Negotiations continue
Look after yourself
From the Middle East to UTM
Talk on Russian Revolution
Men’s basketball loses game
News, page 2
Opinion, page 4
Arts, page 5
Features, page 8
Sports, page 11
Faculty requests action against Peterson The request follows Peterson’s plan to launch site that highlights classes with “neo-Marxian”content ALICIA BOATTO NEWS EDITOR Faculty members from the University of Toronto’s Women and Gender Studies Institute (WGSI) have requested a meeting with the university’s vice-provost to demand that action be taken against professor Jordan Peterson, who has stated his intent to create a website ranking university courses and instructors based on “postmodern neo-Marxian” ideologies included in course content. “We are writing to express our deep concern about a proposed website being built under the direction of Prof. Jordan Peterson for the purpose of identifying and ranking courses and professors that he advocates should be removed from the university,” read the letter, “This website, if launched, presents a serious case of harassment, fostering unsafe work and study conditions for students, faculty, and staff.” Peterson has spoken about this digital tool since summer of 2017, recently saying that he hopes to have the site ready by January.
JORDANBPETERSON.COM/PHOTO
Peterson has discussed the creation of a website in several videos since summer 2017. “In public online remarks more broadly, Prof. Peterson regularly describes women and gender studies and what he refers to as ‘racial and ethnic group studies’ as pathological,
a cancer, and in other strongly denigrating terms,” the letter also reads, “The launch of this website must be put in this context in order to fully understand it as a platform that will
generate harassment.” Peterson stated his goal to establish the website as a way of “moderating the behavior of the universities.” “It will tell you the degree to
which the description is postmodern and then you can decide for yourself whether you want to take that and become a social justice warrior, if that is what you think your education should be about, or if you should avoid that like the plague that it truly is,” Peterson stated in an interview with Julie Patreon, uploaded on July 3rd of this year, “I would like to knock enrolment in the postmodern disciplines down by 75 per cent over the next five years.” “I think that what needs to happen is that freshman and second-year university students, and students coming into university from high school, need to be educated about the postmodern cult and they need to be encouraged to not take the courses, to just drop the courses, to just stay the hell away from them,” Peterson stated in a video uploaded on July 9th. In the same video, Peterson expressed an interest in seeing enrolment in the humanities decline at an increased rate. Peterson continued on page 3
College faculty to decide on latest offer The voting results will determine if the strike will continue or if classes will resume later this month ALICIA BOATTO NEWS EDITOR WITH NOTES FROM SHARMEEN ABEDI STAFF WRITER
The College Employer Council (CEC) has requested that the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) partake in a vote on Tuesday November 14th to accept or reject the CEC’s latest offer. Ontario college faculty has been on strike for several weeks. If the union members unanimously vote to accept the CEC’s offer classes would resume this month. However, if the vote is rejected, the strike will go on and the province will have to intervene on the interest of students who are missing out on their education. The CEC’s latest offer includes wage increases ranging from 1.752 per cent from 2017 to the year 2020 as well as a maximum salary of $115,378 in place by October 1, 2020 and a maximum hourly rate for partial-load employees of $154.26 implemented as of October 1, 2020. The new offer also pledges to place
MARYAM RADWAN/THE MEDIUM
The fate of college classes, such as those at Sheridan College, is yet to be determined. more focus in filling more full-time positions rather than “partial-load teaching positions.” “The College will give preference to the designation of full-time positions as regular continuing teaching positions rather than sessional teach-
ing positions,” the offer reads in Article 2. One of the requests by the OPSEU was to ensure job security. “The contract offer put forward by the College Employer Council on November 6 is a bad one for facul-
ty—and the students we teach. It entrenches inequity and takes us backwards on academic freedom,” stated the OPSEU in a bulletin released on November 10th. In the same bulletin, the OPSEU bargaining team outlined why they
believe their members should vote “No” to accepting the latest offer. “This offer will decrease the percentage of full-time jobs in the colleges. Faculty are fighting for a 50:50 ratio of permanent to contract staff; the colleges’ offer fails to create a path to permanent jobs for partial-load faculty, and it denies students the better education that comes with a stable workforce,” the statement reads, “By removing the cap on teaching weeks and overtime for full-time faculty, this offer allows the employer to move work from partial-load faculty to full-timers. This will mean fewer teaching hours available for partialload faculty.” “We will Vote NO because it will make the colleges stronger, better for students, and better for the next generation. We will vote NO because we love our students, we value education, and we care,” the bulletin concludes. David Scott from the CEC and JP Hornick from the OPSEU did not respond to The Medium’s request for comment regarding negotiations. Vote continued on page 3
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THE MEDIUM 11.13.2017
CUPE bargaining with U of T The collective agreement is set to expire December 31st
November 3rd, 2017 Suspicious Person A student reported to Campus Police that a male was yelling “you are all going to die” on Outer Circle Road near one of the residences. November 4th, 2017 Trespass to Property Act
November 3rd, 2017 Mischief Campus Police were smoke coming off a table on the patio of the Davis Building. Campus Police attended and upon arrival, the table was no longer smoking and the plastic had hardened.
Campus Police were notified of a male sleeping in the CCT building. Campus Police attended. The male was trespassed from campus for the night and was provided with resources. The male left without incident.
November 4th, 2017 Police Assistance Campus Police were called to attend a residence for an intoxicated male. EMS and MFD attended. The student was transported to hospital for further treatment.
November 4th, 2017 Police Assistance Campus Police were called to attend the RAWC for a non-community member experiencing chest pains. EMS and MFD attended. The person refused transport to hospital and remained on site with no further complications.
November 4th, 2017 Motor Vehicle Collision Campus Police were contacted to attend Principal’s Road by Lislehurst for a motor vehicle accident. A vehicle went off the roadway and into the forest area causing extensive damage to the vehicle. A tow truck attended and the vehicle was towed to the collision reporting centre. No injuries were sustained.
November 5th, 2017 Theft A community member reported the theft of her purse from the women’s washroom in the library. The person had taken her purse with her to the washroom and hung it on a stall hook. The person later realized she had left it there and when she returned, it was no longer there.
November 6th, 2017 Theft The theft of a longboard from the bike racks by the five-minute walk of Davis was reported to Campus Police. November 8th, 2017 Police Assistance Campus Police attended the Davis Building for a student experiencing medical distress.
These reports are those that have been released to The Medium from Campus Police and do not necessarily constitute an exhaustive list.
ANUM SYED/THE MEDIUM
Units 1 and 3 of CUPE 3902 are currently engaged in negotiations with the university. FATIMA WASIF ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR Negotiations between Units 1 and 3 of local labour union CUPE 3902 and the University of Toronto are ongoing, according to CUPE 3902’s newly appointed chair Pamela Arancibia. The Collective Bargaining Agreement between CUPE 3902 and U of T is set to expire on December 31st of 2017. Unit 3 members will be able to vote on a strike mandate through a secret ballot vote on November 16th in a meeting at Sam Sorbara Auditorium, St. Michael’s College. Units 1 and 3 will decide whether to grant their bargaining team the authority to legally begin strike action should talks between the two parties come to a deadlock. Unit 3, which represents sessional lecturers, music professionals, writing instructors, and sessional in-
structional assistants, has held approximately 16 meetings with the U of T administration. Unit 1, which consists of student and postdoctoral teaching assistants, along with course instructors, has had approximately five meetings. “I want to emphasize that the line of communication [between the two parties] is open,” says Arancibia. According to her, the mandate meeting is to determine if the bargaining team would have approval from the members to initiate job action and that a strike mandate has to be approved for strike action to happen legally. Arancibia also highlighted that the union’s approach to negotiations and other matters is based upon what its members want, not on the executives themselves. Arancibia stated that negotiations are currently at an impasse, regarding a demand for a path to permanent employment and an end to difficulty
acquiring job security. A specific structure for this route has not yet been presented, allowing for room to accommodate the needs and constraints of both sides. She also said that the local hopes to achieve improved benefits, and a $10,000 per half-course tuition rate for its members. These demands are in line with those made by other unions on campus as part of the 2020 Vision alliance, a set of nine demands put forth to the university as goals to be achieved by the year 2020. Bargaining between U of T and Unit 1 of CUPE 3902 had formally reached a stalemate in 2015, resulting in a month-long strike of sessional lecturers and teaching assistants. Currently, all college teaching faculty across Ontario have entered into the fourth week of striking in order to obtain higher wages and increased job security.
UTMSU talks grade forgiveness UTMSU advocates to implement a grade forgiveness policy
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.
University of Toronto honours fallen soldiers ERIC CUI/THE MEDIUM
UTMSU did not state when the grade-forgiveness policy would be implemented. SHARMEEN ABEDI STAFF WRITER
JEANLOUIS REBELLO/THE MEDIUM
Wreaths were laid by the flagstaff outside Davis Building. ALICIA BOATTO NEWS EDITOR UTM’s Remembrance Day ceremony was hosted outside of the William G. Davis building on Friday, November 10th, where principal Ulrich Krull gave remarks regarding the importance of remembering the sacrifices made for Canada’s freedom. Wreaths were laid by the flagstaff outside the Davis Building while the poem “In Flanders’ Field” was recit-
ed by St. John Ambulance volunteer Geordie Frere. A similar ceremony was held at the St. George campus which included bagpipes played during services and the ringing of 51 bells in honour of fallen soldiers. According to chair of the Soldiers Tower Committee Matthew Jurczak 1,185 fallen soldiers from both World Wars were members of the University of Toronto Community.
