Volume 50, Issue 2

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

Issue 2 Volume 50 September 11 2023

themedium.ca

LOGOS ARE OVERRATED

GIANG BUI

WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

I’ve long held the belief that logos are overrated. Taken out of context, a lot of logos are just average designs. Think of the Mastercard logo, which is just two overlapping circles.

Imagine completing your undergraduate degree in three years.

To pull it off, you would have to take six courses per semester plus two summer courses—with no breaks. Most people run the risk of burning out, and even if you don’t, such an intense schedule can take a toll on your social life and grades. >> read more on page 08

Taking place in both New Zealand and Australia, the 2023 Women’s World Cup was the first to be co-hosted and lasted approximately one month. The tournament was full of dramatic goals, high-caliber competition, and historic moments.

>> read more on page 05

>> read more on page 12

NEWS

The Student Services Hub opens in late 2023, but what is it?

River Knott Managing Editor

S

tarting in late 2023, Student Affairs and Services (SAS) will be opening the brand-new Student Services Hub on the first floor of the William G. Davis building. The Student Services Hub is designed to solve many of the complex problems that University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) students may encounter.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARK OVERTON, DEAN OF STUDENT SERVICES AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, STUDENT SERVICES

>> STUDENT SERVICES HUB continues on page 03

ARTS

OPINION

Happiness begins at a Jonas Brothers show

A list of four on-campus activities that will boost your mental health

Daanish Alvi Contributor

Meighan Atkinson Contributor

I

’m a big fan of the Jonas Brothers. Since the release of their self-titled debut in 2007, the Jonas Brothers have been a part of every stage of my life, as they periodically dropped classic albums like A Little Bit Longer (2008) and Lines, Vines, and Trying Times (2009). The band’s break up in 2013 shook me to my core; it was as if my own family was falling apart, but that didn’t stop me from listening to their music day in and day out.

Then came their individual musical endeavours: middle brother Joe Jonas co-founded the dance-rock group DNCE in 2015, while Nick Jonas, the youngest, released two solo albums. The songs that came from these projects were undoubtedly bangers, but deep down, there was some magic missing. This is why the news of the three brothers getting back together in February of 2019 made me fall to my knees in the middle of my high school atrium.

Four years after the release of their comeback album Happiness Begins, and after standalone singles like “Remember This” and “Who’s In Your Head,” all eyes were on the Jonas Brothers to see when their next full-length project would hit shelves—a question that kept me refreshing their Instagram feed almost every single day.

>> JONAS BROTHERS continues on page 10

A

s syllabus week ends and the pace of the semester picks up, the school year ahead can feel overwhelming at best. Managing your course load and other responsibilities while also maintaining some semblance of mental health can feel impossible! Luckily, there’s countless opportunities on campus to unwind and find support if you’re struggling with mental health.

1.

Get in a workout at the Recreation, Athletics, and Wellness Centre (RAWC) It’s no secret that regular exercise protects all aspects of health. Luckily, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) has a state-of-the art athletic centre that makes finding time to work out easy. Check out the RAWC calendar to squeeze in a group fitness class between study sessions. The group fitness classes vary in length, fitness level, and intensity—there’s something for every student. The RAWC also offers scheduled drop-in sessions for squash, badminton, beach volleyball, swimming, and so much more. Certain hours of the day are blocked off for women’s only access to the Strength

& Conditioning Centre, with additional women’s only classes like “Women on Weights!”

If classes aren’t your style and you prefer to go solo at the gym, take advantage of the RAWC’s varying equipment anytime during operating hours: 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends.

2.

Bask in nature at Erindale Park As autumn nears, you can expect the changing leaves on the trees around campus to provide a stunning backdrop to your fall semester. To further immerse yourself in nature, venture off campus (but right next door!) to Erindale Park, Mississauga’s largest park. The David J. Culham Trail extends more than 13-kilometres, taking under three hours to complete. The Sawmill Creek Trail is a shorter hike, at only 9-kilometres, but the less populated path provides some solitude.

If hiking isn’t your thing, pack a lunch and head to one of the five picnic areas of Erindale Park. To best enjoy the fall foliage, bring a warm drink and a book!

>> MENTAL HEALTH continues on page 07

02

NEWS

Editor | Larry Lau news@themedium.ca

Navigating Canada’s housing crisis and student dreams Canada grapples with a housing crisis, prompting discussions about imposing limits on international student intake. fordable social rental housing.

Karine Alhakim Contributor

C

anada is currently facing a housing crisis that has prompted the federal government to consider imposing a limit on the number of international students the country will accept. This decision comes in response to concerns that the influx of international students is exacerbating the housing shortage—a decision that major Canadian universities are reportedly opposed to. The Medium spoke to Professor Alan Walks from the University of Toronto Mississauga Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment to get a better view of the situation.

The need for housing has grown substantially, surpassing the supply currently available. This surge in home prices and escalating rents has created a growing challenge for Canadians seeking affordable housing. “The key issue is affordability, and that is true for renters and for homeowners. The crisis has been building since the early 2000s,” says Professor Walks.

He explains that during the 1990s, the federal government—led by Mulroney and Chrétien—shifted away from directly constructing affordable rental housing. Instead, they employed incentives to encourage the private sector to supply rental housing through the condominium market.

Consequently, in the mid-1990s, the provincial government of Ontario, under the leadership of Mike Harris, opted to discontinue financial support for the development of new af-

“The blame falls on upper levels of government,” says Professor Walks, explaining that the government was indifferent about whether or not sufficient amounts of rental units were being built to meet the growing population. “The search for something to blame has been going on and one of the scapegoats in the story has been international students, [which] I find […] somewhat ironic,” he adds. Many landlords are exploiting international students, who are newcomers to the country and may not be well-versed in Canadian laws, by asking them for very high damage deposits. This has made it very difficult for students to find adequate rental housing in the city.

Universities oppose such a cap. Professor Walks notes, “Pre-pandemic, the Ford government declared a tuition decline of 10 per cent for domestic students. They also announced that they would not be making up the difference for universities and colleges.” As a result, universities and colleges saw this as a chance to increase the number of international students to make up for the shortfalls in tuition. Therefore, universities are now in a situation where they are seeking revenue from international students to fund their programs.

rooms and other kinds of infrastructure, but not residences,” says Professor Walks. Universities should consider investing in building new residences to help students, especially international students, navigate the housing crisis.

Canada’s housing crisis is a complex issue with no simple solutions. Professor Walks believes that “if universities got back into the business of building residences and if the federal and provincial governments got back into the business of funding and incentivizing purpose-built rentals, that would do a lot to address all the issues that are being raised with relation to international students.” International students undoubtedly contribute to housing demand, but they also bring substantial economic and cultural benefits. Striking the right balance is essential to address this pressing issue while maintaining Canada’s reputation as a welcoming and diverse nation.

Addressing the housing crisis requires a multifaceted approach. The best way forward is to tackle both the excess demand and lack of supply by building more affordable rental housing.

“The University of Toronto has been borrowing money over the years and building new class-

Everything students should know about the Graduate and Professional Schools Fair UTM’s Graduate and Professional Schools Fair is here to help students understand graduate schools’ expectations and build successful applications for their future educational pathways.

Mashiyat Ahmed Contributor

A

s the winter months approach, many students at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) are thinking about building and refining their graduate school applications. Pursuing graduate studies is a daunting ordeal, but UTM’s annual Graduate and Professional Schools Fair (GPSF) is here to help students become successful and confident applicants for their future studies.

