THE VOICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO MISSISSAUGA
February 11, 201 9 Volume 45, Issue 1 8 themedium.ca
APUS brings out more bursaries
Our AGM: You’re invited!
U of T honours the arts
Ellapen talks gender & media
Eagles bend the knee to Knights
News, page 3
Opinion, page 4
Arts, page 5
Features, page 8
Sports, page 11
UTMSU equity centre now operational The equity centre will provide a safe and inclusive space for marginalized and minority students MELISSA BARRIENTOS ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
On January 25, the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union’s Equity Centre became open to all UTM students. The planned opening had been postponed due to the recent provincial government changes, but the UTMSU hopes to host an official unveiling event for the Centre in the upcoming weeks. The centre was created with the intention of providing a safe and inclusive space for students to share their concerns with an attending coordinator or to simply unwind in an open environment. “I think it was so important for us to make sure that it was an inviting space because we wanted it to act as a decompression space so folks can actually come in here and feel comfortable […] We wanted folks to say, ‘wow, I can just sit here and talk to people or just sit in silence if I needed to,’” Said UTMSU’s VP Equity Leena Arbaji during a tour of the space. While the Equity Centre has yet to officiate all its services, the centre is open from Monday to Friday. A trained coordinator can be found
JULIA HEALY/THE MEDIUM
The equity centre was created with the intention of providing an inclusive space for students. in the centre to provide support and guidance to students. The coordinators holding office hours include the UTMSU’s Queer and Trans Coordinator, Racialized Coordinator, VP Equity Associate and Sustainability
Coordinator. The coordinators are versed in the main foundations of equity and can talk with students concerned about issues regarding equity, sexuality, diversity, sexual violence, mental
health and race. The Centre is also decked with resources to Peel Health clinics where further help can be obtained. “We wanted this room to not only be a de-stressing room but also a
room for equity groups, clubs, and societies to be present in. [There are also] resources for external groups or local institutions that advocate on equity matters,” Said UTMSU President Felipe Negata. “[The Equity Centre is] a space where folks can come and meet, or use as a space to decompress,” continued Negata. “Recently we had the sexual violence policy consultation, and this was acting as a decompression space. In case an event is a little too heavy for folks, they can come here and chill.” Located on the second floor of the Student Centre, Room 240K, UTMSU’s Equity Centre is the third room to the right, beside the UTMSU’s Academic Integrity Centre and the Sustainability room. At this moment, the Equity Centre’s office hours vary from day to day, and will be subject to change. A time schedule will be posted online and on the entrance to the Equity hall for students to see. The UTMSU has also expressed interest in turning their sustainability room, where sustainable products and tools are currently stored, into a Green Centre. Equity continued on page 2
U of T consults students on sexual violence The consultation gave students an opportunity to provide feedback on the current sexual harassment policy MDUDUZI MHLANGA
This past Thursday, the University of Toronto held a consultation with students regarding the University’s policy on sexual violence and sexual harassment. The goal for this sexual harassment policy (SVP) consultation was to collect feedback from students on the report in hopes of locating its shortcomings and recommending adequate changes to the current policy. The host of the meeting highlighted the priority of reforming the policy to make it a “survivor-centred policy, and not a bureaucratic-centred policy.” The attendants of the consultation session emphasized that the policy needs to be understandable and written in simple language. Attendants brought up suggestions, to include in the policy the acknowledgement that the process can stop at any time should a survivor of sexual violence become uncomfortable.
NOOR AL-KAABI/THE MEDIUM
Attendants suggested sexual violence survivors be treated with emotional support first. Attendants also suggested ensuring that when a survivor of sexual violence come forward with a complaint, they not be faced with the
bureaucratic red tape of listing times and dates but instead is ensured emotional support first and foremost. Attendants brought up the dis-
comfort a survivor of sexual harassment or violence might feel due to the policy’s terminology in referring to the survivor as a “complainant.”
Additionally, attendants expressed disappointment and confusion at the fact that, according to the hosts, the university will not publish policies like this in other languages because U of T is considered an English-speaking university. This means that the university assumes that students have the requisite linguistic knowledge to read documents such as this policy. One attendant highlighted that this kind of mentality can alienate international students and put them in harm’s way. One host highlighted that “this policy needs to acknowledge, understand, and attend to the fact that rape culture is alive and real on the University of Toronto campuses.” In terms of intersectionality, one of the hosts wished to emphasize that power dynamics “deeply affect who experiences sexual violence and what that looks like,” as well as the process survivors go through to advocate for themselves through the process of achieving justice. Consult continued on page 2
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January 31st , 2019 Suspicious Person Library staff reported to Campus Police that business cards advertising writing services were being distributed in the library. Campus Police advised the business that solicitation is prohibited on campus. February 3rd , 2019 Police Assistance Campus Police attended a residence for an intoxicated student. Peel Police and EMS also attended. The student was transported to hospital. February 5th , 2019 Trespass to Property Act Campus Police attended the RAWC for a non-community member using another student’s tcard to gain entry into the RAWC. The individuals were trespassed from the RAWC until they speak with the RAWC manager.
UTMSU ‘green centre’
February 2nd , 2019 Property Damage Campus Police observed a broken wide angle mirror on the P0 to P1 ramp in the CCT garage. February 2nd , 2019 Police Assistance Campus Police attended the RAWC for a student that was injured while playing squash. ECSpeRT and EMS attended. The student was transported to hospital. February 5th , 2019 Police Assistance Campus Police attended the RAWC for a student experiencing medical distress.
YASMEEN ALKOKA/THE MEDIUM
The Green Centre offers sustainability-focused resources student groups and societies. Equity continued from page 1
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.
Anyone with information regarding any of these incidents, or any other incident, is requested to contact the UTM Campus Police at 905828-5200, Peel Regional Police at 905-453-3311, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Ideally the Green Centre would be a space where sustainability-focused student groups and societies can gather and create plans for a greener campus. Currently, the UTMSU offers student clubs and societies with sustainable products and a grant for initiatives that tackle environmental
issues on campus. The Green Centre would be a room where the UTMSU and student groups’ environment efforts can be concentrated. “It is recommended that [student clubs and societies] do make [their events] environmentally friendly, and if they do want to go down that road we can help them and provide them resources, alongside with the green grants too,” said Arbaji about
the sustainable products the UTMSU offers to student groups. “[Student groups also] apply for the grants if they are looking to hold a green event or they are trying to make something sustainable within the event, like recycled lanyards […] If there’s a large-scale event, there’s a reserve of money meant for just that.”
Possible policy changes
Construction continues
YASMEEN ALKOKA/THE MEDIUM
Construction is expected to continue until Fall 2019. MIHAI SURDU/UNSPLASH
MIHAIL CUBATA
Construction work on The Meeting Place continues in the Davis building. According to the University website, the work is expected to be completed in the Fall of 2019. The winter weather has posed challenges for the project. Plans to lift important ventilation system materials via crane had to be delayed
due to the freezing rain this past week. While The Meeting Place renovations is the largest ongoing project on campus at the moment, many other renovations are being complete, including renovations to the McLuhan Court and Putnam Place residences. The planned completion dates for the projects have not been disclosed.
The attendants discussed the importance of the #MeToo movement. Consult continued from page 1 The intersections of survivors’ identities can play a major role in whether or not they come forward. To ameliorate this, the attendants advised recognizing intersectionality in the SVP companion guide. Another major amendment proposed was with regard to when the
university reviews the SVP. According to the policy, the university reviews the policy every three years, attendants found this extremely inadequate and far too long for reviewing such a critical policy. Attendants also suggested having a community instead of a centre for survivors to go with accusations in order to encourage disclosure on
sexual harassment and violence. In addition, emphasizing confidentiality would be necessary in this objective. The attendants also discussed the importance of the #MeToo movement in demonstrating the importance power dynamics play in the conversation on sexual violence.
