To divest or not to divest?
Come to The Medium’s AGM
A Trip Into the Woods
Veterans on mental health
Ping pong principal
News, page 3
Opinion, page 4
A&E, page 5
Features, page 8
Sports, page 11
Student motions to be addressed at SGM Motions originally put forward at the UTSU AGM last October will be voted on this month MENNA ELNAKA ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR UTSU’s upcoming special general meeting, scheduled for the end of the month, is slated to discuss the remaining student-submitted motions on the agenda of the union’s annual general meeting, which took place last October. After failing to ratify a new board structure during UTSU’s AGM last October, UTSU held a SGM last November focusing on passing a board structure compliant to changes made in the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act. A board structure was ratified at the November meeting, leaving student-submitted motions on the union’s AGM agenda unaddressed. Scheduled for January 28, the third UTSU general meeting this academic year will consider 13 student-submitted motions, as listed on the meeting’s agenda. MOTIONS ON THE CFS Motioned by U of T student Stephanie Spagnoulo, a proposal has been put forward calling on the UTSU to consider leaving the Canadian Fed-
MAHMOUD SAROUJI/THE MEDIUM
The UTSU SGM will be held on January 28 at Sidney Smith Hall. eration of Students and strike a committee investigating the relations between the union and the CFS every year that the UTSU remains a CFS member. Founded in 1981, the CFS is Canada’s largest student advocacy group. Over 80 student unions across Canada are members of the CFS. In an email to The Medium, Da-
man Singh, UTSU’s University College director, explained that in order to leave the CFS, a petition must be signed by 20 percent of students in order to hold a referendum on whether to leave the organization. When entering the CFS, a petition must be signed by 10 percent of union members. “This is a clear example of a corpo-
ration intentionally making it more difficult for one to revoke their membership than it is for them to sign up for membership,” wrote Singh. At the CFS annual general meeting held last November, Singh submitted a motion to lower the referendum threshold to 15 percent instead of 20 percent of members. “I was interested in lowering the
threshold because I believe having fair and democratic bylaws will encourage healthy participation in the federation from the members,” Singh said. “I also felt that this was a necessary step the federation should have taken to address the growing disdain amongst members. Unfortunately, the motion failed.” As worded in the motion listed on the SGM agenda, Spagnoulo refers to the CFS as “inefficient” and that it “restricts the democratic process”. Supporters of the motion include UTSU Victoria University director Steve Warner, who explained the need to review UTSU’s membership to the CFS. “We pay approximately $700,000 in yearly membership fees, as well as about $100,000 of our health and dental fees—about one percent of our premium each year—to the CFS,” said Warner in an email to The Medium. “It would be inappropriate and poor fiscal management to not routinely evaluate what is being done with our money and whether or not we wish to continue paying the CFS levy.” UTSU continued on page 2
New greenhouse on budget for over $3M The new greenhouse will be located next to the library and is expected to open as early as February ALICIA BOATTO UTM’s newest facility will be a modern, research-based greenhouse budgeted for over $3 million and is expected to be completed by February or March. Located behind the library next to parking lot 9, the new structure is standing with a roof as glass plates are in the process of being installed. “We have new faculty who are heavy greenhouse users and they have more specific environmental demands for their research,” said William Yasui, the senior facilities planner at UTM, when asked about the facility’s intended use. “It’s not intended to be a public space.” In an interview with The Medium, Yasui stated construction is on budget for just over $3 million. The exact total of the project is not yet known. According to the original proposal in 2013, annual costs to operate the greenhouse after it had
DELANEY ROMBOUGH/THE MEDIUM
The annual operating costs range between $140,000 and $153,600, according to a 2013 report. been built were estimated between $140,000 and $153,600. As it stands, UTM’s current greenhouse is primarily used for teaching purposes but also doubles as a research facility. The original
greenhouse, located on the fifth floor of the Davis Building, will still remain operational and available for students. According to Yasui, the new greenhouse will be “more practi-
cal” and the departments using the space will be “primarily biology, but also geography and anthropology, and any other researcher that needs controlled growing space”. Yasui also identified growth in UTM’s bi-
ology department as a factor causing the need for a larger, independent research space. In a vision statement outlining the purpose of the facility, it was stated that the greenhouse is expected to aid in the understanding of climate change affecting biodiversity and plant development. “Plant biology in the Department of Biology at UTM integrates research from genes to ecosystems,” reads the statement. “A highly compartmentalized research greenhouse therefore creates a unique facility that generates vital national and international collaborations for the Department of Biology and U of T.” Due to the large budget, approval for the project needed to be sent to the Governing Council downtown. The proposal and plan for the project, including the budget, can be found online on the Governing Council webpage.
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THE MEDIUM 01.18.2016
Bieber motion removed UTSU continued from Cover
January 11, 12:00 p.m. Mischief A UTM community member reported to campus police two separate occasions of his tires being punctured. January 11, 4:15 p.m. Trespass to Property Act Campus Police received a report of a non-community member speaking to female students about their personal life and university. Campus Police located the male and he was verbally
trespassed from UTM campus. January 12, 3:30 p.m. Medical Call A student slipped entering the Instructional Centre. Campus Police and ECSpert attended. January 12, 4:20 p.m. Theft Under $5,000 A professor reported to Campus Police the theft of her USB from the classroom she was teaching in.
These reports are those that have been released to The Medium and do not necessarily constitute an exhaustive list. Students can contact the UTM Campus Police at 905 828 5200, Peel Regional Police at 905 453 3311, or Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222 8477.
Among other motions on the agenda is one moved by Singh, proposing that UTSU stand in solidarity with the students at Cape Breton University after a Cape Breton University Student Union faced bankruptcy following a lawsuit with the CFS. ELECTRONIC VS. PAPER Moved by Natalie Petra, an executive for the Arts and Science Student Union, an item on the agenda is calling for the availability of computerized and paper ballots at the polls during UTSU elections. In an interview with The Medium, Petra said she wanted to improve accessibility during elections, claiming, “Not all students have access to a computer at home.” According to Petra, the goal is not to eliminate paper ballots—which according to her would still be available to students at the polls—but instead, the motion is intended to give all students more options and increase accessibility. Petra also expressed the need for election poll staff to be trained to use software as well as undergo disability training. Also on the agenda, a motion moved by Hashim Yussuf, a member of UTMSU’s board of directors, proposes that UTSU allow those who do not have access to a computer, do not live on campus, or do not have access to online voting, be given an option to use paper ballots at the polls.
NO MEANS NO CAMPAIGN Madina Siddiqui, president of the St. George Afghan Students’ Association, has put forward a motion against sexual violence, asking UTSU to roll out a “No Means No” campaign to challenge and stand against all means of sexual violence including assaults, harassments, acquaintance rape, and dating and gendered violence. According to Siddiqui, the “No Means No” campaign has existed for years, has stood up for the rights of women of colour, and has addressed issues of sexual, cultural, and gendered violence.
The original agenda advertised a motion proposing that UTSU congratulate Justin Bieber. “I’ve noticed that a lot of the conversations on campus around consent, sexual violence, and rape culture fail to consider or center the experiences of racialized and indigenous women,” said Siddiqui. “This includes within student groups that have popped up, with administration, even in the campus press.” Siddiqui explained that the reason behind this motion is that there have been discussions around the UTSU to stop this campaign. As of press time, The Medium has not verified these claims.
“I hear oftentimes that we should be focusing on ‘Yes Means Yes’ but yes doesn’t always mean yes, whereas no always means no—there are many ways that people can say no without explicitly saying no. This campaign is valuable in educating about consent,” said Siddiqui. Also moved by Siddiqui is a motion calling for UTSU clubs and service groups to be part of the annual budgeting process of UTSU. JUSTIN BIEBER MOTION Listed on the original agenda advertised by UTSU earlier this month was a motion proposing that UTSU congratulate Justin Bieber as the artist “has undertaken a dramatic rehabilitation process” and “is now producing bangers”. Originally moved by ASSU president Abdullah Shihipar, the motion had been removed by the time the comprehensive agenda was published online last week. Shihipar requested it to be removed with concerns that people would be upset since it was not a “serious” motion. Additional motions listed on the agenda include the endorsement of Black Lives Matter by UTSU, increasing accessibility to UTSU for professional faculty students, accessible computer labs for the St. George campus, and a non-binding motion calling for eliminating the tuition fees. The SGM will take place on January 28 at Sydney Smith Hall, room 2118 on the St. George campus.
