Vol 36 issue 12

Monday, January 4, 2010

Volume 36, Issue 12

2010 Olympic Flame lights up GTA

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The Olympic Torch Relay makes its way into the GTA on December 17, drawing massive crowds of people.

SAALIHA MALIK NEWS EDITOR

The world will have its eyes on Canada as it hosts the 2010 Winter Olympics next month.

Excitement has been building up for the 2010 Olympic Games, and has spread across Canada with over 12,000 Canadians participating in the Olympic Torch relay by carrying the flame in different cities on its way to Vancouver.

In his annual holiday message, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that 2010 brings “hope and promise to Canada with the commencement of the Olympics games in Vancouver, British

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Columbia.”

The Torch Relay has been boasted as the longest Torch Relay in Olympic history. In 106 days, the Olympic Flame will pass through more than 1,000 communities and travel 45,000 kilometres across Canada. A message posted on the 2010 Vancouver website states: “The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay will inspire and engage Canadians from coast to coast to coast as it travels along the path of northern lights—the route the Olympic Flame will illuminate as it travels towards the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.”

Hordes of people gathered in the GTA to see the Olympic Torch Relay, which made its way into the GTA on December 17. Celebrations took place around the city as the Olympic Flame was passed at various locations, including Toronto City Hall, Nathan Phillips Square,

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Scarborough City Centre and the Civic Centre in Mississauga.

While awaiting the Olympic Flame, celebrations took place around the GTA. Canadian musician Suzie McNeil performed at Nathan Philips Square for the crowds of people who faced the cold weather, along with performances inspired by Asia, Africa and Europe. The Olympic Flame arrived in Mississauga on December 17, which drew a massive crowd. Mayor Hazel McCallion, who was carrying the torch at one point, referred to the Olympic Torch Relay as an “emotional once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Cheryl Pounder, a former member of the women’s national hockey team, was selected as the torch bearer for Mississauga during the Olympic Torch Relay. She had the honour of lighting the community

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cauldron during the show.

The celebrations at City Hall included performances by Aboriginal dancers, Francophone performers and other special acts.

On how the Olympic Torch Relay reaches millions of Canadians, John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee, stated, “Our goal with these celebrations has always been to bring the magic and excitement of the Olympic Spirit home to millions of Canadians no matter where they live and truly make these Canada’s Games.”

All the torch bearers carried the flame a distance of 300 metres, and wore the white Olympic uniform and red mittens. Meanwhile, a convoy of vehicles followed the torch as it made its way through the city.

Notable torch bearers who will

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participate in the relay across Canada include NBA basketball player Steve Nash, country music singer Shania Twain, Canadian Idol host Ben Mulroney, So You Think You Can Dance host Leah Miller and Canadian filmmaker Deepa Mehta.

INSIDE Top UTM professors nominated PAGE 3 Winter Blockbusters PAGE 5 UTM’s first Drama Club PAGE 8 World Cup preview PAGE 12

2 THE MEDIUM

MONDAY, JANUARY

NEWS G 28

4, 2010

Tsunami aftermath remembered five years later

Canada to host G-8 and G-20 summits later this year

OVAIS SHAH

World leaders to descend on Muskoka and Toronto this year to discuss world issues

While many Canadians enjoyed the Boxing Day bargains in markets, a group of individuals from across the University of Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area commemorated the victims of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami that killed approximately 230,000 people across Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand and thirteen other countries.

Four years ago, the Canadian RedCross contributed over $350 million towards sending food supplies, housing shelters and other necessities for survival to the victims of the flood in response to the devastating impact of the earthquake tsunami.

Mahvish Mirza, a student who volunteered with the tsunami effort in 2004 at her high school, said, “It is a pity that so many of us were fundraising money and involved with Red Cross and other international agencies due to the media hype around the tsunami a couple of years ago, but five years after it’s over, we have more or less forgotten the entire incident.”

Suresh Balaram Sivanandan, whose family was affected by the tsunami, said, “It is a terrible situation in Ramanthapuram and the areas in Tamil Nadu. Some of my relatives are still complaining of water contamination and the slow pace of government reconstruction efforts to build schools. Community shelters are slow to come.”

OVAIS SHAH

SMH.COM PHOTO

Despite tsunami relief efforts many people are still left displaced.

Sivanandan’s relative’s perception of the issue only exposes the worst effects of the tsunami. According to a statement by Ban Ki-Moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, “The earthquake tsunami in South Asia and Southeast Asia is unarguably the costliest natural disasters of this century.”

The United Nations development reports stated that an estimated $13.5 billion in aid pledged to reconstruct the entire region is still being reimbursed. “[The reconstruction efforts do] not grant the citizens of Banda Acheh, Srilanka and the affected areas any dignity,” said Maya Shahid,

a student in Art History. “I remember looking at some images of the construction projects, and all I could see were orange, red and blue roofs lined. Orange for world vision, red for Red Cross and blue for United Nations. If you look closely at some of these images of houses from the region, you will notice that stickers and labels of the NGO that constructed the house are pasted on their windows.”

At the rate recovery and reconstruction efforts are moving, many whose lives have been affected by the Boxing Day tsunami wonder if they will ever recover a semblance of their former lives.

Drive test centre strike ends STEFANIE MAROTTA ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR DriveTest centres reopened last week after a tentative deal was reached to bring striking examiners back to work. The centres must now shovel through the immense backlog of citizens who waited over four months to take their driving tests.

Nearly 300,000 people have been unable to obtain their licenses in Ontario due to the prolonged negotiations.

A few temporary drive centres were open across the province, but priority was given to commercial truck drivers. Citizens looking for work as commercial truck drivers were unable to find employment as a result of the strike On August 21, United Steelworkers Local 9511 and Serco DES Inc, the private Company operating DriveTest centres, sat down to discuss disagreements regarding job security, seniority and wages in efforts to prevent a strike. The negotiations were unsuccessful and 590 employees walked off the job on August 24.

The government of Ontario allowed for extended validity of licenses that expired during the term of the strike. Licenses that expired before the strike began were not automatically extended.

On November 23, Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson introduced a Private Member’s bill that would force strikers back to work. The bill did not receive support from either the Liberals or the NDP, and the McGuinty government failed to provide government intervention.

Liberal members of Parliament felt that the only solution to the problem was to continue negotiations until the two parties were able to reach a common ground.

Wilson appealed to the Minister of Labour during the question period. “What makes you think that doing nothing is a fair option for the people affected by this strike?

Why is the government being so ignorant to the plight of these people?”

Speaking to reporters after the exchange, Labour Minister Peter Fonesca said, “[Serco and the Union have] to look to find that common ground to reach a collective agreement. We know that collective

agreements are the most stable and most productive for our province.”

While independent driving instructors would normally make between $1,000 to 2,000 a week, they have experienced a significant decline in income over the last 19 weeks.

Serco DES Inc. began operating the Drivetest centres in 2003, after the Ontario Ministry of Transportation signed a ten-year contract worth $114 million with the company. The reason behind the movement to privatize the formerly government-run sector was to better provide efficient and effective service and reduce wait times. Before the strike began, Serco had voiced intentions of transitioning to seasonal employment.

Anyone expecting to take an examination should be prepared for long wait lines. Before the strike, examinations would have to have been booked anywhere from four to six weeks ahead of time. This has drastically increased since the strike.

There will also be long wait times for second attempts.

In an effort to cushion the blow, DriveTest will hire 100 new employees.

In 2010, Canada will assume two major international leadership roles as president of the G-8 industrialized nations and cochair of the G-20 summit.

The federal government has announced that Ontario will host the G-8 meeting from June 25 to June 27, and the G-20 summit from June 26 to June 27.

The Group of Eight is an economic and political forum for the leaders of highly industrialized nations, who meet every year to discuss issues facing the world.

The permanent member nations of the G-8 are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States and Russia. Leaders of major international organizations such as the European Nation and the United Nations are also expected to attend.

The Group of 20 consists of developing economies and the industrialized developed economies such as Canada, Korea, Japan, United States, India, China, Brazil, South-Africa, Saudi-Arabia, and the European Union. This group includes countries whose cumulative gross domestic product constitutes 80% of the world’s trade. The G-20 is a recent arrival on the international scene, after the G-8 nations realized the importance of including world leaders of the developing countries in discussions since the 2000 economic down-turn.

DeerHurst Resort in the town of Huntsville, Muskoka Region, has been designated as the official site for the G-8 historical meeting, where the world leaders and their government representatives will meet together in various preparatory meetings on the economy and global warming before the real deal later in June.

Initially, the federal government decided upon hosting the two summits in the picturesque region of cottage country at the DeerHurst resort. DeerHurst, however, with its 4 00 privately owned rooms, announced that it would not be able to accommo-

date over 10,000 guests attending the two meetings. Toronto was decided as the best location for the G-20, whereas Muskoka was designated at the venue for the G8 summit.

According to the Industry Canada website, aside from the cultural value of the region, the government has strategically chosen to host the summit in the Muskoka region and Toronto because of Canada’s lucrative past experience in hosting international summits, which provided short-term economic benefits for the local community and various long-term benefits to the Canadian economy.

The announcement came at an apt time, when Ontario’s tourism industry has been badly hit by the recession, with massive layoffs and growing economic insecurity of small business owners in the tourism industry.