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APUS expands bursaries
02.11.2019 THE MEDIUM NEWS
The bursaries are part of the organization’s 50th anniversary
HUMANS OF UTM
APUS97/TWITTER
APUS was founded in 1968 to make part-time study integral to U of T. TANISHA KUMAR
The Association of Part-Time Undergraduate Students’ (APUS) provides bursaries for students in need. Recently, as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations, the association has decided to open new bursaries for part-time students who identify as Indigenous, Black, Queer and Trans and/or disabled. Founded in 1968 by part-time students who wanted to make part-time
study an integral part of the University of Toronto, APUS represents and provides services and programs to part-time students across all three U of T campuses. The bursaries have been created in recognition of the fact that part-time students do not have easy access to government and institutional funding. The new bursaries include: the APUS General Bursary, the APUS Access Bursary, the APUS Indigenous Student Bursary, the APUS
Black Student Bursary, the APUS Queer and Trans Student Bursary, the Jovita Nagy Bursary (for UTSC & UTM students), the Marija Hutchison Bursary (for part-time students in the TYP & Academic Bridging Programs). The first application deadline was February 1st, 2019. Application for these and eligibility criterion are available on the association’s website at https://apus.ca/ scholarships-bursaries/.
UTMSU releases survey The survey will gauge instances of discrimination on campus
YASMEEN ALKOKA/THE MEDIUM
The anonymous survey covers five main sections on campus racism. MELISSA BARRIENTOS ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR On Friday, the UTMSU began to send out their Task Force Survey with the hopes of hearing personal recounts from students where they or others felt discriminated on campus. The anonymous survey covers five main sections on campus racism: racism in the classroom, campus life, residence life, student engagement and representation, and campus media. The Task Force survey follows the Task Force on Campus Racism initiative that was first launched in the February of 2009 at George Brown College under the support of the Canadian Federation of Students Ontario (CFS-O).
The initiative was a student response to the increasing experiences of racism and discrimination on campus in a time where Canada’s demographics were rapidly changing. With over 17 hearings on 14 campuses, including UTM, a final report of the Task Force on Campus Racism was created in 2011 outlining the ways racism, or a mix of oppressions exists within the individual and institutional campus life. Today, UTMSU’s Equity team is reaching out to students once more to see if the issues outlined in the report from over eight years ago have been addressed or if new or unaddressed forms of oppression are felt within the UTM campus. “If there have been any circum-
stances where folks have felt racism on campus and it wasn’t addressed in the report, but it still exists, we want to know that” Arbaji told The Medium. “That’s the thing on campus, anything that does happen to students is individual, not a collective thing, therefore it’s not fully heard.” “Our hope is that we don’t see a negative situation happening on campus, but it would also be a good way for folks to actually express what is happening to them if they haven’t been able to,” continued Arbaji. The anonymous Task Force Survey has already been sent out to student groups and societies. In the upcoming days, the survey will be sent out to all UTM students.
“I can’t study at home. It’s more time efficient and productive for me to come to the library on weekends to prepare for my midterms, especially when you have a bunch of midterms in one week. I have no social life when midterms come in my life. I come here to study with my friends so I can [try to] balance my social and academic life. Working with friends makes me more productive and less sleepy. When I study alone too much, I get so sleepy.”
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MASTHEAD EDITORS Editor-in-Chief Mahmoud Sarouji editor@themedium.ca Managing Editor Alicia Boatto managing@themedium.ca News Ali Taha news@themedium.ca
Editorial:
An open invitation to our AGM Your involvement with our work and open criticism is crucial to our improvement
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To contribute, email editor@themedium.ca
For those who aren’t aware, we are hosting our Annual General Meeting on February 28th. I urge students who are active readers of our content—and those who aren’t—to come and participate. An AGM is an open forum for you. It’s our space to openly discuss how we’ve spent your money, what you can look forward to, learn how to be involved, ask questions, and be aware and informed about campus journalism. Journalism has always been a tricky and unstable field to work in, and the work of student journalism is no different. The future for campus journalism is uncertain, and we can only hope to spread awareness and understanding of our role on your campus. One of the best ways is to attend our AGM and engage in discourse about what we do. Criticism and discussion is the only way we can know if
we’re doing a good job for you as our reader. It is on you to be informed, and it is on us to ensure we constantly stay on top of information. It is simple to disregard our work and shy away from even paying attention, but it is to your benefit to understand the happenings on campus. Community opinions matter to us and so does your engagement with our journalism. Without your contribution to our work, UTM loses it’s only method of honest and fair communication. Your payment goes towards pay to the staff that work daily to put together essential stories for you. Often times we are disregarded or completely forgotten because we aren’t publishing content you want to see. If you share that sentiment or have heard that from someone you know, share with us what you hope
for us to publish. If nothing is ever said, we will continue to find our own methods of improvement, however you are the audience this paper exists for. We are a place for open discourse and free opinion in our opinion section. A place for fair and unbiased reporting in our news section. A place for exciting features on events and people on campus. A place to engage with the creative arts on our campus and in the GTA. A place to find out about sports teams and find new ways to take care of your health. A place for your voice to be heard. We hold our elected officials to account, and ourselves. We constantly strive to ask the questions you have, and give you up-to-date active journalism that keeps you in the loop. It isn’t an easy job, but here at The Medium, the editorial board knows it’s importance and value for campuses,
and wants to share that with you. It can only continue if you engage and stay active with all that we do. That is why I highly encourage as many of you as possible to come to our Annual General Meeting in CCT 2130 at 6:00 p.m. Your voice is as essential to you as your academics. Be a part of campus journalism, learn what we’re about, and express your thoughts with us. Help us continue to be the voice of UTM, and let your voice be heard, since we are The Medium to help you expand that voice. See you in a few weeks UTM. YOURS, MAHMOUD SAROUJI
CORRECTION NOTICE The February 4 article “The lack of lactose in the new food guide”was corrected
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Connecting artists across three campuses The 2019 U of T Drama Festival brought together drama communities for three nights of theatre REBECCA FLEMISTER STAFF WRITER
This past weekend, U of T’s drama coalition hosted the annual U of T Drama festival. First established in 1936, and then resurrected in 1993 by Trevor Rines, this festival brings together U of T’s theatre communities from all three campuses. This three-night event grants U of T students the opportunity to present original one act plays on the historical Hart House stage, compete for awards, and receive feedback from the festival adjudicator. This year, the event was adjudicated by Autumn Smith, a Canadian artist, director, curator, and educator who has worked with companies such as the Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus, U of T/Sheridan, The National Ballet/Stratford Project, The Shaw Festival, Tarragon Theatre, George Brown Theatre School and Canadian Stage to name a few. The adjudication provides students with critical feedback that they can use to improve their productions in the future. Many of the one acts featured in the Drama
PHOTO FROM HARTHOUSE.CA
The University of Toronto’s Drama Festival was first established in 1936. festival have gone on to be professionally staged, and over the years, the drama festival has featured performers who have gone on to become stars of stage and screen, most notably Ted Fellows, David Gardner, Don Harron, Arthur Hiller, William Hutt and Donald Sutherland. Friday night’s line up featured three productions, Statistics written
by Shreya Jha, directed by Anastasia Liu and presented by the SMC Troubadours, Outstreached, written by Emily Powers, directed by Jennifer Dufton and presented by the Trinity Collage Drama Society, After Icarus, written by Max Ackerman, directed by Mackenzie Burton and presented by the U of T Mississauga Drama Club.
