you want to live here, you have to be

At one townhouse I was told, “If you want to live here, you have to be our son.” When they said I was the best candidate, it was no less unsettling. our son.” When they said I was the best candidate, it was no less unsettling. But joking aside, I realized that this opportunity shouldn’t even have been on my radar. What’s the point of moving out if it’s just trading families—especially if it’s one I know and love for a new one?

As I got a little disheartened by the selection, I also thought (and, I have to admit, my friends thought for me) about how $450 to $600 a month was a little much to pay in return for shav-

ing my commute down. Why not just get a used car? Even after the initial cost and the recurring insurance and gas payments, it’d still be cheaper than a year of renting—particularly since, once I thought about it, I had mostly eaten out those 10 weeks that I lived in an apartment, and that’s sustainable as a sprint but not as a marathon. Besides, a car offers at least as much freedom. And it’s an asset you can hold on to for a while, unlike rent. So that’s what I did. I now have a “just okay” car, but a good home.

It may seem strange to read a comment on moving out from someone who hasn’t done it yet. But that’s my (admittedly meandering) point. A very large proportion of us take it for granted that we should move out for university. I just wanted to quietly say that I got through these years pretty happily without.

YOURS, LUKE SAWCZAK

CORRECTION NOTICE All photos that were credited to Caleb Sui, and later corrected to Caleb Siv, should in fact have been credited to Caleb Siu. The Medium sincerely apologizes for repeatedly misspelling this name!

11.10.2014

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Personal artwork from strangers Visual Studies Student Society caps off pen pal project with public gallery display KAITLYN FERNANDES The Department of Visual Studies Student Society hosted the final stage of the Pen Pal Project, an opportunity to showcase art, meet one’s pen pal, and get to know other visual studies students, last Wednesday at UTM’s Blackwood Gallery.

The project, which was launched in early October, involved matching about 80 UTM students, teachers, and alumni to pen pals with whom they exchanged art rather than letters. The artwork they exchanged was displayed at the Blackwood Gallery for all to enjoy at this concluding event.

Not all the initial participants attended, but the smaller turnout actually created a more intimate setting to meet other people with a shared interest in visual art. Those who didn’t get a chance to meet their pen pal were able to leave a message for DVSSS to pass on to them. Even though the pen pals were strangers to one another, the messages spoke to the new friendships that had been made.

The types of art ranged from an ink and watercolour jellyfish

ZARA RIZWAN/ THE MEDIUM

Students, faculty, and staff had the chance to see the artwork given to them by their pen pals. to Arabic letters painted on a blue background. One piece that stood out was a striking close-up of a reptilian eye painted by Michaela Lucio, a second-year art and art history major. “I really like textures in things, and [putting] nature into my

art,” she commented. Lucio decided to participate in the project because it was an easy way to stay involved and would build her artist CV. As a participant in the project, I’ll shamelessly admit that I checked my mailbox every day for

about a week before getting my pen pal’s art. Upon its arrival, I opened it immediately and was awed by the beautiful, intricate pattern he had painted on his canvasboard using watercolours, a very thin paintbrush, and what must have been a

lot of patience. My pen pal had aply titled the piece “Blue Flames”.

My reaction was mirrored by that of the DVSSS executives at the event. They concluded that it must be the work of Robert Fones. Although I already knew Fones was my pen pal because I had sent him my own canvasboard, I was surprised that someone else could tell just by looking at the art. As it turns out, Fones is a Toronto-based artist and visual and performance arts professor at Sheridan. After some investigative Googling, I found his website and learned more about him and his various projects and a little bit more about who he was.

(I learned that he also works in a variety of visual media, including photography, sculpting, and photo installation.) “Thanks for the lovely introduction to your art,” was the message I left him at the event, since he didn’t attend.

Filling Blackwood Gallery with beautiful things made for complete strangers, and friendly people to talk about them, was a great idea by DVSSS. Not only did I get to meet new people, but I also have a lovely piece of art to hang on my wall.

AGM displays the devastation of Gaza Rehab Nazzal’s latest exhibit, “Visible”, brings new images of war to Mississauga’s art gallery MARYAM KHATTAB When it comes to international conflict, we tend to hear only about the climaxes—never the aftermath.

Rarely are we exposed to the sheer extent of destruction. Rarely do we see or understand the impact that war has on real human lives. “Visible”, a new multimedia exhibit at the Art Gallery of Mississauga, deals with the devastation resulting from the violence in Gaza and the experience of resisting military powers.

The artist, Palestinian-born Rehab Nazzal, is known for using multimedia to create immersive exhibits reflecting on the violence of war and colonialism as well as human rights violations, and “Visible” is no exception. Upon entering the gallery, one is immediately captivated by a large display of 1,500 photographs, each depicting the wreckage of homes, high-rises, and even places of worship. Amid the ruins in many of the pictures, we see the residents of Gaza—a woman crying on the shoulder of a reporter, a man calmly fingering prayer beads as he

NICOLE RAQUINIO/THE MEDIUM

“Visible” shows the atrocities of war using photos, video footage, and news broadcasts. sits on a couch on top of a pile of rubble, a young girl carrying her younger sibling. We see men and women, children and the elderly, all the faces of the conflict. These 1,500 images, derived from emails, activists’ postings, and online media,

are almost colourless. Interspersed between these images are coloured squares, inserted to provide visual relief from the images of destruction and to suggest optimism and hope.

On the adjacent wall runs blurry,

uninterpretable footage, recorded during a weekly protest in the Palestinian village of Bil’in in 2010. The viewer can put on headphones to hear accompanying audio, though the audio and footage have been manipulated to emulate the expe-

rience of a protestor afflicted with tear gas.

Around the corner in a separate, darkened room, viewers can hear loud exchanges in Arabic, which have been translated and projected onto the wall. What is heard is a military exercise being carried out

by Israeli prison guards on Palestinian prisoners in 2007. This military operation was responsible for the death of one prisoner and the injury of many others.

In addition to the three pieces of the installation, the AGM has included a tablet containing a wide range of news broadcasts covering the conflict in Gaza. By contrasting several news sources, the display prompts the viewer to question how our media sources inform our views on the conflict.