According to the research reports published by G-8 and G20 research groups at U of T’s Munk Centre for International Studies, some of the major issues on the agenda for this year’s meetings are climate change and the global recession. The two groups will focus on strengthening and cooperating together on the new Financial Stability Board and the International Financial Institution plan. Global warming, the role of greenhouse efficient energy in the industry and its role in the economic recovery process will also be on the table. Another political issue that will be debated amongst the states will be biodiversity and endangered species, a l ong wit h the issue of nuc le ar proliferation of Iran and North Korea.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper remains highly optimistic about the issues on the agenda at the G8 and G-20 summits. During the announcement of the 2010 summits’ sites and agendas, Harper said, “It is my expectation that by the summer of 2010, the global economy will have begun to turn the corner and renewed growth will be in sight. We look forward to welcoming world leaders to Canada next year.”

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MONDAY, JANUARY

4, 2010 THE MEDIUM 3

PROFESSORS AWARDED

UTM professors ranked among top 20

Ignatieff to visit UTM next week KATHERINE LUCYNZSKI ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Michael Ignatieff, Canada’s Federal Liberal leader, is coming to UTM on January 13 as part of a crossCanada tour. The UTM visit was organized by the UTM Young Liberals club. Students can attend free of charge.

The tour consists of visits to several campuses and will culminate with “Canada at 150: Rising to the Challenge,” a conference that will be held in Montreal in March 2017 as Canada will turns 150 years old.

“We’ll be talking about the kind of Canada we want in 2017—and what we need to do today and t o m o r r o w t o ge t t h e r e , ” s a i d Ignatieff.

Liberal Party member and form e r M i s s i s sa u ga - E r i n d a l e M P Omar Alghabra, who visited UTM with Justin Trudeau in November this past year, sent an e-mail to U T M s t u d e nt s a s k i n g t he m t o share their ideas with Ignatieff on p r io r i t i e s t h e y w o u l d l i k e t o address with the Liberal leader.

Matthew Filipowich/Medium File Photo

UTM Psychology Professor Dax Urbszat has been nominated for the 2010 TVO Best Lecturer Award.

STEFANIE MAROTTA ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

UTM Professors Dax Urbszat and Monika Havelka have lectured their way into the second round and amongst the top 20 nominees in contention for the 2010 TVO Big Ideas Best Lecturer Award. The Best Lecturer Award seeks to recognize a great professor for his or her excellence in facilitating learning and engaging students in course material.

Psychology Professor Dax Urbszat had been nominated for the 2009 award and made it into the top 20. A lecturer at both the St. George and UTM campuses, he is very popular among students: Each year, nearly 1,400 students seek to enrol in his introductory psychology course.

Urbszat received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and Crime, Law and Deviance from U of T. He then went on to obtain a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. Passionate about his chosen discipline, he returned to U of T to complete his Masters and Doctoral degrees in Psychology. Last year, Urbszat received the UTM Teaching Excellence Award. In addition to his many accomplishments, Urbszat also has a strong following on

his Facebook fan page, entitled “Dax Urbszat is Secretly a Superhero.”

“Urbszat was my favourite professor.

I chose to take certain classes because he was the professor,” says UTM psychology graduate Alessandra Guaragna.

A student submission endorsing Urbszat for the award stated, “Excellent lessons, discussions, assignments, and exam. I’ve had a wonderful time in his courses.”

Also in the top 20 is Biology Professor Monika Havelka. She has been lecturing at U of T since 2003 and has taught a diverse range of topics such as evolutionary biology, comparative physiology, biostatistics, ecology and environmental science. Biology students describe Havelka as approachable, fair and intriguing. She does her best to entertain her students, going as far as mimicking the creatures of her lecture topics.

“Humans resemble juvenile chimps more than we do adult chimps,” Havelka explained to students during a lecture. She pointed to a photo of young chimpanzee projected onto the screen.

“Come on, I have relatives that look like that.”

Havelka obtained her Bachelor in Science of Biology from McMaster University. She then spent two years at the University of British Columbia as a

research technician. Havelka decided to return to Ontario to complete her Masters and PhD in Zoology at the University of Western.

“Her awe-inspiring lectures have allowed students to attain a strong grasp of materials. Dr. Monika Havelka’s single greatest strength is her ability to connect with the needs and wants of students,” stated a nomination submission.

Second-year life sciences student Daniella Palumbo is one of the many students that has enjoyed learning from Havelka. “She’s the most enthusiastic professor I’ve had so far. I’ve never seen anyone as excited about biology as she is,” said Palumbo.

Biology major David Antongiovanni said that “Havelka’s lectures are the only lectures that prevent me from falling asleep.”

The top 10 contenders will be announced on February 8 and a program highlighting their exceptional attributes will air in March. Chosen by viewers and a panel of three jurors, the winner of the Best Lecturer Award and a $10,000 scholarship to the recipient’s educational institution will be announced on April 17.

The professors’ submission videos are available on the Big Ideas program website.

UTM Professor wins research award KATHERINE LUCYNSKI ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

UTM sociology Professor Josee Johnston, who teaches the Sociology of Food and Globalization course, has received the Early Researcher Award in the amount of $140,000 for her study of consumerism in the food market.

The study focuses on reasons why more and more people decide to buy their groceries from organic food stores, farmers’ markets and community-supported agriculture.

“Food consumption is a topic that I find really inspiring to work on because it never feels like I’ve reached the end state,” said Johnston. “It always

feels like it’s spiraling out in other areas that I’m interested in looking at.”

The study, named “Eating ‘off the grid’: Understanding Consumer Motivation in the Alternative Food Sector,” includes a team of dedicated researchers who will survey and document the demographic profile of individuals who purchase groceries from these alternative markets. Johnston will host interviews and focus group research in order to further understand why more people are choosing organic food stores and farmers’ markets over big chain grocery stores.

Johnston believes that although buying organic and eating food from local farms are positive acts, they also suggest that sustainability of the local food system depends on wealthy consumers.

“At the end of the day, we need more state intervention to make laws that protect our land, and that make sure people get fed.” Johnston’s hope is to provide awareness into how the local food system is reinforced and shaped by market forces. She does not believe there will be an absolute end to her research.

The Early Researcher Awards program helps Ontario researchers build their research teams of graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, research assistants and associates. According to the Ministry of Research and Innovation website, the program’s goal is “to improve Ontario’s ability to attract and retain the best and brightest research talent from around the world.”

NEWS

Examples of issues include immigration, economy, education and the environment. “Our country’s future is being shaped on our college and university campuses, by the energy and ingenuity of our young people. Their potential is Canada’s potential, and so there’s no better place to begin a national conversation about the Canada we can be in 2017,” said Ignatieff.

Ignatieff will begin his crossCanada tour on January 11 in Nova S c o t i a C om m u n i t y C o l l e g e i n Dartmouth, followed by visits to college and university campuses in H a l i f a x , M o nt r e a l , O t t a w a , Hamilton, Mississauga, Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver and Victoria.

“The Canada we want to imagine and create is for them. Canada’s young people must and will be the true authors of our national ambition,” said Ignatieff.

Ignatieff has studied, written and taught about human rights, democracy, security and international affairs, and is an alma mater o f th e U ni v er s i t y o f T o r o nt o , Oxford University and Harvard University.

Major renovations in the South Building for the new year

Matthew Filipowich/The Medium

KATHERINE LUCYNZSKI ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Last year, UTM welcomed new constructions of a new health centre and sciences building. The renovations, however, are far from over. Major changes are now underway in the South Building.

“With the campus expansion we’ve experienced over the past number of years, we have been squeezed for space,” said UTM Chief Administrative Officer Paul Donoghue.

The Geography and Sociology departments, the offices of the VicePresident and Principal, Chief Administrative Officer, Dean and VicePrincipal and campus police will be moved to a newly renovated area on the third floor of the South Building, which was formerly the UTM library. The Department of Political Science will also move to the third floor of the South Building in May. The 3,358 square meter space includes 79 offices (both academic and administrative), work space for graduate students, several conference rooms, designated space for student academic societies, and lounges for staff and stu-

dents as well as several computer labs.

The space also includes skylights and a two-storey atrium garden.

The renovation was led by Peter Ng of Kearns Mancini Architects Inc. The renovations have a green focus, with the use of recycled materials such as bamboo and wood from managed forests as well as low-consumption plumbing fixtures.

“Faculty will want to spend research time in the renovated offices,” said Professor Gage Averill, the dean and vice-principal at UTM. He added that the renovations will help with the recruitment of students and staff, “and will provide the kind of space that facilitates a rich departmental academic life.”

Plans are now underway for a student services plaza on the second floor of the South Building. The plaza will provide students with a central location for services, including academic support and recruitment, health and academic counseling and transitional year programs. The student services plaza will link with a newly renovated Meeting Place.

“This renovation of the South Building gives us room to accommodate current staff, faculty and students, and provides wonderful options for future expansion,” said Donoghue.

4 THE MEDIUM

MONDAY,

JANUARY 4, 2010

OPINION FORGOTTEN IDEALS?

Letter to the Editor Are students’ ideals naive? afflicted him and his family. We had to, because the article dealt with the money he’s cost his investors. But we included no juicy details or allegations or irrelevant names. It’s a fine line, to be sure, the one that divides your principles and real life. I think, though, this time, we managed to remain on the good side.

In the last day of my Journalistic Investigation class, just a few weeks ago, my professor held a newspaper cover page with a close up of a man.

He’d been attacked by a pit bull and was missing half his face. This man had gone to the newspaper and asked for his picture to be printed.

He said he wanted everyone to be aware of what could happen to them.

The professor asked us, “If you were professional newspapermen, would you have agreed?” I said I would, if only to honour the man’s courage, adding that I’d rather quit than print that picture without his consent.

