Strike at York University
It’s okay to ask questions
Imprisonment gallery
New student journal enroute
Mens team moves to Provs
News, page 2
Opinion, page 4
Arts, page 5
Features, page 8
Sports, page 11
Campus Council passes fee increases The fee increases pertained to UTM’s compulsory non-academic incidental fees for UTMSU and UTMAGS ALICIA BOATTO NEWS EDITOR
Campus Council approved fee increases to University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union and Association of Graduate Students. This final approval indicates that the increases will officially be implemented starting Fall 2018 as the Campus Council is UTM’s highest form of governing body. The council also provided updates on new real estate investment as well as the university’s mental health policy. As previously reported by The Medium, UTMSU and UTMAGS were seeking an increase to their fee membership for the next academic year. According to the meeting’s agenda, “If approved, the total Fall/Winter UTMSU fee will be $151.66 per session ($129.15 part-time), charged to all UTM undergraduate students. The total Fall/Winter UTMSU fee for Mississauga Academy of Medicine students will be up to $224.31 per session.” The increase in the UTMSU Mississauga transit U-Pass fee con-
DELANEY ROMBOUGH/THE MEDIUM
Students will experience a raise in the U-Pass portion of the incidental fees. sists of $9.43 per session for part-time students for the summer session, and an increase of up to $8.12 per session for the part-time fall and winter sessions. Other raises include minor in-
creases of $0.22 in the society portion of the fee, and also minor increases for the first-aid response team on campus, and the academic societies portion of the fee.
As stated in the meeting’s agenda, “If approved, the total Fall/Winter UTMAGS fee will be $186.44 per session (full-time only) (Fall and Winter sessions), charged to all UTM-affiliat-
ed graduate students.” A representative from UTMAGS specified that the revenue from these increases will not be going to UTMAGS but will instead be going to MiWay for the U-Pass. The motion to approve the increase in Compulsory non-academic incidental fees for UTMSU and UTMAGS was carried. Both Munib Saijid, UTMSU’s executive director and Jose Wilson, UTMSU’s vice president external were in attendance. The council also approved fee increases to the UTM Health and Counselling Centre, as well as the Department of Physical Education, Athletics, and Recreation. According to the meeting’s agenda, “The sessional Health Services Fee for a UTM-registered or UTM-affiliated full-time student be increased to $46.06 per session ($9.21 for a parttime student), which represents a year-over-year increase of $1.34 per session ($0.27 for a part-time student) or 3.01% (resulting in a permanent increase of 3.01%).” Council continued on page 2
UTSU releases U-Commute survey results The survey received responses from 9,946 full-time undergraduate students and evaluates transit usage ALICIA BOATTO NEWS EDITOR
The University of Toronto Students’ Union released the results from their U-Commute transit survey in preparation for a potential GTA-wide UPass. The results showed that a large majority of students have to schedule their classes based on transportation needs, that a large majority of students plan to stay in the downtown core after graduation, and 95 per cent of students would vote “yes” to this pass in a referendum. According to the released results, “The survey received over 16,000 responses, with 9,946 responses from full-time undergraduate University of Toronto St. George students. Overall, the U-Commute survey saw a 23% response rate from full-time undergraduate University of Toronto St. George students.” The survey reviewed criteria of demographics, transit patterns, tran-
UTSU.CA/PHOTO
U-Commute was designed in collaboration with Ryerson, OCAD, and George Brown. sit behaviors, and whether students would be willing to pay for such a pass. According to the survey, over 73
per cent of participants use public transit on its own or as a subset of methods to travel and chose other means of transportation, such as
walking or biking. 36 per cent of participants stated that they solely use public transportation in order to get around the city and the GTA.
Over 84 per cent of the students partaking in the survey stated that they rely on public transportation for more than just getting to class. Of the 9,946 respondents to the survey, 458 stated they did not use public transit, with 43.7 per cent of those stating it was due to high fees, while others said they had another preferred mode of transportation, and the remaining percentage stated they don’t use public transportation due to its unreliability and extended travel time. Due to the high pricing of the transit fairs, 3.6 per cent of students stated they evade transit fares on a daily basis, while 60 per cent said they have never evaded paying for transit. The survey, targeted at full-time undergraduate students, showed that 93 per cent of them would use this pass to expand their searches for job opportunities outside their normally frequented locations. Survey continued on page 2
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THE MEDIUM 03.12.2018
UTM makes real estate purchase
March 1st, 2018 Suspicious Person Campus Police were called to attend the Kaneff bus stop for two males soliciting. The males were gone on arrival. March 4th, 2018 Trespassing While on patrol, Campus Police observed three males studying in a lecture hall after hours. They were explained the trespass and left without incident. March 7th, 2018 Fraud Parking office informed Campus Police about a fraudulent parking permit located on a car. The owner of the pass was unaware that the pass was fake.
March 1st, 2018 Fraud Parking office informed Campus Police about a fraudulent parking permit located on a car. The owner of the pass was unaware that the pass was fake. March 7th, 2018 Police Assistance Campus Police attended the Early Learning Centre for a co-op student experiencing medical distress. EMS was called but the student denied transport to hospital. March 7th, 2018 Police Assistance Campus Police were advised of a student who was experiencing medical distress in a lab. MFD and EMS attended. The student was transported to hospital.
These reports are those that have been released to The Medium from Campus Police and do not necessarily constitute an exhaustive list. Students can contact the UTM Campus Police at 905 828 5200, Peel Regional Police at 905 453 3311, or Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222 8477.
York enters second week of strike action
OLIVIA ADAMCZYK/THE MEDIUM
The new Mississauga Road properties are expected to be used as faculty residence. Council continued from cover The athletics and recreations fee will increase to a total of $197.29 per session for a full-time student with a year over year increase of $18.58 per session. Part-time students would pay $39.46 with a year over year increase of $3.72. In addition, the student services fee will increase to a total of $189.90 per session for full-time students with an over-theyear increase of $22.24, while parttime students will see and increase of $37.98 and a yearly increase of $4.45. UTM’s vice president and principal Ulrich Krull announced a newly established real estate deal on Mississauga road. UTM has purchased three housing properties across from Outer Circle road, which will be used for temporary faculty housing. Krull announced that the real estate offer had been accepted at the end of the meeting. The three properties on Mississauga road across
from the campus were listed for sale at the same time. The opportunity will allow the school to use the spaces as a way to accommodate new faculty from out of area, while they acclimate to the city and find their own housing. Krull stated that the properties will most likely be redeveloped over the next three to five years, but will be kept in their current state. The chair of the committee also provided an update to the university’s mental health leave policy. As of now, the policy remains withdrawn following a complaint by the Ontario Human Rights Commission, which alleges that the proposed policy fails to comply with the university’s “duty to accommodate” student needs because it places them on a mandated leave, removed from the university environment. According to the meeting Chair’s comments, U of T’s vice-president and provost remains adamant that the policy does not breach the commissions’ standards and remains
compliant. However, the university will withdraw the policy for further review in light of the board’s comments. Student organizations such as UTSU have previously voiced criticisms of the policy. Main concerns depict the policy as being “punitive” by placing students on leave at the discretion of the university. U of T’s vice-provost, students, Sandy Welsh, has previously denied in interviews with The Medium that the policy is meant to be disciplinary in any manner. Campus Council did not speculate when the policy might be reintroduced into the governance cycle. Krull also stated that architect company, Kieran Timberlake, has been chosen to construct and design the new science building. The company is largely known for their work on the U.S. embassy in London, England. The science building is expected to help encourage more research in medicinal studies. The next Campus Council meeting will take place on April 18th.