Overall, “Visible” makes for a powerful, emotional experience.

Nazzal resourcefully situates the visitor as both spectator and participant, forcing us to reflect deeply upon the impact of war on the human psyche.

“Visible” runs at the Art Gallery of Mississauga until January 1.

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THE MEDIUM 11.10.2014

Here at F*ck the System DisOrientation Week’s open mic night tackles social issues

KAITLYN FERNANDES

Autocondo Autocondo After listening to Autocondo’s selftitled album, I’m not quite sure if they’re in the business of musicmaking or storytelling, but rest assured that they do both like seasoned professionals.

The debut album and brainchild of Torontonians Neil Chapman, Russell Walker, and Tony DugganSmith falls into the genre they call “post-apocalyptic pop”, which makes sense if you look at the album’s case, which is covered in a mural of a post-apocalyptic cartoon world homes to warped transmission towers, deserted gas pumps, and you guessed it, several “autocondos”.

Wondering what exactly an autocondo is? From reading over the lengthy and detailed explanation on the band’s website, the main idea is the not-so-distant future holds a world where the only habitable locations are towers made of cars following “the demise of the Big Three automakers” and collapse of the

“condo boom”. It is in this universe that the Autocondo band exists, despite the fact that not a single track on their album makes reference to this imaginative backstory.

In fact, the Autocondo bandmates share a lot of the problems that you and I have. For example, in “Paralysed” they sing “Paralysed; what if I make a mistake? / Paralysed by the choices I make.” “Paralysed” happens to be the best song on the album by far—it’s the foottapping first track that forecasts the high production quality throughout the entire album (but honourable mentions also go out to “Send Her Back” for killer melodies). The band’s style, which they say is heavily influenced by the likes of Neil Diamond and the Kinks, makes for easy light listening as a blend of country, folk, and rock.

Autocondo sounds like the soundtrack for a road trip with no destination. Lengthy guitar solos and even entirely instrumental songs will give plenty of opportunities to practise the air guitar.

KC CHAVEZ/PHOTO

The night consisted of topics like police brutality and sexism told through various art forms.

KATE CATTELL-DANIELS A&E ASSOCIATE EDITOR I have spent four years at UTM and I have never been to an open mic night at the Blind Duck. To be honest, I’ve hardly been to the Blind Duck at all.

When I heard DisOrientation Week was hosting a pub night, I couldn’t pass it up.

Although the open mic was meant to start at 7 p.m., things didn’t actually get rolling for another 20 minutes, which gave me time to scope out a seat and figure out the etiquette.

There was quite a crowd, enough to fill the pub with a chatty, bubbling atmosphere. A small part of me figured that most UTM students were up to their ears in textbooks and not much else, but this open mic was evidence that a lot of art goes on in students’ spare time. A few people set up the stage, wearing black T-shirts that

read “F*ck the System”—the U replaced by a clenched fist.

At the opening of the show, I learned that the “F*ck the System” theme was aimed at breaking down social norms and stereotypes surrounding everything from racism

What I liked about the pieces the performers chose was that each seemed to speak on a personal level. to colonialism to sexism, passing by ageism and ableism. Each piece reflected social equality and acceptance.

All of the performances focused on sensitive topics that fit into the night’s theme. Police brutality, domestic vio-

lence, war, body image, bullying, racism, women’s stereotypes, and consumerism were all displayed through various art forms. The performances varied from surprising breakdancing moves to pointed, poetic spoken word pieces that addressed the societal issues around feminism and the perception of the female body. Woven in between those performances were several pop song covers. What I liked best about the pieces the performers chose was that each seemed to speak on a personal level.

My only criticism of the event is that the transitions between performances did slow the proceedings down, stretching the evening longer than it needed to be.

But in the end, my favourite kind of art, no matter the form it takes, is what happens when someone has a story they cannot help but share with others.

Nolan’s stellar new film New material for the director handles hard themes well JAIME POKHOY Director Christopher Nolan continues to explore poorly understood planes of existence, this time through a space epic. Interstellar presents the worst fear of environmentalists: a starving Earth with hopeless inhabitants. The task of trudging through the unknown depths of space in order to save humanity is left to a top-secret NASA organization.

Nolan has an all-star cast on hand, including Matthew McConaughey, Matt Damon, Casey Affleck, Jessica Chastain, and Topher Grace, as well as his regulars Michael Caine and Anne Hathaway. Audiences get to witness strong performances from an A-list cast who show emotional depth and express some of our biggest hopes and fears.

McConaughey stars as Coop, an overqualified farmer chosen to achieve the human race’s last hope of finding a new home among the stars. In order to do this, Coop reluctantly leaves behind his two children and shoots off into space with a small team of astronauts and a highly advanced but totally humorous slab-shaped robot (who reminded me a lot of R2-D2). Together they navigate galaxies and explore planets, black holes, and wormholes in search of a habitable world. However, other dangers confront them than unknown space. In an allusion to the idea that space travel could be so fast that time would pass much more slowly relative to its pace on earth, the team needs to race for a solution before the planet and everyone they left behind on it perishes.

Interstellar is overflowing with

beautiful panoramas of space and undiscovered planets—wondrous settings consisting of waves the size of mountains and glacial ice clouds that hang weightlessly in the skies. The sharp special effects and the accompanying soundtrack by the excellent Hans Zimmer suit the exciting tension of the entire film.

Nolan ambitiously addresses topics such as time and space, theories of relativity and gravity, the responsibility of parents to their children, and our own desperation to survive. He applies his signature touch to each one and offers a creative yet believable take on them.

Interstellar keeps us on our toes.

Throughout the film, we experience a beautifully scenic rollercoaster from faith and triumph to despair and pain. Nolan has created an epic that will stand next to his other greats. MMMM½

11.10.2014 THE MEDIUM ARTS» 7

The Tempest sails on rocky seas Hart House’s second production has lots to offer audiences but fell flat in some areas MARIA CRUZ A&E EDITOR Hart House Theatre’s second theatre production, The Tempest, drew a crowd that filled a little less than half the theatre for its third night, and with good reason.