On September 13, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the annual GPSF will be held in Gym A/B. The GPSF project planning was managed by Shanzey Ahmed, an Industry Engagement Specialist at the Career Centre.

The fair will be a space where students can connect with program representatives from a diverse range of graduate programs at various national and international universities.

Students can also ask questions on an individualized basis and glean insight into what academic options are available and best fit their professional and personal goals.

The Medium spoke through email with Jason John, Assistant Director of Employer Relations and Marketing at the Career Centre, about the central aims of the GPSF. Asking targeted questions and having a refined understanding of one’s professional interests and goals is a key step in ensuring students make the most of their time at the GPSF. With this in mind, according to John, “It is highly recommended that students look at the floorplan, which is available on this page, and start researching the institutions that are visiting so they are knowledgeable about [their] areas of interest and can ask questions that will enable them to understand potential educational pathways better.”

Conducting thorough research into programs and institutions and weighing the pros

and cons of each pathway is vital to making informed decisions about one’s future. The GPSF is a “great place” to start doing so, says John, because “[f]or students closer to graduation, talking with representatives can help them understand the philosophy and values of the program, what they look for in a candidate, and the competitiveness of the application.”

To prepare for September 13, students can utilize the Career Centre and their vast array of resources. For example, students can access resources such as sample questions and tip sheets that raise important points all prospective graduates should consider when planning for their futures.

Other resources include workshops designed to support future graduate students, sessions to review personal statements, and personalized appointments with career development professionals who can help students explore and contextualize their unique career or educational pathways.

There are also many students who are not sure whether graduate school is right for them. They too can drop by the UTM Career Centre, located in the William G. Davis building (DV 3094), for a casual visit, or book a personalized appointment by phone (905-828-5451) to explore professional possibilities and understand their personal goals and ambitions.

LAURA TOVAR/ THE MEDIUM

The Student Services Hub opens in late 2023, but what is it?

03

Acting as a new access point for students with questions or concerns, the Student Services Hub will unify UTM’s student resources under a single roof, providing ease of access to support systems for student success.

River Knott Managing Editor

S

tarting in late 2023, Student Affairs and Services (SAS) will be opening the brand-new Student Services Hub on the first floor of the William G. Davis building. The Student Services Hub is designed to solve many of the complex problems that University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) students may encounter.

Academic Skills Centre (RGASC) are already designed to help solve a diverse slew of complex problems which students may encounter in the areas of enrolment and academic performance. The Office of the Registrar and the RGASC are each composed of an assembly of various student services. With these other services in mind, Dean Overton describes the novel congregation of Student Affairs and Services in the form of the Student Services Hub as a process that is “long-overdue.”

The Medium conducted an email interview with UTM’s Dean of Student Affairs and Assistant Principal, Student Services, Mark Overton, who was able to provide behind-the-scenes details of the Hub’s development, along with insights into the resources UTM students can expect to receive through the Hub. Dean Overton notes that the Career Centre, the International Education Centre, the Centre for Student Engagement, Accessibility Services, and the Health & Counselling Centre’s health promotion team will all relocate to the Hub in the Davis building. The congregation of these departments in one location allows them to PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARK OVERTON, DEAN OF

“expand their services and also work more collaboratively than before.”

Additionally, Dean Overton notes various areas in which the services of the Hub’s departments will be expanding. The expansion of services will include an increase in the number of departmental staff, events, and various support programs.

Improved collaboration between support departments increases effectiveness in helping students resolve complex issues that involve multiple services on campus. Dean Overton provides an example of how multiple departments in the Hub could work together to navigate these complex issues, stating:

“Imagine an international student being pressured by family to study an academic area that’s not of interest. They may need emotional support around conflict with their family, and international advising if a longer period of enrolment impacts their study permit, on top of future course planning and staying well through the stress this might naturally cause.

Hub staff can help them think through potential impacts and their order of action, connecting them with campus experts in the Hub and beyond.”

STUDENT SERVICES AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, STUDENT SERVICES

According to the Student Services Hub website, some of the areas in which UTM students will be able to make use of the Hub are as follows: finding student housing both on and off-campus, seeking disability accommodations and resources, discovering international exchanges and learning abroad opportunities, gathering information concerning student groups and co-curricular activities, exploring various opportunities for career and professional development, and resolving international student issues such as immigration concerns.

These are just a few of the services which will be made available by the fall of 2023. Services will be available in

“a range of open, casual, and confidential spaces […] with well-trained students peers and professional staff.”

More details concerning what to expect, and how students can make use of the Hub, will be revealed following the Student Services Hub’s official opening later this year. For now, students can expect the Hub to be an intuitive, safe space, where they will be able to conveniently take advantage of a multitude of newly collaborating services—all working together under one roof, to serve the specific needs of the UTM student population.

Other organizations on campus like the Office of the Registrar and the Robert Gillespie

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARK OVERTON, DEAN OF STUDENT SERVICES AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, STUDENT SERVICES

04

Are we addicted to using plastic?

New pollution prevention planning notice in preparation for the Canadian government’s plans to cut down on single-use plastic food packaging. implementation goals is designed with these targets in mind. The P2 Notice calls for a 60 per cent increase in the sales of reusable products, refill systems, products without plastic packaging, and concentrated products by 2035. In the long term, the P2 Notice targets to have “[all] primary food plastic packaging [be] reusable, recyclable, or compostable” by 2028.

Rosa Fragomeni Contributor

T

o help minimize the amount of plastic waste produced by large grocery retailers, the Canadian government has proposed to publish a pollution prevention planning notice (P2 Notice). The proposed P2 Notice would delineate rules and regulations applying to primary food plastic packaging: “packaging that comes into direct contact with food… [including] clamshells for baked goods and produce, wrap for vegetables and meat, plastic condiment bottles, and bags of pet food.” The P2 Notice will apply to grocery retailers who generate over four billion dollars per year in grocery retail sales.

Consultations for the P2 Notice ended on August 30, 2023, and any stakeholder comments will be included in the proposed P2 Notice to be published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, the Canadian government’s official newspaper.

It is expected that all large grocery retailers implement actions by December 31, 2035, and meet the target goals of the Final Notice. This motion for change derives from a Canada-wide audit of large grocery retailers conducted in the fall of 2022, which found that approximately 64 per cent of products across four major categories (baby food, produce, pet food, and soups) were packaged in single-use plastic.

The P2 Notice expands upon two initiatives that follow Canada’s agenda to eliminate plastic waste: the Single-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations (SUPPR) published in June 2022 and the regulatory framework paper for the planned Recycled Content and Labelling for Plastic Products Regulations published in April 2023. The P2 Notice will contribute towards preventing plastic pollution and the use of hard-to-recycle plastic. It will also reduce greenwashing efforts—which involves falsely advertising that a company’s products are environmentally friendly when the opposite is true—by banning the use of terms like “biodegradable” on plastic packaging and various single-use items. It also addresses primary food plastic packaging specifically, as this was exempted from the regulatory framework paper over food safety concerns established by the Food and Drugs Act.