GTA students support U-Commute
UTSU.CA/PHOTO
STEVE RUSSELL/THE STAR
CUPE 3903 claims that the York administration is not bargaining. ALICIA BOATTO NEWS EDITOR Teaching assistants, contract faculty, and graduate assistants from CUPE 3903 units 1, 2, and 3 have entered into their second week of strike action after rejecting York University’s final offer, with the university not returning to the bargaining table. The CUPE 3903 site stated that the bargaining team offered to continue bargaining over the weekends to make a deal. However, that offer was turned down by the university. CUPE 3903 members are lobbying for increased job security, guaranteed
funding for masters students, better childcare at York University, and employment equity. On York University’s strike website, “All classes that can continue will continue. Libraries, residences, restaurants and other food outlets, administrative offices and other university facilities will remain open.” CUPE 3902, which represents U of T teaching assistants has lent their solidarity to the York labour union during the labour disruption. CUPE 3902 recently reached a tentative agreement with U of T, ending the possibility of the strike this year.
Majority of students stated that they use public transport for more than their commute to school. Survey continued from cover Survey participants came from all over the GTA, including Ajax, Vaughan, and Richmond Hill, with the largest demographic living in Toronto’s downtown core, North York, and Scarborough. The results note that “an inaccuracy in this survey was the self-reporting nature of this question. We expect some answers marked as ‘Downtown – City’ may have been better attributed to other areas in the City (i.e. West end, East end, North end), given the discrepancy with the answers re-
ceived.” UTSU has previously stated that this pass would be implemented through PRESTO cards, but when asked in the survey, only 51 per cent of participants stated they have a PRESTO card, and 48.9 per cent stated that they don’t. The proposed pass from UTMSU would be in collaboration with several other Toronto post-secondary institutions, including Ryerson University, George Brown, and OCAD. Each of the collaborators held their own commuter survey, the results of which are not included in UTSU’s
update. In December 2017, the TTC stated that they would be willing to move forward with the U-Commute project and began consultations for implementation. A plausible price or implementation date has yet to be announced. Many post-secondary institutions have been lobbying for more flexible transit passes for students, including McMaster University and the University of Guelph. UTMSU has promised to lobby for an expanded U-Pass for UTM students for the past four years.
03.12.2018 THE MEDIUM NEWS
UTMSU wins UTMSFL lawsuit
A judge has ruled in favour of UTMSU following their lawsuit with pro-life group UTM Students for Life. The lawsuit, which was filed in 2016 after UTMSFL was denied club status on campus, alleged violations to freedom of speech on part of the UTMSU. Speaking in an email to The Medium, UTMSFL’s president Chad Hagal expressed disappointment at the final judgement. “While we are disappointed at the outcome of the
decision, we will continue to try and raise awareness among our fellow students about the value of human life. We aren’t mad or angry at anyone, and recognize that our group’s experience is part of the overall pattern across Canadian campuses of silencing marginalized views, including pro-life expression,” Hagal stated. “We agree with the stated commitment in UTMSU’s Constitution and bylaws to uphold student rights regardless of their personal or political beliefs, and believe it is important that students’ opportunities
to engage with their peers in sharing information and perspective should not be limited based on their beliefs,” he added. Currently, the group is determining whether or not they will be filing for an appeal. UTMSU’s president Salma Fakhry did not respond to The Medium’s request for comment, as of press time. During the proceedings of the lawsuit, UTMSFL maintained their presence on the UTM campus by tabling in buildings and stopping students to discuss Canada’s current abortion laws.
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»WHAT DO YOU THINK OF
A judge ruled in favour of UTMSU’s choice to deny club status FATIMA WASIF ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
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WHEN YOU HEAR “U OF T”?
Cam Au 4th year
Libby Novoselac 1st year
“Tears.”
“The trees.”
Cal Miehe 4th year
Muhammad Ali 3rd year
“The colour blue.”
“Stress.”
UTM Campus Police arrest robber The suspect was responsible for multiple residence robberies
YASMEEN ALKOKA/THE MEDIUM
Police arrested and charged a male suspect involved in a break-and-enter on UTM residence.
A suspect for a recent break-and-enter has been charged and is currently being held in custody after an investigation by the UTM Campus Police in collaboration with the Peel Regional Police. According to Rob Messacar, the manager for the Campus Police, UTM Campus Police were called to a McLuhan residence on Febru-
ary 23rd, after a male was reported to enter two on-campus townhouses through unlocked or open doors. Students reported that many items were taken from their residence unit. The Peel Regional Police, working in collaboration with UTM’s Campus police, identified and charged a suspect with the offences of theft and breaking and entering. The suspect is currently being held in custody. For general safety purposes, the UTM campus police has reminded
everyone to keep all doors and windows securely fastened, even when at home. Individuals living in multi-tenant or residence buildings should take heed of anyone tailgating or following them into the building. Campus Police did not release the name of the suspect or say if he was a UTM student. Messacar stated that anyone with information about the suspect and robberies should contact Peel Police.
Doug Ford elected as new Ontario PC leader
NAFTA Negotiations Continue
Man dies after Etobicoke shooting
Stats Canada loses employee records and census information
Logo for Ontario’s cannabis stores criticized as “boring”
Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Party announced that Doug Ford will be the leader of the party in the upcoming provincial elections against current Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne. Ford’s election comes after PC opponent Christie Elliott conceded her candidacy in the leadership race.
Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, stated that Canada will not be pressured by the United States when negotiating NAFTA. This week marks the seventh round of NAFTA negotiations with the United States. President Trump has also expressed a desire to implement stricter tarriffs U.S. steel imports, but exempted both Mexico and Canada.
Man dies in hospital following shooting in Etobicoke. The victim in his early 30s was shot near Martin Grove and Albion roads early Saturday morning. Police are searching for a suspect described as a black male described as between 5’9” and 6’ tall, in a black hoodie with his face covered.
Canadians’ sensitive information was lost following mishandeling of documents during the 2016 census process. 587 census forms of First Nations residents were placed in the trunk of an employee’s car, and that car was later stolen when the employee took a weekend trip to Montreal.
The logo features thin black text on a white background and has drawn criticisms online for being overly minimialistic.