Start-ups new to job fair Summer and seasonal work among opportunities present
CHRISTY TAM/THE MEDIUM
Over 1,400 students and alumni attended the job fair held on Wednesday. RIAUD ABDUL More than 1,400 students and alumni attended the UTM Career Centre’s “Get Hired” job fair last Wednesday. Over 65 companies and organizations were present at the fair, including start-up companies new to the fair this year. “The uptake for summer jobs [is] pretty steady,” says Michelle Atkinson, the events and employment services coordinator at the UTM Career Centre. She noted that at least 75 percent of companies present were seeking students for summer internships or paid jobs. Employment opportunities included seasonal employment at
the Royal Bank of Canada or Statistics Canada, while other available opportunities allowed students to develop careers in law enforcement with the RCMP or gain teaching experience. According to Atkinson, the fair goes beyond simply finding jobs. “If you don’t have an idea of what you want to do, or would like to dip your toe into a different area, look at these types of jobs as skill development,” she said. Atkinson also emphasized that the variety of companies and opportunities on display at the fair were purposely brought to offer a range of opportunities to students. Among the opportunities, the fair also included approximately 15
start-up companies attending the fair for the first time. Bagas Wicaksono, a second-year digital enterprise management student, noticed the additions and felt it was “cool to see start-ups”, but felt that the fair should have extended longer than one day to provide a better experience. According to Atkinson, the Career Centre has made attempts to increase availability of the fair, and even increased the hours this year. However, the centre is always looking for more feedback from participants for upcoming years. “We try to make it accessible to everyone—students and employers,” said Atkinson.
01.18.2016 THE MEDIUM NEWS
Gertler decision pending Committee recommends targeted fossil fuel divestment FARHAT AMINI The U of T community is awaiting U of T president Meric Gertler’s potentially historic decision to act on calls for the university to divest in fossil fuel financial investment. Last month, the U of T advisory committee on the divestment from fossil fuels advised Gertler to conduct targeted divestment from companies “whose actions blatantly disregard the international effort to limit the rise in average global temperatures to not more than one and a half degrees Celsius”. In a press release issued last month by Toronto350—an advocacy group lobbying the university to divest in fossil fuels, leading to the establishment of an ad hoc committee responsible for advising Gertler on the issue—the group praised committee recommendations but called on further action by the university. “This recommendation is a huge achievement for the fossil fuel divestment movement globally and in Canada,” read the statement. “President Gertler should also take action for communities who are harmed by climate change and fossil fuel extraction. These communities are not sufficiently recognized in the committee’s recommendation.” Amanda Harvey-Sanchez, a sec-
ond-year U of T student and divestment campaign leader at U of T350, a chapter of the Toronto350, calls these communities “frontline communities”, referring to Indigenous peoples and “low-income families or other marginalized groups who are either impacted first or less able to adapt [to climate change]”. “We want to work with frontline communities and start a dialogue about how they would like to see their struggles with the fossil fuel industry addressed in terms of divestment at U of T, and how we can best support them,” said Harvey-Sanchez, who added that it is the university’s responsibility to implement these changes. “U of T has a lot of amazing faculty producing research on climate change, Indigenous rights, and other social issues. That research clearly shows that we need to take stringent action to combat climate change and respect Indigenous land rights. For our university to go against what its faculty is saying doesn’t make sense,” she says. In opposition to the recommendation to divest, fourth-year St. George student Matthew Lau recently wrote an op-ed against UTSU’s involvement in the lobbying of the university to divest from fossil fuels. “The campaign to have the Univer-
sity of Toronto completely divest from the fossil fuel industry, pointing to official endorsements from the [UTSU] and the University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union, claims to have the support of more than 64,000 students,” Lau writes, saying that “many” students hold opposing views. Lau’s article “Let Students Divest from Student Union”, published in the Financial Post, argued that “restricting the investment decisions cannot possibly improve the performance of U of T’s investment portfolio”, and that by fully divesting from fossil fuels, the university runs a risk of higher tuition fees and services due to the reduction of investment revenue. The Medium has not verified these claims. “If a portfolio’s performance could be enhanced by divesting from fossil fuels, the University of Toronto and other investors would have done so already out of financial interest,” wrote Lau. When asked if he has approached UTSU with his concerns, Lau told The Medium he has no intention of doing so. According to Althea BlackburnEvans, director of media relations at U of T, it is unknown when Gertler’s final decision will be announced.
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»WHO WOULD YOU VOTE FOR IN THE AMERICAN ELECTION?
Abdel Mouftah 3rd year, bio and psych
Dan Goodman 3rd year, CCIT, PWC, VCC
I don’t know the candidates well enough to choose.
Anyone but the guy with the bad hair.
Menna Elnaka 3rd year, poli sci and PWC
Paola Bronce 2rd year, soc and history
Anyone but Donald Trump.
Not Trump.
BYOD new to IT service desk Second refugee student yet to arrive SIDRA WEQAR
ANDREEA MIHAI/THE MEDIUM
More than 10 student employees work at the IT service desk. HIBA TRABOULSI The IT service desk has officially opened in a new location on the first floor of the CCT building, now providing students with a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) space. There is currently a contest underway to name the new space. Replacing the computer lab previously located in the CCT atrium, the IT service team envisioned extra support for BYOD spaces, which allow and encourage individuals to bring their own mobile devices for educational or work purposes. According to information and instructional technology director Susan Senese, an increasing number of students are bringing their own devices to school. As part of the IT team’s vision, their strategy was to enrich the student experience by providing students with more study spaces that support their own devices, rather than providing them with additional computers. In addition to the BYOD space
located in front of the new IT desk— which will also be used as a space for instructional activities by IT staff— the back of the new centre is equipped with six stations for full-time employees working on special projects and hosting training sessions. Also new to the IT service desk are different operating hours. “We’re going from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with the hopes of helping staff, faculty, and students throughout the day,” said Michael Young, manager of IT customer service, on Wednesday morning during the grand opening of the service desk. Previous operating hours were 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. According to Young, the new purpose of the space formerly used to run the service desk on the third floor of CCT is yet to be determined. “The use of the space will be determined in consultation with our faculties department,” said Young in an email to The Medium. The IT service desk offers UTM staff and students with support related to hardware, software, or class-
room technology issues, among other problems and services. TCard and shuttle bus inquiries can also be addressed with the staff. Currently, more than 10 student employees are being mentored by full-time employees. IT desk members are dressed in red shirts, which is part of the vision in creating a new space, according to Senese. “When you go to the Apple store and you need help, you look for the employees in the blue shirts and for us, we wanted to provide a richer customer service experience by making it more accessible and easier for students, staff, and faculty to identify us,” said Senese. The new IT service desk is also holding a contest to name the space. Students can enter by leaving their suggestions in a name suggestion box available at the front desk or by emailing the IT desk at helpdesk.utm@utoronto.ca. The suggestion box will be available until 5 p.m. on January 20 and the grand prizewinner will be rewarded a $100 gift card.
UTMSU’s newest sponsored refugee student has yet to arrive in Canada. Last November at the UTMSU AGM, VP external Naveed Ahmed announced the union’s intentions to sponsor a second student refugee this academic year. As of September 2015, UTMSU had sponsored a Kenyan student through the World University Service of Canada. The second refugee student, a Syrian national currently residing in Lebanon, has yet to arrive. According to Ahmed, UTMSU remains in touch with WUSC’s head office for her travel information and status of her arrival. Ahmed said that the cost of sponsoring a WUSC student is $60,000, which will be covered entirely by UTMSU. “When we approached the UTM administration regarding funding for the second WUSC student, they could not make the necessary allocations since the expenses were not budgeted for during the 2016/17 fiscal year,” said Ahmed. “UTMSU decided to fund the entire cost related to the second WUSC student.” According to Ahmed, UTMSU was able to fund a second refugee student from a surplus of money reserved from the WUSC student levy. Each student pays $1.10
for the levy, which according to Ahmed is not expected to increase in light of the second refugee. “The WUSC levy is collected after running a referendum at UTM and this fee cannot be increased without another referendum,” said Ahmed. The only increase that the fee can be adjusted to is the annual inflation rate (CPI adjustments) as per the approval of UTM students through [the] referendum. “Over the past few months, we as a community have watched news of the Syrian refugee crisis with overwhelming distress, sor-
The second refugee student, a Syrian national currently residing in Lebanon, has yet to arrive. row, and frustration,” said Ahmed. “In the wake of this Syrian refugee crisis, UTMSU wanted to make an impact through WUSC.” Aside from sponsoring students, UTM students have supported the resettlement of Syrian refugees through fundraising activities organized by UTMSU and the Muslim Students Association. Last October and November, both student groups collected money and clothing from students in support of the resettlement.
