THE VOICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO MISSISSAUGA
March 18, 2019 Volume 45, Issue 2 2 themedium.c a
Choose the next UTMSU
The Medium Photo Winners
Three Sisters: The final show
Adjusting from Syria to Canada
Do fitness apps really work?
News, page 2
Opinion, page 4
Arts, page 5
Features, page 8
Sports, page 11
UTMSU elections are officially here The Medium sat down with the executive candidates to discuss their platforms, goals for next year ALI TAHA NEWS EDITOR The campaign period for the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU) elections began last Monday. Running for the executive team are two independent candidates and the slate Students United. The Medium sat down with the candidates to ask them about their platform points and their goals for next year if elected. President Atif Abdullah, a third-year Computer Science student, and current VP External for UTMSU, is running for the uncontested position of President under the Students United slate. Abdullah’s main focus will be on fighting the prospective government changes to OSAP and the Student Choice Initiative (SCI) that will allow students to opt-out of most studentrun groups, clubs and societies, including the UTMSU. “Next year is a challenging year, and I want to make sure we’re supporting [clubs and societies] in every way possible as a students’ union,” Abdullah said. Abdullah hopes to work with student unions across the province and the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) to lobby the government on various issues, including repealing the SCI and free and accessible postsecondary education both provincially and federally. “Next year will be a challenging year for everyone” Abdullah continued. “Every service that is studentrun is under threat. We want to make sure we’re working together to help us build the capacity to stand up to the cuts and show the people making these decisions without our consultation that these are actually in no way benefitting students. I can’t stress enough that, more than any given year, next year will be the year where all groups to work together and unify our voice with our memberships.” VP External Running for the position of VP External under the Students United slate is Kai NG, a third-year Political Science student. NG wants to lobby the federal government for an election campaign to increase student engagement. As well, NG hopes to provide greater levels of support to clubs and societies through the UTMSU. “Clubs are the backbone of the students’ union,” said NG. “The students’ union can help clubs and societies not only financially, but by helping them
promote their clubs more, host more events, allow more collaboration between clubs.” NG also cited the need of eliminating AV costs for club and society events that are held in buildings other than the students’ union, stating that it would help clubs and societies save a significant amount of money from their overall budget. VP University Affairs Running unopposed for VP University Affairs is Miguel Cabral,
mophobia, sexism, anti-indigeneity and all systems of oppression on campus. “My main goal is to make the campus a safe space for all communities, and ensure that all populations find a safe space within UTM […] so they can do their best to learn.” Ali plans to do this by having the UTMSU hold educational events, and by starting a dialogue with students. “The fact of the matter is we don’t live in a social vacuum, these things exist, we know they’re happening […] we
Running for VP Internal is Students United candidate Sara Malhotra, a third-year international student in Economics and Political Science. Malhotra’s campaign focuses mainly on fighting for an international student fee cap, and better social integration for international students on campus. “International students contribute nearly $8 billion dollars to the provincial economy, yet we’re still paying unsubsidized fees as compared to domestic students,” said Malhotra.
JULIA HEALY/THE MEDIUM
The campaign period for the UTMSU Elections began last Monday. a Language Studies student and a member of the Students United slate. If elected, Cabral will focus on bettering the mental health support given to students by advocating for “fair academic policies.” Some of his platform points include the elimination of subscription-based services like iClickers and Top Hat, as well as developing a consistent penalty for late essays and assignments across university programs. “We want something that’s more fair, consistent and reasonable for students,” said Cabral. VP Equity Running for the contested position of VP Equity is Habon Ali, a fourthyear Biology and Environmental Science student on the Students United slate. Ali’s main platform points centre around challenging racism, ho-
can’t simply ignore them.” Also running for VP Equity is Saarang Ahuja, a third-year Economics student and independent candidate. Ahuja’s main platform points center around increased awareness of services, from the accessibility centre to the UTMSU. “What students don’t realize is that the accessibility centre accommodates for many things ranging from ADHD, to just having trouble managing your time. They will enrol you in their services and will help you get an extension on your assignments.” Ahuja also spoke about the need for a more diverse range of food options on campus. “UTM calls itself an international, diverse community, but we don’t have the food options to reflect that.” VP Internal
“International students have a harder time doing assignments, or adjusting to the culture, but they still pay higher fees for their education. We struggle a lot, and unfortunately our fees have been going up by disproportionate amounts every year.” Opposing Malhotra is Luke Warren, a third-year Digital Enterprise Management (DEM) student and independent candidate. If elected, Warren will focus on fighting rising tuition costs and food insecurity, as well as advocate for fairer academic policies at UTM. “I want a student’s university experience to be as great as mine was, and I really care about everyone,” said Warren. “I want to work hard so students don’t have to. I don’t want them to have to worry about tuition. I just want them to enjoy their time at the university.”
If elected, Warren hopes to unify students together and lobby the government to revert their OSAP and Student Choice Initiative decision. “There’s strength in numbers when we go to politicians and ask them for change. I want to protect student groups, and I want to protect students in financial need, especially international students.” Warren also hopes to continue a dialogue with MPs and the administration to ensure a student perspective is involved in the decision-making process. During an interview with The Medium, Warren criticized his opponent’s campaign for having too narrow of a focus, stating, “At the candidates forum, I asked [Malhotra] what the number one issue for her portfolio was, and she said it was the high rate of tuition for international students […] This job is something I’ve worked a lot on. I know what’s going on, and what it entails […] She’s an international student who saw an issue with international student fees and wanted to reduce them. For me, there’s so much more at stake. I do feel like, when I asked that question, it was a very political response. For VP Internal, our position has nothing to do with what the President or VP External are doing.” Student Choice Initiative While speaking to The Medium, Abdullah criticized the Ontario government’s Student Choice Initiative (SCI). The initiative, which is planning to launch on September 1, 2019, will allow students to opt-out of fees which have been deemed “non-essential” by the Ontario government. Virtually all student-run services, such students’ unions and campus newspapers, will be made optional. Abdullah argued that the optout option would make it hard for students to get involved on campus. Abdullah said that, if elected, his team would work with different levels of the provincial and municipal government to see how they can reverse the changes and highlight the importance of campus life. “What started out as a promise of saving students’ money ended up being a way of defunding student-led and student-run services,” continued Abdullah. “We need to recognize that services on campus provide essential services and hubs for people to get involved on our campus. [Through clubs and societies] students can find a place where they belong.” Election continued on page 2
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SCI threatens UTMSU March 8th , 2019 Police Assistance Campus Police attended a residence for a student experiencing medical distress. Mississauga Fire and EMS attended. The student was transported to hospital. March 11th , 2019 Suspicious Person Campus Police received a report of a person screaming in a residence building. Officers searched the area but the person was gone on arrival.
March 9th , 2019 Suspicious Person Campus Police attended the Davis building for an intoxicated male who had no affiliation with UTM. The male was trespassed from the property and escorted to the bus stop. He left campus without incident. March 11th , 2019 Police Assisstance Campus Police attended OPH for a student experiencing medical distress.
These reports are those that have been released to The Medium and do not necessarily constitute an exhaustive list. Students can contact the UTM Campus Police at 905 828 5200, Peel Regional Police at 905 453 3311, or Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222 8477.
Anyone with information regarding any of these incidents, or any other incident, is requested to contact the UTM Campus Police at 905-828-5200, Peel Regional Police at 905-453-3311, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
CFS ONTARIO/FACEBOOK
The Student Choice Initiative would make it difficult for students to get involved on campus.
Election continued from page 1
When asked how the team would cope with the flux in their budget next year if elected, Malhotra stated, “The budget is definitely going to take a hit next year, but we’ll be looking to keep all our cost-effective services and events that add to and make the UTMSU what it is.” U-Pass Expansion A main platform point for Students United involves expanding the Mississauga U-Pass to include Brampton. According to Abdullah, the union pushed for an expansion during first semester, but the price they were offered by the Brampton transit agency was “inaccessible.” “The price that we were offered didn’t add up to the prices we calculated based on the figures we were provided by the university. There was an additional cost that accounted for profit in this program, but that’s not something we’re going to do. We won’t let transit agencies make a profit off students on our campus. We got the price, we weren’t happy with it, and we’ve continued to work on it. We’ve already started communicating with some of the new city councillors who have agreed that the price we had is inaccessible, and there could be better avenues to reduce it.” Abdullah cited regional councillors Martin Medeiros and Gurpreet Dhillon as two of the UTMSU’s biggest supporters in Brampton for the U-Pass expansion. “We’re going to see how we can reduce the price and make sure it’s a cost-efficient service.”