Source: Global News
Source: The Toronto Star
Source: The Toronto Star
Source: Global News
Source: CBC News
RAMIYA SURESHHKUMAR
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To contribute, email editor@themedium.ca
Take a breath and ask what you want What’s the worst thing that could possibly happen if you ask what’s on your mind? You don’t want to ask what you’re curious about? What are you so afraid of? Excuse me as I take a second to be super cliché, but why should you wonder so much about something, when you can just, simply, ask it? I understand many of us go through a hard time expressing ourselves or publicly speaking about things, but when I see people extremely curious about a certain topic and refusing to ask, I can’t help but wonder why. Not to sound very idealistic—I was one of those people at some point too. Then I started weighing my options and realized I only had two: I should contain my curiosity and just let it go, or I should ask and get an answer, and it won’t matter what this answer is because at least my curiosity will be put to an end. At least, regardless of whether the answer is good or bad, satisfying or irritating, I finally won’t have to keep wondering about it. This concept applies to anything in life, literally anything you’re too afraid to know the answer for. This includes your feelings toward something or someone, questions in class, holding an organization or anyone accountable, and many, many others. All it requires of you when this itching curiosity hits, is to scratch it by asking what’s on your mind. Yes, I know how hard it is. And yes, I understand how it does hurt in the gut, but the relief it follows is indeed worth it. Asking shows you question your
thoughts. Asking shows you want to be informed, or care about a situation that you have to know about. Asking shows you think critically. Otherwise your concealed questions could eventually depress you. Let me particularly address situations that I hope you can find a way to relate to—one from a journalistic point of view, and the other from a social perspective. I believe the main goal of journalism is to bring hidden stories to light. Its goal is to investigate a situation, put it together, and bring it in a piece of writing to the people to understand it. But questions follow investigations, and risks follow those questions—lots of risks, particularly if you ask a wrong question, or if you’re digging in a place you’re not supposed to. However, as a journalist, I’d rather squeeze my brain until I find a way around with my questions without getting myself in trouble. Why? Because one, I believe in the importance of finding the answer; and two, because I’m not going to keep wondering about an answer that I know I can get. Or at the very least, know that I tried getting. In my job as a journalist, there were so many times when I’ve seen people assuming things. They kept their curiosity growing to an extent that they chose the easy way out and made assumptions in their head, rather than ask questions and get proper answers. Assumptions are a mistake if they’re
not well-studied for. As for the social and general perspective, let me give a couple of simple examples. How many times have you been on the phone or facing someone while you’re requesting more information on anything, and although you still don’t get the full answer you want, you shy away from asking more questions? Well, how many times have you regretted not asking? Here’s another example: how many times have you been bombarded with strong emotions that you felt like you’ll burst if you don’t let them out to someone you had in mind? Well, how many times have you let yourself endure this irritation because you were too scared to ask—or in that case, to share your feelings—thinking it would hurt your ego? Well again, how many times has concealing your feelings and locking your questions upset you even more? How many times have you been in a class or lecture and although there was something you didn’t understand, you got too scared to raise your hand and ask about it, thinking you’ll look stupid or because of the fear of public speaking? How many times have you exited this class or lecture without asking, and feeling down because you thought to yourself, I could’ve gotten an answer? If you’ve nodded yes to any of these examples, then you’ve done it wrong. And if you can relate to any of these and still convince yourself it’s okay,
then let me confront you with the truth: you are doing it wrong too. However, you still have a chance. Believe me, I have been through all these phases a thousand times. But I’ve learned to work on it, to challenge myself, and to not keep my questions prisoned in my head. It’s going to scare you, and you’ll feel a pain in your gut while doing it. You’ll hesitate, and your hand could shake and you could stutter in your words. However, you will get there. You’ll get there because if you want to know about anything, you should let nothing stop you, and particularly if it’s your own fears that’s stopping you. Lastly, ask yourself first, is shying away worth it? If not, then why the hold up? What’s the worst thing that could happen if you do ask? No response? A rejection? A sarcastic reply? An unsatisfying answer? Well, at least when you do ask, you will finally have an answer that you’ve been wondering about. You’ll be proud that you built courage and didn’t let yourself or anyone and anything else stop you from feeding your curiosity.
MENNA ELNAKA MANAGING EDITOR
CORRECTION NOTICE The March 5 article “Still haunted by the ghost of capitalism past?” has been corrected.
03.12.2018
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Problems beyond the 6 by 8 jail cell The Blackwood Gallery’s newest exhibit concerning imprisonment is held in the CCT building KEENA AL-WAHAIDI ASSOCIATE A&E EDITOR
If you’ve been in the CCT building on campus anytime between early February and now, you’ve probably noticed the makeshift tent installations of Mississauga-based artist Sheena Hoszko’s Correctional Service Canada Accommodation Guidelines: Mental Healthcare Facility. Her exhibit is being run by the Blackwood Gallery and is part of the Take Care circuit, a project that embellishes the idea of care and the crises that accompany it. The installations in CCT are long white drapes propped up by rented pipes, creating two rooms about 10 square feet in width and length. They are meant to showcase the spaces for mental health treatment rooms that correctional facilities are bound to. The imprisonment of Canada’s criminal offenders showcases how further trapped they are within the restrictions of their circumstances. The exhibit gives a perspective on the crisis of space within the al-
The installations in the CCT building feature makeshift tents. ready convoluted narrative of mental health issues. This perhaps manifests the idea of space as an issue within treatment and healthcare facilities—the mental health of incarcerated offenders worsens, according to the research behind the exhibit. The question becomes clear: why are of-
fenders not given the same mental health treatment as someone outside of prison? It is understandable that inmates are given poorer food choices and recreational facilities, however people on the inside are human beings as well—just with a criminal record and no access to outside health facilities.
OLIVIA ADAMCZYK/THE MEDIUM
The exhibit encourages us to look at Canadian correctional facilities in a new light. It is a dim one, and doesn’t shed much light on, or explain, where our tax dollars goes to. Perhaps that isn’t its intent. While we think that criminals are in prison to serve time, the exhibit points to the fact that mentally-ill people
should not be granted fewer healthcare rights than people on the outside, even if they are convicts. Being enclosed here has a different effect than just thinking about the ways we can help one another through emotionally torturous predicaments. Lots of art-goers who view this exhibit are likely to have not stepped into a correctional facility—let alone a treatment room within one. The art of highlighting mental health plights encloses us into a space that mentally-well people would likely feel anxious within. It’s obvious that the exhibit fits right into the Take Care circuit. Here, care in itself is obstructed greatly and deeply. Criminal offenders do not have the choice as to where they receive treatment, but are given over to these rooms where care is not well thought-out. Care comes within a ten-square foot space, taking up room just because it can. Correctional Service Canada Accommodation Guidelines: Mental Healthcare Facility ran until February 18 at the Blackwood Gallery.
I’ve done a thousand dreadful things Titus Andronicus is the last production at Hart House Theatre and Shakespeare’s goriest play RACHAEL MASIH WITH NOTES FROM KASSANDRA HANGDAAN A&E EDITOR
Titus Adronicus, directed by James Wallis, is Hart House Theatre’s last production for the season. Written by Shakespeare around 1588, this play is said to be the bard’s most macabre piece. Titus Andronicus (David Mackett) is a Roman hero who has returned from 10 years of war. With him he drags along a band of prisoners: a family of Goths and Aaron the Moor. Goths refer to the German people who invaded Rome and Aaron the Moor is an African Muslim. These people in the context of the play are considered enemies of Rome, and as a ritual, Titus sacrifices the Goth Queen’s eldest son in exchange for the sons he lost in war. This initiates the play’s horrors by sparking a hunger for revenge in the Queen of the Goths, Tamora (Shalyn McFaul). Meanwhile, upon Titus’ return, Saturninus (Tristan Claxton) rises to power and claims his throne as
SCOTT GORMAN/PHOTO
The play is riddled with deceitful relationships and bloodshed. the new emperor of Rome. Originally, Saturninus is to marry Titus’ daughter Lavinia (Bailey Green), but she flees and he takes Tamora as his queen instead. Tamora seizes this opportunity to reign terror on Andronicus’ family. The sneaky seductress and her secret lover Aaron (Shawn Lall) organize for the murder of Bassianis (Megan Miles), which is later
framed on Titus’ two sons Quintus (Nathaniel Kinghan) and Martius (Theodor Iordache). In an attempt to redeem his brothers, another of Titus’ sons, Lucius (Dylan Evans), is banished from Rome. After Tamora’s plan succeeds she enlists her two sons, Demetrius (Felix Beauchamp) and Chiron (Thomas Nyhuus) to do what they will with Lavinia.
