THE VOICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO MISSISSAUGA
September 24, 201 8 Volume 45, Issue 3 themedium.ca
Career Centre hosts fair
Ghomeshi’s essay misses mark
EDSS showcases UTM societies
Lions, Tigers & Hybrid wolves?
Can UTM’s food improve?
News, page 2
Opinion, page 4
Arts, page 5
Features, page 8
Sports, page 11
UTMSU preps for mentorship launch The students’ union held a training session to discuss their goals and expectations for their student mentors ALI TAHA NEWS EDITOR
The University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU) prepared for their upcoming mentorship program launch with a training session for the academic societies involved. The session discussed the logistics of the program, as well as what student mentors should expect moving forward. The mentorship program will be made up of upper-year students from a variety of different academic societies, including the English and Drama Students Society, the Sociology and Criminology Society, the Undergraduate Commerce Society, and the Political Science and Pre-law Association, among others. The program is scheduled to be up and running around mid-October, and will allow first year students the chance to get advice and academic knowledge from someone who has already been through what they are experiencing. The mentorship program will mirror the services offered by the office of the registrar’s academic advisors,
PHOTO FROM PIXABAY.COM
Mentors will act as points-of-contacts for students with questions. and will have two separate positions: mentors and mentorship directors. Mentors will act as points-of-contact for students who have any questions, either academic or otherwise. The mentors will then be able to connect the students to the correct re-
sources and offer them advice. Mentorship directors will select mentors for students and ensure that the number of mentors matches the size of the program. The training session was led by the UTMSU’s VP University Affairs An-
dres Posada. While presenting, Posada told students he hoped that the mentorship program would help make UTM more communal by having students help one another to achieve their goals stating, “the role of a mentor is
to engage a student to a level of experience.” “Every student has different needs and wants […] this is where the mentorship program comes into place,” he continued. “We’re building a community to help each other grow.” Representatives from the Office of the Registrar also presented at the training session. Associate Registrar, Student Success Sherry Hunter spoke about the necessity for mentors to understand the gravity of their position. “[The mentorship program] is a phenomenal opportunity to do something very meaningful and make UTM a better place for students,” stated Hunter. In her presentation, Hunter told the future mentors that they may have to give their mentees information about program requirements, finances, and course selection, and warned them that they should be wary of what they know and don’t know. “You should refer students to the proper resources […] and be working closely with your departments.”
Mentors continued on page 2
UTM students hired by Ontario government Four members of the UTM campus conservatives hired by their respective constituency offices ALI TAHA NEWS EDITOR One former member and three current members of the University of Toronto Mississauga Campus Conservatives have recently been hired by members of the Ontario government to work at their various constituency offices. The four members include Joseph Corazza, a recent U of T graduate and former director of outreach, Philip Power the former president and founder of the club, Carol Dinno the current VP, and Michael Lo Giudice the former president. In an interview with The Medium, Guidice described his role as a constituency representative. “I have the honour of representing the people. People come into the local office and we work with them to address and pass along their concerns to the MPP. I also assist the MPP in resolving the constituent’s issues.” Speaking on their accomplishments as a club, current Campus Conservatives president Harris Watkins told The Medium, “In
PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL LO GUIDICE/YASMEEN ALKOKA/THE MEDIUM
Philip Power, Michael Lo Giudice, Joseph Corazza, and Carol Dinno (left to right). terms of Ontario politics, we had a direct role in contributing to five different Progressive Conservative campaigns […] we attended many political conferences—such as the Turning Point S.A.S in West Palm
Beach and the 2018 LibertyCon in Washington D.C., where we had the largest Canadian delegation.” Watkins continued to detail events the club had held last year, including weekly debate competi-
tions, pub nights, and discussions like their “Women in Politics” panel that was attended by one sitting MPP and four MPP candidates. “The UTM Campus Conservatives last year […] gave members
numerous opportunities in provincial politics with the Ontario Progressive Conservatives because of the election. For this academic year we will be looking to send interested members to work in various constituency offices (at the provincial level) through co-op programs. Positions in constituency offices very much set applicants apart from one another,” Watkins stated. The Campus Conservatives have prided themselves on their passion for politics and getting students involved with the political process. “One thing people do not realize […] is that the opportunities to build your network and make a name for yourself in the political realm are widely accessible […], the UTM Campus Conservatives, being a part of the overall Ontario Conservative network, help members to realize this,” said Watkins. The club is looking forward to the 2019 federal election where members will have the opportunity to assist MP campaigns across the GTA.
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Big plans for mentorship
September 13th, 2018 Police Assisstance Campus Police attended the library for a student experiencing medical distress. The student was transported to hospital by EMS.
September 13th, 2018 Police Assistance ECSpERT called Campus Police to attend a residence where a student was experiencing medical distress. The student refused transport to hospital and advised to contact Campus Police should they need any further assistance.
September 14th, 2018 Tresspass to Propert Act Campus Police observed a student arguing with pub security staff. Campus Police attempted to speak with the student but he refused to cooperate. The student was asked to leave several times but refused to do so. At this time, the student was placed under arrest for failure to leave the premises when directed to do so. Peel Police attended and the student hesitantly complied to leave the premises.
September 15th, 2018 Police Assistance Campus Police attended the library for a student experiencing medical distress. EMS was called and the student was transported to hospital. September 15th, 2018 Noise Complaint Campus Police were called to attend residence for a loud party. Upon arrival, all appeared to be in order.
September 18th, 2018 Theft A student reported the theft of their wallet while they were attending a dance class.
September 13th, 2018 Theft A student reported the theft of their wallet from the family changing room in the RAWC. September 14th, 2018 Police Assistance Parking staff advised Campus Police of two kijiji ads selling CCT garage parking permits. Campus Police responded to the ad advising the poster that the selling of parking permits is strictly prohibited.
September 15th, 2018 Noise Complaint Campus Police were advised of people being loud outside of a residence. Campus Police attended and they were gone on arrival.
September 15th, 2018 Disturb the Peace A fight broke out at a party in a residence unit. Campus Police attended and observed a large group of people outside the main entrance. Peel Police also attended. Campus Police and Peel Police cleared the area of people loitering.
OLIVIA ADAMCZYK/THE MEDIUM
UTMSU is still finalizing specific rooms for the mentors to book. Mentors continued from page 1 When asked about where mentors will be holding their office hours, Pasada stated that the UTMSU were still “finalizing specific rooms for booking,” and were looking into spaces in the students’ centre and on campus for mentors to be able to meet with their students. All information about mentors
and their office hours will be available on the UTMSU’s website under the clubs and academic societies tab. Once the program launches, the website will include the area of study, the mentor for each program, their name, biography, as well as when and where their office hours will be. The main goal of the mentorship program is to create one-on-one
relationships between first-year and upper-year students that will continue to foster a strong sense of networking and collaboration on campus. When asked if the program will include all areas of study, Posada told The Medium he hopes that “as time goes on more programs will be included until [the mentorship program] involves all programs.”
Students look to the future UTM held its annual graduate and professional schools fair last week
September 16th, 2018 Suspicious Person Campus Police received several reports of clipboards asking for student’s information so they could be contacted for job opportunities. September 19th, 2018 Tresspass to Property Act Campus Police attended the Blind Duck Pub where a non-community member was being loud and yelling profanities. Campus Police asked him to leave, however he refused. He was placed under arrest and issued a Trespass Notice banning him from the campus for 5 years. Peel Police attended and escorted him off campus.