Other students disagreed, arguing that publishing the picture would likely disturb readers. All our reasons were altruistic. None had anything to do sales, which is probably the most determining factor that decides what ends up splashed across a front page of other newspapers.

At the end of the class, the professor said, “It’d be nice if you could all maintain that integrity.” I don’t know if she was optimistic. I know I’m not. At the time, I meant what I said about quitting my job, but would I really do it? If I was working for a big paper or a TV station, making decent money, making my way up, would I quit over a principle?

For that matter, would the students who now denounce corporate greed decline a job offer from, say, Nike? Would those who claim to protect the environment refuse to work for GM? Being aware of the possibility of betraying my principles may seem to indicate I’m already willing to betray them. I like to think the opposite.

Being aware of this possibility, I hope, means I’m ready to recognize the risks, the signs, and steer away from them.

Or not. We shall see.

ALAIN LATOUR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

hat’s it. 2009 is over, and with it, the first decade of the millennium. We’re all probably coming up with new resolutions. Some of us may even have a plan as to how to carry these out. This year will for sure be different, we tell ourselves, if nobody else, although it’d probably make a lot more sense to tell everybody else— shame and fear of failure are powerful motivators.

But it’s not 2010 I want to talk about. Neither do I want to talk about resolutions. I want to talk, if only in passing, about privacy, about media, and about marital infidelity. I want to talk, again in passing, about Tiger Woods, but mostly I want to talk about life after university and how it will transform us students.

The whole Tiger Woods episode revolted me. Not because he cheated on his wife. That’s between him and her. It revolted me because everyone wanted to know about it. Mostly, it revolted me because the media happily obliged. Or perhaps it was the other way around: Not too many people wanted to know about it, but the media still ran with it and inflated it and made everyone aware of it, including those of us who believe that even celebrities have a right to privacy. Either way, the media’s massive coverage of the Tiger Woods scandal upset me. Sure, I understand why they did it, especially in these days of dwindling newspaper sales and with a media revolution rumbling in the horizon: They did it because they want to sell. They did it because they want to survive, but in order to survive, they may have become whores. I, on the other hand, don’t have to worry about sales—at least not as much as your average paper does. This week, for example, we ran a story about Tiger Woods, and in it we mentioned, however briefly, the scandal that has

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A long list of grievances Dear Editor, I have been listing some grievances I have with the UTM campus on Facebook and it was suggested to me to forward them to you so that the opinions could be heard. All things listed are common complaints my friends and I have constantly made and would like to have addressed to make student life easier.

1) North Building Why is it that a university as prestigious as U of T has a building that is so reminiscent of high school? I heard that NB was supposed to be temporary and then replaced by a better facility. Why is the NB is still there? Clearly we are not lacking funding for a replacement as we are losing a parking lot to a learning center, and half of lot 9 is being eaten by the new medical center. The NB is just an ugly building.

2) Parking passes Why sell 2500 parking passes when there is less than half the parking space? I don’t know how many students waste their money buying parking passes and never get to use them! These people are left roaming around the parking lot, stalking people as they walk towards their cars to grab the parking space. Lot 2 is being eaten away for a new learning center, leaving even less parking spaces for UTM students. One would think that, logically, UTM would sell less parking passes to acknowledge the lack of space—don’t count on it though.

3) Showers I don’t know how the women’s showers are in the gym, but the guys’ showers feel like acid rain. Why is it that the showers act as exfoliators?

Someone needs to take a look at the water pressure because I should be able to wash my face without worrying about how much skin I will lose.

4) Entrance to the gym That machine you have to swipe your student card through in order to get into the change room is always broken. It doesn’t bother me so much, but honestly, how incompetent are the technicians UTM is hiring that that machine has not been able to remain functional for a single month?

5) Booster Juice Every time I see somebody walking around with their Booster Juice, it gives me a headache. All Booster Juice is a glorified slushie/Gatorade with a bit of protein thrown in. And these people pay quite a bit for them.

It’s a stupid waste of money and it annoys me how many people fall for it. Honestly, save yourself the money and just google how much nutrition you should have a day and change your deficient diet to accommodate yourself.

6) UTM shuttle I would say that five of the shuttle drivers are nice people who are pleasant to talk to, but there are about two or three bus drivers who are so insane that I feel my life is in danger every time I’m on the bus.

These ladies speed at twice the limit down Mississauga Road and the highway. A kid beside me flew up so high she hit her head. Seriously, we only arrive eight to ten minutes early, and I’d much prefer a safe arrival than the possibility of none at all. It’s like these drivers are hoping to crash every time they drive the shuttle.

7) What’s with the TV at CCIT? There is an entire Facebook group

dedicated to this last grievance.

People say that it is ‘artistic’—but I fail to see the ‘art’ in people running through a disco-lighted maze or a guy bending over with his pants down. Honestly, if the most interesting thing that has ever been shown on that TV is a guy trying to climb a free-standing ladder, then something’s got to change. The guys in charge of that make visitors think that UTM art students are immature and confused.

8) Doors inside the SB hallway Why are there doors in the hallways of the SB? Doors are meant to provide a pathway from room to room, or from outside to inside. So why did U of T feel the need to have doors that connect hallway to hallway? These doors do nothing more than slow me down. And anything that slows a person down also pisses them off.

9) Programs as Prerequisites Why do I have to be a specialist to enroll in certain classes? If I have a higher average than a specialist and I’m in a higher year, why should I get shafted a program because I prefer a double major over a single specialist?

Why should anyone be shafted like this? Grades should be the primary concern, and there shouldn’t be any nonsense said about not enough room in the class because many of these ‘specialists only’ classes only have ten to fifteen spots. Honestly, if you are a tenured professor, then you should have enough talent to educate more than a handful of students.

10) Library 4th floor First of all, these area is not necessarily a silent zone, so talking is permitted and fine by me. However, people who come there only talk and goof around are nothing but distracting. That’s pretty annoying, but what’s more annoying is the lackluster performance by the library staff in silencing them. Sure the staff comes up and asks them to be quiet, but they will do that song and dance over and over. At St. George, you have one warning, and then you are gone—that’s why it’s quiet as a graveyard at St. George. Maybe the library should take a note from their sister campus about how to curb the noise level.

11) Smoking by the hallway doors connecting CCT to the library Apparently it’s illegal now to smoke close to the doorways everyone uses. And that makes sense because if you haven’t heard about all the things secondhand smoke does to people, then you should not have gotten into university.

However, I don’t mind the smoke itself, but many other people hate the smokers being so close to the door, and U of T has another lackluster performance in preventing this health hazard. People complain, but what is being done? As of right now, I’ve seen nothing but chalk on the ground by a go-getter student but nothing from UTM. 12) NB closes early NB cafe closes a few hours before the SB cafe, and even earlier on some days, but why? There are still classes going on in the North Building until late at night and sometimes we could really go for a coffee from the only Tims on campus that can get your order to you in under 15 minutes.

Regards, Jeff Millar

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4, 2010 THE MEDIUM 5

Michael Di Leo, Editor | arts@mediumonline.ca

Winter chills, movie thrills Taking a look at the blockbusters that filled our theatres this winter break NIVES HAJDIN ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR

The winter of 2009 saw a number of blockbuster releases that both generated large revenues at the box office and left behind a trail of mystique in theatres. From the legacy of enigmatic personas to worlds of fantasy, Sherlock Holmes, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, and Avatar were able to capture the magic of the holidays and inspire the hope of a new year.

When was the last time moviegoers were treated to a truly memorable adaptation of Sherlock Holmes? Guy Ritchie can’t remember either, and felt it was about time he gave people one to remember. Starring Robert Downey, Jr. as the eponymous hero, Ritchie’s film showcases a new kind of Sherlock Holmes for the 21st century: one with brute strength, a scraggly and raw exterior, and a romantic interest.

Using the help of his headstrong sidekick John Watson (Jude Law) as well as his former flame Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), Holmes must become familiar with Lord Blackwood’s (Mark Strong) dark rituals in order to thwart the Lord’s takeover of the British Empire and put an end to his satanic human sacrifices.

The film’s greatest moments include the fight scenes in slow motion, in which Downey, Jr. first demonstrates exactly how Holmes will execute the knockout of his opponent within the next few seconds, and impressively performs it punch for punch.

While greatly suspenseful and full of charm, the film appears to be grasping for laughs at times, but not because the script is poorly written. On the contrary, there are a number of cleverly scripted moments that ultimately go unnoticed (such as the bantering between Downey, Jr. and Law like an old married couple) because of Downey, Jr.’s sometimes flawed attempts at a British accent. While he gives a very intriguing performance as the mystery-solving enigma, Downey, Jr. often slurs the native speech that comes so easily to the English-born Law, and though Downey, Jr.’s quick wit and curt comebacks prompt a chuckle or two, one must really strain to catch the majority of his sporadic mutterings. Nevertheless, he and Law command the screen as the quaint and bickering duo, and though initially a bit static, Law proves he is just as worthy of acclaim and adoration as his celebrated co-star. He gives the film exactly what it needs—a bit of class, some wit, and the boldness to zing Holmes once in a while—and gives Watson a rare taste of the limelight.

If people are paying triple the price of a film ticket at the Toronto International Film Festival, chances are the movie is getting a lot of buzz.

Before its release on Christmas Day, Terry Gilliam’s fantasy flick The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus premiered at TIFF this past September, where eager fans were the first to see the late Heath Ledger’s last career appearance. Though it affirms the tragic reality of an amazing actor’s

untimely death, Ledger’s abridged performance is nothing short of brilliant, as is the remainder of the film as a whole.