What they willed was to rape her. They carved out her tongue to keep her silent. They lobbed off her hands so she couldn’t write their names. Titus’ sister Marcus (Anne MacKay) happens upon Lavinia in the woods. The sight of Lavinia enflames Titus and the thirst for revenge overtakes him. Aaron tricks Titus into believing
that he can exchange his hand for the life of his two sons. Aaron slices off his hand and in return gives Titus the severed heads of Martius and Quintus. The murder and mutilation of his children drives Titus insane. Shakespeare is difficult to do; it’s basically in a different language. One actor drew me in with her performance. McFaul paced her lines well and used her body language to convey character. She helped me understand the lines and the motives behind them. My favourite part about McFaul’s performance was her ability to command the stage, which fit her powerful role. Her manipulation of Lucius that was seen in her face and in the aggressive physical manipulation of Lucius’ body. Mackett and Evans brought a much-needed intensity to the piece. Mackett played Andronicus beautifully in the second act. His madness was witty, scary, and human. Mackett turned an otherwise impersonal role for me into an amiable character that I could empathize with. Titus continued on page 6
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THE MEDIUM 03.12.2018
Of our self-destruction Annihilation explores a metaphorical self-destruction
REWIND ASYA TWAHIR
TECHCRUNCH.COM/PHOTO
Annihilation stars Natalie Portman who plays Lena, a biologist, on a mission in the Shimmer. SAHIBA SHAH WITH NOTES FROM KASSANDRA HANGDAAN A&E EDITOR
Alex Garland’s Annihilation is more than just a sci-fi horror film. It visualizes inner conflict and selfconfrontation in a unique way. This spoiler review explores how the film deals with themes of trauma, mental illness, and the nature of personhood through a science-fiction lens. The film opens with an outerspace object striking a lighthouse, from which a mysterious field starts spreading and becomes known as the Shimmer. The field is sealed off and deemed “Area X.” The only person to return from the Shimmer is Kane, a U.S. soldier and husband of the protagonist, Lena, who happens to be a cellular biology professor as well as a former soldier. Kane returns strange, altered, extremely ill, and is taken back to Area X along with Lena. To uncover the mysteries of the Shimmer, Lena heads out on an expedition with psychologist Dr. Ventress, paramedic Anya Thorensen, physicist Josie Radek, and geologist Cass Sheppard. Inside, the group encounters mysterious and beautiful creatures, mutations, and hybrid species—some more dangerous than others. Josie suggests that the Shimmer is an electromagnetic field that doesn’t block outside forces so much as it refracts them, in essence, altering them forever. They soon reach the conclusion that the Shimmer refracts every single thing, even the cells in their own bodies. The second they stepped inside the field, they started to change. Annihilation is nothing if not about change—or rather, unravel-
ing. Each member of the group harbours personal grief or trauma. In a conversation between Cass and Lena, we find out about the death of Cass’s daughter, Anya’s struggle with alcoholism, Dr. Ventress’s cancer diagnosis, and Josie’s battle with depression and self-harm. Certain transition scenes flashback to Lena’s conflict—compromising acts that could harm her marriage. The deeper that the group heads into the Shimmer, the more their layers peel off to reveal complex, broken individuals. In an article titled “Annihilation and the Horrors of Change,” the author, who writes under the penname FilmCritHulk, writes, “But at center of [Annihilation] is not some lesson about the mere gravity of mental health, but more the painful understanding of collective human
Everything inside the Shimmer personifies those battles and grievances, constantly refracting, changing, unraveling. behavior. […] You will have to face the thing you are most afraid of. We all have a potential annihilation to face.” What’s striking about this analysis is its suggestion that life is essentially an intricate web of individual journeys that contribute to a collective journey. Annihilation reveals a remarkable yet horrifying truth about human existence: the ability of human beings to feel inevitably connected yet utterly isolated simultaneously. One by one, the group breaks apart. Some meet brutal ends, oth-
ers journey alone, choosing either to surrender to their grievances or to embrace them. Everything inside the Shimmer personifies those battles and grievances, constantly refracting, changing, unraveling. In a beautiful sequence of scenes, Josie decides to embrace the Shimmer, never meaning to question it, but simply becoming a part of it. Vines of flowers and leaves sprout from her scars and entwine around her arms, legs, and eventually her entire body. She comes to terms with her conflict by succumbing to it. Lena journeys to the lighthouse alone and reaches the core. In a climactic scene, Lena confronts what seems to be her clone. It shadows her every move, fights back when Lena attacks, and rushes atop her when she tries to escape. In an article from Vulture, titled “How Annihilation Nails the Complex Reality of Depression,” Angelica Jade Bastién notes, “[Annihilation is] a masterwork I felt in my nerve endings, a brutal, gorgeous meditation on the rigors of depression and the human impulse toward self-destruction.” The movie certainly gives shape to the experience of mental illness, daringly and blatantly at times. However, it is only one possible depiction, since there is no way to portray a singular universal experience of depression or other mental illnesses. With Annihilation, director Garland imagines a world of change, one where growth comes through destruction. It starts at the cellular level, or perhaps deeper still, from an unseen inexplicable force that expands and evolves into something uncontrollable. From the moment we are born, we head towards inevitable death. It’s the journey that matters.
Psycho (1960) is a classic psychological horror film whose screenplay, written by Joseph Stefano, is looselybased on a novel of the same name authored by Robert Bloch and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The plot follows a Phoenix real estate secretary named Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) who embezzles $40,000 from a client and subsequently goes on the lam, during which she checks herself into Bates Motel. Here, she meets Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), the troubled individual who manages the motel, living under the tight yoke of his overbearing mother, Norma. In the end, we discover that Norma had in fact, died a decade earlier at the hand of her jealous son, not wanting to share his mother with anyone. Norma’s death comes as such an emotional shock to him that he develops—or perhaps it simply triggers—some form of dissociative identity disorder, to cope with his loss of the person on whom he felt entirely dependant on and overwhelmingly guilty for having killed. As a result, Norman exhumes Norma’s corpse, preserves her, and continues to live life as if she’d never died. He routinely assumes her voice and personality whenever he feels attracted to a woman, filling the blanks where his clingy mother, were she alive, would have berated him. The impactful ending to the film has Norman taken away by authorities to be sent to a mental institution, a place for which Norman expressed a distaste and fear in discussions with Marion. The audience is given a masterful reveal through imagery and psychiatric narration, that when Norman is faced with his greatest fear, the ‘mother’ persona takes full control of his mind in an attempt
to shield Norman from the horrors of the “mad house.” Even after being discovered, “Norma” attempts to manipulate the situation, by portraying herself as a harmless individual who couldn’t hurt a fly. It’s interesting to note way this film portrays the psyche of its characters. Almost immediately after he’s introduced, it’s indicated that Norman’s relationship with his mother is psychologically unhealthy. However, a subtler characterization is of Marion. It’s suggested in the film that she experiences intense paranoia and hallucinations when she sees a police officer following her, who interacts with only her, or sometimes no one at all. She even concocts conversations in her head that she assumes people are having about her.
Psycho is a film so culturally significant that it has been added to the National Film Registry by the U.S. Library of Congress. Although we see Norman’s mental state at the forefront of this film, the beautifully artistic way in which we are given small glimpses of Marion’s state of mind allow us to think further than the obvious and truly absorb the entire well-weaved web of this timeless story. Beyond the characterization, the smooth cuts and instantly recognizable, chilling, string-heavy score contribute to an engaging build of suspense, culminating with a reveal that feels worthwhile. Psycho is a film so culturally significant that it has since been added to the National Film Registry by the U.S. Library of Congress. Viewers of the film will not find it difficult to understand why.
Bloody hands Titus continued from page 5
Beauchamp and Nyhuus added humour to the piece. Their vast height difference added to the brother’s comedy.
Mackett and Evans brough a much-needed intensity to the piece. Mackett played Andronicus beautifully in the second act. Though there was good reason to hate their characters, they still pulled laughs from the audience.
A nice addition was the role of the jester (Laura Darby) who appeared during every death and marked murders with balloons, ribbons, flowers, and confetti, which encapsulated the balance of frivolity and terror in the piece The performance would have been heightened if every person on the stage was acting at all times. At points, I was distracted by background characters in the scene that seemed to be bored, which drained energy from the piece. Overall, I think the show could have been more engaging. However, a few key characters brought the livelihood into the gruesome tale of Titus Andronicus. Titus Andronicus ran at Hart House Theatre from March 2 to 10.
