UTM goes to the UN
Why literature matters
Welcoming the refugees
UTM undergrad wins scholarship
The mindful professor
News, page 2
Opinion, page 4
Arts, page 5
Features, page 8
Sports, page 11
UTSU announces CFS decertification UTSU’s reasons include CFS postponing the announcement of an audit at its general meeting
KASSANDRA HANGDAAN NEWS EDITOR ASSISTANT WITH NOTES FROM MENNA ELNAKA NEWS EDITOR
On January 24, UTSU released a statement on their Facebook page announcing its decision of decertification from the Canadian Federation of Students. According to the statement, one reason for UTSU’s withdrawal was that CFS postponed the announcement of an audit at its national general meeting held in November 2016, due to the findings of a “secret bank account.” According to UTSU’s president, Jasmine Wong Denike, in an email to The Medium, the results of the secret bank account’s investigation will be released in a national general meeting expected to take place in
CHRISTY TAM/THE MEDIUM
UTSU released a Facebook statement on January 24, announcing the decision to decertify CFS. June 2017. Denike addressed her concerns that a CFS election of new executives, around the time of the meet-
ing, will result in an executive body with “very little knowledge” of the secret bank account. “Because the CFS will likely dis-
close little to no information on it at the time, it will not go truly investigated or questioned until the CFS releases a public statement to the
contents and usage of the account to the public, before the turnover of both local and CFS Executives takes place,” she wrote. CFS national chairperson, Bilan Arte, told The Medium in an interview that UTSU’s claims are a “misrepresentation” of the discussion that occurred at a budget committee. Though Arte conceded that she was not personally present at the committee, she stated that a resolution was reached at the committee wherein CFS members tasked the national executive to prepare a more detailed report of the bank account. In regards to the history behind the secret bank account, Arte told The Medium that it was discovered in 2014 and that they informed their members about a subsequent general meeting in January 2015 to discuss it. Decertify continued on page 3
Alideeb elected as the CFS chairperson Nour Alideeb is the first UTMSU representative to be elected as the CFS Ontario Chairperson
MENNA ELNAKA NEWS EDITOR
UTMSU president, Nour Alideeb, has been elected as the chairperson of the Canadian Federation for Students Ontario, which was announced at the CFS semi-annual general meeting held over the weekend of January 21. According to Alideeb in an email to The Medium, this is the first time that a UTMSU representative has been elected as the CFS Ontario chairperson, whose responsibility, aside from being the official spokesperson, is to “oversee the strategic direction” of CFS, including implementing campaigns and services to its members. “I’m very excited for this role, because I’ll be able to take my passion to a provincial level,” Alideeb said. “Among many things, I look forward to working with students
UTMSU’s president, Nour Alideeb, assumes office on June 1, 2017. across the province on issues like fighting for a free and accessible post-secondary education system, reviewing and improving sexual
violence policies on each campus, and challenging the many systems of oppression that affect our students on and off campus.”
OLIVIA ADAMCZYK/THE MEDIUM
Candidates were required to submit a nomination form, give remarks at the all-candidates election forum, and engage in a
question-and-answer period at the meeting. Each member of a students’ union had the right to vote and cast a secret ballot. “This election, we saw a lot of engagement, a lot of different people from across the province interested in each of the positions contested,” said Rajean Hoilett, the current CFS Ontario chairperson, in an interview with The Medium. They explained that every January at the semi-annual general meeting, the CFS and student union members elect a new leadership. Other than Alideeb, another student from Ryerson University ran for the same position. Over 80 student unions are members within the CFS, including UTMSU, the University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union, and the Association of Part-Time Undergraduate Students. Alideeb’s term as the chairperson begins on June 1, 2017.
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THE MEDIUM 01.30.2017
UTM students at UN conference 14 students head to Winter Youth Assembly for first time MENNA ELNAKA NEWS EDITOR January 20th, 2017. Police Assistance. Campus Police received a report of a disruptive male on the shuttle bus from UTSG to UTM. The male was located and cautioned regarding his actions. January 21st, 2017. Theft. A student’s iPhone and Macbook Air were stolen from the library. January 22nd, 2017 . Suspicious Person. Campus Police were called to the library to investigate a person making other students feel uncomfortable. The male was investigated and trespassed from UTM. January 23rd, 2017. Medical Call. Campus Police were called to attend a student experiencing medical distress. ECSpeRT assisted and the student was then transported to hospital. January 23rd, 2017. Medical Call. Campus Police were called to attend
a student experiencing medical distress. EMS was called, attended and transported the student to hospital. January 23rd, 2017. Trespass to Property Act. Campus Police were called to attend the gym as two students attempted to gain entry by card swapping. The students were trespassed from the gym. January 24th, 2017. Police Assistance. A student reported receiving inappropriate messages via social media. January 24th, 2017. Police Assistance. A student reported a personal safety concern.
January 25th, 2017. Theft. As a result of ongoing investigations for thefts a person was charged with theft under $5000. He was released on his own recognizance to attend court, and trespassed from the campus.
Fourteen UTM students will be heading this week, for the first time, to the United Nations headquarters in New York to take part in the Winter Youth Assembly. According to The Youth Assembly on the United Nations website, the conference goal is to “highlight the interdependence and universality of the Sustainable Development Goals by exploring multifaceted global issues such as poverty, education, and sustainable consumption and production.” In an interview with The Medium, Eashan Karnik, a UTM 2016 psychology graduate and one of the delegates, stated that 130 other countries are sending their youth leaders, amounting to a total of approximately 400 to 500 students, to participate in the conference. “This assembly provides an oppor-
tunity to learn from individuals in communities around the world and share common problems, solutions, and goals,” said Karnik. “By learning how youth leaders in diverse nations have found solutions to problems that they face, we can utilize this knowledge to achieve a solution to similar issues.”
14 UTM students will be heading to the United Nations headquarters in New York to take part in the Winter Youth Assembly. Karnik explained that he brought up the idea to professor Barbara Murck’s third-year Environmental Issues in the Developing World course. Karnik added that the department became a “major source of funding” to the delegates group.
Karnik explained that he applied through a group delegate application, where he and his group talked about U of T, discussed the reasons they want to participate, as well as their knowledge and experiences at U of T. “Our goals from participating in this assembly primarily consist of sharing our experiences and education with students and leaders within our community to build progress towards achieving the [sustainable development goals],” he said. Among the speakers at the event will be the president of the 71st UN General Assembly, Peter Thomson; the secretary-general’s envoy on youth, Ahmad Alhendawi; the director of Global Education Monitoring Report of UNESCO, Aaron Benavot; and the deputy director of the UN Environment Programme, Jamil Ahmad. The assembly runs from February 1 to 3 and is held twice a year, once in the spring and again in the winter.
UTMSU to fight fee increase Union meeting talks of new initiatives and campus budget
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.
New business minor for science students SHVETA BHASKER
A new minor in Business, Science, and Entrepreneurship will be offered to science students in September 2017, allowing them to combine another skillset of business to their Bachelor of Science. In an interview with The Medium, the director of undergraduate programs in management, Louis Florence, stated that the program, which is offered by the Institute of Management and Innovation, was approved on January 9 at the Academic Affairs Committee meeting. Accepting up to 50 students, admission to the minor program requires students to get a minimum of 63 percent in ECO100. Students would also have to take six new half-credit courses to complete the minor: Fundamentals of Marketing, Principles of Human Resource Management, Essentials of Accounting: Financial & Managerial, Essentials of Finance, Managing Projects, Operations and Preparing a Business Plan, and Technology Strategy. Florence explained that the program will provide students with
skills and knowledge in accounting, finance, marketing, and human resources and operations, with the hope that students gain the business knowledge needed when applying to jobs in the field. He also added that the minor will help students develop a more entrepreneurial mindset, and maybe inspire them to either pursue a career or continue higher education in business. Prior to proceeding with the minor, Florence said that the department carried out a survey and got 400 student responses, which the department used to find out about the level of student interest in the program, in addition to how they can shape the minor. Information sessions about the program are set to take place in DV2082 on February 13 from 12-1 p.m. for UTM faculty and staff, and 6-7 p.m. for students. Other information sessions for faculty, staff, and students are scheduled on February 16 from 12-1 p.m. in IB 110 and 6-7 p.m. in DV2082. The enrolment request for the program will be available to students through the Subject POSt starting March 14.