Student Centre Services Ali commented on the impact the SCI will have on the union’s food centre, stating, “We recognize that, in the face of cuts, we don’t know what it’ll look like. But we will look for external funding and sponsorships to ensure we keep this service that is vital to a lot of students up and running.” Approximately 120 to 150 students use the food centre per month. When asked about the student centre expansion, Abdullah spoke about the need for it, citing lack of space for clubs, failing infrastructure, and limited space in the pub kitchen as reasons why the expansion is overdue. On whether their slate will continue advocating for a student centre expansion, Abdullah said that it would not be a major priority for them. “With the issues we are going to be facing next year, we’re unsure if we will be able to make it a priority. We don’t want to promise something we can’t fully dedicate ourselves to and work towards. We’ll still be working on it, but it’s not one of our biggest priorities.” On the UTMSU Candidates also commented on what they thought the union could improve upon next year. Warren mentioned the need for a diverse range of opinions on student issues, stating, “The UTMSU has good people working behind it. They have good intentions. However, you don’t make friends with your friends, you make friends with your enemies […] if there’s one thing I would change, it would be to make the students’ union
for everyone, even for people who don’t like students’ unions […] There definitely has to be a lot more input [from students].” Ali hopes to spearhead work that could be done on accessibility by ensuring closed-captioning during lectures, and establishing a more mandatory role for note-takers. Malhotra aims to improve international student turnout by bringing them together onto one platform. A top priority for the VP Internal candidate would be to establish an international student commission where international students can come together, voice their concerns, see what they want to work on, and direct the UTMSU on what they should be doing for international students.” “The students’ union takes its directives from its members, and international students are a big part of the union’s membership,” said Malhotra. Miguel thought that the UTMSU could benefit by increasing transparency and awareness on what the UTMSU does among students. Abdullah wanted to see the union engage with the membership more by engaging with the students on the ground, publicizing meetings and events, and seeing what students want the UTMSU to be doing for them. “Students want to hear more about the work that we’re doing,” said Abdullah. “We need to do a better job at telling students exactly what we’re doing. The voting period is from March 19 to March 21, and polling stations can be found in Davis, IB, Deerfield, Kaneff, CCT, MAM, and the North Building.
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U of T mourns deaths Meric Gertler releases statement on Christchurch Massacre
VINCENT YU/AP PHOTO
Gertler expressed his sorrow for the Muslim community following the Christchurch shooting. VANESSA CESARIO SPORTS EDITOR New Zealand mourned the death of 50 people during a terror attack that targeted two Mosques in the city of Christchurch on Friday, March 15th. Currently, there are 34 people in the Christchurch hospital, with 12 in critical condition. U of T’s Principal, Meric Gertler, released a statement the day of the shooting, expressing his sorrow for the Muslim community. “Our hearts go out to the family and friends of these innocent people
who were so cruelly murdered while at worship. We stand in solidarity with Muslims around the world in their shock, grief and outrage in the wake of these despicable attacks.” Twenty-eight-year-old Australian citizen, Brenton Harrison Tarrant, has been charged with murder in connection to this attack. According to CNN, Tarrant sent an 87-page manifesto to New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, minutes before the attack. Gertler commended the U of T Muslim Student Association (MSA) for their continued efforts in reach-
ing out to individuals in the Muslim community. “I am proud of the contributions of the MSA, and the entire U of T community, in working to overcome division and hatred, and to foster harmony and mutual respect,” he said. “Through their activities inside and outside the classroom, and through their daily interactions with others on our campuses, U of T students, faculty, staff and alumni demonstrate our profound opposition to Islamophobia and every form of discrimination and racism.”
HUMANS OF UTM
This year has been a big mess. I mean, first year—right? It’s not gonna be amazing. Overall, it wasn’t too bad. I met some new people, made some relationships, but it took a lot of adjusting, a lot of getting used to the fact that good grades will not come easily. Sometimes you can pull all your work into it and they still won’t come. So you know, we’re getting used to it. Hopefully second year will be better and we’ll get better at this stuff and this will get me a job somehow—I’m praying that ten grand will actually get me a job somewhere at the end of four years.
Province begins review on municipalities The fate of Mississauga and Peel Region are up in the air as the province reviews Ontario municipalities MDUDUZI MHLANGA STAFF WRITER
On January 15th, Premier Ford announced that his government would be reviewing the municipalities in Ontario. This has led to uncertainty over what will happen to the Peel region, which includes Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon. Peel, along with a total of 82 upper and lowertier municipalities, can be rearranged, created, or dissolved if that is what the Ontario government desires. Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs, stated, “our government is putting people first by seeking local input on how to improve governance, decision-making and service delivery for regional governments and their member municipalities.” The Ministry of Municipal Affairs has had two special advisors reviewing the regional municipalities around Ontario, including Peel. The goal of the review is to increase efficiency and greater access to services in order to demonstrate that municipalities are “open for business.” Residents can go to the Provincial government’s website to provide input through a survey on what they believe should be done. The website’s survey has been criticized for being too restrictive and only asking
PAWEL MIGDAL/THE MEDIUM
Residents can provide input through a survey on the Provincial government’s website. questions about service-provision. Mississauga’s mayor, Bonnie Crombie, has made her ideal outcome from this provincial action clear, with what has been dubbed a “Mississ-exit.” She would like Mis-
sissauga to be a separate entity from the rest of the Peel region. Crombie told the Vancouver Sun, “I made it no secret that I think there is inefficiency and duplication in two levels of government […] We
have proven in the past that Mississauga could realize up to $30 million in savings should we control our own destiny and be a single tier [government].” She cited former Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCal-
lion, stating, “I will continue the work that Hazel McCallion started and [...] advocate that we grow our own way and control our own destiny.” Ultimately, however, we do not control our destiny. Ford can absolutely dissolve the Peel or any other region in the province. Or if he chooses, he can create a ‘MegaCities’ through combining them. Or even move cities under a different regional government. The current City of Toronto that we know now used to be an amalgamation of the municipality of Metropolitan Toronto with six other municipalities (Etobicoke, Scarborough, North and East York, Etobicoke and the City of Toronto). This had major implications for the city not only domestically but internationally as it changed Toronto’s global profile in terms of measurements like size and revenue. Many were opposed to this amalgamation, afraid that it would diminish accountability and local responsiveness by having such a large megacity. Currently, all municipalities in Ontario face this same possibility. The structure and realignment of the city of Mississauga, along with all other municipalities in Ontario, are ultimately up to the whims of the provincial government.
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THE MEDIUM PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS
PHOTOJOURNALISM JULIA FERGUSON
PORTRAIT CHEN GONG
LANDSCAPE BRITTANY SEMPLONIUS
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Three Sisters: giving Chekhov a youthful perspective Theatre Erindale’s final production portrays longing for the past and uncertainty of the future REBECCA FLEMISTER STAFF WRITER
Theatre Erindale concludes their 2018- 2019 season with Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters, directed by Jim Mezon. On the brink of their graduation from the Theatre and Drama Studies program, the cast of Three Sisters is tasked to meditate on the disappointments and delusions that make up a major part of our daily lives. Three Sisters follows Russian sisters Olga, Masha, and Irina and their family and friends. The sisters are discontent with life in the provincial garrison town where they live and long to return to the city of Moscow, their childhood home. As much as the characters find solace in contemplating a better future, they seem to have a greater longing for the past, youth, and what could have been. There is something particularly ghostly about watching students perform Chekhov. Beneath the aging, dull dispositions of their characters are actors on the cusp of beginning a new chapter in their lives. Even as Chekhov’s characters lose the ambition and hope, the memory of youth and possibility is preserved on the faces of the actors that portray them. Although the actors’ performances get heavier with each act, they never become caricatures of older people. By allowing their youth to shine through, they manage to keep the
THEATRE ERINDALE/FACEBOOK
Three Sisters follows sisters Olga, Masha, and Irina and their family and friends. past and the present in view simultaneously, increasing the audience’s awareness of the effects of time in the play. The production opens with a concealed stage cloaked in a curtain of translucent linen. As the lights rise, we see the set through a dreamy mist of fabric, which makes the idyllic nature of the first act seem like a foggy distant memory even as we watch it unfold before our eyes. As the show progresses the curtains are stripped away, and the audience is left with a stark, unobstructed view of the present. As the sisters and their family let go of the dream of ever returning to Moscow, their environment comes
into focus. Throughout the production there are subtle nods toward the past. In Act III, the old nanny Anfisa, played by Holly May, is horrified when Alexia Vassos’ Olga tosses aside three dolls while collecting things to donate to the victims of a fire. In this moment practicality, anxiety and tragedy overshadow the memories of innocence and youth. When reflecting on what they have lost over the years, each of the three sisters holds the dolls in their hands, imagining what could have been. Confronting images of a former self is revisited throughout the show, but this moment stood out as particularly poi-
gnant. Three Sisters is an unmistakable depressing play, but the cast managed to insert strong moments of playfulness and vivacity. Rebecca McDonald’s Irina exemplified all the hope and ambition of young adulthood. Until the end, McDonald manages to bring warmth, energy, and life to moments of stillness and dreariness. Her sweet interactions with Liam McKinnon’s Fedotik preserve moments of childish exuberance in an otherwise doleful adult world. The fabulous Russian dance between Mussie Solomon’s Tuzenback and Yona Epstine Roth’s Andrei contains the most energy and movement
that we see in the entire play. This scene creates such a stark contrast to Epstien Roth’s somber contemplative monologues later in the show and helps to mark the drastic decline of Andrei as a character. Mo Zeighami’s Masha is prematurely pledged with an apathy for her situation. Although she is one of the younger characters in this play, Masha appears world-weary in one moment, and fierce and sprightly in the next, as if fighting against a fate she has previously resigned herself to. Her struggle against her own dissatisfaction is as heroic as it is damaging. The peaks of liveliness are what make the tragic moments in the show that much more painful. Yet moments of levity and joy are crucial reminders that Three Sisters isn’t simply a harrowing look at disappointments to come, but also a call to note the joys in life, to hold on to hope, and to keep moving forward in spite of life’s trials. Although Three Sisters concludes with unresolved conflicts and unfulfilled dreams, each sister resolves to move forward with life anyways, regardless of where it may take them. Theatre Erindale’s Three Sisters is a rare opportunity to see Chekhov’s work in the hands of young theatre creators, adding a layer to the work that we don’t often see. The production runs from March 14th to 24th at the Erindale Studio Theatre.