Statistics was conceptually strong and humorous in places. This science themed musical connected the story of the famous scientist Rosalind Franklin with the struggles of a fourth-year pre-med student, and tackles themes of misogyny in the sciences and the pressure to perform in a competitive field. The show offers unique insight into the
struggles of women in the sciences, however, Statistics has moments that border on cliché. Statistics shows a lot of promise, yet it lacked finesse in terms of writing and structure, which ultimately weakened the quality of the production. This is an ambitious show with great potential and a lot of great dialogue, but it could definitely benefit from a bit more workshopping. Outstretched featured strong performances by the entire cast. Outstretched follows Kate, a young woman coping with the loss of her ex-girlfriend. A show predominantly about struggle, loss and self-love, Outstretched features beautifully written monologues about coping with death, rejection and self-loathing. There is a particularly beautiful piece delivered by Victoria WatsonSepejak about dealing with an eating disorder. It was written like spoken word and delivered with heart and earnestness. This show is full of great moments, and with a bit of pairing down it has the potential to be a very strong play. Festival continued on page 7
Widows: four women, one impossible heist Steve McQueen’s newest film Widows features Viola Davis as the savvy leader of a newly formed heist group SRIJAN SAHU ASSOCIATE A&E EDITOR Widows offers a rare take on the contemporary caper and proves to be both enthralling and flat at times. It sees the widows of four robbers forced to finish off their husbands’ final job after they’re killed in the act. Viola Davis stars as Veronica Rawlins, the widow who assumes her husband’s role in planning the five-million-dollar heist and becomes the domineering leader of this ragtag group of women. Davis’s performance exhibits the nuances of a woman left in emotional and financial toil by her partner’s loss and the immense burden and strength required to carry his plan out. Michelle Rodriguez’s Linda Perelli, Elizabeth Debicki’s Alice Gunner and Cynthia Erivo’s Belle complete the rest of this group who are forced to pick up the mess in a world where they do not belong. The movie also explores the political battle for alderman set in Chicago that ensues between a local mobster and the new frontman for a political dynasty. The two storylines are connected through the failed robbery at the start of the film, which resulted in the deaths of its instigators and also set in motion the plot that follows. Widows is not your typical heist
PHOTO FROM IMDB.COM
Viola Davis stars as Veronica Rawlins, the widow who becomes the leader of a group of women. film and director Steve McQueen goes out of his way to make sure you know that. Rather, it’s more of a social commentary hidden behind the exciting setup of a heist. The movie brings to light the existing problems faced by American society—that of racial tension, police brutality, nepotism, economic divide, and sexism. McQueen’s directorial style has a hand at making the two distinct themes of a thriller and drama blend seamlessly. One such instance occurs when Collin Farrell’s character, a corrupt politician, is on the campaign trail and has an intense conversation with his secretary in the car after be-
ing harassed by a reporter. As he raves incessantly about the dreadful state of the community and his running opponent, McQueen chose not to show the actual conversation. Instead, it is filmed from outside the car, slowly capturing the gentrification in process in this community. The effect is a stark reminder of how poverty and wealth can exist in such close proximity. Similarly, he manages to elevate the intensity of the whole picture by heightening otherwise mundane scenes you would find in such a genre. This movie is very different from the other heist films in theatre. Ocean’s 8, the latest addition to an al-
ready successful franchise featuring a female cast, opened to mixed reviews in June. Widows, however, sets itself apart from those overused concepts and set-up montages. Both movies came out in the same year, yet Widows got drowned out by the promotions of an all-female led caper. But McQueen’s film comes out stronger as it offers greater depth and a realistic tone to Ocean’s overplayed thematic. The staple heist genre has come to be defined as having an all-knowing lead who is overly charismatic and ten times smarter than you could ever hope to be. They are out to show-up people with an undeserved sense of
confidence and entitlement. There is cheesy humour thrown in with a memorable set piece and underlying adventurous tones throughout. It seems McQueen set out to dissect this conventional heist film and proceeded to throw out all the familiar bits. Unfortunately, Widows falls prey to the same hurdles of every film with a 120-minute runtime. In trying to juggle the social relevance the director envisioned and the substance required to maintain the caper plot, the story leaves a lot to be desired. One can’t help but feel that the movie is unwritten in certain spots. Most notably, when it comes to Harry and Veronica’s relationship, how does a woman of Veronica’s savviness get involved with the likes of a criminal? With the kind of serious themes the movie aims to address, more runtime would have been beneficial. With all the plot points involved, one might wonder if Widows is an enticing caper or just a long-stretched drama. Nevertheless, the film’s variety of twists and turns will manage to contain the audience’s attention. By simply looking at the marketing, one would assume the four widows taking on the job to be Davis, Rodriguez, Debicki, and Erivo. However, that is not the case as you soon find out.
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We The People explores 60’s student protests Theatre Erindale’s third-year theatre and drama studies class presents a production exploring social issues DELANEY ROMBOUGH STAFF WRITER
The 1960’s were a time of political turbulence, drugs, and revolution. Last weekend, UTM’s third-year Theatre and Drama students performed a collectively created piece called We The People, directed by Rachel Blair and as part of Theatre Erindale’s Studio Series. The production examines student protests and other issues that were prominent in the 60’s, including college protests at Berkeley and Kent State, feminism, racism, LGBTQ+ issues, and the anti-war movement. We The People is a 90-minute play that consisted of several smaller stories based on real-life events of the 1960’s. Each of these stories center around university-aged students who are trying to make a difference in the world by ultimately just being themselves and unconfined by norms and expectations of past generations. One story depicted the student occupation of Sproul Hall at Berkeley in 1964. This protest was in response to the university administration’s refusal to accept student political groups and views. It was a peaceful protest for free speech. It was a great moment of unison and solidarity at the beginning of the play that really solidified the show’s
CHEN GONG/THE MEDIUM
The 90-minute production was part of Theatre Erindale’s Studio Series. message of standing up and standing together. The play also examined gender roles in the 60’s in which women were typically expected to be housewives and not pursue work. One scene that struck out for me took place in a university classroom where male students read the traditional roles of women (such as cooking, cleaning, looking nice) from a textbook as assigned reading. The women in the class tried to object but they were ignored. This was powerful because there were twice
as many females as males in the cast. The males in the cast took on the issues surrounding the Vietnam war. All of them received letters informing that they had been drafted. In a lighter moment, each of the men takes a minute to tell the audience how they can dodge the draft. The scene culminated in a fun song, which summarized how to be a draft dodger. The anti-war movement continues throughout the play as the women get involved and the anti-war protests become larger and louder.
The use of hand-painted signs signified when a new story was taking place, which was helpful due to the recurring themes throughout the stories. While the stories may have occurred at different times and places throughout the decade and affected different people, the stories were nicely woven together by common threads of racism, feminism, and LGBTQ+ issues to make one coherent piece. The production was light and comedic at times with dark, serious undertones. There were songs
and chants, sung acapella, spread throughout the play. All music was made by the cast with percussive hand clapping, foot stomping, or rhythmically hitting the floor and boxes, which was very clever and well done. There was also a single acoustic guitar used for a few songs. There were also many moments when multiple actors were speaking in unison, which was a great way to emphasize what they were saying. The company also chose to incorporate quotes from well-known figures, who are known for fighting for social change in order to drive their point home. We The People took serious issues such as women’s rights and racism and handled them with care and grace without downplaying them as “that’s just how things were back then.” It was also interesting to learn about these individual events and protests that occurred throughout the 1960’s from a historical point of view. Several issues addressed in the play are still issues today. It makes you consider where we are now compared to where we were then. What has changed. What is similar. This play challenges young people to stand up and make a difference. It asks the question, if not now, when? and if not me, who? Theatre Erindale’s We The People ran from February 7-10.
