Arrest made in new vandalism
Feminism and pink lemonade
The humour in heartbreak
High calories, low marks
From struggle to superstar
News, page 3
Opinion, page 4
Arts, page 5
Features, page 8
Sports, page 11
UTMSU election results to be released today Final week of campaigning sees plenty demerits issued and new allegations ALICIA BOATTO ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR NICOLE DANESI NEWS EDITOR Election results determining the victors of the UTMSU’s 2016/17 executive team and board of directors are expected to be announced today following three days of voting, which ran from Tuesday through Thursday last week. In an email to The Medium last Wednesday, UTMSU VP internal Francesco Otello-DeLuca explained that the union was expecting a high voter turnout for this year’s election, although numbers reflecting voter turnout have yet to be released. In the last week of campaigning ahead of voting results, slates challenged demerit points and responded to accusations.
Election results are expected to be released today.
DEMERIT POINTS By the end of the elections, all candidates except independent presidential candidate Daniel Lyght racked up demerit points, includ-
ing several due to some candidates allegedly accessing their UTMSU email accounts, which is unauthorized for candidates and campaign volunteers during the election.
JOSHAN RAMNAUTH/THE MEDIUM
“When an executive leaves the UTMSU on a leave of absence, they give their password or their account to the president,” explained Nour Alideeb, Unite UTM
presidential candidate, who faced demerit points for allegedly accessing her email. “I get a lot of academic offence cases, so [UTMSU president Ebi Agbeyegbe]
probably forwarded it to my coordinators because I’m on a leave of absence.” At the time, Alideeb planned to appeal the notice, and as of March 6, the demerit points against both her and Unite UTM volunteer Tyrell Subban for the same allegation were crossed out and reduced to five demerits. Emerson Calcada of UTM Awaken was also given demerit points for allegedly accessing his UTMSU email, which he denied doing. “I sat down with the CRO and my team and we checked the last time I accessed [my email]; it was February 22,” said Calcada. The demerit points against Calcada were also reduced from 15 to five. UTM Focus faced allegations of harassment. The Wall of Transparency reported “multiple instances where a person that has been identified as a non–arm’s length party has harassed and slander[ed] candidates from another slate”. Elections continued on page 2
Saini leaving UTM for Australia UTMSU and UTMSFL to Saini will leave UTM as of August 31 of this year HIBA TRABOULSI WITH NOTES FROM NICOLE DANESI NEWS EDITOR UTM principal and U of T VP Deep Saini is leaving UTM effective August 31 to begin a new role as vice-chancellor of Australia’s University of Canberra in September. As announced on Wednesday, Saini has been appointed as the university’s fifth vice-chancellor located in Bruce, Canberra, Australia Capital Territory, Australia. He has held his current role at U of T since 2010 and was reappointed last year after undergoing a fiveyear review. “Much of what I am today was shaped during my doctoral studies in Australia,” said Saini in the University of Canberra’s announcement. “My wife and I started our shared journey here. It is a privilege to now return to serve the country where it all began and to which I owe the crucial formative steps of an exceptionally reward-
be questioned this week NICOLE DANESI NEWS EDITOR
MAHMOUD SAROUJI/THE MEDIUM
Saini will become vice-chancellor as of September 1. ing career.” According to Nicolle Wahl, UTM’s assistant director, communications (digital), nominations will be open until March 22 to appoint U of T’s interim VP and principal of UTM. Nominations
will also soon be collected to assemble an advisory committee responsible for the evaluation and recommendation of potential candidates to fill the role after Saini leaves.
UTMSU and UTM Students for Life will soon face each other in court as legal questioning begins this week. In January, UTMSFL filed a suit against UTMSU with claims that the union denied their group club status and funding due to their pro-life views, claims that UTMSU has neither confirmed nor denied since the suit was launched. According to UTMSFL president Diane Zettel, both UTMSU and UTMSFL will be questioned by their lawyers on Tuesday, and lawyers representing UTMSFL anticipate that a court date will be set in June. “We have not heard […] anything directly from UTMSU,” said Zettel in an email to The Medium last week, who confirmed that the group continues to remain active on campus amidst the legal suit. “We table as a club every week. We engage students in discussion about life issues and abortion.” UTMSFL is currently a registered ULife student group recognized by U
of T. When asked to confirm if UTMSU would be participating in legal questioning and who from UTMSU would be questioned, UTMSU president Ebi Agbeyegbe did not provide comment on the matter. “There are new developments in the case,” said Agbeyegbe in an email to The Medium on Friday. “We are speaking to our executive committee and confirming with our lawyers the details of everything before we can speak to the matter.” The suit also mentioned the Canadian Federation of Students, a national student advocacy group UTMSU is currently a member of. Lawyers representing UTMSFL claim that the CFS has previously “passed a motion encouraging its member student unions not to recognize student clubs with pro-life views” and cite the motion as being passed back in 2008. The Medium is unable to independently verify any of the legal claims made by UTMSFL and the CFS has not responded to multiple interview requests.
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THE MEDIUM 03.14.2016
Allegations and promises fly in last week of union elections March 3, 8:50 p.m. Mischief UTM students were waiting for a bus at the east side bus stop on Mississauga Road by the North Entrance. A vehicle went by them at high speed and as it passed them, a passenger threw raw eggs. March 7, 7:45 p.m. Theft Under $5,000 A student reported that her iPhone 6s was stolen from the change room at
the gym. March 8, 9:45 a.m. Theft Under $5,000 A student reported to Campus Police the theft of his parking permit. March 8, 4:40 p.m. Medical Call A student had slipped and fell on the stairway in IB while she was running to class.
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.
Students donate for Nate 204 students registered as donors
MAHMOUD SAROUJI/THE MEDIUM
Stem cell donors registered with OneMatch.
FARHAT AMINI Lifeline: UTM Blood and Stem Cell Society saw an increased number of students registering to become stem cell donors in support of their annual campaign this year. According to Anmol Biajar, copresident of Lifeline UTM and fourth-year life sciences student, the turnout was significantly higher this year. Approximately 167 students registered by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, while only 70 students had registered around the same time last year. By the end of the day, 204 students had registered. Students had their cheeks swabbed in the CCT building to join a network of donors by registering with OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network. In an interview with The Medium, Biajar discussed the face of this year’s campaign: a seven-year-old boy named Nate with a rare condition called Fanconi anemia. If he doesn’t find a donor, Nate may have up to three years to live. According to Biajar, Nate and his father attended a select number of lectures to speak to students. “This year, UTM has outdone itself. We’ve broken our blood donor clinic record and stem cell clinic record all because of the amazing work of the executive team and support received from the UTM
community,” said Biajar. “I want to thank the UTM community [for] giving hope to kids like Nate.” Nate’s story inspired first-year political science student Ramneek Bhoday and a friend to register. “If we were in that situation, we would want someone to do the same,” said Bhoday. Lilet Raffiñan, territory manager of the Canadian Blood Services, explained that samples collected will go to a laboratory to get tested for human leukocyte antigens, which are “inherited genetic markers” that determine whether donors are matched with any patients. If matches are found, stem cells would be taken out of the blood and stored in the Canadian Blood Services Bank. “There are close to 1,000 patients waiting for a stem transplant, and their chances of finding a match within their family is only about 25 percent, but their chances of finding a match within their ethnicity is much greater,” said Raffiñan, who also explained that stem cell donor information is available worldwide, allowing patients around the globe to find a potential match. Those who were not able to get swabbed on Tuesday and are interested in becoming a donor can still visit the Heartland Blood Donor Clinic to register.
Multiple candidates faced demerit points during the election. Elections continued from Cover The ruling had been retracted and the demerits reduced to zero as of March 6. Kamal Ali, UTM Focus candidate for VP external, was also accused of collecting nomination signatures in the UTMAC office, an area that is restricted during the election period. The demerit points assigned carried a “pending” status as of press time. UTM Focus presidential candidate Ridwan Olow did not wish to comment on the allegations levelled against his team member. Independent presidential candidate Ibrahim Bouteraa also received 10 demerit points for allegedly campaigning in the library. “I was giving a stack of flyers to a friend/volunteer that I came to know from my election and I was giving him the stacks on the library fourth floor,” said Bouteraa, who claimed that an unspecified candidate running for a seat on the UTMSU board of directors filmed him while in the library. “I didn’t know that you could not have campaign material in the library. “It was my fault, but I didn’t know that it was a breach of the rules,” said Bouteraa, who chose not to appeal the points. Independent presidential candidate Andrew Williams also faced 25 demerit points for allegedly not providing a list of campaign volunteers and failing to use a standardized notice regarding the recycling of campaign materials. “In terms of my flyer being environmentally friendly, there was a recycling sign on it; it did say, ‘Please dispose responsibly’,” said Williams. “It has to be a very, very specific message”. CAMPAIGN PROMISES As part of their campaign, Unite UTM pledged to donate 100 percent of their salaries to bursaries for students if they did not work
towards their campaign promises next year. “People talk a lot about accountability and transparency; one of the first things is that not all students know that UTMSU executives get paid,” said Alideeb in an interview with The Medium. “I think that this would be a great way to have more conversations with students, get them plugged in, get them working on the issues with us and, you know, uniting.” When asked how their slate would go about evaluating whether or not their slate would return their salaries, Alideeb explained that there would be no formal judgement process to determine if their slate made an effort to fulfill their promises, but that feedback from students would be an important factor. Alideeb also did not believe that the pledge would give their slate a competitive edge against other candidates.