FACEBOOK.COM/UTMSU/PHOTO
The first Campaigns and Advocacy Commission meeting was held last Tuesday.
ALICIA BOATTO ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR UTMSU held its first Campaigns and Advocacy Commission meeting in the Student Centre last Tuesday, where they discussed the possibility of a demonstration this week, as well as upcoming initiatives and amendments to next year’s National Day of Action. UTMSU’s president, Nour Alideeb, stated that she is viewing the campus’ budget and wants to advocate for a freeze on the increase of the ancillary fees for parking, food services, and residence, which is expected to take place at the Campus Council meeting on Wednesday, February 1. Alideeb claimed that the only motivation for higher fees was so that the university can pay off debts at a quicker pace. The proposed fee
freeze will keep current fees static for a period of time. As previously reported by The Medium, at the Campus Affairs Committee held on January 11, Paul Donoghue, UTM’s chief administrative officer, stated that the increase in parking fees will be used to pay off the loan on the new parking deck. Alideeb expressed her wishes to have more students attend the meeting to demonstrate to the administration that students do not support the decision to raise fees. The commission meeting also focused on how to encourage a greater student turnout for the next National Day of Action. Members voiced concerns that many students could not attend last year’s rally because of class and assignment conflicts. Alideeb suggested to create a forum via the Office of the Registrar,
where students can notify the university that they will be absent on the National Day of Action in order to attend the rally. Other suggestions by students at the meeting included moving the day to a weekend, hosting more rallies, and cancelling classes for a day. The commission committee also discussed various events and initiatives that will be taking place over the remainder of the semester, some of which include compost and recycling initiatives, queer and trans clothing Drive Kits for hygiene products, and bursary workshops. The union also stated that they are currently working on extending the deadline for students to select a Credit/No Credit option. The Campaigns and Advocacy Commission meeting is expected to meet once a month until March.
01.30.2017 THE MEDIUM NEWS
UTSU plan to hold referendum on decertification from CFS
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»THOUGHTS ABOUT THE EXAM REMARK FEE ELIMINATION?
Lina Rahguzar 1st year, Life science
Anurag Dalvi 3rd year, Finance
You finally don’t have to worry about a mistake by a professor or a TA.
Wrong move. Alternatively, eliminate the $15 to see your exam.
Josh Ramnauth 4th year, CCIT
Jasmine Kalra 4th year, Management
It’s excellent; eliminating a barrier to what students are entitled to.
If fees are eliminated just to see your paper, that would make better sense.
OLIVIA ADAMCZYK/THE MEDIUM
UTSU’s decision was that CFS audits were presented for approval “without notice”.
Decertify continued from cover
the money came from or where it went,” he wrote. “The National Treasurer was asked three times if it was spent on pro-CFS slates, and he refused to answer all three times.”
the Canadian Federation of Students is something that we, as executives, can no longer support,” read part of the statement. “[…] While the UTSU is explicitly forbidden from initiating the decertification process, we believe that decertification is a necessary step. “To this end, the UTSU will actively support reasonable memberinitiated efforts to hold a referendum on decertification, including the existing You Decide campaign,” it added. Last September, a students’ campaign, You Decide U of T, was launched at U of T to call for a referendum on CFS membership. Arte commented on UTSU’s decision to withdraw from the federation by saying that the CFS will still continue to represent students at U of T, as the status of membership is decided by each individual student. “I think that our history as a student union has shown us that when we are united, when we are working together, we are able to see the most victories,” Arte added. The threshold required for a referendum on CFS membership had been amended at the CFS national general meeting last November to become 15 percent of student signatures instead of 20 percent.
“At that time, we told our members that we would do whatever was necessary in order to ensure that we were able to provide the correct information for accounting and auditing processes,” she said, adding that the CFS immediately closed the bank account upon discovery, and that regular updates have been given about the bank account in subsequent budget committee meetings. Another reason presented by UTSU in their Facebook statement mentioned the approval of audits for the last two years, which they claim was added to the CFS national general meeting last November “without notice.” Mathias Memmel, UTSU’s VP internal and services, wrote in an email to The Medium that members at the meeting were supposed to “accept that the money in the secret bank account had been properly accounted for,” adding that UTSU “had no reason to do that.” Memmel also claimed that the CFS national executive won’t release the audits to its members, although, according to him, they have been completed. “The account contained something like $500,000, but we’ve been given no indication of where
According to Arte, the CFS’s auditors were able to give the “highest-level of certification” to ensure the federation’s finances were in good standing. In response to UTSU’s claim that a forensic audit is being withheld from release, Arte said that since the forensic audit deals with “personnel issues,” CFS directors are obligated to not divulge such information. The Medium reached out to CFS National Treasurer Peyton Veich for comment, but did not get a response as of press time. UTSU’s Facebook statement concluded by saying that they can no longer condone membership of CFS. “[…] continued membership of
Trump’s administration seems to persist on the “Muslim ban” order.
Justin Trudeau welcomes refugees banned from U.S.
NDP calls for emergency debate about U.S. travel bans
Canada will increase its funding for reproductive rights
Halifax student is behind the @Trump_ Regrets Twitter account
U.S. president Donald Trump released an executive order to ban people from Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, Libya, and Yemen from coming to the U.S. In spite of a court order that blocked this ban, the Department of Homeland Security stated on Sunday that it will continue to implement Trump’s actions.
Following the U.S. president Donald Trump’s order to ban refugees from entering the U.S., Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau posted a tweet addressing those who have fled “persecution, terror, and war,” by saying that Canada welcomes them, regardless of their faith.
The New Democrat immigration critic, Jenny Kwan, wants to know how the executive order of banning people from seven Muslim countries will affect Canadians. However, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau announced on Saturday that Canadians, as well as dual citizens with Canadian passports will be exempted from the order.
In response to an order by the U.S. president Donal Trump’s that bans funding to organizations related to abortion, the international developer minister Marie-Claude Bibeau stated that Canada willl increase its funding for global sexual and reproductive rights.
Erica Baguma, a social anthropology student at the University of King’s College in Halifax, started the Twitter account, Trump Regrets, by retweeting people who regretted their votes for Trump. Her account has reached over 120,000 followers within two months.
Source:Toronto Star
Source: Huffington Post
Source: CTV News
Source: The Globe and Mail
Source: CBC
“Continued membership of the Canadian Federation of Students is something that we, as executives, can no longer support,” says UTSU.