Eduardo Souza-Rodrigues, an Associate Professor for Environmental Economics at the University of Toronto Mississauga, told The Medium in an interview that, “When you ban plastic there will be [a] cost that will be unavoidable—the question is, is it worth it?” Professor SouzaRodrigues states that the costs of the P2 Notice will involve an increase in food prices and unemployment during the transition period of the policy. And when this happens, Professor Souza-Rodrigues points out, consumer choices become harder to regulate: “Some universities just banned plastic water bottles completely [in 2015], and then students could not find bottled water, so students switched and started buying beverages like Gatorade to replace the water consumption that they used to have.”

He explains that is an example of the substitution effect, which occurs when consumers choose to substitute an expensive option with a cheaper option. This will also apply to the current situation: with the P2 Notice predicted to increase the cost of food products related to plastic packaging, people may substitute these products with others—for example, by finding single-use paper replacements—and policymakers will need to explore whether this will have a desirable result.

Despite the predicted short-term negative effects of the transition period of the P2 Notice, Professor Souza Rodrigues comments “my view is that it is worth it […] it depends on how this policy is implemented.”

Following its implementation, the P2 Notice’s targets are to increase the usage of reusable containers and increase refill options, removing excessive packaging, and designing necessary food-safe plastics that can be reused, recycled, or composted. The timeline for the P2 Notice’s

AURORA PICCIOTTOLI /THE MEDIUM

Canada takes steps to combat modern slavery by requiring company transparency Bill S-211, the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, will require applicable entities and government institutions to file an annual report detailing their analysis, prevention, and resolution of forced or child labour issues.

Larry Lau News Editor

W

hile many perceive slavery as a historical issue, it still exists in many parts of the world—in the forms of forced labour and forced marriage. According to the International Labour Organization’s Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage report, published September 12, 2022, 50 million people worldwide were victims of modern slavery in the year 2021. This includes 28 million people who were subjected to forced labour.

Just recently, the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) addressed allegations that the retailers Walmart, Hugo Boss, and Diesel exploit the forced labour of Uyghurs living in China’s Xinjiang region, whom the Chinese government has systemically subjected to a host of human rights violations. All three companies have denied the allegations. Still, CORE will move forward with conducting its independent investigations on each of the companies.

Such reports and investigations reveal that slavery continues to be a very real issue in the modern world. To address this issue in Canada, Bill S-211—the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act—received royal assent on May 11, 2023, and will go into effect on January 1, 2024.

The act outlines new disclosure and reporting obligations. Applicable entities and government institutions must file a report to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness that delineates their activities and supply chains, identifies risk factors and protocols for forced or child labour in their supply chains, discloses initiatives to combat forced or child labour, and explores how the company evaluates its efficiency and efficacy in eliminating forced or child labour, among other requirements.

As explained by Public Safety Canada, entities required to file the report include “any corporation, trust, partnership or other unincorporated organization whose activities include producing, selling or distributing goods in Canada or elsewhere, importing goods into Canada, or controlling an entity engaged in these activities.” Likewise,

it needs to be “listed on a stock exchange in Canada or have a place of business in Canada.” Additional requirements relating to assets, revenue, and employee headcount are evaluated using the entity’s consolidated financial statements.

For government institutions, organizations “producing, purchasing or distributing goods in Canada or elsewhere” must file the report.

world—which encompasses a company’s efforts in relation to its environmental (sustainability) and social impact (community).

According to an article published by Thomson Reuters—a reputable media corporation, industry groups have found the bill’s regulations and specifics unclear, and are pushing for a one-year extension before the first filing is due—on May 31, 2024. The degree of detail expected for the report is also unknown, sparking anxiety amongst reporting entities.

This report must be filed annually before May 31. Failure to comply with the bill may result in a maximum fine of C$250,000. The reports will be publicly available, on both Public Safety Canada’s website and the entity or government institution’s website.

Speaking to Thomson Reuters, a spokesperson to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness revealed that there were no expectations to change the filing deadline, as of the article’s publishing date of August 11, 2023.

Alongside the newly introduced reporting requirements, the bill also amends the Customs Tariff, where importing products produced from child labour will also be banned, alongside the existing ban on forced labour products.

In alignment with the increasing global focus on environmental and labour exploitation, the importance of ESG reporting and strategy is rising. As bills akin to Bill S-211 are passed in the future, Canada will continue its venture into a redefined ESG landscape. Organizations throughout the country will need to ensure their compliance with the ever-changing regulations and reporting obligations.

Effectively, Bill S-211 serves as a new consideration for the Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) aspect of the corporate

MASTHEAD EDITORIAL BOARD

05

OPINION

Editor | Kareena Kailass opinion@themedium.ca

Editor-in-Chief Juliana Stacey editor@themedium.ca Managing Editors River Knott & Aidan Thompson managing@themedium.ca & managinginternal@themedium.ca News Larry Lau news@themedium.ca Opinion Kareena Kailass opinion@themedium.ca Features Prisha (Maneka) Nuckchady features@themedium.ca A&E Alisa Samuel arts@themedium.ca Sports Omar Khan sports@themedium.ca Photo Samira Karimova photos@themedium.ca Design Laura Tovar design@themedium.ca Copy Ricardo Jaroslav Valdes jaros@themedium.ca

Let passion lead the way Starting university is nerve-wracking, but these tips will help your sailing be just a bit smoother. program; take the classes that make you excited to get up and do your morning commute!

The Medium

W

hen we’re little, we’re given a list of professions that are considered to be worthy of pursuing. We’re told to be teachers, lawyers, and doctors, but never actors, writers, or painters. Very often, creativity is sidelined in favour of perceived practicality.

This week, as some of you begin your first full week as undergraduate students, and others approach the looming decisions that naturally follow graduation, the team at The Medium wanted to remind you that passion and interest should be at the forefront of your course selection process. High-paying jobs in high-demand fields are great, but these types of positions will never be fulfilling if you don’t enjoy your work. Remember that your degree is your degree. Your studies should be centred around your interests, passions, and goals—not what you may think others expect of you.

We’re not saying to completely ignore all rationality and change everything about your degree on a whim. We want to remind you that there are millions of opportunities out there, and that oftentimes, following the path that coincides with your passion leads to the most success.

We encourage you to make the most of your university experience: take that elective that interests you or join that club or student group that has nothing to do with what you’re studying (this is especially encouraged if you’re thinking about writing for The Medium!); switch your majors or enroll in a new minor

Maja Ting maja@themedium.ca

Logos are totally overrated

Social Media & Online Belicia Chevolleau social@themedium.ca

But marketing and brand design are not, there’s a difference.

Podcast Mariela Torroba Hennigen mariela@themedium.ca

Video

Nikolas Towsey video@themedium.ca

TO CONTRIBUTE & CONNECT: themedium.ca/contact @themediumUTM

@themediumUTM

@themediumUTM

@themediumUTM

@themessageUTM

@humansofUTM_

Hannah Grace Wang Contributor

I

’ve long held the belief that logos are overrated. Taken out of context, a lot of logos are just average designs. Think of the Mastercard logo, which is just two overlapping circles. If you were to submit a design of this same simplicity in a graphic design course, you’d get a C—if you’re lucky—no matter how much you might try and say you were intentional in designing it this way. And yet, other logos from companies like McDonald’s and Nike are praised for their design and “simplicity.”

But ask yourself this: if these companies weren’t famous, would we still be in awe over their cleverly designed logo?

Likely not. There’s an obvious reason why whenever we talk about logos in design classes, we refer to logos from big corporations. They are well known global brands after all, and the purpose of a logo is for visual identification. Naturally, it makes sense to talk about a logo most people recognize.

