Vol 38 issue 10 by The Medium

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November 14, 2011 Volume 38, Issue 10 www.mediumutm.ca

Another “Drop Fees” campaign UTM Students’ Union embarks on yet another campaign to lobby the provincial government to lower tuition LORI-LEE EMSHEY ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR UTMSU held the year’s first Drop Fees coalition meeting last Tuesday. At the meeting they discussed how to raise awareness for the Drop Fees Rally, scheduled for February 1. Attendees also discussed lobbying tactics to advocate for lower tuition fees. UTMSU has suggested that during the provincial election in Ontario the Liberal Party promised a 30% reduction in Ontario student fees. In reality, the Liberal party promised to provide grants of $1,600 to students from families with incomes of less $160,000. The 30% reduction refers to the ratio of the grant to the average tuition (around $5,300). The discrepancy aside, student unions across Ontario will once again rally for a decrease in tuition fees.

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After years of campaigning, the UTMSU plans another lobby initiative. “Even though they promised a 30% drop, a reduction is actually a lie,” said VP External Munib Sajjad at the beginning of the meeting. Sajjad also explained that part-time students

and international student are ineligible. The topic of international student fees came up several times over the meeting. The average tuition cost this year

for international students was $28,000, not counting residence and meal plan fees. “If international students want their fees dropped, then their presence needs to be

shown,” said Sajjad. Along with a fee reduction for all students, Sajjad is also lobbying for a national education act that would cover all university students across Canada. “We’ve been lobbying for years but haven’t seen a change,” said Sajjad. “We need to get students together. We want to drop fees and make sure everyone is attached to it.” The coalition’s goal is to get 2,000 UTM students out into the streets for the rally in February. Other attendees’ visions for the goals of the campaign, not covered by the Liberals’ election promise, included government subsidization of education, a freeze in tuition fees, support of the community, prioritization of education and health care, and a united campus. Fees continued on page 3

Low turnout at town hall Students stressed tuition fees at town hall that assessed progress of “Towards 2030” STEFANIE MAROTTA NEWS EDITOR Few students and faculty attended the town hall last Tuesday, held by the university to seek feedback from stakeholders and assess the progress of the Towards 2030 plan for academic excellence. Cheryl Misak, UTM’s vicepresident and provost, held town halls on all three campuses to facilitate discussion about the new challenges and opportunities that have arisen since the document’s development in 2007. The UTM Students’ Union and students were the most vocal during the hour and a half allocated to questions, which focussed mainly on financial matters, including lobby efforts for increased government funding.

U of T first in research A Canadian ranking team places U of T first in Canada for research. Medium News, page 3

Campus restrictions? Student told off while exploring the Health Sciences Complex. Medium A&E, page 4

Exhibition at Blackwood Gallery hosts experimental video installation series. Medium Opinion, page 7

EDWARD CAI/THE MEDIUM

Questions from the students’ union dominated the town hall. “It’s troubling that the U of T administration felt the true course was to assess higher tuition fees instead of influencing the policy-makers of the provincial and federal governments to

give more funding,” said Munib Sajjad, UTMSU’s VP External. Misak explained that the university constantly pushes for greater support from the province, but funding for research is

fundamental in expanding upon the university’s prestigious international reputation and providing quality education. Hall continued on page 2

Involving or just lazy? Discussion versus lecture as a teaching style. Medium Features, page 8

UTM plays off Five teams competed in playoff games this weekend. Check for the recap. Medium Sports, page 11

«11.14.2011

U of T awarded for sexual diversity activism ADAM ERB U of T received the provincial plaque for sexual diversity activism on November 2, for work done by the University of Toronto Homophile Association. In 2003, Ontario was the first province to legalize gay marriage, breaking the tethers of sexual oppression for same-sex couples. In 2005, the right to same-sex marriage was added to the Canadian Human Rights act. The “Out and Proud” campaign first began on October 7, 1974, when 13 students gathered to study for a new course: “New Perspec-

tives on the Gay Experience”. This class spurred many students to think about how the homosexual community can branch out into areas around the school. Over the years, more and more students became aware of the homosexual community’s wants and needs, and a new group was born: the University of Toronto Homophile Association. UTM also hosts several events and has its own LGBTQ club, Out@UTM. Groups like Out@UTM have put on several events over the course of the school year, including Queer Orientation.

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Jewish groups protest upcoming Islamic course Organizations pressure U of T to cancel seminar because of professor’s comments SANA HAQ The University of Toronto is being pressed by Jewish organizations to cancel an Islamic seminar course taught by scholar Abdullah Hakim Quick due to his public anti-Semitic and homophobic comments. The 18-week course is under attack by groups such as The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center and Hillel of Greater Toronto. “The unfortunate truth is that when you have speakers like this, that are divisive, it hurts communities,” said Avi Benlolo, the president of the FSWC. He hopes that our university will take the necessary steps in either cancelling the series or putting it on hold for further review. On his blog, Quick defended his controversial comments by remarking that his words were taken out of context; he wrote, “I was asking God to heal the spiritual corruption that afflicts some members of reli-

gious groups.” He has also described homosexuals as being “one of the most dangerous groups coming up to the surface”.

FSWC claims that by cancelling this event, the University of Toronto will not hurt free speech, but will rather defend the rights of homosexuals and Jews. However, on his blog, Quick argued that he developed a social service agency for Muslims in Toronto where he had personally counselled against the terrible violence inflicted upon homosexuals through bullying and states. “I publicly spoke out against it,” claimed Quick. FSWC claims that by cancel-

ling this event, the University of Toronto will not hurt free speech, but will rather defend the rights of homosexuals and Jews. In 2006, the University of Toronto allowed FSWC to hold an event called “Know Your Radical Islam Week”, where speakers had proclaimed that Arabs follow a “culture of death”. The event went on with high alert by Campus Police. Following Benlolo’s remarks, Quick said, “I am not anti-Semitic; my track record in Toronto is clear. In the 80s and 90s I did scores of interfaith and anti-racist programs. I have never had a problem like this until an extremist group in London took my words out of context. I have made a public apology to all those who were hurt by the distortion of my words, and I sincerely believe that we have other more important issues to deal with in this society than chasing unfounded statements and trying to hurt each other.”

Students speak up at UTM town hall Hall continued from Cover “We can’t advocate with the province for a tuition freeze because we would have to make cuts that are deep and harmful for students and the university as a whole,” Misak said. According to the Towards 2030 reports, the university intends to increase the radio of graduate to undergraduate enrolment, thereby directing greater funding to research initiatives. Ontario offers the lowest perstudent funding in Canada, so the university has to find alternative methods to generate revenue, such as private institutions and increased user fees through tuition. Danielle Sandu, president of the University of Toronto Students’ Union, stated that student tuition contributes to 40% of the operating budget. “We’ll continue to advocate for increased per-student funding from the provincial government and will be happy to join forces with our students on that lobbying effort,” Misak said. “But realistically, universities also need tuition fees in order to deliver the excellent education our students deserve.” UTMSU also inquired about governance reform, one of the

developments of Towards 2030. Sajjad insisted that governance bodies at U of T, such as the Governing Council and the Erindale College Council, should include greater student representation.