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ABEER BAIG
Roman Holiday, directed by William Wyler, is a romantic comedy starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. The film follows Princess Ann (Hepburn) as she escapes her royal duties and is found and saved by American reporter Joe Bradley (Peck), who secretly wishes to write about her life. Princess Ann is innocent and childlike as she wishes to understand how normal Italians live, recruiting Bradley in her mission. Thus, begins their goofy whirlwind adventure and romance touring Rome. Warning: spoilers ahead. The first time I watched Roman Holiday was when I was sixteen, amidst a serious Audrey Hepburn obsession. I knew I had to watch Hepburn’s breakout role as Princess Ann before I watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s because otherwise, I’d just be one of those people who jump on the hype bandwagon. Roman Holiday was everything and more I expected of Hepburn’s breakout role—she was classy, charming, and brilliant. Her exasperation at her royal responsibilities and her loneliness shine through her robotic “yes, thank you” and “no, thank you.” It isn’t exactly surprising but if you’re still not convinced you should watch this movie then keep this in mind: this was Hepburn’s first major role and it landed her an Oscar award. Pretty impressive if I say so myself. Having grown up watching romcoms like Clueless, Notting Hill, and Princess Diaries, I was expecting all the cheesy clichés in the book, and yet, Ro-
man Holiday had none of that—it was humorous in a refreshing and delicate mannered. This film sets many timeless standards for future romantic comedies, such as the iconic Vespa scene, and its prominence in movies now. Also, while Ann is charismatic and lively, Joe is cynical and pragmatic, highlighting the opposites attract plotline. The chemistry between Hepburn and Peck is timeless and smooth, which is difficult to find in romance films today. Roman Holiday is not only a classic because of Hepburn and Peck, but also because of the scenic portrayal of Rome. It definitely makes me want to pass over Paris for Rome any day, that is if we’re talking cliché holiday locations. I think the main reason Roman Holiday is a timeless classic is because of its realistic and moving portrayal of how sometimes we cannot have what we want, and life gets in the way of good things. Despite being a fairy-tale rom-com, Roman Holiday delivers a bittersweet ending that leaves its audience surprised and thoughtful. The ending was a heartbreaking reality of regret, acceptance, and timing. Ann decides to return to her royal life, parting ways with Joe, and later they pretend to meet again as strangers. She gives her speech in front of him, other reporters, and diplomats with a new understanding of life and love. Joe’s insight on life (earlier in the movie) becomes more relevant as he states, “sometimes life is not as good as people would like.” He walks away, both of them knowing that what they shared was beautiful but impossible in the long run.
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KIMBERLY HUYNH NGUYEN
It’s that time of year when pink and red wallpaper is up in Wal-Mart, endless aisles of chocolate hearts and love-themed teddy bears bombard us. Boys choosing the right shade of rose, girls selecting the best chocolate to gift. The impact of Valentines Day has reached out to more than the intended market of lovers. It prompts memories stacked away for some of us—the vibrant hues and displays spur nostalgia of past lovers, lost opportunities, the “could-have-been’s.” Modern Love: The Podcast delves into the could-have-been moments of Jameson Rich and how a single moment changed his perspective on love in the episode, “The Shirt Stays On.” A rugged 23-year-old theatre student, Jameson embarked on many relationships from dates, Tinder flings, and college one-night stands. In all scenarios, he refused to take his shirt off. This shirt represented more than just a physical barrier between two people. In fact, the shirt represented no trouble in the physical sense. Not removing the shirt, however, did entail the lack of intimate connection Jameson found time and time again. Jameson’s chronic heart disease plagued him with surgical operations since a young age. With knives and surgical tools marking his upper body since childhood, the scars remain deeply embedded within his skin. He never found the will to ex-
pose his scars to anyone. While many of us bury our scars and wounds internally, Jameson’s scars ran all along his torso, only sheltered by fabric. Who deserved to see them? Who could withstand the history and hours of hospital visits that those scars carried? These worries paralyzed Rich’s ability to expose himself in his entirety to any lover he came across. As such, many lovers came and went, with no chance to see what lay beneath the shirt. Fast forward, Jameson stands in his room alone. He reaches for his pulse on his wrist, his neck and he feels nothing. He calls 9-1-1. When he wakes up the doctors tell him his pacemaker stopped and his heart stopped beating for a moment. Jameson didn’t dwell on how easily life can be taken away, or how lucky he was to be alive. A lifetime spent guarding his scars beneath his shirt, in what could’ve been his last moments, he learnt how lonely he was. Fear took a hold of him with every hookup, every crush, and every potential partner, and disabled him from letting anyone in. Now, the lesson he gained was to live life with less fear. To open up a little more, as uncomfortable it may be, to the people and the opportunities of love as they are handed to him. All it took was a leap of faith to show his scars. All Jameson had to do, was remove his shirt.
Drama at U of T
MONIKA KRIZIC
Broken is a collection of autobiographical short stories written by former University of Toronto student, Shane Driver, originally as class assignments for the Professional Writing and Communication program. The volume was published in 2014 by Life Rattle Press, a nonprofit publishing company with a focus on creative nonfiction by new writers from various local communities. Five years after its publication, Broken is part of the WRI325: Community and Writing syllabus. Driver writes about his life as a quarrelsome teenager growing up in Oakville, balancing the heartwarming, the peculiarly amusing, and the excruciating details of his past. The first story in the collection, “Broken,” presents readers with the brutal retelling of Driver and his friend getting into a violent bar fight that leaves Driver with a broken jaw. This disturbing opening story foreshadows Driver’s destructive behaviour throughout the rest of the book. The second story, “The Perfect
PHOTO FROM HARTHOUSE.CA
Festival continued from page 5 After Icarus displayed the most technical skill of the night in both writing and direction. This post-apocalyptic drama situates itself within a larger literary tradition, drawing references to a number of outside sources. A blend of young adult dystopian fiction, Greek mythology, social criticism and Samuel Beckett, After Icarus was the most conceptual piece of the night. After Icarus follows two travellers as they attempt to escape a corrupt and barren nation after a social collapse. The production had a beautifully designed set that payed homage to Beckett. Dark trees were silhouetted against a blood orange sky and the effect was both haunting and whimsical. Marissa Monk gave a stellar performance in her dual role as Ring Master and Farmer and the
entire production was subtle and sophisticated. The U of T Drama festival offers young theatre artists at U of T the opportunity to grow in their work as artists and gives audiences the unique opportunity to see the first iteration of productions that have the potential to expand beyond the confines of the festival space. The festival also allows theatre organizations across all three U of T campuses to connect and learn from one another. The U of T drama festival is an annual event and a long-standing U of T tradition. It you didn’t have the opportunity to attend this year I highly recommend attending in the future, if only to become more familiar with the variety of theatre taking place across U of T. The U of T Drama Festival 2019 ran from February 7-9 at Hart House Theatre.
lection, Driver devotes himself to “staying out of trouble,” as his father used to tell him frequently. When the marketing program and work in sales leaves him feeling dissatisfied, as it also did for his father, Driver makes the decision to enroll at the University of Toronto where he discovers his passion for writing. The presence of Driver’s father throughout this collection is important as he is the only one who never gives up on him, and in turn, Driver never gives up on growing into the responsible young man his father wanted him to be. Driver dedicates the collection to his father at the beginning of the book, honouring the memory of the man whose encouragement and advice made this book possible. Broken is a recollection of a reckless teenager who matures into a responsible adult after experiencing the loss of loved ones and the outcomes of his careless, violent decisions. Driver’s willingness to share the intimate details of his rough upbringing makes this a captivating read from start to finish. You can find Broken on Amazon. com.
Arts & Entertainment Frequently Asked Questions What is considered an Arts and Entertainment article?
The U of T Drama festival offers young artists room for growth.
House,” provides an explanation for his aggression through a flashback: eleven-year-old Driver moves into the “perfect” new home, only to watch his parents’ violent disagreements and subsequently the deterioration of their relationship. Later, he eagerly accepts the advice of his older brother—to fight any kid who disrespects him. Young Driver adapts this motto into his life, which only gets him into countless fights and trouble with the law, proving to be detrimental to his personal growth. In “Thank You,” Driver lives alone in an apartment in Ottawa while he pursues the same career path as his father by attending Algonquin College’s marketing program. One weekend, he anticipates the visit of his father’s friends. Driver’s life undergoes an unexpected change when they arrive with devastating news—his father had passed away. He reacts to the loss of his father by simply saying, “I just saw him a couple weeks ago.” Driver’s ability to recount this story with such painful honesty makes this scene all the more heartbreaking and makes us feel closer to him. In the second half of the col-
In the A&E section, our articles focus on the visual and performing arts community at UTM, but any topic pertaining to arts, entertainment, and popular culture is fair game. We cover pitches ranging from exhibit and theatre reviews to interviews with artists. How do you write a theatre critique? First, discuss the plot/synopsis of the show and then delve into reviewing different aspects of the production. Describe character development, execution of storyline, and themes explored. Illustrate any memorable scenes from the performance. You can note both strengths and
weaknesses of the show but always be sure to back up your opinions with concrete details. How do you write an exhibit review? Similar to reviewing plays, first mention the purpose and goals of the exhibit. Then describe individual works on view and write about how they contribute to the overall message of the gallery. If you’re familiar with the artist or their type of work, you can discuss these features more in depth. How do you frame negative feedback in a constructive way? Art is subjective, so we’ll all have our own opinions. When you watch a play or view a painting that you
walk away feeling unsettled by, think about why you feel this way. Substantiate your opinions with details from the piece of work you’re referring to and always try to keep in mind the artist’s intent. What are the weekly Arts & Entertainment columns? We have three recurring columns: Rewind, Not Really Radio, and Required Reading. Rewind reviews pre-1995 movies, Required Reading features articles on novels, poetry, or plays that you have to read for school, and Not Really Radio pieces review a podcast series or episode. As always, if you have further questions, email arts@ themedium.ca.
