Vol 43 issue 2

Millions spent on upgrades

Putting a muzzle on the media

Challenging tradition

A student’s path to UTM

It’s been a blue season

News, page 2

Opinion, page 4

Arts, page 5

Features, page 8

Sports, page 11

New food options arrive on campus Gluten-free options, a salad bar, and sushi are now available in the Instructional Centre and TFC MENNA ELNAKA NEWS EDITOR New food options have been added this year in the Temporary Food Court in Davis, as well as in the Instructional Center.

Fusion 5, located in the TFC, is the first gluten-free certified dining place in all Canadian universities. Serving brown rice, veggies, chicken, salmon, and beef, it provides a healthier option to students, said UTM’s director of hospitality and retail services, Vicky Jezierski, in an interview with The Medium.

The TFC also contains a new salad bar that rotates different choices every day. Prices are $1.50 per 100 grams.

Bento Sushi has been installed in IB, and a grilling station has been added in Oscar Peterson Hall, which offers cook-to-order for grilled menu items.

Jezierski stated that there have been consultations with students, which began with a survey in 2011, right before TFC and IB were built.

The Student Advisory Committee was also set up, open houses were held, as well as consultations with the Residence Student Council, the

OLIVIA ADAMCZYK/THE MEDIUM

First gluten-free certified dining place in all Canadian universities Graduates Council, and UTMSU. Focus groups also took place between staff and students to provide feedback to UTM. The highest preference for students was Asian food, but because of the lack of enough ventilation in the TFC, bringing in Asian food was unsuccessful. Mexican food was among the highest preferences too, and according to Jezierski, the university was able to bring Quesada to TFC. Andrea De Vito, assistant direc-

tor of hospitality and retail services, told The Medium that the options at UTM are diverse compared to other universities. He stated that because of the current limited ventilation and the little space available in Davis, the university is unable to bring in all the food options that they want to add for students.

De Vito also stated that there will be a new food court by 2018. Depending on how much space the university gets in the new food court,

they will decide what moves from the TFC to the new court.

He cited that no prices have increased in compared to last year.

UTM also applied last spring to Fair Trade Canada to become a designated Fair Trade campus.

Becoming a Fair Trade includes using less pesticides, paying wages to growers, and taking the profit to schools and hospitals. It includes less people profiting. Becoming a designated Fair Trade means that the prod-

ucts that the campus gets are officially “ethically-sourced”, as Jezierski said.

According to Jezierski and De Vito, becoming a designated Fair Trade will not have an effect on the prices.

UTM has been working on Fair Trade for a year and a half. Last year, it hosted a Fair Trade week where they tried to spread awareness to students and offered sampling of their Fair Trade products, including coffee, tea, chocolate, and bananas.

UTM plans on holding another Fair Trade Week this year from September 26 to 30. Both Jezierski and De Vito stressed that their goal is to increase student awareness of Fair Trade. Some of the activities planned for the week involve promotion of Fair Trade, sampling, spreading awareness, having a selfie contest with the Fair Trade products, and celebrating becoming designated.

“A huge growth and expansion have happened in the past four years,” Jezierski said. “Every building has either been expanded or changed […]

We really hope that students appreciate it.” These buildings include IB, the North Building, and the residence.

The university is expecting to hear back from Fair Trade Canada shortly before Fair Trade Week.

U of T drafts a sexual violence prevention plan Three expert panels established to assist in the completion of the draft policy KASSANDRA HANGDAAN NEWS EDITOR ASSISTANT WITH NOTES FROM MENNA ELNAKA NEWS EDITOR The University of Toronto released a draft last Wednesday for a standalone policy to prevent sexual violence on all U of T campuses, following a 40-point recommendation report made by an expert panel earlier last August.

Bill 132 of the provincial law requires universities to have a policy effective by January 2017 that addresses any sexual violence that students experience. The bill also states that there should be a process of how to respond to violent situations.

Three expert panels were established to advise U of T president Meric Gertler, and vice-president and provost Cheryl Regehr: one panel on sexual violence policies, chaired by Law Professor and Pro-

WENDELL MACAPAGAL/THE MEDIUM

U of T drafted the policy based on a 40-point recommendation plan made by the expert panels. vost of Trinity College Mayo Moran; one on education and prevention of sexual violence, chaired by Professor Gretchen Kerr; and a sexual violence climate survey advisory board, chaired by Professor Sandy Welsh.

Among the points made in the draft based on the expert panel’s recommendations was outlining a statement of commitment on sexual violence.

“All members of the University of

Toronto (“the University”) community should have the ability to study, work and live in a campus environment free from Sexual Violence, including Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment,” reads a point in the

statement of commitment section in the draft.

Other points in the draft policy recognize and address the needs of historically-marginalized group members. The draft also addresses the confidentiality of students affected by sexual violence, stating that confidential counselling and support should be made available as soon as possible to any U of T member who is affected by a sexual violence situation.

“The University will limit sharing of information to those within the University who need to know the information for the purposes of implementing this Policy, including providing accommodation and interim measures, and the investigation and decision-making processes; and taking corrective action resulting from those processes,” states part of the confidentiality section.

Policy continued on page 2

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THE MEDIUM 09.12.2016

Upgrading the research facilities Infrastructure renovations will cost $190 million

September 2, 2016, 1:00 PM Motor Vehicle Accident Campus Police were notified of a minor collision that occurred in P9.

Both vehicles were backing out of parking spaces when their rear ends made contact.

September 4, 2016, 8:00 PM Controlled Drugs & Substances Act Campus Police received a report of

the smell of marijuana outside of a residence.

September 6, 2016, 2:45 PM Theft under $5000 A student was caught stealing items from the UTM bookstore.

September 9, 2016, 3:35 PM Theft under $5000 Campus Police were contacted for a report of a theft from a vehicle involving a parking pass.

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.

UTMSU and QSS prepare to meet FARHAT AMINI

UTMSU and the Quality Services to Students committee plan to hold a meeting one year after UTMSU refused to meet with them.

The QSS committee is responsible for offering advice on how to improve student services that are offered by the Career Centre, Health and Counselling Centre, Department of Physical Education, Athletics and Recreation Department, as well as other services at UTM. Since October 23 of 2015, the QSS committee has not met with UTMSU and have not been able to reach quorum on account of UTMSU’s decision not to engage with the committee.

There has been ongoing contact between UTMSU, Mark Overton, and UTM’s former principal and the current interim principal In order to reach the quorum, one UTMSU representative has to be present among the other 11 members needed to hold the meeting. These members include a minimum of six students and a representative of two student councils who hold seats on the QSS committee.

“Although the Quality Services to Students committee didn’t meet in 2015-16 due to a lack of quorum, our services have had meaningful discussions on a variety of student services topics with UTMSU and other student governments who are also part of QSS, along with student users of the services,” stated Mark Overton, UTM’s dean of student affairs, in an email to The Medium.

Also in an email to The Medium, UTMSU’s president Nour Alideeb stated that although no meetings have been held since last year, there has been ongoing contact between UTMSU, Overton, and both UTM’s former principal Deep Saini and the current interim principal Ulrich Krull.

According to Alideeb, during those conversations, UTMSU usually discusses issues and ways in which they can improve the structure of the QSS to “ensure that students’ voices are heard and our suggestions are implemented”.

Overton informed The Medium that now that the academic year has officially begun, an invitation has been sent to UTMSU in hopes of setting up a meeting to discuss the concerns and issues that had been brought up.

“If quorum can be achieved, QSS should be able to meet reasonably soon, when issues identified at earlier meetings of QSS can be explored, along with new issues too,” said Overton.

The concerns put forth by former UTMSU presidents date back to 2013-14. Some of the issues are student representatives not having a voice in the council, and lack of transparency in the financial models.

“We are hoping that we can return to the administration and remind them that the space that QSS represents is a vital space for student majority decision-making spaces that should not be ignored,” said Alideeb.

“We are looking forward to the administration supporting our needs and ensuring that our voices aren’t ignored as often as they have been,” she added.

Alideeb also said that there are plans in progress to change the structure of the QSS for the improvement of both the council itself and the services to students.

OLIVIA ADAMCZYK/THE MEDIUM

UTM’s focus will be on upgrading the labs in the William G. Davis building.

ALICIA BOATTO ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR The research facilities of the University of Toronto campuses will undergo infrastructure renovations worth $190 million.

The Lab Innovation for Toronto, also known as LIFT, is a tri-campus project partly funded by the federal and provincial governments, as well as by U of T itself.

The LIFT project does not focus on building new spaces, but rather to better utilize the space the university already has.

Each campus will be contributing their own funds for their respective projects. UTM’s focus will be on upgrading their faculty research labs.

At UTM, some of the renovated labs in the William G. Davis building have been combined to make larger labs.

Vivek Goel, U of T’s vice-president of research and innovation, explained to The Medium that the renovation of the labs and combining them to provide a larger work environment would help encourage more collaborative work between students.

In an interview with The Medium,

UTM’s vice-president of research and innovation, Bryan Stewart, said that although connecting the rooms reduces the quantity of labs, it increases the ability for students to use the space and raises the amount of sessions able to run in one room at a given time.

In addition to improving lighting conditions and visually modernizing the labs, much of the funding will be dedicated to improving structural concerns, including installing backup generators to protect research and new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units.

Another addition will be the installation of more efficient fume hoods, as well as a machine that is ventilated outside and designed to remove chemicals and agents from the air within the labs.

“When the fume hoods were first installed, it was very old technology.

Basically it just sucked all kinds of air out and blew it out through the stacks on the roof. All the air that’s being sucked out we pay to either heat or cool,” said Stewart.

“So nowadays there are what are called variable flow fume hoods. So, basically when they are not in use, they will automatically turn down

the amount of air they are moving through, so that allows us to realize a lot of savings.”

According to Stewart, replacing the old fume hoods will provide better safety and will give U of T the chance to become more sustainable in its approach to research.

