Volume 46, Issue 13

January 13, 2020

Read about 7 new provincial policies to expect in 2020

News

THE MEDIUM

The Voice of The University of Toronto Mississauga | themedium.ca

HCC: have our cold cash

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Comment

Human of UTM: Frosty the Snowman

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Satire

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Talking shop with the lead of Legally Blonde

Arts

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Vol 46, No. 13

Research on diet and mental health provides new findings

Sports

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UNDERSTANDING THE AUSTRALIANBUSHFIRES

One billion animals now estimated dead

Features

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New mental health The PS752 plane crash policy committee affects U of T community UTM club leaders make a new committee to Six U of T students were amongst the 176 passengers who died better student mental health at UTM

in tragic plane crash, including UTM student Zeynab Asadi Lari DILJOT BADESHA ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR At least six University of Toronto (U of T) students were on the Boeing 737 plane that crashed in Iran last week.

The Ukraine bound flight abruptly stopped functioning and crashed less than four minutes after taking off from Tehran early Wednesday morning.

All 176 passengers on board, including the U of T students, were killed.

The U of T students, Mojtaba Abbasnezhad, Mohammad Asadi Lari, Zeynab Asadi Lari, Mohammad Amin Beiruti, Mohammad Amin Jebelli, and Mohammad Saleheh, were

passengers on the PS752 flight according to the flight manifest released

by Ukrainian International Airlines.

Shortly after the crash, the Ukrainian embassy in Tehran cited engine failure as the primary cause of the crash on their website, as reported by the Globe and Mail. However, that information was later deleted from the website and all corresponding flights to Tehran were immediately suspended by Ukrainian International Airlines.

The airline provided cheap flights to Tehran, allowing many members of the Iranian Canadian community to reach their homeland amidst the tightening sanctions on Iran in recent years.

On Thursday, the Prime Minister announced to reporters in Ottawa that Canada had received intelligence revealing that an Iranian missile shot down the plane and was responsible for the crash.

The government of Iran announced an official apology on Saturday, saying that its military “unintentionally” shot down the PS752. This comes after Iran repeatedly denied accusations that made them responsible for the tragedy.

The military statement, broadcasted by state media, said the commercial plane was mistaken for a “hostile target” as the military tensions with the United States were high that night.

Plane continued on page 2

MELISSA BARRIENTOS NEWS EDITOR Students created the first studentrun mental health policy committee at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) in response to the recent handcuffing of a UTM student seeking mental health support.

Spearheading the first mental health policy committee at UTM, temporally called the Permanent Mental Health Body (PMHB), is Christina Khokhar, president of the English and Drama Student Society (EDSS), and Graeme Littlemore, president of the Political Science and Pre-Law Association (PSLA).

The committee hopes to have a permanent body of representatives from all 16 of the academic soci-

eties, the Office of the Dean, and university student service organizations who can re-evaluate current U of T policies and introduce new ones. As PMHB continues to grow they will also branch out to student organizations.

“Essentially, what we’re trying to do is get everybody who has a stake in mental health on campus [together],” said Littlemore.

“There’s a lot of different organizations and a lot of different people on campus who are instituting mental health bodies,” continued Littlemore. “There’s clearly a need for it.

We see it in the news every day. And what’s distinct about ours is that we have a focus on the administration itself.”

Policy continued on page 3

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01.13.2020

Editor | Melissa Barrientos

Plane crash leaves UTM community devasted and mourning for lost student Plane continued from page 1 “In such a condition, because of human error and in an unintentional way, the flight was hit,” said the military statement, according to CBC News.

The military statement also declared they will upgrade their systems to avoid such accidents from happening in the future.

U of T President Meric Gertler issued a statement on Wednesday regarding the tragic incident.

“We have learned, with profound sorrow, that several U of T students were among the 176 people killed in the crash of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 in Tehran, Iran,” said Gertler.