“Realistically, universities also need tuition fees in order to deliver the excellent education our students deserve.” —Cheryl Misak The number of student seats at Governing Council, the highest decision-making body at U of T, depends on the board or committee. The Academic Board includes 14 student positions out of 58 total seats. The Business Board includes two student positions. The Erindale College Council, the highest decisionmaking body at the Mississauga campus, allocates 75 seats to undergraduate students alone. “The issue of U of T governance reform was brushed to the side,” Sajjad said. “After the meeting, the provost was asked about more student representation at Governing Council, its

affiliated boards and subcommittees, and Erindale College Council, but she acknowledged the question and said nothing could be done, as there was enough student representation.” The Towards 2030 report, written by U of T’s president, David Naylor, outlined five key themes for improvement: long-term enrolment strategies, institutional organization, university resources, university governance, and university relations. Five separate task forces were stricken, comprising university governors, senior administrators, and representatives from alumni, faculty, staff, and student constituencies. After a series of research, consultation, and feedback, each task force put together a report, outlining the university’s longterm plan to achieve higher standards of education, research, and staff and student experience over the next two decades. In particular, the document stressed the importance of research for the university’s reputation and the opportunities for the satellite campuses to assume greater autonomy as opposed to centralized governance. Misak invited attendees to direct their questions and feedback to the Towards 2030 website.

11.14.2011 THE MEDIUM NEWS

UTMSU plans to lower tuition fees Fees continued from Cover The discussion digressed to a comparison between the Drop Fees campaign in Ontario and campaigns in other countries. Chris Thompson cited the student strikes in Santiago, Chile. In August of this year, 150,000 students took to the street of Santiago to protest for more funding, better teacher training, and scholarships. The protests ended in tear gas and arrests when the student leaders lost control of the crowd. Walied Khogali, UTMSU’s executive coordinator, said that before any changes can happen, the coalition needs a strategy. Khogali proposed an entire week dedicated to lobbying, coordinated with other student organizations in the GTA. He suggested making viral YouTube videos of students and a “Party for a Cause” to raise awareness of the coalition. Khogali wants to involve local faith groups, churches, fac-

ulty, and UTM staff to make a strong coalition. He suggested a media strategy using the free ad space on Breakfast Television and making public announcements on Mississauga Transit.

“We’ve been lobbying for years but haven’t seen a change. We need to get students together. We want to drop fees and make sure everyone is attached to it.” —Munib Sajjad “If you’re taking the bus, say hi to your bus driver and plug [the rally]. Ask if you can make an announcement. Most of them are so nice, they’ll let you,” said Khogali. He also suggested embedded

journalists from the national and ethnic newspapers and chasing celebrity endorsement. “ ‘Debt is guaranteed: you have to accept it and live with it’—I don’t believe this, and I don’t think it’s right,” said Khogali. “We want to sit around this table next year and celebrate that fees haven’t gone up.” For the rest of November, the UTMSU and the coalition will be hosting information tables across the campus. Yasmine Youssef, the associate VP Equity, pointed out that the UTM coalition needs to do more than raise awareness about the Drop Fees campaign. “We need to educate people. People know about it, but they’re not angry about it yet. People need to be angry before they’ll do anything,” said Youssef. The next coalition meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 5 p.m. in the Green Room at the Student Centre. The meeting is open to everyone.

»What do you think of the “Drop fees” campaign?

Michael Luzi Fifth year, Physics

Sandra Toufeq Fourth year, Religion

“It doesn’t seem like they’re accomplishing anything. And the amount they spent on the campaign is shocking.”

“There are all these campaigns about dropping fees, but my tuition keeps going up.”

Sylvia Toufeq First year, Social Sciences

Arnav Second year, Commerce

“I’m glad they’re doing something about high tuition fees.”

“It doesn’t make sense to me. We’re paying money for something that doesn’t work.”

U of T tops rankings in research Out of 50 universities in Canada, U of T scored 99.9% across categories to take first place overall

U of T earned a combined total score of 99.9 out of a possible 100 points. U of T also

placed number one for the medical/doctoral category. Research in this category constitutes the majority of the overall research, earning 81% of the total income in the combined list of the top 50. The top 50 research universities combined earned a total of $6.5 billion in income from research, an increase of 3.6% from 2009. Of the 50 universities, 33 showed an increase, with only 17 showing a decrease since 2009. “Research income growth actually outstripped overall economic growth in 2010, which is an encouraging sign,” said Ron Freedmam, the CEO of Research Infosource. In fact, research income rose by 134%

over the last decade, Freedman added. Recently, UTM opened its first medical school: the Terrence Donnelly Health Sciences Complex. When asked about the possible impact of the new building and medical program, Sigouin said, “[I have] no doubt that the opening of the centre will help expand research in U of T, the country and the world.” Other Toronto universities that found themselves in the list included York, which placed number one in the comprehensive category and 23rd overall, and Ryerson, which placed number one in the undergraduate category and 30th overall.

Italian PM steps down; Mario Monti becomes interim PM

Q: Why shouldn’t you have sex with animals? A: Penis cancer.

Baseball player kidnapped in Venezuela, country in uproar

Man assists burglar with stealing his TV, realizes just in time

A man crashed his car into the front doors of the police headquarters in Waterloo early Sunday morning. The vehicle continued to drive 30 metres into the building before coming to a stop in front of employees. Police are investigating and say the man deliberately targeted the station. No one was injured.

After nearly a decade as prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi resigned on Saturday. His decision came just hours after parliament passed economic reforms to prevent worsening the debt crisis. A crowd gathered outside the presidential palace to watch Berlusconi’s resignation. University professor and European commissioner has been elected as interim prime minister. Berlusconi vowed to work to “save italy”.

According to a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, men that have sex with animals (SWA) are more likely to develop penile cancer. Long-term and intense SWA could produce micro-traumas in the penile tissue. “A true zoophile can’t change their attraction and love just because of a higher or lower infection risk,” Sallie Graves said, a member Equality for All, an organization that advocates SWA.

On November 9, Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos was kidnapped and hidden in a mountainous region of Venezuela. Ramos was rescued two days later on Friday. The announcement was made in ballparks across the country, eliciting cheers from the crowd. The next time Ramos visits Venezuela, he will be accompanied by bodyguards.

A man returned to his home in Wilmington Carolina and saw a man carrying a flat-screen television down the street. The man offered to help when he noticed the television looked familiar. He looked back at his house to see the front door wide open. The homeowner chased the burglar down the street and called 911. Police intercepted the getaway car and tasered the burglar when he tried to escape.