I’m not denying that logos have a role in branding. I’m just saying they’re overrated. I believe it’s the quality of a product or service that truly defines the company. That, and of course, the marketing and advertising a company does to promote said product or service. A local business might have a great customer base and thrive in their community, but people who aren’t locals wouldn’t recognize their logo if the store didn’t market themselves. When we see a logo we recognize, we don’t think, “oh yeah, what a beautiful logo;” we think of the company itself. So, while logos are important for brand recognition, we place too much emphasis on logos. A business’ brand is so much more than just a logo.

Now, admittedly there are good and bad logos.

Trying to cram your entire shop’s description into your logo is a bad design. There are still basic principles a logo should follow, like good contrast, clear font, and scalability. But beyond that, it doesn’t matter that much. Just pick a logo you like and

work on the multitude of other things that could make your brand successful.

When I picked a logo for my business, I chose a drawing I had readily available.

Could my logo be better? Of course. But my brand didn’t collapse just because I didn’t have a perfect logo. Save your time in creating 10 versions of a logo. There are more important things to do.

Brand design, on the other hand, is not overrated. Brand design encompasses all the visual and design elements of a company. This includes the logo, colour palette, font choice, packaging, and business cards, which all factor into creating a memorable experience for your customer. Instead of endlessly admiring the nice curve of the McDonald’s Golden Arches, I think it would be more productive to focus on their overall brand design. I believe one thing all these companies have in common (apart from being famous) is they all have cohesive branding that stretches beyond just the logo.

06

First day reflections Note to self: The first day doesn’t matter that much.

Hannah Grace Wang Contributor

T

he first of anything is always exciting, especially the first day of university. There’s something about starting a fresh semester that just fills me with ambition. For me, the first day of university means new opportunities to learn about what I’m passionate about, to create meaningful experiences, and to build new relationships. Despite all the excitement, however, the first day of university can also be nerve-wracking. Finding your classes, meeting your

professors, and getting to know your peers can all feel daunting.

I know we tend to put a lot of weight on “firsts,” and there’s truth in the belief that first impressions are important, but I also think the hype surrounding the first day of university is overrated and, quite frankly, unnecessary. It’s okay if your first day does not go exactly as you might’ve imagined. We all react to changes in routine differently, and there’s no need to put undue pressure on ourselves to have the perfect first day. You don’t need to have everything figured out on your first day. Just surviving is an accomplishment worth celebrating. Plus, every day can be a new first day, so just do your best today.

Unraveling the significance of day one in university.

Karissa Harrypersad Contributor

T

he first day of university is a blank canvas that is ready to be painted with new experiences, friendships, and knowledge. Personally, it holds immense significance as it represents more than just a date on the calendar. The first day signifies a new chapter and a fresh beginning. With them, you can reinvent yourself with new possibilities. I have the freedom in my hands to choose my future and begin the life I always wanted, which provides me with

future ambitions and dreams knowing that the first day is just the start and that I can explore all the opportunities around me.

The first day of university also means that I have achieved a great privilege. The beginning of each year represents all the hard work that I have done in the past that brought me to this point in my life. It is this work that achieved my dreams of coming to university—dreams that symbolized a transformative journey of education, growth, and self-discovery.

Experiencing the first day of university means that I get to experience the livelihood of the UTM campus, meet new people in classes, and study subjects that I am passionate about. The first day signifies independence, a step toward adulthood, and the realization that I’m creating my own destiny.

I’ll never know the dread of Labour Day again.

Meighan Atkinson Contributor

assigned!”

It’s almost like a second New Year’s, a second chance in 2023. We make resolutions we likely won’t keep through finals—if even the second week of classes.

S

eptember 6 will be my last ever “first day of school.” It will be the last time I ever mark a syllabus up with a pink highlighter and inky gel pen, full of good intentions for the semester.

My final time telling myself,

I find myself browsing cable-knit sweaters and knee-high boots, like September isn’t just as steaming hot as August. I save meal prep recipes to my Pinterest board and stock up on coffee pods like I’d seriously pass up Starbucks.

“This year I’m doing things differently! No waiting until the last minute, I’ll start papers the day they’re

I’ve missed hanging out on the leather couches in Deerfield where the drama classes take place. I’ve missed getting kicked out of study rooms with my friends by people who reserved them, immediately after we’ve sprawled out our laptops, iced coffees, and winter coats. I miss

Embracing the long-awaited beginning.

Sukaina Rizvi Contributor

T

he first day of university arrives with a gathering of aspirations nurtured since childhood.

I stand at the crossroads of my journey, gazing at the horizon that stretches beyond the campus of the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). This day isn’t just the start of my academic pursuit; it’s the realization of a dream that began long before these hallowed halls.

As a child, I’d wander the outskirts of UTM, a place filled with an allure that captured my imagination. I remember gazing at the energetic and swarming students, envisioning myself amongst them. The desire to one day step onto these grounds, to be part of the academia that thrived within.

Today as I finally tread the paths I once daydreamed of, I am reminded of a quote from Marcel Proust, who says,

“The real voyage of discovery… consists not in

seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”

The first day of university isn’t just a milestone; it’s a rekindling of childlike wonder—an opportunity to see familiar places anew through the lens of newfound maturity.

With each step, echoes of my younger self whisper in the wind urging me forward. The memory of wanting to be old enough to board the bus to campus and be a part of a friend group whose laughter lights up the halls has now transformed into a reality. The journey wasn’t just about reaching this day, it was about the transformation within me— the eager child growing into the determined scholar. As Lao Tzu puts it,

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”

07

Boost your mental health this school year!

A list of four on-campus activities that will boost your mental health.

Meighan Atkinson Contributor

A

s syllabus week ends and the pace of the semester picks up, the school year ahead can feel overwhelming at best. Managing your course load and other responsibilities while also maintaining some semblance of mental health can feel impossible! Luckily, there’s countless opportunities on campus to unwind and find support if you’re struggling with mental health.

1. Get in a workout at the Recreation, Athletics, and Wellness Centre (RAWC) It’s no secret that regular exercise protects all aspects of health. Luckily, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) has a state-of-the art athletic centre that makes finding time to work out easy. Check out the RAWC calendar to squeeze in a group fitness class between study sessions. The group fitness classes vary in length, fitness level, and intensity—there’s something for every student. The RAWC also offers scheduled drop-in sessions for squash, badminton, beach volleyball, swimming, and so much more. Certain hours of the day are blocked off for women’s only access to the Strength & Conditioning Centre, with additional women’s only classes like “Women on Weights!”

If classes aren’t your style and you prefer to go solo at the gym, take advantage of the RAWC’s varying equipment anytime during operating hours: 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends.

2. Bask in nature at Erindale Park As autumn nears, you can expect the changing leaves on the trees around campus to provide a stunning backdrop to your fall semester. To further immerse yourself in nature, venture off campus (but right next door!) to Erindale Park, Mississauga’s largest park. The David J. Culham Trail extends more than 13-kilometres, taking under three hours to complete. The Sawmill Creek Trail is a shorter hike, at only 9-kilometres, but the less populated path provides some solitude.

If hiking isn’t your thing, pack a lunch and head to one of the five picnic areas of Erindale Park. To best enjoy the fall foliage, bring a warm drink and a book!