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MASTHEAD EDITORS Editor-in-Chief Maria Iqbal editor@themedium.ca Managing Editor Maria Cruz managing@themedium.ca News Nicole Danesi news@themedium.ca A&E Kate Cattell-Daniels arts@themedium.ca Features Farah Qaiser features@themedium.ca Sports Eric Hewitson sports@themedium.ca — Photo Mahmoud Sarouji photos@themedium.ca Design Sarah Yassine design@themedium.ca Copy Akshaya Sharma copy@themedium.ca Online & Blog Corey Belford Kimberly Johnson blog@themedium.ca online@themedium.ca ASSOCIATES News Menna Elnaka A&E Hailey Mason Features Mahnoor Ayub Sports Daniel Bilyk Photo Christy Tam Copy Farah Khan Maleeha Iqbal GENERAL STAFF Webmaster Luke Sawczak web@themedium.ca Distribution Manager Alex Ciesielczuk distribution@themedium.ca Ads Manager Mayank Sharma ads@themedium.ca Cartoonist Corey Belford BOARD OF DIRECTORS Maryam Faisal, Jeremy Wu, Leo Jiang, Natalia Ramnarine, Rebecca Xu, Saima Khan (ex-officio), Christine Capewell (ex-officio) COPYRIGHTS All content printed in The Medium is the sole property of its creators, and cannot be used without written consent. 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 or violence and letters that are racist, homophobic, sexist, or libelous will not be published. Anonymous letters will not be published. MEDIUM II PUBLICATIONS 3359 Mississauga Road, Room 200, Student Centre, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6 themedium.ca
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Why you should attend our AGM There are a lot of issues on campus, but we need to take the time to notice It’s that time of year again; the second semester is in full swing, clubs are getting back into gear, and some of us are looking to the future. But for all the fast-pacedness of university life, let’s take a step back for a moment and focus on the present. There are a lot of issues taking place on our campus that you might be surprised to learn about. Take, for instance, the new greenhouse being built close to the library—did you know that its budget is over $3 million? Or how about the second refugee student that UTMSU plans to sponsor this year. Although the Syrian national hasn’t arrived yet, we’ve learned that it costs about $60,000 to sponsor a student through the WUSC program and UTMSU is allocating the surplus from its WUSC levy to cover the entire cost of the sponsorship. Kudos to UTMSU for such a responsible decision for a very respectable cause. I could go on, mentioning, for example, Will Huggon’s comments this week in the article on healthy living, about students who visit him in office hours exhausted while looking ahead and preparing for graduate studies. “They say that it’s to have a good job and life,” he says, adding that in his view, the answer “is to have a good life—not in the future, but right now”. This last point about students’ wellbeing is an issue in itself, but is frequently overlooked because it is just so common among students today. And many of us are so caught up in the never-ending cycle of assignments, tests, midterms, and exams that it’s hard to notice what’s going on outside of our cocoons. But there’s a
lot, if we look for it. I will stop here for a moment to thank Alexander Nunez for his letter this week in response to our article last issue about Zumba and cultural appropriation. I appreciate Nunez’s letter not only because he took the time to contribute to our newspaper, but because he stopped to take notice of an issue, reflect on it, and put forward a thoughtful response. How many of us can say we’ve done the same? Well, it’s not too late and it doesn’t take a lot to notice issues and contribute a little time towards them. If you haven’t yet heard, The Medium is holding its very own annual general meeting this Thursday at 4 p.m. in the Presentation Room of the Student Centre. We’re legally required to hold this meeting to present our financials to our members—you, and all UTM students who pay fees to us—and appoint our auditors. But that’s not all; our annual general meeting (AGM, for short) is an opportunity for students and the people here at The Medium to get together and talk about what we do, what’s working, what’s not working, and what directions we can take in the future. So here are a couple of reasons why we’d like you to join us. YOU PAID FOR IT As I mentioned, UTM students pay a levy to us each year that allows us to publish our paper, pay our staff, and cover all the expenses of our corporation. The Medium levy is $3.63 per semester, or $7.26 per year. It’s important for us to hold an AGM for the express reason that we
have to explain to you, our members, how we’ve been spending our funding. If you have any questions about it, this is your opportunity to ask. WE WANT TO MEET YOU Believe it or not, the staff here at The Medium is curious to know who our readers are. What do you like to read about? What do you NOT like to read about? How do you find our coverage overall? Do you have any suggestions for improvement? You guessed it: we won’t know the answer to any of these questions unless you tell us. And I would personally be delighted to know that you took the time to read our paper and think about ways that we can improve. Our staff will also be available to answer questions you may have in mind. Do you want to know how to get involved at The Medium? How to volunteer for us? How to improve your writing? How to run for our elections? The AGM is a great place to talk to us in person and meet the people behind the sections you see each week. ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS We’ll also be announcing the winners of our Writing & Photo Contest, which ended last weekend. So, if you submitted an entry, you can find out if you won! If you didn’t submit one, you can come to cheer on your friends and support the arts as a whole. VOTE ON CHANGES Yes, you actually have a vote at this meeting. There are some updates we’re looking to make to our constitution and we can’t do it without your help! We need 40 people to reach
quorum—which doesn’t sound like a lot, but ask us how many times we’ve reached it in recent years. In other words, your attendance matters a great deal. Also, we don’t do proxies. So if you want to vote, you have to do it in person. SHOW US YOU CARE In all honesty, one of the major challenges of running a student newspaper is finding ways to publish stories that will catch students’ interest. There are a lot of things that happen on this campus that students should be aware of, but it seems that a lot of us are too busy to take notice. Coming to our AGM is one simple way you can show that you care about your student newspaper—and we will really appreciate it. FREE FOOD If nothing else has convinced you so far, at least rest assured that you won’t need to pack a lunch that day or buy one on campus. The Medium will have you covered. All in all, we really hope you come out and bring along some friends. We look forward to seeing you! YOURS, MARIA IQBAL
CORRECTION NOTICE The Jan. 11 article “Saini returns to duties following sabbatical” originally quoted Principal Deep Saini as saying an enrolment of 20,000 was a “soft spot” that can maintain intimacy and community on campus. It should have said “sweet spot”.
Taking a second look at appropriation Student responds to last week’s article, “Rhythmic workout or cultural red flag?” Cultural appropriation is not a relatively new term. In fact, cultural appropriation has existed since the creation and clashing of various cultures over history. This term has recently regained prevalence, specifically to combat the use of blatantly racist Halloween costumes, as well as the use of items and clothes of cultural or religious importance for fashion purposes. These offences proved to be disrespectful to the affected minorities, and these appropriating practices began to be shamed (and rightfully so) on outlets like Buzzfeed, Tumblr, and even various social pages that hold ties to UTM and U of T. I, myself being a visible minority of South American and Afro-Caribbean descent, am glad that North American society is becoming more aware of these, which could be called micro-
aggressions. It could be, however, that we are starting to overgeneralize cultural appropriation. Let’s take a look at the definition of cultural appropriation: it is defined as the adoption or use of elements of one culture by members of a different culture. Though the definition of cultural appropriation paints a black-andwhite image of what is and isn’t included in this term, the boundaries of offensiveness are not as clear as we would like them to be. And here’s why, plain and simple; we are not the U.S. We are not a melting pot. We do not expect our citizens to shed their cultural norms and adopt a “Canadian” way of living. We are a cultural mosaic. Canada (or at least the Greater Toronto Area) encourages and expects its citizens to feel free to hold on
to their familial cultural practices, whether they be in religion, dress, dance, culinary tastes, or language. In such a diverse community, cultures will traverse. According to the definition, If I saw a white student walking in the halls listening to a reggae tune while on his way to buy some jerk chicken, I could technically call it appropriative. But why would I shame another Canadian, who is enjoying the fruit of what my culture has to offer? Of course, the story would differ should that same student wear a “rasta-wig” and shout Jamaican obscenities he does not understand. I am proud of the campus I study at and I am proud to belong to such an inclusive group of students who are mindful of one another. But we need to pick and choose our battles when it comes to the term “cultural
appropriation”. It is ridiculous to assume that by using music and dance moves typical of Latino, Bollywood, or Middle Eastern cultures (in a Zumba class, for goodness’ sake), that there is any mockery to be made of these cultures at all. I myself have attended several of these classes and felt no personal offence to the use of any Latin music or dance. We need to separate the term “cultural appropriation” from its negative connotation, as we are, in fact, a country that thrives off the inclusion of many different cultures. We as a student body need to be more open to discuss the topic of appropriation and its relation to cultural education, as well as to mockery or racism. Alexander Nunez 3rd year, psychology & criminology
01.18.2016
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Lost something? Find it in the woods Hart House Theatre tackles inverted fairy tales, and they’re nothing like the Disney movies KATE CATTELL-DANIELS A&E EDITOR What do you want? What do you want more than anything else in world? And to what ends are you willing to go in order to get it? I believe there are three kinds of musicals: good, bad, and overdone. They overlap in a two-way Venn diagram—both good and bad musicals can be overdone, but good musicals cannot simultaneously be bad. In my books, Into the Woods is a good musical. The lyrics are smart, and the music does as much talking as the people do. This is a good musical before it even gets off the page, and that makes the actor’s job that much easier because the play is already doing a lot of work for you. It doesn’t mean the performers have an excuse to slack off, but the starting place is already that much more polished than a musical with a plot full of holes and awkward lyrics. Into the Woods also plays with important themes: wishing, wanting, getting and not getting, and the sacrifices in between. Who deserves a happy ending? And define what “happy” means, while you’re answering that first question.