Source: 680 News

Source: The Washington Post

Source: Huffington Post

Source: The Washington Times

Source: NBC Philadelphia

U of T was named number one for research in 2011 on a list of the top 50 Canadian research universities. The list, released on Tuesday, November 1 by Research Infosource, ranked Canadian universities research based on input, output, and impact indicators. The score is balanced in three different categories: medical/doctoral, comprehensive, and undergraduate. U of T has held its position since Research Infosource released its first list back in 2001. U of T holds the top position as an expected standard, agreed Jose Sigouin, Rearch Infosource’s research information

analysis manager. Sigouin added that it’s “not surprising that U of T would be number one”. What has boosted U of T’s research and been one of the greatest achievements is the addition of many partnerships. “The strength of any great university is its connection to the greater community—locally, nationally, and internationally,” wrote professor Catharine Whiteside, the dean of the Faculty of Medicine, in the newest edition of Edge Magazine. Edge Magazine covers research for U of T, and its most recent issue is all about partnerships, which are a major contributing factor for U of T’s research. The issue covers the partnerships associated with

the university, including 10 affiliated hospitals (like Sick Kids and St. Michaels hospitals), research institutes (like the Michener Institute), and 20 community partnerships.

Man accused of deliberately crashing into police station

LAURA LEFEBVRE

“The strength of any great university is its connection to the greater community— locally, nationally, and internationally.” —Catharine Whiteside

11.14.2011

MEDIUM OPINION Editor-in-Chief » Michael Di Leo

Hey, guys... er, and girls? Last Wednesday I overheard a rather heated conversation while doing some work in the IB lounge area. It began when a male student approached a group of sitting students (presumably his study group) and said, “Hey guys.” Fairly standard greeting, I thought. It seems as though some of his friends didn’t agree. “Please don’t refer to us as guys,” said a female student. “It’s unfair.” What happened next was surprising. The two got into an argument over the use of the word “guys” while the rest of the group looked on in awkward silence. While I don’t remember exactly what was said, I do remember

the terms “equitable” and “inclusive” were thrown around. Eventually their argument subsided, and both were left fuming. I’ve heard about this before— how our language, as an extension of our culture, is structured in such a way as to systematically subjugate women—but I have never seen someone actually take offence. It was clear that the male student meant no harm when he referred to the group (which consisted of several females) as “guys”, but considering this problem with English, was her reaction warranted? Seeing as I’m a male myself, I’m probably not the best judge of that. I can’t say that certain

words make me uncomfortable because their use suggests male dominance—nor can I say I feel more powerful, for that matter. But I do understand where she’s coming from. Men often unknowingly demean women through their everyday choices in the use of language. Something as straightforward and seemingly positive as paying a woman a compliment (particularly if it’s in regards to her physical appearance) can be marginalizing. The basic idea is that we are stressing the importance of looks in a woman’s life, while simultaneously using the compliment to gain access to her. I would venture that most men

who tell women they’re beautiful aren’t doing it with all (or sometimes any) of this in mind, but it does clearly have an effect, however subconscious it may be. The important lesson to take from all of this is that there are socially constructed forms of male dominance present in how we use language, even though we don’t necessarily see it. I am, however, at a loss for how “guys” can be understood in this same way. The only reason I can think of is that by using the word, we are only acknowledging the men in the group (or, as with the rules for French ils, are extending the maleness to cover the rest of the group). I sup-

pose this is, in some small way, a marginalization of the women present. But I don’t think it warrants an argument; “guys” is so commonly used, it’s more likely that we just start to understand its meaning differently. If you think this whole analysis went too far in depth, you may be right. But only then do these problems become visible, short of taking a Women’s Studies course. I hope that someone reads this and thinks twice about what impact their words have. Real talk. YOURS, MICHAEL DI LEO

A house divided cannot stand Urinal etiquette Dear Editor, Last week a friend and I decided to explore the new medical building. We went around 4:30 p.m. and it was completely deserted, so we figured we might as well take our time and look around. After the main floor impressed us, we took the stairs up to the second floor—a nice, albeit pretty standard set of halls, lockers, and classrooms. It was at this point that we were confronted by a girl at her locker : “Just to let you know, you’re not supposed to be on the second floor.” My friend and I looked at each other and were completely taken aback. We asked her if this was because we weren’t medical students, and she replied in the affirmative. (Besides, for whatever reason, she just assumed that we weren’t

in her program.) There is something ver y wrong with this picture. Where is this unwritten rule which forbids students from merely walking around a building, unless you have classes there? I say “unwritten” because we didn’t see signs limiting our freedom anywhere, with the exception of a Students’ Lounge that bears the notice “medical students only”. What makes the second floor of this building any different from the lockerlined hallways of Davis, or the newly furnished classrooms of IB? If a med student doesn’t have a class in the North Building, does that mean he or she can’t ever go in? So why are non-med students supposedly forbidden from looking around this impressive new structure? I understand that the Health Sciences Complex was an extremely expensive

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undertaking—it cost around $36 million—and that it is necessar y to enforce the security of the building, but what I am arguing here is not an issue of security. Students should be able to explore their own campus without feeling like intruders—exactly how I felt when I left the medical building. I have inquired of Mark Overton, the Dean of Student Affairs, if this is a legitimate rule or if the girl just didn’t want us there. Whether or not her claim is true, what kind of community does that foster on campus? Sincerely, Nives Hajdin

Nives Hajdin is the A&E Editor of The Medium.

Dear Editor, It’s nice to be free and loose. But not always. These days, I look back to an older time, when manners and etiquette ruled and everyone had a sense of politeness and courtesy. Sometimes it’s arbitrary and dumb. But sometimes it just makes things flow. I’m talking about urinal etiquette. Ladies, please don’t swoon. You see, there was a time when every man knew his place, knew which order men were supposed to take the urinals in. He knew not to take a urinal right beside someone else, to wait if there wasn’t one available, and BY JOVE never to take a middle one under ANY circumstances. This was a noble tradition, a system of simple and elegant rules to prevent awkwardness. I mean, think about it. When else do

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you find yourself standing two feet away from another guy and you’re both gripping your naked junk for dear life? Eye contact can be withering. But then they started putting in the walls between urinals. At first it seemed like a godsend. You never have to worry about any of the etiquette. You’re in your own little box. It was perfect. But I realized something when I was in a non-wall washroom the other day. We have forgotten urinal etiquette. And man, was it awkward. This guy sidled right up next to me and was all up in my face. So maybe it’s time to think about our technological advances and consider going back to an older, simpler time—a time when we knew our manners. Everywhere we went. See you in the washroom! Trev Wallard

DISCLAIMER Opinions expressed in the pages of The Medium are exclusively of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Medium. Additionally, the opinions expressed in advertisements appearing in The Medium are those of advertisers and not of The Medium. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor will be edited for spelling, grammar, style and coherence. Letters will not exceed 700 words in print. Letters that incite hatred, violence or letters that are racist, homophobic, sexist or libelous will not be published. Anonymous letters will not be published.