“On behalf of the entire University of Toronto community, I want to say how deeply saddened we are, and how concerned we are for the families and friends of those who lost their lives,” continued Gertler. “We are continuing to gather information and taking care to respect the privacy and wishes of all involved.”

Despite the lack of diplomatic ties between Iran and Canada, which has made it more difficult for Canadian officials to travel to Iran and openly investigate the crash, an expert from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada was invited by Iran’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau on Thursday to join the probe into the Ukrainian airliner according to CBC News.

Acting Vice-Principal & Principal of UTM, Ian Orchard, released a statement before noon on Thursday confirming the death of a UTM student in the plane crash.

“It is with great sorrow that I write

JORDAN SANCHEZ/UNSPLASH.COM

A tragic plane crash occurring in Tehran has left the U of T community missing members. to inform you that UTM student, Ms. Zeynab Asadi Lari, was among those included on the flight manifest for Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752,” said Orchard.

According to Mark Overton, the dean of Student Affairs at UTM, Asadi Lari was a well-known student among the UTM community.

“Many members of the UTM community, including students, faculty, and staff knew Zeynab through her involvement across campus and beyond. She promoted well-being as a student wellness ambassador with the Health & Counselling Centre, was active in a number of UTM student organizations, and was interested and heavily involved in science education and research as well,” said Overton.

“Zeynab’s warmth and impact in our UTM campus community will truly be missed,” added Overton.

Zeynab, a fourth-year student

in biology, was set to graduate this spring.

Fiona Rawle, a UTM biology professor, still remembers the first day she met Asadi Lari in a large introductory biology class filled with students. “[S]he came down to the front of the lecture to introduce herself. She stood out from other students in terms of the questions she asked me during office hours. Instead of asking “is this going to be on the exam” she always asked “why?” “Why does it happen this way?” or “what’s the reason for this?” said Rawle.

“This week students have been telling me so many stories about how much Zeynab and her brother [Mohammed] meant to them.”

Her brother, a Ph.D. student studying medicine at U of T, was also killed in the plane crash.

“As a professor, one of our greatest

joys is watching students pursue their goals and dreams, often overcoming incredible challenges to do so,” said Rawle.

“I’m immensely sadden[ed] that Zeynab and Mohammed won’t get the opportunity to pursue their dreams, and that their impact won’t be felt on more people,” continued Rawle.

“Words don’t seem enough at this time to convey how much they will be missed by the students at UTM and the U of T community.”

While pursuing a science degree at UTM, Zeynab Asadi Lari also served as the president of UTM’s STEM Fellowship. The STEM Fellowship is a non-profit organization that encourages the growth of future STEM leaders at several university branches, including UTM, by providing assistance in data science and scholarly writing.

Yasmin Hashi, a second-year student specializing in biology and the

executive vice-president of the club, explained that the club members were still processing the death of Asadi Lari.

“We are in deep sorrow from the unfortunate news and are still processing everything. She impacted the hearts of many, and she will forever be in remembrance. We loved her dearly and sympathies go out to the family and friends,” said Hashi.

“Zeynab was someone who I worked really closely with and was able to see the bright and kind soul she was. She will be remembered [as] an accomplished young leader, mentor, and most importantly a phenomenal friend.”

According to Hashi, the STEM Fellowship at UTM would not have been successful without Zeynab’s character and commitment.

“Zeynab was someone who reminded us about the importance of helping others and is the reason why this branch of Stem Fellowship is here today. She had a mission to help individuals in the community and was passionate with everything she had done,” said Hashi.

Services are available for UTM students who have been affected by the tragedy.

“Students struggling with grief are welcome to contact any of U of T’s health services including UTM’s Health & Counselling Centre for support, or to utilize U of T’s My SSP support service 24/7, at 1-844-4519700 or through the My SSP app,” said Overton.

To celebrate Zeynab’s life, the campus and numerous student organizations are currently working together in planning an event for the week of January 13.