The UTMSU’s Campus and Advocacy meeting last Tuesday discussed the union’s plans to advocate for a grade forgiveness policy and the resources that the upcoming Equity Centre will offer. According to UTMSU, the implementation of the grade forgiveness policy would allow students to retake a required course for their program and have the higher mark shown on their record. Currently, if students fail a required course and have to take it again, both grades appear on their transcript. UTMSU stated that this policy would be directed at first-year students to help them get into their desired program. Students attending the meeting
suggested that such a policy should also be aimed at upper-year students who may want to drop a course from record. According to the UTMSU, the administration wants to have this policy used only for program requirements due to concerns that students might misuse the policy if it were allowed for any course. UTMSU also discussed the spaces in the upcoming Equity Centre. According to Sagal Osman, the Vice-President Equity, the Equity Centre will contain four spaces: racialized and Indigenous, women and trans, LGBT, and food space. These spaces would be run by volunteers and would allow students to talk about their experiences. The purpose of the Equity Centre is also to provide students with resources such as tampons, razors, contra-
ceptives, birth control pills, and pregnancy tests. Some students suggested that the racialized and Indigenous space could include a list of restaurants or events specific for different cultural groups. UTMSU’s president Salma Fakhry stated that the idea is to include “things that, as part of your identity, you need.” UTMSU also discussed the Fight the Fees campaign as a way to challenge the rising costs of tuition fees, and other expenses such as food costs and parking spaces. They plan to have a National Day of Action like last year, possibly at UTM. The union discussed ways to get students more involved in the campaign and to motivate them to attend the rally. A date was not specified for the rally.
11.13.2017 THE MEDIUM NEWS
Razors behind St. George posters UTSU warned razor blades behind white supremacist posters
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»HOW DO YOU MAKE STUDYING FUN?
Mercy Daka 3rd year, Molecular Bio
Brian Lee 4th year, Math and Chem
“Rewarding myself with gummy worms!”
“Plan it out a few days earlier in case I procrastinate.”
Omar Alhalabi 3rd year, Biology
Esther Jung 3rd year, Molecular Bio
“Studying in groups.”
“I turn studying into a puzzle.”
MESHA GHAYUR/THE MEDIUM
Reports were made about razor blades behind posters that read “IT’S OKAY TO BE WHITE.” KAYVAN AFLAKI
On November 2nd, the University of Toronto Students’ Union reported hidden razor blades behind posters placed across the St. George campus to the U of T administration—the posters allegedly contained white supremacist content. A Facebook post, directed to the U of T community at large, asked that individuals take extreme caution when handling the posters. “We recently learned that there are razor blades hidden behind the white supremacist posters currently on campus,” the post stated, “Please be extremely careful. We’ve contacted the university administration and will provide updates as they become available.” Since this post, no other updates have been provided on the UTSU Facebook account. The University of Toronto Gradu-
ate Students’ Union also posted a public Facebook message asking victims of the razor blades to consult a healthcare provider and to report their injuries to the Campus Police. “We have been told that there are white nationalist posters across the St. George campus with harmful remarks on them. Some folks who have tried taking them down have been cut by razor blades hidden behind the posters.” The Medium contacted Mathias Memmel, the president of UTSU, for further comment on the posters and reports of razor blades. He stated that the reports of “razor blades hidden behind white supremacist posters” were made on several occasions by members of the public. “Several members of the public independently raised concerns about the posters,” said Memmel, adding that UTSU immediately raised concerns to the administration, who have since been working with the
Toronto Police Service. Memmel also explained that despite initial reports, neither the university nor the Toronto Police have been able to validate whether razor blades were embedded in the posters. “The Toronto Police Service and the University of Toronto Campus Police have been unable to confirm the existence of razor blades,” he said. In the past, U of T has been troubled by similar racially-motivated events. In September 2015, posters calling for a “White Students’ Union” were distributed across the St. George campus. Student club posters on the Hart House building were also defaced with anti-Indigenous slurs. Earlier this year, graffiti of a swastika was removed by UTM’s Campus Police in a Davis elevator. The University of Toronto has not released a statement regarding the razors or the posters as of press time.
Peterson hopes humanities decline
OPSEU urges members to vote “No”
YOUTUBE.COM/PHOTO
Peterson desires a decline in postmodern discipline enrolment. Peterson continued from cover
CAREY HAO/THE MEDIUM
A bulletin published November 10 urged OPSEU members to vote against the latest offer. Vote continued from cover Voting will take place from Tuesday, November 14th at 9 a.m. until Thursday, November 6th at 10 a.m. Voting will be conducted online and through the phone. Currently, UTM students who are enrolled in joint programs with Sheridan College have also been affected by the strike. According to the Sheridan website, students will have classes during the winter break to make up for the lost time. It states that the week
of November 18-22 will be used for classes, and if the vote is rejected, then the fall semester would continue till January 15th 2018. Sheridan will try to provide travel accommodations to students who have already booked flights for the winter break. Susan Atkinson, the media representative from Sheridan College, responded to The Medium in an email that their academic team is working closely with UTM “to develop a plan for students in joint programs to successfully complete
the academic term.” Students will be getting details about this once the decisions are finalized. A student petition called #wepaytolearn was started shortly after the strike commenced, demanding that colleges repay students for every day that class is lost. The movement has garnered over 130,000 signatures in an effort to get the CEC and OPSEU to refund lost tuition. The CEC has not acknowledged the possibility of a refund for students.
The university faculty also expressed concern over the “violence-tinged language to describe the courses he hopes to prevent people from taking” in Peterson’s videos. On November 10th, the U of T Faculty Association released a statement stating that a meeting with the provost office has been requested. “Instructors of the potentially targeted courses believe that their autonomy as educators may be under threat. The proposed website has created a climate of fear and intimidation,” the statement reads, “The UTFA Executive has taken the unprecedented step of asking that the entire Executive meet with the Provost’s office to express our deep concern about this threat to our members and to the
academic mission of the University.” As of press time, the provost has not released a statement regarding its intent to meet with faculty from WGSI regarding Peterson, or stated any possible plan to address Peterson’s site. Peterson has frequently spoken out regarding freedom of speech on the university campuses, has voiced his dislike towards censoring lectures for students, and the current feminism movement. Peterson has also gained national attention last September after refusing to use gender-neutral pronouns in his lectures. Since then, he has taken to uploading videos through YouTube to discuss his views on current social issues and doing guest speeches at public events.
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MASTHEAD EDITORS Editor-in-Chief Mahmoud Sarouji editor@themedium.ca Managing Editor Menna Elnaka managing@themedium.ca News Alicia Boatto news@themedium.ca A&E Kassandra Hangdaan arts@themedium.ca Features Mahnoor Ayub features@themedium.ca Sports Vanessa Cesario sports@themedium.ca — Photo Olivia Adamczyk photos@themedium.ca Design Mirabelle Eze design@themedium.ca Copy Ayesha Tak copy@themedium.ca Online Meg Sharpley online@themedium.ca ASSOCIATES News Fatima Wasif A&E Keena Al-Wahaidi Features Jessica Cabral Marium Faisal Sports Amrish Wagle Photo Chen Gong Yasmeen Alkoka Copy TBA GENERAL STAFF Webmaster Florence Cao web@themedium.ca Distribution Manager Alison Ross distribution@themedium.ca Ads Manager Mayank Sharma ads@themedium.ca Cartoonist Anthony Labonté COPYRIGHTS All content printed in The Medium is the sole property of its creators, and cannot be used without written consent. DISCLAIMER Opinions expressed in the pages of The Medium are exclusively of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Medium. Additionally, the opinions expressed in advertisements appearing in The Medium are those of advertisers and not of The Medium. All articles published in print are also posted on our website themedium.ca LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor will be edited for spelling, grammar, style and coherence. Letters will not exceed 700 words in print. Letters that incite hatred or violence and letters that are racist, homophobic, sexist, or libelous will not be published. Anonymous letters will not be published.