3. Join a campus club and find like-minded people The list of clubs and student societies at UTM is ample, ranging so vastly in interest that every student can find a group to join. Meet new friends with similar

passions while building your extra curriculars.

If you’re an avid reader, consider sitting in on one of UTM Book Discovery’s meetings to discuss their book of the month. For the athletes, registration for tri-campus sports is now open, with tryouts scheduled throughout September.

Have fun and give back to the community at the same time by participating in the UTM Charity Fashion show.

4. Attend one of UTM’s many free events Campus events are a great way to break up the monotony of classes. If you’re not cramming for a test or finishing that essay due at midnight, head to a free campus event between classes to socialize and do something fun. This September 14, join the Blackwood Gallery in front of the Communication, Culture, and Technology Building between 1-4 p.m. for a sign-making workshop ahead of Peel Committee Against Women Abuse’s Take Back The Night March on September 21.

If you’re an upper-year student stressed about crafting the perfect resume or gaining valuable work experience, check out the Career Centre’s calendar for workshops on cover letters, resumes, interviewing, and networking skills.

University is stressful and neglecting your mental health can be all too easy amid the pressure of academics. No matter the day, you can find something on campus to help ease your mind whether it’s crushing a workout class or finding some stillness in nature.

Succeeding in your first year: Strategies for triumph!

From effective note-taking to maintaining a healthy work-life balance, discover the keys to success in academia and beyond.

Karine Alhakim Contributor

F

irst-year courses can seem very daunting. The endless lectures, assignments, and exams are no easy task. But fear not, for I have embarked on my own journey through the academic maze and discovered some invaluable tips and tricks along the way:

Master the art of note-taking Effective note-taking is a fundamental element for achieving success in your university journey. To optimize your classroom experience, there are several valuable note-taking strategies to consider. Firstly, adopting digital note-taking apps like OneNote can significantly enhance your organization and accessibility. OneNote allows you to access your notes seamlessly across various devices. Another helpful technique is the Cornell Method, which involves structuring your notes into sections for main ideas, keywords, and summaries. This method not only helps with comprehension, but also facilitates easier review. Lastly, active listening is an essential studying technique. Engage actively with the lecture material by paraphrasing, asking questions, and recording your thoughts. By doing that, you will reinforce your understanding and contribute to more effective note-taking overall, making it easier to study for finals later.

Plan wisely Navigating a successful university life requires meticulous

planning to balance academic responsibilities and personal commitments. Here are several planning techniques that have proven to be highly beneficial, in my experience. First and foremost, utilize a planner—whether physical or digital—to maintain a comprehensive record of deadlines, appointments, and to-do lists. Implementing a weekly review of all your course content can also be incredibly valuable.

Allocate time each week to assess and organize upcoming assignments and exams. This will help you mitigate lastminute stress and ensure a proactive approach to your workload. Finally, prioritize your tasks. When you prioritize your responsibilities and address important items first, you can tackle the most crucial tasks effectively while leaving time for the lower-priority tasks to still be completed. These planning techniques collectively contribute to a more organized and successful university experience.

Collaborate and network

Organize your study environment

Striking a harmonious balance between academics and personal life is crucial for sustaining mental and physical well-being throughout your university journey. To achieve this equilibrium, incorporate short breaks into your study routine to recharge your mind and prevent burnout. As well, prioritize regular physical activity and maintain a balanced diet to ensure you stay energized and focused. Allocate dedicated time for hobbies, relaxation and socializing to maintain a healthy, well-rounded lifestyle. By implementing these practices, you can foster a sustainable and thriving equilibrium between your academic and personal pursuits.

An organized study space is vital for maximizing your focus and productivity. Although it may sound difficult to achieve an organized environment for studying, there are many hacks you can use to jump start your clean up. Firstly, make decluttering a regular habit to ensure your study area remains tidy and free of unnecessary distractions. Next, employ colour coding by using coloured folders or digital tags to categorize your subjects and materials. Finally, minimize distractions by eliminating temptations such as social media and noisy surroundings during your study sessions. These strategies collectively contribute to a study environment that promotes enhanced learning and concentration.

University offers more than just academics—it’s a unique chance to cultivate relationships and gain insights from your peers and professionals. To make the most of this aspect of your university experience, join study groups. Collaborating with classmates can lead to a deeper comprehension of complex subjects and exposes you to diverse perspectives. Additionally, growing a network is key. Attend university events, seminars, and workshops to broaden your knowledge and establish connections with like-minded individuals and industry leaders. These interactions not only enrich your academic journey, but also offer opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Have a healthy work-life balance

8

features

Editor | Prisha (Maneka) Nuckchady features@themedium.ca

From student to growing researcher: Giang Bui’s three year journey From effective note-taking to maintaining a healthy work-life balance, discover the keys to success in academia and beyond.

Madhav Ajayamohan Contributor

I

magine completing your undergraduate degree in three years. To pull it off, you would have to take six courses per semester plus two summer courses—with no breaks. Most people run the risk of burning out, and even if you don’t, such an intense schedule can take a toll on your social life and grades. However, that’s exactly what Giang Bui, a computer science and management major, decided to do. After joining the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) during the 2021-22 academic year, she will be graduating with the class of 2024 this June.

Bui had a few reasons for graduating early, but her main reason was the opportunity cost of education. “If I stay for one more year, I will lose time and money. If I graduate early, I can take the next step,” she explains. In her two years at UTM, she became a Dean’s List Scholar, the president of the Google Developer Student Club, and a teaching assistant for both management and computer science courses. Bui also became a researcher, first authoring a paper, titled “Prior Programming Experience: A Persistent Performance Gap in CS1 and CS2,” published by the Special Interest Group in Computer Science Education (SIGCSE).

She presented this paper during the SIGCSE’s Technical Symposium in Computer Science Education this past summer.

In her first year, Bui joined UTM’s Computer Science Student Community as a tech officer and worked on Viaplanner, a tool that helps U of T students plan their schedules seamlessly.

“Working with a team of four upper-year students and a professor helped me develop my technical skills and teamwork,” reminisces Bui. The project also helped her form strong connections with the team and “opened doors for her future.”

One of the doors led to an opportunity to conduct computer science research. “At first, I had zero experience with research. I had no idea what I would do with [it]. I was always focused on being a computer engineer. I just applied on a whim, and wanted to try a new experience,” shares Bui. Her research focused on how prior experience in computer science affects student performance in introductory computer science courses. The inspiration for Bui’s research came from her students.

“I’ve spent my whole life as a student, and I have been a [teaching assistant], so I have seen a lot of people struggle when it comes to computer science, and there are a lot of factors that contribute to this. So, I want to make it easier for [them]—that was the centre of my research,”

Bui also presented her paper at UTM’s 2023 Summer Undergraduate Research Fair (SURF). Comparing SURF to the SIGCSE, Bui revealed she had to change how she presented her information. “I had to talk in a way that everyone could understand because not everyone had the same background in computer science. I also wanted to make sure everyone could take something away from my presentation, regardless of their major,” she adds.

These experiences propelled Bui to apply for graduate school and pursue a PhD in computer science, specializing in human-computer science interactions. Her internship at Citibank helped her make up her mind about her career plans.

“From my internship, I realized I wasn’t interested in being a software engineer. I could do it, but it wasn’t where my passion was. I was more interested in research, specifically investigating student difficulties interacting with technology and improving those interactions. It’s what I love, and something I can do for students, and potentially all the people,” she says.