Known for his bizarre yet compelling films, Gilliam creates a world in which a person’s imagination becomes their desired reality, even if that reality will only ever be an illusion. The film is packed with symbolism, and the most prominent theme is that of choice: will the abusive drunk climb the stairs to redemption or will he satisfy his impulse at a nearby bar?

Will the Russian mob join the police

that beckon them, or will they seek refuge in the care of their comforting babushka? The obvious choice usually ends in peril.

Can we ever obtain something that tempts us, and live to say we did not regret it? This question plagues the thousand year-old Dr. Parnassus (Christopher Plummer), a theatre troupe leader who can control the minds of people and make them see their most wonderful dreams, or their most horrible realities. In exchange for immortality, Parnassus makes a deal with the devil (Tom Waits), but

when Parnassus desires his youth back, he is granted this wish on the condition that his daughter Valentina (Lily Cole) becomes the property of the devil on her 16th birthday. A race against time ensues to correct Parnassus’ unforgivable mistake, but the theatre troupe fortunately stumbles across a strange man named Tony (Ledger), whose charm and charisma makes the troupe’s performances magical again.

Tony remembers nothing of his old life, but adopts a new one with the theatre troupe and further learns to

understand Parnassus’ abilities. Val becomes more attracted to Tony, and Anton (Andrew Garfield), who loves Val, becomes wary of Tony’s past.

Though regrettable that Ledger could not showcase the entire transformation of Tony, Gilliam’s decision to recast the role instead of axing the whole project proved to be an excellent decision.

Movie continued on page 7

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS GOVERNING COUNCIL Nominations Open: Friday, January 8, 2010 at 12:00 noon Nominations Close: Friday, January 22, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.

Positions Available: 8 Student Seats 1-year term from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011: t 4 full-time undergraduate students t 2 part-time undergraduate students t 2 graduate students 1 Administrative Staff Seat 3-year term from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2013 4 Teaching Staff Seats 3-year term from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2013: t Faculty of Arts and Science (Departments of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Cell and Systems, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Geology, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics and Actuarial Science) 1 teaching staff vacancy t Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering 1 teaching staff vacancy t Faculty of Medicine 2 teaching staff vacancies Nomination Forms will be available beginning 12:00 noon, Friday, January 8, 2010 online at www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/elections.htm or Office of the Governing Council Room 106, Simcoe Hall, 27 King’s College Circle, Toronto, Ontario

Work of the Governing Council The Governing Council is composed of 50 members: 25 members from within the internal University community, including administrative staff, teaching staff, and students, and 25 members external to the University, including alumni and LieutenantGovernor-in-Council appointees.

As the University of Toronto’s senior governing body, the Governing Council oversees the University’s academic, business, and student affairs. Decisions approved by the Governing Council affect all members of the University community.

Council and its Boards approve: t .BKPS DIBOHFT JO BDBEFNJD QSPHSBNT BOE VOJUT t 1PMJDJFT PO BENJTTJPOT BOE BXBSET UVJUJPO BOE BODJMMBSZ GFFT research, and grading practices t 3FTPVSDF BMMPDBUJPO JO TVQQPSU PG UIF 6OJWFSTJUZ T QSJPSJUJFT t -POH SBOHF CVEHFU HVJEFMJOFT BOE BOOVBM CVEHFU SFQPSUT t "DRVJTJUJPO BOE PS EJTQPTBM PG BTTFUT BOE DBQJUBM QMBOT t $BNQVT BOE TUVEFOU TFSWJDFT t "QQPJOUNFOU PG TFOJPS BENJOJTUSBUPST The membership of the Governing Council should reflect the diversity of the University. Nominations are encouraged from a wide variety of individuals.

Questions?

Please contact: Chief Returning Officer at: governing.council@utoronto.ca or 416-978-6576 or Deputy Returning Officer at: maeyu.tan@utoronto.ca or 416-978-8794 Further information Please consult the elections website for more information and review the Elections Guidelines 2010 at: www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/elections.htm

6 THE MEDIUM

MONDAY, JANUARY

4, 2010

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT MUSIC AND MORE MUSIC

I’m a skeptic when it comes to lists.

Yes, they’re nice and cute and tie everything up in a neat little bow, but what do I care about some guy’s opinion blurbed across the centre spread of an overpriced magazine? For that matter, why does every publication insist on their own “definitive” lists that, by the way, are often significantly different from their competitors? Is there even a best album? If there was, could we tell?

The answer to that, as well as countless other questions, is taste.

Taste is unique. Taste is sharp. And most importantly, taste is brash. You can tell immediately when you don’t like something. I still remember how sick I felt after being introduced to BrokeNCYDE’s debut album last year.

It was terrible. But also eye-opening.

I couldn’t understand how, but I knew that somewhere in the world, at the exact moment the screamo-crunk mess was pulsing through my speakers, someone was enjoying BrokeNCYDE. And not merely enjoying them—they were postering their room with photos of the group, memorizing lyrics from their debut album, and, most frighteningly, dressing like their new-found idols.

Is that wrong? Most would be quick to agree. I mean, isn’t it obvious how bad the music is?

To tell you the truth, I’m still unsure.

But I am sure that if you asked the BrokeNCYDE fan whether their album had as much musical integrity as say, OutKast’s Stankonia (which is also crunk at heart, and #3 on our list), you would receive an entirely different response, one far from the expected “no, but it’s just like, my opinion, man.” Most likely, you would receive a resounding “no.” Hell, BrokeNCYDE themselves would have to be incompa-

rably arrogant to make any other claim.

It’s at this point that we compare and define music. Sure, you can like whatever you want, but it is important to separate what you like from what is noteworthy. For instance, I personally do not like MIA’s Kala (also on our list). In fact, I find it’s a bit of a nuisance, apart from a few cuts. But I do think it represented an important stream of music in the past ten years, and contributed more than most other albums did in the same period of time.

Which is why I voted for it on my personal list.

But I wasn’t the only one who acted in such a way when preparing my list to be counted towards this collective one. Over forty other people contributed towards making this “Best of the Decade” extravaganza a success.

There were students, both music freaks and casual listeners, there were industry professionals, and there were even musicians and performers. A balanced set of voters no doubt, in order to weed out any irregularities or outliers.

To all those who helped by sending in their lists, I say thanks, not just for getting back to me over the December holidays, but for your time spent distilling your favorite albums down to a list of ten (an arduous task I can bear witness to).

To those who went further and sent in personal paragraphs of the winning albums of their choice, I think the article speaks for itself.

So it is with my pleasure we present to you The Medium’s Top 10 Albums of the Decade (2000-10); the culmination of weeks of searching and the opinions of dozens of people. Have a good read.

During the chorus of “Wake Up” I turned around to see the whole front row a mess of glistening-eyed hipsters, singing their hearts out. I got the tickets for a friend of mine as a birthday present, and a moment later, when he whirled me around to give me a sweaty appreciative man-hug two thoughts simultaneously ran through my mind: 1. This is huge. By witnessing this band right here right now we are a part of something. And 2. I’m such a good friend.

The tickets were bought at a discount on account of the dreaded Massey Hall “obstructed view.”

However, as soon as the band came out, everyone with floor seats stood up and moved to the stage.

We found ourselves front row, a little off center, watching the biggest band in the world. Thanks, Craigslist. - Kjartan Hewitt

- Michael Di Leo

STANKONIA

#3 OUTKAST

AYMAN SAAB

#4 THE KILLE KILLERS RS

HOT FUSS

IS THIS IT ?

#2 THE STROKES

The first time I had ever heard, or seen, The Strokes was on a wall of about 100 televisions at a Future Shop. It was 2001 and Is This It? had just been released. The Strokes’ music video for “Last Nite” was playing on every single television in the store, and I was mesmerized.

At a time when the Top 40 was flooded with suburban favorites like Britney Spears, N*Sync, and the travesty known as Sisqó, The Strokes came out with an album that defined the sound of the city. Not just New York, but any major city centre in the world. The album is loud, fast, aggressive, and rude in a way that only a metropolis can be.

It ushered in a new wave of Rock n’Roll for the 21st century.

Is This It? came out of nowhere and helped to define what was objectively “cool” in the music industry. Whether lead singer Julian Casablancas was screaming on “New York City Cops” or crooning on the title track, Is This It? dripped with an attitude and originality that was sorely needed (see Sisqó reference above).

JAMES MURRAY It seems like only yesterday that “Ms. Jackson” was number one on the Billboard Charts, instantly recognizable to the general public. Therein lies the great strength of OutKast and Stankonia specifically. That Big Boi and Andre 3000 were able to write an album that achieved commercial crossover success in the mainstream but never veered too far from the smoother funkier roots of their older albums.

Personally, Stankonia was a real discovery for me at an age when I wasn’t sure what the limits to music were. In my own insular little world I didn’t know that you could have an album that sounded like Parliament/Funkadelic one track, only to sound like drum n’ bass on the next track and Prince on the one after that. I’d like to think that I’m smarter now, but that remains one of OutKast’s greatest qualities—that they can combine all those ingredients into an album that keeps you coming back to it again and again.

NIVES HAJDIN It was 2004 when The Killers burst onto to crime scene with their debut album, Hot Fuss. So what was all the fuss about?