Unite UTM pledged to donate 100 percent of their salaries to bursaries for students if they did not work towards their campaign promises. When asked if their slate could accomplish more than 50 campaign promises in one year, Alideeb said it is not likely for all to be accomplished but stressed the importance of laying the groundwork for future student unions. “I think it’s important to be realistic and self-critical as to what our capacities are and what we’d be able to do in one year,” said Alideeb. “I think it’s important to set up a culture shift, to set up the framework for other individuals to come in the future to also build upwards.” ACCUSATIONS
MAHMOUD SAROUJI/THE MEDIUM
Accusations surfaced on social media Thursday evening that Unite UTM copied elements from a 2007 UTMSU slate led by current UTMSU executive director Walied Khogali, who was then running for president as part of a slate also named Unite UTM. In an email statement, Unite UTM denied Khogali’s involvement with their campaign. “Walied's slate did use this same campaign tactic years ago in 2007, we believe, when he ran,” Unite UTM wrote in statement to The Medium on Friday. “Walied did NOT help our slate design our platform in any way. This campaign tactic came from knowledge, hard work, and research performed by members of our campaign team to set us apart from every other team participating in these elections”. Unite UTM also claimed that other slates had similar promises in their campaign platforms and the needs of students have been the same for several years. “We would also like to point out that if you take a look at every single team’s platform points and the platform points of teams that have run in the past, we're pretty sure you can find similarities from every team to teams in the past,” the statement added. “This is due to the fact that priorities of students on the UTM campus have stayed similar to some extent and some things have yet to be accomplished so they need to be continuously worked [on].” In an email to The Medium on Friday, Khogali denied any involvement in Unite UTM’s campaign. “I am writing to confirm that I did not help UTM unite or any other slate or independent candidates formulate their promises,” said Khogali. The Medium was unable to verify the authenticity of the alleged 2007 campaign poster.
03.14.2016 THE MEDIUM NEWS
Man arrested by Peel Police for vandalism at the RAWC
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»DID YOU VOTE IN THE UTMSU ELECTIONS?
Jeffrey Wu 1st year, computer science
Luke Matthews 1st year, computer science
No, I didn’t vote. Maybe next year.
I did vote because I noticed some candidates were really trying to make a difference.
Kristina Todic 1st year, computer science
Anne Servidad 3rd year, commerce
I didn’t vote because I forgot and all of the candidates sounded the same.
No, I didn’t, because I’m only here two days a week and didn’t have time.
MAHMOUD SAROUJI/THE MEDIUM
it is believed that the vandalism was made against installations from the Change Room Project.
WARD SUROUR Jakub Bernad, a 26-year-old male from Mississauga, has been charged after being arrested for allegedly vandalizing posters in the RAWC. According to Peel Regional Police public information officer George Tudos, the vandalism was discovered on February 29 at 11:34 a.m and Bernad is set to appear in court on April 1. Although Tudos would not disclose what the vandalism consisted of, an earlier Campus Police report published in The Medium on March 7 indicated that the vandalism was done on posters “promoting sexual and gender diversity inclusion”. Bernad has been charged with mischief under $5,000. According to UTM Campus Police manager Robert Messacar, it is believed that the vandalized posters at the centre of the investigation may have been a part of
the Change Room Project, a new initiative working to “[amplify] the voices of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students in locker rooms and change rooms— some of the very spaces where they often go unheard”.
it is believed that the vandalized posters at the centre of the investigation may have been a part of the Change Room Project Led by Hart House in collaboration with several other partners, the Change Room Project works to bring awareness to the issues members of the LGBTQ community face in athletic change rooms by using quotes from 54 interviews conducted by Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education profes-
sor Caroline Fusco, whose research examines how barriers such as change rooms prevent the LGBTQ community from participating in sports. The installations feature quotes posted on digital screens and the walls of U of T athletic change rooms, including a quote from Elise, a U of T graduate student and lesbian whose quote states, “The first time I encountered a homophobic slur, it was written on the wall in a locker room in elementary school.” In an interview with The Medium, Hart House program coordinator Day Milman confirmed that they have not been contacted or informed of the incident. The exhibit installations are now installed on all three U of T campuses at the RAWC, the Hart House Fitness Centre, UTSC, the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport, and the UTSG Athletics Centre.
Students shed light on global gender inequality UTM’s Because I Am a Girl has been raising funds to sponsor three children through Plan Canada AMANDA BORTHWICK STAFF WRITER In celebration of International Women’s Day last Tuesday, UTM’s Because I Am a Girl Club held an awareness campaign throughout the week to inform students about gender inequalities present in developing and Westernized countries. In Davis and the Student Centre last Monday to Wednesday, club volunteers set up information booths to educate and inform students about issues related to gender inequality, human rights, feminism, and misogyny. The booths also provided information comparing gender roles in various countries around the world. “Gender inequality is still very much real, and the more awareness we can generate about this, the closer we become to solving the
problem,” said UTM’s Because I Am a Girl promotions executive, Nicole DiLeonardo, in an interview with The Medium. Since its launch last September, the club regularly sells Popeye’s on campus and hosts activities to raise funds to sponsor one male and two
So far, the club has raised approximately $1,100 and are close to meeting their goal by the end of the semester. female children in a developing country through Plan Canada’s Because I Am a Girl program. According to Shireen Owis, the club’s VP internal affairs, the cost of achieving their goal is approximately
$1,400. So far, the club has raised approximately $1,100 and is close to meeting their goal by the end of the semester. “The celebration of International Women’s Day this week is the perfect opportunity to educate students in a fun and engaging way,” said Owis, who also explained that the club prides itself on promoting basic human rights and equality for both men and women. The activities also allowed students to win prizes and learn more about the realities and myths surrounding gender biases and persisting inequalities. Activities included a spin-the-wheel game, quiz, and photo booths. In addition to informative pamphlets, club members handed out cake and pink lemonade to students. Students also had the opportunity to win tickets to the Sky Zone and Archery District.
OLIVIA ADAMCZYK/THE MEDIUM
UTM’s Because I Am a Girl club was launched last September
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03.14.2016
EDITORS
Why I don’t call myself a feminist
Editor-in-Chief Maria Iqbal editor@themedium.ca
Labels can mean almost anything when taken out of context
MASTHEAD
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 online@themedium.ca blog@themedium.ca ASSOCIATES News Menna Elnaka Kassandra Hangdaan Alicia Boatto A&E Hailey Mason Anton Mykytenko Features Mahnoor Ayub Sports Daniel Bilyk Photo Christy Tam Olivia Adamczyk Copy Farah Khan Maleeha Iqbal GENERAL STAFF Webmaster Luke Sawczak web@themedium.ca Interim Distribution Manager Eric Hewitson 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
To contribute, email editor@themedium.ca
As many of us know, International Women’s Day was celebrated last Tuesday. At UTM, part of the celebrations involved a weeklong awareness campaign by the Because I am a Girl club, which included information booths and even a pink lemonade stand. Reading about it reminded me of a discussion in a South Asian history class last year about gender and philanthropic organizations seemingly dedicated to women’s rights. As part of the discussion, the prof pulled up the Because I am a Girl webpage as an example of how even organizations that purport to help a specific group can at times perpetuate the same oppressive ideas that they’re trying to combat. Taking a quick glance at the Because I am a Girl website, under “What we need to stop saying to girls” are phrases that either imply the inferiority of women or stereotype them. And yet, one of the group’s fundraising options is to host your own pink lemonade stand. The emphasis on the colour
pink throughout the site adds to the homogenization of the gender, which is frankly not helpful coming from a group dedicated to the liberation of women. Which brings me to my own complicated relationship with feminism. Over years of listening to debates about what does and
Oversimplifications don’t do justice to the complex nature of feminism or to the complex struggles that women face. does not qualify as feminism, I’ve found that in many cases, what one person considers to be feminist can be the same thing that another person considers to be antifeminist. One such example that’s very close to me personally is the debate over the hijab and niqab and what they symbolize in a feminist landscape. The debate can be sum-
marized succinctly in a 2011 cartoon by Malcolm Evans. The cartoon depicts two women walking past each other on the sidewalk. One woman is dressed in a bikini and sunglasses and the other is covered from head to toe in a burqa and a face veil. The woman in the bikini stares at the woman in the burqa and thinks to herself, “Everything covered but her eyes. What a cruel male-dominated culture!” For her part, the woman in the burqa looks back at the woman in the bikini and thinks, “Nothing covered but her eyes. What a cruel male-dominated culture!” Suffice it to say, what a person considers to be feminist or not has a lot to do with an individual’s worldview. A lot of us will agree in theory with many of the ideals that are touted as feminist: equal rights, equal pay, etc. Yet in practice, a specific action can be interpreted in totally opposite ways depending on a person’s background, as the cartoon makes clear. The problem that I continue to have with the way “feminism” as a term is used, however, is that, even
in academic contexts, there are attempts made to homogenize the movement and definitively label this or that action as “feminist” or “patriarchal”. Oversimplifications such as these don’t do justice to the complex nature of feminism or to the complex struggles that women face. Individual women may have very different reasons for doing what they do, and in some cases they may be driven by a conscious feminist mindset while in others, they may not. Individuals are far too complicated to define by a single umbrella term. Yes, International Women’s Day is a good initiative for spreading awareness of the continued struggle that women face. But perhaps the message that’s lost in the pink lemonade is that while feminism itself is a simple label, the meanings underlying it are anything but.