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Take a breather, it’ll be okay As this semester slowly comes to an end, don’t forget that you need a break too With the middle of November upon us, all these stresses and worries begin to dawn on students in the form of exams, assignments, essays, and more. It really is the final push before the break. Though I’m not currently in school anymore, I do find myself being just as worried and stressed about everything as I was just a year ago at this time. Every day, it seems life likes to add another gourmet meal onto my plate, except instead of a meal, it’s work, and instead of gourmet, well, it’s just stress, anxiety, worry, and a whole slew of emotions. Familiar feeling anyone? Every day for me since being elected for this job has been so interesting, but also extremely challenging mentally and emotionally. My mental health has been going through a lot these past few weeks and I do feel myself getting more tired every day. I find myself trying to reset my mind every day to make sure I don’t completely lose sight of what I’m doing. My mental health recently feels like it has slowly been deteriorating and it scares me. I’m aware that I’m required to do a lot in a short amount of time while also staying humble and willing to do it. Though I always tell myself that it is okay to fail, I still fear the idea of failing my team at The Medium, my friends, my family, and myself. Generally, I’m just tired. You know those moments whenyou aren’t physically tired but you’re
just exhausted? When your brain has just been working for so long, that you basically forget yourself and worry only about your work? I think I’m slowly getting there, and I think a lot of students are too. I’m writing this to remind myself and to remind you to stop and slow down. We’re all getting wrapped up into so much in our lives. We’re worrying about the next test, assignment, payment, errand, and more. It gets to the point where even something you’re supposed to enjoy, like hanging out with your friends, becomes just as stressful as the work you’re doing. Your friends become an errand and sometimes, your entire life feels like one giant errand. This feeling of pure dread for doing anything, even watching a movie, just dawned on me and I couldn’t believe it. I was hating the things I love to do. On some days, I feel like my brain is deflating. With the stresses and the worry that we’re all facing day-to-day now, it’s important to take a step back and let yourself be you for a day. We do get fogged up with this feeling of constant work and the notion of having to have everything done as soon as possible—but we’re only human. Taking care of yourself and your mental health is crucial to your wellbeing—you may hurt yourself more in the long run if you don’t. Acknowledging and allowing yourself to be afraid, anxious, nervous is also
part of this experience called life. Life doesn’t stop for you, so it’s important to at least be able to control the speed at which it goes. Once you’ve let yourself go through the emotions, take time to heal. Stop working for a little bit to treat yourself to an episode of your favourite show, or a conversation with someone you love, such as a friend, partner, or family member. Taking time for yourself can sometimes seem ridiculous and unproductive—but it isn’t. At the end of the day, you have to wake up and have the courage to face whatever crap is thrown at you, so you might as well slow down and at least look after yourself. Just like all of you, I’m afraid of the future as much as I wish to embrace it. I wake up every day knowing that there are going to be 10,001 things on my mind, and go to bed with 10,002 things on my mind. You just need to take care of you. Your mental health is so important. I ask you to think of yourself first and allow yourself time to express and be yourself. I am working on following my own advice and hoping that I’ll wake up a little less afraid every day. I hope you do too. Remember how important you are to yourself and to those around you. Work hard for yourself while continue to appreciate yourself. All you can really do is be as humble as you can and finish all you have to do, one
thing at a time. It’s easy to become overwhelmed and put on blinders to the rest of life. As my dad always loves to say, “Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans …Who says this Mahmoud? Ahh...John Lennon, genius” He’s said this to me so many times since the day I was born, I’m starting to appreciate its truth. We’re focused on everything else other than life itself. So try, for 10 minutes, to think about you, care for yourself, and for your mental health. Keep yourself okay and help those around you. Stay humble and happy, and when you’re ready, get back to work. Don’t let your life become a job. Leave the chores to be chores and let your life be your life. Think about yourself as much as you think about your work. Be afraid, sad, scared, happy, joyful, ecstatic, and every emotion you could possibly think of. Most importantly, be you. You’ll be okay. I promise.
YOURS, MAHMOUD SAROUJI
CORRECTION NOTICE The Oct. 31 articles “Electoral reform still shouldn’t be an issue” , “Let down your guard when it comes to art”, “Who is A Gentleman’s pack”, and “Art in the retrospect” have been corrected.
From my grandpa to Leave the Pack Behind How Leave the Pack Behind helped me come to terms with my grandpa’s death Dear editor, My grandfather passed away from lung cancer when I was only six years old. I didn’t really understand much of what was going on while visiting him in the hospital and colouring in my dinosaur coloring book other than “Grandpa was sick.” My grandpa who let me sit in his lap while he did his prayers. He would risk getting in trouble with my grandma by giving me my favourite unhealthy foods off the top shelf. He had been smoking since he was a kid in Pakistan—trying it for the first time with his friends. What he probably thought was a one-time thing led him to smoking two packs a day—something I remember as a child. I have one distinct memory of
me following him when I saw him smoking outside. I tried to open the door only to have my grandma running to me haphazardly and shutting the door, so that I would not be exposed to the second-hand smoke. I got a chance in my university career to get involved with Leave the Pack Behind, an organization funded by the Ministry of Health which helps young adults aged 18-29 to quit smoking. I felt like it was fate. Before Leave the Pack Behind, I resented smokers because I associated them with the hurt of losing my grandpa. But I am so grateful for this organization because they taught me more than they will ever know. Smoking is an addiction like anything else — cravings and withdrawal halt smok-
ers from their path to recovery. It can take a smoker an average of seven times to stop—but even up to 30 times is considered normal. Asking smokers “Why don’t you just quit?” is not helpful to them in the slightest, even though we think we might be helping our loved ones. Because that’s exactly what my loved ones told my grandpa. Being involved in this organization makes me wish that an organization like Leave the Pack Behind was there when my grandpa was a teen. Leave the Pack Behind offers young adults aged 18-29 an eight-week supply of free nicotine-replacement therapy in the form of either patches or gum. It is available on most university and college campus clinics, or through
online orders where you can have it shipped to your home instead. So please, if you’re thinking about quitting—go that extra step and take action. Every step that you take is one step towards a smoke-free life. Even if it takes you that 30 times—I know you can do it. Thank you for taking the time to read this. We are currently also recruiting current or ex-smokers to share their stories of smoking through a project called #LTPBChampions. If you are interested or have other questions or concerns, please contact us at utm@leavethepackbehind.org. MISABH MITHWANI
11.13.2017
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A microcosm of the Middle East arrives MESA’s open-mic night and bazaar draw inspiration from the eponymous Middle Eastern short story VLADISLAV BOSHOER
This past Friday evening, I attended “One Thousand and One Nights”—an event put on by the Middle Eastern Students’ Association. The event featured a small bazaar outside CCT1080 before the formal show began, where students were dressed in traditional clothing. The makeshift bazaar had vendors selling jewelry and trinkets from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and other countries from the region. Zahira Tasabehji, a third-year psychology and political science student and president of MESA, said that MESA “wanted to show that the Middle East is not what the media portrays it to be,” she said, “We hear too much about the war and conflict in our countries, and this leads to the wrong perception. We want to show that the Middle East is a place rich in culture and beauty, and for people to experience that.” When asked about how the show would play out, she said, “We based this event on the classic story of One Thousand and One Nights, where the Princess Scheherazade would tell the King Shahryar a story every night.
Vendors at the MESA event selling trinkets from the Middle East. The MC would be the king, and each performance is a story.” Essentially then, the event was an Arabic-themed open mic night. The event kicked off with a fashion show which showcased beautiful traditional garbs, handmade by the Association of Palestinian Students. A clock was then wound backwards to symbolize telling a story each night with individual performances that each portrayed a different aspect of
Middle Eastern culture. They included songs, poetry, and dance—the latter of which was my personal favorite. I was really captivated, especially, by the dabke, or line dance. It was performed by four students dressed in folk attire came off as professional and spectacular. I felt like I was beginning to see through a clear window into this separate culture that I had little knowledge of. As someone of an Eastern European background, where
CHEN GONG/THE MEDIUM
folk dances are also treasured, it was something that personally touched me. In the middle of the show, an intermission was called, and the audience went outside the hall where we were served some complimentary regional pastries, cookies, and tea. Another highlight of the event was a sword-dance, something that I wasn’t at all expecting. Five male students with black masks descended
from the stairs and engaged in some very impressive twirling and rhythmic combat dance. In the background were two students playing traditional percussion instruments. The best part of the night, in my opinion, happened when the students put their swords away and took off their masks. One of them, who was previously the MC, took a microphone and began singing an Arabic folk song. The other students, who were portraying warriors, danced to the percussion in the background. Everyone in the hall was clapping along to the rhythm, some even getting up to dance. The song involved one of my favorite song tropes, repeating lyrics to the audience and waiting for them to sing it back, which a lot of people did. The sense of community in the event was almost intoxicating—I got the sense some of these performances could have been done a thousand years ago without any changes. One of the benefits of our multicultural society is that I can get a glimpse at this wonderful world and feel welcomed by the community.
Theatre Erindale takes on Twelfth Night One of the strengths of the show was the energetic performances delivered by all the cast members LIBERTY NOVOSELAC
Those who dread Shakespeare should not fear Theatre Erindale’s production of Twelfth Night. The production held this past Friday seamlessly blends Shakespeare’s antiquated language into a modern setting. With only two tables, two boxes, six chairs, and quite a few bottles of alcohol, the actors transformed a simple performance room in Deerfield Hall into two Italian courts. Twelfth Night begins in a shipwreck, separating twins Viola (Karen Scora) and Sebastian (Lucas Blakely). Not knowing if her brother is dead or alive, Viola is rescued by a ship captain and disguises herself as a man in Orisino’s (Liam Galway) court, calling herself Cesario. This disguise launches a chain reaction of mistaken love. Underneath this drama is a plot to make a fool of the fastidious Malvolia (Holly May), who is the definition of a killjoy. Other characters include Sir Andrew (Jacobe Rutigliano), Olivia (Marissa Orjalo), and Toby Belch (Yona Epstein Roth). The cast en-
FACEBOOK.COM/THEATREERINDALE/PHOTO
Theatre Erindale’s production of Twelfth Night blends antiquated language into a modern setting. joyed many opportunities to improvise some quips into the play, with cups to bracelets flying all over the set. It’s a commendable trait to spontaneously adapt to the situation when props malfunction, and this cast did a superb job. The supporting cast performed enthusiastically, dancing or staggering across the stage as their character’s degree of sobriety dictated, which gave an en-
ergy that upheld the leads well. The performance of a shipwreck at the beginning created the feeling that the whole room tilted and swayed. One critique I would offer for this performance of the play is to fix the disorganized audience placement. The stage was set in between two parts of the audience, one was about six rows on risers that held most of the audience. On the opposite side
of the stage was a single row of chairs in front of the curtain separating backstage from the house. I sat in the lone row in front of the curtains and while this offered an interesting vantage point for some parts of the play, most of the play seemed skewed to visually appear better to the risers where most of the audience sat. Some of the actors made a noticeable effort to include the
whole house in the play, while others didn’t seem to realize there were two divisions of audience members. The single row of chairs seemed unnecessary as there were some parts of the play that I could only partially see. As a result, I missed some actors’ lines entirely. I was still able to enjoy myself, but I found that the single row of chairs didn’t provide any extra benefit. Instead, it took away from my enjoyment of the performance. While I enjoyed and laughed at all parts of the play, this is not a play that leaves you with a satisfied feeling at the end. While there is a resolution, it feels incomplete. Olivia finds herself married to a man she doesn’t know, Sir Andrew, who has had all his money stolen by Toby Belch and is left on the floor to cradle his injured head. This play is like a never-ending party with its highs and lows and in the end, it’s an unsatisfied halfhappy ending for all the characters involved. Twelfth Night by Theatre Erindale will run until November 19.