Combining environmental activism and fashion The UTMSU and various campus clubs hosted a fashion show featuring environmentally-friendly designs SHALOMI RANASINGHE
On March 15, the UTMSU, Creatives For A Change, Zero Waste UTM, and Style & Profyle organized UTM’s first ever Trashion Show. The event was held at the Blind Duck’s Pub and had an amazing turn out of energetic audience members, patiently waiting to view the designs created for the night. The clubs got together to host an event that will bring awareness to environmental sustainability through the use of fashion and art. The event showcased the upcycling of used clothing and items that typically go into the trash, to prompt conservation by illustrating how people can reduce, reuse, and recycle in the art world. The event had two parts of the show: the Arts and the Runway. The Art Section of the evening included an exhibition of different artworks, ranging from paintings to sculptures and clothing. Artists promoted awareness for sustainability in their compositions by depicting
animal extinction, landfill waste, and climate change. One piece in particular was a sleeveless cardigan made completely of straws and pop cans. Colourful straws made up majority of the cardigan, meanwhile all parts of pop cans were used to add décor. Also, in the middle of the runway, a sculpture made of trash was created with the use of actual garbage found in UTM dumpsters. The Runway portion of the event consisted of designers and their models who showcased their creations. The designers incorporated plastic bags, used fabric, bubble wrap, and other materials to create their pieces. The outfits for the evening consisted of different styles, ranging from casual wear, to grunge and boho, to business attire. The clothing was environmentally focused and consisted of a variety of colours and patterns such as: animal texture, florals, and nature-themed. The designers were judged by professionals in the fashion business who filled out score cards to pick a winner.
CHEN GONG/THE MEDIUM
UTM’s first ever Trashion Show was held at the Blind Duck’s Pub. The winner of the Runway section was Justine Lynn. She won a subscription to C Magazine and a $100 prepaid Visa gift card. Lynn designed 8 outfits using unconventional and scrap fabric that would have ended in the trash otherwise. One outfit in
particular that Lynn designed was a reused white-washed jean jacket with the painting of a blue, purple, and pink peacock on the back. The jacket was paired with black pants, a sheer black top, and black bra. Lynn’s designs showcased that fashion can
come from what is already owned; using old fabric can create a new and unique look, which helps reduce the amount of material thrown into landfills. Trashion continued on page 7
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Dear Evan Hansen reminds us that we all matter First performed on Broadway in New York, Dear Evan Hansen reflects classic millennial struggles DELANEY ROMBOUGH STAFF WRITER The Tony Award Winning musical Dear Evan Hansen, written by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Steven Levenson and directed by Michael Greif, has struck and connected with audiences for the last twoand-a-half-years since it opened on Broadway. Dear Evan Hansen, is about high school senior Evan Hansen (Robert Markus) who struggles with anxiety and longs to fit in and connect with his peers. While Evan writes a letter to himself for therapy, “Dear Evan Hansen today is going to be a good day and here’s why…,” school outcast Connor Murphy (Sean Patrick Dolan) finds the letter on the school printer and thinks it’s about him and gets angry. Three days later, Evan learns from Connor’s parents that Connor killed himself. The only thing they found with Connor was Evan’s letter and they believe it was his suicide note. Evan doesn’t have the heart (or the nerve) to tell them Connor didn’t write it and the lie that he and Connor were best friends quickly spirals out of control. After Evan fabricates a story about going to an orchard with Connor where he broke his arm and Connor helped him, Evan enlists the help of his family friend Jared (Ales-
PHOTO FROM IMDB.COM
Dear Even Hansen has struck and connected with audiences for the last two-and-a-half-years. sandro Costantini) to help him fabricate and backdate emails between him and Connor to prove that they were actually friends, even though they weren’t. Jared is the character that always articulates exactly what the audience is thinking, which is why the song “Sincerely, Me” where they’re writing the emails, is a great moment of comic relief for the audience after a heavy first twentyminutes. When the school slowly starts to forget about Connor, Alana
(Shakura Dickson), who has many extracurricular activities on her transcript, tells Evan he can’t let that happen and the two of them start The Connor Project, an online social media-based group dedicated to keeping Connor’s memory alive. Connor comes back as a figment of Evan’s imagination and tells Evan, “no one deserves to be forgotten; no one deserves to fade away,” and so The Connor Project kicks off with a school memorial assembly, where, despite his anxiety and difficulty
with public speaking, Evan makes a moving speech about how lonely Connor, and by extension himself, felt in the Act I finale “You Will Be Found.” This was a high point in Markus’ performance. He did an incredible job with showing Evan’s fear and anxiety—the shaking, the crying, the babbling—in the silence and darkness of the stage with only a spotlight on him. This show is also about family. Evan lives with his mom, Heidi (Jessica Sherman), who is always busy
and seems to never have time for Evan. His parents divorced when he was seven. Connor came from a wealthier family who also had their struggles. What they think is Connor’s suicide note to Evan is the only thing holding the Murphys together and they start to take care of Evan as if he is Connor, even offering him Connor’s college money. Hurt and humiliated, Heidi refuses the money and her and Evan fight but reconcile at the end in a beautiful scene, and a very moving performance from Sherman, with the two of them on the couch. In a way that is both heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time, this musical deals with themes such as social media, loneliness, and mental illness in a unique and innovative way. Throughout the show, social media feeds fill the screens and it uses pop-esque music to get at emotions that are hard to talk about. This show resonates with millennials because it’s real. We know what Evan and Connor feel like. In a world dominated by screens and social media, are these tools bringing us closer together or instilling us with more loneliness? According to Dear Evan Hansen, the answer is both. Dear Evan Hansen is currently playing at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto until June 30th.
Gaga: Five Foot Two shows a vulnerable side of the star A Netflix documentary on Lady Gaga follows the highs and lows of both her career and personal life KEENA ALWAHAIDI ASSOCIATE A&E EDITOR
If you’re familiar with Lady Gaga, you know this: she’s wildly entertaining, over-the-top dramatic, and most of all—a superstar. Even superstars have their weak moments and the lowest of lows. You wouldn’t guess this before taking a glimpse at Gaga: Five Foot Two, the Netflix documentary about the star. The film follows Lady Gaga in three crucial moments of her life: the creation of her single Joanne, preparation for her Super Bowl performance, and her struggle with chronic body pain. Of course, the documentary sheds light on smaller issues that are ever present, like her break-up from then-fiancé Taylor Kinney, her beef with Madonna, and her fight against the seemingly male-dominated music industry. Apparently, the only area that the pop queen finds total solitude in is within her family as seen in her single Joanne. She names the single after her late aunt Joanne, who died of lupus at 19 years old. Upon completing the song, she and her father take a visit to her grandmother’s apartment, just to play the title track for her. “We’ll just play it,” she says, “and if we get upset, we don’t have to
ALBERTO E. RODRIGUEZ /GETTY IMAGES
The film follows Lady Gaga in three crucial moments in her life. talk about it.” They sit at the table, listening to its every verse and its every ode to Joanne within its lyrics: “Take my hand, stay Joanne/ Heaven’s not ready for you/ Every part of my aching heart/ Needs you more than the angels do.” Her grandmother
detaches herself from her daze and replies, “That’s a beautiful piece. Really.” It’s important here to consider Lady Gaga’s step away from her avant-garde ambitions. Some may say her time away from fame humbled her, or perhaps it drew her clos-
er to what remains important to her. We get more tender moments like these, but the best is when she visits her local Wal-Mart to check their stock in her album. The manager of the music department and the employee behind the counter don’t recognize her at first, but once they do
word of her appearance spreads like wildfire across the store. “Can I take a picture with you?” asks one of the managers. “I want to show my wife.” These are her happiest moments of the year. Her not so happiest lay in her struggle with extreme body pain, known as Fibromyalgia—an illness associated with anxiety and depression. She complains about body spasms and difficulty breathing because of it. Through the pain, there’s a certain cycle that becomes very evident. Her work causes her anxiety, which leads to her lack of performance, which turns back to her anxiety, which torments her body all over again. The heart-wrenching scenes are the ones that portray this the deepest. It’s a Lady Gaga her fans are not accustomed to. The one who is afraid to cry in case her face gets puffy. Before we see any of this though, Lady Gaga glides up the stairs in the film and we get to gaze at balloons that are hung up on the banister. “Warner Brothers greenlit a movie that Bradley Cooper’s directing, and Bradley wanted me to be in it. A Star is Born. And, you know, I’m going to star in the movie.” she says with a smile, slipping into the next room with a salad in hand and her dog at her side.