Fuelled by Brandon Flowers’ keyboard synths, the record is defined by a new wave sound that draws on the likes of David Bowie and New Order, yet has a certain forbidden allure that only Las Vegas could influence. The band’s infectious first single, “Somebody Told Me,” spread across club dance floors before

anyone had a chance to ask who these guys were, and as if overnight, The Killers were topping the UK Indie Charts and selling out concerts around the world.

With headbanging anthems such as “All These Things That I’ve Done,” hard-hitting love ballads like “Mr. Brightside,” and songs about murder mysteries, go-go dancers, and boyfriends who look like girlfriend, Hot Fuss is not only one of the best albums to come out of Sin City, but also remains one of the decade’s top records.

MONDAY, JANUARY

YET ANOTHER LIST #6 M.I.A.

YOU FORGOT IT IN PEOPLE

KALA

#5 BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE

ROSE MUSTARD You Forgot It In People is the sophomore album from the wildly popular Canadian indie group Broken Social Scene. This 13-track breakthrough album was released in October of 2002, and immediately became many people's album to look out for in the following year. In 2003 Broken Social Scene took home the Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year. Only a few years after the album's release, it was alongside

YANKEE HOTEL FOXTROT

#7 WILCO

other artists such as like Neil Young, Sloan and Joni Mitchell as one of the greatest Canadian albums ever made.

Broken Social Scene has been dubbed a "supergroup"—it consists of a large and varied number of artists and guests (and therefore instruments) from across the Canadian music scene. Which goes to show why this album was immediately popular. Out of the thirteen varied tracks, four have music videos and two have taken top song honors.

And the album is on this list.

MICHAEL DI LEO

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT MICHAEL DI LEO When your music makes up the soundtrack of an Academy-Award-busting blockbuster, you automatically get a place in the hearts and minds of all those who saw it (which comes out to around everyone anyways).

Remember that flash-forward scene in Slumdog where the kids grow up riding on trains around India, stealing food from bourgeois passengers? Remember how good it felt watching that? I did some market research, and 62% of that happiness was a result of “Paper Planes” playing in the background. 62%.

Just like that scene, Kala, while heavily produced, retains a sense of intrigue and impending excitement. It feels natural and organic, free of restrictions. With this album, M.I.A. became a household name, a famous Tamil advocate and stylistic influence on the current generation.

At the same time, Kala can be repetitive. It might even make your brain sore. But you will be too overjoyed to notice.

TRAE RMC I first heard this album on a very late night of drinking tea and smoking too many cigarettes with a friend. He said he had something to show me, so he put on his vinyl copy of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and we didn't speak for a very long time.

It's a good-for-everything album. From sending a song to a crush, to being that idiot singing at the top of their lungs alone in their car—this 11-track "careerender" (according to AOL Time Warner) is a repeatplayer, uncompromising, and what the fuck, their bestselling album to date. Wilco will love you baby.

#8 INTERPOL

IN RAINBOWS

PAUL CASTRODALE

#10 RADIOHEAD

TURN ON THE BRIGHT LIGHTS

I remember visiting a friend of mine at his new apartment two summers ago. He had moved in about a week prior and the night before held a celebratory bash in honor of his new digs.

Somehow the guys from Interpol (minus the drummer) showed up after playing a concert earlier that evening.

Apart from a few brief trips to an adjoining washroom, they spent the entire night in a small living-type room in the back. I ventured back there to see what mementos I could find, but was instead met with darkness. The lightbulbs had all been unscrewed from their lamps and were lying on the ground, smashed. There were tiny shards of broken mirror strewn across the black coffee table and three neatly rolled American twenty-dollar bills on the seat of the couch.

Then I heard something. A girl was waking up on the ground beside the couch. I hadn’t noticed her at first, but when she got up, I saw her clearly. Her darkened eyes, torn black t-shirt and bare feet are all a result of excess. “Is the guitar player still here?” she asked. But he was long gone.

4, 2010 THE MEDIUM 7

Ghostface Killa is a bulldozer with a wrecking ball attached. He’s also the most hyperactive lyricist in the Wu Tang Clan. On Fishscale, he seamlessly merged heavy hitting punch lines with offthe-wall Tony Starkisms. But it didn’t sound like 90’s Ghost doing this. This was fresh, hungry and youthful hip hop. Considering this was 2006, this is no small feat—Ghost was pushing his late 30's. Huge synthesizers and the south were on the rise, but this album is out of its time. The beats range from Pete Rock’s threadbare but propulsive “Dogs of War” to Just Blaze’s dense “The Champ.” Throughout, the hooks are right up front, the choruses are smooth and Ghost weaves in and out of it all without a pause.

Fishscale is an organic and soulful record. It’s classicist to be sure —barring the gross-out perv skit “Heart Street Directions”—but it doesn’t sound like a throwback. This is 2000’s hip-hop. It’s slick and tightly produced, and far removed from the grimy beats that Ghost came up on. But Ghost and guests still kill it like only they can. By sounding classic but not dated, Fishscale ultimately sounds timeless.

FISHSCALE

#9 GHOSTFACE KILLAH

MELISSA HORN Even if you don't dream of hitting some of that sweet, sweet Thom Yorke ass, In Rainbows is undeniably Radiohead’s sexiest album. Its cozy production, coruscant guitars and honeyed vocals are both intoxicating and seductive.

The album’s intimacy is a result of using cerebral electronic experimentation purely as decoration for the melodies. Greenwoodisms that, a decade ago, might have devolved into a cacophonous paean to the guitarist’s new Moog are reined in and rendered delicate as lace trim, as in the subdued atmospherics of “All I Need.”

On the fan favourite “Nude,” the band has graduated from the adolescent selfhatred of “Creep” to a more sophisticated pining. Cascading strings shimmer like the neural net of a droid in love, and the song builds to a lush, woozy climax as Yorke swoons, “You’ll go to Hell for what your dirty mind is thinking.” It’s still signature Radiohead—paranoid, obsessive, self-reflexive—but it’s probably the closest they’ll get to a slow jam.

A 1,000 years from now, robots will turn on In Rainbows, pour themselves some synthehol, and make little robot babies together, wondering who or what was a “radio-head.” Somehow, I don’t think Thom would mind.

Full swing: Winter blockbusters in review Movie continued from Page 5

Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell, all close friends of Ledger and conveniently similarlooking for the role, were chosen to portray the character of Tony at various stages in the dream world (while Heath played the real-life Tony). The final cut comes together seamlessly, and the dedicated effort

put forth in Ledger’s memory will remain a powerful testament to one of Hollywood’s most gifted talents.

Perhaps the most highly anticip a t e d f i lm o f 2 0 0 9 w a s J a m e s Cameron’s Avatar, a project that has kept the Titanic director busy for the past 14 years. Combining live-action and computer-generated imagery, Avatar is a remarkable piece of filmmaking that Cameron had initially hoped to release way back in the 90s, but didn’t because

the technology needed hadn’t been invented yet. The film grossed over $ 2 5 0 ,0 0 0 , 0 0 0 w o r l d w i d e i n i t s o p e n i n g w e e ke n d a n d h a s b e e n r e le a s e d in m u lt i p l e f o r m a ts , i n c lu d i n g R e a lD 3 D a s w e ll a s IMAX 3D (the former provides a more realistic perception of depth, while the latter really jumps off the screen at the viewer).

The film takes place in the distant future on Pandora, a moon inhabited by the indigenous Na’vi

h u m a no i d s w h o a r e p r e v e n t i n g humans from extracting precious and lucrative rocks on the land they occupy. In order to understand the existence of the Na’vi and earn their trust, Dr. Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) creates a system of avatars in which humans can live through scientifically-designed Na’vi surrogate bodies in order to be better equipped for the wilds of Pandora.

The marines send Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) into Pandora to con-

vince the Na’vi race to evacuate their home or else be killed, but when he becomes attached to the world that he must ultimately help destroy, he must make a decision whether to remain loyal to the humans or to live among his new race. Yet this distinction is exactly w h a t A v a t ar t r i e s t o e r a s e , a n d instead attempts to instil the notion that all races ultimately have the right to exist, no matter how different they appear to be.

8 THE MEDIUM

MONDAY, JANUARY

4, 2010

Amir Ahmed, Editor | features@mediumonline.ca

Bringing drama to UTM JULIE WAINWRIGHT

Stephanie Dadd, 19, curls up on a couch in the Student Centre. She wears a black hoodie and navy blue UTM rowing track pants. Her short brown hair is tied up. Her laptop sticks out of her backpack.

Like many students, she’s not completely sure what she wants to do after she graduates, but she has one major passion. “I always had an interest in theatre, but in grade 12, I got to spend a lot of time backstage. I really liked the rush,” Dadd said.

“I was looking to join a drama club, but there wasn’t one. People in my drama class asked about it, so I thought, maybe I’ll just be the one to make one.”

Dadd, a second-year English and drama double major, participated in several plays when she attended Father Michael Goetz Secondary School. She played the witch in the musical Into the Woods and was Mrs. Claus in A Ticket to the North Pole.

Shakespeare’s play, The Tempest, is among her favourites, as well as the 2002 movie, Adaptation.

Aside from obligations such as a four-course load and a part-time job at Chapters, Dadd is currently establishing a club at UTM. “I was looking to join a drama club, but there wasn’t one. People in my drama class asked about it, so I thought maybe I’ll just be the one to make one.”

Dadd said that the idea “popped” into her head at the end of September. “I thought it was r e a l l y s t r a n g e t h a t U T M d i dn ’ t have a drama club, especially because there’s such a strong theatre program here. There was a

drama club in the past, but it seems like no one cared to get it recognized.”

In October, she sent out emails through the English and Drama department to recruit members.