That was reason was that even after two days of shows, some of the actors still stumbled over their lines and couldn’t quite nail the English accent (or didn’t bother to use one at all, even though it made them stand out in a bad way). Suffice it to say that there were three people in front of me who didn’t even return after the intermission.

We’ll start with the good— which, to be fair, there was quite a lot of. Long-time Hart House Jeremy Hutton did an amazing job of bringing his vision to life on the stage. The set was beautifully done and the music and lighting properly portrayed the magical elements of the play—strobe lights flashed while the spirits danced, for example, and the frequent pauses in the scenes while another character narrated were nicely plotted out and executed.

Easily one of the best things about this production was Ariel (Amaka Umeh). Umeh absolutely became her character and completely won me over with her beautiful singing, dancing, and convincing acting. She was as mystical

SCOTT GORMAN/PHOTO

Two of the best actors in this production: Peter Higginson as Prospero and Amaka Umeh as Ariel. as she was elegant and a breath of fresh air among the more stale scenes of the play.

The rest of the spirits were just as incredible to watch—all were painted completely white and spent much of the play remaining absolutely still, which was not only impressive but also surprisingly mesmerizing. Their grace and beautiful wardrobe reminded me

of the Roman statues you find in history museums. To watch them come to life was a spectacle.

Prospero (Peter Higginson) was also among some of the better actors. Being a veteran to the stage and having played Prospero before, he added life to some of the scenes that would have definitely fallen short without him. To watch such a seasoned actor return to the

Young love, some realism Rowell’s novel isn’t too stereotypical a teen love story KEENA AL-WAHAIDI Whenever I begin explaining the plot behind the young adult novel Eleanor & Park to a friend, I find myself describing such a vague storyline that the book itself seems unworthy of the endless praise it has received since its publication.

And yet it has received said praise, including Amazon’s Teen Book of the Year and the Goodreads Choice Award.

But what is Eleanor & Park about? It’s about Eleanor and Park.

About the love they hold for each other and how the universe would do anything to stop them from being together. It’s about two teenagers who fall in love, and how they prove that first loves are often misleading and hopeless. It’s simple and common, but the relationship that blossoms throughout the story is far from that.

From the start of Rainbow Rowell’s book, it looks as though the two can’t ever be each other’s best match. Though they both struggle to understand their friends, family, and future, the one thing they have in common is their ability to realize the flaws in their bond.

Enter Eleanor. Although she was the character I found myself pity-

ing the most, it wasn’t easy to understand her struggle. It’s her first year back since her emotionally abusive stepfather kicked her out of her home. She fights a continuous battle with her weight and attempts to dodge insults over her thrift store clothing. She is a victim of endless bullying from vicious girls. All in all, Eleanor believes there’s nothing about her to love, when in Park’s eyes, there’s nothing he couldn’t adore.

The one aspect of the story that isn’t as cliché as the blurb makes it sound is that it wasn’t love at first sight. It takes weeks.

Park wasn’t as much a dominating character as Eleanor seemed to be, and maybe this was because Rowell wrote him to appear “normal” in comparison to Eleanor.

However, there is so much more about him that readers must dig deeper into in order to fully comprehend his persona. Park is halfKorean and his family is a dream

to Eleanor—with parents who look out for him, there seems to be nothing holding him back. He’s quiet because the thoughts that cloud his head probably can’t be said aloud.

He has friends, but still feels different around them. He doesn’t understand his friends, and, quite frankly, they don’t understand him.

The one aspect of the story that isn’t as cliché as the blurb makes it sound is that it wasn’t love at first sight. It takes weeks for Eleanor and Park to begin sitting next to each other on the bus, exchanging music and comic books, and finally unleashing their raw, emotional feelings about everything they feel for one another and about the world.

Nothing is sugar-coated about Rowell’s characters, and everything is laid out how it should be.

Throughout your journey of completing this story, you might laugh, you might cry, and you might be angry. I’ve done all three. You’ll find yourself torn between the softness of Park’s empathy for Eleanor, and the challenges they fight with not only themselves, but with anyone who disapproves of them.

There isn’t a happy ending to their story, but the chance of them surviving as one is extremely high.

stage as a character he’d already played once made his performance all the more impressive.

The comic relief offered by Stephano (Paolo Santalucia) and Trinculo (Cameron Laurie) was wonderful and both did a great job of keeping the audience entertained with their drunken antics without trying too hard to sell the audience on their characters.

Caliban (William Foley) also put together a good character.

He was very animated—at times, though, a little too animated, which was slightly off-putting to watch.

Miranda (Katherine Fogler) and Ferdinand (Andrei Preda) were where The Tempest fell short.

Fogler’s delivery was awkward and unconvincing; she stumbled over her lines at times, and alongside the more experienced actors like Higginson, missteps like that really stood out. Worse, her English accent was barely detectable.

Preda’s performance was just as unsatisfying, remaining monotonous through just about every one of his lines. The scenes where Ferdinand was supposed to show some sort of emotion sounded like nothing but sarcasm on his part, and the sad thing is I’m pretty sure it was unintentional.

Despite all the good of the experienced actors, wonderful set design, music, and lighting, within the first few scenes of the play I could see people growing restless and slumping down in their seats.

To be honest, I found myself doing the same. I’m not sure if I would recommend this play to a friend, because although part of me wants to overpay for a ticket just to see the good parts again, the bad parts made the other part of me want to leave before intermission.

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Eating good food? It’s in the bag Let’s reminisce about the days of “trading” our granola bars and juice boxes MADELEINE BROWN FEATURES EDITOR My most prized accessory is my lunch bag. It’s orange and green with brown stripes. It’s insulated. And it’s from Mario Batali’s own line of lunch “totes”. I was raised on packed lunches—I literally ate salmon sandwiches every day of my high school career, much to the disdain of my friends— and homemade dinners.

Therefore, I was determined to stay true to my roots upon coming to university. For first and second year, despite living in a dorm room and mostly off cafeteria grub, I committed myself to packing my lunches. I became a master of artfully opening tins of salmon in my shared bathroom so as to never let the smell seep into my roommate’s bedroom.