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Artist Review: The Rose Monarch The band’s first single features a unique sound and heartfelt lyrics
Trashion show 2019 Trashion continued from page 5
THE ROSE MONARCH/FACEBOOK
The Rose Monarch released their debut single, “Cover to Cover” in December 2016. YASMEEN ALKOKA PHOTO EDITOR The Rose Monarch describes themselves as “a new female-fronted rock band with an eccentric and dark modern-rock sound.” The band consists of April Rose Gabrielli (Lead Vocals/Keys), James Humphreys (Lead Guitar), Kevin Eiserman (Guitar/Vocals), Matt Cusano (Bass) and Jared Gabrielli (Drums). Based in Long Island, New York, The Rose Monarch came together as a band in the summer of 2016. Without wasting any time, the band released their debut single, “Cover to Cover” in December 2016, and it has over 7.8k views today. The release of this song caught the attention of many listeners as the group takes such a unique approach to rock. Their song didn’t seem to fit into the typical classifications of music genres, but that’s what makes it so appealing. Gabrielli, the lead singer, has a captivating voice that reels you right in. The combination of her astounding
ABEER BAIG
SOC300 “Special Topics in Criminology: Drugs and the Modern World” examines how psychoactive drug production, trade, consumption, and regulation works in the modern world. The drugs discussed in the reading include sugar, coffee, tea, opium, and tobacco. One such reading is Alfred McCoy’s article, The Costs of Covert Warfare: Airpower, Drugs, and Warlords in the Conduct of US Foreign Policy. He articulates the foreign interventions and overseeing of covert wars in Asia that the CIA were involved since World War II. The U.S. began using air power as a substitute for ground-level warfare in Laos. The U.S. dropped 2.1 million ton of bombs on Laos during the Vietnam War, an amount equal to that which was dropped on Germany and Japan during all of WWII. In the aftermath and destruction of covert wars, only opium would grow and become a source of economic
vocal sound and the band’s musical style, along with meaningful lyrics, makes for a pleasing listening experience. In “Cover to Cover,” The Rose Monarch expresses the emotions that come along with a breakup. The message of the song, which is an overall question to an ex as to how they could “leave our story behind” by breaking up, coordinates well with the rhythm and pacing of the track. “Writing and recording ‘Cover To Cover’ was an emotional, vulnerable, and ultimately healing experience,” says Gabrielli in an interview with Substream Magazine. “It’s one that we all thought needed to be given proper attention as to how it played out visually. Having Mike Watts mix the song and direct the music video made for a collaboration that immensely heightened the story embedded within the song and we couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.” The song starts off with a distant screaming by Gabrielle, leads into the glorious rock instrumental, and then slows down. Gabrielli sings as if she
is telling a story directly to her listeners. It makes you feel connected to her, and inevitably, the song as well as the band. The rest of the song shares both highs and lows of emotion, sometimes loud and intense, and other times quiet and slow. This style fits perfectly with the topic of breakups—since you would usually feel overwhelmed with emotion. “Cover to Cover” allows you to embrace all of your emotions, from anger to sadness, to nostalgia and love. Whether you relate to the topic or not, the song just fuels emotion and creates an enjoyable musical journey. Since the release of “Cover to Cover,” The Rose Monarch has also released singles “Shake You” and “Cobwebs,” as well as a short 5-track album titled Echoes from the End. Each of their songs is unique but still remain consistent with their modern sound. You might not hear them on the radio, but The Rose Monarch is worth a listen. The band’s next show will be on March 26th in New York.
income through international marketplace trade. These covert wars triggered heavy opium traffic throughout the region in postwar history. Opium production becomes a major source of instability, crime, and violence. Production and trade of opium was a major source of power in local settings, such as Laos, Burma, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The CIA would ally itself with various warlords, who would in time become drug lords too, to ensure and safeguard the expansion of local opium production in Asia. Instead of stopping opioid trade in Laos, the CIA covered and encouraged it. In Afghanistan during the 1980’s, the CIA became involved for the sole purpose as to defeat their global rival and enemy the Soviet Union. Both walked away, leaving Afghanistan and Pakistan destabilized and as prey to radical groups who wanted to invest in the opium trade. Over time, Afghanistan became the country with the largest harvest of heroin, with all their efforts and resources dedicated to this drug pro-
duction and traffic. This led to the emergence of the Taliban and all the foreign intervention that followed. McCoy narrates that CIA officials visited him and threatened to kill his interpreter and to pressure him into not publishing his work on covert wars. McCoy states how the CIA funded warlords in Afghanistan $2 billion to fight the Soviets, but in its wake, they did not offer any money in the reconstruction. Afghanistan was left destabilized, with around 1.5 million dead, four million left as refugees, and more killed in the aftermath due to ten million landmines. The CIA also left tribal warlords armed and ready to wage war for power, opium, and land. This is relevant to the course themes of European countries during slavery and colonialism used in Asian countries as a place for exploitation of wealth and gain in global power. McCoy’s article is an essential and eyeopening piece on the reproduction and consumption of the psychoactive drug opium and its variants.
The runner up was Chelsea Dalton, who designed a colourful bodycon dress made of old t-shirts that were cut into strips and knitted together. The dress took approximately one month to complete and was created through the collaboration of participants in the Green Ambassador Program. Dalton’s design was a lowthigh, sleeveless dress, with horizontal blocks of bright colours and thick tank-top straps. Dalton’s colourful dress presented that creativity can come from being environmentally friendly, as the only purchase she had to make was a circular bamboo knitting needle. Another creation, which received a cheering reaction from the crowd, was an a-line, high-low, white skirt,
completely made of plastic bags. The skirt was paired with a cream triangle laced bralette and a bubble wrap bolero. The plastic bags were all white with the exception of store logos that were printed on. The designer created an eccentric piece using materials which are not typically seen as fashionable. All pieces were themed around sustainability by bringing awareness to the environment through art. Each artist incorporated the message of caring for the environment in their designs. The event advocated for change and hopes that everyone can make small differences to better the ecosystem. When small differences come together, they make large impacts on Earth, preserving and allowing the planet to flourish.