These reports are those that have been released to The Medium and do not necessarily constitute an exhaustive list. Students can contact the UTM Campus Police at 905 828 5200, Peel Regional Police at 905 453 3311, or Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222 8477.
Anyone with information regarding any of these incidents, or any other incident, is requested to contact the UTM Campus Police at 905828-5200, Peel Regional Police at 905-453-3311, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
YASMEEN ALKOKA/THE MEDIUM
Over 800 students attended the Graduate and Professional Schools Fair. MELISSA BARRIENTOS ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR Last Wednesday, students interested in graduate studies had the opportunity to talk to over 80 university program representatives at the Career Centre’s annual Graduate and Professional Schools Fair. Universities and colleges like Carleton University, McGill University, and Humber College led the long list of attendees. Over 800 UTM students attended the fair to get information on the necessary program requirements and experience. “Students have the opportunity to speak with admission representatives from some of the largest Canadian and international schools,”
said Vanisa Dimitrova, the Career Centre’s event and employment coordinator, “and find out what requirements are needed for a strong application.” With U of T’s rise in the QS Graduate Employability Ranking from 15th place to 12th place in the 2019 ranking, the opportunities for students to develop a well-rounded foundation for post graduate work and the Career Centre’s push to build this foundation for students continues to be seen. By expanding the fair’s attendees list to include more Canadian universities, such as the University of Guelph and Ryerson University, more international universities, and a more diverse program selection that extends beyond the broad
areas of law, business, education, and medicine; the employability of the UTM students could continue to grow. UTM principal Ulrich Krull told The Medium, “The QS rankings reflect the value of every part of the U of T system, and the rankings validate the enviable opportunity that UTM students have relative to the many other institutions that are ranked.” In the coming month the Career Centre welcomes students to take advantage of the available opportunities in their upcoming events: A Day with CIBC, Your Science Degree Under the Microscope workshop, and Now That I’m Graduating What’s Next sessions.
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MASTHEAD EDITORS Editor-in-Chief Mahmoud Sarouji editor@themedium.ca Managing Editor Alicia Boatto managing@themedium.ca News Ali Taha news@themedium.ca A&E Paula Cho arts@themedium.ca Features Jessica Cabral features@themedium.ca Sports Vanessa Cesario sports@themedium.ca — Photo Yasmeen Alkoka photos@themedium.ca Design Alexa Neves-Hua design@themedium.ca Copy Mahnoor Ayub copy@themedium.ca Online Olivia Adamczyk online@themedium.ca ASSOCIATES News Kayvon Aflaki Melissa Barrientos A&E TBA Features TBA Sports TBA Photo TBA Copy TBA GENERAL STAFF Webmaster Lyndon Amat web@themedium.ca Distribution Manager Adma Sarouji distribution@themedium.ca Ads Manager Mayank Sharma ads@themedium.ca Cartoonist Anthony Labonté COPYRIGHTS All content printed in The Medium is the sole property of its creators, and cannot be used without written consent. DISCLAIMER Opinions expressed in the pages of The Medium are exclusively of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Medium. Additionally, the opinions expressed in advertisements appearing in The Medium are those of advertisers and not of The Medium. All articles published in print are also posted on our website themedium.ca LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor will be edited for spelling, grammar, style and coherence. Letters will not exceed 700 words in print. Letters that incite hatred or violence and letters that are racist, homophobic, sexist, or libelous will not be published. Anonymous letters will not be published. MEDIUM II PUBLICATIONS 3359 Mississauga Road, Room 200, Student Centre, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6 themedium.ca
To contribute, email editor@themedium.ca
Jian Ghomeshi fails to write his way to redemption Jian Ghomeshi’s essay gives him a voice that shouldn’t be heard When activist Tarana Burke coined the phrase “#MeToo” in 2007, she wanted to raise awareness for the pervasiveness of sexual abuse and assault in the public sphere. The phrase didn’t catch on until a decade later when prominent Hollywood figures like Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, Kevin Spacey, and numerous others were called to account for allegations of sexual assault, harassment, and even rape. These revelations shook the entire world and brought focus on the alarming prevalence of sexual predation in Hollywood and in everyday workplaces. The court of public opinion has litigated the misdeeds of sexual predators in Hollywood and in other industries. Some have lost their jobs, whereas others have gone into hiding. But most of them are waiting for a chance at redemption. Jian Ghomeshi is one of them. The disgraced former CBC Radio host has found himself in the
spotlight once again after he wrote a 3,400-word essay in The New York Review of Books last week. The essay titled, “Reflections from a Hashtag” details his fall from grace and what he has lost after he was charged with several counts of sexual assault in 2014. Ghomeshi was acquitted of charges two years later and has stayed out of the public eye until now. In his essay, Ghomeshi attributes his firing from the CBC to “allegations [that] circulated online.” He writes about him being shunned by the people closest to him, how he cried in his room late at night, and how he’s become depressed and suicidal. If the intention was to invoke sympathy, then Ghomeshi has failed spectacularly. The tone of Ghomeshi’s essay is more boastful than it is remorseful. Only a narcissist would say that he “was the guy that everyone hated
first,” as if he hadn’t done anything wrong to warrant the hate. This is why the decision to give him publishing space in The New York Review of Books is puzzling, and also reflects a misogynistic culture in that men like Ghomeshi should be given a road to redemption because they, too, have suffered. The narratives are different though. Victims of sexual abuse have been disbelieved and called liars for telling their truth. Justice has been hard to come by because of fear of retaliation. Perpetrators, like Ghomeshi, suffer from no longer being rich and famous. They write these personal essays because they want gratification for being in the headlines again, not because they are actually sorry for the crimes they committed. Thankfully, the #MeToo movement has alerted the public to the fact that redemption is also hard to
come by. Ghomeshi’s essay has been met by widespread criticism, and the editor who approved it has been forced to step down from The New York Review of Books. Perhaps if Ghomeshi atoned for his crimes and demonstrated some kind of awareness thinking about how his actions have affected his former colleagues and the women he dated over the years, redemption wouldn’t have been out of reach for him. The fact that he missed the point completely shows that he shouldn’t be heard anyway.
Vinney Wong is a fourth-year Communications student at the University of Toronto Mississauga VINNEY WANG
CORRECTION NOTICE The September 10 article “A gallery of two cities” has been corrected.