Stewart also mentioned that the LIFT project will provide the foundation with more research to be done in the future.

The innovations across the university are expected to help attract more graduate students to the institution, and therefore increase future research output.

When asked what goals the university hopes to achieve by the LIFT project, Goel said, “Ensuring that our research has benefits for the society, and the opportunity for us to engage with community partners, government, and other agencies as well as the industry in getting the results of our research out into practice for the benefit of Canadians.”

Part of the grant by the Liberal government that permitted U of T to undergo these changes requires the renovations to be completed by early spring of 2018.

Concerns over draft policy Policy continued from cover

The draft, nonetheless, states that in case there is a risk to the health and safety of one of the victims, like harming oneself or others, confidentiality cannot be maintained, as the university is required by law to disclose the information in such cases.

A tri-campus Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Centre has also been established. According to the draft, the centre will “assist in triage, reporting and providing support for individual Members of the University Community who have experienced Sexual Violence.”

The centre was one of the recommendations in a report passed by the Presidential and Provostial Advisory Committee to the university last February, before establishing the expert panel. The committee included U of T undergraduate and graduate students, as well as staff and faculty.

In an open letter to the university,

the Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students addressed their concerns regarding the recommendations made by the Presidential and Provostial Advisory Committee last February. The letter was signed by UTMSU, Scarborough Campus Student Union, University of Toronto Graduate Student Union, the LGBTOUT as well as several other clubs.

Concerns mentioned in the letter included the committee’s “failure to meaningfully engage with marginalized communities.” APUS also mentioned in the letter that the analysis of the report was “limited”, and that it lacked a “broad-based approach to the elimination of sexual and genderbased violence at the University.”

Ellie Adekur, a Ph.D. student in sociology and the founder of U of T’s Silence is Violence, points out that the generalized training process set in place for sexual assault counselors is concerning.

“It’s not that the recommendations aren’t good, because they are. I just

think that they’re very vague,” said Adekur.

“Even if there is a policy that outlines what we’re going to do about sexual assault, […] what happens when the people in power abuse their power? What happens if they’re wrong or intimidate people? There’s really no sense of recourse.”

UTMSU’s VP equity Maleeha Baig also expressed concern over the representation of marginalized student groups.

“We have advocated that the new policy must encompass the realities of our most marginalized students and seek to create meaningful support for survivors; we do not just want to see the administration simply mark off a policy checkbox,” said Baig.

Baig also stated that the union feels that there could have been more student conversations with the university. UTMSU is instead planning on holding their own student-led consultations.

09.12.2016 THE MEDIUM NEWS

Phase B construction underway

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North Building Phase B will officially open in August 2018.

KAYVAN AFLAKI

Following the demolition of the remaining sections of the North Building last March, construction is currently underway for North Building Phase B—a six-storey facility that will usher in the completion of construction.

North Building Phase A, known as Deerfield Hall, was the first of two reconstruction phases of the original North Building. Opened in September 2014, it has since provided students and faculty of the mathematical and computational sciences, psychology, and English and drama departments with four-storeys worth of classrooms, computer labs, study spaces, food services, and a theatre rehearsal area.

The 210,000 square-foot North Building Phase B will house new classrooms and administrative offices. It will be the new home for the departments of English and drama, language studies, historical studies, philosophy, political science, and sociology.

The new building will serve as an aesthetic segue between Deerfield Hall and the Instructional Building, said Paul Donoghue, UTM’s chief administrative officer, in an interview with The Medium.

Funding, according to Donoghue, comes from the Governing Council.

Donoghue also cited a number of “generous” investments on behalf of the government and U of T administration.

The original North Building was implemented in 1967 as a “temporary structure” and was meant to accommodate the needs of faculty and students. Efforts to further refurbish the building would have exceeded the project’s budget.

“We looked at the possibility of renovating the North Building, but it was just a sinkhole for money,” said Donoghue. “The whole thing had to come down.”

Donoghue was one of several stakeholders involved in the planning, capital construction, and financial management of Phase B. He said that continuing to develop UTM’s architecture is essential to catering to

students’ success and level of motivation.

“We take design very importantly.

For us, a project of this magnitude is not a superficial exercise in order to have a pretty building,” Donoghue said. “It’s about designing a building that suits its purpose for the people who use it, because a well-designed building can make a complete difference in the way students feel and in their behaviours.”

Upon completion, the North B building will attain a Silver LEED status—a certification of its energy-efficient infrastructure, and an increasingly common hallmark of UTM building projects.

As for naming the building, Donoghue acknowledges that Phase B will be in need of a new title. “It’s only temporary,” he said. “We had a contest where students had the chance to suggest names for Deerfield Hall when it was constructed. We may just end up doing the same with this. Stay tuned.”

The doors to North Building Phase B will officially open on August 16, 2018.

Low-income families to receive a raise in funding

Students from low-income to middle-income families can now expect an increase of up to 50% in federal grants for this academic year.

Full-time students from lowincome families can expect a raise from $2,000 to $3,000 in grants, while those from middle-income families can expect to receive $1,200 instead of $800.

Part-time students from low-income families will see a raise from $1,200 to $1,800 per year.

The announcement follows the Liberal government’s 2016 provincial budget, which sets out the Ontario Student Grant for families with household incomes under $50,000.

The Ontario Student Grant is expected to begin in 2017.

“The fact that free tuition has been introduced for low-income

students in Ontario [starting September 2017] is a step in the right direction,” said UTMSU’s president Nour Alideeb in an email to The Medium.

Starting this November, only graduates who earn an annual salary of $25,000 or more will be required to repay their loans Alideeb stated that this is a result of many lobby sessions that UTMSU and the Canadian Federation of Students has taken part in.

UTMSU has, however, expressed their concern about the changes that will be made to the Repayment Assistance Plan.

Starting this November, only

Shaigan Mujahid Molecular Biology

McDonald’s and Burger King

Shawarmas from Osmow’s Grill or Nader’s

Adam Baginski Chemistry

Lisa Baxter Molecular Biology

Gyros, Greek food

McDonald’s or other restaurants around campus

SAMUEL KAN/THE MEDIUM

Student grants to increase up to 50% ALAHEH AMINI

Hana Sadek Commerce

graduates earning an annual salary of $25,000 or more will be required to start repaying their loans.

“The average undergraduate student debt is $26,800 [for domestic students], so expecting students to start repaying their loans once they start making a yearly income of $25,000 is unreasonable, in my opinion,” stated Alideeb.

UTMSU are planning a campaign called Fight the Fees to educate the students about the concerns regarding the funding of post-secondary education.

Through meeting with the university and local members of the provincial parliament, UTMSU plans to continue lobbying for the removal of interest on existing loans, converting loans into nonrepayable grants, and working towards the elimination of tuition fees completely.

U of T invests $27 million for research projects NOOR AL-LABABIDI

U of T has allocated $27 million of a $114 million grant to 20 research projects about the use of stem cells as a regenerative medicine for illnesses with minimal to no cure. The $114 million grant was provided by the federal government last summer to support U of T’s Medicine by Design.

U of T’s Medicine by Design focuses on regenerative medicine and cell therapy by bringing over 90 high-calibre researchers together in a globally-competitive atmosphere.

According to U of T’s Media Room website, the funding given to Medicine by Design was the first grant announced by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund and is considered to be the largest single research award in its history.

The teams of researchers in the project vary in level of education, mentorship, and specialist fields of study, and were selected after a review and final deliberation by international reviewers and the Scientific Advisory Board of Medicine

by Design.

Some examples of the topics conducted by the researchers include using stem cells to restore vision in patients with age-related vision loss, using functional liver tissues engineered from stem cells to study liver disease and test new drugs and treatments, and creating a probiotic bacterium that assists the gut lining to renew itself in response to in-

flammatory bowel diseases.

According to the Funded Initiatives section on the Medicine by Design website, these research projects involve looking into fundamental questions regarding regenerative medicine, and using technology to help accelerate the discoveries.

In U of T News article “$27-million Medicine by Design investment will fast-track stem cell research,” U of T’s vice-president of research and innovation, Vivek Goel, stated that the projects will also involve innovations for clinical trials that are expected to take place within a few years. “[The research projects] will help strengthen U of T’s reputation as a global centre in the growing field of regenerative medicine and cell therapy, power Toronto’s vibrant biomedical ecosystem and—most importantly—lay the foundation for improved outcomes for patients around the world,” said Goel in the article.

“These projects are bringing together leading life scientists, engineers, doctors, and computer scientists at U of T and our partner hospitals to tackle and solve some of the biggest hurdles in regenerative medicine,” stated U of T’s president Meric Gertler, in the U of T News article.

The plan for the recent investment is to be distributed over three years, for a proportion of $9 million per year that will be shared among 20 teams of research staff.

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09.12.2016

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 TBD Features TBD Sports TBD Photo TBD Copy TBD GENERAL STAFF 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.

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Aversion is no reason to censor Headline: Ohio police post graphic photo of overdosed parents in SUV with four-year-old child in backseat This story first broke out on September 9. For those of you who haven’t heard, two parents allegedly overdosed on heroin with their child in the backseat. Both James Acord (47) and Rhonda Pasek (50) were slapped with a slew of charges after being released from the hospital.

What truly makes this news disturbing, though, is the decision to include photos from the incident in news reports. Several photos provided by Ohio police show the couple slouched over in their seats with their child in the back. Acord, pale and openmouthed, lays back in the driver’s seat.

Beside him, Pasek lays slumped over, nearly in the driver’s seat and completely unconscious. According to the Daily Mail, “Officials say they decided to make the photos of the unconscious man and woman public to raise awareness of the heroin epidemic in the state.”

The media has been doing this for years. For most—if not all—journalists, reporting gruesome details is synonymous with reporting in general.

All details are important in order to keep the public informed.