11.14.2011

MEDIUM A&E Editor » Nives Hajdin

The race to survive

UTM’s third-year drama students shine in 1917: The Halifax Explosion COLLEEN MUNRO ASSOCIATE A&E EDITOR On the morning of December 6, 1917, two ships collided in the Halifax harbour. Unfortunately for everyone nearby, one of the ships (the French freighter MontBlanc) happened to be carrying massive amounts of explosives on board. The delayed detonation that morning created the largest man-made explosion prior to the invention of the atomic bomb. Nearly 2,000 lives were lost as a result of the blast, cementing the “Halifax Explosion” as one of the most significant and tragic moments in Canadian history. This turn of events makes an effective backdrop for Theatre Erindale’s second production of the season, 1917: The Halifax Explosion. Using two books as source material (Mary Ann Monnon’s Miracles and Mysteries and Janet Kitz and Joan Payzant’s December 1917), the Erindale Company adapted the play under the direction of former Theatre Erindale student Meredith Scott. Met with a full house on opening night (which appropriately fell on Remembrance Day), 1917: The Halifax Explosion, staged by UTM’s third year theatre and drama studies students, is part of Theatre Erindale’s 20th anniversary “Power of Performance” season, and it turned out to be very powerful indeed. 1917: The Halifax Explosion begins on the day before the explosion. The residents of Halifax go about their daily business, and the audience is introduced to several characters from all walks of

Jim Smagata/photo

That ship just crashed, how hilarious! (L to R: Ben Hayward, Jonathan Walls, Michael Esposito II, and Fraser Woodside.) life. From the local clergyman to the nurses in the hospital to the workers on the dock, the various residents of Halifax are all shown as key members of the community. Unaware of what the following day brings, they act as any unsuspecting people of the time would—they plan weddings, they prepare for the school Christmas pageant, and they fret about the war. As the play progresses, the devastating explosion inevitably takes place, and from that point on, the focus shifts to the aftermath of the blast. As the hospital is flooded with the injured and the local school transforms into a makeshift morgue, the day-to-day lives of the residents of Halifax are put on hold. In the face of crisis, the strength and selflessness of the characters is tested in some of

the most extreme ways imaginable. One of the most striking aspects of 1917: The Halifax Explosion is how successfully it captures the time period it covers. The costumes (by Angela Thomas, with help from a talented wardrobe crew) are beautiful, and the bold makeup (Samantha Miller-Vidal) makes the cast look as though they come from an era not quite our own. The set crew also does a fantastic job of evoking the time period with only a few simple benches, crates, and white sheets on the stage. But while the set design may be effectively minimal, there is nothing understated about the subject of the play. The cast acts appropriately to convey the ordeal their characters face, and the results are emotional and dramatic. It’s a true ensemble piece (there are

no lead actors or main characters), and every cast member plays their part well. Owen Fawcett is especially strong as the pilot of the MontBlanc, who offers an ultimately futile sense of level-headedness to the situation, even up to the moment of crisis. Fawcett’s chemistry with Andrew Si Rosa (who also excels as the colourful French captain of the ship) makes for one of the most memorable character pairings in the play. Cassondra Padfield is another standout cast member, playing a young, nervous nurse at the local hospital, under the command of a brash superior (Carolyn Nettleton). Meanwhile, Lindsey Middleton also makes an impression, playing one of the show’s youngest characters—a bouncy, excitable

nine-year-old student. The show’s sprinkling of humour (mostly during the first act) is a welcome relief from the heaviness of the subject matter, and Middleton, along with several of her castmates, proves to have a knack for comedy. With so many characters and storylines in the play, it becomes difficult at times to keep up with all the different relationships and to remember how they all work into the story. However, the strength of the play is in the vivid, relatable inhabitants of Halifax, a large array of characters (which requires the already healthy-sized cast to assign multiple roles per actor) that effectively shows the bustling, diverse spirit of WWI-era urban Canada. Along with the characters and strong performances, another element that helps prevent 1917: The Halifax Explosion from playing out like a history lesson is the unexpected creative flourishes thrown in throughout the show. At carefully chosen moments, the play diverges from its fairly standard storytelling in favour of interpretive, tableau-like scenes. Though they are obviously meticulously choreographed, these moments play out naturally, and they help to convey the emotion and strife of the characters. The performance also ends with a musical number of sorts, and the cast’s impressive harmonies make for a sombre but lovely ending to a play that expertly blends reverence and entertainment. 1917: The Halifax Explosion runs until October 20. For tickets and show times, visit utm.utoronto.ca/ academic/theatre.

J. Edgar: the man, the mystery, the movie ANDREA AMBROGI I had read several negative reviews that put a serious damper on my hopes for J. Edgar, but after sitting in my theatre seat for 137 minutes completely captivated, I couldn’t help but wonder if the critics watched the same movie I did. John Edgar Hoover was an incredibly closed down and petulant megalomaniac, and everything about the cinematography—from the desaturation to the use of shadows and angles—reflected this quality well. The non-linear structure of the film also lent itself well to the more subtle symbolism pertaining to the mystery surrounding Hoover, which I unfortunately cannot delve

too deep into without spoiling the film. Leonardo DiCaprio’s portrayal of Hoover gives perhaps his most fully realized and persuasive performance yet. He is absolutely brilliant from start to finish in his speech and mannerisms. Even under a thick mask of prosthetic skin and added body weight, DiCaprio delivers an incredible portrayal of the legendary director of the FBI. But he isn’t the only star in the film: Armie Hammer as Hoover’s trusted companion Clyde Tolson deserves some praise as well. Admittedly, I was drawn to J. Edgar when it was first announced because of Leo, but Hammer gave such a gripping rendition of

Tolson that it caught me off guard. A lot of people are shining a light on DiCaprio this year to win big during this year’s award’s season, but I won’t be surprised if Hammer receives a few nominations, and hopefully wins as well. He brings Tolson to life in such a way that you can’t help but feel pity for him on screen. For such a young actor, his effort in this role, especially when he was aged to play Tolson later in his life, is both believable and magnificent. Clint Eastwood’s direction, paired with Dustin Lance Black’s screenplay, create a movie that, while sometimes dull, delivers shot after shot of brilliant filmmaking. J. Edgar is a very nuanced film, and I’m fairly certain that’s the reason

Leo in 20 years. Deal with it. behind its love/hate reputation up to this point. Nothing about it is very “in your face”, but it’s mindfully compelling and remarkably moving. In true Eastwood style, the

csmonitor.com/photo

film leaves you with teary eyes, and it’s not hard to feel like you’ve just watched one of the most powerful movies of the year.

MMMM½

«ARTS THE MEDIUM

11.14.2011

Macbeth goes to a lot of toil and trouble DARREN SAVAGE Modern adaptations have a way of removing us from the original work. They ask more of the audience, requiring a clearer understanding of the first piece in order to see the departures in the ones that follow. Most of the time, we just want to be entertained, not challenged. Thankfully, director Jeremy Hutton decided on a traditional staging for Hart House Theatre’s rendition of Shakespeare’s bloodiest tragedy, Macbeth. It’s difficult to shorten the familiar story. Macbeth (William Foley), a noble Scotsman, on his return from victorious battle with Banquo (John Fray), receives a prophecy. The “weird sisters” use their unearthly knowledge to reveal that he is to be promoted to the position of thane of Cawdor and will become king soon after. The sisters (or, as many prefer, the witches) also inform Banquo that he will father a line of kings. The news reaches Lady Macbeth (Jackie Rowland), and she, along with her husband, devises a plan that will speedily fulfil the prophecy. It’s here that the play takes a bloody and complex turn. They kill King Duncan (Peter Higginson) and the blame for the crime falls on his two sons, Malcolm (Chris George) and Donalbain (Cameron Laurie). They flee,