For other students who also want to follow her path into research, Bui suggested two ways to get started. First, she suggests looking into the research and publications of our professors.

If someone’s work sparks your interest, talk to the professor and see if there are any projects, work studies, or independent studies they could include you in. However, she notes that it is harder to get a higher-level research position, like a paid research assistant position, since professors may prefer working with more experienced students. Second, she suggests joining a course like a Research Opportunity Program (ROP)—which is what Bui did! “ROP’s are a great way to start fresh and gain more experience,” she stresses.

Bui encourages students to find their interests through research, clubs, or internships. She stresses that the risk of rejection may exist, but that you’ll “never know if you never apply.”

This advice seems particularly apt coming from Bui. Throughout her time at UTM, she has been going for every opportunity offered to her, utilizing them to develop herself and reach her goals. It was with this mindset that she started her journey as a researcher and realized that it was her true passion.

adds Bui. With help from her graduate student mentor, Naaz Shibia, and her professors, Andrew Petersen and Michael Liut, Bui eventually published her paper in the SIGCSE. The SIGCSE was a turning point for Bui. She was nervous at first. “There were so many people at the conference, so many grad students, and even my professors from UTM and [University of Toronto St. George]—I was like, what am I going to do here?

How am I going to present in front of them?” Despite her worries, she enjoyed the conference. In addition to presenting her research, Bui was a student volunteer at the conference and helped speakers present their research—a fulfilling experience. “It was interesting to meet other grad students and researchers and understand what inspired their own research and what they plan to do in the future,” she explains.

Bui also mentioned how exciting it was to meet well-known researchers. She had been reading their papers prior to the event and was ecstatic at the chance to finally talk to them in person. At last, when it came to her presentation, she was inspired by the questions asked by the other researchers:

“Their questions gave me ideas for what to do in the future, like measuring the confidence of students when taking a course.”

GIANG BUI/UTM

9

Work-study programs: Getting involved in UTM’s new initiatives like its game studies minor Omar Khan shares his experience participating in a work-study program focused on designing and implementing UTM’s newly launched games studies minor.

Fatima B. Habib Contributor

S

tudent life is a balancing act. Between course loads, extracurricular activities, internships, volunteer programs, research projects, and work, university can be tough. It’s fair to assume that most students hesitate when it comes to taking on the additional responsibility of a work-study program. In addition to all their benefits, work-studies are designed with a student’s schedule in mind. Not only do they provide valuable experience in the workplace, but they also allow students to network, connect with people with similar interests, and understand how their academics translate into the workplace—all while being paid for their effort.

During the summer, fourth-year student and The Medium’s Sports Editor Omar Khan was one of the many students to participate in a work-study program. He was hired as a communication assistant for the Office of the Vice-President and Principal to work on a project for the University of Toronto Mississauga’s (UTM) new games study program, which launched this fall.

UTM has acquired the Syd Bolton Collection, which comprises over 14,000 video games, including Call of Duty. When Mrs. Bolton donated her late husband’s collection to UTM, she emphasized the importance of both preservation and public access. With this in mind, every student will be able to play and rent video games from the library. To this end, one of Khan’s work-study assignments included testing out this process and playing video games for an afternoon.

Some of his other work included environmental scans, which entailed systematically interpreting data to find new opportunities. One of them was about planetary observatories in the Greater Toronto Area. His team considered whether it was worth building an observatory at UTM, and Khan worked to determine if the project should go forward. This was completed by looking at similar projects in the area, noting whether the observatory stood out, and whether the demand in the region was strong enough.

“I had to organize a long list of similar projects in the area, what they did, what they did really well, opportunities they could do better, and how that would change our approach in similar projects,” he shared in an interview with The Medium.

During his scan, Khan found the locations of a few nearby observatories, including one at McMaster and one at University of Toronto St. George. He stressed UTM’s need for a new observatory as he found the demand for it to be high. This, he says, was largely because many public schools could benefit from local field trips in Mississauga instead of having to go to downtown Toronto.

Khan also organized interviews to hire candidates to develop the Black at UTM website, which highlights black voices within the UTM community and shares their accomplishments. Additionally, Khan also focused on giving the office feedback on the website’s writing and design.

An important aspect of a work-study is its connection to your degree. Being a member of the communication, culture, information and technology program, Khan noted that communication is an obvious, yet essential, part of his degree. Considering that he wants to pursue his masters in a similar topic, being a part of this work-study was a great way for him to gain experience in the workplace and apply what he has learned in the classroom to a professional setting.

He emphasized that learning more about the world, how it operates, and being able to network and meet new people were significant added bonuses to his work-study. Being in-person allowed him to gain experience in an office environment, forge these connections on a deeper level, and build transferable skills for his future career.

“The connections I made were really valuable, especially with my [supervisor], Jeff Espy. The conversations I had with him were really great,” Khan shared.

Another important aspect of accepting his work-study contract was the accessibility of the program. With a hybrid module and a flexible schedule, Khan was able to balance his job responsibilities with his summer course load.

“They made it very easy, and the schedule was very flexible. It was really catered towards me being a student,” explained Khan. He went into the office every Thursday and had the opportunity to work from home the rest of the week.

“The flexibility of it, while still getting to network and gain experience was the perfect combination for me and something that I would definitely recommend to other students.”

While Khan confessed that he was lucky enough to land a few offers for work over the summer, the work-study program made the most sense to him as it met his career goals. With the contract starting at the beginning of summer and ending right before school started, the timing was perfect. In addition, work-studies require at most 20 hours of work per week, most needing only 10 hours to ensure that you have sufficient time for your coursework.

With their added flexibility, work-studies are an excellent way to gain work experience, expand your network, and understand more about future career choices—all while being paid! For students interested in applying to work-study programs for the 2023-2024 year, applications are open till late September.

10

Arts

Editor | Alisa Samuel arts@themedium.ca

Happiness begins at a Jonas Brothers show After an official comeback in 2019, the band performed all their albums for long-standing fans during their most recent North American tour.

Daanish Alvi Staff Writer

I

’m a big fan of the Jonas Brothers. Since the release of their self-titled debut in 2007, the Jonas Brothers have been a part of every stage of my life, as they periodically dropped classic albums like A Little Bit Longer (2008) and Lines, Vines, and Trying Times (2009). The band’s break up in 2013 shook me to my core; it was as if my own family was falling apart, but that didn’t stop me from listening to their music day in and day out.

Then came their individual musical endeavours: middle brother Joe Jonas co-founded the dancerock group DNCE in 2015, while Nick Jonas, the youngest, released two solo albums. The songs that came from these projects were undoubtedly bangers, but deep down, there was some magic missing. This is why the news of the three brothers getting back together in February of 2019 made me fall to my knees in the middle of my high school atrium.

Four years after the release of their comeback album Happiness Begins, and after standalone singles like “Remember This” and “Who’s In Your Head,” all eyes were on the Jonas Brothers to see when their next fulllength project would hit shelves—a question that kept me refreshing their Instagram feed almost every single day.

As the group finally received their welloverdue star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in January 2023, Nick took, as stated by Rolling Stone, the opportunity to announce their new album, The Album, much to the satisfaction of fans across the world. In the months leading up to The Album’s release on May 12, 2023, the band put out singles like “Wings”

and “Waffle House.” To say these singles were signs of a revitalization of their sound would be a severe understatement.