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Find your fit & get involved: arts edition UTM’s EDSS hosted their second annual Get Involved Social where students could mingle with clubs SHALOMI RANASINGHE
On September 20, the UTM English and Drama Student Society hosted their second annual Get Involved social. The presentation was held in the Student Centre and had a great turn out of students eagerly awaiting to find out more about clubs on campus. The event showcased eleven clubs, each with representatives to promote their groups. The enthusiastic emcee for the night was Latisha Lobban, the social events director for EDSS. The first club to speak was Art club. Representatives emphasized that the club is a place for all art enthusiasts. Club members will partake in various forms of artwork, including drawing, paint nights, and origami. Regardless of artistic skill level, this is a place for everyone. Their goal is to engage with other creative students in a casual setting where everyone can relax and socialize. The club also features meetings with various instructors, so members can learn and try new tactics. All events are free and the club provides all materials. Another artistic club is Art for Hearts. Their objective is to facilitate group projects which focus on collaboration and community. Afterwards, all the artwork club members create is donated. Previous works have been
YASMEEN ALKOKA/THE MEDIUM
The Get Involved Social took place in the Board Room at the Student Centre. presented to elementary schools and hospitals. The club doesn’t hold meetings but hosts three to four events per year. When asked why the arts are important to her and her club, President Sigi Maho happily said, “Art is therapy. One of our pieces is in a hospital, and it helps to reduce stress and spread art to the buildings patients.” Next up was the Cinema Studies Association. The club convenes to watch movies and is a place for everyone since members don’t have to be part of the program to join. They host themed events throughout the year with free popcorn. The team has a selective process for picking movies
to screen because they enjoy playing inclusive films to give voices to minorities and attention to women who work behind the camera. The Political Science and Pre-Law Association highlighted their goal of being an extension of the material learned in lectures. They host a variety of pre-law programs which include LSAT prep, law school events, and panel discussion. The club invites guest speakers such as professors, to orate at meetings. Also, UTM political science alumni return to share their experiences of the program. When asked about her plans for involving students, President Rupinder
Liddar replied that she would “reach out to them through social media. We want to let them know they can get to know their professors. They can have meet and greets with them in a comfortable setting to explore their interests.” Members of the Undergraduate Philosophy Society don’t need to be part of the program to join either— the only requirement is a vested interest in the field of study. UPS facilitates debates, screens philosophical movies, and hosts writing workshops. Their goal is to encourage students to be involved in philosophy. They want members to talk about big ideas and
controversial topics to provoke critical thinking. Additionally, Free the Children is a club which advocates help for the less fortunate. They work with Me to We and focus on local and global campaigns to raise awareness of pressing issues. Their goal is to pick one pillar and support it throughout the year. Emily Sullo, Co-President of Free the Children, explained, “Arts for us is a different definition. We’re a social justice team. We do a lot of things campaign wise that promote individuality. We have a different approach to how Me to We does it. It’s important to help.” Lastly, EDSS emphasized their goal of fostering a sense of community in the English and drama departments. They host academic events led by professors or the Academic Skills Centre. They also host social events to connect students on campus and aim to make the English subject enjoyable for everyone. Lobban says that they will be involving students “through academic and social events. In academic events, there will be lecture slides lead by English professors. And social events include Harry Potter week!” There are a variety of clubs offered at UTM, so find your fit and get involved.
Circles and lines: tracing our land’s past Bonnie Devine’s exhibit explores the narratives shared between colonizers and the colonized KEENA ALWAHAIDI Bonnie Devine’s Circles and Lines: Michi Saagiig exhibit at the AGM visually examines the land lost in the Michi Saagiig homelands. Her works guide us through a loss so profoundly rooted in, well, uprooting—and very horrifically so. Circles and Lines examines the narratives shared between colonizers and the colonized. The Michi Saagiig occupied much of Southern Ontario. Known as “peacekeepers” between indigenous nations, the colonization of their land is accounted for within Devine’s representation. She challenges their narratives through the circle and the line. The main inspiration for using these two geometric forms comes from our very own earth, which curator Raven Davis connects the exhibit to. She says, “All of existence is comprised of circles, lines and patterns, replicating the curves, depths and peaks of the earth’s surface.” In the exhibit, the linear aspects strive to explain rationality and logic, using maps and lines drawn out on maps. We can see cities, streets, and grids in conjunction with our region.
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The “Circle of Enquiry for a Dish with One Spoon” is made from reeds from the Credit River. The circular aspects that we’re shown reeds, which its description claims up a good portion of the room. The boast the opposite; it’s the more shel- was collected from the Credit River in limp reed plants wrapped around its circular paper base make for an intertered, artistic side of the exhibit. It Mississauga. To give some context, the Dish esting choice. The reed straws come heals and embraces us, so we can realize the reason behind the linear. The with One Spoon is a treaty between together in a circle here, perhaps intwo aspects work together in order to the Anishinaabe and the Haudeno- dicating a cycle of change not strong saunee, stating the resources that enough to withstand it any longer. present new meanings. Further along, another piece conIn the back, there is a piece that sits must be shared around the territories in the middle of the floor. The work of the Great Lakes. It’s made of wam- trasts this aspect of the circular. is titled, “Circle of Enquiry for a Dish pum and often associated with terri- Devine’s “Impassable” hangs on two boards, both pieces of mixed media. with One Spoon” and leaves much to torial agreements in the GTA. The art piece is quite large, taking One of them is a map of the Great the imagination. There lies a circle of
Lakes showcased on a rustic orange background and next to it, while also a map, is not geographical on the surface. It’s a connect-the-dots sort of map—a visual representation of five blue circles that are in the same formation as the Great Lakes. The blue circles are unnamed in this version of the map but connected in the same way they would be geographically. The maps are different representations but depict the same place. This idea, it seems, is key to comprehending nearly everything in the exhibit. Land, geography, and dispossession within the region navigate back to ownership. What does it mean, and how can we better define it? How does ownership present itself, and how do we take part in realizing it? Devine’s exhibit is simple but it poses many questions like these. However, this is the point of her project. Colonization of indigenous land isn’t just about the land itself. Our homeland is sometimes a complicated area of discussion and we must never forget its past. Circles and Lines: Michi Saagiig runs at the AGM until December 21.
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Revisiting Heathers thirty years later Hart House Theatre’s Heathers: The Musical doesn’t mirror social critiques found in 1988 film REBECCA FLEMISTER
Heathers: The Musical, directed by Jennifer Walls and presented at Hart House Theatre, primes audience expectations from the beginning when actress Mary Bowden, who plays queen bee Heather Chandler, aptly points out in the pre-show announcements that “This is not Heathers the movie. We can see you.” This statement is meant comedically, but it also serves as a warning to die hard fans of the 1988 dark comedy of the same name that if they came to see something comparable to the Michael Lehmann version, they risk disappointment. Heathers follows Veronica Sawyer, played by Emma Sangalli, a 17-year-old girl who joins a clique that includes three of the most popular girls in school, all of whom are named Heather. Veronica becomes dissatisfied with her role in the group when they try to make her mistreat her former best friend Martha Dunnstock, portrayed by Moulan Bourke. Veronica teams up with bad boy Jason Dean, or J.D. for short, who makes her an accomplice in his plan to take down the Heathers once and for all. His method? Murder. There are no rules stating that a musical has to be faithful to its source material. However, Walls’
SCOTT GORMAN/HART HOUSE THEATRE
The clique includes three of the most popular girls in school, all of whom are named Heather. production of Heathers plays as campy melodrama instead of the sardonic and witty story that fans of the movie have come to associate with the name Heather. It becomes difficult to separate the musical from its source material since it is saturated with direct quotes from the film. Consistently, actors make choices that make the film quotes feel out of place. Sangalli plays Veronica as a moralizing bystander, so when she says things like “my teenage angst bullshit has a body count,” you’re left asking, what angst? Equally, Justin Myers plays J.D. as the nice guy, devoid of morbid cynicism, so when he starts setting up detailed murders, the audience is left blindsided and seeking his motive. The Heathers, Heather Chandler
(Bowden), Heather Duke (Paige Foskett), and Heather McNamara (Becka Jay), however, maintain a consistent story arc throughout. Most notably, Heather Chandler remains an unencumbered jerk from the first verse of Candy Store to the curtain call, and Boden makes no apologies for her character’s behavior. Her bold performance matches her strong vocals, while also offering a much-needed link to the sarcastic wit of the movie. Even after death, her ghost still offers snide side commentary, which enables the overly sentimental mass reaction to her death that carries the ironic effect the story calls for. “I Love my Dead Gay Son” is played for laughs yet lacks the necessary irony that is present after
Heather Chandler’s death. In the film, the line “I love my dead gay son” reframes two vapid, homophobic jocks as public martyrs against homophobia. The film makes a mockery of society’s penchant for falsely remembering the dead. In the musical, this scene becomes an unironic anthem for gay acceptance, complete with a giant pride flag. However, this noble sentiment is undercut using gay stereotypes via chorus members dressed as the Village People and the choice to make a kiss between two men the main punchline of the number. Though I don’t believe it was a result of any ill intent, these scenes could read as unintentional mockery. This aside, the director makes active choices to draw on the media
saturated backdrop of the 1980’s teen experience that has only become more pertinent as time goes by. As the audience enters the theatre, MTV music videos are projected on a multilayered set with tilted walls, which emphasises the vertigo of finding one’s identity in a world dominated by pop culture. The musical showcases the adverse effects of media consumption that goes unexplored in the film. In a media dominated age, Heathers are everywhere and are more widely seen and imitated. Jennifer Walls’ attention to technology in this piece bring new relevance to the themes introduced in the 80’s cult classic and reemphasizes the central conflict in the show: if you get rid of one Heather, how do you keep another from taking her place? For those who haven’t seen the film or are looking for a lighthearted evening of poppy 80’s nostalgia, Heathers: The Musical is an entertaining show packed with vocal talent. This is not Heathers the movie, however, so to the uninitiated, I would suggest watching the film to understand the nuanced social critiques that Jennifer Walls’ version of the story might have left out. Heathers: The Musical runs at Hart House Theatre until October 6.