Matzo and Rivita replaced my treasured loafs of rye—the unleavened bread and crackers lasted weeks on my desk without ever becoming stale or moldy. I purchased exact numbers of carrot sticks and cucumber slices from Colman Commons with my dinner every night to slip into my lunch bag for the next day. However,

MAHMOUD SAROUJI/THE MEDIUM

Bento, tin, or biodegradable, the lunchbox options available are practical and beautiful. it wasn’t until I moved off-residence (thus acquiring my very own kitchen) and 10- to 12-hour days on campus became a norm that I discovered meal planning.

It isn’t just for Today’s Parent–

reading mothers, although that’s where I learned most of the tricks of the trade. In fact, I’d argue that university students could benefit from planning and packing their lunches and, depending on the day, break-

fasts and dinners too.

TICK TOCK Above all, meal planning saves time.

Of course, ordering pizza seems so easy after a day of classes and what

felt like the entire day stuck in rush hour traffic on the bus ride home.

When you’re at your most tired, why would you proceed to whip up a cheese soufflé and an arugula salad with balsamic vinaigrette? I wouldn’t.

But with meal planning the way I do it, you, ahem, plan and make your meals in big batches once, maybe twice, a week. I allot perhaps an hour or two every Sunday afternoon to cooking my lunches and dinners for the week. And while you may think that sounds like a lot of time that you’re not willing to give up, it pays off during the week. It means that all it takes for me to enjoy a batch of homemade mushroom chasseur (that’s fancy talk for “stew”) with some bread on the side is two minutes in the microwave. It might not even take that long. I’ve developed a taste for cold soups—albeit some work better than others—and stews during times when microwaves aren’t available. In that case, my only prep before eating is opening up my tupperware container.

Meal continued on page 10

When it’s really time to fly the coop Moving out gives students independence, debt, and a good old reality check JELIN PHILIP As much as you may love your family, everyone dreams of having their own place to live like Monica and Rachel’s apartment on Friends.

For many students entering college and university, they anticipate living on campus, having a roommate, and being independent before they even consider the finances needed to support these ideals. Does living away from home push students into learning more crucial skills? Is the financial struggle worth it?

Melissa Jarman does not think so.

She wrote of her time living away in an article in The Globe and Mail called “Living away from home is hardly worth the debt”.

“I enjoyed the experience, made lots of friends, and was reasonably independent. Was it real life? Not for me,” wrote Jarman. “That happened when I really moved out on my own, worked full-time, paid rent, insurance, and all the other costs of daily life.” Looking at Jarman’s experience, perhaps living away from home isn’t necessary during your undergrad.

Leyla Nouch, a fourth-year ac-

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Taking out the trash and roommate conflicts are among the treacheries of moving out. counting specialist with a major in economics, disagrees and thinks living away from home is great—the younger, the better. “I think whenever you start college or university is a great time to move away from

home. The experience forces you to start relying on yourself for the things you take for granted,” she said. “The garbage doesn’t magically empty itself anymore.” Nouch says her survival skills have improved

since living away from home.

Maahum Ijaz, a third-year accounting specialist with a major in economics, is an international student who lived on campus during her first year and then contin-

ued living by herself off-campus as a commuter. She too believes that living on your own is a matter of leaving your comfort zone for the better. “This is the best time to discover yourself, without the influence of your parents or your usual surroundings,” she said. “You develop more crucial skills living on your own than at home because you learn through trial and error, and become more self-sufficient.”

Mark Overton, UTM’s dean of student affairs, notes that one of the major difficulties is establishing house rules. “They need to figure out how housemates work together or separately on the time and effort required for food shopping, preparation, and clean-up,” he said. “They also have to work at resolving friction around different expectations such as cleanliness and noise; housemates paying their fair share of common expenses on time; getting along with housemates and neighbours, particularly around parties; and all the while, of course, learning the basic skills of doing laundry and dishes.”

Moving continued on page 10

11.10.2014 THE MEDIUM FEATURES» 9

Turning on the happiness switch Not getting the grades you want? Forget about it and don’t let disappointment consume you ARANIE VIJAYARATNAM With the second round of assignments and midterms fast approaching, many UTM students experience anxiety, nervousness, and a slew of other emotions while they study. Once we get our marks back, we may not be happy with what we see. But how is it that our brain turn the feeling of “FML” into “Oh well, there’s always next time!” for some tests, but not for others? Researchers from UC San Diego may have a clue.

The brain is composed of billions of neurons—areas that receive and deliver signals. Special hormones called “neurotransmitters” travel between neurons and act as messengers. Researchers at UC San Diego found that when our brains go “oh well”, an uncommon signalling appears. This signalling involves two neurotransmitters targeting the lateral habenula (LHb) during negative events.

THE LATERAL HABENULA AND NEUROTRANSMITTERS The LHb has been associated with depression. An overly excited LHb means an overly depressed person.

While current research focuses solely on the LHb, the San Diego researchers saw two opposing neurotransmitters create a dimming effect on the LHb, transforming depression into disappointment.

The neurotransmitter glutamate

ONWARDSTATE.COM/PHOTO

San Diego researchers explain that when you feel disappointment, your LHb is out of control. acts as the “on” switch to get LHb excited. The San Diego researchers paired it with its functional opponent, GABA, a neurotransmitter that would turn off LHb. They found that decreased GABA going to the LHb meant more depression, and on the contrary increased GABA acted like an antidepressant.

The researchers concluded that releasing both neurotransmitters and regulating them changes how we perceive negative events. Their results might lead to an improve-

ment in antidepressant drugs and treatment targeting the LHb for those suffering with depression.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? With more research invested into the LHb, pharmaceutical companies can start designing drugs that have higher amounts of GABA in them.