She received about 50 responses from interested students. “There have been some drama majors, minors, and students not in drama. It’s a nice range.”

Once the club is officially recognized, Dadd hopes to hold “improv” nights and perform shows in the MiST Theatre. She plans to put money collected from ticket sales towards future plays.

She also wants to travel to high schools to perform for youths.

This idea is based on her own high school experience, since her school did not have a specialized drama program. Dadd maintains that theatre is an important aspect of education. “I would like to give people opportunities that I didn’t have in high school,” Dadd said.

Another important event is the upcoming U of T Drama Festival, held annually at Hart House. The festival will take place in February 2010, and is popular for its student-written plays. Some students have already contacted Dadd with ideas. The Drama Coalition runs the event and Dadd juggles attending their meetings with participating in Leading Ladies, a youth outreach drama program at Soulpepper Theatre in Toronto.

Even though she has yet to assign positions in the club and complete the club’s constitution, Dadd is dedicated to creating the drama club. She was ambitious enough to start her own business making clay charms when she was in grade eight, but admits, “It’s taking up a lot of time. I didn’t know how much work goes into starting a club.”

When asked if she plans to start any other campus clubs, Dadd smiles and shakes her head. “No. This’ll be my baby.”

Around the campus The Medium takes a winter exploration of the Credit River GORDON FREEMAN AND GRANT DANIELS In the past year, UTM has seen a fair share of growth in terms of campus infrastructure. The medical science building, and the new instructional centres, for better or worse, will make

their mark on the campus and how students perceive it. However, in this quest for a greater student population, and a more “concrete” experience, students can miss out on the wealth of natural beauty the campus has to offer, which, some may say, truly defines distinguishes UTM

from the other U of T campuses. In this article, written in the style of a photo-log, Gordon Freeman and Grant Daniels explore the UTM nature trail in the hopes of encouraging other students to enjoy the Credit River area that surrounds the campus.

Grant Daniels: And so our journey begins. The UTM nature trail loops around the campus, beginning near Lislehurst on the end of Principal’s Road, and continuing to the football fields near the South Building Parking lot. The air is crisp, the tumbling snowflakes feel like angel feathers, and the silence of the wilderness is incredible.

Gordon Freeman: It’s cold. Also there aren’t any animals out here, are there? Deer don’t eat people, right?

GD: The muted earth tones of the evergreens and the hibernating deciduous create a beautiful pallet, especially buried under the pure white snowfall. A truly poetic sight, worthy of a Basho haiku. The sound of rushing water pours up from the valley carved by the Credit River.

GF: Grant, that squirrel looks pretty freaky. It’s just... staring at me.

GD: The Credit River, gateway to Lake Ontario and used historically by the French and Mississaugas in the fur trade. The nature trail runs along a cliff of sorts that follows the river and eventually leads here, a quiet, secluded riverbank.

GF: It’s still cold. There’s also mud everywhere. And that squirrel is following me, I know it.

GD: This chimney, or possibly the remains of a wood stove, is probably a remnant of one of the old cottage structures on UTM. A vital part of our campus history and a sign of the interplay between civilization and the wilderness in the olden times of rural Canadian life. And yes, it is sort of creepy.

GF: Dude, have you ever seen the Blair Witch Project? Because this— GD: Shut up!

Matthew Fillipowich/The Medium

MONDAY, JANUARY

4, 2010 THE MEDIUM 9

CREATIVE CORNER FEATURES

A midnight encounter YANIQUE BIRD

At 1:00AM 00 a.m., I sat in the basement of 3565 Wideridge Road. The two storey duplex house belonged to Aunt Angie and her husband George.

I used their house as a weekend escape from campus life. The basement living room was my main station.

The muted TV threw patterns of colored light across the room that reflected off the smooth white surface of the humming refrigerator and the quietly bubbling aquarium that housed a single yellow fish. I sat in the futon bed with my laptop on my folded legs. I pecked and tapped at my touch pad, photoshopping a perfect white lotus into my brother Eden’s super short black hair. His attempt at a sexy smoldering expression coupled with the flower tucked behind his ear drew a chuckle from my lips.

I thought of emailing the picture to Eden. I chuckled again, began to close my computer, then stopped.

Footsteps creaked on the wooden floor above my head. I suspected it was Nathan, my aunt’s eldest son, looking for midnight snacks. The creaks became dull thuds as he entered the tiled kitchen. There was no creak of the fridge door, no slamming of cupboard doors. The thuds continued then died suddenly. He had reached the carpeted stairs that lead down to the basement where I sat.

I looked up, a snarky remark at the

tip of my tongue. A bulky figure emerged from the shadow of the stairwell. It wasn’t Nathan. It was George, my aunt’s husband, in pajama bottoms. And shirtless. A fine line of graying hairs ran up his bulbous belly and spread out across his flabby chest like the mouth of a river feeding into a lake. His slippers shuffled against the carpet as he dragged himself across the room. I tried not to take too much notice. A prickle of discomfort played at my spine.

George opened the fridge door.

Glass jars and bottles clinked. A smell of old asbestos and dampness wafted my way. George bent over, peered into the fridge, scratched his head.

He moaned and shut the door. He took nothing out. He put nothing in.

I shrank away from the edge of the bed a bit, stared at my computer screen and chewed my lip. George took a few steps towards me. He stood beside the futon and studied the muted television. He stood there for a long minute.

“What you doing?” George asked leaning over me slightly.

“Essay.”

“Almost done?”

“No.” “Everything okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay then.” George rubbed his head and yawned loudly. His hand in his hair sounded like his slippers on the carpet. His belly jiggled as he dropped his hand back to his side.

“Well, good night then.”

“Good night,” I mumbled.

I blinked and George’s hand took

hold of my chin. He forced my face upwards towards him. I cringed and averted my gaze. I felt a paralyzing chill. George yanked my head back towards him and brought his face down to mine. I wriggled and squirmed. His warm breath brushed against my lip. Moisture stung my eyes. George leaned in towards me.

I froze. George’s lips touched mine.

His scraggly, uneven moustache brushed against my upper lip. I jerked away. My voice didn’t work. I felt like a tiny, trapped animal: wideeyed and crazed.

George straightened up, looked at me, and half-smiled.

“What’s the matter?” George asked.

I shook my head. My hands trembled. My voice left me. I clenched my fists.

“What? I can’t kiss you?”

A voice I hardly recognized as my own sounded firm. “I’d rather you not.”

“Okay,” George said. “Good night.”

I turned back to my computer. I watched George’s slippers shuffle back up the stairs from the corner of my eye and listened for the thuds on the titled kitchen floor and the creaks on the wooden hallway that would tell me he had gone back to his bedroom, to his wife, to my aunt.

I shut my computer down and buried myself into the thick covers of the futon. I wrapped myself into the duvet, leaving only my eyes and nose out. I watched those stairs and listened to the floor above my head. I watched until I fell into fitful sleep.

THE CONT

SUBMIT Y OUR ENTI

RES TO ME

Ennui!

SUSAN ROMSULSON

I don’t expect you to get this poem I don’t expect you to grasp my Artful ways and turns of phrase, and how I make the world you know spin upon my pencil tip.

You say my poem’s poor? Not iambic?

How can you even grasp the myriad ways I play and twist and innovate the string of useless sounds that you call English.

Just give up now, a plebian like you Should read some simpler things. Read Analects, The Metamorphoses, the Oddysey, Something where blood and gore and sex prevails.

I’m Homer out of Ithaca, Rumi into Persia. I’ve read their works and learned their tricks and now I’ll make my mark. Just watch the sparkly words I pull from air and dark.

Wait, that’s all the space I have?

Shit.

EST CLOS

DIUMONL

INE.CA/W

RITINGCO

ES THIS FR

NTEST BY

MIDNIGH

T AND YO

IDAY!

U COULD

WIN CASH

!

10 THE MEDIUM MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2010

Andrew Tysiak , Editor | sports@mediumonline.ca

UTM Division 1 men’s basketball team makes it to finals in Humber College tournament Despite having only eight players, the exhausted Eagles fought their way to the finals, only to lose 63 30 in the championship game against Humber North JACK KRIST

The Men’s Division 1 team played in the OCAA Humber College Extramural Basketball Tournament on December 4.

Extramural tournaments at the OCAA involve college teams comprised of exvarsity and top non-varsity players.

Missing a few players due to exams, UTM went to Humber with only eight, and were looking to better their last performance against Humber North, whom they lost to in the semi-final of the UTM OCAA Extramural Tournament.

UTM had the tournament opening game at 8:15 a.m. against the topranked Humber College North team.

UTM came out slowly after almost arriving late for the game and trailed 31-17 at the half. The second half was much better for UTM, with all its players hitting the score sheet in the second half. The team, however, still couldn’t cut into the Humber lead, and the North squad ended the game on a 7-0 run to make the final score 59-40. Fedja Kuljanin and Osama Abdelkader led UTM in scoring with nine points each.

UTM then faced Seneca’s York Campus in the next game. UTM held leads of 14-5 and 22-12 before Seneca scored the last six points of the half to close the gap to 22-18. In the second half, Seneca was able to hang with UTM with the two teams trading baskets all half. Seneca managed to take a one point 41-40 lead late in the second half on a three pointer by Joel Wilson.

UTM had a three of their own on a basket and a made foul shot by

Berrit Page

The UTM Eagles pose for a photo after the championship game against Humber North on December 4.

Abdelkader. The two teams then traded leads for the last minute until UTM’s Kent Bray scored the winning basket.