SCOTT GORMAN/PHOTO
The stellar cast and stunning design make the show. Needless to say, Stephen Sondheim’s music and lyrics don’t cut anybody any slack. All performers have to be perfectly on top of the game at all times; put one note out of place and the whole thing goes up in flames. Get it right, and the result is just this side of magic. Bringing Into the Woods to life goes into the hands of a large cast with
some pretty polished pedigrees; almost across the board are people with professional training backgrounds, many of whom have done prolific work in professional and semi-professional theatre. Particular stand-outs are Amy Swift as the Baker’s Wife and Colin Asuncion as Jack for their heartfelt, grounded, and yet undeniably human performances. But this is,
in essence, a company endeavour. All the intertwined plotlines—Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, and the Baker and his wife—do not hold up without each other. There are few large group scenes, yet everyone is connected to everyone else. The talented cast handle this three-hour monster-musical with a baffling amount of energy and
good humour. The concept behind the design of the show is both aesthetically and thematically a good idea: the whole thing happens inside a cuckoo clock. Characters emerge and disappear through the various mechanisms, trap doors, and ramps that might be seen in an elaborate clock, all while a giant clock face overhead signals the looming midnight countdown. The costumes are also beautiful when they need to be and wonderfully practical when they aren’t meant to be pretty, with special mentions going to Milky White (Maksym Shkvorets), Jack’s cow. My issues with Hart House’s Into the Woods emerge from its strengths. The set is gorgeous, but gimmicky. The cuckoo birds who help Cinderella are distracting because there are so many of them and while most of them work, some of them don’t. Also, the big clock, the central thematic timepiece of the play, is stuck at midnight. It still has some impact, but I don’t know that it was used to its full advantage. I think the fancy lighting was meant to make up for that, but for me, at least, less is more. Into the Woods runs at Hart House Theatre until Wednesday.
Finding the meaning of independence Artist Maryam Jafri digs through archives for photographic evidence of international independence ANDREEA MIHAI STAFF WRITER Street riots. Revolutions. Parades. New flags. Independence. Maryam Jafri’s exhibit The Day After offers a comparative perspective of the decolonial moment in history, marking a period when 150 new nations appeared in 30 years. The Blackwood Gallery’s walls have been painted white for the exhibit. Jafri’s installation, Independence Day 1934-1975, is a large white wall that stands in the middle of the space. Images of riots and parades cluster together in non-chronological order on the wall. Jafri has placed photos of various countries’ independence moments in a broken grid that offers viewers a black and white patchwork storyboard, documenting the moment when colonies in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East gained their independence. Not all the spaces in the grid have been filled. Jafri says she wanted to leave some blank spots because not all countries are represented. The broken grid also represents how fragile the new nations are after they gain their independence. In 2009, Jafri began the ongoing project of gathering the photographs.
ANDREEA MIHAI/THE MEDIUM
Jafri uses a combination of photography and sculpture. Her visual archive continues to grow as Jafri visits various countries and collaborates with native historians and journalists. Independence Day 19341975 displays some of the 500 photographs she has collected, which Jafri plans to make into an artist book. “Even though these are public images, sometimes when you go to the archives, [archivists] get suspicious
because they’re used to dealing with journalists or academics,” she says about the challenges she experienced in gathering the images. “People have old-fashioned ideas about what artists are. They’re still used to artists doing painting and sculpture and they’re like, ‘Why aren’t you in your studio?’ It can be a pain.” Behind the white wall, visitors can
see modules that reflect Jafri’s research process. Minimal, light metal structures display books, photocopies of newspapers, and declarations of rights. The backstage area strikes a balance between providing digestible information and showing the richness and complexity of the research. “[The modules] are in between information and artwork; they are blur-
ring the lines,” Jafri said. Additionally, the e|gallery, located in CCT, will host movie screenings and round tables as part of the exhibit. The January 27 screening will include director Goran Olsso’s 2014 documentary, Concerning Violence, and director Ousmane Sembene’s groundbreaking 1965 film, La Noire De. The February 3 screening, to be introduced by the Erindale Campus African Students Association, will feature a variety of shorts. On February 10 and March 2, the e|gallery will host roundtables to encourage discussion of the topics presented in Jafri’s The Day After. The first roundtable discussion, entitled “Decolonizing the Archive”, will feature Jennifer Bajorek, assistant professor of comparative literature, Hampshire College, Amherst, Massachusetts; artist Sameer Farooq; John Greyson, filmmaker, associate professor, York University; Julie MacArthur; and Leila Pourtavaf, writer, curator, and doctoral candidate in the Department of Historical Studies at U of T. The second roundtable, entitled “Images in Dependences”, will discuss how history is framed by its representations. The Day After will run at the Blackwood Gallery until March 6.