U of T dean of law apologizes to students The U of T dean of law apologizes for using “troubling” Indigenuos stereotypes on an assignment CAITLYN RAJKUMAR-SAHADATH CONTRIBUTOR The dean of University of Toronto (U of T)’s law school sent a mass apology email on December 11 for using “troubling” racial stereotypes of Indigenous people in a hypothetical court child adaptation scenario following first-year students’ objections.

According to an article published

by The Globe and Mail, first-year law students were given an assignment of a hypothetical scenario in which an

Indigenous family placed their children in foster care due to substance misuse and drug addiction, while a non-Indigenous family looked after their children.

The father quit drinking and wanted to maintain a relationship with his children, meanwhile the foster family, who took care of the children for two years, was prepared to adopt the children.

This scenario deeply troubled many students who projected that the case was prejudiced and stereotypical. With this news, U of T’s law

school dean, Edward Iacobucci, sent out an apology to all first-year law students for the “offence this assignment has understandably caused.”

The assignment continues to be up for the course but it is now given as an extra credit opportunity to submit.

The main concern of some students was the use of stereotypical language that impacts Indigenous peoples across Canada, especially the First Nations and Métis students pursuing a law degree at U of T who were directly influenced by the case

assignment.

“I don’t think that the assignment itself is offensive, but I do believe the professor should have provided more context around it in order to explain why they are offering this hypothetical scenario,” said Hannah Chafe, a fourth-year English specialist minoring in art history at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM).

“They should have prefaced the assignment with background information about systemic prejudice against Indigenous peoples and the overrepresentation of Indigenous children

in the foster care system as a result of colonialism,” Chafe continued.

The Globe and Mail article does not indicate that such background information was given to the firstyear students. Chafe proposed that some of the strong and upsetting reactions by students might have been alleviated if it were.

In addition to the high number of Indigenous children in the child welfare system, Indigenous youth and adults are also overrepresented in the Canadian justice system.

Apology continued on page 4

01.13.2020 THE MEDIUM NEWS

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Permanent Mental Health Body: a new club Policy continued from page 1

JULIA HEALY/THE MEDIUM

Students of UTM are taking action during a mental health crisis.

PMHB is currently reaching out to organizations concerned with the mental health system on campus including campus police, the Equity & Diversity Office, the Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre, the Health & Counselling Centre (HCC), and various academic departments, including Political Science, English, and Historical Studies, in order to foster diverse and impactful discussions.

The committee is particularly looking to spark discussions on a revised training for campus police, working in conjunction with Dr. Bains to ban the act of handcuffing students with mental health concerns, and advocate for more mental health resources like the hiring of more mental health counsellors at the Health and Counselling Centre (HCC) on campus. The creation of the PMHB comes after the third student suicide in

the Bahen Center for Information Technology at the St. George campus back in September and the handcuffing of a UTM student at the HCC for seeking mental health support in October.

The latter incident involved Natalia Espinosa, a third-year anthropology student, who was experiencing suicidal ideation. She visited the HCC to get help and was consequently handcuffed by campus police and transferred to the Credit Valley Hospital.

Khokhar also expressed how silenced UTM students feel and how communication within the university’s internal organizations with students is needed to understand students’ mental health concerns.

“Through the act of petitioning, we’ve already come across so many stories. And it’s crazy because people are genuinely just silent but as soon as the opportunity comes up to talk about it, they’re more than willing to offer their story,” said

Khokhar.

She stressed that the first step of any reparative action is to ask the UTM community directly what can be done to better their mental health and university experience.

“It shows just how isolating the campus can be at times when students feel that nobody wants to know what’s happening [with them] and so they don’t share,” continued Khokhar. “But the first thing to do is to start asking, ‘what can we do?’

‘What are you going through?’ And that’s the first step.”

“The overreaching goal of this is responsibility,” explained Khokhar.

PMHD believe that just as the community is responsible for each of its members, the university is responsible for its students.

“We want the students to be accountable to each other, and we want the administration to understand its role and importance in all of our lives,” said Khokhar.