Given that this September 11 marked the 15-year anniversary, let’s let’s examine whether journalists sensationalized tragedy needlessly. When the first plane struck, for example, reporters had limited access to details and facts. Helicopters flew around the scene while reporters scrambled. Then the second plane hit. Naturally, everyone watching was terrified.

But it’s here where news sources seemed to take a turn for the worse.

Those trapped in the upper levels

of the buildings started succumbing to their last resort. They began to jump. It saddens me deeply to think back to just how many people had no other option. What disturbs me most, though, is having the image fresh in my mind 15 years later, because of just how many news outlets filmed or photographed it.

Take The Falling Man for example.

This photo was captured by Associated Press photographer Richard Drew, and features a man jumping headfirst from one of the buildings. That photo made headlines, of course, but at what cost?

News outlets anywhere who ran that photo or others like it were met with criticism from the public. A 2009 Esquire article by Tom Junod is quoted as saying, “In most American Newspapers, the photograph that Richard Drew took of the Falling Man ran once and never again. Papers all over the country, from the Fort Worth StarTelegram to the Memphis Commercial Appeal to The Denver Post, were forced to defend themselves against charges that they exploited a man’s death, stripped him of his dignity, invaded his privacy, turned tragedy into leering pornography.” Do I blame those who spoke out against these photos? Absolutely not. How could I? With graphic imagery being shoved in our faces on a daily basis, people have a right to be outraged.

Though a case can be made saying that these photos capture history. Take Phan Thi Kim Phúc, perhaps better known to some as “napalm girl”. The photo, taken in 1972 by Associated Press, captured a group of crying children running from a napalm attack, with Kim Phúc being in the centre.

She’s screaming and naked and the photo went down in history. Recently,

Facebook tried to remove the photo, only to reverse their decision on the grounds of realizing “the history and global importance of this image in documenting a particular moment in time.” So, what makes that photo different from Drew’s?

Just last year, a photo of three-yearold Syrian boy Alan Kurdi’s lifeless body washed up on shore was presented to the world. Last month, five-yearold Omran Daqneesh was filmed in the back of an ambulance after being pulled from a building hit by an airstrike. A still from the video was published, showing the little boy covered in blood and dirt.

According to The Guardian, after Kurdi’s photo surfaced, “tens of thousands of people across the country were signing petitions, donating to NGOs, preparing to drive truckloads of supplies to Calais or volunteering to take asylum-seekers into their homes.” However, Abdullah Kurdi, Alan’s father, stated to The Telegraph, “Everyone claimed they wanted to do something because of the photo that touched them so much. But what is happening now? People are still dying and nobody is doing anything about it.”

So did these photos serve an additional purpose? It really all depends on who you ask.

Another huge part of photojournalism and printed journalism is exposing the world to the horrors of these events. It’s unreasonable to ask for the news and then become upset when something graphic is shown. This is what’s happening in the world and it’s important to be informed. Journalists shouldn’t be placed under the gun simply for showing the world what they clearly weren’t prepared to see.

Admittedly, I think my biggest issue with what is being shown in the news is my inability to stomach it, which is no excuse for censorship. I don’t want to see two parents passed out from a drug overdose. I can’t handle watching a man jump to his death when he was guaranteed it regardless.

When it comes to the media, I’ve grown accustomed to just how often violence is shown. Being a journalist, I also understand that there really isn’t time to censor everything before it gets published. This is especially true if someone is covering a live event. It’s news. It’s happening now. Journalists are doing their job.

The point isn’t to get people to agree with what’s being covered. It’s meant to keep you informed. Stunned by the news? Good. Now act. Even if you don’t act, at least you’re more aware of what’s happening. The news is meant to tell you what’s going on in the world, regardless of whether you’re ready or willing. From what I can see, that’s exactly what it’s doing.

YOURS, MARIA CRUZ

CORRECTION NOTICE The Sept. 9 article “40 years of divine unity” did not sufficiently indicate sources. The correct version can be found online. The Medium deeply regrets the oversight.

The article “Us vs them: redefining the barrier” mistakenly referred to Christine Shaw as Christine Bradshaw.

The article “Celebrating research with Smarti Gras” had switched the credits of coauthors Ayesha Hassan and Ayesha Tirmzi.

Photojournalism: more than just a shot The anniversary of 9/11 brings moments of homage, memory, and prayer across the world.

With any tragic event in history also comes controversy, and I’m not talking about the Miracle Mattress ad.

I’m talking about the famous 9/11 photograph, the Falling Man, taken

by Associated Press photographer Richard Drew.

To many, it was offensive, gruesome, or unsafe for anyone to see in a newspaper or even online. Once it was published in the New York Times, everyone noticed and people began to voice their concerns. Any journalistic outlet that published the photo was seen as having no moral compass. It was pulled from online by many.

Did people have the right to be upset? Of course they did. It’s semigraphic, especially when you consider the context of the photo. However, the question I want to answer is whether I think people should be upset about it.

My answer is no.

As a photojournalist, your job is to be the eyes for the world. Your objective is to deliver what the world can’t see. Whether the public wants to see it or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that a photojournalist will go out there and grab photographs of the most gruesome events in order to deliver one message: that these things happen.

To those of us who weren’t there, when we think of 9/11, we think of the planes hitting the towers, the screams, and the many cellphone videos. We also know the number of deaths and injuries. But have we ever thought about them as more than just a number?

2,977 lives were lost.

As a society, we’re desensitized to tragedies nowadays because all we see are casualty tolls on a screen and that’s all they are to us.

Many of us have never truly expe-

rienced just how severe it is to witness a life being taken away. The Falling Man captures this moment. Taking a closer look at the photo, one can see that there is no fear, no resistance. He had to choose to die that day.

The Falling Man is a true representation of what happened on 9/11. Just like the man in the photo, many were given no choice but death. This photo is necessary for us to truly understand what life is to us.

Many of us didn’t see death occur on 9/11. We only heard about it or were given the numbers. This photo shows death as it is about to happen.

2,977 becomes more than just a number after looking at this photo. It becomes 2,977 individual lives that were taken in one day. .

Watching a person as they are about to die is a much different experience than hearing about it. This photo not only makes us appreciate the man’s life, but it allows us to ap-

preciate our own, and all those who have lost their lives.

As a photographer myself, it doesn’t matter to me whether or not you believe this photo is offensive. The fact of the matter is that this photo is important. Everyone needs to see it to truly understand what happened that day. The images of 9/11 that we see today are the censored images that hide the severity.

Richard Drew did his job as a photojournalist. He created history. He created an important artifact that changed the way many of us view 9/11.

So before you say that this photo is offensive or heartless, really look at it and see why it’s so much more than that.

Full version can be found online at themedium.ca.

Mahmoud Sarouji Managing Editor

09.12.2016

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A fresh start for Theatre Erindale David Matheson confronts sexism, diversity, and new audiences in his role as artistic director HAILEY MASON A&E EDITOR Theatre Erindale is in the midst of a new chapter. On May 2, 2016, David Matheson, a well-educated actor, teacher, and director, took over as artistic director of Theatre Erindale and Sheridan coordinator of the theatre and drama studies program. Entering his fifth year of teaching at Sheridan College, Matheson is looking forward to his new roles at UTM, which involve working closely with faculty and students of the TDS program. In anticipation for the theatre’s new season, Matheson discusses Shakespeare, gender-bending, goals for UTM, sexism in the industry, and his relationship with the TDS students.

The Medium: Theatre Erindale’s 2016/2017 season was released not long ago. Is there any production you’ve been working closely with or one you’re particularly looking forward to?

David Matheson: Well, there’s Hamlet. What I’m doing differently with this production is making it a gender-bending Hamlet. We’re taking a lot of roles, like Hamlet, and casting a woman one night and a man the next. Every night the actors will be

OLIVIA ADAMCZYK/THE MEDIUM

Matheson prepares for the theatre’s upcoming 2016/2017 season with contemporary ideas in mind. playing either a main role or a chorus part. Each night will be a different experience because there will be different actors, different genders, and different relationships on stage. One night, it will be a lesbian Hamlet and then the next night, it won’t be.

TM: You directed a very successful production of Macbeth in 2013.

Do you think Hamlet will achieve a similar success?

DM: People love Shakespeare here.

It’s always going to be on the menu for us because it’s perfect for university.

With the big plays—we did Comedy of Errors and Pericles last year —there’s a lot of interest. They always sell out.

Everyone always wants to see them because they meld the artistic and the academic. So yeah, it’ll hopefully be a hit. Get your tickets now.

TM: You’ve directed quite a few

successful plays, such as Occupy Verona (2015) and Macbeth (2013).

Do you feel that these successes have humbled you?

DM: There’s no perfect version of anything. There’s always room to improve. There’s always something else to think about, especially with Shakespeare. It’s such a deep well that there’s no getting to the bottom of it. I never have. Dealing with Shakespeare, even

though I take a strong hand with it, I’m always humbled by his work.

TM: I read that you’re also the artistic director at Wordsmyth Theatre. Can you elaborate more on that role?

DM: [Wordsmyth] is a company that I founded about 12 years ago.

2005 was the year of our first production. It was basically a venue for myself and my colleagues to do the kind of work that we’re really passionate about. We started with an adaptation of Julius Caesar. It had four actors in it, with a female Antony. That production was one of the earlier cases where I started to do gender-bends with Shakespeare. Since then, it has become really important to me. I change the pronouns and the character role instead of the actor. So instead of having a woman play a man, I change the role so that it’s a female part. This always makes the play more interesting.

TM: Can you discuss your ideas about “gender-bending” in greater detail?

DM: In Comedy of Errors, the play we did last year, there’s a lot of misogyny and it’s really difficult to get out of. There is in Hamlet too; it’s all over.

Matheson continued on page 6

Not your average first date at the ROM Dale Chihuly crafts sculptures from sand, fire, and breath in his self-titled exhibition downtown OLIVIA ADAMCZYK PHOTO EDITOR I walk into a dimly-lit atmosphere, reminiscent of people falling in love.