YOURS, MARIA IQBAL
The flip side of trigger warnings Can art maintain its impact without the element of shock? Last month, I attended U of T’s Drama Festival, which showcases new work acted, written, and directed by students at U of T’s various colleges. I saw the two shows that played on the last day of the festival, and before they began, the audience was provided with a trigger warning for the second play: footage of needle use would be projected during the performance. This was in addition to the trigger warnings already provided in the program, like violence and discussion of sexual assault. I’ve become used to the warnings I see when I go to the theatre: usually strobe lights and mature language. Occasionally there will be a warning for full frontal nudity (don’t judge me—I saw a production of Hosanna by Michel Tremblay once). I respect that kind of warning. But what happens when we have to warn theatre patrons about every single aspect of a show? Does a production of The Wizard of Oz get trigger warnings because there’s a live dog? Produce Angels in America, Equus, or Spring Awakening, and your list of trigger warnings will be three pages long. I believe that in an educational setting, trigger warnings have a place—if you have to get that Eng-
lish credit, it’s your right to know if there’s something in the books that qualifies as sensitive material. But in the world of live performance, I’m not sure that holds up in the same way. Showing footage of needle use was a choice that the director and/ or playwright made with certain outcomes in mind. Maybe they wanted shock value. I’m not a big fan of needles. Do I have a phobia? Not officially. But even so I’d rather not spend an extended
I don’t believe in violence for violence’s sake, but sometimes shock value is the only way to get your message across. period of time watching someone else prepping a syringe. With the warning, though, I wasn’t really even surprised by the images. Knowing about them beforehand killed any kind of emotional response beyond, “Eww. I’m glad that’s not happening to me right now.” I’ll admit that I don’t really get to talk about trigger warnings
since I don’t feel like I particularly need them. Although I was grateful for the warning before Hosanna—I was young enough that I hadn’t read the play, and I’d also never seen a fully naked adult man. But here’s the other side of that argument. When I was in grade 12, I took Writer’s Craft, which was taught by one of the best teachers I’ve ever had. I’m not sure how much of what we studied was TDSB-approved, and I’m also pretty sure my teacher didn’t care. So one day I found myself putting a copy of a novel called Bastard out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison on special order from Chapters and Indigo. Bastard out of Carolina is about a girl named Bone growing up in wrong-side-of-the-tracks South Carolina. Bone’s father ran off before she was born, and her mother Anney remarries a man named Glen. Glen is abusive in many ways, leaving Anney to choose between her husband and her child. And Glen, jealous of Anney’s love for Bone, takes out his anger on his stepdaughter. You can see where this is going. The final scene in the book is absolutely harrowing and has never, ever left me.
My Writer’s Craft teacher told us before we read the book that it would be tough, but didn’t give us any specifics. And honestly, I’m grateful for it. Because if I’d known what was going to happen, chances are I wouldn’t have finished the book. That would have been a problem, and not just for my coursework. Arguably, Allison’s book taught me how to write. I learned the value of short sentences, of not giving the reader any more than they absolutely need. I would have missed out on some truly great art. Was I shocked and disturbed? Absolutely. But I’m pretty sure that was the point. I don’t believe in violence for violence’s sake, but sometimes shock value is the only way to get your message across. I don’t know where the line is between not enough trigger warnings and too many, and I’m not going to pretend I do. But I do think that art, even in the U of T Drama Festival setting, needs to be allowed to maintain some element of surprise in order to do what art does: change people’s minds.
Kate Cattell-Daniels Arts & Entertainment Editor
03.14.2016
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The laughing matter of infertility New web series by UTM cinema studies grad tackles the subject matter with a comedic twist HAILEY MASON ASSOCIATE A&E EDITOR Life often throws us obstacles we’re unable to control. While we may not have the power to prevent these challenges, we can choose how we respond to them. Wendy Litner, the creator and writer of How to Buy a Baby, is taking this approach to life. On March 1, the teaser for How to Buy a Baby was released online. In this new web series, Litner portrays the widely unrecognized subject of infertility through the lens of comedy. Litner, who personally suffers from infertility and has been undergoing fertility treatments for two and a half years with her husband, hopes the series will educate viewers on the subject while also providing encouragement for those who experience a similar struggle. How to Buy a Baby follows married couple Jane and Charlie Levy as they cope with the challenges of infertility. The teaser shows the pair enduring in vitro fertilization treatments and unsolicited advice from Debbie, a new mother who believes that diet alteration will result in pregnancy. The web series aims to raise awareness towards infertility and the billion-dollar treatment industry that surrounds it. “What we’re trying to do is educate viewers about infertility,” says Tanya
YOUTUBE.COM/HOWTOBUYABABY/PHOTO
How to Buy a Baby aims to educate with comedy. Hoshi, U of T alumna and the producer of the web series. “A lot of people don’t know about [infertility] and [How to Buy a Baby] is a good way for people to understand that there’s this entire community of people who are trying to have kids and they are constantly bombarded with unsolicited advice… The world around them is just popping out babies while they’re struggling for one.” Litner discovered the inspiration for her web series through her blog
“SadInTheCity”, in which she posts stories about her life with infertility. After receiving an immense amount of positive feedback and realizing that followers wanted to learn more about the subject, Litner decided to create content that followers could watch as well. Litner premiered How to Buy a Baby at the Women on Screen’s Web Series Incubator in last November. Women on Screen is an organization dedicated to the representation of To-
ronto women in the film industry. At the Web Series Incubator, Litner was given the opportunity to showcase her pilot script to an audience. Since the release of the teaser two weeks ago, Litner has already received an enormous amount of positive feedback from the infertility community and others interested in the series. “The infertility community is overwhelmingly positive and very encouraging and they love this,” Hoshi remarks. With Litner’s person-
al insight into the subject, How to Buy a Baby promises to give a voice to this underrepresented community. “Wendy is definitely hoping to encourage people and say, ‘Don’t be discouraged by the world around you and the fact that you’re not getting results.’ She’s hoping [How to Buy a Baby] will be an outlet for [infertile] people to realize that there are others going through the same thing,” Hoshi adds. Although the topic of infertility is weighty, Litner’s comedic approach is a powerful way of conveying her message. While the endeavors of Jane and Charlie educate viewers on IVF treatments and the impact of infertility on a marriage, the quirky couple also makes us laugh during the process. “We’re taking a subject that is so delicate and sensitive and not necessarily funny, but we’re trying to get people to laugh at the world around it,” Hoshi says. “I think it’s so important that [How to Buy a Baby] is a comedy. It’s less dramatic and shows less of the bad side [of infertility], which would really only target the people going through this. At least with comedy, everyone can laugh and everyone can enjoy the short episodes. It’s making them laugh and it’s educating them at the same time.” Baby continued on page 6
Actors soar in season’s closing production Theatre Erindale’s final show of the season combines laughter, tears, and a healthy dose of talent KATE CATTELL-DANIELS A&E EDITOR One of the first signs of a great play is that you don’t know you’re watching it. Let me explain that a little better. It’s the same as watching a great movie or reading a great novel. Time flies—and stops—simultaneously. There is nothing except that story and those characters. Coming out of a play like Theatre Erindale’s production of The Seagull is like waking from a dream that is half nightmare and half paradise. I will tell you something: I don’t cry at the theatre. I’ve come close— but The Seagull had me the closest to tears I’ve been in a very long time. The crazy part is that I was laughing at the same time. It was funny. It was funny because it’s such an unbearably, almost embarrassingly human play. If there is one thing Anton Chekhov is good at, it’s writing characters, a fact that has not slipped director Melee Hutton’s notice. These people are clumsy and sad and happy and in love. They’re also stupid, sassy, and overly dramatic, and I love every single one
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The Seagull is a touching and hilarious show. of them. It’s not easy to sit down and say, “Oh, he’s the villain and she’s the lover and he’s the leading man.” Actual lives are not like that, and neither is Chekhov’s play. The Seagull is essentially about art and love and the place where the two meet. I’ll give you some warning: it’s a
head-on collision for the ages. Arkadina (Kyra Weichert) is an aging actress who was once very famous and is now stuck on her brother Sorin’s (Nathaniel Kinghan) estate with her son Constantin (Isaac Giles). Constantin is trying to be a writer, and the play opens with the first backyard staging
of one of his plays. The play stars the beautiful Nina (Tatiana Haas), whom Constantin is in love with. And Nina is in love with him too, until the famous fiction writer Trigorin (Stuart Hefford) catches her eye. This plotline is further complicated by the fact that Masha (Sarah Kern), daughter of
the manager of Sorin’s estate (Connor Dutchak) is also in love with Constantin. Masha, in turn, is being chased by the schoolmaster Medvedenko (Nathaniel Voll). Then, everything falls to pieces. But you’ll be laughing on the floor while it happens. The aesthetic of The Seagull is startling in itself. The colour scheme is pale and creamy (except for Masha, who wears black because she finds her life depressing). Arkadina appropriately changes her clothes for every scene, wearing dress after dress that just keep getting more sparkly and elaborate. The furniture is also mostly pale, and all of this contrasts nicely with the dark floor of the stage. In keeping with the rest of Theatre Erindale’s plays this semester, the back wall of the set is used for projections throughout. I was especially fond of the forest and lake in the first act. The green light of the trees reflected on the actors’ faces and clothes, making me think of the colour sunlight has as it comes through the trees. Seagullvcontinued on page 6