The night of May 11 had arrived, and The Album was scheduled for release at midnight. As the clock slowly passed 11:59 p.m., my refresh-fingers immediately navigated to the band’s page to hit play on track one, titled “Miracle.” “Walking on a hot coal, never wore a rhinestone / But you really suit my body,” belted Nick Jonas in the song’s opening lines. From this moment forward, through the 11 songs that followed, the smile on my face never faded, not until I fell asleep at 3 a.m. after looping the album’s closing track, “Walls,” more times than I can count—a personal favourite and standout from their new body of work.

The Album is everything a Jonas Brothers fan needs and then some. Sonically refreshing from top to bottom, with major credit to producer Jon Bellion, yet still the same boys I have grown up listening to and loving since childhood. With Joe and Nick joining eldest of the trio, Kevin Jonas, in becoming fathers this time around, their new album held a prominent sense of maturity that wasted no time conveying how important family can be.

The natural next stage in this process entitled “Jonas Brothers Obsession” is eagerly anticipating the announcement of any sort of event that would yield an opportunity to hear these new songs live. In flawless timing, the FIVE ALBUMS. ONE NIGHT. TOUR was announced, with a Toronto date set for mid-August 2023. The decision to go to this show was a no-brainer for me.

Once the agonizing wait was up, the day had come, and it was everything I needed to complete my summer. The three-hour expansive setlist covered each of their five albums, as promised, and no doubt brought concertgoers back to the past with their earlier tunes. The band brought enough energy to keep each attendee at Toronto’s Rogers Centre on their feet for the entire show. We heard earlier songs from their discography, but with the brothers’ now seasoned voices, it was nothing short of a treat for my inner child.

From running through merch lines to losing my voice and trying to gain it back by drinking a Double Double from the nearest Tims after the show, it was a night I won’t ever forget.

As I was on the train back home, one takeaway in my mind was certain: wherever these Jersey boys go next, it’s clear that I’ll always be along for the ride.

The spider of light defeats totalitarian darkness in Edwidge Danticat’s The Dew Breaker UTM student and author of The Dawn of Eternal Winter recasts the ENG273 essay that won her the 2023 Dean’s Excellence Award in the category of writing.

Veronika Sizova Contributor

W

hat connects prose to poetry, Vodou religion to the Russian melancholy, and the dictatorial regime of Former President of Haiti Francois Duvalier to that of Joseph Stalin? In The Dew Breaker, a collection of nine stories about Haiti’s traumatic political past,

Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat links together each of these themes in the book’s epigraph, which is pulled from one of Russian poet Osip Mandelstam’s poems: “Maybe this is the beginning of madness / Forgive me for what I am saying / Read it […] quietly, quietly.”

Mandelstam was a 20th century poet exiled by Stalin, a ruthless fascist dictator who led the Soviet Union for nearly 30 years until his death in 1953. Mandelstam wrote this poem while

11 while in exile in Voronež in 1937. Mandelstam’s poetry turns the fragments of Danticat’s stories into a continuous parallel between two dictatorships.

The writing style that Danticat employs consists of brief fragments and short paragraphs which, over the course of the novel, create not only a sense of sparsity but also a strange union—a mosaic of small puzzle pieces that gradually come together to form a picture of people in Haiti, a country submerged in totalitarian power.

In “Night Talkers,” a nephew returns from the United States to visit his blind aunt—his only relative in Haiti. The aunt’s blindness has become the source of her loneliness and the origin of her night talks. In dreams, she can see beyond the darkness that surrounds her.

In “The Bridal Seamstress,” Beatrice Saint Fort is isolated in a different way. She was tortured by a Haitian prison guard whose memory haunts her everywhere she goes. The seamstress experiences a physical numbness, a gap of feeling similar to the gap in the epigraph. “The secret is time,” she says, and yet, for Beatrice, it is the very gaps in time—the blank spaces—where she bottles up her memories.

There is a clear parallel between the use of ellipses in Mandelstam’s poem and the novel’s fragmented format. These omissions represent an omnipresent political censorship. Danticat put ellipses after two phrases: “the beginning of madness…” and “read it….” The translation omits these ellipses altogether, while in the original version, the textual “silence” comes at the end of the three final lines, which end, respectively, in “доживём…” (we will live), “прости…” (forgive me), and “прочти…” (read it).

Danticat preserved one of the original punctuation marks and added another one after “madness,” marking off the contrast between the world and the lyrical hero opposing the system. In the original version, the last three lines all end in these periods of silence, indicating that the speaker was saying their last words before being silenced forever.

To find that Danticat ended the poem that originally had the ellipsis as the final punctuation mark, with a firm period after “quietly,” was interesting. Mandelstam’s uncertainty inspired Danticat to create a more hopeful ending and put a metaphorical “end” to the censorship and cruelty of political regimes. Where Mandelstam’s poem repeats the word “quietly,” Danticat’s novel emphasizes silence, and both works embody the voicelessness of the political regime’s subjects.

Why is being “quiet” so significant for both the poet and the novelist?

Mandelstam went through many prisons and Soviet work camps for expressing his oppositional views on Stalin (Mandelstam called him a “gleeful killer” in one of his poems). He chose to speak “quietly-quietly” about the political and social injustice in the USSR, turning the quiet poetic protest into a form of artistic resistance.

Knowing this, Danticat’s use of Mandelstam’s words in the epigraph indicates that the revolutionary ideas live on in the hearts of many people, with no regard to their distance in time and space. Throughout the novel, Danticat also repeats “quiet” to emphasize that even through the silence and voicelessness that many Haitians were submerged into, the echoes of truth, however feeble, come together in a chorus of VERONIKA SIZOVA/UTM justice against totalitarianism.

My essay centered around the hidden symbol of the “prudent spider of light” in Mandelstam’s poem that is introduced before the lines Danticat cites. The spider stands for the voices of opposition gathering their strength into “one thin beam” that not only reveals the corrupted nature of the state but also offers hope for a brighter future.

Mandelstam’s “spider” is also a spirit of the dead in Haiti’s Vodou religion. According to the Figge Art Museum, the spider spirit, or Gede Nibo, represents “the many converging into one,” just like Mandelstam’s interpretation of “one thin beam” comprised of many voices.

Mandelstam’s poetry and Danticat’s prose pursue freedom and justice in the face of authoritarian oppression. Through repetitions, ellipses, and symbolism, both authors show that only unity and mutual support between generations can bring into society liberation and peace.

Mandelstam’s “spider” is also a spirit of the dead in Haiti’s Vodou religion. According to the Figge Art Museum, the spider spirit, or Gede Nibo, represents “the many converging into one,” just like Mandelstam’s interpretation of “one thin beam” comprised of many voices.

Mandelstam’s poetry and Danticat’s prose pursue freedom and justice in the face of authoritarian oppression. Through repetitions, ellipses, and symbolism, both authors show that only unity and mutual support between generations can bring into society liberation and peace.

Artist Clara Lynas to lead a sign-making workshop ahead of anti-violence rally Take Back the Night event partners speak to The Medium about how they aim to use contemporary art as a social justice tool.

Meighan Atkinson Contributor

C

reate art and support a cause between classes this September 14 by joining OCAD University graduate and printmaker Clara Lynas on campus in a free sign-making workshop. Lynas has partnered with the Blackwood Art Gallery and the Peel Committee Against Women Abuse (PCAWA) in advance of Take Back the Night, a social justice rally to take place on September 21.