and Macbeth, being next in line thanks to his well-timed promotion, is crowned king of Scotland. All that the witches predicted has come true. Thus, Macbeth must kill Banquo in order to safeguard his position. One crime begets another and the tension and guilt mount. Macduff (Mischa Aravena), another Scottish thane, suspicious of the new king’s motives, leaves his family to seek out the fleeing princes. While gone, his family is murdered and, upon discovering the crime, Macduff is motivated to seek revenge and works with Malcolm and Donalbain to restore order to the monarchy. It’s a classic tragedy driven largely by powerful human emotion. The cast is large, the story long. The staging is traditional and by the book. In doing it like that, the production eschews any major plot deviations and instead relies more on the entertaining aspects inherent to the play itself: power, revenge, murder, and madness. There seemed to be little that needed to be done—and it may be because of this that the play does not come across as effectively as it could have. Some of the characters, particularly Lady Macbeth, do not require much tweaking. Through her words alone, the audience is well aware that she is cold and calculating, ma-

nipulative and malicious. Rowland, while effectively conveying these traits, sometimes overreaches, as her attempts to amplify the intensity of such a character seem redundant. In the same way, Foley attempts to convince the audience that the titular character is far madder than the ghosts and guilt have already made him appear, but the audience could have recognized the descent into delirium without any aid from the actors. Some of this discrepancy was noticeable in the ill-timed laughs from some of the audience members: they were laughing at moments that did not appear intended as comic relief. Moments like this are evidence that perhaps some of the actors were attempting to do more, or otherwise, than they needed to. However, these are minor foibles in what is otherwise a captivating play. The set design is stunning and the strobe lights and sharp, suspenseful sounds provide an amazing sensory experience. The hideous appearance of the infamous witches does not disappoint, and the numerous sword battles are engaging and believable. Overall, the play is well worth the money and is a great night out. It is a fantastic traditional staging of a play that forces one to ponder the nature of fate, appearance versus reality, and the

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Lady Macbeth wears the pants in this relationship (Jackie Rowland and William Foley). effects of pride, ambition, and guilt. In this way, Hart House Theatre’s Macbeth walks a tightrope between entertainment and challenge, never falling to either side as you sit and

revel in the suspense. Macbeth runs until November 26 at Hart House; visit harthouse. ca/hart-house-theatre/macbeth for ticket prices and show times.

Café sublime

Rich talent among performers at Coffee House MATTHEW BUTLER Last Wednesday many UTM artists, equipped with their talents, gathered in the Faculty Club to perform at the first Coffee House of the year. For those of you not familiar with this event, Coffee House is a relaxing night of art organized by Artistic Resource, which celebrates and fosters creativity on campus. The group has consistently delivered well-received and energetic events on campus, and in keeping with this tradition, this year’s show proved just as exciting and engaging as last year’s. The Faculty Club was transformed into a tasteful stage that was conveniently set for a perfect mixture of mingling, café-style treats, and excellent art. There was an eclectic mix of singers and songwriters, poets, stand-up comics, and other artists, all performing in front of an enthusiastic audience. People in attendance were required to donate a canned good or pay $2 to charity, but the cookies, coffee, and tea easily made up for it. The atmosphere was lively, and the crowd welcomed each performer with generous applause. Becky Arnott and Zack Fulkerson performed an excellent original piece, with the former on piano and the latter on guitar and vocals. It was a very strong performance, ending with a particularly long, loud note that was nothing short of astound-

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ing. Prateek Sanyal gave a raucous delivery of his own comedic observations, and although it had no definite structure, it was hysterical. Poetry was a distinct part of the evening, including some very passionate and committed poets whose oratory was rhetorically unique and sometimes controversial. Nevertheless, the audience seemed enthusiastic and pleased with the variety of acts incorporated into the show. There was a surprise mid-show with an impressive piano performance by Yang Ning, who dazzled the crowd with a lightning-fast rendition of an incredibly hard sonata and reaffirmed the notion that music is able to evoke the richest emotions while remaining inherently abstract and complex. The exercise in creative expres-

sion was built on a solid foundation of organization and spirit. Each performer added a unique value to the night, and the Artistic Resource team coordinated everything professionally. The general tenor of the crowd was uplifting and positive, with many people out supporting their friends or neighbours, and fostering solidarity and community. Many nervous performers’ anxieties were even defeated by the wave of appreciation and praise. Coffee House was also meant as a precursor to the bigger “Artsfest” show that will take place in early February. All are welcome to audition or participate. More information can be found at the RLS Helpdesk or online via the Artsfest Facebook page. May the constantly evolving student talent live on.

11.14.2011 THE MEDIUM A&E

Cinema stirs the senses Blackwood Gallery hosts joint exhibition Lost Secrets of the Royal, a striking video installation series, in the dark Nives Hajdin A&E Editor The Blackwood Gallery is always looking for new ways to transform the gallery space, and its latest exhibition, Lost Secrets of the Royal—curated by Ben Donoghue and Heather Keung—is no exception to this tradition. Gone are the enormous canvases and delicate installation pieces of the 40th anniversary Viva Voce showcase: the viewer is immediately confronted with a black curtain cascading down from the ceiling. As you leave behind the comfort of the brightly lit gallery entrance and grasp your way through the barrier into the darkness beyond, your senses are immediately thrust into disarray. On the opposite wall hangs a large video display onto which two film projectors juxtapose flickering film fragments from a 1970s kung fu movie. Daïchi Saïto’s Never a Foot Too Far, Even bombards your retinas with multi-coloured refractions that simulate the cracking of a film reel—indeed, it has suffered decay—but the truly haunting aspect of the experimental film clip is the stationary silhou-

ette of an extraterrestrial figure. From time to time, the figure appears to lift a hand and step to the right, but because of the onslaught of piercing colours and formless contours, the viewer is forced to question if these movements are merely a figment of the imagination. The longer one stares at the screen, the more of a hallucinatory quality it conveys, and after a while it becomes difficult to escape its hypnotizing effects. In combination with Malcolm Goldstein’s equally eerie audio installation—a screeching mélange of out-of-tune violins—the experience soon becomes quite unsettling, although it never loses its intrigue. Despite the video installation’s entrancing effects, it comes as a huge relief once you cross the threshold of the curtain once more into a safe haven that is contrasted with the addictive dream-like realm you just left. The eGallery in the CCT Building offers a more interactive and inviting atmosphere with Cindy Mochizuki’s Yokai & Other Spirits. When you enter the long room, it is unclear what you’re supposed to make of the old-school telephone that sits in the centre of

the room, or the projector nestled in the back wall, as it does not seem to be projecting anything at all. After a minute or so, the telephone rings. One feels uncertain, but curiosity ultimately prevails. As you hold the receiver to your ear, there is silence at first, but within moments, a voice whispers, “Hello?” There is a momentary feeling of terror that there is actually someone on the other end, but this fear is soon dispelled as music begins to loop. Right on cue, the projector comes to life and shines prisms of light through a tall glass phone booth. The result is a beautiful display of animated threedimensional forms that float like spirits in a peaceful void (and are actually scenes taken from an Asian film called Happy Ghost 3). The installation is in fact entirely dependent on the interactions and movement of the visitor, without which it lies dormant. Lost Secrets of the Royal is a project that arose from the discarded film reels of Hong Kong cinema, donated by Colin Geddes from Toronto’s Royal Cinema. Alongside Saïto and Mochizuki, works by Louise Noguchi and soJin Chun make