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And first place goes to... KEENA AL-WAHAIDI
While observing professors in lecture, it’s probably hard to imagine that they spend time reading extra material besides essays and student projects—do they even have the luxury of free time to do so? The Medium sits down with Dr. Michelle MacArthur, a women and gender studies professor at UTM, to ask her about what she’s reading. The Medium: Tell us a little bit about what you’re reading. Michelle MacArthur: I’m reading the book Carol, which was previously titled The Price of Salt, by Patricia Highsmith. It was originally written in 1952 about the relationship between two women who meet kind of accidentally, and they fall in love during a time when women and queer people didn’t necessarily have the same rights that they have today and were not able to be as open about it. It’s kind of about how they deal with these feelings for each other in a time when it’s very difficult to be public and to articulate this kind of desire. TM: It’s a movie now, isn’t it? MM: Yes! I saw the movie and I think it’s quite good. Not as good as the book, but it’s quite a beautiful movie and both actors give really strong performances. TM: What made you pick up the book? MM: Well, I hadn’t heard of this book, but then my friend who has a salon—she calls it a salon, but it’s really like a book club—she picked this book for us to read and she gave me a copy for Christmas so I had no ex-
cuse to not read it. TM: Have you read any other books by this author, or do you have any other writers that you prefer? MM: This is the first time I’m reading Highsmith. She is quite a prolific author, and she’s written The Talented Mr. Ripley, which was also made into a film. Carol, I think, was actually an inspiration for the film Thelma and Louise, as well as the book Lolita. In terms of other authors that I enjoy, I kind of try to read a bunch of different things. I like reading women authors and supporting their work. I also like reading humorous books. TM: Do you find it difficult to find time to read with work and your personal life? MM: Growing up I was really
“They fall in love during a time when women and queer people didn’t necessarily have the same rights that they have today.” an avid reader, a total bookworm. When I started my graduate studies, I kind of stopped reading for pleasure. I had to do so much reading for school, but I think once I finished my Ph.D. a couple of years ago, I started to make the time to do more reading of fiction. I think it’s so nice because it allows you to escape into a different world and to think about things in a different way. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
SAMUEL KAN/THE MEDIUM
This exhibit is also a juried competition. RIAUD ABDUL
Last Thursday saw the 38th Visual Arts Mississauga Juried Show of Fine Arts. Tucked away in the corner of Mississauga City Hall, at first one could miss the Art Gallery of Mississauga completely, but once found it certainly is unforgettable. The AGM is public and not-forprofit; anyone is free to explore the gallery and all it has to offer. The place was packed with friends, family, and even art connoisseurs. They gathered to marvel at the jury’s selections and supported local artists by purchasing the art and celebrating the work. First place was awarded to Grazyna Adamska-Jarecka with her painting Poised and Unbalanced. Second place was given to Margaret Stawicki’s Journey 8 and third place, possibly the most memorable, was Susan Ross’s Halley’s Comet because of its abstract use of many vibrant colours. The oil paint came together to even
show multiple layers of texture and colour on the canvas. However, one of the most interesting pieces there was the unique video piece by Nahed Mansour called Sattelite Telefizyoon. The piece is a compilation of clips from an Egyptian game show called Fawazeer, which is
One of the most interesting pieces there was a unique video piece by Nahed Mansour called Sattelite Telefizyoon. held during Ramadan. It showed an actress in various cultural garments engaging in different dances in each segment. Quotes were presented with the video, proposing that while everyone is different, women of the world form a sisterhood. This piece serves to discuss Egyptian media representations of women and the modernity
of women. Sattelite Telefizyoon won the AGM’s Curator Award. Jorge Luis Ballart’s Holes leaves a lot up to interpretation. It depicts an armoured tank with a golf club in lieu of its cannon. There is no one way to interpret this piece; whether it presents war as a game or simply the absurdity of armed combat is open to debate. Other interesting pieces include Antonio Caballero’s Just Married piece. This was a side profile of a TTC bus with wood, plastic, and plexi-glass. While very entertaining to look at, it also provided a sense of locality by using a symbol of the GTA. One could assume that the symbolism between the words “Just Married” and the TTC bus could imply that a vehicle larger than a stretch limousine is required. With the bus adorned with balloons and cans dragging off the back as if for a wedding, this piece could also be about commitment to being a citizen as something to celebrate. The 38th VAM Juried Show of Fine Arts runs until February 13.
Content approved for immature adults Candy-coloured animated movies do everything live action films do—and maybe they do it better KATE CATTELL-DANIELS A&E EDITOR I like to watch kids’ movies. Okay, that’s not entirely true. I like to watch good kids’ movies. And sure, part of it is probably nostalgia. But another, equally large part is simply that kids’ movies can be interesting, complex, and emotionally moving. Sometimes, I would argue, more than Oscar-nominated grown-up films are. For instance, Birdman won an Academy Award for Best Picture last year. And you know, good for Birdman. I enjoyed watching it; I really did. Formally, it was brilliant. I looked for the cuts and had a lot of trouble finding them. But you know what movie really touched me? Inside Out. It’s that thing, that tug on the heartstrings, that really pulled me in and held me there. This is the part where you tell me that Birdman and Inside Out are completely different genres of film that cannot really be compared to each other. I agree. But Inside Out is
ADAM SAROUJI/THE MEDIUM
Admit it—you enjoyed Inside Out. not the only movie for the little ‘uns that made me feel something. Just a few weeks ago, I had a lengthy conversation with a couple of coworkers about whether Tangled is a better movie than Frozen. We concluded that Tangled was a better adaptation of an old story, but in my opinion
Frozen takes the cake for feminist Disney. I know everyone is sick to death of Frozen, mostly because of that one song that has caused a raging fever in the heart of every little girl under the age of seven. Even so, I’ll admit I had tears waiting to burst through
the floodgates at the end. I have sisters, okay? Don’t judge me. And I love more than anything that Elsa is perfectly fine, thank you very much, without a Prince Charming. Anna gets her guy, but he acts like a real person. He gets worried, and happy, and frustrated, and so does she. Elsa
is playful and shy and a little, well, cold. These characters are, I would argue, just as real as the “real” people who waltz across big screens every day. Anything can happen in kids’ movies. Magic is a real thing that integrates itself seamlessly into the world of the film. So you have personified emotions running around in your brain? Great. You kiss a frog and turn him into a prince? Even better. You’re born with hair that has healing powers? Why can’t I do that? I recently watched The Croods, one animated film I’d been skeptical about. I mean, cave people? Seriously? But I was wrong. I laughed aloud it was so funny. And I almost cried— again. It’s about what’s really important: family, friends, and knowing what you’re good at and embracing that. So sure, I’ll keep trying to keep up with movies for people “my age”. Just don’t be surprised if you catch me sneaking into a movie theatre clutching popcorn and a ticket to The Secret Life of Pets.
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Code 9—what’s your first response? Haaka’s documentary looks at the increasing occurrence of PTSD among first responders KASSANDRA HANGDAAN STAFF WRITER Whenever Kirsti Haaka has nightmares, she can rely on the aid of her service dog Patty to bring her back to reality. Haaka, a law enforcement veteran, is one of many in her profession suffering from the debilitating effects of post-traumatic stress disorder. After pursuing a psychology degree at UTM and further education at Niagara University in New York, Haaka’s career in law enforcement took an unfortunate turn when she witnessed and investigated a series of “horrific events”, leading to the development of her PTSD. In the more recent years, Haaka has been involved in the creation of Code 9—Officer Needs Assistance, a documentary exploring and promoting awareness of mental health support needed for professionals in law enforcement. The documentary was funded through a 2012 Kickstarter campaign, after which Haaka became a co-producer and on-screen con-
YOUTUBE.COM/CODE 9/PHOTO
Kirsti Haaka shared her story in the documentary Code 9—Officer Needs Assistance. tributor, sharing her story and afflictions surrounding PTSD. “[The documentary] was merely an idea from the wife of a retired
New York State Trooper that something needed to be done to help first responders know that they are not alone,” says Haaka.