So you think you can create a zine? Canzine Festival of Zines and Underground Culture showcased some of the best work from Canadian curators LATISHA LOBBAN
Over 250 vendors gathered on September 22nd at the Art Gallery of Ontario for the Broken Pencil Canzine: Festival of Zines and Underground Culture. The festival was from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the large mass of vendors spanning seminar rooms one, two, and three do not compare to the hundreds of people flooding the tiny aisles between the vending tables. A library consisting of self-published zines from all of the world, aptly titled “Global Project Zine” and curated by Publishing @ SFU, also takes up one room. I arrive at about 2:30 p.m., initially unsure of where to go. Though, the crowd of trendily-clad Toronto hipsters of all ages and nationalities easily lead me to the festival. A tall man with sleeves of tattoos to match his black t-shirt and ankle-length black jeans supported by suspenders greets visitors as they walk down the stairs to the second floor of the AGO and offers them a newspaper style comic. The room is filled with natural light and an ocean of people. Two young women with brightlycoloured hair that matched their vibrant personalities offer a pamphlet and map of the festival as we enter. The body heat from the waves of people that line the aisles complement the warm and welcoming atmosphere. At nearby tables, artists can be seen sketching comics that
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The Canzine Festival hosted over 250 vendors. are hung on the wall when complete. A quick browse of the room reveals that there is a large variety of items for sale. The merchandise consists of self-published comic books, magazine-style illustrated works, pamphlets, and even full-length novels. It is not a requirement for the work at Canzine to be self-published, but it is recommended as the festival caters to that which is independently created. I talk to one vendor about her goods. Small comic books, about two to three inches in height, are displayed on the table in front of her. The books have a home-
made charm but look professionally done. She tells me that “they are printed at a local printing press and I staple the pages together myself! It’s a labour of love.” The large smile on her face and her eagerness indicate her passion and love for her product. She makes sure to hand me a free hand-painted flyer as a reminder to follow her social media handles. I have many conversations like this throughout my three hours at the festival and amass a wealth of complementary hand-painted crafts from vendors of all ages. The youngest of whom are seven and ten-year
old, Noah and Vivian. They display a series of small, hand-drawn and coloured cutout pictures. Someone nearby asks the young girls what inspires them and Vivian says, “Oh, I don’t know. For a lot of them, it was my cat and a lot of favourite foods, trips and stuff.” She gestures toward a small drawing of her cat done with black and white pencil crayons. While Vivian and Noah use pencil crayons and what looks like Crayola markers for their art, art is on a variety of mediums. Some vendors sell paintings on canvas, watercolour postcards, digital screen
prints, art drawn with chalk, laser cut wooden art, hand drawn pins, and many comic-style drawings in the style akin to the likes of Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Sailor Moon. Some illustrated zines also feature written poems and blurbs by the multi-talented vendors. Many of them feature the theme of LGBTQ+ rights and feminism. One particular illustration that stood out is the phrase, “Let’s Guillotine the Bourgeoisie Tonight, Qomrades” written as an acrostic poem with LGBTQ as the framing text. Another vendor with a political message behind their work is Emanuelle Charaneuf from Sault St. Marie. Her “Queen Street” zine catches my eye as I assume it is based on the Toronto street eponymous with Queen Victoria. Emanuelle quickly corrects my assumption and tells me that it is named after the street she grew up on in her hometown. She goes on to say that she draws inspiration from her mother’s experience as a Filipino immigrant and her effectual experience as a First-Generation Canadian. She goes to say, “We were kids. We didn’t know what it all meant and what it’s like [for her] growing up an immigrant. So, there’s a bit of humour in there, confusion.” One scan of Emanuelle’s zine reveals that it follows the almost ominous nature of the other works at Canzine, which epitomize the ability of art and literature to turn pain and negativity into something beautiful.