At the moment, most antidepressants target the neurotransmitter serotonin. While serotonin helps adjust mood, it unfortunately also affects other tasks like sleep, memo-

UTM taking the LEED UTM’s on the ball with its four certified green buildings JESSIE LI Deerfield Hall and the Innovation Complex, which were opened this semester, are going to be certified LEED silver as “green buildings”, following the Instructional Centre, Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre, and the Davis Building’s Renovation Phase I. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a green building rating system run

by Canada Green Building Council, identifying buildings that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. There are four levels of certification: certified, silver, gold, and platinum. All of the green buildings at UTM are either silver or gold.

If you’ve taken ENV100 with Professor Barbara Murck sometime since 2011, you would have probably learned that the Instructional Centre features a geothermal system that uses pipes buried in the earth to regulate heating and cooling and save energy and water. IB also features a green rooftop—which helps reduce the “urban heat island” effect—and a 21-kW solar panel array.

Meanwhile, the library was the first LEED certified building on any

of U of T’s three campuses. “It was a big accomplishment when we got that certification,” said Chelsea Dalton, UTM’s sustainability coordinator.

The Health Science Complex is going to be certified LEED silver minimum. Rainwater from the building is directed to a large underground cistern. The collected water is used for flushing toilets and thereby reducing the need to use the city water.

Rainwater from the building is directed to a large underground cistern. The collected water is used for flushing toilets.

Now, Deerfield Hall and Innovation Complex also comply with the LEED system.

Deerfield Hall being built on the site of half of the old North Building meant that no green space was lost to construction. The droughttolerant landscaping around it also reduces the need for irrigation.

Above all, it improves the well-being of people who work in the build-

ing with a larger view of natural area and greater exposure to natural light. “The quality of our built environment matched by the unparalleled natural beauty of campus will inspire and play a huge role in our students’ success,” said UTM’s principal Deep Saini at the building’s opening ceremony.

The Innovation Complex’s environmental features include minimal use of land, energy-efficient light bulbs, and vertical fins on the exterior, which provide passive shading that reduces cooling needs.

Both new buildings have low-flow plumbing fixtures, low-emitting building materials, and underground parking.

Not only are green buildings economical and environmentally friendly, studies show that people who work in these kinds of buildings—which tend to have more natural light—tend to be happier, more productive, and less stressed. Green buildings prevent campus development from interfering with environment preservation.

Although there is no official UTM policy requiring campus development to be certified by LEED, it’s a growing trend that many campuses are attempting to follow, with 500 registered green buildings in Canada to date.

ry, and appetite. GABA contributes to other tasks too, so researchers are looking into creating a drug to manipulate the pre-existing GABAglutamate signalling.

In the meantime, researchers and doctors have determined tips to lessen the feelings of depression and disappointment Develop a positive attitude: Doctors observed that patients who recognized their own distressing thoughts and actively sought to change them felt happier and had a

more positive outlook about their goals.

Improve your health: Other studies show that increased negative thoughts are associated with greater risk of illnesses, such as heart disease and diabetes.

Stop blaming yourself: “If only I studied harder on that test” or “I should have done my assignment differently” can have negative consequences for your mental health. A person should recognize and learn to accept that there are certain things they cannot change, such as the past. Then they should focus and redirect positive thoughts into elements of their life that they can change and control, such as the future.

Manage your diet: Doctor Susan Marusak from UCLA explains that having a diet low in fat and rich in fish (mainly omega-3s) and folic acid improves a person’s mood. She says that while caffeine helps us be alert, reducing caffeine intake lowers the risk of depression.

Get enough rest: That allnighter may sound like a good idea now, but repeated all-nighters have severe consequences on physical and mental health. Poor sleeping habits affect the brain in many ways, affecting memory, alertness, stress in relationships, and chance of physical injury. Doctors recommend eight hours of sleep on average, so make sure to clock in some ZZZs.

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THE MEDIUM 11.10.2014

Mmm... salmon sandwiches Who hasn’t dreamed of being a chef?

and chef—completely related, right?”

We’ve all had our Food Network fanta-

he says.

sies—you’re in your kitchen preparing

Nevertheless,

he

continues

to

a box of KD, and you suddenly find

cook and develop his own recipes,

yourself narrating your every action

often with inspiration from his fam-

and smiling profusely into an imagi-

ily, such as the recipe for pumpkin

nary TV camera. On the other hand,

spice muffins below. “It’s my attempt

maybe that’s just me. My fantasies

at recreating the Starbucks pumpkin

went as far as my nearly taking a spot

loaf without paying $2.45 a slice,” he

in George Brown’s chef school. How-

says. “It’s a modified version of my

ever, in the end, I decided to come to

mom’s banana bread recipe, with the

UTM and pursue the equally financial-

spice profile of my mom’s pumpkin

ly unstable career of acting.

pie recipe.”

I’m not alone though. Professor

As university students we’re not

Will Huggon of the psychology de-

only

partment (and a UTM alumnus) had

forced to “wear many hats” at once.

similar culinary ambitions. “Before I

Why can’t that include a chef’s hat

went into forensic and social psychol-

too? (Even if it’s just in the privacy of

ogy, I was actually going to be a baker

your kitchen.)

encouraged,

but

also

often

Pumpkin Spice Muffins MAKES 2 LOAVES OR 18 MUFFINS

Meal continued from page 8

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tbsp (15 ml) brown sugar

• ½ cup (125 ml) butter, softened; or

METHOD

vegetable oil • 1 cup (250 ml) brown sugar

1.Cream together the brown sugar, molasses, and butter (or oil).

• 1 tbsp (15 ml) molasses

2.Beat in the eggs and vanilla.

• 2 eggs

3.Mix in the pumpkin purée and but-

• 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla

termilk.

• 1½–2 cups (375–500 ml) pumpkin

4.In separate bowl, mix together flour,

purée (about half a big can or a full

baking soda, salt, nutmeg, ginger,

small can) • ½ cup (125 ml) buttermilk or Carnation evaporated milk • 2½ cups (625 ml) flour • 1½ tsp (7.5 ml) baking soda • 1 tsp (5 ml) salt • ¼ tsp (1 ml) nutmeg • ½ tsp (2 ml) ginger • 1¼ tsp (6 ml) cinnamon • 1 cup (250 ml) pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

PIXABAY.COM/PHOTO

Why not develop your own collection of original and (perhaps literally) stolen recipes?

and cinnamon.