The documentary features interviews from officers, military officials, and first responders who have experienced the crippling effects of
PTSD, such as anxiety and suicidal thoughts. “I’ve had numerous friends involved in Iraq and Afghanistan who [have said] that police work is even more difficult,” says Vito Vincelli, an officer in Binghamton Police Department who was featured in the documentary. “Combat is a set amount of time that ends, while being a cop is a 20-year career,” he explains. “People dying in your arms, people [being] burnt alive […] Those sounds and sights, they never leave you,” says Sergeant Jag Soin of the RCMP. “There comes a point when you fracture.” The statistics are startling. According to the Centre for Suicide Prevention, 9.2 percent of the Canadian population will experience PTSD during their lifetime. Among first responders, 22 percent of paramedics will develop PTSD during their life time. Even more shocking is the fact that 22 first responders committed suicide in 2015 alone. PTSD continued on page 9
Reflecting on the aftermath of COP21 The Medium rounds up UTM’s “green” initiatives, including the Green Team and volunteer efforts MAHNOOR AYUB ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR If you’re like me, you actively used Facebook over the winter break and may have noticed a trending topic very close to our hearts: climate change, specifically the recent international climate talks in Paris. While Canada’s plans to combat climate change have often been dubbed “ambitious” or “unrealistic”, the government anticipates that the largest hurdle they may face is gathering public support. “While the outcomes of the [United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change] may not affect initiatives that we see campus-wide, it certainly does increase global awareness of issues that we can help promote on campus,” says Eashan Karnik, the UTMSU sustainability coordinator. Although many students remain skeptical about the role the university is playing, Karnik says, “Students and individuals on campus can encourage positive outcomes by advocating for environmental causes and ensuring that their local community leaders are notified of key issues affecting us.” An example that comes to mind is the recent decision regarding fossil fuel divestment at U of T. After
JEANLOUIS REBELLO/THE MEDIUM
UTM was present at COP21 as a flag alongside flags from other university campuses. a year of consultations following the presentation of a petition to the Office of the President by the U of T chapter of Toronto350, an advisory committee at U of T has recommended a targeted divestment of some fossil fuel companies. Although the final decision has yet to be announced, strategically, following the COP21 conference in Paris, this may be the major push towards Canada’s goal of 100 percent renew-
able energy in the next 50 years. Karnik mentions being approached by Earth Flag 2015 to send a UTM-inspired flag. After collecting 400 signatures from students in support of improving environmental health, UTM secured its presence at COP21, with the flag being stitched alongside flags from campuses all over the nation. He further says, “Our responsibilities can exist in a variety of forms,
and many of these are small changes that we can make in our daily lifestyles.” Referring to related projects on campus, Karnik suggests how reducing our carbon footprint is as simple as being conscious of the amount of excess and unnecessary waste we create. An example would be the UTM Ecological Footprint and Campus Sustainability Assessment Project, which had been supported by
the Department of Geography for five years, supervised by Dr. Tenley Conway. The project analyzed and published progress reports with calculations concerning ecological footprints and the assessment of campus sustainability. The most recent publication reports “a significant increase in the food footprint”, identifying that meat and dairy products are the most commonly consumed food products. The report also identifies natural gas to be the major contributor to energy production on campus. Following the suggestions made in the progress report regarding the establishment of bottled water–free zones on campus, Karnik says, “Our ban on plastic water bottles has actually made us one of the first universities to have taken the step forward in limiting plastic waste.” Karnik describes the increasing use of recyclable and CSC-certified packaging for the food options on campus as the new standard for eating on the go. Initiatives such as the MiWay transit pass and the RideShare programs have been integral towards promoting the use of public transportation and smart navigation around campus. Green continued on page 9
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Advice from behind the glass Therapy and support Delegates demystify the U.S. visa application process
YOUTUBE.COM/CODE9/PHOTO
Haaka co-produced and starred in this documentary. PTSD continued from page 8
MADINA TURDIEVA/PHOTO
A visa session was held by the U.S. Consulate General on Wednesday. AMANDA BORTHWICK If your heart is pounding and your palms are sweaty, odds are that you’re either on a first date or standing before a U.S. consulate officer applying for a visitor visa. But even if you think you have “game”, your chances of getting a thumbs-up are probably higher—at around 90 percent, according to the U.S. Consulate General in Toronto—with the officer behind the glass. In fact, consular officer chief Scott Renner from the U.S. consulate general in Toronto, who, like many on his team, interviews approximately 100 applicants from over 50 different countries on a daily basis, says that last year alone 25,000 U.S. visa applications were processed from students studying in Canada. At institutions like U of T, a very high percentage of students intending to visit the U.S. are granted approval. While many generally assume that the process of applying for a visitor visa is a daunting one, vice-consul Nina Murray provided UTM students with an informative presentation to demystify the process, which may only take a week to complete, especially now during off-peak seasons. This comes as good news to UTM
students like Bola Balogun, a firstyear computer science student who is not a Canadian citizen and will require a visa in order to travel to visit relatives in the U.S. over the summer. However, not all visa classifications are the same and they vary depending on the intent of travel to the U.S., which must be clearly stated in the application process. Visa categories are denoted with different codes, or, as Murray describes it, “an alphabet soup of visa classifications”. Those participating in an internship, summer work, or exchange program must apply for a J1 visa, while those who plan on studying in the U.S. will require an F1 visa. With an F1, students must obtain a signed I-20 certificate of eligibility from the institution they plan to attend and register in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, similar to Canadian citizens who wish to study in the U.S. but do not require a visa. However, in her experience of adjudicating visas, Murray says, “We see a majority of students just apply for their B1/B2 visas,” which permit travel intended for attending job interviews, workshops, visiting relatives, sightseeing, and shopping. After determining the type of visa
that corresponds with their intended purpose of travel, applicants must then complete the DS-160—an online application form—pay the application fee, and schedule an interview with a consular officer. Cue the sweaty palms. But the brief, one-minute interview shouldn’t be that nerve-wracking, especially when you have close ties to family in Canada, to a Canadian school, and a long-term plan for living in Canada, Renner assures. “These are all factors that will make your case for approval of a visa much stronger,” he says. Why? Well, in most cases, regardless of the type of non-immigrant visa a student applies for, under 214(b) of the Immigration and National Act, all applicants must sufficiently demonstrate to the consular officer that they plan on returning back to Canada and keeping true to their non-immigrant or “visitor” status. Renner states that “all applicants for non-immigrant visas are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer otherwise”. But above all else, Renner advises students to tell the truth about their intentions to travel. Visas continued on page 10
“As simple as being conscious” Green continued from page 8 Volunteer events for local environmental causes like those through SAGE and Student Life’s tree planting initiatives are examples of active involvement of student organizations promoting awareness on environmental issues. Additionally, the UTM Green Team works in collaboration with the UTM environmental affairs office to increase eco-friendliness on campus. As part of a tri-campus initiative, the team implements Green Courses, which seeks to recognize courses that reduce their impact on the environment, focusing on paper reduction. “I really was not very environ-
ment friendly when I joined the Green Team,” says Bansari Patel, a third-year student with a double major in biology and environmental studies.
“Environmental importance will always exist and the significance of these initiatives will always be essential.” Patel describes how she learned that sustainability is in fact a habit of small daily activities, collected together. “Now I unplug my laptop charger when it’s done charging,
because it still consumes electricity. And don’t throw your used paper plates in the recycling bin—they don’t need it!” she adds. “COP21 and other climate change forums may always help guide our global leaders into a world in which environmental responsibility is the highest priority, but our role as students shouldn’t rely on these,” says Karnik, emphasizing the need for communities to ensure that environmental protection is not an afterthought, and should not fall to rapid technological advancement and exponential resource depletion. “Environmental importance will always exist and the significance of these initiatives will always be essential,” Karnik says.
For Haaka, the persistent effects of the disorder have led her to seek continuous treatment; in addition to a hospitalization, she regularly takes medication and attends therapy. “I think the greatest challenge I have faced is not being able to work at a job that I loved. I lost the ability to function in any job,” she says. Fortunately, Patty assists her with the overwhelming feelings of the disorder. Haaka says that working, playing, and taking walks with Patty encourage her to enter a more “positive emotional state”. She also says that Patty guides her through crowded areas, helping her avoid overwhelming situations and negative changes in her emotional state. In terms of the improvement needed in the treatment of mental health
in law enforcement, Haaka encourages police services to assist their employees who are struggling. In addition, she is in favour of a suicide prevention program that “educate[s] employees to seek help rather than end their life by suicide”. Moreover, she advises those who are interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement or public safety to emphasize the importance of mental health just as much as physical health. However, Haaka is not alone in thinking that more should be done for Canada’s first responders. MPP Cher DiNova is in the process of passing a bill that amends the current Workplace Safety Insurance Act. Her bill aims to provide more benefits and care to first responders. After all, if first responders assist us during our time of need, shouldn’t we assist them during their own crises?
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THE MEDIUM 01.18.2016
Cooking up some fun Attendees have a “grate” time cooking with Chef Sandeep
This week, Alysha Ferguson, the student
or both. (Remember the black coating on
development officer responsible for UTM’s
your chicken at the last BBQ you went to?
Student Life programs, has provided her
Let’s avoid that.)
favourite summertime recipe in hopes of
Since I’m not a grilling expert, I’m relying
combating the recent chill. Luckily, Fergu-
on every family BBQ memory I have to help
son’s BBQ chicken can be prepared with a
remedy the situation. The key is patience
grill pan, since it’s highly unlikely that we’ll
and remaining vigilant. Yes, you could lower
be heading outside to get an outdoor grill
the heat and cook the chicken slowly. Or
ready anytime soon.
you could be like me, staying alert and
Personally, I’m not a fan of adding pine-
springing into action every single time
apples to my barbecued chicken. It’s a little
the chicken threatens to catch fire. (Dis-
too sweet for me, but that’s a minor point
claimer: this is probably best left as a last
as this recipe has a slightly larger potential
resort—always give this slightly tedious job
problem. It’s the chicken itself—specifical-
to another poor soul.)
ly, deciding how long to cook it. Ferguson recommends cooking the skewered chick-
But enough of my rambling—let’s take a look at Ferguson’s recipe.
CHRISTY TAM/THE MEDIUM
Last Thursday, Chef Sandeep led a UTM community cooking workshop.
en for about 15 minutes, but all the same, it’s easy to char the chicken, undercook it,
AMANDA BORTHWICK
BBQ Chicken SERVES 6–8
INGREDIENTS • 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
thickened, about 10 minutes. Set aside and cool. This will be used as the sauce.