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Jugal, Raj, and Joginder are in a bind Chauthi Koot is a Punjabi film covering the events of the 1980s Sikh separatist movement KEENA AL-WAHAIDI ASSOCIATE A&E EDITOR
There are three things that lots of great films must encompass in order to be diversely unique: political turmoil, eloquent cinematography, and a slew of relatable characters. This past Wednesday, UTM screened Chauthi Koot in IB110, a 2015 Punjabi film. The film follows the Sikh separatist movement in Punjab taking place in the 1980s. With rising tensions between the armed forces and militants, the movie brings a focus over to average citizens of the state and their plight within the movement. The film made history back in 2015 as the first Punjabi film to be shown at the Cannes Film Festival. The film is not so reliant on showcasing itself as a historical account. Rather, it projects a more humanized version of 1980s Punjab, during its insurgency and political chaos. It feels like the film attempts to make connections to people instead of simply retelling its story. It focuses on the people rather than the cold hard
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Chauthi Koot showed in IB110, hosted by the Centre for South Asian Civilizations. facts of the truths, the lies, or the grey areas. This may be because of characters like Joginder (Suvinder Vicky), who fears keeping his dog Tommy, because of threats by Sikh military officers who tell him to get rid of the
constantly barking dog. Each bark that Tommy gives draws attention from security forces who realize that the militants have taken refuge of the village. We can’t help but feel for Joginder, who has attempted to get rid of his dog, even though it comes back
each time. Based on the Punjab insurgency, the film is just one of many that has documented the political disorder within the state. The movement involved rage developed by civilians because of the government’s failure to
recognize Sikhism and the language of Punjabi throughout the state. This provoked widespread retaliation and civil movement. Perhaps the film is so humanistic because it is originally based on two short stories by Waryam Singh Sandhu—an Indian short story writer. The movie was based off “The Fourth Direction” and “I Am Feeling Fine Now.” The stories had come from his 2005 short story collection that the movie decided to name for itself, Chauthi Koot. We see lots of scenes with no dialogue—just movements, slight sounds, and brief actions. Yet, we don’t need anything to give us insight on what’s going on. Chauthi Koot is keen on showing the divide between the state and the militants, and between the common people and the militants. It showcases the chaos right in the middle. No sides are taken, and no biases are divulged. The point of the film is to perhaps be a neutral force within the conflict. It shows exactly how it is without judgement or highlighting of a wrong or right side.
The importance of freeing the press Meryl Streep stars in Steven Spielbierg’s The Post, which explores the evolution of the press PAULA CHO ASSOCIATE A&E EDITOR
Steven Spielberg’s exhilarating new film The Post is based on true events surrounding the historic protection of freedom of the press following an American government coverup. It revisits The Washington Post’s decision to publish portions of the Pentagon Papers, a highly classified report that chronicled America’s futile involvement in the Vietnam War, to inform public discourse of the truth. The story begins in 1966 with government data analyst Daniel Ellsberg (Matthew Rhys) on a plane heading back to the United States. Using his portable typewriter, he composes a report of the violent scenes and deaths he witnessed in Vietnam. Daniel expresses his view of the war being hopeless to secretary of defense Robert McNamara (Bruce Greenwood), but instead of telling the truth, McNamara grossly mischaracterizes American progress to eagerly-awaiting journalists. Disillusioned by the official script, Daniel surreptitiously photocopies decades-worth of classified reports with the intention of leaking them to the press. The plot soon jumps to one of the main protagonists Katharine Graham (Meryl Streep), as she is about to take her newspaper, The Wash-
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The Post takes place in 1966 and follows characters Daniel Ellisberg and Katharine Graham. ington Post, public. As the female publisher of a newspaper previously run by her father and late husband, Katharine lacks experience and must face a group of assertive male advisors who constantly doubt her resolve to make tough choices. Nonetheless, she proves her courage and steadfast integrity each time she is thrown a challenge. Perhaps the climatic moment of the whole film is solely her decision on whether or not to run the story. Whilst Katharine successfully leads her company public, The New
York Times receives the leaked Pentagon Papers and publishes an exposé of the government’s long-running deception of the American public. The scrambling White House immediately sanctions a court injunction against The Times, prohibiting any further publication. The Post’s editor-in-chief Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks), driven by his relentless commitment to democracy and freedom of speech, is determined to continue the story and assigns editor Ben Bagdikian (Bob Odenkirk) to find Daniel as their own source
for the documents. One of the most memorable scenes for me portrayed Ben and Daniel genuinely vocalizing how terrified they are of the consequences that may result from publishing the story. They sit in a dark motel room with all the Pentagon Papers laid out in front of them, and weigh the pros and cons of defending constitutional freedoms against the looming possibility of going to prison. They ultimately agree that publishing would mean keeping the powerful accountable and saving
countless real lives, prompting Ben to dash back to the newsroom. For me, the rest of the film speeds by. Spielberg vividly juxtaposes Katharine’s darkly lighted, wooden-paneled world of crucial decision-making to Ben’s world of a chaotic newsroom with fluorescent lighting and equally crucial staffers. Katharine is hosting a soirée when Ben and his team of editors madly sift through the reports. Yet both characters are depicted equally part of the fight. In the end, Katharine courageously chooses to publish the piece, and The Post is immediately brought to court against the government of the United States. However, rather than an intense court battle, viewers watch the trial as a victory lap, as we know from history that Katharine and her team win the case. Katharine defies all expectations of her not only as a leader but as a woman, and becomes a true icon for female empowerment. The Post, like many movies that turn the past into entertainment, dramatically traces a moment in history with wit, precision, and understated passion. The underlying theme of cheerleading the First Amendment makes a pointed statement about the current American administration and is more relevant than ever. The Academy Awardwinning trio of Streep, Hanks, and Spielberg doesn’t hurt either.