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Standing on the edge
“Write, don’t edit”
UTMDC jumps off into uncharted metatheatrical territory
ZARA RIZWAN STAFF WRITER
FACEBOOK.COM/UTMDRAMACLUB/PHOTO
Watch your step. AYESHA TIRMZI There’s a man standing on the edge of a seven-story building. He’s trying to decide whether or not to jump. Between Thursday and Saturday last week, the UTM Drama Club performed 7 Stories, originally written by the Canadian playwright Morris Panych and premiered in 1989. I found it fascinating that apart from the protagonist (Jackson WattBowers), the unnamed man in the bowler hat, almost all the actors had to play their parts confined within seven window frames. The play was heavy on dialogue and the actors didn’t move around much, yet several topics worthy of rumination were touched upon amid their comedic banter. Existentialist at heart, the structure of the writing always managed to push aside or ignore heavy subject matter using dark comedy, as all the characters seemed to be too busy trying to find meaning in their
meaningless, though amusing, acts. The show had some pretty intense moments of metatheatre at times, such as when the spotlight focused on Michael Merchant (Yona Roth) as he criticized the meaning of a play in its ambitiousness to capture an entire life’s worth within a mere hour or two—with no intermission. Many moments of black humour occurred in the play in characters such as a nurse (Aria Sharma) claiming to be a humanitarian who actually loathes people; a psychiatrist (Stanley Tomlinson) who never got any sleep and needed a psychiatrist himself; and a couple (Mackenzie Burton, Lindsay Wu) that expressed their love by trying to kill one another. It seemed to me that the crux of the psychological ailments of all these characters was that they were in a contradictory state of being. It was as if they were so busy just living that they didn’t take the time in their lives to question what they were liv-
ing for. Such a play, no matter how hard it tries to snuff the question, cannot stop one from asking: what is the meaning of life? The story starts off with the protagonist wanting to jump off the building—how much longer could he go without having to face that question? And the answer was truly mindboggling. He does jump, yet he does not fall. As directors Hanna Termaat and Mackenzie Connelly wrote in their directors’ note, “There is much interpretation that comes with seeing this show.” I would have to agree. What does flying instead of falling mean for a man who jumped off a seven-story building? I think most of the audience was bewildered by this development as well, but before we could make sense of the symbolism behind it, a police officer (Dakota Rivait) appeared, telling us folks to go home; there was nothing to watch here because the show was over— and it couldn’t get any more metatheatrical then that.
How much for the baby?
Don’t forget to bring the tissues
Baby continued from page 5
Seagull continued from page 5
An important aspect of the web series is that it’s not specifically targeted towards the infertility community. Due to the comedic element, How to Buy a Baby is a series that everyone can enjoy, whether they relate to the content or not. “We want this to be a show that can be enjoyed by everyone because we’re focusing mainly on Jane and Charlie’s marriage through the niche lens of infertility. It’s about the trials and tribulations of marriage. It’s about love, friends, and, of course, family. But we get to look at it through the lens of infertility,” Hoshi says. Currently, Litner and her production team (including Hoshi and co-producer Priscilla Galvez), are competing for the Independent Production Fund, which will allow them to complete the remaining 14 episodes of the show. Visit How to Buy a Baby on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to support their content.
Despite what you may be thinking up to this point, there is an actual seagull in the play. Constantin shoots it in the first half and leaves it with Nina, who wraps the dead bird in a blanket and tucks it beside the wicker couch she’s sitting on. Then Nina and Trigorin perform an entire scene practically sitting on top of a dead seagull which, when discovered, gets gently passed from one to the other like a baby. This is an important image for later. But in that moment, it’s just another of the strange things that happens sometimes. Also, good on the props department for getting the dead bird neck just right. It’s difficult to pull individual performers from this show. Although the cast can technically be separated into lead and secondary characters, at its heart The Seagull is an ensemble piece. Each actor has found what makes their character a person, with feelings and history. Haas plays a lovely Nina, clearly marking the
downward spiral from aspiring artist to exhausted, grieving actress, and the scene between her and Giles in Act IV is the one that nearly had me crying in my seat. Voll and Cameron Grant (who plays Dorn, a doctor), though not playing the wordiest of roles nonetheless find depth that often had me straying slightly from the main action to watch their reactions. And Polina (Colette Fitzgerald) speaks her mind quite loudly with only her eyes, using body language and facial expressions as well as the written text. I appreciate a production that is brave enough to take its time. For instance, there’s a moment after Constantin’s attempted suicide where Arkadina changes his bandage. There is nothing rushed in this action, and the two exchange maybe three lines each throughout. It’s a good point: people in the world do not talk all the time. There are moments of silence. The Seagull runs until March 20.
How do you convey your emotions when no word exists in the English language to explain them? How are we limited by cultural borders? How can we use an art form to overcome resistance? And what is resistance, anyway? Questions like these were raised at Poetic Resistance, a poetry workshop held last Thursday by the Afghan Students’ Association. The event was held in collaboration with UTM alumna Frishta Bastan, former president of the ASA and founder of Fresh Poetry. According to Bastan, the goal of the event was to “take back the narrative that’s always been imposed [on] you in English, but to rewrite and relive your own life, your own native tongue, and your identity”. The “resist” in Poetic Resistance referred to not only political resistance, but a refusal to stop others from defining your identity. The event was open to students of all backgrounds. Bastan advised students to write a number of words that came to mind when they thought of “resistance”, which then led to a dialogue about what resistance means to them. For some, it meant breaking away from stereotypes; for others, it led to the questioning of cultural borders as a
RIAUD ABDUL STAFF WRITER The name Steve Harris fails to ring an immediate bell of recognition, but part of me thinks that I have heard of him in the past. In fact, I know I have, and it’s the voice of Iron Maiden’s founder. Many artists from successful groups go on to create solo careers for themselves and not all make the cut. He’s got something to prove in British Lions. Harris played bass for Iron Maiden and was also one of the main song writers. This holds true as I listen to the first song; the heavy metal influence is prominent. The riffs on “This is My God” kick in and they are sharp and aggressive. The song sounds like an attack that persists even as it breaks for the chorus. This is incredible to me because Harris’ voice is in no way an obvious choice for the heavy metal genre. It’s soft to an extent and doesn’t command the power needed to prevent being overshadowed by the track, which is exactly what happens. The aggression doesn’t change in the song style as “Lost Worlds” begins. I think both of these songs could have worked out better in the form of soft rock. No mistake, the tracks are great so far and each song has edge to it, but Harris’s voice just feels out of place, especially as he harmonizes with backups throughout the chorus. My point
form of separating oneself from their neighbour. Bastan then told students to weave their individual words together into sentences. “Write, don’t edit,” she recommended. “Don’t think too much.” Bastan suggests avoiding editing while writing the first draft to retain the raw emotions of a poem. Two student translators, Wares Fazelyar and Telwasa Akbarzai, assisted others in translating their work into Farsi and Pashto. The students then worked to create a collaborative poem. Each student added a few lines of their “resistance”, whether it was an internal struggle, a battle with faith, or an external conflict. They aimed to seam together an untitled poem that conveyed opposite sides of the same struggle, connecting everyone in the room. The collaborative poem was written in English so all could understand, and yet it showed the strength of each student in standing up for their own identity and refusing to be defined. Though many felt that the colonial language caused barriers, it also served as the tool to strengthen the solidarity in the room. The poem will be digitally unveiled by the Afghan Student Association and Bastan on their Facebook page.
is proven near the end of the song, when the playing becomes predominantly acoustic. During this acoustic phase, his voice is much more audible and the listener can interpret a more soulful rendition of the lyrics. I progress to “The Chosen Ones” and I am surprised to find that he has altered his vocal style a bit. Instead of straight singing, he’s spun the song in such a way that it’s somewhat of a musical chant. His voice is more prominent this time, presumably because he’s not focusing on showcasing a vocal ability. As I wind down to the last few songs, I feel a sort of relief. I don’t find the album particularly difficult to get through, but it is music I feel that I could have put on and paid no attention to whatsoever. The tracks are all well structured and well written, but they’ve been done before. They take influence from pop and soft rock, and I can tell that there’s some Sting influence. None of the lyrics managed to really speak to me; the lyrics that could have been catchy were overpowered by the instrumentals and the ones that weren’t just didn’t manage to stick with me. Hopefully this isn’t Harris’ final solo endeavour. The issue seems to be that it’s not adventurous enough. Harris sticks close to the Iron Maiden influence. British Lion is not my cup of tea.