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MASTHEAD EDITORS Editor-in-Chief Maria Cruz editor@themedium.ca Managing Editor Mahmoud Sarouji managing@themedium.ca News Menna Elnaka news@themedium.ca A&E Hailey Mason arts@themedium.ca Features Farah Qaiser features@themedium.ca Sports Eric Hewitson sports@themedium.ca — Photo Olivia Adamczyk photos@themedium.ca Design Sarah Yassine design@themedium.ca Copy Farah Khan copy@themedium.ca Online Meg Sharpley online@themedium.ca ASSOCIATES News Alicia Boatto A&E Adelaide Attard Features Mahnoor Ayub Jessica Cabral Sports TBD Photo Yasmeen Alkoka Chen Gong Copy TBD GENERAL STAFF News Assistant Kassandra Hangdaan news.assistant@themedium.ca Webmaster Luke Sawczak web@themedium.ca Distribution Manager Alison Ross distribution@themedium.ca Ads Manager Mayank Sharma ads@themedium.ca Cartoonist Anthony Labonté BOARD OF DIRECTORS Edric Michael Bala, Mike Dopsa, Maleeha Iqbal, Arika Macaalay, Rafay Mirza, Christine Capewell, Maria Cruz, Maria Iqbal 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. All articles published in print are also posted on our website themedium.ca 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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Respect for your fellow writer Literature Matters series at U of T highlights significance of the written word Last week I attended a wonderful talk, which is part of the Literature Matters series taking place at U of T. Host Smaro Kamboureli invited poet Karen Solie and author Esi Edugyan to deliver speeches on their respective crafts. I honestly couldn’t be happier that events like this are hosted here. Edugyan’s speech particularly resonated with me for two reasons: I couldn’t write a poem to save my life and I’m a firm believer in respecting an author’s wishes to maintain anonymity. I also consider myself more of a fiction/non-fiction writer than anything else. (Though, I call myself a journalist to adults asking about my job). Before I dive into her overall speech, I need to mention Edugyan’s captivating delivery of her words. Never have I heard someone speak so calmly and slowly while preserving their hold over the audience. She spoke with such grace and insight. In addition to her enchanting speaking voice, Edugyan spoke of several things that matched my opinions on writing and its place in the world. She spoke of Elena Ferrante, famed Italian author who has published several works under this pseudonym since her debut in 1992. Investigative journalist Claudio Gatti published an article that revealed her true identity to the public. He claimed that he was doing the public a service by providing this information to them. It was at this point in Edugyan’s speech that I really started to think about the level of respect that writers are shown. Famed author Thomas Pynchon is well-known for his reclusiveness. He even played himself in an episode of The Simpsons, which respected his anonymity by placing a paper bag with a question mark over his face throughout the episode. When I was growing up, I was obsessed with Lemony Snicket’s series, A Series of Unfortunate Events. (I still
am, let’s be real.) But, I obviously had no idea what his real name was. I’ve never met him, even though I’ve had the opportunity. I felt this overwhelming sense of betrayal when I read my first article a few years ago that revealed his real name. There’s something to be said for the power of anonymity. Though, Gatti’s stunt proved to be a representation of how little respect authors are often given. Now, I understand that in Gatti’s mind, he probably thought that he was doing the people a service. As a journalist, your duty is to bring information to the people. But in my opinion, Gatti’s decision was a tasteless, misguided one. Similar comments were also mentioned during Solie’s speech. She brought up the fact that she advises students to take up a trade while in school. She added that people seem to be more excited for the plumber than the poet. There was this underlying message that some professions take precedence over others. I can’t even get people to take me seriously when I tell them that I would rather dedicate myself to novel-writing than I would to journalism. Even when I came to this university, I wanted to write creatively rather than at a newspaper. However, as I’ve mentioned in other editorials, this campus is seriously lacking in creative writing opportunities, so The Medium craved my hunger and has been for years. But, I digress. My point is that the writer, especially the young writer, doesn’t seem to get as much credit as they’re due. Solie brought up several interesting, albeit depressing, points about the life of a poet. They have at least a second job. Their presence probably isn’t as widely-praised as it ought to be. I wholeheartedly believe that “editor-in-chief ” earns more acceptance than “short story writer.” Of course, an EIC, communications specialist, social media man-
ager, editor, etc., do a lot of hard work. My days are packed to the brim, week after week, and it has been even before I officially took this job. Though there is something to be said for the writer who spends their time researching to ensure that their words accurately represent a time period that they weren’t a part of. Edugyan did this with her most recent novel, Half-Blood Blues. I’ve had to do this for stories no longer than 1,000 words. There’s also something to be said for the writer who spends the majority of the day in their head plotting a story that means something to them. The writers who worry themselves into writer’s block. Those who, despite any negativity or reality of the profession, will follow through with what they believe they were destined for. In December, The Medium wrote a profile on Dr. Daniel Wright, who had won the Polyani Prize for his research in Victorian political creativity within Victorian novels and poems. Wright was quoted as saying, “The thing which is especially nice about this particular award is that it recognizes humanities scholars— so scholars of literature, alongside researchers in physics, economics, and medicine. These are fields that literary scholars don’t often get to be recognized alongside. So I think it’s a really great award for just acknowledging the importance of research in literature to the life of this province.” I thought this was such an insightful quote that exposed how humanities scholars often don’t share the limelight with other “top-notch” scholars from a more respected program. To see Wright accomplish so much was incredible, and I appreciated him speaking for us humanities majors. I’m not too sure that I need to make a case for why writing is important. For why art in general is important. I could spend days defending the writers of this world, regardless of where they choose to
focus their talent. I also think that many of us would be able to defend the importance of art and why it shouldn’t take a backseat to other professions or programs in university. Now, I know that I literally just said that I don’t need to make a case for why writing is important, but I honestly can’t just let it go without saying my piece about it. The fitting title of the discussions, “Literature Matters” lets many know that literature holds a place in this world, as it has for years. The novelist, the poet, the short story writer all share the stage. Their wishes should be respected just the same as a doctor or a politician (Trump notwithstanding). To pick up a novel and to immerse yourself entirely in its pages and messages is a unique feeling. Words have such a hold on the reader and have earned their place. George R.R. Martin famously said, “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.” Karen Solie and Esi Edugyan are just two of the powerful women writers in the field of literature who can speak to its importance and their impact on their readers. But this series has opened the doors for students to come in and listen to those who have contributed to the world of literature. It’s opened the door for students to enlighten themselves on exactly why literature matters. YOURS, MARIA CRUZ
CORRECTION NOTICE In the January 23 article, “The Ph.D. grind: beyond the lab bench,” the degree of Weiditch’s role in UTMAGS’s activities has been edited to clarify the involvement of other members of the team. Some mistaken information about recent changes in UTMAGS was also removed.
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Honourable treatment for refugees WUSC coffeehouse fostered community and raised awareness of Student Refugee Program NICOLE SCIULLI STAFF WRITER When we enter university, we share the stress of homework, time management, and tuition fees. But what if the chance to go to university wasn’t allowed? Last Wednesday, the World University Service of Canada at UTM held its first coffeehouse night at the Blind Duck Pub in honour of its Student Refugee Program. WUSC intended to bring awareness to UTM about SRP. Every year, SRP brings one student to UTM from a refugee country. Every student pays $2.20 in their tuition to help ease the costs of the refugee student’s first year. SRP also helps the student find permanent residency in Canada. The coffeehouse was an intimate gathering of about 10 to 15 people. Peter Kungania, UTM’s WUSC coordinator, hosted the event. Guests had tea and cookies while Kungania discussed the importance of SRP, particularly how helping refugees come to UTM provides them with a
MARYAM RADWAN/THE MEDIUM
WUSC coffeehouse featured discussions and music from individuals interested in the SRP initiative. chance to pursue an education. Joan Simalchik, the associate chair of the women and gender studies program at UTM, also spoke to the guests. Simalchik has studied migration and diasporic studies and human rights theory, and has
worked with many newcomers to Canada. Simalchik discussed how Donald Trump will be a barrier for refugees, as Trump wants to ban Muslim and Syrian immigrants from settling in America. Simalchik explained that Canada has a his-
tory for accepting refugees, whether it was slaves escaping to Canada during the American Civil War, or Jewish people immigrating to Canada during World War 2. Canada is known for its acceptance. SRP also provides refugee stu-
dents with a strong support system. Simalchik talked about a student she worked with that experienced sleeping problems because he was afraid he would be kidnapped, which was a credible threat in his home country. When SRP matched two students with him, he felt happier and more at ease. When the student has coffee with his peers, for instance, he feels like he belongs. After Simalchik’s discussion, Shumayl Fatima Hassan sang “Certain Things” by James Arthur. The song talks about having someone to rely on in your life. When refugee students come to Canada, they can find peace within their community and build strong relationships with their peers. In turn, they have a community at UTM to rely on. Peter Kunalinga ended the night by encouraging the group to sing “Jambo Bwana.” This is a Kenyan song typically sung when people come to Kenya. But in this case, it represents the open arms Canadians should have when refugees come to Canada.