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Women, Culture, and Society at UTM UTM students Maleeha Iqbal and Selina Azizi are co-editors for upcoming undergraduate journal MAHNOOR AYUB FEATURES EDITOR
Busy waiting outside offices and translating ideas into plans, little did UTM students Selina Azizi and Maleeha Iqbal know that the following winter, their dream of producing an undergraduate Women and Gender Studies journal would transform into reality. Now in the process of reviewing student submissions, the upcoming Women, Culture, & Society Undergraduate Review (WCSUR) is being produced by Azizi and Iqbal, under professor Joan Simalchik. Early into the afternoon on International Women’s Day, The Medium sat down with Simalchik to learn more about what inspired the journal, and why this work is important. “Let me tell you. The Women Culture and Society Journal is the idea and enactment of Maleeha and Selina. It was their idea, their effort, their initiative, and they came to me to see how it could come about, and they had the idea that there needed to be a way on this campus of highlighting work by undergraduate students about women, and males and
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The WCSUR will highlight undergraduate work across different disciplines. non-binary folk are not excluded,” says Simalchik. Maleeha Iqbal, one of the coeditors for the journal says to The Medium in an email, “The Women, Culture, & Society Undergraduate
Review is a new interdisciplinary undergraduate journal being released in April 2018.” According to Iqbal, the purpose of this journal is showcase leading scholarship about women’s issues produced by under-
graduate students at the University of Toronto. Speaking about the inspiration behind the journal, Iqbal says, “In 2016, I was taking quite a few gender-related courses within the
Sociology Department. I had also presented some research with a professor at The Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement (MIRCI) conference in downtown Toronto, and I was beginning my own qualitative research study which dealt with differences in the way male and female professors are treated within the classroom.” Through her research, Iqbal says, “I was learning so much about the issues women face today and wanted to share this knowledge with my peers. This was also around the end of the U.S. Presidential Election, when there was a lot of talk around the way female politicians are treated. All of this and knowing that there was no journal dedicated to women’s issues on campus inspired me to start a journal dedicated to women’s issues.” Selina Azizi, a co-editor for the journal says to The Medium in an email, “because UTM didn’t have quite have an interdisciplinary venue where students would be able to discuss gender and how it interacts with different facets of life.” Journal continued on page 9
Panelists make the case for women in law The Women in Law panel discussion at UTM explored the experiences of women pursuing law ZEAHAA REHMAN
On Wednesday, February 28, 2017, the UTM Mooting and Law Association hosted a “Women in Law” panel discussion, exploring the experiences of women entering and pursuing different fields of law. The panel invited three female lawyers—Sarah Naiman, Laurel Hogg, and Arlene Wolfe—to share their experiences as students and practitioners of law. The panel members responded to prompts moderated by Warda Nayyer, the UTM Mooting and Law Association’s vice president of campus affairs, during the first-half of the discussion, and later answered questions posed to them by audience members. “I decided I wanted to be a lawyer in grade 10. Before that, I planned to be a veterinarian. I was taking more science and math courses until I had a civics teacher in grade 10 who was actually a practicing lawyer,” recalled Naiman, who currently works as a legal counsel at Intact Insurance, when asked about why she decided to pursue law. “When we walked into class,
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The UTM Mooting and Law Association hosted a “Women In Law” panel discussion. he asked us how we knew the world was round. We all tried to give him answers of theories we had heard […] at the end of it, he asked us how did we personally know?” Naiman continued, “And none of us [personally knew]. The purpose of the exercise was not to tell us that the world was anything but round, but to encourage us to think critically about
the facts that we were given.” When prompted about how each of the lawyers had found their law school experience, and if they would recommend it, Arlene Wolfe, now a retired corporate lawyer who was previously a partner at McLean & Kerr, said, “[Law school] is a great stepping stone. It teaches you a real way to think [after which] you can
go into journalism, go into politics, [and] law development.” Wolfe added, “It gives you the knowledge and the basics—a very versatile education experience—that you can use for anything.” “I agree that it is a phenomenal education that teaches you how to think and it can lead to many other opportunities,” Naiman chimed in,
“But I also tell people that it is a lot of work, and it’s expensive” “It’s tough,” Laurel Hogg, litigator at Lenczner Slaght, agreed. “Law school is tough. [Being a lawyer is] incredibly rewarding and I’m happy with this choice, but if I think if I was at all on the fence—I don’t know that given the time and money, if I would recommend it.” Naiman adds, “Having said all that, if this is what you want to do, it is an incredibly rewarding career,” Naiman advised, “Don’t let any of that scare you.” “You can say it’s changed a bit, law school?” Hogg mused, “Even when I would speak to my father [who was also a lawyer], it was ‘Look to your left, look to your right, only one of you will still to be here at the end of the year’ and that’s not the case anymore. They want you to get through, and to be successful lawyers, they want you to get hired at firms. There is a culture of wanting to support you.” But as Hogg continued, “You have to go in there with some knowledge of what you’re headed into.” Law continued on page 10
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The real science behind fake news At last week’s Lecture Me! event, professor Fiona Rawle spoke about how to identify fake news ROULA FARAG
This month’s “Lecture me!” event hosted at the Mississauga Central Library by the Experiential Education Office at UTM featured professor Fiona Rawle from the UTM biology department. Rawle also serves as the associate dean, undergraduate. Her research is geared towards science communication and education, as well as engaging students and the public. Based on her research, Rawle discusses the misunderstandings in science news and how to distinguish between real versus fake news. Fake news, as defined by Rawle, could be a photo, video, or any source of information that is “intentionally made to confuse and misdirect.” According to Rawle, an example of fake news could be some of the stories surrounding Hurricane Irma, where sources were claiming it was the most powerful hurricane in history, which was not the case. As Rawle mentions, various U.S. institutions proceeded to warn the public against sharing these fake news posts as an attempt to tackle this issue. Another category of fake news is a real photo or video that has been “manipulated for deception,” notes Rawle, such as the manipulation of photos during the most recent U.S
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Dr. Fiona Rawle is an associate professor in the biology department at UTM. presidential election. Another category of fake news could be communicating information intended for comedy, satire, and entertainment. In this case, the intent is not to manipulate the audience but nevertheless, “People end up being fooled,” says Rawle. “It’s a continuum. On one end, you have fake news, or false news, and before you get to accurate news,
you have sensationalized news where they’re talking about something that’s accurate but they’re using words that often elicit emotions and it’s sensationalized,” explains Rawle. Since this continuum is in the context of science, it is essential to analyze them based on a scale of the quality of science presented, with bad science or pseudoscience at the bottom, and good science at the top of the scale.
Rawle uses the phrase “FALSE CASE” as an acronym for the audience to distinguish between real and fake news. The acronym stands for Feel/Emotion, Author, Language, Source, Exclusive/Secret, Claim, Agenda, Scheme/Conspiracy, and Everything-is-cured. One of the indicators of bad news, according to Rawle, is if the information elicits a spike in emotion.
When the emotions triggered by certain news are too extreme, chances are this news is false. An example of this, as Rawle explains, is a headline claiming, “Every single person that has cancer has a pH that’s too acidic,” which according to her, is clearly intended to trigger certain emotions of fear and paranoia from the reader. Often there are trigger words that are associated with these feelings. When reading news, as Rawle elaborates, it’s also important to note the use of language and its purpose: “What language is being used? Is it accurate? Is it inflammatory? Is it casual?” These are all questions Rawle suggests we ask ourselves when analyzing science news. The use of words, such as “epic,” is a clear example of flashy language that is rarely used in accurate news headlines. Another clue to watch out for is the use of chemical words to elicit a fear response. An interesting example Rawle portrays is an article titled “What does DHMO do to your body?,” includes a list of potentially harmful side effects of DHMO. According to this article, DHMO is a harmful chemical. However, when Rawle asked the audience what DHMO stands for, they soon realized that it is dihydrogen monoxide which is the chemical term for water. Fake continued on page 10
A testament to student agency at UTM Journal continued from page 8 Azizi also says, “I appreciated the fact that this journal would allow students to shed light on valuable topics that may not have been explored before.” The idea, according to Selina, also came at a time where gender-related topics were being discussed more and more in classes at UTM. “The fact that more classes were focusing on it made me confident that students would be interested in a journal like this. We also both had editing experience previous to this, and we thought our background would be useful,” says Azizi. Simalchik recalls, “They came to me last year and they worked on it over the summer, and through the fall did a schedule, then devised a call for papers that went out across UTM, and also to women and gender studies students and sociology students and right across the disciplines.” Welcoming submissions across different fields of study, Simalchik says, “There were anthropology entries, there were science entries, so you can see that work on women and gender is being done in multiple departments. And so, it’s not just confined to this program.” According to Iqbal and Azizi, one of the biggest challenges they faced was pitching the journal to professors. “A lot of professors are quite busy working on projects; so, we had
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Azizi and Iqbal approached professor Simalchik with a journal proposal last summer. to make sure that our proposal was strong and concise. We were lucky to have the assistance of professor Neda Maghbouleh who looked over our proposal and gave us suggestions,” says Iqbal, and continues, “Eventually, after many meetings with quite a few professors—who were all very supportive, we successfully pitched the journal to professor Joan Simalchik who became our faculty advisor.”