Seven new Ontario laws to look out for in 2020 From minimum wage to out-of-country health care coverage, the new year brings new policy change SALEHA FARUQUE DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR Starting the new decade means anticipating a slew of updated laws for Canadians across the country. These new laws, announced through a series of acts and amendments, will address some big but familiar issues this year.

For Ontario, this includes rules around cannabis regulation, sustainable living, minimum wage rates, animal rights and more. 2019 already proved a milestone year that marked the legalization of cannabis, a carbon tax hike, and not to mention harsher driving penalties.

Last year was an eventful period in Canadian politics, which began with the Prime Minister’s SNC Lavalin scandal and ended with the resignation of Andrew Scheer as leader of the Conservative Party. The 2019 Federal election had also produced numerous headlines that captivated Canadians during the highly reported race to the polls.

While there are new regulations affecting residents in most provinces, people living and working in Ontario should keep in mind some key changes coming to the province: Smoking, vaping, and cannabis The 2017 Smoke-Free Ontario Act came into effect to protect harmful exposure of second-hand smoke within enclosed spaces such as workplaces, university and college campuses, and all public enclosed places.

The Act also makes it harder for young people to purchase tobacco products, limiting smoking in many outdoor public places. By the end of 2018, the province banned smoking cannabis and vaping in places where smoking is prohibited.

More recently, Ontario announced regulations against the promotion of

vaping products inside gas stations and convenience stores in the fall.

Vaping ads have been pulled from Ontario convenience stores and gas stations, effective on January 1, 2020.

Now, vape product promotion is only permitted in specialty vape and cannabis retail stores, open to people 19 years or older.

At the end of 2019, Ontario legalized the purchase of edibles.

Minimum wage The Ontario government has halted the minimum wage increase

or provincial law. Through this law, Canada has become the first jurisdiction globally requiring that public corporations report the diversity of some key staff.

The Act requires federally incorporated corporations to share information with shareholders on their policies related to the diversity of their senior management board of directors. This includes the number and percentage of Indigenous board members, women, visible minorities, and persons with disabilities.

half a million for first-time offences, and upwards of $1 million the second time.

This new act means Ontario now has the strongest punishment and highest fines against people who violate animal welfare laws.

Currently, animal activists in 2020 can also face harsher penalties if trespassing on private farms or interfering with the transportation of animals.

Simpler phone contracts Ten of Canada’s largest internet

IRTAQA ARIF/THE MEDIUM

New regulations have been announced surrounding smoking, and cuts have been made to OHIP. to $15, as legislated by the previous Liberal government’s labour reform plans.

Initially, the minimum wage increase from $11.60 to $14.00 hit businesses hard. This prompted the current government to implement tax break measures.

Through the Ontario Open for Business Act, the current $14 minimum wage will instead be adjusted to the rate of inflation.

Workplace diversity goes beyond gender The Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) regulates Canadian business corporations under federal

Experts believe that Canada is the first jurisdiction worldwide which has mandated a diversity disclosure containing specific personal characteristics other than gender.

Animal abuse Through the Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Act, the province will enforce stricter penalties for animal abuse. The January 2020 law combats activities like neglect and dogfighting through new expanded measures.

Potential animal abuse fines in Ontario include up to two years in jail and $130,000 for first-time offenders. Corporations would face fines of

service providers must abide by new rules surrounding customer-friendly contracts, clear pricing, and policies.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is the public agency that regulates broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada. The agency is also responsible for regulating telecommunications carriers, like Bell and Rogers.

Internet service providers will be required to abide by the CRTC code of conduct by January 31. This includes making internet and phone contracts, policies, and pricing easier to understand.

The rule also allows customers to cancel their internet contract within 45 days without accumulating cancellation fees.

Carbon and corporate taxes Residents in Ontario are now eligible for carbon tax rebates, which must be claimed through 2019 income taxes. A single adult or first adult in a couple will get $224 back in rebates. For a family of four, the baseline amount is $448.