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Sugar—a silent threat to academics While junk food may satisfy your cravings, you may want to consider the effect it has on your GPA KARINA COTRAN STAFF WRITER It’s near the end of the semester, a time where stress levels are at their highest for students. Usually in times of high stress, people tend to crave things that aren’t always good for them. One of the major things students might gear towards is junk food. While sugar-filled treats can provide temporary relief in moments of stress, do these treats cause more harm than good when it comes to academic performance? Last Thursday, a tabling event took place on campus that discussed several initiatives and topics, including whether sugar creates a negative impact on academic performance. This presentation was a part of a larger initiative by a health psychology class (PSY333) taught by Professor Judith Andersen. Andersen emphasizes the importance of having practical experience, which is why she set up the project in
OLIVIA ADAMCZYK/THE MEDIUM
PSY333 students seek to explain the effects sugar can have on students’ academic performance. this manner. “As a professor, my view is that students should be given the opportunity to actively participate in learning, not just always sit in class and
listen to lectures,” she says. “Our class is an action-oriented course promoting health behaviour, health activism, and social change. This is a third-year course and for most students, in one
to two years they will be out in the real world, competing for jobs and trying to move ahead in new careers.” A main goal of the presentation, aside from raising awareness on the
effects of sugar on academic performance, was to encourage health behaviour changes in the student population at UTM. “What we’re trying to do with this tabling event is to get students at UTM to commit to a health behaviour change by limiting their sugar intake to within the World Health Organization recommendations for a number of days of their choosing,” says Caitlyn D’Souza, co-organizer of the project and third-year biology specialist. D’Souza goes on to explain that the well known adage that it takes 21 days to make a habit is false due to scientific studies. “The average person takes 66 days to form a habit, but even with that, there is large variance between individuals. So at our booth, we’re getting people to set their own sugar goal, and giving them the motivation and tools to help them get there,” she says.
GPA continued on page 9
What’s it like to be a female academic? The Medium spoke to professors Havelka, Blake, and Shin about their experiences as professors FARAH QAISER FEATURES EDITOR MAHNOOR AYUB ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR This week, The Medium reached out to UTM female faculty members to find out what it’s like to be a female member of their discipline, their experiences so far, and how to address challenges that may arise in their work environment. MONIKA HAVELKA Geography, senior lecturer and associate chair Asked what it’s like to be a female faculty member in the geography discipline, professor Monika Havelka laughs. “Well, it’s one of those things where I’ve never not been a female— you don’t know what it’s compared to,” she says. “It’s sort of funny to think even what my discipline is because I’m in a very interdisciplinary department. So there’s people from very, very broad backgrounds and I think that, in general, creates a very inclusive environment […] I tend to think of myself as a biologist, Professor [Barbara] Murck is a geologist, and Professor [Pierre] Desrochers is an economist.” While Havelka has had a positive experience here at UTM, other experiences have not been as sup-
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Last Tuesday, International Women’s Day was celebrated all over the world. portive. “I’ve seen the other side of it. You know, you do feel—I don’t know if marginalized is exactly the word that I’m looking for—but you’re sort of conscious that being female is something that is a little ‘other’ to the central culture,” says Havelka. An obvious challenge that female professionals face is raising children and maintaining a balance between a career and a family.
“Nobody asked my husband how he was managing to juggle a career and children,” says Havelka, highlighting the gender imbalance that was present in her time. “This is still sort of an issue, [but] now it is evolving. I see a lot of men in this generation who are more involved and approaching parenting as an equal partnership, which creates a whole different landscape for women who are trying to get on to a
career track after being home at the beginning with kids.” Havelka believes that the family balance issue is an artificial barrier, and doesn’t have to be there. She believes that there are other challenges that exist, that are harder to overcome due to the way individuals are socialized. “Things that are considered to be strengths in men can be perceived as weaknesses in women. Being
forthright […] a woman is considered pushy—that loaded language [is still present],” she says. “It’s a socialization thing—breaking that down, I think, does come with time, having more female mentors, female role models, and so on. […] When you expect your professors to be women, CEOs to be women, people in government to be women, and so on […] it changes that at the very beginning for girls growing up when they see this around them as part of the normal landscape,” says Havelka. While Havelka personally feels that as a man, she would not have accomplished more than she has as a woman, she does believe that her early socialization made a significant difference. “I feel like it has taken a lot longer to come into myself and feel like my voice is valuable and I have something to contribute,” she says. Havelka recalls a recent memory where she felt that her voice had not been heard. While at a meeting where several individuals were discussing a topic, she proposed a solution, which was not commented on. However, a short while later, when a male individual offered the same solution, he was heard and received credit for the idea. Female continued on page 9
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Sugar affects GPA GPA continued from page 8 One major problem with excessive sugar intake is that the recipient might be unaware of exactly how much sugar they are consuming. The WHO recommends keeping sugar intake to 25 grams per day. However, for those who have a lot of sugar, this might seem like too small an amount, so cutting down to at least 50 grams a day is a good starting point. D’Souza cautions students to start reading the labels of what they eat and drink. Using Tim Horton beverages as an example, she says, “There are 46 grams of sugar in an iced cappuccino, and even a medium double double has 22 grams of sugar.” There is a reason why some people, after having an iced cappuccino, will feel very jittery and shaky. It’s not a side effect of the caffeine, but the effect of consuming large amounts of sugar in a short time period. Research has been done on the effects of sugar on the body, but just recently, this topic has emerged again in science. A 2016 study by Noble and Kanoski found out that the health effects of sugar are not correlated with the effects of obesity. This was done through testing on rats. D’Souza says that it was found that “obese rats fed a high sugar diet had health ramifications over and above obese rats fed a high fat diet“. Further studies have claimed that the intake of sugar can be related to stress levels in the brain. “A 2016 study by Maniam [and colleagues] found that unstressed rats who consumed sugar had the same brain patterns as stressed out rats […] in the hippocampus. So snacking on a chocolate bar while cramming for a midterm won’t help stress levels or memory,” D’Souza says. Those junk foods that students might gear towards to relieve stress may not be relieving stress but making it worse. Studies by Hsu et al. (2015) and Noble and Kanoski prove that sugar affects memory because high sugar intake causes inflammation in the hippocampus, a part of the brain
that is crucial for learning and memory processes. D’Souza relates this to the pressure UTM students feel towards getting 4.0 GPAs, saying, “Studies like this show that sugar won’t help in achieving those. Another thing we’ve noticed at UTM is that many of the programs are memorization driven. [The group presenting the sugar research] are biology and psychology students, and any advantage memory-wise is important.” Diet and sugar intake has a startling impact on academic performance and the mental wellness of students. Sugar may seem harmless, but because of the amount people unknowingly consume, it is a silent threat. If the main goal is to improve academic performance, and as a result the state of your body in times of high stress, it is recommended to change your diet. “Staying within those sugar guidelines through small snack swaps can help keep one’s memory sharp and boost GPA in the long term, or at least lower stress and help memory enough to ace those midterms in the short term. For example, instead of pop or juice, have fruit-infused water, and instead of a muffin or granola bar in the morning, chia seed pudding or oatmeal is a good option,” says D’Souza. Other projects similar to this one took place in Kaneff on the same day. “They are all positive, health behaviour change or awareness projects. They are meant to provide the public with the most current, evidence-based information on health and wellness,” says Andersen. This year, the projects took a more active initiative by bringing awareness right to the heart of the student population, in person. This was a different approach from last year. “In the past, students created video projects and posted them,” Andersen says. “Students have the opportunity to be creative and I have even had some student videos picked up by real health campaigns and school wellness programs (Cornell University) for campus-wide initiatives. This shows the power of undergraduate voices in motivating real change in the world.”