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Cindy Mochizuki’s Yokai & Other Spirits. up the other half of Lost Secrets of the Royal at A Space Gallery in Toronto, and also make use of 35mm film to reframe classic Asian cinema through the Western lens. The exhibition series is a programme in conjunction with the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto and the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival (which lasts until November 18) to transform these damaged film fragments into new works of art for a gallery setting. The exhibit also features related programming as part of the

U of T Art Council’s Speakers in the Arts 2011 Series, including two nights of film screenings and performances by Ken Jacobs: Nervous Magic Lantern on Friday, November 18 from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Instructional Centre, and Seeking the Monkey King on that Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. in room 140 of University College on the St. George campus. Lost Secrets of the Royal runs until December 11 at the Blackwood Gallery and A Space; visit blackwoodgallery.ca and aspacegallery.org for more information.

the medium loves you

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« 11.14.2011

MEDIUM FEATURES Editor » Larissa Ho

Discussion versus lecture in class Students and profs discuss the pros and cons of student interaction Carine Abouseif ASsociate features editor Many of us dread it: having to speak in class. Whether you’re naturally shy or just plain don’t like the sound of your voice, whether you’re studying humanities or even some social sciences, it’s going to happen to you. “Why can’t they just teach?” students grumble when they see a participation grade listed on a fresh syllabus. You’ve probably heard—from professors themselves, from TAs, and from other students—that discussion-based classes are more than just lazy teaching. But the timid you says otherwise, and you renew your doubts. An informal survey of 10 students from various disciplines showed that not everyone prefers the lecture style. Four said they preferred lecture-based classes, four said they liked discussionbased classes, and two insisted that “it really depends”. Depends on what? For Tammer Masoud, a fifthyear biology and psychology double major, it depends on class size. For a class of 100 or more, an organized class discussion would be hard to pull off. For Suvrat Barar, a student in professional writing, political science, and economics, discussion was ideal but not possible in every discipline. Economics, for example, is a “very technical” discipline, whereas the discussion in freer political science courses can sometimes go off track. Barar echoed some of professor Kajri Jain’s thoughts. For a

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Discussion-based classes are about more than just making you raise your hand in class. discipline like visual culture, lecturing was sometimes “divorced from everyday life”, according to Jain, who teaches VCC306 (“Visual Culture and Colonialism”). Jain divides her two-hour slots into one hour of lecturing and one hour of discussion among 38 students. In the discussion segment, students are assigned the task of leading the conversation with questions based on the week’s reading. Jain says this is important because students can bring up examples that are more relevant to our time, and (perhaps because of that) become more invested in the topic. In a study conducted in July 2000, Bruce E. Larson found that

most teachers who used discussion as a learning tool had two goals in mind. First, students could learn the material more thoroughly, because they had to arrange their thoughts in coherent sentences in front of a class. Second, discussion in class taught students how to, well, discuss. That makes sense. In fact, it seems a bit obvious. But what if learning how to discuss overshadows learning the content? Barar touched on this issue when he expressed how irritating it is when students roam off the topic. We’ve all seen it—when the lecture is supposed to be on Alias Grace and someone brings up their dog Fluffy. When students wander away

from the main topic, Jain attempts to steer the lecture back into focus. She takes some of the “ingredients” of a student’s statement and quickly brings the conversation back to the assigned topic. And yet there’s nothing like a good story in lecture. Professor Daniel Thornton does it well in many of the classics courses he teaches. Thornton incorporates local and pop culture references to “elicit moments of recognition” in his students. Good humour also keeps students awake. Still, three hours of anything can be boring, even stories about those crazy Olympians. But there’s another aspect to consider, according to Thorn-

ton. “I love the ancient world, so I love talking about it,” he says, “and that provides for a fun experience.” Enthusiasm. Check. Thornton also talks about the performance aspect of lecturing: “If one is a performer, [lecturing] comes naturally—otherwise students can listen to an audiobook.” Audiobooks are definitely cheaper than UTM courses, but you don’t get a shiny degree when you’re done. And (we must tell ourselves!) you don’t learn as much. Still, Thornton agrees that discussion is ideal in a small group, but the reality of 100 or more students per classics course makes such a group nearly impossible. So it’s probably not just lazy teaching. Learning, as many struggling students can attest, isn’t something you can pin down. It depends on a lot of things: class size, discipline, and the professor’s enthusiasm—but also on the student. But as long as it makes our faces flush and our voices shake, we’re going to complain about having to speak up in class. Eventually, though, you get used to it, and at some point, in some class, someone will say something that upsets you, even pisses you off. And, you’ll probably want to respond. Maybe you’ll respond more articulately than you expected. Maybe you just found your next essay topic. When that happens, congratulate yourself. You just learned something.

#4: FOREIGN VOCABULARY - “PUT ANOTHER SHRIMP ON THE BARBIE” Luke Sawczak Copy-editor Hello again, everyone! We’re halfway through the series now, and I’m going to take this opportunity to apologize that each subject must be treated so broadly; each one could easily have an entire series of its own. But for now, I’m trying to pack a lot of different aspects into not much time and space in the hopes that something will catch your eye. Anyway, back to the topic at hand. Last week we talked about

different sounds from different speakers. Now let’s look at words. The differences in terms between Canadian and British can be confusing, like hearing Harry Potter call a flashlight a “torch”, or awkward, like your British friend asking if he can “knock you up” (get in touch with you). And when you tell him in detail about your new “pants”, he’ll probably snicker, unless you’re having a very solemn conversation about underwear. Which is entirely possible. I have done it. And we’re all familiar with

odd things like chesterfields, full stops, and biscuits. I recently heard a British speaker correcting “biscuit” to our “cookie”, but he went a bit too far and invented the “dog cookie”… Anyway, no doubt you’re asking yourself how it ended up in such a mess; after all, aren’t we all just descended from immigrants? The answer is that language changes—most fluidly in its words. We constantly have new things to name, and different ways of doing it. There’s blending (like Lewis Car-

roll’s “chortle” from “chuckle + snort”), acronyms (like “radar” from “radio detecting and ranging”), borrowing (like the hilarious “smorgasbord” from Swedish), backformation (like “prequel” as if the “se” from “sequel” was detachable), and true coinages (like The Simpsons’ “meh”, “yoink”, and “d’oh!”). As you can imagine, give two isolated groups a few hundred years alone and they all end up “talkin’ funny”. French and German did it too, most notably in Québec and Pennsylvania.

The differences go even further, but historical linguistics is a whole nother topic, and we have to save it for another day. For next week, I just want to narrow our focus to the question of how we know what new words mean and understand each other in all the confusion. Look up Carroll’s “Jabberwocky” and be amazed at how much you understand. But first, a cheap laugh. Head over to wiktionary.org and look up “cromulent”, including the extra “quotations” section. It’ll embiggen your mind.