It’s fitting, given that I’m about to fall in love with Dale Chihuly and his works. But our “date,” of course, is merely my visit to the Chihuly exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum. Unfortunately, I don’t actually have the honour of meeting the 74-year-old American sculptor who is the mastermind behind these works.

To begin the exhibit, the first room contains two boats titled “Float Boat” and “Ikebana Boat”, both of which draw my attention immediately with their bright colours. I enjoy the contrast between the two. “Ikebana Boat” holds organically-shaped glass in cool tones of indigo and fuchsia, while “Float Boat” contains spheres in warm colours.

The next room of the exhibit takes me to Italy. “Laguna Torcello” is a large garden of glass named after an island in Venice, Chihuly’s favourite city. The installation is an island in the middle of the room, giving me ample space to walk around and examine the varying shapes, sizes, and

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Chihuly welcomes visitors with its colourful display of glass sculptures. colours of the glass pieces. I personally don’t think the colours in this piece—whites, blues, greens, and browns—work well together, but what I do appreciate are the small, remarkably detailed sea creature sculptures.

To compare my ideas, I ask a visitor at the exhibit for her opinion.

Daniela Nowotarska, a first-year art history student at OCAD University, says, “The moment you step into the

room, it feels as if you are Alice in Wonderland. I find myself enchanted and captivated by the fine glass sculptures created by Chihuly. His artistry demonstrates imagination on a whole new dimension—something definitely worth seeing.”

As I continue my way through the exhibit, I come across an electrifying piece called “Sapphire Neon Tumbleweeds”. The light radiating from the glass tubing draws me in. As a self-

proclaimed science nerd, I find this installation particularly interesting.

The “tumbleweeds” bear resemblance to atoms, with their dense nuclei in the center and electrons orbiting around them. They remind me of what occurs at the atomic level for glowing neon gas: electrons are moving toward the nucleus and giving off light, in simple terms. With all of this in mind, “Sapphire Neon Tumbleweeds” is a great marriage of art and

science.

The next installation, “Red Reeds on Logs”, is a seemingly simple one.

It consists of long red reeds (surprise) that are placed on top of white birch logs. These reeds, some extending three metres long, remind me of Ontario’s forests, where I can picture myself standing among the autumnal trees with red, orange, and yellow leaves. I respect Chihuly for unexpectedly transporting me close to home, rather than to one of the many places he has visited in the world.

To round off my visit, I eagerly behold “Icicle Chandeliers and Towers”.

I was most excited for these pieces, due to their dazzling colour and astounding size. I wasn’t disappointed.

The chandeliers are fascinating; they don’t produce light like your typical chandelier. Rather, these chandeliers reflect light by a gentle means. Additionally, they really do look like icicles, which causes me to forget how all of these glass pieces are made.

They haven’t just haphazardly formed by the work of nature in cold temperatures. Chihuly has crafted them using sand and fire to create beauty.

Chihuly is on display at the ROM until January 2, 2017.

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THE MEDIUM 09.12.2016

Give me haikus or give me death Poetry contestants face off at Toronto Poetry Project’s Annual Haiku Deathmatch EDRIC BALA Last Tuesday, Toronto Poetry Project held their Annual Haiku Deathmatch. The event took place at Supermarket, and was hosted by Cynthia Gould. The stage was lit with green and blue lighting that spotlighted the participants as they stood on opposite sides of the stage. All seats were filled.

The Deathmatch functioned like this: the poets who had volunteered to participate went head-to-head against each other in a randomlyselected order. The opposing poets exchanged haikus back and forth on stage—verses, rhymes, and foul language were tossed around in the heat of the competition. If my devout Catholic mother had been at this event, she would’ve wanted to wash out the mouths of the participants.

But this obscenity was the charm of many participants. The use of crass language and expression of dirty truths about almost anything was rampant. It was a beautiful mess.

The haikus were assessed by a set of judges, who awarded points to the winning haiku of the round. In order for each poet to move forward in the Deathmatch, they had to achieve a predetermined amount of points. In the first round, it was best three out of five; in the second round, it was

EDRIC BALA/THE MEDIUM

Poets go head-to-head at Kensington Market restuaraunt, Supermarket. best five out of nine, and so forth.

Any participants using too many syllables had to forfeit a point.

Andre Prefontaine was one of the fan favourites. He was able to garner a roomful of laughs every time he spoke, and dethroned the previous year’s champion. Prefontaine stood out among his competitors, mainly because of his inability to restrain

himself from the use of sexual innuendos. For instance, “Gandhi’s testicles/Mother Theresa’s dentures/ Worst porno ever.”

The evening wasn’t all obscenities and foul language, though. There were some well-crafted, PG-rated haikus put forth as well. One poet gave the verse, “You are my best friend/I turn to you when I’m sad/

Refrigerator.”

As the rounds progressed and participants were eliminated, it wasn’t enough to let them just walk off the stage. Each loser had to perform a mock seppuku (also known as a harakiri), a ritual Japanese suicide by disembowelment. This act was in keeping with the evening’s theme of Japanese traditions. The failed

participants pretended to cut their stomachs open with a Hattori Hanzo blade. Gould provided the blade, and would not let the defeated ones leave without a proper exit. Talk about a new meaning to the title, “Deathmatch.”

In the final round, Prefontaine squared off against Anda Zeng. In the final, tense moments of their battle, they were both one point away from walking away victorious. But before the event was over, a bit of controversy was thrown into the mix. The match was extended, as Prefontaine faltered in one of his final haikus and spoke too many syllables. After much debate, the audience, judges, and even Zeng, agreed to disregard the mistake as a technical error. Despite dismissing Prefontaine’s error, Zeng prevailed with the winning haiku: “Brevity grew old/Levity cried in her sleep/Gravity’s smile soared.”

Overall, the Annual Haiku Deathmatch was filled with laughter and many imaginative haikus that were well-received. The participants’ delivery, pacing, and carefully paused moments built tension and anticipation between syllables. The haikus were always met with creative conclusions. The event delivered poetry and comedy, which provided the audience with an enjoyable evening.

Tackling the issue of misogny head-on Matheson continued from page 5

I’m hoping that with this approach, we can attempt to bust open [misogyny in theatre] by tackling it head-on. With this new season, we’re doing smallercast plays that can be modern. The roles for women get better and better as you get into the 20th century. This year we’re still in the 19th century, but the plans for the future will be more contemporary.

[Gender-bending] is great because it gives you a new relationship with Shakespeare and also sheds light on the text in a different way. I think it’s actually the way we’re moving in the future. In this industry, sexism is one of the biggest things we have to fight.

The way we talk about things, our language—it all has to change.

We have to acknowledge the fact that we have more women than men in the theatre and drama studies program, and we have to change our season to accommodate that.

TM: As the artistic director of Theatre Erindale, do you have any overarching goals for the theatre or the theatre and drama studies program?

DM: I want to keep moving in the direction of diversity and inclusion. I want to make sure that people know [Theatre Erindale] isn’t all just people of the same background. We have a diverse student population and we need to promote that.

Also, one of the directions I really want to go in is a focus on the UTM campus. [At Theatre Erindale], our base of support is subscribers from Mississauga. But we would really love this campus to turn out for our shows.

And by doing things that are more contemporary and having new visuals, we’re hoping that young people will respond. We’re an exciting corner of the campus that people can visit.

TM: How do you hope to increase the number of UTM and/or Sheridan students who attend performances at Theatre Erindale?

DM: Well, we’ve already changed the visuals [of our posters and brochures] and we think this will really help. The change is to create a more stylized look to things. And for recruitment, these new visuals will be huge. When they go out into the high schools, we think they’re really going to get people talking, saying things like, “What is this place? It looks like a professional theatre.”

The other thing is, as we shift our season, we want to introduce modern, contemporary approaches to classic plays. We’ve switched Hedda Gabler, adapted it, so that there’s a female Lovborg, which is Hedda Gabler’s love interest. We’re trying to bring contemporary issues into classic plays, and then next year, we’re just going to do contemporary plays. I think when young people start seeing themselves reflected in our stage, we’re going to

get more people out to our shows.

TM: So are you thinking of discontinuing Shakespeare plays from future seasons?

DM: There will always be Shakespeare, especially in the studio. But we’re going to balance it out with some contemporary work that reflects some of the issues that are being talked about today. We want to make sure the students have some experience with contemporary work as well.

TM: As the artistic director, you have added responsibilities. Do you think the extra authority will jeopardize your relationship with your students or bring you closer to them?

DM: Things come to my desk— questions of balance, questions of fairness—and I have to make tougher choices than I did before. But I try to treat the students the way I would like to be treated. And I’ve had some good mentors along the way so I think we’re going to be okay. It’s a family here.

With the same group of people, I’ll spend 27 hours a week for eight weeks out of the year. And that’s really awesome. We get really close. Every year I’ve had that experience; it’s phenomenal. [In the theatre and drama studies program], you get that thing they say universities lack these days, which is human connection.

Theatre Erindale’s 2016/2017 season begins on October 27th with the opening of The Caucasian Chalk Circle.

DAGALE MOHAMMED I’ve never considered ambition to be a fault. I view the ambitious as innovators who defy expectations. On this, Shakespeare and I seem to disagree. In many of his well-known works, such as Macbeth, Shakespeare tends to vilify ambitious characters. However, he breaks from this trend in Julius Caesar.

This Roman tragedy was the Shakespearean “book of the year” in grade ten English. At that point in my life, I didn’t care much for Shakespeare.

For me, Othello and Romeo and Juliet were too emotional to take seriously, and Twelfth Night was, at the most, just okay. As a long-time fan of political dramas, I found that Julius Caesar checked all my boxes.