A beginner’s guide to taxes
MAYDA ALKHALDI/ THE MEDIUM
Taxes—the one word that can inspire feelings of terror in almost every UTM student. NICO MARA-MCKAY Who needs to file taxes? Pretty much everyone. Yes, even if you’re not working. “[Every] Canadian resident needs to file taxes,” says Nausheen Adam, services manager at UTMSU and manager of UTMSU’s Tax Clinic. “International students who go to school here also need to file taxes.” “If you do not file your taxes, you are losing out on your tuition credits,” Adam notes. The Tax Clinic is staffed by eight supervisors and 40 UTM student volunteers, who have completed online training provided by the CRA. The free clinic is offered to any student, whether or not they go to UTM or U of T. “Some people live in Mississauga, but they go somewhere else to study,” Adam says. “These individuals can also bring in their tax forms to the clinic.” The forms students need to bring with them can vary depending on a student’s situation. It’s a good idea to bring along a void cheque or a copy of a direct deposit slip from your bank. This allows for direct deposit
to your bank account, which makes for faster returns, including any GST/HST rebates, the Ontario Trillium Benefit, and any other funds you may get when you file your taxes. All students should bring their T2202A form (Tuition, Education, and Textbook Amounts Certificate). If students have received a scholarship, then a T4A form (Statement of Pension, Retirement, Annuity, and Other Income) will also be needed. Both the T2202A and T4A forms can be downloaded from ACORN. Another aspect to consider are tuition credits. If you have tuition credits from last year, then you should bring along your 2014/15 Notice of Assessment. If you worked, even for a short time, bring any T4 slips (Statement of Remuneration Paid). If you have investment income, you will need your T5 slip (Statement of Investment Income) and any receipts for charitable donations. Many students aren’t sure about what they’re allowed to claim. For instance, you may not realize that you can claim a portion of your rent, so bring your rent receipts if you have them, or a letter from your landlord that confirms where you lived and
how much you paid in rent. The Tax Clinic doesn’t necessarily need this letter, but it’s good to have it on file just in case you’re ever audited. Got any transit receipts for monthly bus or train passes? These can be claimed as well. According to Adam, not many international students are aware of the service provided by the clinic. She says that it’s a good idea for international students to start filing taxes now if they plan to live and work in Canada after graduation. Additionally, international students need to have a Social Insurance Number or an Individual Tax Number. Forms to obtain the latter can be found on the UTMSU Tax Clinic webpage and must be sent to the Canadian Revenue Agency prior to filing. The Tax Clinic can’t file your taxes without it. The UTMSU Tax Clinic will run from March 14 to April 15 and will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Student Centre. Appointments can also be made through the UTMSU Info Booth. While it’s a good idea to book an appointment—especially in April—they also accept walk-ins.
“The barriers are real and are still present today” Female continued from page 8 “Ninety percent of the time I would have just taken it, but I said that I had made the exact same point about half an hour ago, and if you thought it was a great idea then, we would have all been out by now,” recalls Havelka. While there was a bit of silence following her statement at the meeting, Havelka was happy with getting it off her chest instead of letting it go. “I’m really cognizant of the fact that I’m a white woman who grew up in a white culture and so on—what I feel is not the same as a woman of colour, who is obviously going to have a very different experience,” says Havelka. Overall, Havelka believes that this is a good time to enter her discipline, as it is getting better. However, there are also some “ugly elements” that have popped up in today’s society. Havelka believes that the Internet gives the opportu-
nity to hear ugly voices that may not otherwise be quite so vocal. “Sometimes it’s good to know what’s out there, but it’s hard to tell what’s dominant. When you read something really hideous, when someone makes some kind of horrific statement […] is it a significant minority or is it a tiny, fringe minority?” comments Havelka. However, Havelka believes that while the barriers are real and are still present today, there are more resources to overcome them. “It’s not your fault if you’re encountering those barriers—but when you’re trying to problem-solve, look outside yourself. Look to other people who will mentor you—look for help,” she says. When asked whether she thinks that International Women’s Day is an important occasion, Havelka recounts what she said to her son earlier that day. “My son said, ‘Why do we have to
have International Women’s Day?’ I said that [we have to] because every other day is International Men’s Day!” she says. On a more serious note, Havelka says, “I still think that we need [International Women’s Day]. It’s really important to remember that the sorts of things that we worry about here—[that] we’re in a privileged ‘first world society’ [and] there [are] massive inequities that women all over the world face. It’s nice to put the focus on that [as] there are still places that still have a long way to go.” LIZA BLAKE English and drama, assistant professor “It’s slightly easier to be a female faculty member in the humanities than it is in the sciences,” comments professor Liza Blake. “There is something of an old-boys club at a lot of universities, and you sometimes run
into it when you go to conferences. Certainly, female graduate students and female professors still have to put up with going to conferences and being harassed. But we’ve taken over—we lady professors—have sort of taken over humanities in a way that hasn’t quite happened in the sciences yet.” According to Blake, many humanities departments have a much higher percentage of women than STEM disciplines. “It’s better because I think a lot of the arguments—especially if you’re not just a female professor, but a feminist professor—are easier to make in our classrooms,” Blake says. “They’re a lot more expected, but that also means it’s sometimes harder to point out inequities because we assume that this is the safe department to come to, but that in fact you’re always going to come against hardships.” When asked about how she ap-
proaches challenges such as discrimination and marginalization in her work environment, Blake illustrated her answer with an example. Last semester, Blake, and fellow English profs Suzanne Akbari and Alexandra Gillespie, and other partners organized a conference made up of medievalists, artists, and activists. A key concern was that women tend to get harassed at such events. “It’s a big problem in general, but especially focused in medieval history,” says Blake. To combat the problem, a statement was placed at the front of the conference program, saying, “Harassment will absolutely not be tolerated,” and three individuals were deemed as safe persons to approach regarding such incidents. Additionally, a very strong message was included: “If you are harassing someone, stop it.” Female continued on page 10
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Academia is a long road Female continued from page 9 “[It] was really important because it says that not just if and when you’re victimized, here’s who to come to— but also people should stop harassing, and it’s important for every member of the conference to be involved with that,” says Blake. Blake also recounted an experience of one of her colleagues experiencing discrimination. At one point in her career, Blake’s colleague was a part of a panel that was interviewing prospective students. The panel included a professor (Blake’s colleague), an admissions person, and a current student. Blake’s colleague arrived early that day, and upon asking for a key to the interview room, she was told, “Those are for professors only, and […] you should wait for the professor to arrive to get in.” “Even in humanities, it’s tough. As a young female professor, I often get mistaken for an undergrad, which is annoying. I started wearing more suits in my first year so that people could tell that I was a professor,” says Blake. As for the challenges today, Blake says, “Sexism, when it happens, is a lot more subtle […] For example, having to constantly identify yourself as a professor in a meeting. A lot of the times, service work gets shifted to female professors—although again, this department is very good at protecting my time in relation to my male colleagues.” On the other hand, in the classroom, it’s different, as Blake says that there is a different power structure involved. “As a professor, you can do things, like write lectures focusing on feminist issues. You can be really explicit about how class participation works. Women are sort of socialized growing up to see into the room and give way in conversation, and things like that,” Blake says. Blake also comments that while there are certain aspects of teaching that students may find annoying (such as group work), they are in fact good techniques to allow everyone to find their voice. “But if all you do is say, ‘Everyone, here’s a topic for discussion, and now you talk about it,’ there are certain people who [would be] comfortable talking about that—and a lot of time, that’s gendered,” she says. According to Blake, group work gives every individual a chance to speak, despite their socialization. Another important aspect is to create a safe space within classrooms and office hours. “Making clear that you, as a professor, are open to students being able to come in and talk to you. If something happens in class that you are uncomfortable with, they know that there are no repercussions with coming in and talking it through,” says Blake. However, she adds, “It’s not enough—it’s never enough. But we, in this department especially, we are thinking about how to do that and how to make sure all of our classrooms are safe.” JUMI SHIN Chemistry, associate professor Jumi Shin is a chemistry profes-
sor who, while driving the multidisciplinary Shin research group towards designing gene-regulatory anti-cancer proteins and exploring how nanoparticles affect cellular evolution, also chairs the Awards Committee for the Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences. When she isn’t observing genomic mutations and teaching students the fundamentals of organic chemistry, Shin also takes time for the gym and listening to her nine-year-old son’s and 12-year old daughter’s hockey stories. “I think there are a lot more women now in fields like chemistry and physics than there were, say, 20 years ago,” says Shin. “The progress however, has been glacially slow,” she says, as academia in general, not just the position she is in now, is a long road to travel. While Shin does allude to the existence of a ceiling for women’s professional progress, she says for her, it’s worth it. “It is a real privilege to be teaching here, and I think I’m really blessed with everything my position has to offer,” she says.