Small businesses in Ontario will save approximately $1,500 annually after a recent tax reduction for this entity. To encourage entrepreneurs starting businesses in the province, the government has also reduced corporate income tax by 8.7 per cent for small businesses.

Health care while travelling Students and staff who rely on travel insurance, or those wishing to purchase travel insurance, should review OHIP’s 2020 cuts to its travel insurance coverage.

The People’s Health Care Act, or Bill 74, was passed in February 2019 to create a patient-centric integrated public health care delivery system.

Under the bill, OHIP has limited out-of-country health care coverage for emergencies. This can include up to $400 per day for emergency inpatient services, and $50 per day for emergency outpatient services.

These cuts apply to Ontarians travelling outside of Canada. The overall impact of these cuts would heavily depend on the travelling country. For example, $400 per day emergency coverage would not be helpful in the United States, where hospital stay costs range in the thousands.

For more information, you can go to the government of Ontario’s newsroom where new laws and amendments for 2020 are listed.

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THE MEDIUM 01.13.2020

Law students protest stereo-

MN wins award

types used in case assignment

The MN building wins award for its architecture

Apology continued from page 2 According to a 2017-18 report created by Statistics Canada, Aboriginal adult males account for nearly 30 per cent of provincial and territorial incarcerations, while Aboriginal adult women account for over 40 per cent.

“They are completely overrepresented in correctional statistics while they only account for about four percent of Canada’s total population,” said Samantha Ramgarib, a third-year sociology specialist.

“There is a direct disparity in these numbers and the government should take responsibility for placing this group under such conditions.”

“There needs to be a greater focus

on rehabilitation instead of punishment for Indigenous groups,” continued Ramgarib. “The federal government should provide them with better resources.”

A fourth-year political science and English major, who would like to remain anonymous, stated that the article was “pretty difficult and I understand why the case was shown and why it was found offensive.”

They further commented that despite this being a sensitive topic, “it should be learned in school because, ultimately, these kinds of difficult family situations are commonplace within the legal system.”

Ramgarib added that the hypothetical case assignment “primes first-years to think about the [unjust

nature] of the justice system.”

“Hypothetical scenarios or not, the TRC [Truth and Reconciliation Commission] should always be consulted when it comes to anything Indigenous,” commented Chafe, “and this situation [exemplifies] the power that students have when it comes to their education.”

“If students feel uncomfortable, this should not be overlooked,” Ramgarib noted. “There should be a support system in place to ensure students are understood and heard, and that term work is not aimed at perpetuating longstanding stereotypes but are at the same time understanding of the very real consequences of colonialism.”

QSS to determine new budgets The QSS reviews changes to mandatory incidental fees

JULIA HEALY/THE MEDIUM

HCC proposes an increased budget for mental health services.

ISIK VERA SENEL ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

The Quality Services to Students (QSS) committee met on December 11, 2019 to review operational highlights and budget reports for the current academic year and the proposals for 2020-2021.

The Health and Counselling Centre (HCC) was the first department to present its management and budget report.

“Mental health is obviously at the top of everybody’s mind,” said HCC medical director Erin Kraftcheck.

Across all the services offered by the HCC, there has been an increase for mental health support. Forty per cent of all appointments made through the clinic are related to mental health.

“This is up from 35 per cent last year and 25 per cent [from] the year before that,” explained Kraftcheck.

“I just wanted to highlight that one of the specific requests by students was for increased access to personal counseling, as well as greater access to our services and supports outside of the physical clinic location,” continued Kraftcheck.

“And so, what we were able to do through the process is hire a full-time counselor, who we have located over in [Maanjiwe Nendamowinan] and it’s offered as an option to all students who contact the Health and Counseling Centre based on availability.”

The HCC is proposing a 16.5 per cent increase in mandatory student service fees for the 2020-2021

academic year ($8.37 per semester, $16.74 per year), setting the annual student fee for full-time students at $117.88.