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THE MEDIUM 11.13.2017
One play a day: a year of playwriting Directed by Jamie Robinson and written by Suzan-Lori Parks, the play focuses on contemporary issues PAULA CHO
In commemoration of UTM’s 50th Anniversary, Theatre Erindale presented a special season of contemporary work called Theatre Now. The theme of this season is time itself, which is abundantly highlighted in the performance of 365 Days/365 Plays. Directed by Jamie Robinson, the graduating class of the theatre and drama studies department explores the political and social climate and themes from 2002-2003 that still resonate with us today. On November 13, 2002, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks challenged herself to write a new play a day for an entire year. The product of her endeavor is an extraordinary testament to artistic commitment. In the performance program, Robinson says that when deciding which plays to use from 365 choices, he selected the ones with common themes that resonated most with him. According to Robinson, what is then portrayed onstage is the “actors’ own understanding of a post 9/11 worldview, where children’s eyes were sponging up whatever the adults and pre-social media outlets had to offer.” Their impressions truly leave audience members with nostalgia, laugh-
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Theatre Erindale’s first play of the season featured the TCDS graduating class. ter, heartache, and fear. The lights of the theatre come up to reveal a rusted turquoise structure and a clock-like graphic on the floor, but instead of numbers around the circle, the months of the year are engraved. Suddenly, the cast runs onstage yelling “one” and “two” repeatedly, fighting over a clothing rack of flannels and camouflage jackets. They all run off as quickly as they came, leaving actors Soykan Karayol and Zenia Sethna alone onstage. Dressed in traditional Indian clothes, they depict a couple arguing over whether or not to leave their homeland for a new country. Sethna
portrays a woman resistant to leaving while her husband is encouraging her to take the leap of faith by saying, “Soon, you’ll get used to it and the habit of continuing on.” She agrees and the lights fade. As mentioned above, what proceeds is a collection of short sequences about the political and social events Parks experienced while writing her plays. One of the political shorts memorable to me was a portrayal of a soldier (Kyle McDonald) casually whistling and unwinding his vacuum. When he realizes the rug in front of him is an American flag, he immediately drops to the floor in a dramatic
act of cherishing the flag. He wants to clean it and when he goes into where the audience was situated, trying to find an electrical outlet to start his vacuum, he breaks the fourth wall when apologizing to the front row. He is still finding an outlet when two female soldiers stroll in and disregard the flag, using it as a towel to wipe themselves and as a mat to eat on. McDonald returns and is appalled by their behavior, quickly cleaning off and vacuuming the flag. The two female soldiers then take turns inspecting him, patting him down, and hitting him with his belt. He is left feeling dismal and violated—the situ-
ation highlighting sexual misconduct in the military. Parks expertly uses this gender role reversal to exemplify the unjust treatment of women in armed forces. Also noteworthy is the play regarding airplane precautions. Jake Settle portrays a passenger with a messy appearance, wearing a hoodie and ripped up jeans, while Peter Moceri portrays a businessman in a suit and carrying a briefcase. Settle asserts that he is going to sleep, but instead, covers one eye with his left hand and widely opens the other. When asked if he sleeps with one eye open, he replies that he does, so that he can “always be watching.” The flight attendant (Emily Clarke) begins to mime the standard safety precautions while on the aircraft, such as inflating a life vest and prohibiting smoking. When she finishes going through the routine, more actors join her onstage, miming through the precautions again. The routine is done for a third time with all the cast including the two passengers on board. I infer that Parks is highlighting the notion of heightened security in a post 9/11 world, as fear from the tragedy is still prevalently felt. 365 Days/365 Plays ran until November 12 at the Erindale Studio Theatre.
Jamming out with UMC KEENA AL-WAHAIDI ASSOCIATE A&E EDITOR
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Participants were encouraged to try new instruments at the jam session. VICTORIA DANESI
Last Thursday, the UTM Music Club hosted their weekly jam session. During these weekly sessions, students collaborate with fellow musicians on campus. “Jam sessions are the main way the club gets to interact with students on campus,” said Asheesh Moosapeta, the club’s co-president and a fourthyear CCIT and DEM student. “We really want people, even if they don’t know how to play an instrument, or they don’t feel like they are very good, to come out if they like to play music and are enthusiastic about it.” The jam sessions provide a laidback environment for musicians of all skill levels to participate and learn from one another. A wide range of instruments are present during these sessions, such as electric, bass, and acoustic guitars, drum kits, and synthesizers. Synthesizers are provided by the club to allow participants to try experiment with different musical styles. Students can also bring their own instruments to jam sessions. “It’s a place to calm down after all the stress of school,” said Daisy Edea-
ghe, the club’s vice-president and a fourth-year psychology and biology student. “It’s an open space for you to come and express yourself. […] Some people don’t have instruments, but they like to play, so they can come and play ours.” These drop-in sessions are aimed at connecting the musical community at UTM. “I would say the music community [at UTM] is very scattered,” said Moosapeta. “Everyone that plays music does it as a hobby, and we have really been trying to get more people to come and expand the number of people who know about music club.” During last week’s jam sessions, a group of students jammed out to songs by Weezer and Nirvana. These sessions provide a space for students to learn from each other and become a part of a larger musical community. Collaboration comes in the form of discussing what each musician can play and experimenting with different genres and freestyle techniques. Even if a student does not have any musical experience, Moosapeta stated that they are still welcome to listen and try an instrument. Though rock music is a popular
genre to play during the jam sessions, all styles are encouraged. “Most people gravitate towards rock because we have a lot of guitars, […] but we are definitely open to a lot of genres because everyone here listens to many different genres,” said Moosapeta. The attendance of the jam sessions varies depending on the time of the semester and each student’s weekly workload. The music club hopes to organize bigger events in the future so that the musical talents of the UTM community is recognized. “We definitely have some events planned before the end of the year. […] Hopefully we will have a bigger event at the pub where we can showcase the talent that we have in the student body and in the local community,” said Moosapeta. In the past, UMC has had open mic nights before where anyone can feature their talents and perform for their student community. UMC hosts jam sessions every week. The next session will be on November 15 and every student, whether they are life-long musicians or beginners, can participate.
By Grand Central Station, I Sat Down and Wept by Elizabeth Smart is an incongruously long title for such a short book. In one of my English classes on Canadian diction, we’ve just begun exploring modernist literature, and the context of Smart’s 1945 novel is the epitome of its era.
The consistent notion of love is what floods the novel with questions: what does the narrator think love is and to what standards? The novel is loosely based on Smart’s affair with British poet George Baker, though the characters are entirely fictional and the narrator may or may not be based on Smart herself. One day, Smart came across a book of poetry with Baker’s work, alongside other 20th century greats like W.H Auden. Realizing that she was in love with how these writers pushed aside the rigid forms of traditional British writing, she also discovered love with Baker himself. The only odd part? She had never met the poet before. The book is based on a real-life plotline, but presented in a fictitious way that is supposed to intrigue us
further into the tragedy of Smart and Baker’s relationship. Readers decipher a flurry of moments, which are pieced together as a story between the two. Perhaps borrowing from Baker’s rejection of tradition, the book itself steers away from the typical notions of a novel. It reads like a book but its language boasts long gestures of poetic imagery. The circumstances of the book lay in the hands of ambiguity but also within a great abundance of detail. You may ask, how does an author achieve such abstract along with a clear obsession of specificity? Perhaps that’s what poetry is. There are many unanswered aspects that the novel brings forth. However, the consistent notion of love is what floods the novel with questions: what does the narrator think love is and to what standards does she hold it? We watch her falling for love, being torn by it, and eventually wondering if love is what will hold them together. There are so many vulnerabilities that make the reader unable to feel at ease—the narrator generates an interest in even the most awkward of scenes. The work reads like a diary by developing a relationship between the reader and the writer. The narrator gives us a glimpse on what was supposedly the reality of Smart’s life. Although most of these moments were meant to be shared quietly, the loud reality of them is too large for us to ignore.