VCDS navigates grief and the afterlife The Victoria College Drama Society delves into the unknown in Afterlife: A Ghost Story REEM TAHA
Afterlife: A Ghost Story is a tale of irreconcilable grief. The Victoria College Drama Society performed their adaptation of Steve Yockey’s 2013 novel last week. The story conveys the grief experienced by Danielle (Olivia Nicoloff) and her husband Connor (Isaac Lloyd). Director Emma Keil-Vine shares her experience with the play in the Director’s Note. She recalls “a sigh, an inaudible sigh” from the cast when they did their first read-through. Keil-Vine asks, “Is it possible to convey a sigh?” She hoped that by the end of the play, the audience would find the sigh—which we definitely did. In Act I, Danielle and Connor return to their home for the first time after the death of their son to prepare for an impending storm. Danielle’s grief, however, is unbearable; she can hear her son in the thunder, in the wind, and in the ocean. Connor, however, claims he has reconciled his grief by writing his son a letter. He throws the letter in the ocean, where his son was lost. Danielle is enraged that Connor has managed to “forget” their son, simply by writing a letter. Constant tension between the couple gives insight into the transformative power
TEAGAN MCCANNY/PHOTO
Connor and Danielle struggle to cope with the loss of their son in VCDS’s latest production. of human pain and mourning. Connor is unable to save his wife from the ocean of grief she—literally—drowns herself in. Her death encapsulates a raw depiction of the depth and vastness of mourning, and portrays the complexity of pain—both as a collective experience and an isolating one. Danielle eloquently expresses this feeling of helplessness and extreme isolation when it comes to mourning: “It feels like it would be easier to just give in than keep overcoming the pain of every beat […] Even with Connor,
I’m alone.” The play relies heavily on symbolism, such as the dead fish that the couple finds on the shore upon their return home. The stage was, of course, dimly lit to mirror the haunting mood. The living room set was very minimalistic, with a couch, a table, and an almost empty shelf. The ocean itself acts a main character, as it is the place where Daniella and Connor’s son dies. In the final scene of Act I, Danielle is angry at the ocean and blames it for taking her son away:
“We lived next to you for years and you just couldn’t resist […] He was a beautiful boy, and you wanted him.” In this quote, Danielle personifies the ocean, supporting its role as a character. The ocean appears in Act 2 in the form of a Proprietress (Jocelyn Kraynyk), reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland’s Mad Hatter, with whom Danielle is trapped, along with a seamstress (Katerina Hatzinakos). Act 2 is divided into three distinct settings of the afterlife. This act seems to pose more existentialist questions that echo
Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, like, “What are you waiting for?” and “Where would you go if you could?” The more questions raised, the more we see a lost sense of purpose. This act seems to be an entire play of its own that draws heavily on symbolism. The boy (William Dao) is trapped on some kind of island with empty photo frames behind him. He keeps sending letters to his parents that the postman (Shay Santaiti) never delivers. Connor is also taken hostage and blindfolded by a giant blackbird (Kenzie Tsang) in a snowy forest, which seemed to represent the repression of his anguish, which he is never able to confront. The characters are trapped in their own spheres in the afterlife, which does not seem to be any better than when they were alive. The play ends ambiguously, without a definite resolution to the situation, but perhaps hinting at a step towards reconciliation. The vibrant tone and the imagery of the play haunts the audience, but not in the traditional sense. Afterlife: A Ghost Story creates a feeling of horror that comes from being trapped within—the type of horror that comes with a sigh. Afterlife: A Ghost Story ran from January 26 to 28 at the Cat’s Eye Student Pub and Lounge.
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THE MEDIUM 01.30.2017
Canadian writers share inspiration Karen Solie and Esi Edugyan discuss the writing process at annual Literature Matters lecture JANINA MALAPITAN “What is the role of the writer today?” This is the question an audience member posed to Karen Solie and Esi Edugyan last Thursday evening at the Isabel Bader Theatre. The occasion was the Literature Matters lecture, an annual series that invites writers to give lectures about the importance of writing and literature. This year, the Avie Bennett Chair in Canadian Literature at the University of Toronto, Smaro Kamboureli, invited poet Karen Solie and novelist Esi Edugyan to the stage. Solie is a Canadian poet. Her works have won her the 2010 Pat Lowther Award, Trillium Poetry Prize, and the Griffin Prize. After a brief introduction by Kamboureli, Solie took to the podium. Solie’s lecture was entitled “On Folly: Poetry and Mistakes.” She began with the perennial question of poetry and its usefulness. She remarked that artists should always learn a trade, which prompted a knowing laughter from the audience. She continued to ponder the common belief that poetry serves no practical purpose—that it’s a folly. After all, she says, people are excited to see the arrival of the plumber. The poet, not so much. But she countered this with the idea that poetry is created with the inherent knowledge that it can be ornamental,
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The Avie Bennett Chair in Canadian Literature invited Solie and Edugyan to the stage last Thursday. a self-awareness that inevitably gives it purpose. Solie ended her lecture with a discussion of this awareness. Literature and poetry matter because writing is an active process. It animates the mind. However, poets must accept that their work will always have some kind of negative reception, along with the positive—the same could be said for any form of art. “The poem will always fail,” she said. Some people will not resonate with it; others will not understand. Thus, the poet must
be comfortable with failure, because there is “beauty in the impossibility.” Edugyan’s lecture came next. Edugyan is an acclaimed author who received several awards for her second novel, Half Blood Blues. Her lecture was titled “The Wrong Door: Some Meditations.” Edugyan began with a story about poet Samuel Coleridge, who, after waking up from an opiuminduced haze, found that a whole poem had formed in his head. After writing down a few lines, he was interrupted by a knock on the door.
By the time the visitor left, Coleridge could not remember the poem; only the fragments remained. In her talk, Edugyan explored this unwanted distraction, explaining that solitude is a necessary engine for creativity. She continued that sometimes, cocooning in a quiet space invites ideas. Boarding up the windows and putting up a sign that says “wrong door” can nurture the process. She tied this idea to the notion of privacy. Critical acclaim can both support and stifle a writer. Success is
one of the most rewarding things for a writer, but the spotlight can also wash out the creativity. She mentioned cult writer Elena Ferrante, who writes captivating fiction under this pseudonym. Just last year, her identity was exposed by a journalist. Ferrante’s readership thought the journalist crossed the line of her desired privacy, which is an essential part of her creative process. Edugyan ended her talk with a proposed solution: acceptance. Writers should not fight the distractions, but accept them as part of the process. “Despite the noise, the words are still within us, waiting to be made whole.” After a short dialogue between Kamboureli, Solie, and Edugyan, the panel opened for an audience discussion. Solie answered the question posed at the beginning of this article: a writer who simply pays attention to the world around them can fulfill their role. Edugyan responded that depicting characters, settings, and situations faithfully is also the responsibility of the writer. Truth today seems to be greying, so upholding that integrity is essential. Throughout the course of the evening, the audience received writing advice and wisdom from two critically acclaimed writers. The event was both informative, and inspirational— a perfect celebration of the writing process.
Basinski vs. Bonobo A comparison of two musicians and their genres
Two tracks, about 40 minutes. That’s all it takes for avant-garde composer William Basinski to properly eulogize David Bowie in his recently released album, A Shadow in Time. Yes, Bowie was “just a man,” and yes, the tweet-mourning after his death became tiresome. But the emergence of this minimalistic, sublime album validates, or at least pardons, the dolorous hoopla surrounding that collective depression. Basinski has been a longstanding disciple of current trends. This is the same artist who brought decay to the masses with his famously serendipi-
tous The Disintegration Loops (2002), a tape loop so achingly sad and beautiful that it’s the last thing they pipe through the wall-speakers when you exit Manhattan’s 9/11 memorial museum. Basinski’s greatest ability is to reroute the conduits we normally follow when listening to a piece of music, without any time-signature trickery. Basinski drops the listener in the middle of something, with definite momentum, but indefinite destination. The result is natant audio. To embrace Basinksi’s music is to embrace one’s role as aquanaut. Take the song, “For David Robert Jones”—you can-
not listen to this conventionally. When the drunk, meandering saxophone starts dancing from avenue to avenue, with only a faint choir cushioning its passage, the listener either swims or sinks (both of these options offer distinct pleasure). The opening piece, “A Shadow in Time,” is similarly formless. It offers a tributary of sound that recedes in its closing five, allowing a piano dirge to carry listeners. As an antidote to cultural acedia, A Shadow in Time is potent. Basinski has proven once again that that which devastates us may also benefit us.
The mass proliferation of so-called “chill-out” and “downtempo” music has demolished the skyline. It left in its place a hut-littered savanna, each roof concealing a homespun producer capable of MIDI-channel toying, tremolo-adjusting, and sine wavetweaking so unnecessarily precise for what is ostensibly boom-clap, that the creation process ends up looking like if Benoit Mandelbrot took a Rorschach inkblot test. Bonobo, the fittingly ancestral alias of UK deejay Simon Green, does not
escape these inner-world pratfalls. However, the redemptive qualities of his latest album, Migration, persist— fenced off as they are. The slip-slip of “Outlier” and African-heartland-turned-dancefloordinger “Bambro Koyo Ganda” evoke something prehistoric. Meanwhile, the clubby mumbling of “Break Apart” and vocal looping on “Ontario” recall Radiohead’s less popular 2001 B-sides. The cozy number, “Second Sun,” on the other hand, plays like the soundtrack to The Revenant’s
sequel, in which the brutalized frontiersmen melt s’mores around a bonfire. Migration is a fundamentally decadent album, one that wears its nearobsessive pop, sizzle, and splash like cheap concealer. These twelve tracks label themselves as introspective, contemplative, and maybe even a little glum. But the album then transmits its subtlety by way of millisecond-by-millisecond panache, which is like firing a flare-gun during a gondola ride.