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Ellapen: From South Africa to Toronto The Medium catches up with Dr. Jordache A. Ellapen, who joined the UTM faculty in 2018 FATIMA ADIL ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR
Each professor at UTM has a unique background that inspires them to dedicate their career of research and teaching to a specific area. This week, The Medium sat down with Dr. Jordache A. Ellapen, an Assistant Professor of Feminist Studies in Culture and Media at UTM to discuss his journey to academia, his research, and his past projects. Ellapen’s journey to academia began in South Africa where he completed high school. Following university, Ellapen says he initially “wanted to become a doctor and so, [he] went to the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg [where he completed] two years of medicine.” Living in Johannesburg prompted him to realize that he “didn’t really want to become a doctor [as he] was more interested in arts and culture.” He had moved from the more rural area where he had grown up, to Johannesburg, a big city where he “was more exposed to different museums, galleries, and theatre, [leading to him to] gravitate towards doing performances, acting, cinema studies, and filmmaking.” Ellapen then switched his area of study from medicine to dramatic arts with a specialization in Film Studies in South Africa. During this stage, Ellapen recalls that he “still wasn’t sure whether [he] wanted to become a professor [as he] thought [he] was going to be a filmmaker.” When he
“started really understanding film in relationship to race, representation, and gender and sexuality, [he] applied—and got the opportunity—to come to the United States to complete a Master’s degree in Cinema Studies.” It was at this stage that Ellapen states that “[he] knew [he] wanted to become a professor.” When asked about his transfer to film school, Ellapen remarks that he is “glad that he realized quickly that [he] didn’t want to become a medical doctor” as he “loved” film school and felt as if he had “found [his] place.” Ellapen is glad to be teaching at UTM and details the various factors which prompted him to choose this university. The primary factor was the program, as Ellapen felt that for “the kind of training [he has] and the kind of research [he does], a Women and Gender studies program seemed like a natural fit.” Other major attractions for Ellapen included UTM’s city location and the fact that “UTM is one of the top universities in the world where [one] has the opportunity to work with some of the top professors in the world.” Ellapen liked that Toronto was considered at one time to be “the most diasporic city in the world,” since “a lot of [his] work deals with diasporic communities and formation of race, gender and sexuality within diasporic communities.” For Ellapen, the “fact that there are big South Asian, Indian, and African diasporic communities in the city was really exciting.” Ellapen’s current research examines “the Indian diaspora in South
YASMEEN ALKOKA/THE MEDIUM
Dr. Jordache A. Ellapen’s journey to academia began in South Africa where he went to high school. Africa and the relationships between Indian and African communities.” He “look[s] at a lot of Afro-Indian relations, particularly in the postApartheid era where [there were] new formations of race, gender, and sexuality.” Specifically, Ellapen studies “black and Indian women, queer filmmakers, and the ways in which women and queer filmmakers turn to aesthetic practices as a way to critique the nation and formations of communities which are exclusionary.” In order to analyze South Africa through marginalized voices,” Ellapen studies a range of aesthetic practices including “film, photography, fine art practices such as gallery and museum exhibitions, and even embroidery.” He is interested in “the different ways
which these artists employ these different kinds of media to provide different perspective on South African society outside of the dominant narratives.” A visual artist himself, Ellapen has completed two main projects—a short film and a photographic showcase. The short film “dealt with the Indian diaspora in South Africa in the context of xenophobic attacks that were happening in 2008.” The photographic project “drew on the family album and focused on the relationship between memory, diaspora, race, and sexuality.” Ellapen draws inspiration from his personal experience and identity of being Indian South African and how that identity develops in a multicultural community.
Ellapen’s hobbies include gardening, going to the cinema, and touring galleries. He admits that since he’s “still pretty new, he is currently taking time to settle in and get comfortable living in a new place.” Ellapen moved to Toronto in August last year and has been enjoying living in the city. He enjoys the various museums, cinemas, and the cultural events Toronto has to offer. One of the two courses Ellapen currently teaches is Theories in Women and Gender Studies, (WGS200Y), a requirement for those completing a major or minor in Women and Gender Studies. The other course is WGS434H5S, Special Topics in Women & Gender Studies: Queer Africa.
What is going on with the weather lately? Kent Moore, an atmospheric physics professor at UTM, discusses the recent weather conditions NAHIL AL-ZUHAIKA
In the past two weeks, the GTA has witnessed seemingly unstable weather conditions. Due to these extreme weather conditions, University of Toronto Mississauga closed the campus for two partial days and one whole day. From temperatures dropping to as low as -22ºC, rising up to 12ºC, and then dropping once again to -3ºC with a forecast of freezing rain, we are all wondering the same thing: what exactly is going on with the weather? In an interview with The Medium, Professor Kent Moore, an atmospheric physics professor in UTM’s Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, explained the reasons behind these intense fluctuations.
In a typical winter, Ontario experiences minor fluctuations throughout the season, and these fluctuations are controlled by a certain largescale wave in the atmosphere, with a wavelength of about four thousand kilometers. This wave, unlike ocean waves that move up and down, flows from north to south and vice versa. When it flows south, it carries along air from the northern side of the globe. This air tends to be cold. The south flow results in the colder temperatures we have experienced recently. As the wave flows north, it carries with it air from the southern part of the globe, which tends to be warmer, and results in warmer weather. While this wave is in continuous motion and these constant shifts are normal, Moore notes that recently,
these fluctuations have intensified, and have become more noticeable. Although researchers have yet to know for sure the reason behind these intensifying fluctuations, many theorize that global warming is to blame. As we cause the planet to warm up, we actually affect the nature of this wave and alter its characteristics, specifically its amplitude. The altered amplitude may be causing the wave to go further south when flowing south, and go further north when flowing north. This ultimately causes the temperature to lean towards more intense extremes, which would explain the weather conditions that we have been experiencing this month. LYNN MEDI/THE MEDIUM
Weather continued on page 10
UTM closed campus for one full day and two partial days.