5.Combine the wet and dry ingredients.

6.Pour the batter into two greased bread pans or 18 greased or lined regular-size muffin tins.

7.Sprinkle the pepitas and brown sugar overtop.

8.Bake loaf in 350 F (180 C) oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or 15–20 minutes for muffins.

You’d certainly spend more than two minutes waiting in line at the Davis Tim Hortons and probably 495,720 minutes more while they actually prepare your order (unless of course they forget it).

I use my Sunday cooking time as a productive break between work and homework. I know that the second I get home after several hours at the Medium office, I’m not in the mood to finish up the last dregs of that assignment due the next morning. But I also know I’ll feel guilty taking time to watch TV or creep my so-called “friends” on Facebook. Cooking gives my mind some time to relax and focus for the week ahead, while still doing something healthy and thoughtful for myself.

KEEP THE CHANGE If meal-planning saves you time, it also certainly saves you money. Every day I hear fellow students whisper words of apology to the god of the budget as they bite into their overpriced roast beef dinner with two sides. I’ve spotted many a crinkledup receipt thrown to the ground in frustration at the double-digit total for that salad. Meanwhile, I’ll spend $10 or $20 a week on my groceries for my lunches and dinners. Maybe more if I choose higher-quality meat for my curry or I give in and splurge on some fancy cheese to go with my soda bread. In any case, it’s easier to control how much you spend on gro-

ceries while still eating satisfying and genuinely filling homemade meals every day instead of buying takeout on a daily basis.

On a similar note, I know there are plenty of penny-pinchers out there who claim they can eat out cheaply on and off campus, but are they eating well? In a Medium article from February 2013, the writer barely made it through the week eating at UTM on $25—and that was by relying on small portions and freebies. Whereas $25 at my neighbourhood FreshCo gets me more than enough starches, veggies, boxes of stock, and some sort of protein to whip up my weekly menu.

It even gets me extras like a new addition to my spice rack or a bundle of fresh herbs.

Let me assure you: homemade meals wouldn’t keep making the cut in advice columns and blog posts about saving money if it weren’t actually possible.

TRAVEL THE WORLD... AND PICK UP A FEW SKILLS TOO Since third year, I’ve made a different recipe for lunch and dinner every Sunday. That’s a whole lot of recipes.

Meal-planning has taught me kitchen basics, like preparing quinoa and boiling eggs, as well as more advanced skills, like making homemade puff pastry and roasting a chicken. I’ve exposed myself to dishes from numerous faraway countries as well as Canadian classics. In fact, I’m a bit of a recipe whore. I become giddy every time a new issue of Chatelaine, Cana-

dian Living, or Best Health arrives on the magazine rack at the RAWC. I will even go so far as to admit that I am the one who rips out random pages from their respective food sections. My last finding was an apple crisp recipe for my roommate. I’ve also been known to save old magazines from the depths of the garbage can by the Personal Training desk and bring them home to the warmth of my kitchen.

This curiosity makes the times that I do eat out—and I won’t deny that I do—all the more exciting. I have a better understanding of what goes into a dish. In fact, I’m a more conscious restaurant diner now; I’ll order what I know I don’t have the ability to make at home. And, hey, for that scary day when I finally have to cook for other people, I’ll be prepared. I can cry and complain about other things—I still firmly refuse to wash my sheets by myself or iron my white shirts.

Packing your lunches and dinners requires commitment and energy.

You do have to care. While for most it’s an unnecessary stress, it’s one that pays off and saves time and money and improves personal health and well-being.

That said, I don’t think it’s sensible to immediately convert to the mealplanning lifestyle. I’ve taken three years to get to the level I’m at and it took a lot of simple salmon sandwich lunches to get there. Aim for one meal one day a week. See if you keep your promise to yourself and how much you enjoy the results. It might just be the best thing you eat that week.

Separating home from school Moving continued from page 8 Overton also mentions UTM’s partnership with the city in producing the “Good Neighbours Guide”, available at utm.utoronto.ca/goodneighbours. Features editor Madeleine Brown, who read it this year, says it’s “very thorough” and mostly consists of common sense that may be hard for students to keep in mind.

Kavita Ramlochan, a fifth-year student in the women and gender studies program minoring in sociology and anthropology, has lived both the life of a student on residence for first year and as a commuter living at home for the following years at UTM. Though she is grateful for her experience on residence for helping her

to become more financially responsible, independent, and involved in the campus community, she notes that there are some downsides. “I need to have a clear separation between home and school,” she said. “I would always go back to my room for naps in between classes. I found that I was more productive with my time on campus as a commuter, so I could relax when I got home.”

As a student who has been commuting since starting at UTM four years ago, I can’t complain about living at home. I am lucky to have all that I need there and I feel happy to help my parents out when I can. I feel like I have developed the same kind of skills at home that I could have acquired from living away during

these past years. I cook, clean, do my own laundry, pay bills and manage finances, am involved in some campus organizations, and go to work.

However, there is more freedom that comes with living on your own—I feel your parents worry less about you when you’re away on residence.

As Jarman mentions in the article, the topic can be fairly debated from both sides. But, she writes, “At the end of the day, deciding whether or not to go away for school is a personal decision. Living away from home can be a trial run for full independence. Is it worth the additional expense? Sure, if it isn’t going to set you back significantly and delay other goals you have in your life beyond graduation.”

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Blues lose heartbreaker to Lancers Windsor edges U of T 6-5 to sit fourth overall and push their undefeated streak to 11 games FRANCIS LAM While the Toronto Maple Leafs clashed with the New York Rangers at the ACC Saturday night, a couple of blocks away was another big hockey showdown: the U of T men’s Varsity Blues took on the Windsor Lancers at Varsity Arena.

The Leafs grabbed a “W” that night, but the same could not be said for the Blues. They watched a 4-2 third period lead evaporate as the undefeated 10-0 Lancers came back with a vengeance, scoring four goals in the final frame to seal a 6-5 comeback victory.

“We let the game get away from us,” says head coach Darren Lowe.