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Working under ACTRA Ottawa actor Mike Stechyson is a full-member of ACTRA KASSANDRA HANGDAAN A&E EDITOR The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) is a union of performers working in the Canadian entertainment industry. Currently, according to the union’s website, it is comprised of more than 23,000 performers working in Canadian TV, film, radio and digital media. Performers wishing to join the union start off as apprentice members and move on to become full members upon obtaining three permits or credit. The Medium spoke with Mike Stechyson, an Ottawa actor and a full member of ACTRA, who explained his journey with the union. In February 2015, Stechyson met his current agent who encouraged him to join the union immediately. Stechyson explained that in the casting process for union jobs, there is an underlying assumption that actors employed by ACTRA are more professional. This means that casting directors will look at casting submissions in the following descending order of importance: full-members, apprentice members, and non-members. However, Stechyson admitted that despite this assumption, there are non-union jobs “There’s a bit of a hierarchy in the casting process in terms of visibility,” said Stechyson. “As a full member, I’ve been getting more auditions than I was as an apprentice member.” Around April 2016, after booking a TV series role on American Gothic, Stechyson went to the ACTRA office located on Church Street stating that he wanted to join the union. He then paid for his first permit and an
apprentice card. After this, Stechyson was welcomed to the union and was sent an email with his temporary membership card. “I worked in American Gothic in May 2016 and that was my first credit. Then, I hit the pause button for around ten months—not the pause button, I should say the mute button. [It was a period of] no auditions for ten months. Bu there was the occasional audition here and there,” said Stechyson. In March 2017, on Stechyson’s birthday, he booked an actor role on CBS’ Salvation. He had to be on set two days later. “I went to ACTRA, again. I told them I got the role, and I had to be on set two days later. So I said, ‘Here is $210, again, for my second permit.’ This is credit number two. At that point, I was one credit away from being a full member.[…] Then, I hit another hiatus. There was nothing for me at that time but taking acting classes, waiting for an audition, and training,” Stechyson continued, “In July or August, I started to get more [self-taped] auditions. […] My agent actually told me to send one in for a feature film shooting in Ottawa this past September. I got the role.” The feature film Murdered at 17 was a principal role for Stechyson. A principal role, according to Stechyson, is a performing role with six lines or more. “Then again, I go to ACTRA and I tell them that I need my third permit. Since it’s a principal role, I pay $260 for a permit,” said Stechyson. The process took Stechyson a little over a year to complete. Stechyson notes that the road to obtaining a full membership with
ACTRA is financially hefty. In total, Stechsyon spent around $1,600, not including the costs he has paid for three permits. There is also an annual fee that ACTRA members are subjected to. In terms of his treatment on set as an ACTRA member, Stechyson said he received comparatively better treatment than on non-union sets. He explained that ACTRA members have rights on union sets. For instance, the ACTRA website states that members are entitled to “minimum rates of pay.” “On non-union sets, it could be all bets are off. Sometimes, you’ll be on set for fifteen hours and it’s okay since it’s a non-union job,” Stechyson added as an example. When I asked Stechsyon about his opinion on whether every actor should join ACTRA, he said that there were pros and cons to doing so. He clarified that by stating that there are mixed benefits to joining ACTRA, he is simply noting that such a choice depends on the situation of individual actors. For Stechyson, an actor’s identity goes beyond his or her identification with a union. Stechyson commented that for him, acting is a lifestyle. “It is a profession that so many people are investing their lives into,” Stechyson said, “so don’t take this job for granted. So much work goes into it. […] There is an art, science, and business behind being an actor. As actors, we’re storytellers. When you’re on set, you’re telling a story and it’s not as easy as you think it is.” Stechyson’s appearance in the feature film Murdered at 17 is currently in post-production and will come out in March 2018.
BRIANNA LEGERE
Sickboy is a weekly comedy podcast hosted by Jeremie Saunders, Brian Stever, and Taylor MacGillivary of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The three hosts interview worldwide guests living with various chronic illnesses. The interviews are often conducted in a lighthearted, and hilarious way. The inspiration behind the podcast stems from Saunders’ own experience living with cystic fibrosis—a currently incurable disorder that affects many of the body’s major organs. The three hosts are long-time friends who have said that the podcast was originally created as a way for them to talk and make light of Saunders’ condition. Sickboy has evolved into a regular series that brings awareness to the stories of those living with chronic illnesses. One of the podcast’s goals is to fight the stigma surrounding health and disease by approaching such topics with vulnerability and humour. The format of the podcast is normally freeform. Though the hosts provide guiding questions, the conversations usually go off on tangents. Guests discuss everything from their
childhood to their sex lives and often punctuate their stories with jokes and laughter. Those who like more straight-forward or segmented podcasts may find this format a bit difficult to follow, but those who like to listen to more casual and organic conversations will love it. When the podcast dives into the grimmer aspects of chronic illness, listeners hear frank discussions regarding death, discrimination, and life’s meaning. One of my personal favourite episodes is the seventh in the series with guest Layton Reid, who has end-stage melanoma and multiple brain tumours. This episode was originally recorded with the intention of providing Layton something that he could put in a memory box for to his two-year-old son. In the episode, Layton discusses his hopes for his family’s future, seeking alternative treatments, and trying to document his life for his son. I love the open portrayal of emotion in this episode and it highlights a common thread of vulnerability and candidness. For anyone looking to broaden their worldview, Sickboy is a fantastic podcast that provides humour, emotion, and is an easy-listen.
A hiring season
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The Department of Visual Studies is hiring for three positions. KASSANDRA HANGDAAN A&E EDITOR The Department of Visual Studies is currently hiring three assistant professors. Positions looking to be filled are for history of Islamic art and architecture, Indigenous digital arts and performance, and East Asian cinema. The history of Islamic art and architecture position is the only one of the three specified to have a “contractually limited term.” According to Alison Syme, associate professor and chair of the visual studies department, the department is considering implementing “teaching demonstrations” in the search for tenure-track and teaching stream positions. “Excellent teaching is as important to the faculty as it is to our students. When we arrange teaching talks for shortlisted candidates who are invited to visit the campus, we ask students to attend and give us their feedback. Students fill in paper evaluation forms that we distribute at the talks, and we also ask students who attended more than one talk for comparative feedback after all the candidates have had their campus visits,” Syme said. Syme added that the faculty mem-
bers of the search committee assess the feedback given by students from these teaching talks. As an incentive to attend these teaching talks, the department offers students a certificate of participation or a letter of recommendation in recognition of the “important part [the student has] played in the search process.” Syme noted that in the past, students who have given feedback relayed that their participation in the search process has been “empowering.” She explained that students have appreciated being part of the process that has shaped the future of the visual studies department. In terms of credentials or qualifications that the department is seeking in ideal candidates, Syme did not disclose specific details. However, Syme said that generally the candidate must be an “excellent researcher, an excellent teacher, and someone who will contribute to the life of the department and the university in other ways as well.” Syme further added that the University of Toronto’s stated commitment to equity and diversity is taken “very seriously” in the visual studies department.
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Ideas about curiosity and learning The second TEDxUofTMississauga event hosted faculty and speakers from a variety of backgrounds MAHNOOR AYUB FEATURES EDITOR Last Saturday, the University of Toronto Mississauga hosted its second TEDxUofTMississauga event four years after the last one in 2013. Under the overarching theme of “in the grand scheme of things,” the program consisted of presentations by UTM principal and U of T vice president Ulrich Krull, Aboriginal Elder Cat Criger, and faculty from the biology, psychology, and historical studies departments. After a moment of silence for Remembrance Day, the event started with an honorary indigenous song, followed by a sage burning ritual. “The burning of sage and the smoke is to bring us together […]. Having direction and vision in life and we invite people to be together and going together and seeking knowledge,” began Criger. He emphasized the importance of maintaining curiosity and says, “You have a title, you are a student, and for myself too, I feel privileged to be a student.” Criger said one of the privileges of being a student comes from choice: “Exercising our
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The TEDxUofTMississauga event began with Principal Krull’s address. privilege to be students gives us the chance to look around and choose, choose what we would like to study, choosing to exercise our curiosity.” Krull further asked students to focus on the notion of a shared per-
ception. “Your perception of what is going to be delivered today is limited by your background knowledge,” he said, explaining how knowledge is the product of competing influences derived from different cul-
tures and experiences. Through the process of gaining knowledge, Krull described, “We learn more about what our place in the world is, applying that knowledge to new things, and realizing that you have
the potential to impact everyone around you.” Afterward, the UTM principal highlighted advances in technology and social media and how they have “impacted [the] society, and has changed the way we appreciate our environment.” Krull discussed the computer age and said, “I didn’t grow up in what could be called the computer age, yes, I grew into the computer age, but it wasn’t in place when I was growing up.” On the other hand, Krull explained that our generation is constantly exposed to microprocessors and programming: “Social media is a relatively new invention, and I ask you to think if it has changed the way you think and how society functions? It has changed our ability to communicate and share ideas, and so has it changed how you perceive yourself in relation to your society?” Our perception of the world he stated, has now expanded to include what our society knows and believes as a whole. In the context of influences on the advancement of our knowledge and questioning. TEDx continued on page 10