REWIND LEEN BLAIBLEH
Bande à part is a 1964 French drama and crime film. The French title is derived from faire bande à part which means “to do something apart from the group.” The film starts off light and airy with three characters Odile (Anna Karine), Franz (Sami Frey) and Arthur (Claude Brasseur) spending their days sipping coffee in small cafes and dancing in the streets of Paris. Odile and Franz meet in an English language class they both happened to enroll in. The more they spend time together, the more comfortable Odile feels to tell Franz about the stack of money hidden in her Aunts’ villa. Not knowing what to do with the information, Franz rushes to tell his friend Arthur and the two plan to steal the money. Eye gazing and compliments leads Odile to fall for Arthur and eventually she tells him the whereabouts of the money. Odile, Arthur and Franz all meet in a Parisian cafe to plot the robbery and the story begins… Bande à part has a lively and lighthearted start, showcasing Franz, Arthur and Odile dancing and running through the Louvre, play acting robberies and shootouts. Ironically, this play-acting becomes a reality, making the characters live in a parallel world. The finger triggers are soon replaced by guns and dancing is replaced by running away. The New Republic described Bande à part “like a reverie of a gangster movie as students in an espresso bar might remember it or plan it—a mixture of the gangster film virtues (loyalty, daring) with innocence, amorality, lack of equilibrium.” The crime doesn’t fit the true persona of the characters. Director and narrator Jean-Luc Godard relies on shared experiences to develop the characters
and plot of the film. The crime scene is Godard’s own interpretation and imagination of what romantic Paris and American crime would look like if they meet in the middle. According to Godard, we romanticize common stereotypes that are presented to us through the media, especially movies. We feed off our imagination, what it feels like to rob, steal or love. Since our imaginations are more powerful and far more creative than our daily experiences, they often become a part of us. Unlike most films, Bande à part solely examines the relationship of the director and narrator with the audience. Godard uses various techniques to relate to the viewers mind, the first one being shared experience. What Godard communicates is that our imagination glamorizes ideas such as crime and love, however when those idealistic thoughts become reality, we no longer fantasize about them. Integral themes throughout the film play with the idea of certainty and apprehension. To the non-analytic viewer, Godard can come off as playful and nonsensical. What most fail to realize is that Godard isn’t concerned with realism—in fact, what he’s trying to convey through Bande à part is the concept that character development and plot twist derives from the fantasies that are portrayed throughout. The narrator of the film is a character in himself, which gives the movie more of a documentary feel. Godard doesn’t leave the viewer wondering about the characters’ thoughts and feelings. He tends to explain their every move, which is intentionally done to connect with the viewer. Unlike most, this film is not concerned with the relationship of the characters and the viewer, but with the relationship of the narrator and viewer.
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Understanding the Syrian experience RISE conducts research on Syrian mothers and teenagers to understand settlement and integration WAFIKA THOBA
Friday March 15th marked the eighth year of the ongoing conflict in Syria; the war that forced 5.6 million Syrians to be displaced away from their homeland. This refugee crisis made headlines all around the world and it is considered to be one of “the biggest humanitarian and refugee crisis of our time” by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greeted 25,000 Syrian refugees into Canada with warm welcomes and winter coats to readily prepare them for a Canadian winter. However, a drastic change in temperatures and wardrobes wasn’t the only adjustments these families had to make. The hardships of learning a new language, continuing or beginning an education, and finding jobs were big concerns for many refugees. For some Syrians, this displacement meant a brand-new start. That is why Neda Maghbouleh, an assistant professor in UTM’s sociology department, and her research team, RISE (Refugee Integration, Stress, and Equity), are currently conducting a research case that looks at Syrian mothers and teens and tries to understand the settlement and integration process years after their arrival. The research is titled, Settlement, Integration & Stress: A 5-Year Study of Syrian Newcomer Families.
According to the RISE website, they are a “multi-generational team of researchers who are passionate about refugee and immigrant wellbeing. Their team members include Neda Maghbouleh, Principal Investigator, Melissa Milkie, Co-Investigator, professor in UTM’s Department of Sociology, and Chair of the Graduate Department, University of Toronto, Ito Peng, Co-Investigator, professor in U of T’s Department of Sociology, and Director, Centre for Global Social Policy, as well as Rula Kahil, Laila Omar, Dalal Badawi, Anmul Shafiq, Mohamed Afify , Fatima Al Saadie, Nour Habli, and Iman Abdul Razzak. In an interview with The Medium, Rula Kahil, the Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Associate of the study, explains , “The goal of this study is to be able to communicate our results with policy makers, sponsors, community centres, and with settlement workers regarding matters that might be difficult for those families. The results are shared in hopes of policymakers and sponsors to, maybe in the long run, improve some of the things they do and pay attention to certain aspects that they don’t see from their standpoints.” The team uses questionnaires as their method to collect their information. The questionnaires consist of 25 questions concerning basic social aspects. “Some are related to the family household, some are related to the kids and the schooling, some are related to the mother herself and how she is doing regarding language and
ROMI LEVINE/U OF T NEWS
Rula Kahil (left) is a Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Associate for the study. adjustment. The main purpose of all of this is to see how these families are adjusting throughout their first three years of being in the country,” Kahil says. Regarding the format of the questions, Kahil states that they are “mainly open-ended questions all asked in Arabic. When we interview these families, we try to prompt them to say more about their situation. For example, one of the questions ask something like “how are your kids doing at school?” We don’t say are they doing well at school.” The questions are asked in a one on one conversation in which the female team members
PHOTO FROM RISETEAM.CA
The RISE team is passionate about refugee and immigrant well-being.
interview the mothers and teenage girls and the male members of the team interview the teenage boys. The responses are recorded and then taken to the stage of transcription and translation. In the earlier stages, the study was focused on women and mothers; however, through collected results, the team noticed a strong correlation between the mothers’ states and the teens’ states. They also noticed how both aspects impact each other. Therefore, the studied group was extended to studying both female and male teens aged 13 to 19 years old. The group is still in the interviewing process. They have already done 80 per cent of the first phase of interviews and they are hoping that by the end of April they will finish the interviews and then start transcribing. “We didn’t analyze any data but we’re just in the process of checking how things are working, and changing some things for the questionnaire”, Kahil says. “The group that we work with is a spectacular group and Neda’s leadership is something I’ve never seen before and everybody is so lucky to be under her leadership which is very caring, compassionate, and passionate, but at the same time serious and committed grounded into the reality of the project. There really a wonderful sense of family and I love that because we work with families,” Kahil
says in reference to her admiration of the enthusiasm of the team and specifically professor Neda Maghbouleh’s remarkable leadership skills. “It is not easy to hear stories. It is not easy to witness the suffering from those who suffer but Neda is always there to hold all of us and we are such a supportive group that is supported by her and also by each other. The choice of the people who work in the group is also spectacular. We are people from mainly Arab backgrounds. We speak both languages [Arabic and English] and we understand the community we are interviewing,” Kahil adds. Kahil is honored to be part of this community and project because it is a topic that is very dear to her heart. “I was very interested in the research when I heard about it mainly because the Syrian community is very close to my heart. I’m originally from Lebanon and the two regions are almost one country for me. Lebanon also had a very similar civil war and I understand the suffering that comes with the misfortunes of war. I have so many Syrian friends and I wanted to give back to the community my research.” Kahil concludes by stating that due to the focus on mothers and teens, the study is special in its own way and can help communities grow and understand one another.
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Springing our clocks forward one hour The history and the meaning behind Daylight Savings Time and how to affects you KEVIN KIM ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR
With the clocks moving ahead last Sunday March 10th for Daylight Savings Time, some may wonder what practical use the now long-standing tradition holds. Commonly abbreviated as DST, the practice is upheld in almost all stretches of North America and Europe, while being quite rare almost everywhere else in the world. To broadly summarize the purpose of DST, time turns forward a set amount around spring for most countries while turning backwards the same amount later in the year, after warmer months have passed. There are many reasons behind the concept of Daylight Savings Time. One of the most cited reasons refers to the extra sunlight that is given throughout the day. As the clock turns forward, darkness falls later than usual until the fall, when we reverse the time back an hour. This allows for more hours of sunshine for people to use after they are done with a typical 9 to 5 work day. A clear consequence of providing extra time after work hours is that the same amount of darkness is essentially tacked on to the beginning of each morning, delaying the sunrise. This is a pretty unfortunate consequence in the winter months of
most countries that utilise DST, with the sun refusing to show itself until as late as 7:50 a.m. during Canadian winters. Another commonly referenced benefit of DST is conservation of energy. Intuitively, it makes sense that having more time in the sun to work with throughout the day would result in a decrease in energy consumption. However, this is a controversial point of DST, and one that is not heavily supported or refuted by studies. For this reason, the environmental benefit remains unclear. Opposition to DST certainly isn’t negligible, and the practice as a whole is controversial for particular industries. Institutions that are most active at nighttime, such as clubs, understandably resist DST as it cuts down on hours of operation for such activities. Beyond this, the simple act of instantly changing the time can prove confusing for many. In order to avoid significant disruptions to common school and work schedules, shifts in time are usually administered during the weekend, late at night. Workplace activities are highly unlikely to be affected, and most people will be asleep at this time, resulting in, at most, a mild disturbance in sleeping pattern. Adjustments of one hour are most common, but shifts as low as twenty minutes and as high as two hours have all been observed before.
YASMEEN ALKOKA./THE MEDIUM
The clocks were moved forward one hour last Sunday, March 10th for Daylight Savings Time. As a general guideline, the Northern Hemisphere turns their clocks forward during March and backwards during November, but this is subject to change according to country. While the idea of DST was first pitched and formally discussed in 1895 by George Hudson, an entomologist, its first official usage was not until many years later, in 1916. From then to 2019, many parts of the
world have seen intermittent usage of the practice. Most of the world’s population do not observe DST at all. Those that are near the equator do not undergo a significant change in the ratio of daylight to moonlight as the seasons change, making DST an unjustifiable practice. In a similar vein, those that are close to the poles of the Earth experience extremes of daylight and
moonlight, making DST a futile effort to normalize this ratio. Most electronic devices nowadays automatically adjust their internal clocks in accordance with the DST protocol specific to their region, so keep your eyes peeled this upcoming November, when they will turn back one hour, ending DST for the year in Canada.