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What can hybrids tell us about humans? Lauren Schroeder was one of 16 UTM professors to receive the Connaught New Researcher Award JESSICA CABRAL FEATURES EDITOR Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, Lauren Schroeder, an assistant professor in biological anthropology at UTM, never thought that she’d leave her hometown. But after completing her university studies and Ph.D. at the University of Cape Town, Schroeder landed herself a post-doctoral research position at the University of Buffalo in New York and then joined the UTM faculty in July 2017. Now, she is one of 16 UTM professors to receive the Connaught New Researcher Award, an annual program that provides funding to new assistant professors to kick-start their research career. Describing her path to academia as “convoluted,” Schroeder explains that from a very young age she knew she wanted to become a scientist. As an undergraduate, Schroeder began her university career pursing a degree in astrophysics, but when she enrolled in a second-year elective course on human evolution her interests changed completely. Immediately, she switched her major from astrophysics
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Lauren Schroeder is an assistant professor in biological anthropology at UTM. to biological anthropology. “I was always interested in the past and in the human body and how amazing it is,” Schroeder reflects. “When I started grad school, I knew the ultimate goal was to become a professor. I was always interested in the types of questions about who we are and where we come from. I think as young people we don’t necessar-
ily think of that often and I think we should because these questions tell you how connected we all are in the world.” Building off topics she explored in her Ph.D., Schroeder currently focuses her research on evolutionary processes within the hominin fossil records. She analyzes bones to determine how evolution has affected
the way humans look and how our morphology has changed over time. In particular, Schroeder looks at three evolutionary processes: genetic drift, a random process that causes populations to evolve over time, natural selection, the change through time due to shifts in environment and adaptation, and hybridization, the interbreeding of two separate species
that cause new types of morphology within populations. Once Schroeder completed her Ph.D., she decided to concentrate on hybridization within human evolution and how this process can cause and introduce new variations within species. Currently she studies the morphology, the form, and bone structure, of mammals that hybridize. Schroeder and her colleagues hope to apply their discoveries to evaluate the evolutionary process in human fossil records. “The big project I’m working on is using mammalian models that we know have hybridized, we can see it and it happens in the wild. We study their morphology and try to create a model that we can apply to the fossil record,” she explains. Schroeder received the Connaught New Researcher Award for her research project on “coywolves,” a coyote-wolf hybrid inhabiting our Mississauga community. According to Schroeder, north eastern U.S. and south-eastern Canada have been labelled a “hybrid zone” for this animal population. Award continued on page 10
A week full of science, demos, and inclusivity This year’s Science Literary Week featured interactive events to foster science communication LIAYANA JONDY
Last week, UTM hosted their annual “Science Literacy Week” event, entitled “The Infinite Wonders of Space,” at the UTM library. The weeklong event was run by librarians Jessica Hanley and Nelly Cancilla along with UTM library staff Lisa Hodgson and Carmelina Genuardi-Binns. The event featured a variety of interactive and engaging activities. In an interview with The Medium, Hanley explains that “Science Literacy Week” first began in 2014 after UTM alumni Jesse Hildebrand decided to promote science education to make it more accessible for people outside of science. Since then, it’s become an annual, “global event where universities, schools, public libraries put on events weeklong to engage students and the general population in science to try and make it appeal to people outside of sciences. It’s a kind of scientific outreach to get more people interested in the sciences,” Hanley elucidates. According to Hanley, many individuals feel like science is inaccessible to them because they are not scientists. “It’s important to help people realize that science can be for every-
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A close look at minerals through a microscope during an interactive demo in front of the library. one, that it can be engaging,” Hanley stated, “You don’t need to have a science background to participate and get involved in the sciences.” Promoting science education will “become increasingly important in this era of fake news and social media,” Hanley remarks. It’s necessary that people stay engaged in the sciences, learn how to think critically, and research what’s going on around them. Doing so, Hanley claims, will prevent individuals from falling prey to what they see on social media and the news.
“I think science communication is going to become more and more important—it’s becoming a bigger topic in academia anyways—for researchers to be able to translate their work into layman’s terms so that people can understand it a little bit better. As more and more scientific advances are made, it’s going to become increasingly important to be able to communicate that,” Hanley states. Throughout the week, volunteers from “Let’s Talk Science” hosted interactive activities about topics such as our solar system, virtual reality, al-
ginate gummies, comet cratering, and paper airplanes. Chemical and physical science Ph.D. students also hosted interactive demos during the week showcasing what occurs when elements that make up the atmosphere of space react with everyday items. Last Monday, the vice president and event coordinator of the J. Tuzo Wilson Club, Kaylen DeRoia and Alejandro Montero, hosted an interactive demo featuring minerals under microscopes as well as testing the properties of calcite, meteorites, and minerals. The J. Tuzo Wilson Club
facilitates scientific literacy by aiming to “create a sense of community within the broader sense of the earth science program and UTM as a whole,” remarks DeRoia. When looking at a geological sample through a microscope, minute properties of the sample are revealed that can’t be seen by the naked eye. Oftentimes, samples that are collected in the field undergo a process called “thin section” which allows scientists to look at the sample on a microscopic level. “Every rock and mineral when you put it under a thin section looks completely different. It’s like looking at fingerprints or even tree rings,” explains Montero. On the topic of interest in science, DeRoia states, “Not everyone is intrinsically interested in science and that’s why we have science literacy week. You don’t have to be a scientist but to be scientifically literate will help you make decisions.” Like other fields of study, science is an interdisciplinary field. When we obtain the ability to read scientific journals and actively engage with and understand these resources, we facilitate critical thinking across all fields of study. Science Literacy Week helps us develop the skills to do so.
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Talking Turkish human rights at UTM MP Garnett Genuis moderated last Monday’s panel discussion on the human rights situation in Turkey MARKO SPAJIC
Last Monday, the UTM Campus Conservatives and Conservative MP Garnett Genuis hosted a panel titled “Rights and Wrongs: The Declining Human Rights Situation in Turkey.” Genuis opened the discussion with a question: “How should Canada be responding to human rights in Turkey?” The panel featured speakers who have been impacted by the current government of Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has been in power since 2003. Many claim the government is disregarding the rights of people, especially those of minority groups living in Turkey. Those outside of Turkey critical of the Erdoğan government created a website called turkeypurge.com that records the number of citizens reportedly “purged” for their views, where some individuals lose their jobs and others are jailed. The panelists claim that the government is systematically attacking media outlets across the country, silencing those who do not share the same views. As many as 180 media outlets have reportedly been shut down in recent years, supposedly in connection to a crackdown by the Turkish government. The panel uses this to explain why so many cases of misconduct by the government go unreported
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UTM Campus Conservatives and Conservative MP Garnett Genuis hosted this panel in IB120. within Turkey. “How can [the Turkish government] be held accountable if there is no free media?” the panelists asked. Arslan Ayan, a political science teaching assistant from York University and member of the panel, described his own experiences of being
a journalist in Turkey, where he now feels unsafe to return. Ayan addressed the attempted coup of the Erdoğan government in 2016 as a point that saw an escalated crackdown on dissenters. He claims that as many as 170,000 “normal people” have been dismissed for their views. These peo-
ple are described by the government as “coup-makers,” whether or not they were directly involved with the coup attempt. Umut Duygu Uzunel, an ophthalmologist from Turkey, gave the audience a rundown of her experience as a political refugee now living in Can-
ada. She discussed the difficulties that refugees face when adjusting to a new culture, including learning a new language, needing accreditation of a previous job, and in some cases coping with living alone. As a doctor from Turkey, she explains the challenge of getting back into her job, especially in the health sciences, and the difficulty of reuniting her family in Canada. Many of the panelists remain doubtful of Turkey’s future as they see the need for a new civil constitution. Currently, they describe policies of “Turk-ification,” where the names of families of minority groups are renamed to Turkish ones. This also extends beyond Turkey. A panelist from Cyprus spoke about Turkey’s invasion of his country in the 1970s. The island nation consists of two major ethnic groups: Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The panellist explains that, at the time, the Greek Cypriots felt like “refugees in their own country.” Some of the grievances he listed included Greek Cypriots being denied right of religion, right to pass on property to their family, and the right to their own teachers. At the end of the discussion, MP Genuis expressed his optimism that the situation in Turkey will improve and the event concluded with a question period for guests to ask questions directed at the panelists and their experiences.