Dinosaur teeth and other food for thought Last Tuesday’s Lecture Me! event hosted UTM biology professor and paleontologist, Robert Reisz MARIUM FAISAL ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR
The Experiential Education Office at UTM, in partnership with the City of Mississauga Central Library, hosts a monthly lecture series featuring UTM faculty and their research. Last Tuesday, I found myself at the Noel Ryan Auditorium at the Central Library, equipped with little-to-no knowledge of dinosaurs and dentistry. I was ready to cover professor Robert Reisz’s talk, a paleontologist from the biology department, titled “Dinosaur teeth and what they can tell us about their life and times.” The lecture surprised me when I walked out with a new-found interest in dinosaur teeth. Did you know that you, as a human being, have something in common with alligators who are evolutionarily the closest thing to dinosaurs? The alligator’s tooth structure from day one to day 40 is pleurodonty, which Reisz explained means, “They are actually solidly fused to the jaw [and] come in from the side instead of the top like mammals” but after
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Professor Reisz’s talk focused around the information that one can obtain from dinosaur teeth. day 40 the alligator “has become like the mammal, in that the new tooth is forming right underneath and will grow upwards.” Reisz emphasized that “crocodiles are like us in that they retain the gomphosis in which the teeth are held in the jaw by these ligaments.” Meanwhile, other reptiles’ teeth are fused to the jaw, like the Komodo
dragon and the lizard. Following this revelation, he talked more generally about dinosaurs. “Dinosaurs in their primitive condition,” are relatively close to crocodiles in the evolutionary scheme of things. As Reisz explained, they have the same tooth structure as mammals and crocodiles. The next question the paleontolo-
gist posed was, “What is primitive for amniodes?” I blacked out for a second, although I am certain I blacked out every time he introduced a new term. There were two six-to-eight year olds sitting at the very front, their jaws wide open in amazement. Inspired by their interest, I decided to make an honest effort to understand the lecture and follow the case for di-
nosaur phylogeny. According to Reisz, there are two major categories of dinosaurs: saurischian and ornithischian dinosaurs. Ornithischians are all plant-eaters. Most saurischian dinosaurs were theropods, and thus, meat-eaters or carnivores while the rest were herbivores. Hence, the clear majority of all dinosaurs are plant-eaters. Reisz mentioned that interestingly, “there are 1,200 teeth in a skull of an adult dactyl dinosaur.” Noticing a blanketing disbelief in the crowd, he added, “Now, how does that happen?” He described that these dinosaurs are unique in how there are up to five generations of teeth in one tooth position. In comparison, humans only have two. Why are there five generations? “Initially, the tooth looks normal—it has an apex top, then a layer of enamel, followed by dentine and pulp cavity,” said Reisz. However, the tooth is bent over, and does not have a pulp cavity. In dentistry terms, Reisz explained, no pulp cavity means a dead tooth. Teeth continued on page 10
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The Russian Revolution: 100 years later The UTM Political Science and Pre-Law Assocation invited faculty to discuss the 1917 revolution HAIDER SYED
The seventh of November marked the 100 anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution, or the Great October Socialist Revolution. While the revolution itself can be separated into four key junctures historically before and after 1917, it is best understood in its entirety through the legacy it has left on the world and the ripples it has caused throughout the last century. Last Tuesday, the UTM Political Science and Pre-Law Association facilitated a panel discussion marking the centenary anniversary of the October Revolution. Professor emeritus Robert Johnson, professor and chair of the political science department Ed Schatz, professor Mark Lippincott, and professor Spyridon Kotsovilis all spoke at the event. They detailed not just the chronological chain of events which took place, but also shedding light on the global implications the revolution had the world over. The panel explained how the revolution can be viewed as one of the most important contemporary events in recent history for a multitude of reasons. According to professor Johnson, in its very essence, the revolution reshaped our understanding of the world while pushing the boundaries of possibility within the context of societal upheaval. In overthrowing the dynastical Tsarist regime, the revolution reinvented not just the scope of how a people interacted
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The panel organized by UTM PSLA marked the centennial anniversary of the Russian Revolution. with power and vice versa, but in doing so, as Johnson describes, also reinvented the meaning of the word revolution itself. As the panel emphasizes, it is also essential to recognize that Russia, a 100 years prior, was a largely agrarian society, made up of a large underclass of peasantry which worked the lands under a small aristocratic ruling elite. They were spearheaded by the Romanovs, who resided in their palaces. Professor Johnson spent a great deal of time broadening the under-
standing of this dynamic of power relations, coupled with the economic disparity. In this dynamic, as Johnson describes, a small group supresses and exploits the majority of its population, with a negligible possibility of reaction to such oppression. According to the prominent catalyst, Vladimir Lenin, it is important to understand that the Russian Revolution was strongly influenced by Marxist rhetoric. What Lenin achieved, by no simple means, was the mobilization and organization
of the peasantry in channelling their utility towards toppling the existent class structure—a consciousness only made possible through a Marxist understanding of class relations. The Russian Revolution can then be understood as a reclamation of an individual or a group of people acting through self-determination to attain their dignity. Professor Kotsovilis provided an in-depth historical analysis of this as well, explaining how it was exactly this fulfillment which popularized communist ideals the world over and stood in op-
position to American and European economic interests abroad during the twentieth century. The revolution actualized an alternative model of economic and social organization. It stood in direct opposition to capitalism, conceived upon the notional eradication of the existing power structures which served consumerism, and subsequently adopted a community-centred approach. Being a student of history, it is hard to ignore that the revolution was most notably inspiring to the colonized peoples of the third world who dreamt of liberation. From Che in Argentina to Fidel in Cuba, Nkrumah in Ghana to Allende in Chile, Maurice Bishop in Grenada, and Fanon in Algeria, among many others; these individuals and their revolutionary movements, both anti-colonial and progressive alike in their struggles, were planted around the idea of self determination. The spread of capitalism, as professor Johnson suggested, was fuelled by the industrialization of the West. The 1917 revolution was essentially then a reimagining of the way in which societies functioned by restoring political power to the working-class people. Such revolutionary movements were, as the panel highlighted, inspired by a radical political alternative, as it gave them a blueprint to organize, militarize, and to overthrow the capitalist system of their society.
A movie night at UTM for the community The movie night, showing Puss in Boots, was hosted in collaboration with Autism Ontario of Peel ZAYNAB ALKARI
Last Friday, UTM’s Centre for Student Engagement hosted a movie night in collaboration with Autism Ontario of Peel as part of their community day event programming. The peel chapter of Autism Ontario re-established early in 2011 and is one of the 25 regional chapters of Autism Ontario, according to their official website. The chapter is a non-profit organization, directed and managed largely by a core of parent volunteers who are “committed to ensuring that every individual with autism spectrum disorder is provided with the means to achieve the quality of life as a respected member of society.” Friday’s movie night was a showing of Puss in Boots. Sheetal Rikhraj says this choice was made simply because it is a good children’s film. The movie was sensory-friendly with the brightness and volume adjusted as required. The movie night event did not have a no-noise rule and the set-up of the room allowed guests to move freely. The movie night, as mentioned on their event description, aimed to spread awareness about autism and
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The movie night was organized as a Community Day Event by the Centre for Student Engagement. the issues autistic individuals face, specifically in relation to the community they interact with. The event also aimed to provide a safe space for families to come and enjoy their time in a welcoming environment provided by the volunteers at CSE. Rikhraj, the community engagement activity assistant at the CSE, develops community day events that allows UTM students to engage
and build their co-curricular record (CCR). This particular event happened last year and per Autism Ontario’s request, Rikhraj reintroduced it for last Friday. Accompanying the volunteers on Friday night was the liaison from Autism Ontario, Sarah Elkmi, who met the volunteer team and delivered a short speech before the arrival of the families. Through this event, Rikhraj hoped
to give volunteers opportunities to learn about professionalism and representation of their institution to the community. Similar to other community-oriented events, the motivation behind the movie night was for students to obtain meaningful experiences and accomplish certain goals. Alysha Ferguson, the student development officer for community engagement programming at the
CSE, builds partnerships and develops projects. The work-study student staff then is offered the responsibility for organizing, promoting, recruiting volunteers, and coordinating the events. Ferguson says that the CSE already has 85 students who have signed up to volunteer. She hopes that these opportunities will allow UTM students to give back to their community and let them gain skills that will help them continue giving back upon graduation and in the future. The CSE has a total of eight community engagement ambassadors who helped promote the event by creating posters and organizing icebreakers for volunteers. General volunteers, who were responsible for assisting the families attending Friday’s movie night, are required to attend each community day event. As Rikhraj mentions, after every event, the team holds a debrief period that helps volunteers reflect on their work, which is also essential for attaining their CCR. Families arriving at the event were partnered with one or two volunteers, tending to any needs or trying to provide anything the children required.