According to Azizi, another challenge they faced was trying to find professors to review the papers. “These reviews are voluntary on the professors’ parts, and we emailed numerous professors from several disciplines to help us in the process,” says the co-editor. Simalchik also says that another reason she way happy with this initiative was because in regard to the papers she reads and receives in her
courses, she says, “It’s just a shame that I mark them and give them back and nobody else has an opportunity to read them and I always feel badly about that. So in this case, I was thrilled that there would be a vehicle to have this good work showcased and also accessible and available to a much wider audience than the professor marking the essay.” Elaborating upon the support available to the journal, Simalchik
says, “Professor Chris Petrakos, who is in history, heads up the departmental undergraduate journal called Prandium, and was extraordinarily supportive and we’re all very grateful to him for sharing the Prandium’s electronic platform for producing this journal.” After the electronic setup and the establishment in place, according to Simalchik, the call for papers went out and they received more than 30 papers from across campus from different departments, “And I think that’s really important students [who] work hard on papers and it just sits in their drawer or is stored on their computers. So, this way, they saw the opportunity to present their work to a wider audience.” In the publication timeline, Simalchik mentions they are approaching the point where articles will be under review by a group of professors after which selections for publication will be made. “For now, we’re aiming for six or seven [articles and they] will be peer reviewed because professors are reviewing them. So, this is a peer-reviewed journal, and when the articles are published, students can put this on their resumes—that they have a peer-reviewed journal article, which not many undergraduates have, and as sole authors,” says Simalchik. Journal continued on page 10
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Law practice is not a trial in the park Law continued from page 8 “People told me […] that being a lawyer is miserable, people aren’t happy, people don’t have any worklife balance, you’re going to quit. And when I kept enjoying the process, they would tell me ‘Oh you’re just enjoying law school, it’s very different in practice.’” Naiman admitted, “My job is not always glamorous, there are parts of it that I don’t like. But I would say 95 per cent of the time I am so happy to be doing.” Naiman also revealed, “I love what I’m doing, I find it engaging and stimulating, and I don’t think any job is perfect. If you’re really sure that this [is] what you want to do, don’t let anybody tell you otherwise.” Despite the rewarding nature of the job, however, the time-commitment it requires, as the panelists agreed, can be daunting. “I worked seven days a week,” Wolfe said, “You worked hard and you played hard.” “As a young lawyer, you started early and you were there forever, especially if you were doing securities,” She continued, “You did a lot of grunt work, a lot of research, it was long hours.” Similarly, Hogg also says, “I work most Sundays, and I work Monday to Friday, and some days I’m there throughout the weekend […]. You’re not on all the time, but I do have very long days.” Naiman, on the other hand had
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The panel hosted lawyers Arlene Wolfe, Laurel Hogg, and Sarah Naimann. a different experience: “I work inhouse […]. I usually work 9-to-5, no weekends. I do work the occasional weekend, I do work the occasional late night, but probably one or two weekends every three months.” “The key thing is that […] there are very few experiences that are going to be the same,” Hogg explained. “The firm culture will dictate a lot of what the expectations are, and you have to seek that out for yourself when you get hired—what works for you.” At Hogg’s mention of the plurality of experiences, Nayver asked the
panel about how being a woman had affected their career. “My class at law school was about a third female,” Wolfe said, “The next class was about a quarter female.” “It’s difficult […] first of all, with your colleagues, it’s hard being the only female because you get a little bit of special attention,” Wolfe described, “The other side of it is that you’re not included in certain things and some people won’t take you to things back then because—believe it or not—you were a woman. And that would never happen in today’s
world.” “I would say, from my hiring experience, I was in an all-female hiring class, the one below me was an allfemale hiring class,” said Hogg with a chuckle, “It just happens to be that there is a large percentage of women in law schools.” “I think that there are still challenges that woman do have to take,” Naiman admitted, “Even if firms are supportive of maternity leave, they’re still taking a year off practice and many women feel that taking that year off does hold you back.”
“I had two kids,” Wolfe told the audience, “One just before I became a partner, and one after I became a partner. My first child, there was no maternity policy […]. I was planning to take off three months, and probably ended up working two of three months.” “I think we’re not at equality yet. We don’t see as many women partners on Bay Street [as men]. Maybe [there is] more equality in the numbers at more junior levels,” Naiman informed, “There have been tons of studies [that found] that for whatever reason, women are not staying in law as long as men are. Even though more of them are entering the profession, they’re maybe not staying in the same way. I think we need to pay attention to these issues.” “It definitely exists in law, sexual harassment definitely exists in law, the way it exists in many other fields,” said Naiman, in response to a question about sexual harassment, “What I can say is that there is so much awareness going on about it, people are really open to talking about it, and learning.” “I think when push comes to shove,” Naiman continued, “If you’ve got bad apples, no amount of education is going to help—they’re going to be gross and inappropriate.” Even then, Naiman did continue to say, “I think so many men are now understanding that it is an issue and are trying to combat it, and make [law] into a safe space.”
An intersectional focus In on a secret? Journal continued from page 9 According to Iqbal, “There are quite a few reasons why this initiative is important. It’s a great way to talk and learn about the many problems women are facing,” and continues to say, “It’s also a great way for students to contribute to discussions on gender issues through their own scholarship. At the end of the day, it’s primarily about building an interest amongst students in discussing these issues.” Again, highlighting Azizi and Iqbals’ work, Simalchik says, “It’s really their effort, their initiative, and their good sense. And we also want to make sure since both students are graduating this year, that after their foundational work we can find a way to sustain the journal in future years.” Simalchik mentions a new Women and Gender Studies Society, which is the student group associated with the Women and Gender studies program, “And so they are going to have conversations this year to see if they could take it on.” The publication will focus on a gendered view of culture and society, and as Simalchik says, “within it then it’s quite open-ended [...] it would all show how work around women and gender is being produced in multiple disciplines.” Speaking about scholarships regarding women’s issues and their place in society, Simalchik laughs, “It’s international women’s day to-
day and you’re asking the director of women and gender studies,” and continues to say, “So my expected answer would be that women’s roles and their work in society is often invisible or erased, and we even find that less and less but still, in academia. So, it’s a way to highlight those achievements and to remedy the erasures of women scholarship and not only by women. Because, like I said, scholarship concerning males or non-binary folks can still be accepted to the journal.” In the context of remedying erasure, Simalchik also says, “I mean look at the article at the invisibility of trans people in the past, it’s now breaking open a little bit so we want to include those ideas.” Simalchik then references a March 8th, 2018 op-ed in The Globe and Mail by Denise Balkissoon titled “This International Women’s Day, feminists should—finally—accept transgender women,” which speaks about including trans women in women studies, “And I mean [this is in] The Globe and Mail? Well you know, that’s because of the agency of trans women themselves.” The professor continues to say that now, through the journal at UTM, “We have a vehicle for how ideas shift and change and become more inclusive as time goes by, and a publication like this is central to debate and marks a change,” therefore centering the introduction of this publication on inclusion, diversity, and visibility.
“We are in a very new place and space and time where the possibilities of change are present,” says Simalchik, and in the context of the current sociopolitical change underway, she adds, “We could be in for a real significant paradigm shift and it will be important that the effort to make that change permanent doesn’t end here.” The undergraduate review, according to Simalchik, is a product of student agency, “And the efforts of students to make it possible.” She also says, “I think every student should think of things they can do and accomplish. Maleeha and Selina were quite persistent in finding support, so students should know that they can accomplish their dream and they should take it up and not feel that there are so many barriers for whatever that might be, and that’s an important lesson, because it’s so significant that two students have achieved this.” Additionally, as Azizi says, “In the era where there is more dialogue about things like the #MeToo Movement, white feminism, and gender and sexual equality, I think this journal is a great compliment,” and she continues to say, “We hope that it will inspire current and future UTM students to engage with these critical issues. I also think it’s a great opportunity for some of UTM’s students to showcase their scholarship and get published early in their career.”