• 1/4 cup honey
3. Heat an outdoor grill or a grill pan.
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
4. Cut each chicken thigh into two pieces.
• 1 fresh pineapple
5. Peel the pineapple and cut it into 1 1/2”
• 1 lemon, juiced • 1 cup ketchup
chunks. 6. Alternating between the chicken and
• 1 tbsp yellow mustard
pineapple, thread the pieces onto the
• 2 whole garlic cloves
skewers. Brush the pieces with olive oil
• 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs • Kosher salt • Freshly ground black pepper • Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing • 16 wooden skewers (soaked in water for 30 minutes)
and season them with salt and pepper. 7. Remove the garlic cloves from the barbecue sauce and discard. 8. Put about half of the barbecue sauce into a small bowl for later. 9. Brush skewers with some of the sauce. 10. Cook the skewers on the grill, basting
METHOD 1. In a saucepan at medium heat, add the ketchup, soy sauce, honey, mustard, sugar, garlic, and lemon juice. 2. Bring to a simmer and cook gently until
regularly with the barbecue sauce, until cooked through, about 10 to 15 minutes. 11. Serve with barbecue sauce on the side for dipping.
If the only thing you can make for dinner is reservations, then the monthly kitchen workshops hosted by UTM Dining Services are something you need to try. Open to faculty, students, and the community, this free workshop offers those in attendance the knowledge and guidance to try their hands at making healthy and wholesome meals. Last Thursday afternoon, UTM’s Gordon Ramsey, Chef Sandeep Kachroo, greeted students with recipe cards and aprons. Individuals were then divided into groups and assigned various gluten-free and nutritious dishes to create, such as coconut brown rice pudding, pangrilled chicken with pineapple salsa, and Greek lentil soup. The theme for this month’s workshop was “Winter Healthy Habits”, and the options were items that students, such as third-year environmental science student Urvesh Prajapati, planned on recreating at home. “I know this is going to help me
because it’s going to give me one more thing to cook other than pizza,” said Prajapati. Everyone started working together—mixing ingredients, pan-frying the chicken, and presenting the final products on plates. It was messy, but everyone was clearly having a great time. Finally, after many spills and measuring mishaps, groups presented their masterpieces and tried to sell the health benefits of their creations to the audience. Some audience members bought it and tried the dishes, and a few adventurous chefs tasted the work of their peers. Thankfully, the chefs in the kitchen had prepared the same dishes, which students were free to help themselves to at the end. The experience was more than memorable, not only because of the friendships made, but because it was a huge learning experience for many, like third-year environmental management student Andrew Fenech. “I had a lot of fun today; it was great learning how to sustain myself in a sustainable way. Using local food
and food from around the world really expanded my pallet. This is my first time coming, and I can say it was a great experience in terms of making friends and engaging with UTM Dining Services,” said Fenech. Fenech was a part of the team that recreated the Italian garbanzo salad with fennel and called themselves the “Whisk Takers”. Although I don’t think there was much “whisk” involved in making their salad, their “fennel” product still tasted delicious. UTM alumnus Rahul Mehta also attended the workshop for the first time and said it was a great opportunity to make friends and have fun— something that more students should take advantage of. “It is a great chance to learn how to cook, and it provides students—especially those who live off campus— with quick and health-conscious meal options that they can easily make at home,” said Mehta. So if you’ve been living off Mr. Noodles since the start of the semester, maybe it’s “thyme” you start building your cooking repertoire at the next workshop.
Several visa categories available
MADINA TURDIEVA/PHOTO
Students may be travelling for family, vacationing purposes, or for the U.S. labour market. Visas continued from page 9 “Students travelling during the holiday season is something we expect to find, but if you’re unexpectedly leaving in the middle of your semester, be prepared to explain and provide evidence on what your true intentions are,” he says. For students who have graduated and are offered temporary employment in specialty fields in the U.S.,
the process is slightly different. The applicants must complete an H1B visa, which involves the employer petitioning for entry of the employee. Although the H1B is a nonimmigrant visa, it can also be recognized as dual intent as holders can later apply for permanent residency. This plan of action is something that first-year management student Abhi Kalita considers in his future, as he feels the labour market in Can-
ada for graduates is looking grim. “I think it should be better to find a job in Canada, considering the way the government supports you here, but I think long-term job prospects in the U.S. are more promising and financially rewarding,” he says. Whatever your reasons may be, getting the information you need to initiate the visa application process is essential.
01.18.2016
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Students play table tennis phenoms Nationally ranked table tennis student athletes Anqi Luo and Shannon Zheng battle in the RAWC ERIC HEWITSON SPORTS EDITOR Anqi Luo and Shannon Zheng battle back and forth under extreme concentration. Their movements amount to a dance class workout, and they smash the ping pong ball at speeds that make you bobble your head. The two student athletes showcased their abilities at UTM’s Table Tennis Challenge last Thursday. Luo and Zheng aren’t just nationally-ranked table tennis players with an Olympic dream—they’re also UTM students. Everyone knows the game table tennis; most likely you grew up playing family members and friends, frustrated you couldn’t smash the ball like Bruce Lee with nunchuks. Well, you may not recognize them yet, but the two young ladies walking next to you in the halls are the best in the country. Anqi Luo is a 19-year-old table tennis phenomenon born in Foshan, China, who now resides in Mississauga. Luo has her own Wikipedia page. She won a bronze medal in the women’s doubles at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and was also a bronze medalist at last year’s Pan Am Games in Toronto. Her mother is a former Chinese national team member and current Canadian women’s team coach. Shannon Zheng is also a UTM student, doing a master’s program in hopes of a career in the healthcare sector. Zheng was the captain of the University of Ottawa table tennis
MAHMOUD SAROUJI/THE MEDIUM
Anqi Luo and Shannon Zheng rally back and forth in a friendly match for students to enjoy. team when she was there for her undergraduate degree. She won a silver medal at the 2013 North American Collegiate Table Tennis Championships and was a candidate for the London 2012 Olympic games. Yan Tam-Seguin, project manager for Student Affairs and Services at UTM, helped organize the Table Tennis Challenge, which fundraised for the United Way Foundation. “We want to let people know we’ve got an enormous advantage with two elite-level athletes here at UTM. For the first time, we have a recognized table tennis club at our school. We want to let students know that there
is this ability for students to come out and play,” said Tam-Seguin. The primary objective of organizing this fundraiser was to bring together a community of students in a friendly way; people of any skill level, gender, age, and ethnicity can come and play one another. Luo has wanted to raise the profile of table tennis as a sport at UTM since the beginning of the school year. She’s been able to combat the misnomer that table tennis is simply a basement game; she’s already brought in a larger community of table tennis players that didn’t realize the commonly shared interest.
Tam-Seguin’s son has been practicing at the same table tennis training facility Luo trains at. “He comes back from table tennis training just as sweaty and exhausted as if he were to come back from a hockey practice,” she said. Pritesh Patel, UTM’s table tennis club president, was in attendance at the event, looking on to see what kind of attention Luo and Zheng attracted. He was happy to see a large group of students participate and take on the two athletes in quick games. Even principal Deep Saini looked on proudly. The Table Tennis Club is in its
first year of existence. The two events they’ve held so far have taken place in multipurpose room B at the RAWC. This semester, they look to bring in even more people and turn table tennis into a competitive sport here on campus. “Our primary goal is to bring together all the table tennis players. At our most recent tournament, we had around 20 players show up,” said Patel. “We’re hoping to expand our numbers and funding so that we can get more tables. I hope we can host events in Gym C that’ll bring more exposure to our club, and it’s something more students can get involved with.” In Zheng’s experience, the game has been a great way for her to destress and improve mental quickness. “Whether you’re athletic or not, anyone can play. Playing gives you that break from classes. It can be challenging, and it stimulates the mind and improves hand-eye coordination,” says Zheng. “I am glad to have the opportunity of experiencing an interesting and unique life that table tennis has brought me,” said Luo in a previous interview. I took on Luo in a quick game, knowing she was going to make me fall to my knees. I’m still proud to tell my friends I got beaten badly (5-1) by a 5’3” 19-year-old female with a wicked serve, whom we’ll hopefully watch compete for gold at the 2020 Olympic games.