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FARIDA ABDELMEGUIED STAFF WRITER Virginia Woolf ’s Mrs. Dalloway depicts a day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway, an affluent housewife, as she plans to host a party that same evening. Throughout the course of one day, Woolf takes us through Clarissa’s various interactions with other characters, including Septimus Smith, Peter Walsh, and Richard Dalloway. While this subject matter might sound mundane, it emphasizes Woolf ’s belief in writing about the “small” things rather than the big things. Woolf reveals the extraordinary within the ordinary. Mrs. Dalloway seeks to unsettle the conventions of a realist novel by challenging its typical standards. Time and identity are fluid. This novel presents a strong example of the evolution of form and style within the modern novel. Mrs. Dalloway is also considered part of the “literature of aftermath.” Published in 1925, the war affects every aspect of Woolf ’s characters. She tells narratives of trauma and survivorship, particularly in the character of Septimus. The text raises several questions. For instance, is there a burden associated with surviving and re-
membering war? Woolf ’s characteristic stream of consciousness is prevalent in this story. Readers get unmediated access to a character’s mind, which can be both unsettling but reassuring. The text is filled with digressive tendencies, and readers cannot predict where it’ll go next. Woolf achieves this through her inclusion of semicolons and ellipses. In addition to stylistic elements, Woolf includes several motifs within Mrs. Dalloway. One prominent theme includes the past and present, specifically pre-war and post-war. We notice ideas of reconciliation and romanticizing. A notable moment in the novel is the claim that “the war is over.” Readers realize that the war is over for Mrs. Dalloway, but it certainly isn’t over for Septimus, a veteran. Quite significantly, Mrs. Dalloway displays themes of mental health, particularly the inadequate approaches to treatment in the 1920s. Mrs. Dalloway is the perfect introduction to Woolf ’s writing style. The novel is deliberately mundane, yet shocking in certain areas. Although the story depicts Mrs. Dalloway’s routine on the surface, it delves into topics of far greater significance.
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Devon, UTM’s newest Loran Scholar Devon Bourgeois is one of the 31 recipients of the prestigious $100,000 Loran scholarship JESSICA CABRAL ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR Each year, the Loran Scholars Foundation awards Canada’s largest undergraduate scholarship, to the next generation of great leaders. The scholarship is valued at approximately $100,000. With over 4,000 applicants last year and an intensive interview process, the foundation aims to make an investment in the future of Canada by providing their scholars with the resources and money they need to develop their impact on the world. As of September 2016, UTM became home to one of the 31 newest Loran Scholars: Devon Bourgeois. Bourgeois is a first-year computer science student, who chose to pursue his post-secondary education at UTM. Although Bourgeois was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, he and his family moved to West Kelowna, British Columbia for the start of grade nine. Bourgeois explains that moving from a very large city like Edmonton to Kelowna, which has its population spread throughout the mountains, was a bit of a change. Now for the rest of the school year, Mississauga will be his home away from home. Growing up around computers and
Devon Bourgeois was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. technology sparked Bourgeois’ interest in pursuing computer science. “My father worked in the IT division of the military for a long time, so I was always surrounded by technology,” Bourgeois explains. “It just became a passion growing up—it was always something that I could do with my friends, video games and whatnot, and I was very interested in the goings on behind the scenes.”
As for universities, Bourgeois toured University of Toronto St. George, University of Waterloo, and UTM before making his decision. Ultimately, he felt that the community of UTM was a lot stronger than his other two options. “I find that sometimes when you’re in a very large campus that’s spread out, like the St. George campus or the Waterloo campus, it can be hard to get
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connected or feel like you’re part of something,” he says. “That wasn’t the case at all here. There’s always people laughing, and there’s always something going on. It just feels a lot tighter and more personal.” Although he is nervous about the transition from high school to university, Bourgeois explains that the community aspect of UTM, in combi-
nation with his outgoing personality, took the difficulty out of making new friends. “It’s definitely a lot more challenging here in university than it ever was in high school, but that’s good. It’s good to be challenged, it pushes your limits. I’ve been able to meet so many people through orientation week, through my residence and dons, and through the Colman Cups. It has been a lot of fun,” Bourgeois says. Throughout high school, Bourgeois dedicated a lot of his time to volunteering and growing as an individual. His accomplishments, alongside his quality of character, helped him earn the title of Loran Scholar. Bourgeois credits his high school counselor and hearing counselor for steering him towards applying for the scholarship. “I’m unilaterally deaf, I can’t hear out of my right ear. I’ve been living with it for so long that you can barely tell in normal conversation, but I always had someone in the school district who would liaison with me and follow up and make sure I was doing alright,” he said, referring to his hearing counselor. Loran continued on page 9
The Moto: a fuel source for refugees Four U of T M.B.A. students are entering their invention (Moto) to the Hult Prize competition DEVANSHI ADHVARYU STAFF WRITER Sam Bennett, a first-year M.B.A. student at U of T, along with his classmates, Lucy Yang, Matthew Frehlich, Gotham Rakmachandran, and Lucas Siow have partnered up to form Moto: an alternative fuel source for refugees. Upon research, Bennett and his team have found that currently, refugees in the sub-Saharan African region leave their camps for hours at a time simply to find firewood to cook with, leaving the refugees at risk of being sexually assaulted. The condition of the refugees worsens, as the area surrounding their camps are often deforested, since the demand for firewood is high. “We thought if we can eliminate the need to leave the camp […] we can do something about the sexual assault problems and the environmental problems, and then give time back to these people who are leaving their families hours at a time. So that’s how we started looking into alternative fuel sources,” says Bennett.
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Moto is an alternative fuel source, which is made from coffee grounds, wax, and sugar. Their proposed solution? Moto —which is a Swahili term meaning fire—is an alternative fuel source that can burn for up to an hour, and is made from coffee grounds, wax, and sugar. Bennett states that the coffee
grounds are collected from a local Starbucks. The fuel-making process involves drying the coffee grounds for about two hours, and then creating a fire log, which takes another 15 minutes.
This project will be entered as a proposal for the annual Hult Prize Competition, which is an initiative that acts a start-up accelerator for social entrepreneurship. It brings together the brightest college and
university students from around the globe to solve the world’s most pressing issues. Winning proposals are awarded the prestigious $1 million Hult Prize. For the 2017 Hult Prize competition, former president Bill Clinton challenged participants to focus on “restoring the rights and dignity of people and societies who may be, or are forced into motion due to social injustices, politics, economic pressures, climate change, and war.” The challenge has been titled as “Refugees —Reawakening Human Potential.” “Gotham [and I] met by chance on the very first day of school, and I think we were surprised coming into an M.B.A., where we were just randomly seated next to another person [who] was [also] passionate about social and environmental endeavours. Right from that day, we started discussing the Hult [prize] and worked on forming a team over the next little while,” says Bennett. The team then worked together in forming what is now known as Moto. Moto continued on page 9
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Sipping tea, talking taboo Extensive leadership UTM MSA hosts weekly Communitea discussions in Davis
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The Communitea discussions take place after Friday prayers in Davis’ Spigel Hall. VIBHOR ROHATGI
Every week, in Davis’ Spigel Hall, the UTM Muslim Student Association hosts Communitea discussions, where taboo conversations are discussed among other important issues. While this event, which takes place after Friday prayers, is open to anyone wishing to attend, discussions are generally specific to the Muslim community, and are intended to be a unifying forum for the UTM Muslim community to actively engage in and provide their input on various issues. Nadia Fakhry, UTM MSA’s vicepresident and a third-year sociology and CCIT double major, says, “The overall concept was inspired by a Majlis-type setting, which means a council or a place of sitting wherein community members would gather to discuss current social issues. We decided to call it Communi/tea/ because—well it is a pun—and because we serve tea and coffee. It creates that atmosphere where everyone can relax and discuss the topic at hand.” “That’s not to say that the discussions don’t get heated sometimes,” says Maryam Faisal, who is the MSA secretary and a third-year sociology and PWC double major. Faisal is the individual who came up with the idea last semester. She wanted to remediate the issue of an apparent lack of forums available to talk about taboo topics in the Muslim community. “We became increasingly aware that a lot of these topics were taboo and not being talked about, and just wanted to bring it to the forefront to find some practical solutions,” says Faisal. “Even for The Medium, I’ve covered topics related to mental
health awareness and other events held by minority, marginalized, and racialized groups. Within my major, I’m extremely interested in the field of social work, and we wanted to incorporate that aspect into the MSA.” “It was decided that our goal would be to try and unify Muslims at UTM. We wanted to create a sense of community on campus,” Faisal adds. “We wanted something for the whole community to engage in. It didn’t feel right to have an MSA where only 15 to 20 Muslims made all the decisions. Having input from the rest of our community both within and outside of UTM is essential for us. Communitea discussions became a way to tackle a lack of voice that we felt had become too normal on campus. We wanted to enhance that voice.”