Pablo blooms and stinks up the zoo UTM biology professor Sasa Stefanovic discusses why Pablo ‘Pe-ew’ Caso, the corpse flower, smells LARA WULANDARI
On Thursday September 13th, “Pablo ‘Pe-ew’ Caso”, the Toronto Zoo’s Amorphophallus titanium, or corpse flower, was the fifth of its species to bloom in Canada and one of 200 to ever bloom in the world. Known for their stench which resembles rotting flesh, the corpse flower, indigenous to the tropical forests in Indonesia, typically blooms once a decade. Ahead of schedule, Pablo bloomed last week at only five years old. The Medium spoke with Sasa Stefanovic, a biology professor at UTM, to discuss the corpse flower and its unusual adaptations. Stefanovic explains that Pablo is one of the many flowering plants that are pollinated by carrion flies. “Flies deposit their larvae in rotting meat and the plant co-op this function by attracting these insects with both their stench and their dark maroon color, imitating the appearance of meat and flesh,” he explains. Similar to the Toronto Zoo’s corpse flower, the skunk cabbage, a plant from the same family as the Amorphophallus, releases a nasty
PHOTO FROM FLICKR.COM
The corpse flower was one of 200 to ever have bloomed in the world. odour resembling a combination of rotten cabbage and skunk spray. Located around UTM, these skunk cabbages range between ten to twelve centimetres tall and are significantly smaller than the corpse flower. According to Stefanovic, the skunk cabbage releases its stench due to compounds like putrescine and cadaverine that smell like corpses and disulfate which smells
like rotten eggs. “Just like the corpse flower, they are not pollinated by bees, they are pollinated by flies,” Stefanovic continues. “Generally speaking, both the corpse flower and skunk cabbage produce compounds which imitate the smell of flesh and dead animals to attract their pollinators during flowering season. This is a feature that has evolved independently and can be seen in many
other families of plant.” Stefanovic speculates that Pablo bloomed earlier than expected because it may have been “planted in good conditions.” “The Amorphophallus possesses a tuber, which is an underground stem that acts as a food storage. It also has a singular leaf with a petiole branching out, resembling a small tree which carries out photosynthesis. Starch produced in the leaf
are then stored in the tuber. They need to do this season after season, and require several years of storing food underground to be able to produce an immense flower structure,” Stefanovic explains. “That is why I speculate that the condition of the greenhouse is favorable to the plant, allowing it to photosynthesize, store starch and bloom in advance. It may also just be a variation in the population. They may generally flower every ten years but some individuals flower more frequently than others.” As if the stench of the corpse flower was not strange enough, Stefanovic reveals how both the corpse flower and skunk cabbage produce heat to expel their strong stench. Stefanovic used a video titled “Undead Zombie Flowers of Skunk Cabbage” to illustrate how the heat expelled by the skunk cabbage could melt a few inches of snow. “The plant itself uses part of its storage to accelerate the rate of respiration, producing heat as a by-product. Not only does the heat allow the smell to disperse quicker and be more volatile, the heat also attracts cold-blooded animals like the flies.”
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Be yourself & film videos Jordan Walsh has over 32,000 suscribers on YouTube
Living life Miway BELICIA CHEVOLLEAU THIRD YEAR, ICCIT
OLIVIA ADAMCZYKTHE MEDIUM
Jordan Walsh, with over 100,000 Instagram followers, is a self-made sensation. SHAYNA JAN
It’s 11 p.m. and you have a paper due at midnight. You switch back and forth between your word document, a scholarly article, and Instagram, until you notice your favourite YouTuber has just posted a new video. Often, it’s easy to get lost in the endless amount of content the World Wide Web provides. While browsing YouTube, you may have found yourself wondering what it’d be like to start your own YouTube channel. Will people watch and subscribe? Will I gain a following? Well, Jordan Walsh, a third-year forensics student at UTM, has been making videos for the last four years and has gained over 32,000 subscribers and over 100,000 Instagram followers. Walsh is the perfect example of a self-made sensation.
Walsh’s content is varied, as it ranges from entertaining rants and tutorials, to more serious topics that help viewers understand the pressures of anxiety, depression, and growing up as a gay male. His topics do not exclusively fall under one genre or theme, as he believes in the idea of posting “anything that makes [him] happy.” Walsh tells The Medium that he decided to start his YouTube channel as a way to make friends and form relationships with likeminded people. He reveals that growing up in the small town of Sarnia, Ontario, meant that everyone looked the same, dressed the same, and acted the same. Walsh was different and “being different meant it was easier to connect with people online.” Walsh turned to YouTube to tell his story and live outside the box his peers had set for him. He was able to use his online platform to
be his true self in front of the camera, deciding to show his viewers the good, the bad, and the ugly. Growing up in the age of social media can sometimes be detrimental, as we are often presented with a perfectly polished picture of people’s lives. This leads us to internalize our own problems as unique only to us, leading to self-doubt and insecurity. Walsh believes that the key to success is “being yourself ” and also being “unafraid of being raw on camera.” Walsh has posted a few emotional videos in which he discusses personal issues, uncensored, and exposed. His advice to hopeful YouTubers is not to construct a channel based on preconceived notions of what you believe will get you the likes, but rather to just post content you genuinely enjoy filming.
Hybridized coywolves Award continued from page 8 While her research includes studying mammalian models such as mice, baboons, gorillas, and whales, Schroeder also wants to collect morphological data on this North American hybrid canine. Through her creation of these models, Schroeder and her team have discovered that many of these hybrid animals exhibit the same “morphological signature.” Schroeder explains that a morphological signature indicates how hybridization has changed the way a species looks. Although the different hybridized species don’t bear any physical resemblance, Schroeder notes that the process has affected these populations in the same way. “You may notice that sometimes coyotes look huge, and sometimes people mistake them as wolves because they are very big. This is actually one of these ‘signatures,’” Schroeder explains. “Hybrids may look more like one parent than the other, if the parent is a wolf and the other is a coyote, the coywolf may look more wolfish. That’s a
simplistic way to look at it because the coyotes here don’t have a wolf mother; instead, it’s been about 100 years that they’ve been hybridizing within this region.” To collect data on these coywolves, Schroeder works with the New York State Museum in Albany that contains approximately 500 skulls from this species. Instead of analyzing soft tissue, Schroeder measures and investigates the bone structure in skulls. In November, Schroeder will begin data collection with the Royal Ontario Museum as they currently possess a large selection of coyote and grey wolf skulls. When asked about her most memorable research experience, Schroeder says that one amazing experience springs to mind. In 2014, she was given the opportunity to join a team tasked to describe a newly found fossil specimen from a site in South Africa. “We were the first ones to describe these fossils, to look at these fossils, and to name the species. The first step we had to do was look at the fossils and determine whether these are a new species or
part of something else, and it actually was a new species. That was probably the coolest thing I’ve ever done,” Schroeder says. The research team described the fossils, published data on the fossils, and created 3D scans of these fossils that the public can download online. However, they were missing one crucial piece of information because the fossil site was undated. They estimated the fossils to be approximately one million years old, but recently found out that they might be younger, only 300,000 years old. For Schroeder, anthropology offers us an avenue to explore answers to bigger questions of human evolution. Through her study of morphology and bone structure, Schroeder has found some common ground between all species. “Who we are, where did we come from, and how did we get here, are things that us humans should be thinking about,” she says. “Anthropology is really good at celebrating difference, but it also allows you to see the similarities in everything and everyone.”