Fake continued from page 9 As the biology professor emphasizes, it is essential to determine who the author of the news article is and review their credentials to get an idea of the reliability of the information. If you cannot find the author of a specific article, that is likely an indicator of fake news. In addition to the author, the source— for example, online, social media, academic journal—of the information is critical to assess the credibility of the news. Also, if you are reading information that is considered exclusive or secret and you may be the first to know, then chances are you’re reading fake news. Identifying the claim of a news article is key to understanding the intention of communicating this information. News that is based on conspiracy theories, as Rawle suggests, are generally fake. Most notably, news that advocate a certain cure for cancer and other diseases is not accurate. In science journalism, as Rawle explains, a new rule is established that “If your article can be summarized as no, then don’t write it.” She continued to add that science articles that pose questions with an obvious “no” answer are generally sensationalized news. The scientific method is key when reading science news because science must be replicated and these methods act as a recipe for replica-
tion. Although science is much more complex than a simple recipe, the scientific method is nevertheless a useful tool for the public to evaluate the science news. Highlighting the concerns about the link between vaccinations and disease, Rawle explains, “Andrew Wakefield, who published a study in the late 1990s, kicked off this worry about the MMR vaccine being linked to autism.” This MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine study is an example of how to identify bad science because the data that was published by Wakefield, only contained 12 patients and showed the behavioral diagnosis, casual agents, and the interval from exposure to symptoms. This was all the data that was presented in the report. As Rawle describes, the issues with Wakefield’s paper include: very little data, too small of a sample size, children were not randomly selected, Wakefield had a conflict of interest, and concluded causation versus correlation, and therefore, Wakefield’s paper is clearly an example of sensationalized news. Rawle concludes that the challenge is that readers must look at the data when reading science news and not accept the anecdote. Additionally, as Rawle says, “The other challenge is deciphering good science from the bad and deciphering accurate news from inaccurate news.”
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A heartbreaking loss, a deserved win The UTM women’s soccer team played their best game of the season against the Fanshawe Falcons VANESSA CESARIO SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR
The UTM varsity men’s and women’s indoor soccer teams had their regional soccer tournament this past Monday, March 5th. The teams travelled to London, Ontario where they each played three games. The women played the first game of the day against the George Brown Huskies. The game started off well with both teams hungry for a win. UTM had a lot of shots but unfortunately none were finding the back of the net. Approaching the end of the first half, UTM was awarded a penalty shot where defender, Jayde Forde, buried it top-right corner. Unfortunately, two minutes after this, George Brown scored to tie up the game. The second-half did not start off as strong. UTM was not communicating and George Brown was pressing the UTM defense quite a bit. The beginning of the second-half was spent in the UTM end but the Eagles eventually broke out and began getting opportunities. Despite the opportunities from both sides, the game ended 1-1. The men played the Laurier Brantford Golden Hawks for their first game of the day and had an out-
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The UTM men’s soccer team has advanced to Provincials. standing performance. The men had several opportunities to score which they capitalized on. The first goal was a shot into the bottom corner by Jaimin Rehal, which was followed by a rebounded goal by Adam Czerkawski. UTM managed to score another goal on a pass across the box from Zimba Galloway, where Damian Koscielniak one-timed it into the net.
The halftime score was 3-0 and the second-half resulted in three more UTM goals by Rehal and Czerkawski, as well as UTM rookie John Bayuk. UTM took the game 6-0—a successful start to their day. The women’s second game was against the Fanshawe Falcons, which was their toughest opponent of the day. UTM was slow to start and the
Falcons managed to score within the first two minutes. However, after this goal, UTM turned up the intensity and began pressing the Fanshawe defense. The women were communicating with one another, stringing together perfect passes, and were even creating more scoring chances than Fanshawe. It ended in a heartbreaking loss of 1-0, but this was described
as one of the best games they played all season by coaches. The men also played Fanshawe for their second game of the day, which was their toughest opponent as well. The men held up their own and went into the game ready to win. Both teams were very strong, which made for a fast-paced and aggressive match. With four minutes left in the game, Bayuk ultimately lead the men to be victorious once again with a 1-0 win. The last game of the day for both the men and women was against the Sault College Cougars. To have a chance at advancing to Provincials, the women needed to beat the Cougars by six goals. Fatigue was a clear factor in the women’s performance this match. UTM scored their first goal with only eight minutes left in the half on a pass from Forde to midfielder Kristina De Andrade. Sault College came back after this and tied up the game 1-1. UTM only managed to score two more goals, both by Ruth Rivkin. Despite their 3-1 win, it was not enough to advance to Provincials. The UTM men’s team, on the other hand, clobbered the Cougars an astounding 18-0. The men placed first in their division and will compete at Provincials in two weeks’ time.
Bai has some big badminton dreams Fourth-year student, Bryan Bai, hopes to advance to Nationals next year in his last year of studies AMRISH WAGLE S&H ASSOCIATE EDITOR UTM’s varsity badminton team has been on a meteoric rise for the last several semesters and has its sights set on absolute victory. Just last year, Bryan Bai and his team made the cut to regionals, and this year they outdid themselves, qualifying for provincials. Bai himself is confident that next year, his team has the potential to break into the holy grail of varsity badminton—the national competitions. A fourth-year student of the applied sciences and a true fan of hiphop, Bryan Bai has been with the varsity badminton team since day one. Although now an experienced athlete with four years of varsity experience under his belt, Bai was first introduced to the sport when he was five years old, in his hometown of Hangzhou, China. He recalls accompanying his parents to a badminton course but quickly losing interest as being unable to even touch the birdie due to a ridiculously short arm span. Fast forward about a decade, Bai revisited
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Bai now has four years of experience with the varsity badminton team. the sport and this time, it helped turn him into a formidable athlete. Throughout his high school years, Bai has competed and won several badminton competitions. Thus, when entering university, he was determined to apply for the varsity team and hone his skills at a much
more competitive level. Bai spends a considerable amount of time, almost five days per week, training himself in badminton practice. Although, he claims it to be a thrill to play this exciting, adrenaline-infused sport. Having to dedicate such time and
attention to this skill, Bai also credits his coaches to be a vital influence in his life. In fact, Bai says that the coaches “teach me a lot about how to balance my hobby, work and study as a student and with time management.” As an athlete, Bai also idolizes
Lin Dan, a professional badminton player who has won two Olympic championships, five World Championships, and many other accomplishments, such as being a six-time All England Champion. Bai admires Dan for the exact reason of his awe-inspiring prowess within the sport. Bai further states that one of the items on his bucket-list is to play alongside Dan in a match. Apparently, just witnessing Dan’s talent would impart a significant learning experience for Bai to enhance his own skills. In fact, that’s what Bai claims badminton to be about—a game of fitness, mental strategy, and above all, reflexes. The speed of movements and split-second decisions are crucial in a badminton match. Unlike other sports, badminton allows little time to rest. As such, the stamina and fitness of a player is important, along with how he uses mental strategies to combat his opponent at a cognitive level as well as to push himself past mental barriers of endurance. Bryan continued on page 12
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Journey to nationals
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Bai hopes to be a life-long player of badminton. Bryan continued from page 11 Bai even specializes in mixed-doubles where he plays matches with a partner. In this scenario, Bai states that communication with your partner is essential to the game. Although currently on the badminton team, Bai hopes to be a lifelong player and to always practise the sport in the future. According to him, playing badminton is “good for your
brain, body and everything. It doesn’t make you lazy and keeps you active.” Following this philosophy, Bai also plays several other sports to keep up his fitness, including swimming, soccer, and table tennis. Bai has even won a table tennis competition last year in the ping-pong club. Along with the pros, Bai has also suffered the cons of an athletic lifestyle. Bai has sustained major injuries to his ankle and waist. Although a hindrance while playing,
Bai has pushed past these injuries to maintain a deep loyalty to the sport. Bryan Bai has another year left for his undergrad, within which he hopes to exceed his ability and reach the national competitions for varsity badminton. As such, Bai and his team aren’t just competing for themselves, but rather striving to push UTM forward and represent ourselves as a powerhouse of athletic talent.