“We decided to call it Communi/tea/ because—well it is a pun— and because we serve tea and coffee.” —Nadia Fakhry Faisal adds that she wanted to endure this project since she applied for the position of MSA secretary, and was “excited to see it come to life as a biweekly open space for people to come out and express their concerns.” Each week, the topic for that week’s Communitea discussions is decided in the previous meeting. A guiding question to help in this process is: “What occurs but isn’t talked about in the Muslim community?” Some topics that have fit this line of questioning and those that have been focused on in the past include gossiping, sex-
ism within Muslim households, and relationships with parents. “Our first topic was “What’s wrong with the MSA?” which was a way to generate interest for Communitea. People were talking about the questions. Everyone wanted to know what others were saying. It created a buzz, which is what we wanted,” says Faisal. Out of the above topics, “Sexism in Muslim Households” has been the most eventful. Not only did this topic deal with a sensitive issue, but also because some of the discussions got a bit heated, as is sometimes the case at such discussions. This, however, illustrates how significant these discussions have been to provide an outlet to vent opinions about controversial topics. Overall, the UTM MSA’s Communitea discussions have been greatly influential in giving a strong voice to the Muslim community on campus, and in showing how solidarity, especially today, is important if solutions to pressing problems are to be found. In fact, Fakhry states that a representative from UTSC’s MSA had gotten in touch to ask if they could replicate the idea (and use the same event name) at their own campus. “This event is a whole team effort. Our prayer services coordinator sets up right after prayers are completed. Another team member brings refreshments, and someone else normally moderates. These discussions wouldn’t be successful without the response we get from everyone on campus,” Faisal says. The next Communitea discussion will be held on February 3, where the forum will discuss mental health and/ or domestic violence within the Muslim community.
Loran continued from page 8 After looking over Bourgeois’ resume, his hearing counselor suggested he apply for the Loran Scholarship. “It’s essential for students who have a lot of leadership experience and potential. It’s not so much a reward for doing well in school as it is an investment in our futures. It’s more like, ‘We think you have the kind of personality and you can go out and make a difference in this world, so here’s a bunch of money, go make it happen,’” Bourgeois says. Bourgeois’ list of leadership experience is quite extensive. At the age of 14, he began working at McDonald’s, and quickly worked his way up to management position. He volunteered as an audio engineer, mixing sounds for musicians through his church group, and worked with a food shelter and a resource center which provides essentials for those in need, such as washing machines, job connections, and internet access. He also helped co-found his student council. After sitting down and discovering the division between student and faculty issues with his high school’s principal, Bourgeois brought in a proposal to create a forum for students to bring their concerns to, which then would be communicated with the heads of the school. The principal at the time sent Bourgeois and a female student from his class to research and study High Tech High School in San Diego. Instead of having a principal, the American school has a school board that supports a student council responsible for all decision-making. After the trip, Bourgeois’ high school successfully implemented a student council, which has worked towards change over the past two years. The council built greenhouses on the roof, started a recycling program for the school, and turned a large plot of land beside the school into farmland for a food bank. “I think it was not so much specific achievements that I had done that made me stand out. I think it was more the breadth of things I had done, because for me it wasn’t important to be the best at something, but it was very important to be giving my time to as many things as possible,” Bourgeois says. Reflecting on the application process, Bourgeois explains that the first part took about a month. “I have never written more essays in my life. It’s a three or four-round interview process. It starts with every applicant writing about a dozen essays, like 3000-word essays on a variety of topics to feel out how you
think and how you react to different situations,” he says. From there, the foundation chose approximately the top 400 candidates across Canada, and sent them to regional interviews. This includes a full day of interviews, where candidates sit with panels to discuss details of their past and their goals for the future. These interviews are typically held in major universities. Luckily for Bourgeois, his interview was held at the University of British Columbia, located in his city. After the regional interviews last year, the Loran Scholars Foundation narrowed the batch of candidates down to 81 individuals. The foundation flies these students to nationals, a three-day interview process located in Toronto.
“It’s not so much a reward for doing well in school as it is an investment in our futures.” —Devon Bourgeois “It’s really cool at regionals—meeting so many people who are likeminded as you. But when you get to nationals, it’s a whole other level. All the people I met there, every person did something different, but they were all things that were so incredible,” Bourgeois says. “It was definitely a feeling of awe; do I really belong in this kind of group? I still kind of get that feeling sometimes, because I don’t really have one big thing that I’ve done, like some of the other scholars, but that’s not really what it’s about. It’s more about the quality of character.” In the immediate future, Bourgeois hopes to get more involved in things off-campus. He’s looking to do more volunteering around Mississauga, specifically with Evergreen, a foundation that plants trees and shrubs. In the long-term, Bourgeois would like to move into software engineering or artificial intelligence. “I’d like to be the next Bill Gates, but that doesn’t come without a lot of hard work,” he says. Bourgeois’ advice for his peers is simple: “Stop procrastinating and just go do it. You waste a lot more time than you realize just putting things off until right before they’re due or before they need to be done. It’s a lot more relaxing, and definitely helps keep stress levels down if you can sit for a day and have nothing coming up, rather than having everything piling up.”
The team faces many cultural and logistical barriers Moto continued from page 8 Last December, U of T held a quarterfinal qualifying round for the Hult Prize Competition at the Rotman School. Each participating teams had to include three U of T students (i.e. undergrads, Master’s, or Ph.D. students). The contestants were given six minutes to come up with an idea on how to restore rights and dignity to 10 million
refugees by 2020. The winning team would proceed to the regional finals (in March 2017). “You can imagine a problem that massive—to shrink it down into six minutes is a difficult [task],” says Bennett. However, Bennet and his team have faced a few roadblocks along the way. “None of us have legit experience in a refugee camp. We are generally
a privileged group of people, and trying to get secondary research is one thing, but really talking to refugees and trying to learn their experience as closely as we can is another,” says Bennett. To overcome this, Bennett and his team have reached out to several refugee houses in Toronto, and are being put into contact with the refugees in order to understand their experiences more.
“Another roadblock [is that] with developing a project for another continent comes many cultural and logistic questions. We’ve never shipped in great quantities anything to Kenya, which is where we are planning to ship, and we don’t have a great understanding of what the tariffs will be, what the road conditions are, what the seasonality is like—just thinking through the whole process is all new to us,” says
Bennett. Moto achieved good remarks as they won the local competition, and will now be moving on to the finals held in Shanghai, China. If Moto prevails in the finals, it will be a hopeful prospect for refugees in sub-Saharan Africa as an alternative fuel source, which is not only sustainable, but also has the potential to decrease the instances of sexual assault and deforestation.
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The birds and the bees Ware’s activism Last Friday’s workshop discussed contraception, safe sex
—through art
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The workshop was hosted by the HCC and the UTM Sexual Education Centre.