Learning and growing from our challenges Last week, Dr. Rumeet Billan spoke about resilience at UTM’s Backpack to Briefcase event ELIAS ANCER GOMEZ
Last Tuesday, UTM’s Backpack to Briefcase event titled “Developing Emotional Resilience” focused on the various forms used to build psychological resilience in the face of adversity and stress. The keynote speaker Dr. Rumeet Billan, a UTM alumni who graduated in 2006, has become an award winning internationally recognized entrepreneur, speaker, author, humanitarian and an expert in psychological capital. She is the CEO of Viewpoint Leadership, a company that through her work has aimed to transform workplace cultures, and provide a platform that helps youth, women and communities envision what is possible. Billan recognizes the traditional definition of resilience to be “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties and toughness” but in her words “it’s not enough just to be able to recover from the difficulties that we face, it’s actually expected that we learn from and grow from the challenges and setbacks that we have.” Billan focused on the strategies to deal with obstacles and to prepare people for challenges and jobs that
do not yet exist. Instead of focusing on building resilience in corporations, the focus should be to build resilience in individuals who can then affect change in their communities. Billan began the event by addressing the question “why build resilience?” She addressed issues such as self-talk, impact of others opinions, self-criticism and hope-theory to develop and achieve personal goals unhindered by the mental struggles one imposes on themselves. She spoke about the five components of resilience, one of them being selfconfidence or the question: how we feel about ourselves? Billian asked the audience “If I were to give you 100 pieces of feedback and 98 pieces of that feedback was positive and two of those pieces were not so positive what would you spend your time on?” According to Billan, statistics demonstrate that a person, on average, has about 60,000 thoughts per day and most of those thoughts are repetitive. Due to this, a big part of building resilience is preventing those thoughts from becoming negative. Founded on previous models of resilience she illustrates that a big trait related to success, is the ability
PHOTO FROM UTM.UTORONTO.CA
Dr. Rumeet Billan, CEO of Viewpoint Leadership, graduated from UTM in 2006. to create clear and meaningful goals, have the motivation to accomplish said goals and find ways to fulfill them. Before ending the conference, she addressed questions from the audience. The questions she addressed dealt with parents helping their chil-
dren develop emotional resilience, how teachers and students can manage stress, developing the language and conversation on mental health, and becoming sympathetic and empathetic. The general answer to those questions was to build resilience, and in
order to do so individuals must acquire a positive outlook on life and believe in their own abilities without letting rejection and adversity hinder their goals. The event helped to identify problems with stress and discussed how to deal with stress in a healthy fashion.
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Have you ever felt like an “imposter”? Imposter syndrome, coined in 1978, is “wide-spread but rarely discussed,” according to Graham F. Scott YASMEEN ALKOKA PHOTO EDITOR
Do you ever feel like you’re a fraud? Like you aren’t worthy or deserving of success or anything good in your life? You aren’t alone. This feeling is often referred to as “imposter syndrome.” While anyone can experience this feeling, it seems to be rather common among students. Think of the number of times you might have heard your classmates or friends put themselves down for academic-related stress or anxiety. Sometimes the feeling can rise from repeated instances of failure, like receiving a poor grade, but it can also occur if you do well but feel that you aren’t worthy of the achievement, or that you simply aren’t “good enough.” Graham F. Scott from the University of Toronto Magazine writes, “U of T is known for attracting some of the smartest, most ambitious achievers in the world. New research conducted at the university suggests that imposter syndrome is widespread but rarely discussed here.” It is rather common for students to hold extremely high expectations on themselves. It’s possible that there are more people experiencing symptoms of imposter syndrome than there are people talking about it as a real issue.
JEANLOUIS REBELLO/THE MEDIUM
Imposter syndrome can make you feel like a fraud, or like you’re not worthy of success. The term “imposter syndrome” was coined by psychologists in 1978, when they found that “despite having adequate external evidence of accomplishments, people with imposter syndrome remained convinced that they don’t deserve the success they have,” says Megan Dal-
la-Camina from Psychology Today. Those experiencing this feeling often dismiss success as pure luck and good timing, and consistently point out that others are better, smarter, or more capable than them. So, what’s the problem? DallaCamina goes on to say that a “ten-
dency toward perfectionism, fear of failure, continually undermining one’s achievements […] are all indicators that you might be prone. And it can be debilitating, causing stress, anxiety, low self-confidence, shame and in some cases, even depression.” While imposter syndrome is not a
psychological disorder, it can potentially lead to more serious mental health struggles. Life as a student is already difficult enough as it is, and a wave of anxiety and depression among students is almost expected during peak times of the semester. To avoid further complications from the effects of thinking of yourself as an “imposter,” consider the number of ways to combat this feeling based on research from U of T’s Student Life. First, try sharing your situation with people you trust who can sympathize and potentially reassure you as needed. Nick Feinig, a Ph.D. candidate in anthropology, says, “When you’re left to your own devices and it’s all in your head, you typically imagine worst-case scenarios. A sense of isolation from your peers really skews your perception of your performance.” Also, try to get involved in activities outside the classroom. Research shows that students who participated in extracurricular activities felt less anxious about their academic performance since they had other ways of measuring success. Imposter syndrome is a valid, common experience that could lead to worse emotions than it initially provides. Remember to value your worth, celebrate your accomplishments, and credit yourself for your efforts.
Insight into Features: Kevin Kim, one of the The Medium’s Associate Features Editors, provides his perspective on why he writes for the campus newspaper despite being a science student KEVIN KIM ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR
As a fresh, bright-eyed student at UTM much like so many others, my first year has been a whirlwind of great success and utterly disappointing failure. I’m of the opinion that everyone who makes their first venture into university goes through those kinds of motions—great highs, crushing lows. While some are obviously able to acclimate faster than others, I’d bet a pretty penny that the story of the failed midterm is one that resonates with a lot of people who had the pleasure of going through their first year. While I had to concern myself with test anxiety and assignment mishaps, I also invested myself in a weekly extra-curricular activity aside from academics–first by choice, and eventually, by obligation. I decided to write for The Medium and eventually became an Associate Editor for the Features section. As a student that came here for forensic science and is now intending to pursue mathematics, I have always, in one way or another, been fascinated by the natural sciences and what they have to offer. It may seem odd, then, to engage myself in something like writing articles for the
campus newspaper. But, if I have any say in the matter, it isn’t so odd at all. I’d like to first outline the point here that’s most obvious to me: people have diverse interests. Sure, I love mathematics. Unravelling definitions and theorems into something I can digest is often the highlight of my day. However, I do sometimes have a life outside of my program. For one, I usually play video games in my free time. I devour romance novels for breakfast in bed. And, most importantly, I love to write about just about anything. I’ve realized in my first year that even if you’re passionate about a field that seems completely far gone from some other field, you’re obviously allowed to enjoy both. Perhaps as a contrast to the argument I just made, I also enjoy writing for The Medium because it has something for almost everyone. Anyone who takes a passing glance at the paper might first realize the separation of it into multiple sections, each concerned with different concepts. For example, the Features section tends to highlight local events and happenings within UTM and Mississauga as a whole, just as its name would suggest. But the four sections, although different, work together with the same purpose: to provide the campus with information. If you’re someone that wants your
voice to be heard all throughout UTM, then there’s a whole section of The Medium dedicated to opinion. If you would love to attend a local art gallery and critique the pieces there, then try your luck over at Arts & Entertainment. When I say that there’s something for everyone, I’m not trying to be disingenuous. If you can name something that you would enjoy writing about, it’ll probably pop up eventually in the mailing list of one of our sections. For Features, I got the chance to interview a professor that teaches within our very own math department and write about what and how he contributes to the university. I interviewed another professor in the math department about the developments of the K-12 curriculum as it pertains to math and how it is taught. It goes without saying that as a math student, I thoroughly enjoyed composing these articles. If you’re concerned with something like the practicality of an extracurricular, then writing for the paper really pays off in dividends. The intricacies of effective writing can be incredibly difficult to grasp, but committing yourself to a 600-word article every week (and potentially much longer) will give you a handle on it pretty quickly. One of the main reasons why I applied to the mailing lists
YASMEEN ALKOKA/THE MEDIUM
Kevin Kim, Associate Features Editor of The Medium in the first place was so that I could keep my writing skills in shape—no matter what field you intend to pursue, being able to write well is an invaluable skill to have in your professional arsenal. Chemistry and biology students write lab reports; sociology and anthropology students write essays. Writing, writing, writing—you may hate it, but it will never leave you be, so it never hurts to improve on it. Although my reasons for enjoy-
ing writing articles for The Medium despite being a science student have largely come across as devout advocacy for the paper in general, I’d like to stress once more that no matter what you study, if you ever get a hankering to write, you may find The Medium to be a nest of positives, as I did. After all, a chance to report firsthand on something directly related to your passions is an opportunity that’s quite hard to pass up.