Take Back the Night began in the 1970s “as a movement to stand up against sexual violence in all its forms,” says Rebecca Pacheco, public education and community collaboration coordinator with PCAWA. “Over the years, Take Back the Night has grown into a global movement of women, gender-queer, trans, and non-binary folks coming together in solidarity and protest[ing] against sexual violence.” Signs will be made to reflect such anti-oppressive sentiment.

The drop-in workshop will be held from 1-4 p.m. outside of the main entrance of the Communication, Culture, & Technology Building at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) campus. The event is open to the public, and all materials will be provided on-site.

Lynas will facilitate an additional workshop from 6-8 p.m. on September 21, outside of the Burnhamthorpe Library to kick off the march.

“For anyone who hasn’t heard of screen-printing or doesn’t have an understanding of it, this is a really exciting way to get a handle on these sorts of practices and ways of making art,” Lynas says.

Participants of the September 14 workshop are encouraged to bring their artwork to the march.

Pacheco says the march will include “a community booth fair where attendees are invited to visit booths hosted by community organizations sharing information about the

idarity and calls to action,” says Jacqui Usiskin, the gallery’s curatorial assistant.

CLARA LYNAS/OCAD

supports and services they offer to survivors of gender-based violence.” The PCAWA will also provide UTM students with a list of support resources available to survivors, including 24-hour crises hotlines, shelters, and food banks.

The Blackwood connected with Lynas through Open Studio , a printmaking studio in Toronto where she has taught workshops.

The Blackwood has commissioned two artworks by Lynas, which workshop participants will transform into screen-printed signs in hopes of “spreading messages of sol-

Lynas explains that the process of printmaking involves limited tools, “really just your squeegee, your screen, your arms, and whatever you’re printing onto.” She says that printmaking has been “used for public activism as long as it’s basically existed,” because of its cost efficiency and ease of reproduction.

The workshops present an opportunity to learn about printmaking as a creative medium and understand its role in social movements. “It’s going to be fun,” Lynas assures the most novice sign-makers. “You’re maybe going to get a little bit of ink on you, you’re going to learn how to pull a print, and you’ll have something you can take away after.”

According to Usiskin, the Blackwood hopes the workshops serve “not only to create signs for the event, but to [also] empower participants to vocalize the changes they would like to see in their community.”

12

Sports & Health

Editor | Omar Khan sports@themedium.ca

Women’s World Cup recap The recent Women’s World Cup tournament was both exhilarating and historic, bringing women’s soccer to the forefront of the sports world and captivating a global audience.

Omar Khan Sports Editor

over Germany is the clear favorite and the highlight of the tournament. The skill, will, and finesse of that goal stands out as one of the most impressive plays seen in a Women’s World Cup in a long time and will likely become one of the most historic goals in women’s football.

T

While this tournament saw a plethora of highs and lows, perhaps the climax of the tournament was its ending: the final between England and Spain. These two football-crazed nations went head to head in perhaps the most dramatic final in the Women’s World Cup in the past decade.

aking place in both New Zealand and Australia, the 2023 Women’s World Cup was the first to be co-hosted and lasted approximately one month. The tournament was full of dramatic goals, high-caliber competition, and historic moments.

Some of the highlights of the tournament included Colombia’s incredible upset win over Germany. Heading into this game, Germany was heavily favoured to win over the underdog team, Colombia. However, Colombia star player Linda Caicedo lit up the tournament, leading her team to victory at the age of just 18.

The teams of the tournament co-hosts, Australia and New Zealand, were eliminated relatively early in the tournament after some unexpected losses, including an Australian upset loss to Nigeria. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the tournament was the American team’s performance. For the first time, the American team did not make it to the semi-finals—a feat that had become the expectation for the heavily-favoured and historically successful football team. Throughout the history of this tournament, only four teams had won: the United States, Germany, Japan and Norway. However, this year, none of these teams won the chance to play in the finals, making way for a new champion.

The debate as to the “best goal” from this year’s tournament is a highly contested area of conversation. Some claim the best was Ireland’s Katie McCabe’s corner kick against Canada, others suggest England’s Lauren James long-range try against Denmark was the most impressive. However, most agree that Caicedo’s solo effort in the previously mentioned upset win

Both teams shared the stage for the first time, never having reached this level of play or this portion of the tournament in the years prior—Spain, specifically, had never made it past the 16th round of the tournament. Neither team seemed to have an edge over the other, and it was clear that everyone involved was nervous. Then, in the early morning of August 20, 2023, in a Sydney stadium packed with over 70 000 fans, Spanish player Olga Carmona scored the goal that would become the ultimate game winner. The first Spanish Women’s World Cup championship in history was secured. This victory did not only thrill Spain’s fans, but won over fans around the world, captivating an audience and bringing new eyes to women’s football. play or this portion of the tournament in the years prior—Spain, specifically, had never made it past the 16th round of the tournament. Neither team seemed to have an edge over the other, and it was clear that everyone involved was nervous. Then, in the early morning of August 20, 2023, in a Sydney stadium packed with over 70 000 fans, Spanish player Olga Carmona scored the goal that would become the ultimate game winner. The first Spanish Women’s World Cup championship in history was secured. This victory did not only thrill Spain’s fans, but won over fans around the world, captivating an audience and bringing new eyes to women’s football.

How are the Raptors shaping up after shuffling their roster and personnel in the offseason?

Justyn Aleluia Columnist

A

fter a disappointing loss to the Chicago Bulls in the 2023 NBA Play-In tournament, the Toronto Raptors left their fanbase distraught and divided. For some, a rebuild looked like the only option. Still, others held firm in believing that President Masai Ujiri could retool with a contending roster in the 2024 season.

The first step was firing beloved head coach Nick Nurse and hiring Darko Rajakovic, a player development specialist who hopes to help their young prospects grow and develop into stars.

Then, at the 2023 NBA draft, the Raptors selected guard Gradey Dick, the number 13 overall pick. The selection was another relief for fans, since Dick should be the muchneeded help they required in the shooting department.

The start of the free agency period saw Fred VanVleet sign with the Houston Rockets for a lucrative three years worth around USD$130 million. VanVleet had the fifth lowest field-goal percentage of any player in the NBA last season. This statistic heavily contributed to the Raptors placing near the bottom of the league in the same category. Though his departure may be a sore spot for

some, it should be seen as a fresh start for the young team.

VanVleet’s replacement was revealed to be Dennis Schroder , a veteran guard coming off a good season with the Lakers. Schroder signed a 2-year deal with the Raptors for a little under USD $26 million. Schroder has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his career but has never been given the opportunity to be a pivotal part of an offense. Fans have gotten an early preview of what Schroder can do in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, where he is currently averaging around 19 points per game with around six assists to match.

The question of where the Toronto Raptors stand remains.

It’s tough to predict how this roster will do because so much depends on young players, their development, and how they fit with the current stars. Should Scottie Barnes take that step to become an all-star caliber player this year, the Raptors will be an exciting team to watch. Scottie Barnes has only gotten better with every game, and an offseason of training under his new coach is exactly what he needs to take that leap to become the star he was promised to be.

The Raptors may not have gotten better on paper. Still, with a new head coach and better opportunities for promising players, they should hopefully finish with more than 35 wins and possibly compete for a play-in spot.