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Syrus Marcus Ware spoke at the recent Feminist Lunch Hour. SHARMEEN ABEDI
HALEY WEST STAFF WRITER Last Friday, the Health and Counselling Centre and the UTM Sexual Education Centre held a workshop titled “Contraception and Safe Sex,” hosted by Dr. Erin Kraftcheck, a family doctor working with the HCC, and Tanya Harrison, the head nurse practitioner. “When you think of contraception, it breaks down into two categories: permanent, and reversible or temporary,” says Kraftcheck. Permanent contraceptive methods include tubal ligation and vasectomy—which is not something that would ordinarily be considered an option for post-secondary students. External condoms are the most popular form of birth control for post-secondary students, which are usually complemented with the use of a secondary contraception method. Kraftcheck emphasizes that with condoms, it’s important to check the expiry date, ensure they are not stored anywhere too hot, and make sure not to open the packages with your teeth. The external condom, typically referred to as the male condom, is an external barrier form of birth control which also provides protection against STIs. With typical use, the condom fails 18 percent of the time, usually due to engaging in sexual activity before stopping to put on a condom prior to ejaculation. Pre-ejaculation fluids can sometimes contain enough sperm to fertilize an egg, so the condom should be put on prior to any genital contact. With perfect use, the condom still fails approximately two percent of the time. The insertive condom, typically referred to as the female condom, is another external barrier form of birth control. It can be inserted ahead of sexual activity and does not require that the condom be withdrawn immediately after, but should be withdrawn before standing up to avoid any potential leakage while still inside the pelvis. With typical use, the insertive condom fails approximately 21 percent of the time, and five percent of the
time with perfect use. The insertive condom is still new in terms of popularity, with only one percent of the total production of condoms being insertive condoms. There is a greater risk of sliding inside the vagina during sex, but according to Dr. Kraftcheck, the largest detriment to this type of condom is the user’s comfort level with how to properly use and discard the insertive condom. “It usually takes about five tries to get comfortable with using the insertive condom [properly],” shares Kraftcheck. The most common non-barrier forms of contraceptives are the pill, the patch, and the ring. The pill must be taken once a day at the same time or within three hours. The newer versions of the pill have lower quantities of hormones in them, which makes the body very susceptible to pregnancy if not taken properly. The hormones in the pill are tricking the user’s body into thinking it is in the earliest stage of pregnancy, making it unnecessary to ovulate. If you miss taking the pill for a couple of days, the body starts the ovulation cycle, which can explain why people have claimed to have gotten pregnant while taking the pill. “If you forget one time, as soon as you remember the pill, you can take it. If you take the pill at dinner and remember in the morning you can take the pill right away, but then take your pill at dinner like you usually would. If you don’t remember until the next night, you take two pills at dinner,” says Kraftcheck. The ring is once-a-month birth control. It is inserted into the pelvis and releases a tiny bit of hormone constantly for three weeks, with no hormone for the fourth week. At the end of the three weeks, it is pulled out and tossed in the garbage. This form is not as popular, because less individuals are comfortable and confident with the insertion of the ring. It can also be difficult to locate the ring when it’s time to remove it. “It can be difficult to find [the ring] sometimes if it gets back behind the cervix, but it will never disappear,” Kraftcheck says. “Sometimes there’s a misconception that
the female anatomy is open to the stomach, and it’s not. It’s a closedoff pouch inside the pelvis, and even if you couldn’t find it, it can’t get lost up inside. But you might have to come into the doctor’s office and get the doctor to help you take it out.” The ring can also be removed from the body for up to three hours, but it is not recommended. The patch is a once-a-week birth control. It can be placed on the upper arm, the abdomen, the thigh, or the bikini area. Once a week, you remove the patch and apply it to a different area. Individuals with the patch need to avoid hot tubs and saunas, as the high levels of heat can cause the hormones to absorb at a faster rate. If the patch begins to lose its adhesiveness early, you need to remove it and apply a new patch for the remainder of the week, but then reapply a new patch at the usual time to maintain your cycle. Hormonal methods, such as the pill, the patch, and the ring, will be less effective at a body mass index over 35. “Estrogen is stored in fat cells. With a higher BMI, more hormone will be stored than used to prevent ovulation,” says Kraftcheck. However, there are pills which have higher doses of the hormone, and any concerns over the effectiveness should be discussed with a clinician before starting the contraception, as well as any other possible side effects. The most dangerous risk with taking hormonal birth control is a blood clot, but it is still a low risk. The other possible side effects include moodiness, breast tenderness, headaches, acne management, lighter periods, assistance with iron deficiency and anemia, lessening of menstrual cramps, a more regular menstrual cycle, and protection against endometrial cancer. The HCC also offers a variety of contraceptive and safe sex measures, including condoms, flavoured condoms and lubricant, prescriptions for hormonal contraceptives, and a variety of contraceptives themselves at no cost or reduced cost.
In light of recent events, it is now even more imperative to focus on the rights of minorities, and the formation of a society where all feel welcome and secure. Last Thursday, the Feminist Lunch Hour featured guest speaker Syrus Marcus Ware, who is a visual artist, community activist, researcher, youth advocate, and a vital member of Black Lives Matter Toronto. Currently at the Art Gallery of Ontario, Ware has achieved numerous accomplishments, from being voted “Best Queer Activist” by Now Magazine, to executing community projects such as Blackness Yes! and Blockorama. Ware holds degrees in art history and visual studies, as well as a Master’s in sociology and equity studies. Ware believes in using art as a way to express activism. He began the Feminist Lunch Hour event by discussing the late Octavia Butler, an activist and writer, who is one of his main influences. According to Ware, her work “focused on the idea of belonging, and suggested that belonging can be fostered, that communities can be created out of rubble, and that hope can be nurtured by accepting the powerful force of change.” He commented on how the title of his talk was based on a recurring concept of her work: “All that you touch, you change and all that you change, changes you. The only lasting truth is change.” To Ware, Butler’s work is a continuing source of reassurance in present times. “She gives us something to hold on to, in times of stress and violence,” he said. “I just want to plant the seed that Octavia Butler is somebody we should all be reading throughout 2017.” As part of his activism, Ware started making portraits of activists as a way of understanding them. In 2012, he was invited for a performance at the Feminist Art Gallery, and chose to do his on a film called “A Place of Rage,” which for him demonstrated the idea of how rage should similarly be expressed at the current system and turn of events. Ware introduced the intriguing practice of Activist Love Let-
ters, where he would invite audience members to write letters to activists in their community for him to mail. Since then, he has mailed over 2,000 letters across the country. “To me, it’s about sustainability,” Ware said. “It’s about reaching out to each other.” For Ware, the project is also about sustaining himself. As he goes on to say, activism is not something you have to do all the time, and it’s okay if people at times choose not to participate. Instead, Ware chooses to focus on all the times that they do participate, and honour those times through his art. Speaking about his involvement in Black Lives Matter, Ware stresses the importance of tasks that might at first glance seem simple and unimportant. “I like making the banners,” he says. To him, these tasks are relevant because they set the stage for actual events to take place.
“All that you touch, you change and all that you change, changes you. The only lasting truth is change.” Similarly, he points out how it’s easy to forget the people whose contributions are not clearly observed. “People who are on the margins are not usually on the front, so their contributions are invalidated.” For him, it is important for people to realize that the contributions of the individuals who sew banners till three in the morning are just as valid as the contributions of the individuals in front of the microphone. Ware described the police shooting of Andrew Loku and how it led to the Black Lives Matter’s occupation of the police headquarters as a form of protest. Again, it was the use of art that played a big role during the protest, as multiple banners and posters were made, with messages such as “You Can’t Put Our Fire Out.” He concluded his talk by emphasizing art’s ability to drive activism, and how activists such as Octavia Butler keep on inspiring future activists and artists in the laborious run for social change.