The science behind healthy active living Psychology professor Will Huggon explains the scientific benefits when maintaining a healthy routine AMANDA BORTHWICK If your only physical activity is running through the six with your woes, or the only marathon you’ve ever finished involves a Netflix account, you’re missing out on more than just the physical rewards that come from regularly working out. According to psychology professor Will Huggon, the neurological processes that occur when we maintain a healthy active lifestyle influence our mood, academic performance, and overall quality of life for the better. Working out not only relaxes our mind and body, but it can also prevent negative moods from arising, reduce anxiety, and counter depression. “Exercise releases the neurotransmitter endorphin, the primary purpose of which is to inhibit the transmission of pain signals and produce a feeling of euphoria,” says Huggon in an email interview. In other words, it reduces stress and activates your
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Will Huggon presents the science behind a healthy active lifestyle to a group of students. body’s metaphorical “chill pill”. But it doesn’t stop there—exercise can also foster new brain cell growth through a process called neurogenesis. Huggon explains that the hippocampus is the learning and memory centre of the brain and is especially
receptive to new neuron growth in response to exercise. The good news for you is that by going to the gym, you can boost both your booty and your GPA at the same time. Unless you just go there to procrastinate—then shame on you.
Double shame on you if you’ve already thrown in the towel for your fitness resolutions for the New Year. But Huggon says you’re not alone. “Research shows that people try five times in a row before succeeding in lasting at least six months on a resolution. On
a given New Year’s Eve, among those who make resolutions and fail, 60 percent will resolve to attempt the same self-change next year,” he says. Many people focus on the end goal of their self-change, whether it’s losing 20 pounds or gaining a six-pack. But how you maintain that goal is more important that achieving the goal itself, Huggon advises. What it boils down to is realistic planning, which may make you more likely to stick with your goal. Just imagining the start and end of your goal without knowing how long it will take or the steps needed will most likely not lead to the fulfillment of this objective. “If you don’t have the necessary information to predict a result, then you’re more liable to quit because you don’t know how to achieve those goals, just that you want them,” says Huggon. Science continued on page 12
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Living well in Blues’ big turn-around the present Science continued from page 11 However, once you have a realistic game plan, the next step is to formulate habits to stay committed. Most importantly, according to Huggon, “keep everything in mind as to why you’re doing it, and then stick to it for at least four weeks, which is the time it takes to form a habit”. But if you’re like me and the only thing that holds your interest at the fitness centre is the TV, then it might be time to try alternative ways of staying active, like going for a spin or yoga class. Addi-
Keep everything in mind as to why you’re [working out], and then stick to it for at least four weeks. tionally, getting friends to join you can also increase the likelihood of seeing your goal to the end. But in my case, when I say friends, I’m referring to my pals Ben and Jerry. It’s not called cheating; it’s called positive reinforcement. And according to Huggon, rewarding myself with something I love in moderation after a workout works great to reinforce the exercise habits I want to continue— although I’m sure he would advocate for healthier options than ice cream.
Regarding being satisfied with life, healthy personal relationships and self-care appear to be two main factors that are essential ingredients. However, Huggon feels students may misplace these values, and talks about how he often sees so many students come through his office feeling burnt out as they prepare for grad or medical school. “When I ask them why they want to do that, they say that it’s to have a good job and life. Well the answer, it seems, is to have a good life—not in the future, but right now,” he says. In other words, the real key to success isn’t cocoa butter—sorry, DJ Khaled. But, as Huggon suggests, it’s in finding a balance between work and life—in preparing for the future and for living well in the present. The upcoming MoveU Motivator event, taking place this Friday, is a perfect opportunity to start and build some healthy exercise habits by trying anything from Pilates to Tabata and Zumba, all in sets of mini-instructional classes. Healthy active living has a multitude of rewards, but ultimately it comes down to the hard work you’re willing to invest in maintaining your physical and mental wellbeing. So as you painfully trudge up every one of those stairs in the RAWC after leg day, just remind yourself that it is worth it. Or if that doesn’t work, think of the cafeteria you’re one step closer to.
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The Varsity Blues defeated Windor 6-5 on Friday and Brock 4-1 on Saturday. ERIC HEWITSON SPORTS EDITOR The Varsity Blues men’s hockey team gathered their thoughts after a couple of tough road losses, eager to win in front of the home crowd for the first time in 2016, on Friday night against the Windsor Lancers. In a tight battle, the Blues got the best of the Lancers, winning 6-5 thanks to Dean Klomp’s game-winning shootout goal. The Blues now improve to 7-112, moving their way into a tie for seventh place, while the talented Lancers squad drops to 10-7-3, ranking them third in the OUA West division. Thanks to third-year goalie Andrew Hunt and his 44 saves, the Blues were able to come out on top. Hunt stopped the puck 37 times in regulation and an additional seven times during overtime. Fourth-year veterans Dylan Heide and Cristian Finch led the scoring charge with a combined eight points. Heide scored a power-play goal nearly seven minutes
ERIC HEWITSON SPORTS EDITOR BURST YOUR TESTOSTERONE Testosterone is an anabolic hormone that not only exists in men but also in women—about one-tenth helps positively balance estrogen levels. If testosterone levels in women are light, they’ll experience slowed metabolism, weak muscles, and a more difficult time losing weight or gaining muscle. In men, healthy levels of testosterone correlate with healthy sleeping habits, energy levels, and sex drive—to name a few effects. When men risk their testosterone because of lazy habits, they’re putting themselves up for risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and erectile dysfunction. During the winter months, it may be difficult to experience the energy levels that you had in the summer. I’ll explain why and how you can fix it today to enjoy the best sleep, exercise, and sex you’ve ever had. SUPPLEMENTATION Vitamin D has a strong relationship with testosterone levels. In the summer, you receive Vitamin D from
in, evening things up at one apiece. Finch had four assists, proving that his offensive line was no match for Windsor defenders. The Blues had a dominant second period, scoring three goals. Midway through the third period, the Blues were up 5-3, but fell back and allowed Windsor’s Kyle Hope’s even strength goal and Julian Luciani’s shorthanded marker, tying the game and making it head into overtime. Toronto took advantage of the Lancers’ undisciplined play, a recurring theme for the Lancers this season. Windsor sits second in the OUA in total penalty minutes (414). Even though Windsor was ranked fifth on the penalty kill (85.3) before coming to Toronto, the Blues scored four goals on the man advantage. Fourth-year forward Patrick Marsh was relied upon heavily to create an offensive spark. Marsh didn’t disappoint, scoring a goal and tallying an assist. Marsh leads the team in goals with 10, which is top 20 in the OUA.
The future of the Blues program, Matt Campagna and Max Lindsay have been receiving plenty of ice time. Their growth and development are necessary if the team wants to be a championship contender over the next four years. Campagna and Lindsay had a great offensive night; Lindsay scored a goal in the second period, and Campagna had an assist. Kenny Bradford is Windsor’s big shut down defender—he was the 2014/15 OUA defenceman of the year and was first-team all-star. Bradford’s two assists helped his team push the game into overtime, but he and the rest of the team couldn’t handle the Blues’ scoring prowess. After the weekend doubleheader in which the Blues also played the Brock Badgers on Saturday night, winning 4-1, they will head back on the road to face the Western Mustangs this Thursday in London before coming back home to Varsity Arena to play the Guelph Gryphons on Saturday.
natural sources like fruit and sunlight—sunlight is the most significant factor—and your mood is elevated, you’re moving more often, and your libido probably spikes. Vitamin D helps absorb calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphate, and zinc, giving you more of the nutrients you need. Because of the lack of sunlight during these Canadian months, taking doses of Vitamin D may increase your abilities in the areas of your life you feel unmotivated or lacking.
and bench press. Also, the larger the muscle you work, the more testosterone you secrete. Stay away from the machines if you want to secrete testosterone; when you use a machine, you’re initiating less stabilizer activity, but when using weights where core and back activity need to be activated, you’ll secrete more. Remember, longer workouts are not better. Workouts lasting longer than an hour may begin to spike cortisol levels and decrease your testosterone levels. Keep your rest periods short; one minute of rest versus three minutes of rest between sets elicits higher acute hormonal responses. Work out at a high tempo and keep your time to under an hour.
Testosterone is an anabolic hormone that not only exists in men but also in women— about one-tenth. FREE-WEIGHT MOVEMENTS You can give yourself a boost in testosterone by working out smart. High-intensity weight training— choosing weights you can accomplish 10 repetitions with—stimulates testosterone secretion. Secretion occurs mostly from squats, deadlifts,
NUTRITION Diets with higher amounts of monounsaturated and saturated fats have shown to increase testosterone levels. Meals that include olive oil, almonds, avocados, and peanut butter increase the absorption of monounsaturated fats, and meals that include red meat, coconut oil, egg yolk, dark chocolate, and cheese increase your saturated fats intake.