This is a significant increase, especially when compared to the proposals of the other departments, which mostly presented fee increases ranging from zero to five per cent.

“Our main focus in the proposal for 2021 is to add two additional fulltime counselors to the Health and Counselling Centre, and we’d like to continue the support of our outreach and educational promotional efforts,” said Kraftcheck.

This focus is projected onto the budget proposal as a $368,535 increase in salary, wages, and benefit expenditures, while the budgeting for programs and outreach remains the same as 2019-2020, which has decreased by $3,175 since the 20182019 academic year.

The priorities of the Department of Recreation, Athletics, and Wellness Centre (RAWC) for the next year will focus on continuing their existing initiatives.

“This includes a continuous review of programming activities and the facility in an effort to provide varied opportunities of physical activity,” said Sonia Borg, director of RAWC’s Finance and Operations.

“The great news is that since the department has grown we will also be in a position to hire additional staff to support things like the summer camps, aquatics certification courses that will be offered regularly, and we’ll be adding to our communications and programming staff to support

our sport and outreach activities,” continued Borg.

Borg adds that the RAWC budget “includes increasing salaries for our staff as provided in the collective agreements.”

The athletics department is also proposing a one per cent increase in mandatory student service fees for the upcoming academic year ($2.04 per semester, $4.08 per year), amounting to an annual payment of $411.76 for full-time students.

The Career Centre has also increased its available services and offerings in the past few years.

According to Career Centre director Felicity Morgan, in the 2018-2019 academic year 10,985 students took part in services provided by the centre. This number however does not include participants of events where student identification wasn’t required, suggesting that the number of students using the centre’s services is much higher than recorded.

The Career Centre’s focus for the next year revolves around advisory group discussions and student feedback.

“There was a great discussion about how to make things as clear as possible,” said Morgan. “So, we’ll work on highlighting and enhancing our step by step materials on the Career Centre website, like how exactly do you do the thing that we’re telling you to do?”

For the 2020-2021 academic year, the Career Centre is proposing an increase of over four per cent ($3.17 per semester, $6.34 per year), which equates to $149.40 for full-time students.

The Student Life Initiatives within the Centre for Student Engagement proposed an increase of five percent, while both the International Education Centre and the Family Care Office anticipate no change to their student services fees for the upcoming year.

The committee will be voting on the budget reports in the next QSS committee meeting on January 15.

FARISHTEH KHAN CONTRIBUTOR The Maanjiwe Nendamowinan (MN) building at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) campus has been awarded the 2019 Global Excellence Award by the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) for its exceptional architecture.

The building, designed by the Toronto-based firm Perkins and Will, was announced the winner in the education category on December 4, 2019. It was touted for incorporating originality and creativity, a product of the firm’s efforts to portray the building as “always active, never empty.”

UTM students share their thoughts on the MN building and how it feels to meet and study at MN’s available study spaces.

“What I love about it is that there are so many spots available to hang out and chill,” said Yashi Rawat, a second-year life sciences student at UTM. She happily told The Medium that MN is her favourite building.

“The classrooms are nicely set up, so any class that I have automatically becomes my favourite,” continued Rawat. “Also, the view from the top floor is amazing!”

Facundo Camano, a first-year aspiring mathematician, comments on how the architecture of the MN building itself is interesting to look at.

“It’s a nice atmosphere. You can see out, you can see all the architecture.

It’s like the focal point. I’d say this [building] is my favourite,” said Camano.

For others, the MN building brings up feelings of melancholy and memories of their time at UTM. Melanie Banerjee, a fourth-year life sciences student, told The Medium, “I’ve seen MN being built since I started at UTM. It was always fascinating to wonder if I’d be able to ac-

January 6,2020.

Theft.

A student reported the theft of their wallet from OPH Colman Commons..

January 7, 2020.

Theft.

A student reported the theft of their bag from an insecure locker in the RAWC change room.

cess it by the time I graduated.”