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Discussing our urban forested areas Dr. Andrew Almas spoke about urban forestry and his research at this month’s Lecture Me! event MARIA KHAN
On Tuesday February 5th, a small crowd gathered in the Noel Ryan auditorium of the Mississauga Central Library for the first of 2019’s Lecture Me! series. Delivered by Professor Andrew Almas from UTM’s department of Geography, the talk, titled “Considering the Human Dimensions of the Urban Forest,” explored his research on how much residents really know about urban forestry. Urban forests are the ensemble of greenery planted in urban milieus, from backyards to parks to sidewalk trees. He marks the distinction between the study of urban forests as Geography—a Social Science, and not forestry, which is concerned with forested area as opposed to urbanized areas. According to Almas, urban forests not only provide us with ecosystem services, but are the only form of greenery we interact with as Southern Ontarians. The importance it holds in our lives allows municipal governments to increase their awareness of the value of urban forests, and are busy determining ways to better manage them. Almas’s talk encompassed the pros and cons of planting native vs. non-native tree species, residents’ attitudes towards urban forestry, and how having a municipal urban forestry management plan influences an area’s urban forest. According to Almas, Mississauga is among the few cities in the GTA with an urban forest management plan (UFMP). Typically, the plans span a period of approximately 20 years and have goals such as increasing canopy cover and educating citizens on what
the best urban forestry strategies are. However, they are not presently achieving the latter goal. Since half the trees in urban forests are on private land, there is no way to properly affect change but through the cooperation of residents and businessowners. As part of his research, Almas explores the difference in preference for native versus non-native plant species in municipalities, both ones with a UFMP and without. He discovered that municipalities with a plan had a preference for native species, for the sake of safeguarding the ecological integrity of urban forests. Specialist species breed more ecological interactions. On the other hand, there are academics who argue for the planting of non-native species, as urban forest eco-zones are wildly different from natural forests. They argue that they may also fare better against environmental stressors. However, most of this research comes from Scandinavia, where native species are sparse. In contrast, Southern Ontario has 8090 species native to it. Despite the UFMPs’ preference for native species, they also recognize that eco-zones will change in the coming years. Research shows that Southern Ontario will have the same eco-zone as Northern Florida by 2080. Considering this, it would be wise to practice a phenomenon known as assisted migration—in other words, planting non-native trees in urban forests. However, there is no guarantee that climate change will pan out as predicted. There is also the risk of migrating trees becoming invasive. Invasive species have been a real
JOHN MATYCHUK/UNSPLASH
Urban forests are an ensemble of greenery planted in urban milieus. menace to urban forests in the past century. Starting with the Chestnut Blight in the early 20th century, a series of invasive insects have eaten through native Canadian trees and endangered our canopy cover. The Chestnut Blight wiped out over a billion chestnut trees and Dutch Elm Disease eliminating 70 per cent of
PHOTO FROM UTORONTO.CA
Dr. Andrew Almas discussed the pros and cons of planting native vs. non-native tree species.
elm trees. Following this crisis, ash trees were planted in bulk, as they were considered the ideal street tree in nature and stature. Despite this, in the early 2000s, the Emerald Ash Borer caused 20 per cent of Southern Ontarian canopy to die. Planting trees in bulk turned out to be bad management practice, as entire streets were then scarred, not to mention the two billion dollars in economic loss. The ecological loss was crippling as well, as ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and air filtration were compromised. Almas explains that the current threat to our canopies is the Asian Longhorn Beetle—should this take hold, we would have an economic and ecological catastrophe on our hands. With the importance of native tree-planting in mind, Almas conducted research on residential attitudes towards it. Knowledge levels on whether a species is native or non-native turned out to be low, regardless of whether the subject lived in a municipality with a UFMP. This would suggest that the management plans are not yet fulfilling their aspired roles as educators on the subject. The surveyed population was 98 per cent in favour of planting native trees, regardless of any hazards associated. Higher levels of education and time spent in Canada both increased their favour for native tree-planting. When it came down to what they planted, though, residents chose non-native species—for the shade they provided, their aesthetic, or their level of maintenance. There are private tree laws that protect noteworthy species, as well
as blanket protection laws over all tree species—a permit must be obtained if a certain number of trees are cut down, and those trees must be replaced (the specific details vary). Often, neighbours do not report each other if these requirements aren’t fulfilled, and the government did not make it a practice to check. It is therefore imperative that municipalities invest in community education and outreach on the subject. In terms of the Mississauga Central Library, they have partnered with an organization named Ecosource and offer programs that educate people on the city’s urban forestry initiatives. Lecture Me! was a series started as an opportunity for researchers to expose their work to the public, and as an opportunity for the public to have free access to research. This was the fourth of seven lectures to be delivered this academic year, all located at the Noel Ryan auditorium in the Central Library of Mississauga, on the first Tuesday of each month, from 7-8:30 p.m. Previous lectures have addressed how the fourth industrial revolution may be shaping how we live, and teaching the classics through the contemporary (with a specific focus on Dante). The next lecture will be held on March 5th, by Professor Lawrence Switzky of UTM’s Department of English and Drama, on the possible personality benefits of playing video games. Almas teaches Environment and Geography courses here at UTM. Courses he has taught include Environmental Justice and The Sustainability Imperative.
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THE MEDIUM 02.11.2019
FEATURING: Meet The Editor How did you get involved with The Medium? VC: I had been thinking about volunteering for quite some time and then in my second year I decided to sign up.
YASMEEN ALKOKA/THE MEDIUM
Vanessa Cesario, Sports & Health Editor
Name: Vanessa Cesario Position at The Medium: Sports & Health Editor Year: Fourth year Program of Study: Double major in CCIT and English with a minor in Professional Writing and Communication
Why the Sports section, and not any other section? VC: Sports have always been a large part of my life. I’m a member of the women’s varsity soccer team so it was only fitting that I write on what I know. Have you played sports all your life? If so, which ones? VC: Yes, I have. I’ve played soccer since the age of four and I used to play hockey for eight years. What’s the worst sports injury you’ve experienced? VC: In my second year at UTM I tore my ACL. It was
a very long and difficult recovery but I’m happy to be playing again. What is one sport you don’t play, but you wish you did? VC: I played volleyball in high school but I never continued playing in university. It would be fun to pick it up again. What fictional place would you most like to visit? VC: Hogwarts, duh! What skill would you like to master? VC: Definitely writing. If you didn’t have to sleep, how would you spend your extra time? VC: I would spend more time doing the things I love like reading, exercising and travelling.
What piece of advice would you give to people? VC: Take risks, believe in yourself and stop making excuses. What shows are you into? VC: I love and always will love Friends. But I also love Game of Thrones. Where’s the coolest place you’ve been? VC: I went to this really awesome music festival in Belgium called Tomorrowland. Who is your most interesting friend? VC: My best friend Vass, of course! What is your go-to artist to listen to in the office? VC: Harry Styles because he’s amazing!
Sharing career insight Icy roads and freezing rain Our Ad Manager’s perspective on a networking night event MAYANK SHARMA ADVERTISING MANAGER
Last Thursday evening, UTM’s Career Centre, hosted a networking night for students interested in pursuing careers in humanities and social sciences. The event featured eight speakers, who kicked off the conversations by introducing themselves to the attendees. Each of the speakers was assigned to a table of students for 15 minutes. After the 15 minutes, the speaker was instructed to move onto the following table. This circuit repeated four times and was followed by an opennetworking session. These networking speed-runs allowed for quick and meaningful discussions pertaining to career building, job-searching, and skill developing tips. Being a UTM alumnus from the DEM program and currently the shopper marketing coordinator at Metro Inc., this event seemed like the perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, pass on advice to current students, and be involved with the university. During the event, I had the pleasure of speaking to several students pursuing their undergraduate degrees in fields such as professional writing, communications, psychology, art history, and sociology. While most of the students were excited to graduate and get a jump start in the “real world,” they were extremely keen on learning about the soft skills, qualifications, and educational requirements needed to succeed in their respective career choices. With over two years of full-time work experience and having gone
through my fair share of interviews (and rejections), I couldn’t help but empathize with the students. It is no secret that fresh graduates struggle to find their footing in the professional world and the competitive job market doesn’t help ease that transition process. This compelled me to talk about my experiences more openly than I normally would. My main advice was that meaningful relationships and jobs take time to find and solidify. I urged the attendees to find individuals working in their desired field of profession and mirror their skill-set and certifications. Although, I focus primarily on marketing, many of my skills can be transferable across various fields. Employers appreciate workers who focus on time management, organization, and attention-to-detail. In addition, familiarizing yourself with business software (such as SAP), Microsoft Office, and enhancing your knowledge on tools specific to your field of study are always a great to have on your resume. Fortunately, many organizations (such as Metro Inc.) offer training sessions to keep you ahead of the curve and allow you to excel in the professional world. Despite this, it always helps to have prior knowledge before you enter the workforce. Most of the students I interacted with were in their 3rd and 4th year, which is the ideal time for most undergraduates to start thinking about their future. Most of them hinted on the internal struggle of either pursuing a job that pays well or going after your passion, and to that I would have to say, why not both? To most fresh graduates, this might
seem extremely difficult, and I am not going to lie, it can get exhausting. However, putting time and effort in what you enjoy, will eventually pay off. I didn’t enter my program knowing that I wanted to go into marketing, I was once confused and lost like most of the students I spoke to during the event. I did (and still do) enjoy watching movies and decided to convert that hobby to a skill and started to write movie reviews for The Medium. My frequent contributions earned me the position of a staff writer, which eventually paved the path for marketing and communications. Now, my current job allows me to be creative, oversee projects, work with like-minded individuals and continuously improve. The management at Metro Inc. is extremely supportive and dedicated to seeing young professionals succeed. The event ended with me providing more details on Metro Inc.’s upcoming internship opportunities and connecting with several alumni. I spoke with alumni from different backgrounds which gave me a new perspective on how they ended up in their respective professions and I will keep their experiences in mind as I continue to build my career. No matter whether you are going to graduate in a few months or you are just in your first year, give it time, work on your strengths, and follow something you enjoy doing, and you’ll find your ideal career. It is never too late to start improving your professional and technical abilities. Events by the Career Centre (and the associated resources) are always something you can rely on as current students and fresh graduates.