UTM had scraped by for a much needed 46-43 win. Bray was the UTM team’s leading scorer with 11 points.

UTM then took on North Bay’s Canadore College in a must win game to advance to the medal round. The undersized Canadore team was able to stay with UTM in the first half to keep the game close. UTM led at the half 3020. Early in the second half UTM finally realized that Canadore had no post player that could cover Kuljanin, and easy dumps inside led to Kuljanin scor-

ing all of his game and team high 18 points in the second. UTM went on to a convincing 65-43 win, ensuring their spot in the semis.

UTM’s opponent in the semi-final was Sheridan College, who finished first in their pool. Sheridan came out strong and UTM, who were dominant inside in the previous game, looked to score from the three point line at the start of this game. UTM hit three straight three’s but still trailed Sheridan 11-9. Sheridan ended the half with a five point, 25-20 lead over the Eagles.

With less than 80 seconds left, it appeared that UTM was on the verge of

elimination. Sheridan had a 42 to 34 lead and was looking to slow the game down. Their stall did not work as missed foul shots and UTM steals allowed UTM to pull within four.

UTM’s Ambrish Patel hit a three pointer to pull UTM to within one point, 4241 with 15 seconds left. UTM managed to get the ball back on a Sheridan turnover and called a time-out with 2.8 seconds on the clock.

The Sheridan team pressured the half-court inbounds, almost forcing a five count until Kuljanin came to the ball from the elbow and caught the ball just outside the three point line. Two or

three Sheridan defenders jumped out on him, but he was able to turn and find a wide open Andre Woodroffe in the paint four feet from the basket.

Woodroffe’s shot went up, narrowly beating the buzzer, and then went swish for the one point UTM win, 4342. The UTM players jumped off the bench, mauling Woodroffe after the ref’s delayed basket good signal had given everyone a near heart attack.

UTM had managed to claw back from an eight point deficit within 80 seconds to earn a spot in the final. Patel led UTM and all scorers with 16 points, and Woodroffe added nine points.

UTM then faced Humber North for the second time in the tournament and third time this year. The Humber squad of 14 players had too much left in the tank in the final and they were not about to lose on home court. UTM was hanging in tough, refusing to give up, but with the score 13-10 for Humber, the Humber team went on a 17-4 run and led 30-14 at the half. The second half was all Humber as they cruised to a 63-30 win over an exhausted UTM Eagles squad. UTM were awarded t-shirts for being the tournament finalists. Woodroffe had nine points in the losing cause for UTM, while Bray added eight and Fiaz Ahmed had four.

All the players should be proud of their play, as five games in a day is really tough, and to make it to the final with only eight players was quite an accomplishment. The team consisted of Elias Sbiet, Ahmed Fiaz, Kent Bray, Andre Woodroffe, Osama Abdelkader, Fedja Kuljanin, Ambrish Patel and Luke Maker.

A mixture of youth and veteran leadership defines Team Canada hockey team WILLIAM ROBERTSON ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The winter break brought about many changes and announcements in the world of sports, but for many Canadians, none is bigger than the announcement of who will represent our country in the Olympics.

Steve Yzerman and his group of advisors had the daunting task of choosing the individuals who will wear the red and white for their country and represent a nation in the process.

These few men know what is expected of them—a Gold Medal.

Anything less will be disappointing to them, their coaches and the nation. Many questions have already been asked about the players selected, as several big names were left off the Olympic hockey team.

Fortunately, the easiest decision was

regarding the goaltending situation and who will backstop their country between the pipes.

Martin Brodeur, easily the greatest goaltend er of all time, was named to the team. His back up will most likely be Roberto Luongo, who is coming off a rib injury but continues playing the best hockey in his career. Finally, Marc-Andre Fleury, who won the Stanley Cup last year, proved he can play in pressure situations. These three men will have all the pressure to keep the puck out of the net, which is the key to success in hockey.

The defensive core was a little more difficult to select as there are many good Canadian players. First, the captain selected by the committee is NHL veteran Scott Neidermayer, who is older than many players but brings a calm, veteran presence needed to lead a team. Another veteran joining the

team is Chris Pronger, who has had a solid year for Philadelphia thus far.

These few men know what is expected of them—a Gold Medal.

Anything less will be dis appointing to them, their coaches and the nation.

A controversial pick over Dion Phaneuf is Drew Doughty, who is in his sophomore season in the NHL. Young and inexperienced, Doughty could prove costly to the team. But Yzerman believes Doughty is precisely the young player needed to help the team win, as he brings physicality and puck-moving ability.

Another controversial selection to the team is Shea Weber. He has had a quiet year with Nashville thus far,

but he is an extremely fast and skilful puck handler, which will come in handy against faster teams such as Russia.

The forwards selected were more controversial than the defencemen, simply because few individuals were not selected. Neither Vincent Lecavalier nor Martin St. Louis was invited to join the team in Vancouver, despite being expected to. Patrice Bergeron, who is having an outstanding year with Boston, was selected, but has yet to prove himself on an international level. A weaker selection was named in Brendan Morrow, but he brings leadership on and off the ice.

Only time will tell if Canada has put together a team strong enough to compete with the powers of Russia and Sweden. It is going to be an exciting Olympics to watch regardless of which players Canada has. Eh-Oh-Canada-Go!

Peter Keeling/Inside Hockey

Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins was one of the surprise picks for Team Canada.

MONDAY, JANUARY

Coed Basketball (Div1)

Ultimate Frisbee (Div 2)

Women’s Basketball (Tri-Campus/Div 2)

Field Hockey

Ice Hockey (Div 1) Indoor Soccer (Tri-Campus/Div 2)

Lacrosse (Div 1)

Volleyball (Div 2) Men’s Basketball (Div 2)

Cricket

Ice Hockey (Div 1) Indoor Soccer (Tri-Campus/Div 1/Div 2)

Lacrosse (Div 1) Volleyball (Div 1/Div 2)

Water Polo (Div 1)

Gym C Gym C Gym C Gym C Gym C Gym A/B

Jan. 7 Jan. 12 Jan. 13 Jan. 7 Jan. 11 Jan. 13

8-9pm 6:30-7:30 5-6pm 5:30-6:30pm 5:30-6:30pm 5-6pm

Gym A/B Gym C Gym A/B Gym C Gym C Gym C Erin Mills Twin Gym A/B

Gym C Gym A/B

Jan. 6 Jan. 7 Jan. 12 Jan. 6 Jan. 11 Jan. 13 Jan. 10, 17 Jan. 7 Jan. 12 Jan. 13 Jan. 6 Jan. 11 Jan. 13 Jan. 11 Jan. 12

5:30-6:30pm 7-8pm 5:30-6:30pm 7:30-8:30pm 6:30-7:30pm 7:30-8:30pm 10:30-11:30pm 5:30-6:30pm 7-8pm 8-9pm 6:30-7:30pm 7:30-8:30pm 6:30-7:30pm 5:30-6:30pm 8:30pm-9:30pm

Gym A/B Gym C Gym A/B Gym C Gym C Gym C Iceland Gym A/B Gym A/B Gym A/B Gym C Gym C Gym C Gym C Gym A/B Pool

Jan. 7 Jan. 12 Jan. 13 Jan. 7 Jan. 11 Jan. 12 Jan. 10, 17 Jan. 6 Jan. 7 Jan. 11 Jan. 6 Jan. 12 Jan. 6 Jan. 11 Jan. 12 Jan. 6, 13

9:30-11pm 5:30-6:30pm 6:30pm-7:30pm 9:30-11pm 9-10:30pm 9-10:30pm 9:45-10:45pm 9-11pm 7-9pm 9-11pm 6:30-7:30pm 8-9pm 5-6pm 7-8:30pm 9:30-11pm 7-8:30pm

Gym C

Ball Hockey (Men’s)

Basketball (Men’s)

Gym C Mon @ 9,10 & 11am Tues @ 9,10, 11am, 12,1 & 2pm Gym C Mon @ 12pm, Wed @ 9 & 10am Thurs @ 1,2 & 3pm GYM A/B Mon & Wed @ 9,10, 11am, 12, 1 & 2pm

Indoor Cricket (Men’s)

Gym C Tues & Thurs @ 8, 9 & 10pm

Indoor Soccer (Coed)

Gym A/B Mon, Tues & Wed @ 3 & 4pm

Ball Hockey (Coed)

Indoor Soccer Gym C (Coed 3 and a goalie) Mon, Tues & Wed @ 5, 6, 7 & 8pm Indoor Soccer (Men’s)

Gym A/B Tues & Thurs @ 9, 10, 11am, 12, 1 & 2pm

Vollyeball (Co-ed)

Gym A/B Thurs @ 4 & 5pm

4, 2010 THE MEDIUM 11

Wed Jan. 13 @ 12pm Room 1118B Mon Jan 18 @ 12pm Room 1118B Mon Jan. 25 @ 12pm Room 1118B Mon Feb. 1 @ 12pm Room 1118B Wed Jan. 27 @ 12pm Room 1118B Wed Jan. 27 @ 1pm Room 1118B Tues Jan. 19 @ 12pm Room 1118B Thurs Jan. 28 @ 12pm Room 1118B

Monday Jan. 25 Monday Jan. 25 Monday Feb. 1 Tuesday Feb. 9 Monday Feb. 1 Wednesday Feb. 3 Tuesday Jan. 26 Thursday Feb. 4

Let’s keep up the winning tradition!! If you played in high school, you can play for UTM! Get out to a try-out!