The story begins with a victorious Julius Caesar returning from war, more powerful and popular than ever—much to the senate’s dismay. As political tension rises due to Caesar’s return, Senator Marcus Brutus, the play’s tragic hero, becomes involved in Senator Cassius’ scheme to assassinate Caesar. Yet, the beliefs of the two men clash—while Cassius is hungry for power, Brutus is motivated by his morals. What unfolds is a tale of political intrigue, betrayal, action, an assassination plot, and a hint of the supernatural. Consider Julius Caesar a forerunner to House of Cards, but without Kevin Spacey.

In Julius Caesar, the morality behind the characters’ ambition is more complex than the black-and-white way ambition is portrayed in other Shakespearean plays. While characters such as Brutus are influenced by their moral compass, political motivation trumps the desire to remain a good person.

Consider Julius Caesar a forerunner to House of Cards, but without Kevin Spacey.

The triumphant and self-assured Julius Caesar is by far my favourite character. Confident to a fault, this is Caesar at his prime. Somehow, Caesar’s unwavering self-confidence invokes respect, almost inspiration in the reader. The essence of Shakespeare’s Caesar can be captured in this line: “Danger knows full well/That Caesar is more dangerous than he:/ We are two lions littered in one day,/And I the elder and more terrible.” More dangerous than danger? Enough said.

Julius Caesar is a play for anyone feeling withdrawal from Game of Thrones. With engaging characters, quotable lines, and political drama in a classic setting, Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar extends beyond your grade ten classroom.

09.12.2016 THE MEDIUM ARTS» 7

Inspiration from antiquity

REWIND NICHOLAS FAZIO

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Artists in the AGM’s current exhibition create designs based on ancient ceramics.

HAILEY MASON A&E EDITOR A cluster of ceramic birds sits in the centre of the room. Intricate blue patterns fleck their white surfaces. The birds are both original and found pieces, belonging to Soheila Esfahani’s piece named “The Immigrants: Mississauga” (2016) at the Art Gallery of Mississauga. Esfahani is one of three artists currently displaying their collections at the AGM. Pattern Migration is an exhibition that combines the old with the new.

Sanaz Mazinani, Diyan Achjadi, and Soheila Esfahani find inspiration in ancient ceramics, particularly the markings and ornamental designs found on their surfaces. Using these patterns as a starting point, Mazinani, Achjadi, and Esfahani create digital prints, photography, and installations that reflect the history of a given culture. The purpose of each artist’s collection is to convey themes of migration, cultural appropriation, crosscultural exchange, hybridization, and colonialism.

Esfahani’s birds act as a representa-

tion of migration. They’re decorated with a diverse blend of patterns; some containing images of Islamic art, while others contain images found in Mississauga. This installation is a beautiful example of movement and immigration. It blends aspects of two different settings, the Middle East and Mississauga, across time. The notion of both old and new ceramic birds signifies the history behind cultural migration.

As I stepped around the circle of birds, I couldn’t help but appreciate their beauty and admire the context in which they exist. Their sporadic placement across the floor forces viewers to stop and admire them.

Despite their fragility, these ceramic birds symbolize a weighty subject.

Lining the walls of the main gallery are Mazinani’s kaleidoscopic prints belonging to her Persian Architecture series. Inspired by her native Iran, Mazinani explores topics of crosscultural exchange and diasporas. Her prints are surrealist interpretations of patterns found in Persian culture.

They display a fusion of muted tones, pulsing in an outward—or inward,

take your pick —motion, like looking through a kaleidoscope.

Mazinani’s “Golestan Palace Tiles” (2016) reflect images found in the Golestan Palace. Located in Iran’s capital, Tehran, the Golestan Palace contains bright, ornamental designs that radiate throughout its domed ceilings and sumptuous rooms. Mazinani’s print gracefully encapsulates the artistic flair of the Golestan Palace. I could watch her prints for hours, following one strain of colour to the next, and I would never tire of her imagery.

On the wall opposite Mazinani’s “Golestan Palace Tiles” is Diyan Achjadi’s “Falling” (2015) and “Java Toile” (2015). Several copies of these prints hang side by side, one after the other, along the wall. The two prints resemble one another in design; they both contain ivory backgrounds with minimalistic images spotted across their surfaces. With these pieces, Achjadi works with Chinoiserie imagery and Javanese batik patterns.

The satellite exhibition of Pattern Migration is on display at the AGM until October 24.

If there’s one film in Swedish director Ingmar Bergman’s oeuvre that remains mythical, it’s his poetic The Virgin Spring.

The screenplay, which was adapted by Ulla Isaksson from a 13th century Swedish ballad, tells the tragic origin of a lonely church in the countryside. The Virgin Spring begins humbly, in near total darkness, with a servant of the house (Gunnel Lindblom) turning embers into flames with her breath.

What follows is the tragic, mesmerizing tale of how a fervently-pious family is robbed of their daughter, their virtue, and their simple way of life by a small cadre of herdsmen.

But the story, compelling as it may be, is only a vehicle for striking images and ideas. The Virgin Spring is a powerful exploration of spiritualism, occultism, tragedy, evilness, and, of course, the irresistibility of revenge.

The Virgin Spring conjures and maintains a stark poeticism. This is largely due to the film’s patient cinematographer, Sven Nykvist. Coils of smoke, thick tangles of bracken, and bowls of milky soup draw the viewer further in until the reality of the film and the reality of the slack-jawed viewer become two frayed ends of the same cloth.

Each scene flows into the next with solemnity. The Virgin Spring appears as real as your mental image of a stream, or a shack, or a horse, or

a gold dress. There is no flaunting of technique, no cajoling of the viewer—I watch this film and I see the chewing of stale bread, the grunting of sleepy men, the endless ministrations of a heel-toe mother.

Even in scenes of motion, there is an intimate, processional idiom. Together, Bergman and Nykvist craft a tabula rasa; The Virgin Spring is not an extrapolation of ideas, but a blank pith, a reverse path to where the breadcrumbs first began to fall.

Despite all this immersive realism, or maybe because of it, the film remains somewhat aloof. There is perhaps only one scene in which we assume the gaze of Ingeri (Lindblom) peering from the brambles.

In all other scenes, the viewer is resigned to a seat of distant yet holistic observation. We are positioned across from the characters, always looking at them and rarely with them. This stylistic choice heightens the dramatic irony of the story.

There is a scene in this film where Töre (Max von Sydow), the father of the house, uproots with his bare hands a lone tree that sits atop a hill. Physically formidable, yes, but layered over this herculean tug and thrust is the haunting vision of a man combating many natures: one carnal, one spiritual, one vernal.

Like many other scenes in this film, it remains etched in my mind.

The Virgin Spring is a stream of shadows and light, of truths obscured and lies revealed.

Add a little emotion to your study playlist FARIDA ABDELMEGUIED Based on the cover art, False Readings On by Eluvium seems like an album that contains a message about the self.

The artwork is minimalistic. It depicts a dissolving black shadow in the centre of an ivory background. Released on September 2, Eluvium’s new album is an emotional rollercoaster. The absence of lyrics allowed me to fill in the gaps, and my thoughts went everywhere.

I find it fascinating how Eluvium can generate so many emotions without saying a word. As an experimen-

tal composer, I find that it’s hard to define the band with a single genre.

False Readings On includes piano and a lot of electronic sounds while staying true to its minimalistic approach.

The album is emotionally lucid, raw, and human.

Eluvium is definitely an acquired taste. I don’t believe this is music that can be enjoyed by everybody, but I do feel that it serves a purpose.

While there’s a sense of spirituality and individuality in the way the music was composed, the songs blur into each other at certain points, and it becomes hard to distinguish them from

one another. At times, the album feels a little redundant.

False Readings On provides appropriate study music. It’s also a good album to listen to if you need time to think, as it pushes you to reflect.

While some songs are relaxing, some make me think about anxiety and selfdoubt. One song can contain many ups and downs, climaxes and resolutions. Each one feels like its own story.

In terms of the progression of the album, the first few songs, such as “Regenerative Being,” are relaxing and slow. Later on, however, things become more intense and chaotic.

“Washer Logistics” is significantly more hectic than the average song.

Frankly, the music becomes repetitive near the middle of the album.

Moving forward, it becomes calming again, particularly because “Movie Revisited” contains the sounds of crashing waves. The songs after this are pleasant background music, similar to white noise at times. The few remaining songs don’t require your close attention. Yet, if you devote yourself to listening to them, you’ll be given a chance to reflect.

“Individuation” is probably my favorite song on the album; it’s emo-

tional and the piano really affects me. I also enjoy “Strangeworks,” as it seems like a good song to play in the background of a meditation session.

The ending of the album is predictable because of the aforementioned repetition. However, it provides closure to the wave of emotions it invokes throughout. The final song, “Posturing Through Metaphysical Collapse,” is slow and soothing.

False Readings On left me in a fantastic state of mind. Listening to it was a process of renewal. Although parts of the album were unsettling, I finished feeling calm and collected.

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Syria to ’Sauga: Nazar reaches UTM Amid violence and repeated migration, a Syrian refugee student finds his path back to education FARAH QAISER FEATURES EDITOR A single Google search with the terms “Syrian refugee” brings up heartbreaking images, policy debates, and controversial comments. What also pops up on the screen are statistics —statistics declaring the rising death toll, the current length of the ongoing Syrian civil war, and especially, the growing number of refugees in Europe, the U.S., and Canada. Nazar Poladian is one of those numbers in Canada—but he is more than just a statistic.

Violence had been brewing in Syria for a while, but many consider March 2011 to be the beginning of the Syrian civil war.

“Overall, there was tension—everything was not good,” says Poladian.

At this point, Poladian was pursuing a bachelor’s in business administration, with a major in marketing, at the University of Kalamoon in Syria.

“We had lots of problems within the university campus,” says Poladian.

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Poladian is intent on completing his degree - despite his growing success in his professional life.

“A couple of times, our university was closed because our students started [having] objections […] A couple of times, the military entered our campus—they caught those students who were trying to do the objections

against the government.”