Rawat added that “it just brings memories of being a first year, since it was finished being built in the same year I started going to UTM.” Alice has been working at the MN café since its opening and at UTM for five years. She appreciates the more relaxed pace here, as opposed to the traffic of IB. “This is a good building. It’s recently been renovated, [and] it’s a convenient place for students to buy coffee, doughnuts, and muffins in the morning,” said Alice.

Tammy Cook, the executive director of Facilities Management and Planning, weighed in on MN’s much-deserved win. “The Maanjiwe Nendamowinan building is a beautiful building that is sustainable. [It] contains beautiful atrium spaces with floating staircases and maximizes daylight harvesting, enhancing the user experience with excellent health and wellness features.”

MN is a LEED-potential building with green roofs, rainwater harvesting, a very efficient HVAC system, as well as LED lighting and occupancy sensors throughout. It is also equipped with numerous state-ofthe-art Active Learning Classrooms and a large central event space with a “learning landscape” that can be opened or closed off on a need basis by moving wood partition doors.

The MN building is one of a handful of architectural projects to be awarded The IIDA Global Excellence Award, which spans across 15 categories. Among other 2019 winners are the ReFuture Clinic in Kiev, Ukraine in the healthcare category, and the Cloud of Luster in Himeji, Japan in the institutional category.

Winners will be honoured at an awards ceremony in Paris on January 18.

January 7, 2020.

Suspicious Incident.

A staff member reported an aggressive driver on campus..

January 8, 2020.

Police Assistance.

Campus Police attended the Davis building for a student experiencing medical distress. The student was escorted to the Health and Counselling Centre.

These reports are those that have been released to The Medium from Campus Police and do not necessarily constitute an exhaustive list.

Students can contact the UTM Campus Police at 905 828 5200, Peel Regional Police at 905-453-3311, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

01.13.2020

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ASSOCIATES News: Harris Watkins, Isik Vera Senel, Diljot Badesha Satire: -A&E: Shalomi Ranasinghe Features: Latisha Lobban, Bismah Rizvi Sports: Noor Bhatia Photo: Hayden Mak, Kellsy Ann Meneses, Nour Saqqa, Irtaqa Arif

Editorial

Paying for the HCC On December 11, after classes had ended, the Quality Services to Students (QSS) committee met to discuss increases for various incidental fees. The most pressing of these was the Health and Counselling Centre’s (HCC) proposed increase of 16.5 per cent. This would increase the annual fee for full-time students to $117.88.

The HCC’s medical director Erin Kraftcheck told the committee that students are asking for increased access to the centre’s services and personal counselling. According to Kraftcheck, 40 per cent of all appointments made through the HCC are related to mental health.

This increase comes after students complained last semester about the long wait times and lack of access to services. The HCC will be using the fee increase to hire two additional full-time counsellors in the new year.

Students should be able to get the help they need to cope with their mental health issues, but the HCC is a short-term solution to a long-term problem.

According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), on average it takes 15-20 therapy sessions for patients to recover properly. The current health plan at UTM only covers five counselling sessions per student for the entire year.

Students are demanding for better mental health support, but the university is not a hospital, and it shouldn’t be one. If students put pressure on the HCC to expand, students will be the ones footing the bill.

Although the need for mental health support is increasing every year, the HCC should remain focused on offering short-term based solution and leaving the long-term solutions to external organizations.

Additionally, the UTMSU health plan that all students must pay for covers services from LinkMentalHealth. The website connects students to therapists that best fit their needs with little to no wait time. More importantly, students’ insurance covers $125 per appointment, which covers around 20 sessions in total, 15 more than the HCC will provide.

The university is already ill-equipped in handling mental health concerns, and throwing more money at the problem won’t necessarily fix it.

Students already pay around $870 per semester for services — basically a third of a full-time student’s yearly tuition. How much higher are we willing to let it go?