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Exercising our privileges as students TEDx continued from page 8 Krull said we are guided by asking ourselves: “Can we do it? And then does society say we should? May we do it? […] Does society allow us to do it?” He also explained our progress, guided by these questions, are both determined by, and a reflection of, our shared perceptions. Krull gave examples by relating the advances made by Galileo and how his acceptance was limited by his society’s perceptions. Now, objects such as telescopes are taken for granted. The UTM principal presented a deep field image captured by the Hubble Space Telescope and said, “You look up in the night sky and you see the stars […], but do you realize you’re actually in a time machine? Whatever you see out there isn’t actually there, it has taken time for it to reach you.” Scaling backwards from his emphasis on advancements on cosmic discoveries, Krull then discussed the advent of microscopes and the discovery of cellular structures. Krull explained that Malaria, for example, literally translates into “bad air.” Although air that smells bad isn’t directly relevant to the disease itself, Krull elaborated that this is a reflection of the shared perceptions of people at the time of the disease’s discovery. “It was only with advancement in technology that these perceptions could be changed, by furthering our understanding.” By discussing how the introduction
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Professor Fiona Rawle from the biology department at UTM spoke about cultivating curiosity. of atomic force microscopy and the Laser Interferometer GravitationalWave Observatory (LIGO) installations for observing gravitational waves have changed our understanding of how the universe functions, Krull emphasizes, “That is the message I wanted to deliver to you today, much of what we appreciate is based on what we know. Much of what we know is very much tempered by the questions we ask.” Krull’s presentation was followed
by a talk by associate professor in the biology department, Fiona Rawle. “I am a scientist at heart and also a scientist by training,” said Rawle. After completing her post-doctoral studies in immunology, Rawle discovered her interest in teaching science and learning about the best ways to teach science. As Rawle described, solutions to many of the problems faced globally and by our community, such as accelerated climate change, access to education, and disease management, will
be grounded in different disciplines with large contributions from science and science collaborations. Peter Piper the rabbit, among other animals, as Rawle said, exhibit curiosity. “Curiosity however, is largely a human condition […] and there’s different types of curiosity […]. As we age and grow up, we shift in the types of curiosity that we exhibit.” The biology professor then described methods both educators and students can employ to cultivate curiosity. Ac-
cording to Rawle, curiosity is curated when education focuses on providing students with skill sets and opportunities to change their mind sets. “If we can find the limits of our own knowledge, that opens up so many opportunities for learning […] if we ask why and how, which are tenets of science, it opens up so many possibilities for learning,” she said. Rawle’s discussion on curiosity and learning was followed by a talk delivered by assistant professor in the Department of Historical studies, Julie MacArthur. MacArthur discussed the concept of borders, their utility through the lens of the Kenyan remapping conflict, and the associated dimensions of community identity. The event also included a video presentation of Sarah Kay’s TED talk from 2011 on her journey towards finding spoken word poetry, and a talk by assistant professor in psychology Dr. Loren Martin. “The power of these TED talk events is to raise awareness about certain things,” said Amir Khan, a fourthyear professional writing and communications student and a member of the organizing team at TEDxUofTMississauga, ”And with the theme of ‘in the grand scheme of things,’ we hope students can take away how their studies and efforts can have an impact on the community […]. We work as individuals, but we have more power as a group”
Learning from linguistics A disagreement? UTM linguistics students and faculty discuss opportunities ZEAHAA REHMAN The linguistics program at UTM offers students insights on how to use language appropriately by studying the practical aspects of English grammar, along with exploring the social value of linguistic structures. Last Wednesday, November 9th, the Language Studies Academic Society (LSAS) held an event called “Lemonade with Linguistics” in the red room at the Student Centre, providing an opportunity for students to learn more about the society and the department. The LSAS is a student-run organization that began in 2011 under the Department of Language Studies at UTM. “We cater to students of the department—and outside the [Language Studies] department—by providing them with various opportunities, [such as] opportunities to practice the language they’re learning learn more about, [and] career opportunities in the Language Studies Field,” said Diala Saab, president of LSAS. LSAS focuses on all of the different languages taught at UTM. “We don’t focus just on linguistics, we focus on Arabic, Italian, Spanish, French, along with languages that are not taught at UTM, such as the American Sign Language,” ex-
plained Saab. The LSAS, as its president mentions, is currently planning an American Sign Language workshop for any interested student. Event posters for Lemonade with Linguistics tempted students to meet their professors. The Facebook event page promised students “chill conversation with Linguistic professors.” Present at Lemonade with Linguistics was course instructor in the Department of Language Studies Sophia Bello, and assistant professors, Michelle Troberg and Derik Denis. “Events like these are excellent,” stated Denis, “I can get to know my students in a setting that’s more informal and intimate.” 10-15 students at a time were gathered in the red room, huddled around the three professors, deep in conversation that ranged from vowel shifts to graduate school options. When asked about what brought on the idea for “Lemonade with Linguistics,” Saab answered that it is part of a greater initiative that the LSAS has in mind. “We want to have a carousel-style event where every month we’re going to have different languages; where a bunch of professors from that department connect with their students, discuss different opportunities that the students can reach out for. The students can get to know more about their professors
and their research and connect more with their field of study and the language itself.” “Our next one is hopefully going to be Italian in January with the same idea. We will have some Italian professors and students who are Italian speakers or who love the language or the culture,” Saab added. The president for LSAS also mentioned, “[We] have a charity event coming up, which is a weeklong aphasia fundraiser event. It’s happening in collaboration with Linguistics League, Creatives for Change, PAWS. The funds are going to the Halton-Peel Community Centre to support aphasia programs in the community.” Saab stated that LSAS wants students to get to know their professors and vice versa, so that the professors can get a better idea of how to help their students achieve their goals. “Today I felt we had a successful event. We reached a lot of students,” she reflected, adding that many firstyear students were present at the event. “It’s nice to know that people from that first years are reaching out towards different opportunities and getting to know their professors. It will help them in the long run,” Saab said, “Which is just what we were hoping for.”
Teeth continued from page 8
“These teeth are being used to grind plant material, and the new teeth are growing and then being pushed up,” His laser pointer hovered over an image on the screen. “The back teeth,” he circled, “will eventually be ground down.” Reisz then moved onto the theropod dinosaurs. Theropod dinosaurs, literally meaning beast-footed dinosaurs, were described by the University of California Museum of Paleontology to “include the largest terrestrial carnivores ever to have made the earth tremble.” “Their teeth are humongous,” said Reisz, pointing to a picture on the screen of one of his Ph.D. students standing next to the skull of a theropod. The skull is approximately half his size. The teeth are like “sophisticated steak knives” because the edge of each tooth has serrations. Reisz added, “There’s something very peculiar about these teeth, when you cut them [where the serrations are], there’s a crack inside the tooth that leads to a hole,” Reisz and his students didn’t agree with the argument that the crack was formed because of pressure and the creation of the space would serve to stop the crack from further extending. Reisz then wanted to determine whether the “ziphodont tooth was development or ontogenetic,” he said, “We love our technical terms,” he re-
marked to a laughing audience. Reisz’s research group decided to compare the erupted tooth against the tooth that hasn’t still formed inside the gum. If the channel and space right beneath, or “globular dentine,” was formed due to pressure, they shouldn’t be able to see it in the stillforming tooth. But “Lo and behold! The globular dentine is seen,” he exclaimed. All theropod dinosaurs have them—the ones that don’t are those that became plant eaters. “The reason has nothing to do with how hard the animal bites,” he continued, “The argument can be made that these interdental folds strengthen the tooth. The enamel is the hardest tissue, and it’s going very deep into the tooth which means it’s stronger than if it’s just on the surface,” Reisz concluded. This is not seen in other animals with similarly serrated teeth. In the end, he shared his argument on the existence of soft tissue protecting dinosaur teeth, also commonly referred to as lips. He argued that had dinosaur teeth been exposed, there would be signs of wear on the teeth. “Elephant tusk, which are entirely exposed, have no enamel,” he emphasized. “This isn’t the case for dinosaur teeth.” Soft tissue or not, understanding the evolution of dinosaur teeth has given me some theories of myself to chew on. Although it slipped my mind to ask the aforementioned children for their thoughts, I hope to catch up with them at the next “Lecture me!” event.
11.13.2017
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Men’s basketball loses by twenty points The UTM men’s basketball team faced the Fanshawe Falcons last Saturday afternoon, where they lost VANESSA CESARIO SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR The UTM men’s basketball team had their fifth game of the season last Saturday, November 11 against the Fanshawe Falcons. There was an astounding total of thirty fouls resulting in free throw shots throughout the game. UTM lost the toss to begin the game so Fanshawe was first to gain possession. However, it was UTM’s Nicholas Al-Rehany who was first to score a 3-point basket about one minute into the game. Fanshawe’s Chris Parker was quick to put his team on the scoreboard less than 30 seconds later, scoring a 2-point basket. The first foul of the game was given to UTM, where Fanshawe was given two free throws. Parker lined up at the free throw line and sunk in both baskets, allowing his team to take the lead for the first time in the game. Despite the baskets, Fanshawe proceeded to sink since UTM was playing well and working together as a team. Many of their passes were connecting but they
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UTM men’s basketball team played their fifth game of the season on Saturday. couldn’t seem to find the basket. UTM’s Nicholas Kwantwi blocked a Fanshawe player from scoring about four minutes into the quarter. Unfortunately, he got called for a foul. Fanshawe was given two more free
throws where they sunk both in. Halfway through the first quarter, UTM got their first free throw, out of many, of the game. Zamam Khan confidently stepped up to the line and got both baskets in. About 15 seconds
later, UTM’s Al-Rehany got his second 3-pointer of the game. The second half of the first quarter had a lot of back and forth play, with Fanshawe scoring a 3-pointer a minute after AlRehany’s. UTM was quick to follow
this and sink another 3-pointer. With three minutes left to play, Fanshawe’s, Sean Clendinning, was given two free throw shots but missed the first one, only giving his team one point. With two-and-a-half minutes left of play, a scramble in front of the UTM basket led Fanshawe to gain two points. UTM’s Al-Rehany made a great play, which lead to him scoring, yet again, another 3-pointer. The first quarter ended 19-25 for Fanshawe. With Fanshawe only leading by six, UTM came out hungry for the lead. An entire minute-and-a-half went by with neither team scoring a single basket. Unfortunately, it was Fanshawe who broke the no scoring quarter with a 2-pointer, which was then followed by a 3-pointer. UTM was now down by 11 points, only two minutes into the second quarter. Fanshawe turned up the intensity and was really pressing in the UTM half, but,luckily for UTM, they could not seem to find the basket. Eagles continued on page 12
Cow milk said to be better than nut milk When debating between cow and nut milk, cow milk is the favoured option in terms of health benefits AMRISH WAGLE ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Canada’s Food Guide dedicates an entire section out of the four essential food groups to milk and alternatives. This colossal emphasis on milk products is reflected in much of the fundamental nutrients that milk provides. However, modern forms of milk have departed from the traditional animals sources to alternatives, most notably nut milks, including derivatives of almond, cashew, and coconut. It is important to recognize that these variety of milk products can differ significantly based on their company and ergo the manufacturing process and additives. Sara Haas, from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, states that she “encourages people to be label readers.” This is the most reliable method to know exactly what the product contains. However, traditional milk is differentiated from nut milk in a few fundamental ways. Cow milk provides a plethora of important nutrients including important natural proteins. In fact, protein is a crucial constituent of traditional milk that nut milk simply cannot provide to the same extent. Although almond and cashew milk are rich in proteins, it is mostly lost when they’re processed. Another advantage for traditional milk is its ability to provide
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Various nut milks have many health benefits, but traditional cow’s milk is still said to be better. a considerable amount of calcium, compared to nut milk that lacks one of these major benefits. These alternatives moreover also cannot provide vitamin A and D to the same degree as traditional milk. Sina Gallo, an assistant professor of nutrition and food studies, states that cow’s milk “contains lactose and casein, which help increase the absorption of calcium, and calcium helps ab-
sorb vitamin D.” According to Gallo, cow’s milk has “synergy between all the nutrients; they all work together”. Another important consideration is that many brands of nut milk are processed with added sugars. This is often an unhealthy addition because doctors recommend minimizing the intake of sugar within one’s daily diet. Traditional milk contains the natural sugar lactose, but is usually then bro-
ken down by the body into glucose. Almond milk is processed from ground almonds and filtered water. This nut milk is lower in calories when unsweetened, free of saturated fat, and naturally lactose-free. Due to the absence of lactose, a natural sugar, almond milk is usually mixed with cane sugar. Almond milk’s key attraction is the addition of almonds, which are nutritious. However, depending on
the brand, it is important to consider the actual number of almonds inside the product. In some cases, it can be as low as two per cent. Almond milk can provide a good source of antioxidants such as vitamin E, and can be a great alternative for individuals with lactose intolerance. Its low number of calories can also be advantageous for weight-watchers. Cashew milk is similarly low in saturated fat, calories, and is cholesterol-free. This variant can be a great option for vegans and individuals with a lactose intolerance. Coconut milk may be the least nutritious out of all. It contains more saturated fat, lacks proteins considerably, and is usually processed with sugar. However, coconut milk can be a good source of calcium, vitamin B, vitamin D, and serves as a great ingredient for cooking. Canada’s Food Guide recommends around three daily servings of milk and alternatives. However, among the many alternatives the supermarket offers, traditional cow milk is a more superior option for our daily intake of milk. Cow milk is recommended for much of its necessary nutrients, especially to young children and infants. Milk plays a monumental role in our diets and based on its presence throughout civilization, it is indeed, a legendairy part of our agricultural history.