Poladian’s involvement in politics worried his parents. While he didn’t consider himself to be greatly involved with politics, he does agree that his actions could have been con-

sidered dangerous, given the circumstances in Syria at that point.

“When I started on social media, writing things, my parents were [so scared],” he says.

His parents recommended that he

stop posting such strong opinions on social media, or that he move to Lebanon immediately.

“We saw a couple of friends and the problems they faced just because of writing on social media,” Poladian says.

In 2012, when Poladian was in his third year of undergraduate studies, he left Syria.

“I went to Lebanon. [I was] supposed to stay there for a couple of months and then come back to Syria.”

However, he remained in Lebanon, as the situation in Syria did not improve.

“I tried a lot to come back to Syria, because I had one semester and a half to graduate,” he says.

In Lebanon, Poladian stayed with his aunt and various family members as he worked full-time to support himself. He also studied part-time at Haigazian University in Beirut, where he was forced to restart his degree, as transfer credits could not be applied in his case.

Poladian continued on page 10

Meet Ulrich Krull: the life-long student Professor Ulrich Krull is UTM’s newly appointed interim vice-principal & vice-president AYESHA HASSAN Greeting me with a warm smile and a welcoming handshake, Professor Ulrich Krull, UTM’s newly appointed interim vice-principal and interim vice-president, takes a seat behind his table.

Krull belongs to the Department of Chemical & Physical Sciences, where he generally focuses on biological and bioanalytical chemistry. He is a Fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada, holds the AstraZeneca Chair in Biotechnology, and is one of the editors for the journal Analytica Chimica Acta. Krull also holds a black belt in judo, and has co-authored more than 60 books.

Krull completed his undergraduate, Masters, and Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Toronto St. George campus, and has been appointed as a faculty member by the university. He feels that he is very fortunate to be part of such an institution.

“It is an unusual trajectory for a faculty member to stay with one institution, but one of my mentors said, ‘Wouldn’t you like to work in the best institution in Canada? Why would you want to work in another institution? Why don’t you want to be in the

OLIVIA ADAMCZYK/THE MEDIUM

Ulrich Krull completed his undergraduate, Masters and Ph.D in chemistry—all at U of T. best institution?’ So I was fortunate enough to be selected here.”

With a job that requires 40 percent of the faculty members’ time devoted to research, I wondered who his lab members were and what his lab focuses on.

“Our team typically consists of 12 to 15 people—a mixture of graduate students, people who have their Ph.D. and they are doing the equivalent of an internship, called the post-doctoral fellowship, [and] a few undergraduate students,” says Krull.

“And occasionally we have visi-

tors—[my lab] has graduate students from China, a visitor faculty member from China, and a new faculty member coming from Iran. Our research focuses on an area called nanotechnology, and our goal is to build a new form of technology that is small enough to fit inside the living cell to watch the chemical communication processes happen in real time, and locate disease pathways and shut them down.”

His team also hopes to achieve something called theranostics—diagnostics coupled with therapy. Using

this approach, they will be able to get into the living tissue and determine whether it is ready for treatment, deliver the treatment, and follow up to check whether it has been effective or not.

But how did Krull move from a background that focused on research and science to a role in administration?

He chuckled, and said, “If you can show you can do something, […] somebody is going to ask you to start doing it. My family’s motto has always been that if you have a position of re-

sponsibility where people look up to you for leadership, you have to step up.”

As the interim vice-principal of UTM, Krull is now responsible for all the tasks that the principal and the vice-president were, which also implies that he has the authority to restructure the campus and “ensure that the place is well-seated for the next principal.”

Krull has recently announced six open “town hall” events to allow the UTM community, especially students, to express their views and suggestions regarding the improvement of the campus. He is also planning to launch new programs after overcoming challenges such as accommodation and space.

“One of the things that I learnt is that if you are interested in life, you take on too much and find whatever fits,” says Krull, of balancing his research and administrative duties.

“I do not think I have a balance in my life, but I have something a lot of people do not have—a very flexible and forgiving family. They have always respected it and given time to do it and what I try to do is balance it all and give them time as well.”

09.12.2016 THE MEDIUM FEATURES» 9

Keeping traditions alive at Storyboot Starting Sept. 11, the Toronto-based school teaches the art of Mukluk-making to Indigenous youth FARHAT AMINI Starting September 11, Indigenous youth between the ages of 12 and 25 are encouraged to sign up for Storyboot Schools, where they will be taught the traditional art of mukluk-making. Mukluks are Indigenous footwear that are crafted by hand and worn by several different Indigenous tribes in Canada.

The Storyboot Project was created by the Manitobah Mukluks, a company owned by Métis CEO and founder, Sean McCormick. The project is aimed to help Aboriginal artists who create mukluks and moccasins sell their work and receive 100% of the profit and recognition.

The Manitobah Mukluks have partnered with the TreadRight Heritage Initiative and the Bata Shoe Museum to establish a Storyboot School in Toronto.

Traditionally, the process of making the mukluk was passed down from elders to youth. But as the Canadian government placed bans on many Indigenous cultural aspects, along with placing Indigenous youth in residential schools, the

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The Storyboot school was created by the Manitobah Mukluks. knowledge of making the mukluk became limited to few people.

The Medium had the chance to interview The Storyboot School’s director, Waneek Horn Miller—a Canadian who won gold in water polo in the 1999 Pan American Games.

Miller is from the Mohawk tribe of Canada, and has been a strong voice in the reclamation of Indigenous cultures. She grew up doing beadwork with her mom to help pay for her athletic expenses. Today, she is the director and spokesperson for The Storyboot School and the

Manitobah Mukluks company. Miller’s role as the director is to go to each school at the beginning of the school year, at the end of the school year, and on their graduation day.

In a phone interview with The Medium, Miller said, “I’m a big believer in ensuring that I have a good

grasp on who I am as an Indigenous person and being able to know who I am with the context of my culture—but also how to translate that into mainstream society and empower an entire community. Not just the Aboriginal community, but Canada as a whole.”

Miller expressed, “Moccasins and mukluks have a very strong cultural significance in our community. We give mukluks and moccasins to babies that are born and couples when they get married. It’s to signify a new path in life.”

Miller believes that the schools bringing both Indigenous and nonIndigenous groups together is a form of non-traditional reconciliation. She said, “People [are] coming together and learning how to make something beautiful, and sharing it, enjoying it—and I think that’s how we as a country, at a small micro level, are going to feel past something that was quite traumatic.”

Miller expressed that it’s important for youth to take part in this initiative.

Mukluk continued on page 10

A new name, a new year: CSE is ready This summer, the student life department has undergone various changes, including a new name MARIUM FAISAL

This summer, the student life department has undergone a few changes, and is now known as the Centre of Student Engagement.

According to the mission statement on their website, the centre’s “campus and community based cocurricular programs, services and initiatives promote student engagement through innovative opportunities that contribute to student success.”

During my first year, I was under the assumption that Ulife, UTMSU, and Student Life were all a part of one big department. A few months later, I was shocked to find out that Student Life was a completely separate office.

Sitting with Dray Perenic Price and Alysha Ferguson, the two student development officers at the centre, I learned more about the motivations that drove the Centre of Student Engagement to become who they are on campus.

Ferguson’s focus is on community engagement, which includes bringing in more community partners to provide students with a variety of volunteer opportunities. Price focuses on leadership and learning, which includes the co-curricular record, student organizations, and the new Alumni Mentorship program.

When asked about the recent name change of the office, Price comments that “students were really confused about what Student Life meant— sometimes they thought it [was] where they [got] their T-card or where they [found] housing. [Student

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The Centre for Student Engagement currently has 39 work-study students.

Life] had a very broad meaning.”

The team had conducted a survey last February, where they asked students general questions about the student life department. While some responses reflected exactly what Student Life did, what many students were also saying about Student Life’s provided services surprised them.

“Taking that [survey], we wanted to figure out and define exactly what we wanted our office to do, and if Student Life was really the right name for it,” Ferguson added.

It took them a day to decide what would better encompass the type of work they were doing, and when they did, Ferguson commented, “[The new name] was perfect. We loved it.”

Price believes that the new name will encourage students to go to their

office first as an established student engagement hub. There, the team will be able to help students find ways to get involved on and off campus.

“Even if it means directing them to another department—but ideally we want students to take advantage of what’s here [for them],” Price adds.

The Centre for Student Engagement also conducted research on why being engaged on campus was beneficial for students.

“Students who are engaged on campus tend to have higher marks, [as] they are more connected to the campus. They are able to make friends [with ease] […] and it even helps [improve] students’ mental health,” Price says.

Ferguson believes that their job at the office is more about directing

each student’s individual passion and interests, rather than providing only a handful of programs that may or may not interest everyone.

“We want to make sure students find those different ways that they’re engaging [on campus] […] Whenever students [come] in here and tell us what they are passionate about, we want to either find a program we can offer them or find another spot on campus, but we never want to take that passion away from a student,” she says.

Currently, the Centre for Student Engagement has 39 work-study students—two of whom are student engagement coaches who meet oneon-one with students. These coaches answer questions from students who are lost and unsure of where to start,

and direct them towards programs offered by the centre or by any of the many student clubs on campus.

The Centre for Student Engagement, along with a new name, is also launching a variety of new initiatives.

Under the “Leadership and Learning” umbrella is the Alumni Mentorship program, which launches at the end of October. The program will partner each undergrad with a UTM alum with similar interests and career goals. The pair will meet one-on-one and discuss whatever questions the undergrads have.

In terms of new community engagement initiatives, the Leadership in Action project will team up groups of students with a community partner, with whom they will identify a way they would like to bring about a social change.

For the CSE’s Civic Engagement Portfolio, there will be an extension into the social justice sector, rather than only the political field. During the second semester, they will be running two events every month, discussing social justice issues and topics that students want to talk about.

They will also be bringing in experts to engage in these conversations and answer questions.