“We skated well out there and our competing level was high, but unfortunately we made too many mistakes and it ended up costing us.”

With the loss, the Blues drop to 4-6-0, while the Lancers improve to 11-0-0 in the OUA West division.

After the Lancers opened the scoring midway through the first period, the game quickly turned chippy as both teams came out hitting.

Tempers finally flared on the visitor’s end as Windsor’s Paul Bezzo dropped the gloves to instigate a fight with Toronto’s Paul Van De Vel-

The Blues are sixth in the OUA West with a 4-6-0 record. de after a post-whistle scrum. Bezzo practice [with] some different looks was ejected and the officials handed on the power play and it’s good to see it working.” him a 10-minute major penalty.

Forward Casey Knight later added This was opportunity knockto the lead, banging home a loose ing for the Varsity Blues. Christian puck during a scramble in front of Finch and assistant captain Michael the net to make it 3-1.

Markovic buried goals with the manThe Lancers cut the deficit to one advantage to make it 2-1 early in the with just over six minutes remaining second. in the second period, but Toronto “The 10-minute power play defirestored their two-goal cushion benitely helped with some momenfore the intermission as defenceman tum,” says captain Andrew Doyle.

“We changed up a couple of things in Marcus Yolevski received a centring

FACEBOOK.COM/VARSITY.BLUES.33/PHOTO

pass in front and one-timed it in.

At 1:49 into the third period, Windsor’s Matt Beaudoin beat goaltender Michael Nishi with a screened shot to make it 4-3.

Two minutes later, Nishi came up with a big breakaway save on pointleader Spencer Pommells to prevent the equalizer.

The Blues scored another goal with Jeff Brown’s power play marker, but that just about capped off Toronto’s output for the night. The back-

to-back game against Waterloo the night before might have had an effect on the team’s stamina. They played the majority of the final frame in their own end.

Cue the comeback. Lancers defenceman Kenny Bradford scored on a 5-on-3 opportunity to bring it back within reach. Soon afterwards, Eric Noel knotted it up to make it 5-5, and then Dylan Denomme gave the last twist of the knife with a goal on a horrendous defensive zone giveaway with 3:22 left in the game.

U of T, with the goalie pulled, came very close to tying on a gradeA chance in the dying moments, but a Blues’ player missed and looked skyward on what looked like an empty-net chance.

It was a tough loss for the Blues to swallow, coming so close to defeating one of the best teams in the league.

“We definitely need to start focusing on doing the little things right,” says Doyle. “Just know that we’ve got to win the games against teams close to us in the standings. There’s no giving away points. The season is almost half-over, so we really need to start turning it up.”

The Varsity Blues will return to the ice this upcoming Friday to host the UOIT Ridgebacks at Varsity Arena.

Can’t go pucking

U of T’s expensive new digs

around with fantasy

Hopes high that the new facility will up the competitive level

PHIL POWER If you read my last article (“An ode to ice hockey”, October 27) you should be aware by now that I quite enjoy the sport. Hell, not even just the sport, but everything to do with it. Between the video games, the McDonalds trading cards, and street hockey with my buddies, it has been all over my life from a young age.

I’d like to add that I have always been interested in what goes on behind the scenes—in particular the roles of the president, general manager, coaches, and scouts, and how they all interact in achieving their goal of winning a Stanley Cup. I always thought the effort that goes into making the team was just as interesting as what goes on when the skates hit the ice. What can I say? I was a weird kid.

Most of my friends would pretty much exclusively watch Don Cherry’s Rock ’em Sock ’em Hockey tapes (they have made them for over 25 years now). And don’t get me wrong, I loved and watched them too, but my favorite hockey film was something different. It was called Gold Rush 2002. And it was all about the Team Canada executive board as they me-

ticulously combed over every detail and statistic they thought relevant in choosing their team. This team would go on to win Canada its first gold medal in men’s ice hockey in 50 years.

In recent years, we’ve seen the rise of “advanced stats”. There are two that are most worth looking at: Corsi and Fenwick. Corsi is achieved by taking the sum of all shots directed at your opposition’s net (goals, shots on goal, blocked shots, and missed shots) and subtracting the sum the opponent gets on your net. Fenwick is the same, but without factoring in blocked shots. These two stats help one analyze offensive zonetime and puck possession. If one ever wonders whether there’s too much fuss over them, here’s one case to think about: the Los Angeles Kings, who currently lead the league in both, won the 2014 Stanley Cup despite finishing only sixth in the Conference prior to the playoffs.

In the modern game of hockey, where there is talk of the “enforcer” player being removed from lineups for good, you have to factor in these stats when making your team.

Fantasy continued on page 12

JOHN HRYNIUK/PHOTO

The Goldring Centre will host court sports for the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto.

ERIC HEWITSON ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR U of T officially welcomed students, faculty, and the public into their new $58 million Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport on Bloor and Devonshire last month. The unique, stateof-the-art complex brings a better pedigree to Varsity Blues athletics.

The St. George athletes are excited for what the new facility brings to competitive programs. “I haven’t seen

anything like it before,” says third-year UTM student Kyle Draga.

Draga is a defensive lineman for the Varsity Blues Football team and believes that the facilities aren’t only just going to enhance his gameplay, but also enhance the sport atmosphere around campus. “Because it’s open to the public, students, and faculty it’ll hopefully attract more fans and media attention for all Varsity Blues programs,” he said. “Enhancing the atmosphere will bring in recruits and ul-

timately make us a CIS powerhouse.”

The multi-storied building includes a 2,000-seat stadium for men’s and women’s volleyball and basketball, facilities for the U of T sports and medicine clinic, teaching and research labs, a speed and power centre, multipurpose meeting rooms, fitness studios, and, most visibly, a strength and conditioning centre.

Digs continued on page 12

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«SPORTS

THE MEDIUM 11.10.2014

Goldring is now open to students Digs continued from page 11 Adrian Lightowler, the head strength and conditioning coach for all competitive Varsity Blues programs, believes that the funding for strength and conditioning will improve all varsity teams because of its size and equipment. “Now we have enough equipment and space to house a whole team—equipment that can develop our student athletes into physical specimens unlike anything else seen on a university campus in Ontario,” he said. “We essentially have facilities that are just as good as most teams playing in competitive American programs.”