“There is no other feeling like the feeling you get when you get done what you got done, and then you go home.” —Jumi Shin Shin describes the experience of interacting with a range of students, enjoying the vitality of undergraduate students and the advancement of graduate students. “Research is so rapid, I love introducing new aspects to the course,” she says while at the same time “getting to do cuttingedge research in the lab”. Inspired by her father, who was a physicist, Shin began her undergraduate career at Harvard and completed her Ph.D. at the California Institute of Technology. While she mentions being good at math, science, and the piano as a child—what she calls a “stereotypical Asian upbringing”— her father always encouraged her to pursue all sorts of opportunities. “He used to be present at all kinds of performances. I used to look at the audience and it used to be a mom, mom, mom, and my dad,” she says. Although she calls herself lucky, Shin points towards research that reports the significant role played by mothers in shaping their children’s success, including how working mothers provide strong role models for their children. She expresses concern over the continued and deeply rooted nature of sexism and racism, not limited to earlier generations. “You’d be surprised at some comments I receive in student opinion surveys, and these are young students,” she says. She relates an exchange when a male undergraduate told her male colleague that he would not report to a female supervisor. “We were shocked that a student would admit to feeling like that,” she says. Conveying this to a senior faculty member does suggest the presence of a strong underlying sentiment shared by some people, but Shin adds how-
ever that this is largely an individual issue. “We need to have female and minority role models, we need diversity in positions of authority and see that it is possible to be a high-achiever and successful regardless of what you look like,” she says. Shin also says that “your thinking and attitudes start at home” i.e. what you learn at home largely determines your values and the kind of friends you ultimately go on to make. Speaking from the point of view of someone mentoring a class of 250 students and often accommodating 20 to 30 students in her office multiple times a week, she describes how watching students learn and grow through this process is tremendously rewarding. “Students in my lab often come to me worried about job applications and where they’re going, and I tell them to just keep following up, keep trying, it always works out,” she says. “I often have them come back to me and say, ‘I just heard back, Professor; they want me to start next week.’ ” Shin mentions how for a largely male-dominated discipline, the social aspect of a workplace environment appears to be a challenge and inclusion is not as obvious. Women may not fit into the same roles, and she doesn’t see trends changing much in the next 20 or so years. Shin does remain concerned over incidents such as the pro-rape vandalism story, and similar events in other universities, saying, “It’s very important for every member—not just females—to familiarize yourself with procedures and rules.” While Shin emphasizes how incidents such as these require major action, she describes her progress in the profession as a combination of keeping your head down and knowing when to speak up. “I suggest this to all my students: document everything and keep your facts straight.” Referring to her Korean background, she mentions how although her family was, in a way, very progressive, she was still asked the same stereotypical questions after her graduation: “When are you getting married. When are you having kids?” While Shin says that didn’t happen for her for a long time, she eventually met the right person, and she thoroughly enjoys the dynamic between her work and family life. “When I’m here in my office, I close the door and I get stuff done,” says Shin. “But I don’t think a lot of people appreciate the balance.” Although I’m surprised at how she manages to make time for a balance, she tells me, “I’ve actually had a lot of male colleagues share this sentiment with me. There is no other feeling like the feeling you get when you get done what you got done, and then you go home.” Shin laughs as she says that her own daughter is understandably good at math and music, but “when she told me she’s interested in performing and visual arts, I told her [to] go ahead. I’ve never steered her towards the sciences”. Shin suggests how although this may be telling of her own experience in the field, the progress you make is determined by your passion and determination, and this applies to every individual.
This week’s recipe for Blackboard Special
the cause—which happens to be the high-
has been provided by Marell Tomeh, a first-
est amount raised by participating teams
year English major.
at the 2016 Relay For Life event.
If Tomeh’s name sounds familiar, it may be because you recall her inspirational tale (“All in for ALL; survivor returns to UTM“) from last month.
Tomeh’s recipe is a chocolate biscuit cake, or, as she calls it, a “lazy cake”. “My mom always made this cake growing up and it is quite popular in my culture,”
In case you’re wondering what she’s
says Tomeh. “It is the easiest cake to
been up to since then, last Friday, Tomeh
make—hence the title—and it’s delicious.”
participated in the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay For Life at the U of T St. George
I’ll take Tomeh’s word for it—let’s check out the recipe below.
campus. Tomeh’s team (“ALL FOR ALL— Leukemia awareness”) raised $1,040 for Lazy Cake SERVES 6–8
INGREDIENTS
consistency.
•½ tsp vanilla extract
5.Pour mixture into a bowl.
• ½ cup of crushed walnuts (optional)
6.In a separate bowl, crush the tea
• 1 bar of butter
biscuits into small bite-sized pieces. Add
• 1 cup of granulated sugar
the crushed biscuits and walnuts to the
• 1 row of tea biscuits (as many as you like) • 3 whole eggs • 5 tbsp cocoa
chocolate mixture. 7. Pour the mixture onto a sheet of plastic wrap to form a long bar, so that it resembles a log cake. 8.Roll up the contents in the plastic wrap.
METHOD 1.Place the bar of butter on your kitchen counter. Let it stand until it reaches room temperature or can be spread easily. 2.Place the butter into a mixer. Blend. 3.Add sugar, eggs, and vanilla to the mixture.
Twist ends. 9.This mixture will form a total of 3 bars, so repeat steps 8 and 9 for each bar. 10.Freeze for 2 hours. 11.Unwrap bar and slice each piece ½ inch thick. 12.Serve immediately.
4.Continue to blend and gradually add cocoa until the mixture has thick chocolate
Towards tomorrow SAMINA SULTANA Toyota is heading towards tomorrow with technology. In addition to the usual run-through of learning about the technical aspects of cars at an auto show, Toyota has created an interactive gallery to further showcase their products. Upon entering the gallery, the Prius C Technology is the first car that you see. After inspecting the vehicle, you can use the Gear VR Oculus Rift. This virtual reality headset comes with a video game controller, allowing the user to play a three-level game to collect points while navigating the Prius C. The second car was the Scion iM, engaging you with digital painting. Next to the vehicle, the viewer chooses one of three murals, and with touchscreen paint cans, they can choose the colour, size, and transparency of the brush to paint the landscapes in a graffiti-style experience. Upon finishing their drawing, the user can email themselves the image. The third car was the RAV4 hybrid technology package. You have the option to choose one of three backdrops to take a photo with the car. The final car was the Prius hybrid, a larger technology-enabled vehicle that will be available later this month. Cyril Dimitris, VP sales and marketing at Toyota, says that this is the first time the company has inserted their vehicles in a mall with an interactive gallery. The reasoning behind this decision was to “enhance customer experience by creating a fun, interactive, informative environment infused with technology”. “We wanted to bridge the offline and online gap. Research showed the path to purchase was changing with technology as people wanted to see and touch the vehicles,” says
Dimitris. “You interact with the activities firsthand in a non-pressure, non-sales environment, which creates a different experience. It allows the company to diversify the content. By creating this gallery, people experience the delight and excitement of the brand.” Each model on display is from this year. Each of the cars on the second floor is equipped with the STAR Safety System, which includes a precollision system with pedestrian detection, dynamic cruise control, and lane departure alert with steering assist, just to name a few features. Excluding the Scion iM, the cars are all push to start.
“Research showed the path to purchase was changing with technology as people wanted to see and touch the vehicles.” These four vehicles are located on the second level of Square One. In the centre court of the mall, Toyota is showcasing four other cars: the Corolla, the Yaris, the Sudan, and the Prius V. These vehicles are the company’s core products. Every weekend starting April 15, people will be able to take test drives of the six cars in the Square One parking lot. People will also be able to earn air miles each time. These test drives will be available for one month. The gallery officially launched on March 5. It will run until the end of May.
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Started from the bottom, now he’s here Andrew Williams talks about how basketball was a positive outlet for him during times of struggle GUSTAVO SILVA Basketball has been an influential factor in Andrew Williams’ success in life, but it took a lot of hard work for his dreams to come true. His charismatic personality has brought him popularity and recognition on the campus; nevertheless, Williams has a humble heart and puts others before himself. Williams has gone through tough stages in his life that have torn him down, but his dreams and goals have kept his spirit alive and you can see it in his composure and confidence here at UTM. The fourth-year English major was a high school dropout from the Father Michael Goetz Secondary School. He got into the wrong crowd at an early age. Thanks to the transitional year program, a curriculum for minorities who haven’t had proper accessibility to earn a high school diploma, he managed to get into U of T St. George. As good as the opportunity was to study on that campus, he never found community. To worsen his experience at the school, by the third month of university he suf-
JOSHAN RAMNAUTH/THE MEDIUM
Williams plays with the same number, 23, that Michael Jordan played with throughout his career. fered an MCL tear in his right knee. “I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life,” says Williams. This resulted in the biggest struggle he ever had to face. “I couldn’t hoop, so I began to have severe anxiety, which led to depression.”