11.14.2011 THE MEDIUM FEATURES

University burnout What it is, why it happens, and how to stop it

Creative Corner Midterm Cram Xinyu Hu coma one.

Students are busy writing their essays and paper for the last-minute scorpion sting.

Alone All One

As exam time approaches all the students flock to the judgment skull in the library with their solstice equinox books— cubes of gnosis.

in the cubicles and mooring rooms of pupil dilation as we sip that last drop of Horton’s coffee.

When the ripening of the fruit of hyper-gnosis has come full circle we have be

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Yoga classes, which are offered to UTM students for free at the RAWC, can decrease burnout. Emily Acheson associate features editor It finally happened. I sat in on my first midterm of my fourth year in university and went blank. This isn’t the first time I’ve gone blank on a test, but it’s the first time I didn’t care. I watched the students around me scribbling furiously, watched them bite their nails, watched the clock tick the minutes away. I jotted down my answers, barely even thinking them through, and handed the test in. I knew I bombed the test. I knew I’d receive a terrible mark. I knew my parents and professors would be asking what on earth happened. So... I went home and watched TV. Burnout is a common problem in stressed-out students and adults. Many health websites define burnout as mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion. But burnout is not stress itself. Stress causes overreactions, hyperactivity, and a sense of urgency. Burnout is almost the opposite. You no longer feel motivated to do the activities you usually want to do. You become detached from others and lose all your energy. You don’t want to get up in the morning, your emotions are blunted, and you lack interest in the consequences of your inaction. You could start suffering from insomnia and chronic headaches. You may even start crying for reasons that never caused you to cry before. I expressed many of these symptoms. My marks fell, I shrunk away from friends and classmates, and I put the minimum amount of effort into homework and studying. My concentration also diminished and strayed. Many of us lose focus during lectures, especially boring ones, but burnout makes it nearly impossible to

focus even if you force yourself to. You will find yourself daydreaming or looking up TV episodes on YouTube, and before you know it a two-hour lecture passes by. Burnout is caused by intense, long-term stress. For instance, studying until 4 a.m. one or two nights will not cause burnout, but doing so for many weeks or months can definitely contribute to it. Long-lasting emotional stresses, such as abusive relationships or family deaths, can also cause burnout. More subtle problems can also lead to burnout. If you find yourself in a daily situation that irritates or angers you, but you feel powerless to stop it, these suppressed feelings can fester inside you for many weeks or months. You may also feel that you’re leading a life that does not produce the rewards you were hoping for. If not addressed, these emotions eventually express themselves through burnout. Burnout is most common among high-stress professions, like general practitioners. But no one is immune. Working mothers, single parents, and graduate students can also feel the symptoms. Burnout cannot be treated with medication. Many doctors may prescribe antidepressants or sleeping pills, but burnout is rather, as one health site calls it, “a problem of the soul”. The first step to recovery is admitting you suffer from burnout. For me, this took months. I went through a state of denial, thinking I was weak and forcing myself to work even harder. When you (or someone you know) address the problem, the subconscious feelings come to the surface. Often, you will immediately feel a little better. The second step is finding out what caused the burnout. You

cannot just look into the past couple of weeks, but into the past couple of months or even years. Look for situations that caused long-term negativity. Did you spend your summer working, studying, or dealing with troubling family issues? Did you take on too challenging a course load last year? Did you deal with a person that constantly treats you negatively, as with insulting, bullying, or arguing? Once you pinpoint the source of the problem, you can work to fix it. Take a lighter course load, take fewer hours at work, and separate yourself from people who cause you stress. Get involved in relaxing or stimulating physical activities. When I admitted that I suffered from burnout, I immediately joined free yoga classes at the RAWC at UTM. I also began daily half-hour meditations at home. I got together more often with friends on the weekend or after school, and started exercising more frequently. Meditation should be done in an area where you cannot be disturbed. Leave your cell phone in another room, lock the door to keep your dog or siblings out, and request that no one bother you while you meditate. There are different meditation techniques, many of which can be found online, and our psychology department offers meditation classes throughout the year. Meditation helps you learn to regain your focus, shut out mental distractions, and de-stress. Yoga also relaxes the mind and body, forcing you to focus on tricky balances and stretches instead of worries, and allows you to temporarily forget about your stress. At UTM, yoga classes are paid for through our tuition. These classes are free for to drop in on at any time, as long as you show your student card. They usually run for one hour.

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Cramming for midterms is not fun.

« 11.14.2011

MEDIUM SPORTS Editor » TBD

ECG screening in athletes U of T professor debates mandatory testing against costs of implementation Michelle K. Duklas Associate Sports Editor In the lead article of the December issue of the Journal of Sports Medicine, U of T professor Roy Shephard weighs the importance of electrocardiogram screening against the costs of mandatory implementation. An electrocardiogram measures the electric activity of the heart. European cardiologists argue that mandatory ECG testing of athletes leads to a significant decrease in sudden cardiovascular deaths triggered by exercise. SCDs occur when the heart suddenly stops beating, usually because of a underlying genetic condition. North American cardiologists do not agree that ECG screening should be mandatory—they insist that ECG screening does not meet the World Health Or-

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ganization guidelines for a successful screening program. The WHO stresses that a successful screening program must test for what is prevalent in the population. They also specify that the screening test used must be sensitive and specific. Finally, the screening must benefit the patient more than it negatively affects them. In his article, Shephard outlines the reasoning behind the proposed mandatory ECG screening. Italian researchers and cardiologists found a sharp decrease in the number of SCDs after Italy implemented a mandatory screening program for its athletes. The rate dropped from 3.6 deaths per 100,000 athletes in the year before mandatory screening to 0.4 deaths afterwards. Shephard provides an alternative explanation for the drop: it

could have occurred as a result of changes in the environment, better control of doping, the availability of emergency services, or random year-to-year variations. Also, in North America, where screening rarely occurs, the rate of SCDs is already only 0.5 deaths per 100,000 athletes. Shephard also argues that ECG testing only correctly diagnoses SCD-vulnerable athletes 51–70% of the time. Moreover, even if the screening did work perfectly, SCD doesn’t occur frequently enough to have a huge impact on the population; Shephard estimates that on average only one or two adult athletes per 100,000 will die of SCD each year. As he writes, “ECG screening seems inappropriate, and efforts in preventative medicine would be better directed to more common causes of premature death

in the young adult.” These more frequent causes of death in youth include suicides, car accidents, and sports injuries. Mandatory ECG screening may also discourage high-risk athletes from participating competitively in sports. However, countless studies have shown that there is little health benefit in prohibiting an athlete with abnormal ECG results from participating in sports. A study done in Veneto, Italy showed that 791 athletes needed to be disqualified from competing in sports in order to save one person from SCD. Another Italian study showed that Italian sports doctors discouraged two percent of athletes from playing sports because of their results from an ECG screening, but these doctors admitted that at most only 0.2% of the athletes had conditions that

could lead to SCD. Meanwhile, the other 1.8% could be negatively affected by the lack of exercise and practice. Even if there were good reasons for implementing mandatory ECG screening, it would pose a huge problem for the medical system in the U.S. and Canada. In the U.S. up to 10 million athletes could require ECG screening, which would cost $2 billion annually. It would also be difficult to find enough medical professionals qualified to interpret ECG results and to perform secondary testing to eliminate false positives. Shephard concluded that in order to develop a more successful screening program, doctors would need to narrow down the number of athletes that required ECG testing. He suggests only testing athletes with a family history of SCD.