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Yoga for mental clarity UTM falls short in game Eagles continued from page 11 UTM player, Jonathan Kasongo, scored a 2-pointer for UTM about halfway through the quarter—putting UTM back in the game. However, this was closely followed by a Fanshawe 3-pointer. With two and a half minutes left in the half, Al-Rehany buries another 3-point shot. The half ended 28-38, with UTM trailing by ten. During the halftime break, UTM Athletics ran a competition to give UTM students a chance to win one thousand dollars. Those students who had their t-card with them, received a raffle ticket at the start of the game. The draw was done at half where one students raffle number was chosen for a chance to win the prize. The competition was simple— the chosen student had to sink a lay-up, free throw, and 3-point shot. They were given two chances for each shot. The student chosen sank the lay-up and free throw shot with ease on the first try but, unfortunately, did not make the 3-point shot. No prize was given which means it is still up for grabs in the games to follow. Fanshawe won the toss at the start of the second half, but it was UTM who got the first basket about twenty seconds in. Khan sunk a basket as he got fouled so not only did he get 2 points, he also got a free throw shot opportunity—which he scored. Within the first two minutes of play, both teams were scoring baskets. Kwantwi made an amazing block, followed by a steal. He was fouled
immediately after where he received two shots at the free throw line—he missed the first one but sank the second shot. UTM began falling behind with Fanshawe continuously scoring baskets. With one-minute left in the quarter, UTM began ramping it up. The last two minutes were filled with aggression and high intensity from both ends. Kwantwi received two shots due to a foul on him, where he scored one basket. Fanshawe received two fouls for them that resulted in two of their players being awarded two shots each. Both Fanshawe players sunk their baskets, ending the quarter 50-69 for Fanshawe. In the fourth quarter, Fanshawe came out very strong and ready to win the game. About forty seconds into the game, Khan was fouled and given two shots. He, unfortunately, missed the first one but sunk the second. Three minutes into the final quarter, UTM was still trailing by nineteen with the score sitting at 56-75. Roughly halfway through the fourth quarter, UTM’s Kyle Boorman, took the ball from the UTM end all the way to the Fanshawe end where he scored a lay-up. Fanshawe’s Clendinning, scored a 3-pointer to follow this. Al-Rehany, of course, was there to immediately match Clendinning’s 3-pointer by scoring his own. The men trailed by eighteen with less than two minutes to go. Khan and Boorman were both fouled where they got a collective two points between both of their free throw shots. UTM lost the game 7393.
Yoga is beneficial for both mental and physical health. SARA AWAN University can be demanding for students both mentally and physically and having the mental and physical strength is crucial when completing even the most trivial of daily tasks. All students want to achieve academic success so much that we often do not think twice about sitting in the same spot in the library for hours—so long as our brains are working away tirelessly to get assignments done. Even after all those hours of studying, most students find themselves in a state of anxiety and constant stress, which can lead to unhealthy ways of destressing. Yoga, a highly effective solution which improves and maintains both mental and physical health, can also relax your body and mind. Yoga was originally founded in India. The most common type of yoga practiced by Western communities today is known as “Hatha Yoga.” The practice consists of breathing exercises, stretches, meditation, and energy releasing postures. The Department of Physical Therapy from Long Island University states, “Yoga is a contemplative practice which combines physical activity, breathing exercises, meditation, and relaxation and is aimed at the control
of mental processes related to selfregulation.” Yoga rapidly increases one’s mental awareness. Research reveals that students who practice some form of yoga on a regular basis are not only academically performing better than physically inactive students, but also excel in comparison to students who practice other forms of physical activity. What is it about yoga that is able to achieve such results? Let’s begin with the powerhouse of all our processes: the mind. Most studies reveal that yoga helps individuals regulate their breathing. When we mindfully practice our breathing, correlating our movements with our breath, we become more self-aware. In any given circumstance, awareness allows individuals to handle situations better and coordinate themselves. Likewise, mindfulness and awareness of self and body invariably creates a sense of control and regulation within the self. Moreover, researchers within the field have also observed that practicing yoga is likely to impact one’s neurobiological mechanisms, promoting emotional and mental stability—especially among younger children. Such neurobiological
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mechanisms influence behavioural and cognitive functions. Individuals who practice yoga frequently exhibit more self-confidence, higher levels of personal satisfaction, and rapidly reduced stress levels, compared to their non-practicing counterparts. With a healthier mindset, these individuals also tend to make better choices, avoiding thoughts and behaviours that are not conducive to themselves and others. As mentioned above, one of the biggest factors negatively impacting students is stress, anxiety, depression, and for some, insomnia. While there are many mitigating factors that can play a role for such ailments, studies reveal that yoga may be the best all-natural treatment for tackling sleepless nights and excessively low or changing moods. Many subjects participating in yoga and weight loss studies report not only significant weight loss, but also reduced cravings for unhealthy foods that they previously enjoyed. They also noticed a reduction in their food portions. Whether you spend five or twenty minutes a day practicing yoga, it is a two-in-one solution that strengthens both the muscles of your mind and body.
Coping with SAD during winter months Many people suffer from seasonal affective disorder starting in early January and continuing throughout the winter HALEY WEST
According to the Mayo Clinic, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression related to the change in season. According to Norman Farb’s lecture on mood disorders for his PSY240 course at UTM, individuals diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder appear to be vulnerable to changes of exposure to sunlight in their natural environment. They show a pattern of mood problems that are cyclic and time-limited. Dr. Dax Urbszat, a PSY100 professor at UTM, states that the SAD cycle typically begins around the end of January. Symptoms will continue to last over the winter, until the end of March. Doctors and researchers at the Mayo Clinic have found that seasonal affective disorder can present as early as the fall and continue throughout the winter months. Dr. Urbszat explains that seasonal affective disorder is caused by a lack of sunlight, which results in a deficiency of vitamin D and serotonin. This decrease in serotonin
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Seasonal affective disorder is said to bring on additional problems if ignored. can trigger depression. Disruptions to the body’s internal clock can lead to feelings of depression, as the circadian rhythm is linked to the seasonal change. The Mayo Clinic believes that melatonin levels also have a role in seasonal affective disorder.
According to Dr. Farb and the Mayo Clinic, seasonal affective disorder presents atypical symptoms, such as oversleeping, overeating, weight gain, and cravings for carbohydrate-based foods. It is not unusual for individuals to also express having low energy.
The usual symptoms of seasonal affective disorder can typically be found throughout post-secondary school students. Dr. Farb claims patients with SAD have been treated with a light treatment that simulates the sun known as phototherapy. “Phototherapy is
an increasingly popular treatment for SAD,” says Dr. Farb, “Patients are exposed to a very bright light for one to two hours, resulting in remission in symptoms.” Furthermore, Farb states that the Canadian Psychiatric Association recommends light therapy as a standard treatment for seasonal affective disorder due to the effectiveness of the treatment. Dr. Dax Urbszat shares that medication for seasonal affective disorder can result in depression for the rest of the year as well. As a result, medication is not typically used as a first treatment for seasonal affective disorder. The Mayo Clinic reminds anyone who believes they may be struggling with seasonal affective disorder not to dismiss their emotional and mental state as the “winter blues.” If you are concerned, seek medical help and “take steps to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the year,” says the Mayo Clinic. If left untreated, seasonal affective disorder can lead to additional problems.