I’ve always experienced sleepless nights before the first day of school. The mornings were much worse, I’d be plagued with a sense of uneasiness settling in the pit of my stomach. But the first day of university was different. Perhaps orientation removed some of the anxiety or maybe I lost it during my nearly two-hour commute from Brampton to campus like I did my T-Card, but for some reason, I was calm. I remember stepping off the 101W bus onto the UTM campus with a feeling of peace. During my evening classes, I never really felt the desire to socialize with my classmates. I would start packing my backpack within the last five minutes of class and dash out the door once class ended. My only goal was to get home. Sometimes I would pause at the door and glance at my classmates mingling about themselves. The pull to make friends was strong in those short, fleeting moments, but all I truly wanted was to catch the bus on time. As I briskly walked to the bus stop, I realized there was more to it. By prioritizing my commute over my social life, I was missing the opportunity to be a part of something. My commute was creating both a physical distance and a social distance between myself and my classmates. I was torn between the burden of feeling disconnected to the campus and my strong desire to start my commute home. But once the bus neared, the thought disappeared. It is a strange thing to realize you
can be in such close proximity with a stranger when riding the bus—so close you can identify the brand of their perfume—and simultaneously feel kilometers apart. In the beginning, I spent most of my commute reading e-books and digital comics. And while I would have loved to sleep, I could never feel comfortable enough to sleep in front of strangers. Now I learned how to use my long commute time to my advantage. I do course readings and get a head start on assignments. Of course, I still sometimes indulge in recreational reading as well as watching TV shows and movies. Over the summer I found my place within UTM’s social scene. While browsing on Facebook, I spotted a post recruiting executives and associates for UTM Scribes and I decided to apply. UTM Scribes, a creative writing club, allows UTM students a place to express themselves through writing. It sounded perfect for me. I noticed that being a part of a community eased my instinctual desire to run. I think finding and connecting with people who share your interest helps shorten the social and physical distance between commuters and their classmates. Today, I find myself slowly regaining the sense of peace I felt when I first stepped off of MiWay two years ago. At first commuting was a struggle, especially with early morning classes, but now the ride is much more enjoyable. Maybe the journey isn’t just about reaching the destination, but perhaps part of the joy of the journey is the seemingly mundane parts in between.
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Campus food: is UTM doing enough? Food options for students with dietary restrictions, such as vegan or halal, are limited on campus SYEDA HASAN We are three weeks into the semester and it isn’t hard to tell that the academic year is gaining momentum. Study spots are being filled up with students anxious to get started on their first assignments, study rooms are rapidly being booked for group meetings but, most of all, the lines at Tim Horton’s are getting longer day-by-day with students looking to get their caffeine or sugar fix before spending long hours enclosed in a classroom. Walking into a lecture, it’s not difficult to spot the signature red cups lining more than half the desks in the room. At times they’re accompanied by warm bagels, muffins, doughnuts, or even croissants. Although the most popular, Tim Horton’s isn’t the only food choice found in the hands of students at UTM. Quite often a classroom is decorated with the smells of a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks, a cheese slice from Pizza Pizza, a veggie burrito bowl from Quesada, or a tray of sushi from Bento Sushi located in the Instructional Building. Despite the plethora of food options available on campus, there is only one statement that’s heard from conversations floating around campus: UTM needs better food options on campus. Perhaps it is the lack of healthy dishes being offered, or perhaps there are limited options for those bound by dietary restrictions. It is a known fact that all universi-
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Students feel UTM needs better food options on campus. ties have a universal goal of promoting healthy eating on campus. As a student, it’s extremely important to have the right sorts of nutrients in your daily diet but incorporating such food items can be difficult due to hectic schedules, lack of cooking skills and tools, and, most importantly, lack of time. The aforementioned factors serve as roadblocks even for those who are willing to readily adopt a healthy lifestyle. At times like these, it is the responsibility of the university to promote and serve nutrient rich food options that are easily ac-
cessible for students who are always on-the-go. According to Ana Diaz, a third-year student doing a double major in English and history, UTM needs to stop the wide-spread sales of unhealthy snacks if they want to successfully promote healthy eating. Most cash registers in the TFC are lined with large expanses of chocolate bar and chips and Diaz says, “It’s so easy to just grab a bag of chips or candy bar when you’re standing in line to pay for your salad.” Diaz further adds, “I think at least limiting the amount of junk food that is sold would be a
huge step in promoting healthy eating.” Zara Hassan, a second-year student double majoring in CCIT and PWC, also believes that the university isn’t doing much to promote a healthy lifestyle on campus. “I have seen Redbull and Starbucks’ double-shot espressos being handed out for free, but very rarely have I seen anything healthy being given out.” Most students at UTM can agree with the fact that there is an imbalanced ratio of healthy food to junk food. Most vending machines around campus are stocked with soft drinks,
chocolates, chips and other varieties of sweets. In places like CCT, where the express Tim Horton’s closes early, students attending late classes resort to eating a bag of chips or snacking on gummy bears when they feel hungry. Healthy foods need to be just as—if not more—accessible as junk foods are. According to Zainab Hassan, a second year management student, “It’s just not worth getting healthy food on campus because fast food is more easily available and is cheaper and more filling than the healthy options available on campus.” Diversity within food options is another factor that students at UTM feel strongly about. With the student population increasing every year, there are many students that have certain dietary restrictions that prevent them from eating specific items available on campus. Being a vegan, Diaz feels her options of eating on campus are quite limited. “I enjoyed the salad bar options that were available in TFC, but they have been replaced by smoothie bowls. Although they are a healthy option, I’m disappointed that they aren’t vegan. Furthermore, only a few soups available are vegan, but they aren’t served on a daily basis.” The same can be said of Internationals in TFC who also serve limited vegan options such as Falafel. Most of the time Diaz has to bring lunch from home and can only resort to fruits when she wants a quick snack. Food continued on page 12
First goal and first win for UTM soccer The women’s soccer team won their first game of the season this past Saturday, September 22 VANESSA CESARIO SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR The UTM women’s varsity soccer team played their fourth game of the season this past Saturday, September 22 against the Conestoga Condors. After losing their previous three games, UTM was ready to mark this their first win of the season. UTM remained composed for the majority of the first half, except for approximately ten minutes towards the start of the game where Conestoga was pressing the UTM defense. However, the women collected themselves and began playing as a unit once again. UTM created many scoring opportunities, with each one better than the previous. Finally, a Conestoga foul outside of the 18-yard box allowed for a UTM free kick where defender, Breana Silva, made a perfect cross into the Conestoga penalty area. Rookie striker, Bobbie Alvernaz, sealed the deal with a header into the bottom right corner. This marked the women’s first goal of the season.
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A photo of the UTM Women’s Varsity Soccer Team. Shortly after this goal, the same foul was made outside of the 18-yard box where Silva once again stepped up to take the kick. Another impec-
cable cross led to an own-goal by a Conestoga player, ending the half 2-0. At halftime, the UTM coaches
decided to change the formation as a way of having numbers up on the attack while also making sure there was enough support at the back. The
second half was a slower game but the UTM defense remained calm and organized as Conestoga began to press more. UTM was still given a few chances but couldn’t seem to find the back of the net. The game ended 2-0. UTM captain, Azza Adhoum, praises her team as she says, “We fought extremely well as a unit. I’m proud that we were able to quickly recognize our weak spots and adjust in order to dominate the rest of the game.” She continues, “We played to our strengths of quick 1-2 passes, overtop balls, and finishing free kicks. That’s what got us our 2-0 victory over Conestoga.” This is UTM’s first win of the season, marking it their second win overall since being introduced into the OCAA. The team is excited and ready for the remainder of the season and hoping to advance to the OCAA provincials. Please note that this article was written by a member of the UTM women’s varsity soccer team.