Other new programs include the Leadership Bootcamp, which will be taking place over a span of three days during the upcoming fall reading week. The event, based on the book Grit by Angela Duckworth, will address topics such as self-discovery, learning how to be resilient, knowing where your success lies, and how to cope with failure.

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THE MEDIUM 09.12.2016

UTM Pathways forged a route for Nazar Poladian continued from page 8 However, Poladian was once again unable to complete his degree—despite being so close to graduation—as he moved to Canada as a part of the Resettlement Assistance Program in September 2015.

“When I was a senior year student again, the thing happened and I moved to Canada,” laughs Poladian, as he points out that this unfortunate event of being unable to complete his degree has happened twice.

Immediately upon arrival, Poladian got involved with various nonprofits and worked professionally in various aspects of digital marketing and banking.

For example, earlier this year, Poladian and a group of Syrian expatriates together launched Difugees, which, according to Poladian, is a “socio-digital consulting agency that aims to help humanitarian organizations to build an efficient digital and communications [strategy].”

Poladian is also involved with the QUDURAT network, which is an initiative provided by the Arab Community Centre in Toronto. In English, Qudurat translates roughly into capability, as the QUDURAT network aims to tap into newcomer potential by highlighting their capabilities.

At first, this initiative started off as a simple job fair, but now it has become much larger and evolved into a ‘network’. This May 2016, over 280 Middle Eastern newcomers had the chance to network with over 80 different organizations and professionals.

“I wanted to help other Syrians, professionals that landed here. They didn’t have the experience to connect professionally,” he says.

“I’m an extrovert. I go to people, I talk to people, and I build networks.

That helped me a lot get the job, and even get into U of T. So I was trying to share my experience with other people by organizing this job fair.”

Today, Poladian is an account manager at RBC, where he works full-time to support his family. De-

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Poladian gave a talk at the 2016 TEDx U of T event, titled, “Refugees connecting the world”. spite his growing success in his professional life, Poladian remains intent on completing his degree.

“I’m working at RBC full-time. As a new immigrant, and someone without a [bachelor’s degree], for people, [this] was good,” explains Poladian.

“For me, I know that I’m thirsty. I want to learn more skills. I want to go deep into the field that I really love.

Because after working on a project, even [both as a volunteer] and as a paid job, I realized that I’m good at doing things but I’m not good at knowing the theory behind it. […]

The main reason that I want to go back to school is to build skills that I need—especially from U of T [as] it’s an education hub, an academic hub.”

Poladian remarks that the “Canadian government gave us the PR card more easily than accepting to transfer my education.”

However, Poladian did find his way back to university education— through the 2016 TEDx U of T event.

“When the TEDx came up […] I was just suggesting to come and volunteer, and [then] I ended up giving a talk there,” says Poladian.

Poladian’s talk (“Refugees connect-

ing the world”) focused on his work with various social organizations across the world, especially Difugees.

“Fortunately, the people that were [organizing the event]—they were all from the UTM campus. They were a part of the Digital Enterprise and Management program, from CCIT. They were talking about the programs that they were involved in, and I [thought] ‘that [this is] what I want to do!’ ” says Poladian.

This September, Poladian will be starting at UTM as a part-time student.

Poladian chose UTM for three main reasons. The first being that the Digital Enterprise and Management program is his dream program. Secondly, Poladian was awarded one of the six $100,000 scholarships from the U of T Scholars-At-Risk program, which helps ease any financial burdens. But lastly, and most importantly, it was the fact that his previous education could be put towards his current degree as transfer credits that sealed the deal for him.

“Whatever I am saying about the transfer [credits] and the scholarship—it was all because of Adam

[Fraser]. He did all those things; even I was not aware of how much he was helping. Without Adam, I don’t think [any of this] was possible,” says Poladian.

Adam Fraser is the manager of the UTM Pathways program, which is dedicated to helping mature students (20 years or older), or those who do not meet traditional admission requirements, gain a chance for direct admission into university studies.

One of the branches of the program, the Bridging Pathways program, is dedicated to Canadian students who fit this criterion.

“Once they’re admitted, they don’t go to a special bridging class or anything like that. It’s traditional classes […] they’re probably in some of your classes,” says Fraser.

Recently, Fraser looked into data provided by the Canadian government (specifically Citizenship and Immigration Canada) to find Syrian refugees that were located within 80 km of UTM. “In most cases, research shows that students are only willing to travel up to 80 km to go to an institution,” says Fraser. “[…] So we looked at the

population who’s landed here in the area […] and then looked at the age demographics.”

Fraser narrowed down the likely students into four groups.

“The younger ones are going to be most likely going into the Ontario high school system, and then down the road, they may be eligible for university. There’d be those who came who have already completed high school who would be interested in going to university now,” says Fraser.

“There are those who back home may have been in university and would be interested in transferring to university, such as Nazar [Poladian].

And then there are those who graduated, who either want to continue school or be accredited here.”

This research was one of the steps behind the creation of the Syrian Pathways program.

“We’re using the [Bridging Pathways] model to help get students into degree studies,” says Fraser.

“I’ve made a few little tweaks to what already exists and to utilize that pathway or that opportunity to help any Syrian refugees who want to continue on in education, but don’t have the actual documents with them. In some cases—actually, I’ve met with four Syrian refugee students so far— and they’ve all actually had their documents, so we didn’t have to use the pathway necessarily, but it’s been an option for them.”

Fraser additionally comments that Poladian has been a good advocate for the program, as he has been “able to connect us to the population that could benefit from this pathway.”

“People here, they have all the resources, access to lots of technological [and] academic resources. I want to simply make the most out of it,” says Poladian.

“Sometimes you don’t realize what you have unless someone [takes] it from you. You have the resources, so make sure you make the most out of it […] To make the most out of it is the minimum thing [you can do] so you can give back to humanity.”

New school aimed at helping Indigenous youth Mukluk continued from page 9 She said, “You’re not actually just participating in mukluk and moccasinmaking, but you’re actually actively taking part in cultural revitalization, which is something bigger than themselves—by teaching them things that were essentially outlawed and these practices were beaten out of our ancestors through residential schools.

So the fact that they’re there and they’re giving their time is honouring themselves and their grandparents and all the people who fought to hold onto these practices—and also honouring the generations to come, so that they know they can pass them onto their kids and grandchildren.”

TreadRight Heritage is the nonprofit branch of The Travel Corporation. In an interview with the program manager, Zach Vanasse, The Medium was informed that this is their first initiative with Canada.

“We’re always looking for different projects, and so when something like [The Storyboot School] came along, it was very easy and obvious to say that this is something we would love to get behind,” said Vanasse.

Vanasse explained that the underlying theme of the TreadRight Foundation is also about giving back by helping historical destinations and cultural values be sustainable.

The TreadRight Foundation is providing the grants needed for The Storyboot School to keep their learning space at the Bata Shoe Museum.

They’re also buying the materials needed for the shoes, such as cowhide, suede, leather, and beads.

Sage Petahtegoose is a film and production student at Humber College, and one of the two teachers that will teach at the Bata Shoe Museum.

She is Anishinaabekwe, and is from the Elk clan from Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, a reserve found in the

Robinson Huron Treaty territory.

“I just have a love for showcasing the teachings that I’ve received, and portraying that through film,” Petahtegoose told The Medium.

Petahtegoose learned how to make moccasins from her mom and grandmother.

“People [are] coming together and learning how to make something beautiful, and sharing it, enjoying it.”

—Waneek Horn Miller “The first time I made [a moccasin], I think I was twelve. They say you should always give your first pair away. I gave mine away to my greatuncle. [This is because] you learn a new skill, and you’re not doing it just

for yourself. You’re doing it to give back to the people around you,” she added.

She hopes that the Indigenous youth living in cities, such as Toronto, are able to participate in classes such as these and find out about their culture, because it’s often difficult to do so in urban areas.

“Being able to pass on what I know, and know that it’s in a room full of other people who respect the teachings that I’m going to give them, is really important to me,” she said.

Petahtegoose and Vanasse both stated that this school is targeted towards Indigenous youth, who will be chosen first to participate in classes.

As interest increases, non-Indigenous individuals will also be welcome.

Classes will be held every Sunday from 1-4 p.m. at the Bata Shoe Museum.

There are currently five schools across Canada, located in Montreal,

Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, and London, Ontario.

The Medium also spoke to Winston Ma, the Travel Corporations’ public relations and digital media specialist.

Ma said, “There’s 35,000 Indigenous members of [Toronto]—but they are never talked about. The culture’s never talked about, and when you talk about the Native culture, you always think ‘Well, it’s outside of Toronto’.”

Ma also informed The Medium that 20 Indigenous youth have already signed up for the classes taking place at the Bata Shoe Museum in a classroom that can only hold up to 15-20 students. He added, “This proves that there is a high demand among Indigenous youth to learn more about their traditions and heritage, and we hope to see more interest as more people learn about the school and its mission of celebrating the success of Canada’s Aboriginal people.”

09.12.2016

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Last down to turn things around Varsity Blues football is looking to rebound against York after first three games of the season ERIC HEWITSON SPORTS EDITOR The University of Toronto Varsity Blues football team lost to the number eight nationally-ranked McMaster Marauders on Monday, September 5. The final score was 32-5 at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, ON. The Labour Day meeting was the 50th time these two teams have matched up against one another.

The Marauders hold the edge with a 28-21-1 record, dating back to 1945.

Marcus Hobbs, the fifth-year quarterback from Mississauga, was 22-of-38 for 288 yards. Rahul Madan caught many of Hobbs’ passes, amassing 12 receptions for 154 yards, awarding him Varsity Blues Male Athlete of the Week.

Third-year UTM student and Blues defensive back, Dennis Idowu, tallied seven tackles. The entire defensive squad played an exceptionally sound game—the gap in the final score does not showcase the vast improvements they have made from previous years. Typi-

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The Blues are 0-3, averaging 11.3 points per game and 317.3 yards per game. cally, against nationally-ranked opponents, the Blues would give up more than 50 points a game. However, they are taking the small steps necessary to play against high-calibre offenses.