While studying at St. George, he found the opportunity to come to UTM Eagles basketball practice to prove to the coaches that he had the potential to join the team. Despite his injury, he managed to come to the UTM practice and in his second year,
he was given the opportunity to study at this campus and play basketball for the Eagles. This was Williams’ last shot to prove to himself and the coaches that he was capable of doing great things. The day Williams got accepted to
the basketball team, he changed his mindset and way of living. He started to believe that anything is possible and that if he puts his mind to something, he can do it. As his basketball skills became better and he focused more on success, more opportunities started to come his way. By his fourth year, he joined the UTM Athletic Council as the director of health and wellness. “I wanted to get basketball more recognized at UTM,” says Williams, when asked why he joined the council. He said he doesn’t want students to feel like they just pay their tuition, get a degree, and graduate; he wants students to be part of something bigger. He wants the campus to be a community where everybody can rely on one another. He believes that through sports, especially basketball, UTM can establish this healthy community. “Getting accepted to the Eagles basketball team was the last chance I had,” says Williams. This is what made him turn his life around, and perseverance is how he managed to have the success he has today. Williams continued on page 12
Making it in the sports biz U of T conquers Panelists share lessons on how they became successful
CFL combine ERIC HEWITSON SPORTS EDITOR
FACEBOOK.COM/SPORTSANDBUSINESS/PHOTO
The first step to success is actually showing up. ERIC HEWITSON SPORTS EDITOR For anyone who’s ever dreamed of taking their talents to a sports organization and working to build their brand, but felt like it was too difficult or that the sports industry was very particular, you’re wrong. There are people from many different walks of life and educational backgrounds that have made their way into a prominent role and affected an organization for the better. Many of the most insightful quotes and suggestions for this year’s
Sports Industry Conference at Rotman College on March 4 came from a panel of speakers whose primary objective was to feed information to undergraduate students from all over North America about the trials and tribulations it takes to make it. They motivated everyone in the room with their personal stories of success. First of all, you need to show up. Be accountable and treat others as they wish to be treated. Attitude is the important topic for anyone wanting to make it in their desired industry. It doesn’t matter which
league you work for; everyone knows everyone. If you wish to work in sports at any position, you have to be cognisant of how you treat others. “One important rule is to think about how you’d like to be treated, and then treat that other person even better,” says Trevor Georgie, president of the Canadian Hockey League’s Saint John Sea Dogs. “Never chase short money. Put in the preparation and bet on yourself to succeed,” says Tyler Currie, director of international affairs, NHLPA. Business continued on page 12
Six football players from the U of T Varsity Blues program were invited to the CFL Toronto regional combine last Thursday. Levi Noel, a first team all-Canadian receiver from the 2014 season, was invited to the national combine, which began on Friday and ended on Sunday. Last year, out of the three regional combine locations, seven athletes were selected in the 2015 CFL Draft. The previous regional combine success of other athletes gives high hopes for Blues third-year running back Lukas Gavac, who ran 226 yards on 33 carries last season. In 2014, the Mississauga native and UTM criminology student had his best season. Gavac ranked fifth in the OUA with 677 rushing yards on 87 carries, scoring a team-high seven touchdowns. Gavac was plagued by a few injuries over the past four seasons, but his performances are too outstanding for CFL scouts not to acknowledge what he can bring to a professional program. D. J. Sackey, a native of Missis-
sauga and fellow UTM student, also got the invitation because of his outstanding play throughout his entire Varsity Blues career. Standing 6’ 5”, 300 lb offensive lineman Sackey recorded 21 repetitions on the 225-pound bench press segment. Levi Noel, the Varsity Blues receiver, was known as one of the most intriguing prospects to take the field. Noel amassed scouts with his 36-inch vertical jump (tied for second best), his 10’ 9.5” broad jump (second best), and 4.6-second 40-yard dash time. “I showed that I had another gear in me and that I was ready to go. I’m proud that I finished all the drills the best I could. I’d say the best event was the one-on-ones,” says a tired Noel after the physical performance side of the combine was finished for him. “I wanted to go and show that through injury and adversity, I can still play.” Other notable Varsity Blues athletes who performed at this year’s regional combine were receiver Boris Isakov, linebacker Farouk Musa, and defensive linemen Zack Lukings and Aaron Jervis.
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The time to shine is now Business continued from page 11 Luck plays an incredibly important role in our day-to-day lives. Almost everyone can look at the things in their life that they are grateful for and pinpoint a moment that occurred out of their control that landed them that “thing”. But without sacrifices, you’ll never give yourself the opportunity to get lucky. Take odd jobs that nobody else wants, meet new people with peculiar personalities, and di-
“One important rule is to think about how you would like to be treated, then treat the other person even better.” — Trevor Georgie versify your talents by taking on tasks you normally wouldn’t—this is what separates the best from the mediocre. “You need to be prepared for when luck presents itself,” says Georgie. “The same quirky, funny personality that you’re scared to show in public might just be your biggest advantage,” says Rachel Bonnetta, co-host of Fox Sports Soccer @TheBuzze. “I dropped
an F-bomb in my first MLSE interviews” she says. Ultimately, you have to believe in yourself and what you’re capable of doing. You are your greatest asset. Bonnetta landed her dream job, interviewing the greatest athletes from around the world, because she went beyond the norm and made the decision to use her authentic self, rather than conform to guidelines. One of the better lines of the Sports Industry Conference 2016 was Bonnetta reiterating, “It’s important not to be timid because your voice is just as valuable as the next person’s.” Last but not least, invest in yourself financially. “Put some money aside and invest in yourself as a business,” says Georgie. Invest your time: follow the industry to help you gain knowledge and understand relevant issues. “Always be updated with the sector you want to work in,” says Vijay Setlur, sports marketing instructor at York University. Investing in the right people through mentorships and networking opportunities will help you grow as a professional. “Networking is ageless,” says Georgie. If you’re serious about starting a successful life for yourself in the field you want to work tirelessly in, your time is now.
Balling out like “Mike” for UTM
MAHMOUD SAROUJI/THE MEDIUM
Williams is also UTMAC health and wellness director. Williams continued from page 11 “If you fail a test, it doesn’t mean you’re a loser. You can’t be worried about failure,” says Williams. Basketball is what gave him the opportunity to succeed, and he wants every UTM student to know that when they get a challenge in their lives, that they should face it and believe in himself or herself. Williams believes that the UTM Eagles basketball team chemistry is developing to soaring heights—everyone is growing into a contributing factor. The Eagles have made it to the finals, preparing for their tilt against UTSC this Wednesday. “I admire my team’s work ethic and their endurance despite this season being a roller coaster,” says Williams, the relied-upon Eagles
point guard. Williams wants to see UTM basketball join the Ontario College Athletic Association—playing the best colleges in Ontario to hopefully win a championship. He recommends all students who want to succeed in basketball to not stay stagnant. Students who keep moving and accept new challenges will go far. “You have to be goal-oriented and love what you do to thrive,” says Williams. In 10 years, he sees himself teaching at his former school, and his goal is to coach the youth basketball team. “I am very self-driven, and I don’t like underachievement,” he says. He is confident that his past challenges will help future Father Michael Goetz Secondary School students head in the right direction.
MAHMOUD SAROUJI/THE MEDIUM
Your posture while sitting at your desk is critically important to your overall health. ERIC HEWITSON SPORTS EDITOR “You should get one of these—do you even know what this is? It’s a fitness orb, and it’s completely changed my life. Forget everything you thought you knew about ab workouts; this ab workout is specially designed to strengthen your core, has numerous health benefits, strengthens your back, improves your performance at sports, and leads to more enjoyable sex,” says Dwight Schrute, before Jim Halpert stabs the exercise ball underneath him. If Dwight Schrute, the fanfavourite character from The Office, knows the physical benefits of working out at your desk, then you probably should too. Even Stanley Hudson found ways to work out at his desk when the entire office came together for a weight loss challenge. He put a weight on his feet and did sitting leg raises, ultimately working out his core and hip flexor muscles. About 50 percent of Canadian adults admit that they don’t get the physical exercise they need. Sitting all day increases your risk of obesity, back pain, leg cramps, poor posture,
tense muscles, and boredom. During March and April, it seems like all this schoolwork has us sitting while we’re working, and also while we’re enjoying ourselves—season four of House of Cards just came out on Netflix, yay. Workplace or classroom workouts can help make the most of your limited hours and make you feel fresh, fit, confident, and accomplished. By using a little creativity, you’ll be able to satisfy your health needs.
Sitting all day increases your risk of obesity, back pain, leg cramps, poor posture, tense muscles, and boredom. SITTING ON A STABILITY BALL The stability ball is a piece of exercise equipment used for strength training, allowing you to improve balance and stability and correcting poor posture like hunching over in your chair. The stability ball is also known as a Swiss ball or yoga ball; it‘s inflated and constructed of a soft
PVC material. Sitting on a stability ball can improve posture because it’s always engaging abdominal muscles. Stronger ab muscles protect the lower back as well. When sitting on the ball, keep your feet flat and firm on the ground, thighs parallel to the ground, back straight, and gaze towards the middle of the screen. You may look ridiculous bringing a stability ball to class, so many keep it at home. RESISTANCE BAND EXERCISE Resistance bands are a great way to strengthen your training routine or rehabilitation. They come in different sizes, lengths, and strengths. The most famous bands come with handles, allowing you to grip the band conveniently. These movements may seem like stretches at first glance, but after doing them for a while, you’ll realize they’re exercises. There’s nothing better for your attention and mood than increasing your heart rate and pumping your blood quicker from increased activity. Getting creative with the ways you loosen your hips, tighten your core, or tone your arms will leave you satisfied and craving more.