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Opinions on food Getting fit with aquafit The swimming pool at the RAWC offers Aquafit classes LABINA KHALID
DELANEY ROMBOUGH/THE MEDIUM
Subway is one of the few places that offers vegetarian items. Food continued from page 11 Jyoti Kalsi, a first-year social science student, also agrees with Diaz’s point of view. Kalsi is a vegetarian and feels that UTM needs to provide more vegetarian and vegan options as vegetarians are allowed to consume vegan food items as well. “I usually stick to places that I know have vegetarian options such as Pizza Pizza, Subway and Tim Hortons, but I wish there were more options fully dedicated to serving vegetarian items.” When it comes to items that invoke allergies, Zainab Hassan believes that it can be hard to tell if certain dishes made on a daily basis contain certain items such as nuts or not. “I’m allergic to sesame seeds and tree nuts, so I usually avoid any items containing those ingredients. Sometimes I’m unsure, but I avoid the item anyways because I don’t want to risk it.” Most of the student population at UTM are consumers of halal food. The term ‘halal food’ refers to meat that is slaughtered as per the Islamic law. Many students feel that Halal options are extremely limited on campus
and whatever little options are available, are often marred by issues such as cross-contamination. Last year, a few students overheard a worker at Coleman Commons complaining that his colleague was using the knife for slicing bacon, on other food items as well. Zara Hassan states, “I don’t think making all food on campus halal will hurt anyone. That way, more people will be able to eat from those places.” Hassan also believes that places on campus that serve halal options such as the Blind Duck Pub should have a clear sign that states so. “I don’t like to ask if the food I’m getting is halal out of concern each time.” Based on these student views, it’s clear that UTM has a lot to work on when it comes to on-campus food options. The main ones being the inclusion of food places that take into consideration the different dietary restrictions that students have and maintaining a proper balance between healthy foods and junk foods based on availability and accessibility. Hopefully students will get to see such changes in the next academic year.
UTM offers aquafit fitness classes located in the UTM swimming pool. Aquafit is an aerobics workout in water and is something anyone can do—even people who have never been in a pool before. Gaby Murphy, the instructor, is a second-year student who has been teaching aquafit for two years now. She is a great trainer who gets to work with people who “have never swam in their life” and people who “are always working out upstairs, they love swimming laps, are fit and just want to try something new in water.” An article on Health Bound claims that aquafit “can maintain and improve stamina, strength and suppleness as well as increase cardiovascular fitness.” Aquafit is also a safe workout as it is “low-impact and the cushioning effect of the water protects joints in the spine, ankle, hip and knees.” Various articles, such as ones from Health Bound and Best Health, point out that this workout is for people of all ages and all body types. There are various forms of exercises with varying degrees of difficulty that can be performed, such as touch the back of your opposite ankle behind you or working with floating dumbbells under the
water while your feet are planted on the pool’s floor. These workouts all have a different amount of pressure in them. For instance, working out with floating dumbbells under the water is a lot harder than touching the back of your ankles. The aquafit workout is done in warm water and can be done in both shallow and deep waters, although the exercises for different levels of water will differ from one another. Health Bound highlights several of these workouts: Gentle Shallow Water Aquafit, (Gentle) Warm Water Aquafit, Arthritis Aquafit (Warm (deep) Water), Deep Water Aquafit, and Water Yoga. Gentle shallow water is a “gentle, slower paced workout that focuses on improving range of motion, flexibility and strength.” (Gentle) warm water focuses on “improving range of motion through muscle conditioning, flexibility and strength building exercises.” Arthritis is for people diagnosed with arthritis and its focus is the same as warm water aquafit. Deep water includes cardio and the usage of belts or noodles. Water yoga takes place in shallow water and allows for “the benefits of [regular] yoga and mind-body relaxation.” In addition to different workouts of aquafit, Health Bound provides various benefits for it. The benefits include reduction of chronic pain,
blood pressure, stress (to joints), and risk of re-injury. The water during the exercise provides a support and massage for the body, decreasing tension and stress to muscles and joints. An article on Sports Rec further explores the idea above and highlights that “90 percent of your body weight is buoyant, meaning you’re only bearing about 10 per cent of your actual body weight.” The article defines buoyant as a force that is exerted from the water and this force is exerted upward against your body. Since water is buoyant, it becomes a reason for it to cushion your body, which provides the support and massage. The article on Sports Rec points out more benefits for aquafit: it allows “less used muscles in your body to get a workout, which helps improve overall muscle tone.” Aquafit can also help with weight loss, blood sugar levels, coordination, and endurance. Another way to measure the benefits of aquafit is to notice the fact that it can burn about 750 calories in an hour’s session. Aquafit is a popular and beneficial aerobics workout. It even helps relieve anxiety and helps cool down the body temperature, especially in the summer. Drop by the gym anytime to gather information and definitely have a go at it.
UTM defeats UTSC in exhibition game The UTM men’s varsity basketball team wins first exhibition game against UTSC last Thursday night AMRISH WAGLE
This Thursday, September 20, our UTM Eagles were engulfed in a head to head match with UTM’s very own allies from the other side of the city; UTSC. The match started with booming music to get the energy rolling in the gym and some great tracks from Drake and Travis Scott to really set the bar high for the remainder of the evening. Both teams for men’s varsity basketball competed in the first of three exhibition games at the RAWC Gym A/B. These games constitute the ceremonial preseason games both at home and away to simulate the experience of actual league matches and allow the athletes to test the waters with their competence and skill. This will prepare our Eagles for their first matchup against the Mohawk Mountaineers on October 20. Although the women’s varsity team still has its first exhibition game to attend with the Georgian Grizzlies, last Thursday the fans at the RAWC got a taste of the Eagle spirit and its fresh blood with green recruits taking flight in their first game. The match between UTM and UTSC was a game played with heart. Each player was trying to find his balance on the court with their respec-
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UTM won 87-81 against UTSC. tive teams. The game started with UTM’s, Kyle Boorman, sinking the first basket, which was a lead further maintained consistently for the rest of the period. In fact, the Eagles right off the bat had an intimate chemistry. They played with a rapport noticeable in their communication and passes to move the ball around and even the defense, where the team of five moved as one throughout the
court to keep UTSC facing a tough front to break. With an air tight defense, UTSC scarcely managed to get more than distant shots, whereas UTM dominated the paint receiving wide open shots to score. UTSC on the other hand was slow to acclimate, with a few players being hyperspecialized and taking control of the team. As such, UTM dominated the scoreboard for the first period with a clear
lead. Thus, ended this period with the Eagles ahead 25-12. Taking notice of this, UTSC finally settled down to diffuse the responsibility throughout the team and adapted a clear line of communication. UTM eventually lost their capacity for follow through and had a clearly dismantled offence. While UTM struggled to move their scores significantly, UTSC came in white hot
within the second period and initiated a rally, finishing the period on top at 37-32. One of the clear handles both coaches of UTM and UTSC had was on the lineup changes. They definitely noticed the weak points in each line of five and implemented changes to counterbalance each flaw. UTSC did however stand apart in their players. Several athletes stood out as being motivated enough to carry the game on with sheer skill. By the end of the match, UTSC and UTM had learned to establish a decent defense and as such, both teams had settled down to an equal struggle. This equality was also noticed in the increased amount of interceptions and steals that made quite a few heads turn from the crowd. It’s also worth realizing that although the Eagles had the UTM mascot present as a welcome addition to their moral support, UTSC still had a clear advantage with their cheerleading team propelling the UTSC pride. However, UTM took the game 87-81—a great victory as they near the start to their season. As a whole, this exhibition game was a green light indicating the Eagles have entered the point of no return and set on a wide-open path of the 2018-2019 season of men’s varsity basketball.