If you are unable to make any of these tryouts, but would like to participate, please contact Jack Krist (905) 569-4607 j.krist@.utoronto.ca or Rachel Tennant (905) 828-3712 rachel.tennant@utoronto.ca

Pick up a copy of our Activity Guide today for more information regarding dance classes, instructional classes, swimming lessons and much, much more…

12 THE MEDIUM MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2010

SPORTS

SOCCER OR FOOTBALL?

World Cup 2010—group A to D preview Just months away from the showcase in South Africa, The Medium takes a look at groups A to D in a two part series DAVE ESPOSTO Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, Korea Republic, Greece Every four years, the world becomes united by one common denominator— football, or as it is known in North America, soccer.

But no matter how you say it, the game becomes a pinnacle for peace and prosperity for all individuals in the world. The world waited with bated breath as the draw took place on December 5. Nearly a month later, the groups are set and the debates have begun. From Spain to South Africa, 32 nations will participate, but only one will earn the distinction of world’s best.

Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France Host South Africa will have homefield advantage, but will this really be enough to carry them through? Questions surround France’s inclusion in the tournament, after a deliberate handball from striker Thierry Henry. Mexico, who finished second in CONCACAF qualification behind the United States, will also be a threat, as El Tri make their fifth consecutive appearance at the World Cup. Uruguay, who won the first-ever World Cup, rounds out the group. Look for Diego Forlan to lead the attack. A side steeped in World Cup history, the Uruguayans will push France and Mexico for first place in the group. As for South Africa, while the aspirations of a country desperate for success will drive them in the stands, they will be on the outside looking in, but don’t be surprised if they pull off an upset.

Final Standings: France, Mexico, Uruguay, South Africa

After a less-than-convincing run in South American nations qualifying, Argentina sits as the clear favorite in group B. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that what appears to be a sure lock on paper is not always the case on the pitch. Coach Diego Maradona’s motives and behaviors have caused national furor amongst the citizens of Argentina, but now that the Albiceleste are through, they are once again considered tournament favorites. The Super Eagles from Nigeria had to wait to the final day of African qualifying to book their spot in the tournament, but look for them to join Argentina as the second team to advance. Korea Republic and Euro 2004 winners Greece round out the group, and while they may show flashes of brilliance and could even cause an upset, their bids for second round will ultimately fall short.

Final Standings: Argentina, Nigeria, Greece, Korea Republic Group C: Algeria, England, Slovenia, USA For an English side desperate to resurrect their international reputation after failing to qualify for Euro 2008, the 2010 showpiece in South Africa not only provides renewed optimism but a sense of excitement, as Fabio Capello’s mark has been explicitly left on a side desperate for focus and discipline. The Three Lions can take solace in the fact that they were top scorers in the European zone with 34 goals, but in the end, accomplishments are transient. The United States enter this group as favorites to grab the second spot behind the English. After a stellar per-

PGA ratings decline after Tiger’s “indefinite” leave SARAH MALAGERIO BRUNO ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Eldrick “Tiger” Woods tipped the scale of 2009 celebrity scandals, alongside Chris Brown’s beating of girlfriend Rhianna and Kanye West being Kanye West at the VMA’s.

According to research by the University of California, Woods lost $13.65 billion of shareholder’s money, as stocks in companies endorsed by Tiger Woods dropped 2.3% after news of Woods’s infidelity.

“Investors in three sports-related companies—Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf, Gatorade and Nike—fared the worst, experiencing a 4.3 per cent loss, or about $US6 billion,” wrote the Sydney Morning Herald.

The PGA Tour showed harsh signs of Tiger fatigue as viewership of the Tour fell by 50%.

The viewership drop affects not only the PGA’s sponsorship appeal, but also decreases the purse money offered to participating golfers. “(…) Tiger is why we’re playing with so much money,” said “Bad Boy” golfer John Daly on ABCnews.com. Daly and other PGA golfers may not see a financial reversal until the next Tiger Woods, as Woods claims he is taking an “indefinite” break from golf to focus on his family.

Woods changed many aspects of golf since his introduction into the professional golf realm in 1996. He has since won 71 tournaments on the PGA Tour.

He leads the PGA in monies won and, at 21, was the U.S. Masters tournament’s youngest champion. Woods was also the first professional athlete to earn $1 billion and the only golfer to own all four major golf trophies, the British Open, the U.S. Open, U.S. Masters and the PGA Championship, at the same time.

“When Tiger was six months old, he would sit in our garage, watching me hit balls into a net,” said Woods’ father, Earl Woods, on tigerwoods.com. “He had been assimilating his golf swing.

When he got out of the high chair, he had a golf swing.”

Woods began his career at age two, appearing on CBS News and putting alongside Bob Hope. At age three, he shot a 48 on nine holes; at age six, he recorded his first hole-in-one and at age 17, received a scholarship to Stanford University.

So will the National Treasure’s fall from golf grace affect participation in the game of golf? According to Tom Stine from Golf Datatech, a marketing research company, “Tiger doesn’t affect rounds played. The average player doesn’t care if Tiger’s playing. They’ll play golf no matter what.”

Getty Images

With star s Mic hael Essie n (pi cture d abo ve) a nd St ephen App iah, expe ct Gh ana t o hav e an impre ssive Worl d Cu p Cam paign . formance at the Confederations Cup, where they beat Spain and were up on Brazil 2-0 in the final before eventually losing out, the United States can certainly push England to the limit.

It has been 24 years since Algeria have played on the world stage. Their hotly contested and politicallysteeped clashes with Egypt in the final play-off earned them a spot in South Africa, but with two powerhouses in England and the United States, it will be difficult for the North African side to mount any offense. While they do have some players plying their trade in Europe’s top leagues, it will be difficult to see them progress through to the next round, or even garner three

points. Rounding out the group is a Slovenian side ready to embark on another World Cup journey. Their second appearance after Korea/Japan 2002, the Slovenians will look to continue the impressive form they showed in defeating Russia, and hope to give England and the United States a scare.

Final Standings: England, USA, Slovenia, Algeria Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana During qualification, each side in group D breezed through the opposition and swiftly booked their spots to South Africa. With the groups all set,

Group D has become one of the toughest groups to predict. The Germans, semi-finalists from the 2006 World Cup, are clear favorites, but it is that crucial second spot which seems to be drawing the attention of both die hard fans and neutrals alike.

On the one hand, you have Ghana, the first African side to qualify for the 2010 tournament, who boast not only world-class talent but the heart to match. With stars like Michael Essien and Stephen Appiah, look for the Black Stars to prove that their debut campaign in the World Cup was no fluke, as they will look to progress alongside the powerful Germans.

Australia, who switched qualifying groups, jumping from Oceania to Asian qualification, has a new Dutchman at the helm in Pim Verbeek and will look to ride their qualifying success into a top-two finish. But with star-studded opponents seemingly all over this group, it will be tough for the Socceroos to make their mark. Then again, their showing in 2006 was quite impressive.

The final group, and possibly the most surprising, is Serbia. The White Eagles took qualification by storm, easily disposing of France and grabbing top spot in the group. An independent entity once again after separating from Montenegro, this Serbian side boasts a lethal mix of veteran leadership and youthful exuberance exemplified with Dejan Stankovic and Nemanja Vidic.

While the side will look to carry national pride on their shoulders, they will be an exciting side to watch, but in the end will fall short in their bid to progress to the next round.

Final Standings: Germany, Ghana, Serbia, Australia Be sure to catch the final installment next week as The Medium delves into groups E to H.

More student athletes needed for U of T Intramural teams JACK KRIST

More students are needed to continue the strong start that the UTM Eagles teams have gotten off to in the Fall U of T Intramural Program.

UTM student athletes have worked hard this fall and their efforts have led to four U of T Intramural championships. Women’s Division 1 soccer, men’s tri-campus soccer, women’s Division 2 football and the women’s Division 1 basketball teams all captured U of T Intramural championships for UTM this past fall.

New sports will be offered for UTM students during the winter term. New sports leagues that start in January include: men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s water polo, women’s field hockey, men’s and women’s ice hockey, men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s indoor soccer, men’s cricket, co-ed basketball and co-ed ultimate.

There are often more than one team offered in each sport, and students who come to the skill evaluations/try-outs will be placed on

teams that best suit their skill level.

“We try very hard not to make any cuts and often with some sports, we may not even have enough people to get the team running,” said Jack Krist, program coordinator with the Department of Physical Education.

Women’s ice hockey and field hockey, and men’s water polo and lacrosse have seen numbers decline in the recent years.

U of T Intramural teams are not Varsity and you will be playing against students from St. George and U of T Scarborough, who have similar skills. Most UTM Eagles teams practice only once per week and have one game per week. Some of the higher level UTM teams have OCAA extramural tournaments and exhibition games.

If you have played a sport before at any level, you should come out a n d ge t i n v ol ve d i n p la y i n g f or UTM at the U of T Intramural level. One or two students could make the difference of whether UTM has a team or not.

Participation in a sport is a great way to make long lasting friendships with teammates and will give you a better sense of connection to the UTM community. The U of T

Intramural Program is free to all UTM students, and transportation to and from games at St. George and UTSC is arranged through the Program Office.

With four fall championships, the UTM Eagles are on their way to another banner year in U of T Intramurals. Skill evaluation/tryout sessions start on January 6.

Please visit the Athletics & Recreation website at www.utm.utoronto.ca/physed for more info.

INTERESTED IN WRITING FOR SPORTS? EMAIL ANDREW AT:

SPORTS@MEDIUMONLINE.CA