Having this facility on campus gives U of T students studying

courses related to strength and conditioning opportunities to study and practice their education even further.

Whether it’s personal training, physiotherapy, or medicine, you aren’t just invited to work out, but also to broaden your knowledge for your educational field.

Students from any campus are invited to work out and build their healthy active lifestyle, or enjoy a basketball or volleyball game with hundreds of other students and Torontonians at any time. The centre is open to children’s programs and camps and has spaces available for rent for student groups or communities.

The Goldring Centre will also host several court-related sports for the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games.

Even the best can lose Fantasy continued from page 11 And I would once have humbly submitted that I could probably put together a better team than most people. Fantasy hockey has taught me otherwise.

For the first time ever, I’m participating in fantasy hockey. And to put it bluntly, it has taken a month for me to get the hang of it. I have to log in every morning and set my roster for the day. Like any normal human, I forget to do things sometimes and I forgot to move some players off my bench and into “active” slots. My opponent for that week’s matchup did not. I am now in second-last in our division and in a fight for my life every week since to stay relevant.

You see, the way fantasy hockey (via ESPN/TSN) works is that every week you’re placed in a matchup with another team in your league.

Throughout the week, you move players to and from “active” to try and achieve the highest numbers in a wide variety of stats. Goals, assists, hits, blocked shots, faceoffs won, game-winning goals—you name it, we’re fighting over it. Your team is allowed to have many more players sitting on your bench than just the ones active for that night. And that’s where the balancing act comes in.

You simply don’t know. You have limited space for active left-wingers (as well as every other position) and you’re at a loss. How are you every

supposed to know if Max Pacioretty or James van Riemsdyk will get more points on a single given night? You are not guessing about total point outcomes for the end of the season (which in actuality is a fair bit easier), but whether or not JVR will outscore Pacioretty on one particular night.

You can make an educated guess, sure: “Pacioretty is playing the Sabres (a horrible team) at home tonight and JVR is on the road against the Blackhawks (a championship-caliber team).” All evidence would point you to choose Pacioretty, but in reality he might very well end up being a -4 and rack up penalty minutes while JVR can get a solid goal and two assists.

Goals, assists, hits, blocked shots, faceoffs won,game-winning goals—you name it, we’re fighting over it.

That said, I’m actually doing all right. After the initial troubles I had in the first three weeks of the season, I’ve started to turn the ship, so to speak. Last week I demolished my opponent and I’m on track to do the same this week. How did I manage this? Well, let me explain.

I realised that Phil Kessel is the streakiest player in the league (he’s on my team), and I can use this to

my advantage. When he’s “cold” I don’t play him, and when he’s “hot” he’s the first name on the lineup. By doing this, I make sure that I make the most of his 80+ points per season and avoid losing out on the points my other right-wingers are getting.

Learning when your players are “hot” and “cold” will save you lots of heartache.

Also, learn how to say goodbye to your players. It is tough. I grew quite attached to Patrick Elias because I thought he was such a steal for being a 15th-round pick. A few weeks into the season, though, I found this guy named Tyler Toffoli on the free agency. He’s a second-line rightwinger for LA on one of the best lines in the game at the moment. I claimed him, but I had to give up someone, and that someone was Elias. But in all honesty, it’s the best thing that could have happened. I got this guy who’s on track to be one of the highest scorers in the league, and all I had to give up was an aging by-product of the New Jersey Devil glory years.

In my honest opinion, if you want a sports hobby that’s cheap, fun, and excruciatingly painful to participate in—because of the trauma of learning you are not God’s gift to the fantasy hockey pool—I totally recommend joining a league. It’s some of the most fun you’ll ever have. Here’s to hoping my team comes out of the ashes like a phoenix to recapture the glory.

THURSDAY,

November 13th, 2014

Registration Begins at 5pm • Meeting Begins at 6PM • bring your t-card for identification This meeting is open to all undergraduate students enrolled at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

AGENDA

1.

CALL TO ORDER 2.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA 3.

PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS 4.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES – AGM 2013 MOTION Moved: H. Havili Seconded: Be it resolved that the minutes for the 2013 Annual General Meeting be approved as presented.

5.

RECEIPT OF THE 2013-2014 AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – UTMSU & BLIND DUCK MOTION Moved: H. Havili Seconded: Be it resolved that the audited financial statements of the Erindale College Students Union (operating as UTMSU) and the Blind Duck for the fiscal year ending April 30th 2014 be received as presented.

6.

APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS FOR 2014-2015 MOTION Moved: B. Chelvanaigum Seconded: Be it resolved that Charles Havill Chartered Accountants be appointed as the external auditors for the Erindale College Students Union for fiscal year ending April 30, 2015.

7.

OTHER BUSINESS 8.

ADJOURNMENT MOTION Moved: H. Havili Seconded: Be it resolved that the meeting be adjourned.

SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION

The preliminary, unaudited financial information indicates that the Union realised a small surplus for the 2013-2014 fiscal year and continues to show a positive working capital position and positive liquidity.

The audited financial statements will be presented to the members at the Meeting, pursuant to the requirement of the Ontario Corporations Act. For information on the Annual General Meeting agenda and the financial summary of the Union, please visit our website at www.utmsu.ca/agm.

Proxy forms are now available for pick-up at the U.T.M.S.U. Office in Rm. 115 of the UTM Student Centre (UTMSU office, 3359 Mississauga Rd. N).

The deadline for submissions of all Proxy Forms is Monday, 10th November 2014 at 5 p.m.

Visit us at

utmsu.ca

@myUTMSU

FB.com/UTMSU

myUTMSU

QUESTIONS CAN BE DIRECTED TO: MR. BRYAN CHELVANAIGUM Vice-President Internal and Services (vpinternal@utmsu.ca)

MR. HASSAN HAVILI President (president@utmsu.ca )

* Please note that “University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union” and/ or “U.T.M.S.U.” refers to the Erindale College Student Union, Inc. (“ECSU”).