Weather continued from page 8
In addition to these fluctuations, Moore mentions that we are also noticing a warming trend. In the past thirty years, Southern Ontario has warmed up by almost a full degree, so some of the warm temperatures we experience in winter are a result of this trend. That may seem like an extremely small change, but this shift carries more weight than temperatures undergoing a ten-degree shift overnight.
Due to these extreme weather conditions, UTM closed campus for two partial days and one whole day over the past two weeks. In previous winters, if the temperature had risen a few degrees but remained below zero, we would not have really noticed much of a difference since the snow would not have melted and we would have still needed our winter coats. Now, it has become more common for the temperature to change from negative temperatures to above zero degrees, causing the snow to melt and turn into slush. These intense weather fluctuations are causing a collection of adverse effects on our environment. Since we went from a few days of heavy snow to warmth, the mass snow that had piled near the Don
Valley area melted and resulted in floods that peaked up to 77 meters before being contained, resulting in traffic and minor infrastructure damage. In addition, freezing rain forecasts have increased in frequency due to the upsurge in temperatures around zero. Although this situation may sound appealing to a university student since it probably means more frequent snow days, it is dangerous to both humans and animals. These freezing rain events are dangerous to drive in because roads can become extremely icy, and trees and power lines often risk falling and blocking the road or even trapping a car underneath them. This rain, if it falls on an animal, typically freezes causing them to panic, or even end with the animal experiencing hypothermia and frostbite—two conditions that can endanger its life. Political figures and citizens use the intensity of these cold days to debunk global warming, but what they don’t realize is that they’re missing the distinction between weather and climate. Weather is just the day to day fluctuations that we observe—few days are cold, others are warm. Those are just the natural fluctuations that happen due to a natural weather cycle. On the other hand, climate is an average over a longer period of time. The weather fluctuations are not what researchers are concerned about, but rather it is the climate trends that cause concern to arise.
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Knights defeat Eagles by fourteen The UTM men’s basketball team faced a 95-81 defeat against the Niagara College Knights on Saturday AMRISH WAGLE ASSOCIATE S&H EDITOR This Saturday, February 9 the UTM men’s varsity basketball team went toe-to-toe with the Niagara College Knights. Although a game fought with heart, the Eagles lost 95-81. It was quite worth it for the audience however, as the Niagara Knights exhibited some pretty interesting players and the way both teams morphed their plays to adapt to each other’s style and weaknesses produced an elegant game of equals. The first quarter started with Van Hutchinson, from Niagara College, delivering a beautiful dunk over the Eagles. This was followed by UTM’s, Nicholas Kwantwi, getting foul shots from a layup and swiftly scoring both. The Knights exhibited an aggressive style from the start, with some players showing the capability for tremendous risk-taking by driving the ball into the net and daring a shot. Another major deficiency in the Eagles was noted when Niagara’s, Jor-
CHEN GONG/THE MEDIUM
Both teams played to adapt to each other’s style and weaknesses in Saturday’s game. dan MacDonald, got a rebound and put it up to score a goal. The Eagles evidently sustained a major disregard for rebounds, and the Knights were continuously able to snatch a majority
of the rebounds and simply put it up for easy goals. The Niagara Knights also started off with a staunch defense, rendering the Eagles to take most of their shots around the three-
point line. This defense was especially notable in their blocks when Lequan Hylton, from the Niagara Knights, got a block on UTM’s, Gregory Roberts. UTM’s Zamam Khan, also felt the
pressure of the defense when he got a pass in the paint but the sheer quantity of Knights under the net caused the shot to miss by a hair. Hutchinson from the Knight’s really captured the game for his team, getting a total of 22 points. His signature move was driving in from the side, under the net and then putting the ball up, directly below the board. Keveshan Padachey was another major influence for Niagara, who had terrific shots with his 3 pointers and scored the second highest at 19 points. On the Eagle’s side of the court, it was crystal clear that Roberts really dominated the team, getting a total of 45 points and 55 per cent of his team’s goals. No less expected of the OCAA’s lead scorer. Robert’s ability to coordinate the team and lead the plays as the point guard was unparalleled. Kwantwi was another major force, where he stayed on for the whole game, getting 13 points, as well as most of the rebounds. Eagles continued on page 12
Aldoori: fearless, compassionate, humble Noor Aldoori is seen as a leader both on and off the soccer pitch, with a true passion for the game SARAH-MAY OLDFIELD ASSOCIATE S&H EDITOR Noor Aldoori never thought varsity soccer was something achievable for her. “It [varsity soccer] was definitely not on my radar at all. The opportunity presented itself, and I took it,” she says. Mississauga native, Noor Aldoori, is in her fourth year, completing a major in Human Geography and a double minor in French Studies and Visual Culture Communication. Aldoori joined UTM’s varsity women’s soccer team for the indoor season when she was in her second year and is now in her third year playing for UTM. Aldoori proved herself to be a very versatile player, having played every position on the field for UTM, including goal keeper. She usually plays midfield but has recently found herself playing more defense, especially during the indoor season. While Aldoori prefers midfield and having the ability to move up the field, she highlights defence—“I really enjoy playing defense. Fitness wise, it’s a lot less tiring to play defence. It’s a very important position. I feel like I have a larger duty, more responsibility, because I’m the last call before the duty. I’m a big advocate for defense over offense.” Humber varsity soccer legend, Hall
UTM ATHLETICS/FACEBOOK
Noor Aldoori joined UTM’s varsity women’s soccer team in her second year. of Famer and UTM varsity women’s soccer assistant coach, Sonia Carreiro, has nothing but high praise for Aldoori. “Noor has been an instrumental part of our team, showing dedication to her game both on and of the pitch. She is committed to becoming a stronger athlete, always asking how she can become a better player— which is a coach’s dream. It’s been an honour coaching her for 3 years. She truly cares about her teammates. She’s always encouraging them and makes
sure to show leadership through her actions,” says Carreiro. Aldoori grew up surrounded by soccer. “My father is a huge Liverpool fan, so soccer’s just been ingrained in my life since I was kid. Literally, there are baby photos of me with soccer on the TV in the background,” says Aldoori. Some of her favourite moments as a child come from the times she spent with her father watching weekend soccer matches with him, and the rest of their family. Aldoori’s
father is also known for his tendency to stress iron during important matches. “He likes to iron his shirts in the morning—he actually hates ironing. He likes to get it out of the way. But he tends to do it more when he’s stressed and watching a game he really cares about.” Naturally, Aldoori and her sister fell in love with soccer as well, playing in house league soccer teams since they were 4. While they were involved in a lot of sports, when they became
more serious and competitive, they chose to focus on just one sport: soccer. “Soccer was always number one, always,” says Aldoori. Aldoori’s soccer journey went on a brief hiatus in high school, a decision she regrets. “When you’re young you don’t really have a lot of confidence; you don’t make the best decisions. At the time, I thought it was the right one because I was getting busier with high school and getting ready for university.” Aldoori never believed she’d ever play at the varsity level, doubting her ability to play at such a high level. Her TA at the time, and captain of the team, UTM varsity soccer alumni, Jennifer Soehner, inspired Noor to pursue her love of soccer. “I saw her [Soehner] wearing her [varsity soccer] tracksuit and I remember walking by the gym window to see the team practicing. And thinking to myself, ‘Man, I really miss soccer’.” Feeling motivated in her first year at UTM, Aldoori went to the gym a lot. Soehner was a big proponent of her decision to play for UTM, encouraging Aldoori to come out to a practice. “It was a quick process. I came to practice, had my concussion test done, and I was at a tournament the following week.” Aldoori continued on page 12
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«SPORTS