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Reacting to stress in the right way Psychology Professor, Norman Farb, seeks to test the effectiveness of mindfulness with his app AMANDA BORTHWICK
Many of us can admit that we often get caught up with the stresses and anxieties associated with student life, so we simply don’t make the time to slow down and breathe it all in. It wouldn’t help that the roses have probably all frozen over this time of the year. However, psychology professor Norman Farb advises that mindfulness training and taking the time to “watch what we do without reacting to our emotional distresses,” is something that has the potential to change the way we perceive and react to stress in the long run. “The way that life is for most people now, there is no time or structure around having just quiet reflection. Even when waiting for the bus, we end up checking our phone. We don’t see it as an opportunity to have some quiet time to notice and be curious about things,” he says. Professor Farb is in the process of completing a study which seeks to test the effectiveness of mindfulness training through an app he helped develop, called Wildflowers Mind-
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Mindfulness training has the potential to change how we react to stress. fulness. Currently, the research literature on mindfulness training is limited, and claims that the benefits of meditation are based on intensive meditation sessions, usually held in hour-long group lessons. Tracking 80 student participants over a period of three weeks, his study,
which began last summer, evaluates whether these benefits, if any, can be achieved through one minute of training on the Wildflowers Mindfulness app or the 2048 problemsolving game. The ability to detach yourself and still be present to what’s happen-
ing around you is the kind of initial process that professor Farb is trying to get people to have through their experiences with the app. To operationalize the study, pre and postmood evaluations and physiological testing (heartbeat detection), built into both apps, will evaluate out-
comes within 10-minute sessions and across the three-week duration of the study. During pre and postlab evaluations, participants will be asked to complete formal questionnaires that evaluate mental health, acceptfulness, and mindfulness. “We want to see if people improve in these [and other] areas after using the app, and if there is interaction between the types of app they are using.” With data collection anticipated to be completed in March, professor Farb comments on what his hypothesis is for what the outcomes of the study will look like once he is able to evaluate the data after it has been collected. “I would expect that the Wildflowers Mindfulness group would show greater increases in things like acceptance of negative emotions, where we think ‘It’s okay if I feel bad sometimes.’” It’s an interesting time for this kind of exploration, but the hype exceeds the evidence at this point, which could be a cause for concern. But professor Farb thinks of it as a “chance for cautious optimism for emerging technology that has the potential for self-transformation.”
Eagles respond like real champions The UTM women’s basketball team win the OCCR Extramural tournament with strong poise ERIC HEWITSON SPORTS EDITOR The UTM women’s varsity basketball team won the OCCCR Extramural championships this past weekend on January 28, a tournament they hosted in the RAWC. The women solidified their spot in the semifinals game by beating Lakehead University and Laurier-Brantford University in the divisional rounds. Bypassing the quarterfinals game, because of their divisional success, gave them a boost which helped them outscore UTSC in the semi-finals and Humber in the championships. Even though the women started off the tournament slow, they managed to dig themselves out of a slump and respond by playing sound basketball in the semi-finals against UTSC. Daesi Reale was a contested point guard that helped lead her team to their optimal performance. She sneakily manoeuvred herself around UTSC defenders, opening up scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates.
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The OCCCR Extramural championships were held this past weekend. Late in the second quarter, UTM showed some fatigue, allowing four uncontested points. But with three seconds left, UTM’s shooting guard, Emily Goetz, hit a three-point shot from deep behind the arch giving the Eagles a five-point advantage,
20-15, going into the second half. The third quarter saw more fouls than it saw points. Sarah-May Edwardo was the only scorer for UTM, sinking a jump shot for two points, allowing her team to keep the five-point lead going into the final
stretch. In the fourth-quarter, UTM was a more focused and composed team. They created more opportunities for themselves and clearly won in ball possession time, eliminating UTSC’s chance at making a come-
back. Possibly the most exciting point throughout the entire tournament, next to winning it, was when fourth-year UTM biotechnology student and shooting guard, Caitlyn Azzalini, tried to score off a layup opportunity but was brutally pushed out of bounds by an infuriated UTSC defender. Azzalini got up, displeased with the unsportsmanlike play, but channelled her aggression moments later into dribbling the ball past UTSC defenders and making an acrobatic shot, scoring the Eagles the final points of the game and solidifying the inevitable victory. Azzalini was the Eagles’ leading scorer in the semi-finals, undoubtedly proving herself to be player-ofthe-game. She thought that while the team lacked offense, they were strong defensively. She took the opportunity on many occasions to run past UTSC defenders, receive the ball from her defender after “leaking out as a runner,” and capitalize for easy baskets. B-ball continued on page 12
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Laying it all on the line
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UTM defeated Humber College in the championship final.
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Azzalini took the hard foul at the end of the game and responded with athleticism and selflessness, which are two qualities essential to the foundation of championshipcalibre teams. “I did let out my anger a little bit, because it wasn’t a fair foul. But I’m happy that I came back with the foul shot and was able to keep my focus for the rest of the game. I would say my response after the foul was my proudest moment because it was all about getting them back as a team. It was better to score on them and not talk back,” says Azzalini. In the championships game, the Eagles led for the majority of the time. It was truly a team effort with everyone getting a chance to play. Once they got the lead, the team did a great job at containing Humber’s erratic runs. “We were up by 14 points at one point. The team did a great job at containing Humber’s key players, and clicked on the defensive side. This was great to see, as that is an area we have been struggling [with] lately,” says head coach Salee Johnson-Edwards. Humber made a last-minute run in the fourth quarter to cut the lead with three clutch three-point shots
made by their best shooting guard. But the free-throw shooting down the stretch from the numerous amounts of fouls allowed UTM to hold onto the lead and for the win.
Azzalini was the Eagles leading scorer in the semi-finals, undoubtedly proving herself to be player of the game. Coach Johnson-Edwards speaks on why her team is as disciplined and mature as they make themselves seem on the court: “Teams are defined as either a running team, a rebounding team, or a shooting team. I try to lead my team as a blue-collar team, meaning we strive to outwork the competition in all areas,” she says. “So when my ladies get fouled or caught up with talking to the referees or dealing with other team’s theatrics, I nip it in the bud right away and let them know they can handle it in two ways. They can get caught up in the emotions and talk smack back, or they can put their energy into getting buckets and let the score do the talking. Winning the game makes us feel a lot better.”
Emphasizing strategy UTM women’s soccer team shows good display of talent
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UTM’s women’s indoor soccer team competed at the Royal Cup indoor soccer tournament.
ERIC HEWITSON SPORTS EDITOR WITH NOTES FROM DANICA POST The UTM Eagles women’s indoor soccer had an excellent display of skills at Redeemer College in the Royal Cup indoor soccer tournament this weekend on January 28. Unfortunately, the Eagles lost to the Sheridan Bruins in the quarterfinals, then watched Seneca Sting win the cup. Though, in the roundrobin tournament style format, the Eagles won two games, lost one, and tied another, going 2-1-2 overall. In the first game, UTM came into it knowing they were going to be facing a good team; St. Clair College advanced to the provincials last outdoor season, and UTM had struggled against them in previous outdoor seasons. However, the women came on the field with the right attitude, and performed with strong athleticism. The women trusted each other and the system, listened to their head coach Damian Yearwood, and were able to keep the game scoreless, solidifying a tie, which is a positive result for the Eagles. In their second game, UTM beat Centennial College 1-0. Centennial and UTM have played each other
a handful of times in the past two years, and have been close to beating them, but until this game they had never achieved that goal. The Eagles had a good understanding of how the team plays, and they used this knowledge and the energy and confidence from the first tie to come out and play strong. An honourable mention goes out to rookie player Kristina De Andrade from Mississauga, ON for displaying patience and finesse, scoring the lone goal. After playing back-to-back games, UTM fell short against Sheridan College, losing 2-0. Unfortunately, they conceded a header goal off a corner kick early in the second half. They made the choice to switch their goaltender to fourth-year player Harnancy Dhugga, which resulted in multiple scoring chances for the team. Sheridan capitalized with a breakaway during the last seconds, ending the game 2-0. In their final game of the tournament, the women learned that they were facing George Brown College, which was a team they were excited to play because they had met them on numerous occasions in the past. With their previous experience and their strong determination to win, the women won 3-2. Assistant
coach Sonia Rocha provided the women with a strategy that played to the team’s overall strengths, as well as notifying them of George Brown’s strengths and weaknesses and exploiting them for the win. Third-year player Jayde Forde, who normally plays as a strong defender, illustrated her versatility and skill, scoring two goals. Vanessa Cesario was another force which posed a serious threat to George Brown, as she showed her technique and precision scoring the game-winning goal. The women kept their strategy and didn’t let themselves break down. They played as a team, trusting each other and communicating well. Also, they were calm and made smart plays even though they were high on energy and confidence from some great displays of athleticism. Going forward, the Eagles believe that they need to improve on learning to read and understanding their opponents during the game, and alter their strategy to supersede them. This was an emphasis brought upon by their loss against Sheridan College. The women play again in an OCAA Invitational tournament on Saturday, February 11 at Sheridan College.