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Fitness apps: the good and the bad Fitness and health apps are only effective if the user is motivated enough and willing to follow it fully AMRISH WAGLE ASSOCIATE S&H EDITOR According to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, most gyms only expect to see about 18 per cent of their paid subscribers to consistently visit them, as four out of five American gym passes go unused. This stands in stark contrast to the relative massive trend in the market for a healthier lifestyle. People obviously want to be healthy, now more than ever, but lack the follow-through on their fitness ambitions. This is where fitness apps come in to fill the gap. Giants such as Nike Training Club and MyFitnessPal are promising a one-size-fits-all solution that guides users through the learning curve. As a varsity volleyball player, Amitoj Purewal vouches for the vast facilitation the app on his Apple Watch has had on his routine. “it really encapsulates my groove. I honestly feel a compulsive need to close my rings. Usually, I end up taking a quick jog when I plug in some headphones, crank up some sweet Bob Dylan or Arctic Monkeys, and off I go,” Purewal says. As one of Dylan’s diehard fans, Purewal admits, “Dylan is really a profound poet and it’s easy to get lost in his tunes so that my jog is over before I even know it. Music apps
might not be in the fitness category but it’s definitely a fitness necessity.” His girlfriend, Makise Mankoo however has the opposite perspective, stating “I’ve never had to use apps when I started working out as the rest of humanity has before, and I don’t see why you’d need it at all.” Although workouts may be easy enough, yoga and mental health are a different matter. As a former yoga instructor, Devin Gopaul got totally hooked on it after reading his favourite book yet, Autobiography of a Yogi. He states, “Calm has been a great app that really taught and introduced me to meditation. If you wanna have the resilient mind of a yogi, apps are really the only way to go. It’s not as intuitive as exercise and so technology really has a big role to bridge the gap there.” According to a leading study published in Journal of Medical Research by Litman et al., they found that among 726 subjects, the fitness app users were significantly more likely to exercise more often than non-app users. In addition, their study noted apps really did help overcome mental or physical barriers, such as procrastination, to working out. According to Litman, “people who have a lot of barriers appear to obtain higher levels of self-efficacy when they use exercise apps.”
YASMEEN ALKOKA/THE MEDIUM
Purewal says music apps are “definitely a fitness necessity.” Unfortunately, this correlation is likely only based on the user’s own motivation to exercise. Carnegie Mellon University published a study where they examined 2000 subjects to determine that only people who maintain a healthy lifestyle found apps to be a helpful companion, whereas people who don’t found themselves not really using technology. The vast consensus in the research community, as summarized by Con-
roy, a professor of kinesiology from Penn State, is that for fitness apps to work, they must be implementing a behaviour change strategy and other than a few key ones, the rest of the App Store fails to demonstrate any such techniques. Behaviour science clearly depicts that apps are simply not equipped with any of the effective strategies required to motivate people. In this sense, there are two types of fitness apps: educational and mo-
tivational. In the latter domain, apps really do not show any theory or evidence-based content and are not tested empirically against behaviourmodification outcomes. Apps don’t really cause an obsession to exercise but can be good educational tools to learn how to exercise. Some particularly good apps pointed out by researchers are MyFitnessPal and Sweat by Kayla Itsines. Apparently, personalization is important. A study in UBC Okanagan’s School of Health and Exercise Sciences by Professor Mary Jung showed that groups who had personalized features on their apps were able to exercise more. These two apps embrace this convenience and personalization, along with a few behavioural change techniques. MyFitnessPal for example, is commended for its self-monitoring ability and tracking a person’s daily activity. Recalling all the missed opportunities are an important part of behavioural change and this app helps establish that. Overall, the research consensus is that the individual dictates the efficacy of the app. If one truly has the motivation to be healthier and responds well to their app’s specific features, then fitness apps can indeed live up to all of their promises.
Maltese blossoms into leader on court Jessica Maltese is in her fourth year at UTM and is the captain of the women’s d-league volleyball team SARAH-MAY OLDFIELD ASSOCIATE S&H EDITOR Once upon a time, a little girl was inspired by the leadership and commitment exemplified to her by the coaches of her summer volleyball camp. Today, she stands as one of the most influential stuådent leaders and athletes at UTM, known for her positive attitude, enthusiasm and dedication to the future of volleyball within UTM’s growing athletic program. Jessica Maltese is in her fourth year at UTM, completing a major in Biology and a double minor in Forensic Science and Biomedical Communications. She’s also the captain of UTM’s women’s tri-campus d-league volleyball team. Maltese was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario. Athletics are important to her family. Her dad played a lot of soccer growing up and both her brothers play hockey. She believes the Maltese’s are a hockey family and isn’t ashamed to admit she didn’t take much of an interest in the sport, but is just as happy watching them. Maltese is the first in her family to play volleyball. But volleyball wasn’t the first sport she took up at a highly competitive level. She played
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Jessica Maltese is the first in her family to play volleyball. both volleyball and basketball at her elementary school, but chose to play rep basketball. One of her elementary school coaches invited her to come to a tryout. “It was easy,” Maltese explains. It was easier joining a basketball club when she already had the connections there, opposed to looking for a volleyball club. “I had basketball, and it was right there. But I always knew I loved volleyball more.” After two years of rep basketball, Maltese played a year of rep volleyball for the Burlington Club.
Maltese learned how to play volleyball through Hamilton’s Seekers Volleyball Camp. “Growing up, this camp was so good. The coaches’ started their own club and won everything.” That club came into the competition as the underdogs and left winning national championships. Her summer coaches spent a lot of time analysing the game, and coming up with the most innovative volleyball techniques, that proved to be very effective. “They did some crazy things, but it worked for them. And
since then I always wanted to be a coach. Always.” As a little girl, Maltese remembers watching her coaches, how they operated and how people treated and responded to them and wanting to be just like them. Maltese eventually realized that dream, becoming a camper turned coach in her final year of high school and first year of university. Maltese can’t remember exactly what drew her to volleyball, only that she fell in love and couldn’t let go. “Volleyball is so addicting. Everyone
always wants to play. They all want to go to drop-ins and Canlan, an athletic sports center here in Mississauga. Maltese’s family has supported her passions, and continues to do so now that she plays for UTM. They trusted her to make the appropriate judgments regarding her academics and extracurricular activities. “They said to me, ‘As long as you can balance school, rep and school sports. It’s up to you, but the moment you think you’re comprising one for the other, then step back.’” And in Grade 12, Maltese did just that, making the decision to step back from and focus on school. She’s now in her third year playing for UTM. “I didn’t play in my first year, because I didn’t know that there was a team. I saw [volleyball] intramurals going on and wanted to know what that was. And I had a friend who invited me out, to just play at an open net. It was at the end of the intramural season, so I couldn’t join a team. But I’d already met everyone from the UTM team, so I decided to try out next year.” Maltese made the team in her second year. Now in her final year at UTM, she’s team captain. Leader continued on page 12
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THE MEDIUM 03.18.2019
The battle of Maltese’s legacy at UTM athletic brands How consumers relate to the branding IBOM CHUKWUDI IREM
The athletic world sees a plethora of branded imagery that seek to define our sporting experiences. An entrance into this branded world sees elements of storytelling attached to these products that aim to define our lifestyle as consumers. To match up with societal demands for healthy living, we are made to negotiate with these brands that constantly promise us proficient and effective performances. In hopes of the realization of these elevated levels of performances, we gear up with certain running shoes and athletic wear that seek to define our innate desires for health, growth and wealth. Scanning through the T3 Smarter Living website to view its list of top running shoes for the spring of 2019, the themes of comfortability on all surfaces for the feet of runners is visibly of paramount importance. This need is exemplified by the design technology engineered towards making the Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo and the Adidas Ultraboost Clima. The Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo engages with a system of pressurized air and tightly stretched fibres to absorb high impact while providing users with maximum cushioning. These shoes by Nike position subconscious mantras in us with an already established campaign where we are told to “Just Do It.” The Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo in its elegance encourages runners to keep running, leaving the protection up to the foam technology that reduces stress on muscles, tendons and joints. The Adidas Ultraboost Clima, on its part, stakes a claim to be the initial proprietors of the foam technology that has mesmerized and won the hearts of many running shoe lovers. This running shoe uses Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) to absorb high impact and bounce back to its original shape. Its lightweight frame is a runner’s blessing allowing for surface glides, slides and lifts. Pricing: Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo - $240
Adidas Ultraboost Clima - $280 Other noteworthy mentions that lay an emphasis on runner comfort include: the Under Armour Hovr Infinite ($150), the New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon ($160) and the Asics Gel-DS Trainer 24 ($160). A complete runner look requires a significant investment in athletic wear. The peculiar trend by individuals is visible in the cult-like following of a brand. As highlighted by my friend Sena, “Any day I decide to wear Adidas shoes to the gym, I need my entire gear to be Adidas. It’s just how it is meant to be.” In the battle of athletic wear, the rivalry between Nike and Adidas remains undefeated. Brands such as, Under Armour and New Balance make a strong case for high-level performance practices through these wears that provide adequate breathability and unique comfort while exercising. These gears ooze an elegance that responds to a people’s cry for support whilst undertaking the rigorous task of physical workout. The Nike Breathe Pro for men and the Nike Pro Crop Top for women redefine the notoriously sweatwrenched experience in the gym by keeping its users cool, dry and comfortable over the course of their workouts. The go-to pants or shorts for the avid Nike wearers doesn’t really matter, as long as it is Nike obviously. The Adidas athlete mirrors the image of Nike gear, thus leaving the ultimate decision on the table of the consumer. A second-year student, Tolu, emphasizes the ubiquity of these major corporations highlighting that, “As long as it’s Adidas or Nike, I’m good.” Frankly, all running shoe and athletic wear brands are geared to hold a sentimental value to the consumer. It may be the Nike check, the Adidas stripes or the montage of a local brand. Advertisers aim to put us in a flux. On this note, it is up to us to dissect these deployed technologies that make a case for comfortability and high performance in a bid to identify with a brand that truly resonates with our distinct senses of self.