UTM White on a winning streak Men’s Div. 1 basketball beat UTSC days after winning tournament INGRID MELDRUM The UTM basketball men’s Div. 1 White team has been on fire this past couple of weeks, beating tough competition and winning gold medals. Last weekend they travelled to George Brown College for a tournament, and on Wednesday they went to UTSC. After arriving late to their game in Scarborough on Wednesday due to bus complications and having only one minute of warmup time, the Eagles started the game off strong with a full court press and did not hold back until taking a 30-point lead. The boys played strong under the net, barely allowing any points in from inside the key. Twenty-five of Scarborough’s points came from free throws. Sporting their custom black jerseys, the boys looked and played like stars, beating a team that their home rival (UTM Blue) had struggled to beat. The final score of the game was 79–58 in favour of White. The weekend prior, UTM White suited up seven players for the George Brown Invitational Tournament and brought

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UTM White players celebrate their win at the George Brown Invitational. home the gold. Coaches Jeremy Wong and Harpreet Gill were proud of the team that played back-to-back games, even in the final. The Eagles won every game with more than a 10-point margin, beating UTSC, George Brown, and Centennial. Wong noted that Gill was frustrated with the team after a rough start, stating, “Coach Harpreet got into the players’ faces during the first game when they started off slow and did not execute... But his words must have

woken up the team, because the ball movement was great from then onwards.” Manny Gill and Zakariya Khan both earned MVP honours for their noteworthy play throughout the tournament. Ferdi Peng also made some major plays from behind the threepoint line. Throughout the day, White made opposing teams play to their style and dictated the tempo, regaining some pride after a devastating loss to UTM Blue on November 2.

This week, the team gets to play at home, with a crucial game on Wednesday at 8 p.m. against UC. They plan on hitting the gym to get ready for the Men’s Extramural Tournament this Friday at the RAWC in the main gym, where they hope for a rematch against UTM Blue. Students are encouraged to come out and cheer for both UTM teams; the tournament starts at 9 a.m. and will last until around 7 p.m.

Joes not so average

11.14.2011 THE MEDIUM SPORTS

UTM playoffs update

Students beat staff team to win Campus Rec Intramural ball hockey championship

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION/PHOTO

ISAAC OWUSU ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR At halftime and down by two goals, Jack Krist, captain of the Rookies, already knows why his team was behind: “[We’re] an older, mostly staff team, and we’re a little bit slower than these young guys,” he jokes. He is confident about his strategy for the second half: “We need to shorten our shifts up, score more goals, and stop hitting their players with our shots.” The break concludes and Krist’s strategy is in action, but it appears the Average Joes have adopted it instead. Average Joes captain Alex Santini and teammate Stephen Palladino lead the charge, with two quick goals each to push the lead

to 8–2. The Average Joes score the Rookies to submission with six second-half goals. When the final whistle blows it’s clear that, at least today, beauty comes before age. The Average Joes claimed the ball hockey championship, defeating The Rookies 10–4. The result amplified the budding rivalry between the two teams. Both have traded the championship hardware back and forth with each other in the last three tournaments. The Campus Rec Intramural ball hockey league is made up of at least six teams. Each team consists of a goalie and three players, and they play games of two halves of 20 minutes each. The Average Joes had the advantage of a deeper bench than the Rookies, readying six total players plus their goalie to

keep their players fresh. The Rookies were hurting as they only had five players besides their goalie. Following the game, a fatigued Krist, having produced no points, acknowledged that his team, made up of RAWC and UTMAC staffed players, was seriously outperformed. “It was a matter of athleticism versus raw out-of-shapism,” he said. The Average Joes look to defend their crown when the league resumes for another season in late January. Captain Ryan Zarrabbi is confident about his team’s chances, even if the rosters turn out to be even next time: “If we played them again, [and] we had three on our bench and they had three on theirs, we’d take it again. Closer game, but we’d win.”

EDWARD CAI/THE MEDIUM

• Men’s Division 1 soccer team defeated SGS at home on Saturday, pushing them through the quarterfinals (photo above). • Women’s Division 1 soccer team also won their quarterfinal matchup against SGS, with a score of 6–0. • Women’s Division 1 flag-football team won by default against PT/OT. They move on in the playoffs. • Men’s Division 1 flag football team won 14–6 against St. Michael’s College. They will play in the finals in two weeks.

Local 109 Canadian Federation of Students

Annual General Meeting This meeting is open to all undergraduate students enrolled at UTM.

Monday, November 21st 2011 Registration begins at 5:30 pm Meeting begins at 6:00 pm Council Chambers, Room 3130 – Davis Building *Bring your T-Card for identiﬁcation AGENDA:

Summary of Financial Position

1.CALL TO ORDER

The preliminary, unaudited ﬁnancial information indicates that the Union realized a small surplus for the 2010 ﬁscal year and continues to show a positive working capital position and positive liquidity.

2.APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA 3.PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS 4.ACCEPTANCE OF THE MINUTES – AGM 2010 MOTION Moved: D. Cassar II Seconded: M. Sajjad Be it resolved that the minutes for 2010 Annual General Meeting be accepted as presented. 5.RECEIPT OF THE 2010-2011 AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS MOTION Moved: D. Cassar II Seconded: N. Alim Be it resolved that the audited financial statements for 2010-2011 be received as presented. 6.APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS FOR 2011-2012 MOTION Moved: D. Cassar II Seconded: N. Alim 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, 2012. 7.APPROVAL OF U.T.M.S.U CONSTITUTION and BY LAW CHANGES MOTION Moved: D. Cassar II Seconded: D. DiCenzo Be it resolved that -the Erindale College Students Union Council bylaw changes be accepted as presented and recommended by the ECSU Board of Directors. Constitution By-Law I – Interpretation Bylaw II – Membership Bylaw III – Meetings By Law IV - Policy of the Union Bylaw V – Board of Directors Bylaw VI – Election of Board of Directors Bylaw VII – Duties and Responsibilities of the Board Bylaw X – Removal from Office

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 Friday 18th November 2011 at 5 pm Questions can be directed to Neghan Alim, Vice-President Internal and Services (vpinternal@utmsu.ca) , or Delphino Gilbert Cassar II, President (president@utmsu.ca ). Also, visit us on www.utmsu.ca and visit us on: www.facebook.com/UTMSU or follow us on Twitter @myUTMSU Local 109

8.OTHER BUSINESS 9.ADJOURNMENT MOTION Moved: D. Cassar II Seconded: Be it resolved that the meeting be adjourned.

The audited ﬁnancial statements will be presented to the members at the Meeting, pursuant to the requirement of the Ontario Corporations Act.

Canadian Federation of Students

N. Alim

*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").