THE MEDIUM 02.11.2019
Last basketball Jiana’s bitter farewell home game The UTM Eagles were defeated 103-64 by the Niagara Knights
CHEN GONG/THE MEDIUM
Eagles used their manpower on the Knights. UTM ATHLETICS/FACEBOOK
Eagles continued from page 11 The quarter ended with the Knights scoring a goal as Padachey managed to get a 3 pointer and nudged the score up 22-9 with the Knights on top. The second quarter was also dominated by the Knights where it started with Padachey getting another 3 in the last second of the 24 second clock. Then the Knights’ defense dismantled UTM’s offense exceedingly, especially with a severe lack of successful passes. The apex of this defense was visibly seen when Niagara’s, Kevin Cooper, got a resonant block on John Filaber, earning a shuddering gasp from the bleachers. This ability to dominate the paint was also seen on offense where the Knights continuously got multiple attempts at shots through their constant prowess on rebounds. The quarter ended 47-33 with the Knights again on top. The last two quarters is when the Eagles really stepped it up, getting a 3 to start with and then Kyle Krist getting a clean layup over Hutchinson to score a basket. Cooper tried getting a jump shot under the net but got bombarded by four Eagles overhead, setting an example for a much stronger defense from the Eagle’s side. The Knights
clearly weren’t able to penetrate the paint as usual. In fact, the Eagles were using man-to-man defense and moving around swiftly enough but the Knights showed a great mastery for picks and used them briskly to get clean shots at the net. The Eagles also started passing a lot and getting much of the rebounds. Especially noted was their attention to players, where the Eagles put a ton of manpower on the more dangerous Knights such as Hutchinson and Hylton, the instant they got the ball. This is also when Khan displayed a giant shift in attitude, gaining much more influence on offense and defense. Although a late bloomer, his sheer effort pushed the whole team farther up to a higher level with a lot more visible energy for sinking baskets. The fourth quarter ended with Roberts scoring off the backboard in a rebound and subsequently the Knights scoring 2 foul shots with a second left in the game. The Knights won 95-81 and it was a game won admirably. The sheer skill with which the players carried themselves definitely must have left the Eagles ample food for thought on what’s possible on a court.
Jiana Alnajjar played her last home game with the Eagles this Saturday.
MIGUEL DASILVA
The Eagles lost big this Saturday, February 9th to the Niagara College Knights 103 – 64. Don’t let Jiana Alnajjar know that because she plays as though there is no scoreboard. There was a special moment of recognition for her as this was her final home game with the Eagles. Her parents brought flowers for her, and there was a standing ovation and tears—I will not comment on if they were my own or not—welled up in a few lucky spectators’ eyes. It was a loss born of a broken down starting five. Janella Viado and Trisha Ann Vo connect so well with each on the court they are near impossible to slow down. The Knights took the lead early with two quick buckets on a defense just setting their feet, not an issue because a paint slashing Viado finds Vo sitting on at the elbow three for a cool spot jumper. On the next possession, Viado forces a turnover, runs the court through the defense, pinpoint passes through a tight window to a once again calm and three-
point line sitting Vo. A smooth longrange shot ties the game at six and, despite the blips in their defensive game, the Eagles looked threatening led by those two guards and Alnajjar’s hustle. After a 6-0 run that made the score 12-6 for the Knights, Viado’s pass to Tasja Rhooms as she cut through the paint with a defender engaged, leads to one of two free throws. The Eagles free throw shooting percentage hovered around 50 per cent most of the game which is always an issue when point off possessions are scarce and the transition game depends on Vo and Viado’s speed, which eventually gave out. Vo seemed to be fighting through a leg injury which forced her to sub in and out of the game much to the chagrin of the Eagles. Adding to the list of injuries, Viado went down halfway through the second quarter with an apparent knee injury and would be out for the rest of the game. That was the real dagger in the Eagles’ chance to win. With the score at 37 – 17 in Niagara’s favour, down their top three-point shooter and their court-commander, the Eagles
couldn’t string together any long or meaningful runs to close out their ever-widening deficit to the Knights. It just isn’t in Alnajjar’s character to give up, so she never did. She kept playing hard and it got her into a bit of foul trouble. She managed to avoid fouling out in her last home game but played as hard in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter as she did in the first four minutes of the first. Relentless hustle from this woman who is called “a pillar of the program,” and “an example for working hard.” She lifted the rest of her team and kept their spirits up despite the lopsided score. They kept fighting though they knew they couldn’t catch up to the Knights. The last bucket went to the Eagles and without much surprise the loudest cheer came from Alnajjar. Her energy and her support and her work ethic will be missed as she graduates and moves on to the next chapter of her life. The Eagles next game is February 13th against Redeemer College where they will try to avoid another loss on their 7-16 record.
Aldoori praised by coaches and friends Aldoori continued from page 11 Though she initially had doubts about her ability to play at a high level, Aldoori’s coach and teammates can attest to how invaluable she’s become to their team, both on and off the pitch. “Noor brings passion to our team. She truly cares for the players, those that have graduated from the program, current teammates and even potential recruits looking to wear the blue and white. Noor brings that fun aspect to the game, but when it’s time to focus, she’s one of the first ones ready to take on the challenge,” says coach Carreiro. Aldoori not only plays varsity soccer for UTM, both indoor and outdoor, but she works with UTM athletics as part of the UTM Intra-
murals and Varsity Officiating Staff. Aldoori became a part of UTM Intramurals to follow her best friend and teammate, last year’s Female Athlete of the Year, Jayde Forde. She is a referee for Intramural Soccer, and a part of the Game Crew Officiating Staff for Varsity Basketball. Former Intramurals Coordinator, Cameron Walker, was instrumental in mentoring Aldoori into becoming a referee for soccer. “You know the rules, go ref.” She did, and now she not only referees UTM Intramurals but Extramural tournaments as well. Her daringness to step outside of her comfort zone has been rewarded. In the 2016/2017 season, Aldoori was awarded Referee of the Year, an award she received again the following year. The following
year also received the UTM Student Leadership Award and UTM Varsity Women’s Indoor Soccer MVP. “A lot of things you don’t do out of fear can really be your worst enemy. Sometimes you just have to break that wall and be like ‘what’s the worst that can happen, be confident in yourself ’,” she says. It’s that confidence, especially as a woman in a heavily male dominated field, that helps her assert herself so everyone listens and respects her. Aldoori credits her growth as an individual to being a part of the UTM athletic community. “I’ve learned a lot about myself. It’s become a place I can express myself. It’s also been the place where I’ve established a lot of strong, and lifelong relationships. I know people who don’t know a soul on campus.
I can walk down the halls and say hi to people I know, and it’s been amazing, feeling like I’m a part of something. It also keeps me centered.” Aldoori’s favourite thing about these past few years is witnessing all the transitions. UTM continues to assert itself, year after year, as a competitive team in the OCAA. But it’s not just the varsity program changes, but the changes in team dynamic as well. “My favourite part has to be growing with the team. We were all in our shells in first year, and now we’ve become leaders on the team.” Jayde Forde, her best friend and former teammate is proud of how far Aldoori has come in her athletic and academic journey. “I want her to continue to strive for success, both on the pitch and for herself. She has
so much insight for the game, and you know as a teammate you can trust her to perform. She’s always making sure to motivate others. She’s an amazing teammate, friend, and even better person. I want nothing but success for her as she finishes her career at UTM, and in her life after. She deserves all the success she has coming to her,” Forde says. Aldoori’s established herself as a true and confident leader, who isn’t afraid of a challenge. She’s come a long way in her career at UTM. She’s become a strong leader, and a testament to what can be possible when you never give up on yourself and push beyond your boundaries. We look forward to seeing the breadth of her legacy, as Aldoori approaches her final season with UTM.