Leader continued from page 11 It has been a transition for this year’s volleyball team. UTM’s volleyball program looks to join badminton, cross country, soccer and basketball in the OCAA in the next year or two. And in their preparation they’ve brought in a new coach, and with him a transformed culture and attitude. “He’s made everyone take things more seriously. He creates a very competitive environment. People take it more seriously because now you have to fight for your position on the floor. They’re training hard, and because they’re training hard they play better,” she says. “It’s good that the program’s developing, it’s definitely getting better,” It’s been a difficult adjustment. “We started so low. Everyone from the very first day was so motivated to play, which was nice because it can be difficult to get that commitment on a tri-campus d-league team. Everyone was committed to figuring out how we were going to get better and start winning games.” The team only practices once a week for an hour, and their head coach, Daniel Hayes, has to split his focus between both the men’s and women’s teams. UTM’s women’s tricampus d-league volleyball team hadn’t won a game in over a year and they had gone the entire of last season without winning a set. “We started off slow and kept building. Then in one game we made it to five sets, and almost won, losing by a couple of points. Coming so close motivated us, until we won our first game.” A highlight for Maltese was seeing how happy everyone was after finally winning a game, and what that win meant for the future of the program. “It feels like the program is developing. To see it finally developing, and being taken more seriously. Taken seriously by not only the athletes, but the UTM community and athletic community as well.” The only disappointment Maltese felt was the fact her team peaked so late into the season. “Everyone was so committed, and had been working so hard. It’s unfortunate it didn’t happen until the end of our season.” Despite a start that would discour-
age any team, losing their first four games, they surprised everyone, including themselves with a strong finish. An improved team gives Maltese hope for the program’s future, “We looked like a different team,” she says. Anything is possible when the commitment, passion, and drive to be better is there. And our UTM Eagles ended the season with a possible taste of what the team can be, how the program as a whole can improve and grow.
“She’s a strong leader. She inspires others with her encouraging words and humble attitude. She sees the best in everyone.” In her ambition to grow the volleyball program here at UTM, Maltese become more involved in campus sports and took on leadership roles as a League Commissioner for volleyball and dodgeball. “What drew me to play in intramurals was how much fun it was to play with people from other sports, like basketball or soccer. It’s not just about teaching people. It’s still a very competitive environment, but we’re all helping each other to get better.” She also feels like volleyball doesn’t get as much attention as it should. “I feel like on this campus basketball gets a lot of attention. It’s grown so much over the years. I wanted volleyball to grow in the same way.” The volleyball program needed to grow, and starting with an improved Intramural league seemed like the best way to start. As the volleyball leagues commissioner, she encouraged her friends and teammates to split up and create separate teams to grow the league and while encouraging players new to the sport to participate and continue to play the sport. She now regularly spots players from the league at drop-in volleyball at the RAWC. Maltese hopes to expand the league by adding an all-star event, similar to what’s been done for intramural basketball. Maltese says that becoming a com-
missioner was not what she expected. “We have a lot more impact than I thought we would. They [athletic program office staff] let us make decisions and run our own leagues. It’s been nice to have that. It feels like a mini project.” Maltese also ran the UTM intramural dodgeball league, offered for the first time this year. And like volleyball, Maltese embraced the challenge of building the new league. She’s been working hard on it, and is particularly proud of how much it’s grown in such a short time. This semester’s league not only has more diverse participants, but is also more competitive. “All the teams are competitive. Everyone on the teams are very competitive, and it’s so much fun to watch because you never know who’s going to win.” She not only leaves an impact on her team, but on UTM’s Athletic community. Maltese has been instrumental to her team’s growth. Early this year she was recognized as one of UTM’s Athletes of the Week, not only for her strong play but her leadership on and off the volleyball court. She teaches and inspires her friends and teammates with her commitment to her team, and encourages them to see the best in themselves and always work to improve. “Maltese is a great team leader, and an even better friend. You can count on her always being there for you. I’m so thankful for having met her,” says teammate, Jessica Reynolds. “To put it simply, she’s a strong leader. She inspires others with her encouraging words and humble attitude. She sees the best in everyone, and is always ready to help when she can. Playing with Maltese has taught me both patience and resilience, and I strive to be more like the amazing captain she is,” says other teammate, Madeleine Meyers. Jessica Maltese has blossomed into an incredible athlete and leader here at UTM. She leaves behind an unwavering legacy, having become a true testament to what you can achieve. What you can achieve for not only yourself, but also those around you, when you’re committed, humble, enduringly positive and encouraging.
Getting steamy after a hard workout Going into a sauna or steam room after a workout can help aid in weight loss as your body keeps sweating SYEDA HASAN
The last few weeks of the semester are always filled with students running high on emotions, caffeine, and feelgood endorphins released from a productive workout session. Quite often, students choose to spare a few hours of their time—no matter how busy they are—in order to fit in some exercise into their busy schedules. During exam season in particular, on-campus gyms and wellness facilities tend to be packed. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Virtually any form of exercise, from aerobics to yoga, can act as a
stress reliever.” This is because engaging in physical activity increases the release of neurotransmitters called endorphins. These chemicals elevate your mood and generally make you feel better about yourself while reducing stress and anxiety levels. Furthermore, some people prefer to take their routine up a notch by going to a sauna or steam room post-workout, but the question that arises is: is there any value, either positive or negative, gained by going to the steam room or sauna after a workout, or is it a mere personal choice? According to Healthline.com, spending time in the sauna can im-
prove heart health. Exposing the body to high temperatures expands the blood vessels, allowing blood pressure to be lowered thus improving blood circulation. Furthermore, the steam helps in removing any muscle pain and tiredness which usually result from a hardcore workout session. This is because when you over-work your muscles, they form microscopic tears which result in muscle soreness. The improved blood circulation caused by the steam allows oxygenrich blood to reach the muscle cells and repair and relieve them. When a person works out, he or she releases toxins such as nicotine, alcohol, and
metals in the form of sweat. Sweat also cools down the body’s temperature as it evaporates from the skin, preventing the body from over-heating. The benefits caused by sweating can be prolonged by going to a sauna immediately after exercise, so if you feel that you didn’t sweat enough, you can pop into the steam room or sauna later. Spending time in steam can also aid in weight loss as high temperatures improve the body’s metabolic rate and certain saunas such as the infrared sauna, which uses infrared light to heat up the body directly, have the ability to slightly increase the production of the human growth
hormone (HGH) and lower the level of cortisol—both aspects that help in weight loss. In terms of adverse health effects, spending too much time in the steam room can result in dehydration brought on by excessive sweating. According to Harvard Health Publications, people tend to lose around a pint of sweat on average from a normal session. Therefore, experts advise that in order to prevent the loss of too much fluids from the body, it is beneficial to drink large amounts of water before, during, and after a sauna session. Furthermore, drinks rich in electrolytes are also recommended.