Turnovers were the Achilles heel for the Blues, who committed three within the first 30 minutes.

The Marauders had possession of the ball much more often than the Blues. In doing so, they scored a touchdown, kicked four field goals, and conceded a safety to take a 19-2 halftime lead.

The Marauders took advantage early in the second half, creating momentum for themselves when

they blocked Ryan Grandell’s field goal attempt and ran the ball 70 yards down the field, making the score 26-2. The Blues gathered some strength in the fourth quarter when Grandell kicked a 32-yard field goal.

On Saturday, September 10, the Blues lost a second time to the

number six nationally-ranked Carleton Ravens at Varsity Stadium.

Fourth-year UTM student and Blues defensive back Nick Hallett led the all-Blues defenders with eight tackles. Third-year linebacker Michael Leslie came a close second by helping his team with six tackles.

Third-year running back Alex Malone had a good day on the field, running 16 times for a total of 116 yards on the ground.

The Carleton Ravens have come a long way in the past four years.

The Blues beat Carleton in their inaugural season by double digits the last time the Ravens came to Toronto. Fast forward four years, and the Ravens are one of the best teams in the country.

Fourth-year all-Canadian wide receiver Nathaniel Behar accounted for 18 of Carleton’s points, catching eight balls for a total of 129 yards and three touchdowns.

Watch the 47th annual Red and Blue Bowl when the Blues take on the York Lions on Saturday at Varsity Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

For those who are gluttons for gluten Celiac disease has brought to life the serious risks for athletes who overeat gluten food products NADER HADI

People now more than ever before are running away from gluten as if it’s the plague—but is it necessary?

There is plenty of research suggesting that gluten, the combination of proteins gliadin and glutenin found in cereal grains, causes issues with mental processing and physical movement.

Naturally, this begs the question of whether we should ditch wheat for good and search for an alternative to gluten-free diets.

It’s important to keep in mind that there are some people who need a gluten-free diet to function in their everyday life. Celiac disease is an immune system disorder in which your body can’t break down gluten. This disease leads to malabsorption of nutrients, followed by many painful symptoms. Symptoms include gas, diarrhea, bloating, constant fatigue, abdominal pain, and other pains that cause an inconvenience to daily routines.

Though it isn’t just those who suffer from celiac that have a sensitivity to gluten. People who claim to have gluten sensitivity describe

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Celiac disease is when the small intestine is hypersensitive to gluten, leading to digestion troubles. their experiences with food containing gluten and wheat to cause bloating and gas.

For individuals who suffer from celiac disease, gluten triggers inflammation in the small intestines.

Individuals who have this disease follow a gluten-free diet to avoid the pain that comes from ingesting

this protein. For those with gluten sensitivity, their gluten-free diet is a preferred way of living rather than a forced way of survival.

Many student athletes depend on an adequate carbohydrate intake to have enough energy to perform on the field and in the classroom. A lot of energy is derived from grains,

and when these foods aren’t in your system anymore, it doesn’t perform as well due to fatigue. It’s missing critical nutrients, such as vitamin B and forms of iron and fibre.

Evidence suggests that when professional athletes follow a glutenfree diet, they believe over time that the benefits outweigh the risks.

Athletes think that a lot of carbohydrates before a game slow them down during the critical period to perform.

Healthy carbohydrate substitutes for people that follow the glutenfree diet are varieties of flaxseeds, quinoa, potato, nuts, tofu, and beans. These foods provide critical nutrients to the body while also keeping the body and mind quick and sharp.

The benefits of a gluten-free diet can be persuasive. The immune system rests and the body can function at a high level to repair muscles. Hypoglycemic effects on the body are minimized after exercise, and blood sugar levels are stabilized during exercise. This is essential for increasing muscle strength and stamina.

But the argument against glutenfree living, some would argue, is just as convincing.

Choosing between a gluten-free diet and a gluten-pro diet can be a tough decision if you don’t suffer from celiac, as there are pros and cons to each choice—especially if you’re an athlete looking for that athletic edge. But if the decision is up to me, I’m not giving up my pizza.

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«SPORTS

THE MEDIUM 09.12.2016

It’s now or never, Toronto

ERIC HEWITSON SPORTS EDITOR

The Blue Jays are looking to make the playoffs this year.

WILFRED ANDREW The urgency of post-season baseball has arrived a month ahead of schedule in Toronto, Baltimore, Boston, and New York. A mere three games separate the leader from fourth place.

At least one of these teams will fail to qualify for the post-season in October. Incredibly, three of these four teams may miss the post-season entirely, depending on the performances of Detroit, Kansas City, Houston, and Seattle over the next three weeks, while the AL East teams are forced to cannibalize one another down the stretch.

Some perspective is in order. Outside the AL East, the tightest divisional race is in the NL West. There, second-place San Francisco trails Los Angeles by four games. Fourthplace San Diego, meanwhile, sits 21.5 games back. Wildcard slots aside, the playoff picture for the entire league is nearly crystalized. Meanwhile, in the AL East, the current divisional leader may realistically be outright eliminated at the conclusion of game 162.

Statistically speaking, any given person likely to be reading this was probably not alive the last time the Blue Jays played a truly meaningful, stress-ridden game in September.

And so, young Toronto baseball fans are becoming acquainted for the first time with the Toronto media’s tradition of daily pessimistic hot-takes— the “woe is us,” the “classic Toronto sports,” and all of the other talking points that are derived from pure panic and to which young Toronto hockey fans have long grown accustomed.

To be sure, last season was the first time in two decades that the Jays remained relevant through September.

But last September, the Jays were less a baseball team and more a comedic, goliath, cartoon ball club. By the year’s end, the Jays had scored a phenomenal 891 runs, 127 more than the runner-up Yankees. How significant a gap is this? A 127-run gap is approximately what separated the Yankees from the 27th-place Philadelphia Phillies. The Jays weren’t just leading the league in offensive statistics; they were so far ahead of the competition, that at times it felt like putting Usain Bolt up against a high school track star. Last year, a starting pitcher could surrender four runs in the first inning but Jays fans’ confidence was bolstered by a sincere faith—a faith often proven right—that the offense would overcome the deficit within the next three innings. There was no stress,

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and success was so assured that the games were hardly meaningful.

A flurry of deadline acquisitions emphasized the surreal quality of last year. “David Price is a Blue Jay? Rogers Communications is investing in a playoff push? A sellout Tuesday game at the Dome? I must be dreaming,” were surely the thoughts of every Canadian baseball fan.

Now, the fairy tale haze of last season has faded and the Blue Jays of 2016 have regressed to something far more realistic, albeit far more stressful: an elite MLB team making a playoff push but without any guarantee of success. The trade deadline was less headline-inducing. The contractual Sword of Damocles dangles over the front office with multiple faces-ofthe-franchise only a few months shy of free agency. The blown saves, onfield errors, and runners left-on-base are steadily piling up. Yet the Jays remain in the thick of the playoff hunt, scraping by in the only division that remains up for grabs.

Last year, Rogers Centre was regularly a 47,000 attendee party that ended in stress, sadness, and “maybe next year.” Now, next year has arrived.

This year’s party may so far feel like less of a fairy tale, but it may yet have its happily-ever-after ending.

The University of Toronto fastpitch team opened up their 2016 season this past weekend. The dominant team beat Brock 4-1 on Friday night, then lost to the Badgers in game two, 5-3. Toronto continued to swing the bats and make contact against the York Lions, beating them 8-1 and 10-6 on Saturday at Dieppe Park in Toronto. The Blues continued their winning ways beating previously undefeated Queen’s Gaels 13-10 and 12-5 on Sunday.

The Blues looks to take on another weekend filled with crucial games on Friday when they host the Ottawa Gee-Gee’s at Dieppe Park at 7 p.m.

The Varsity Blues men’s rugby team dropped their ninth straight consecutive game on Sunday, losing to the Brock Badgers 34-19 at Brock Rugby Field. The Blues are struggling this year, sitting in ninth place and holding the worst record in the OUA at 0-9. Guelph, Queen’s, and Western are the fiercest competitors.

The Varsity Blues women’s soccer team lost 2-1 to the number three nationally-ranked Ottawa GeeGee’s on Sunday, which was their fourth consecutive loss. The Blues have been dominant at home, winning two of three, but on the road they are 0-4. The Blues had a solid second half against the Gee-Gee’s; second-year striker Natasha Klasios scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season in the 66th minute,

putting her team on the board. The Blues look to add to the win column on Sunday, September 18 when they host the Ryerson Rams at Varsity Centre at 12 p.m. The Blues women’s hockey team lost 4-1 to the Carleton Ravens on Sunday at Varsity Arena.

It was the team’s first exhibition game. Toronto opened up the scoring in the first period when thirdyear forward Meaghan O’Brien put the puck past Carleton goaltender Katelyn Steel at the 14:27 mark. The Blues look to clean up their kinks before the start of the regular season on October 14. Last year, the Blues finished off the season ranked second in the OUA with a 12-4-4 record. Blues goaltender Valencia Yordanov made 19 saves in the loss.

The Blues look to get back in the pre-season win column on Tuesday when they host Leaside Wildcats at Varsity Arena. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.

The Varsity Blues men’s soccer team is dominating this year within the OUA, holding a solid 3-0-2 record. The Blues have a solid offensive attack, accumulating 12 goals in the first five games. They tied the Carleton Ravens this past weekend with a 1-1 draw on the road in Ottawa. Delano Capobianco scored the first goal of his OUA career and the Blues first goal of the game in the 70th minute. Six minutes later, Carleton’s Mekonen Lovemore-Whi te tallied the tying goal six minutes later. The Blues host the league’s best team, Ryerson Rams, on Sunday, September 18 at Varsity Centre.

Kickoff is set for 2:15 p.m.