DISAGREE WITH SOMETHING? LETTERS POLICY

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Raising the bar on municipal government People need to stop mistaking provincial government for municipal government TOMASZ GLOD STAFF WRITER I have noticed that when speaking about politics, there tends to be a level of government that is easily overlooked. Municipal governments – and by extension municipal issues – are often cast to the sidelines, with their value and importance being presented as subordinate to the ongoings of the two larger levels of government. Municipal governments are sometimes praised as ones that have the most direct line to the people that they represent, since they address some of the most regular issues that citizens have.

From basic concerns about the quality of the water coming out of your tap, to your concerns surrounding public transportation and affordable housing, these issues, although typically shrouded with a veil of mundaneness, play a vital part in the daily operations of our communities.

As a result, regional and city councillors have a significant role to play in how you get to school, the quality of water that you drink, and when you throw out your trash. But if these issues are seemingly important, why does nobody care about municipal politics?

The issues present within regional and municipal governments tend not to be associated with as much pomp as provincial and federal issues, such education or immigration. But furthermore, at least within Ontario, municipal and regional politics tend to be dominated by the same politicians as it is incredibly difficult for a newcomer to defeat an incumbent.

By virtue of not being associated with any political parties, all candidates in municipal and regional elections run

as independents. The lack of party influence within these governments has its benefits, but inversely, they create a sense of voter apathy. Without the money and history that political parties often bring to elections, voters turn away from municipal elections – they’re simply less interesting.

This however creates issues. When people are not paying attention to important topics or issues, two things occur: Firstly, the general public loses interest and devalues the role of municipal politicians and their responsibilities. Secondly, people who still see the value of these positions will continue to operate, unsupervised. This loss of interest, which removes the court of public opinion away from these politicians, can create a general problem rooted in misconception and misinformation. If the public is uninterested in municipal issues, and are unable to identify their own councillor, would it be fair to expect them to hold their representatives accountable?

Running in the most recent municipal election as a school trustee, I was approached by a potential voter.

The gentlemen were intrigued by my youthfulness and inquired about the political party that I was running with. I informed him that municipal elections, as trustee ones are nonpartisan. He wanted to get to know my platform, so I eagerly handed him a leaflet. Before I could jump prerehearsed 30-second spiel, he asked, “What are your thoughts about admitting more immigrants? What about welfare? Abortion?”

I was annoyed. But more importantly, I was concerned. Here was a full-grown man asking me about issues that, although important to him, had nothing to do with the position I

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The Mayor of Mississauga, Bonnie Crombie, was in attendance at the opening of the MN building. was running for or any other municipal position. He didn’t want to know the ways that municipal governments were working to construct affordable housing, he wanted to hear about the reduction of refugees. Due to the fact that people were unaware of what municipal roles and responsibilities pertained to, they can easily be misled. Being uneducated and unaware about basic politics makes peoples susceptible to misinformation and this creates an opportunity for people to exploit these ill-informed peoples for their own personal gain.

Specifically, some misinformation that was being perpetuated during the 2018 municipal was rooted in individuals like Kevin J. Johnston who ran for Mayor of Mississauga (and managed to secure 16,079 votes – or 13.49% of the vote). This is the same

man who in 2015 distributed flyers in the neighbouring area of a proposed site for a mosque that dawned the headline “Stop the Mosque” and citied potential concerns such as ‘an increase in vandalism, a loss of freedom of speech and an increase in the number of sexual assaults.’ Just in 2019, he was ordered to pay $2.5 million in damages to the owner of Paramount Fine Foods for defamation, with the judge citing that Johnston’s rhetoric amounted to hate speech and called for strong condemnation from the courts. The ability for Johnston to taint the role of Mayor – even just by running for the position – is indicative of the fact that there were not enough people paying attention to the election and the issues that existed.

To be aware of political happenings

is an individual concern and responsibility – but this is not to neglect the onus that representatives and candidates have to ensure that their constituents are properly informed about their roles, duties, and how (or if) they are living up to them. Familiarize yourself with who your local representatives are and their track records –maybe even contact them.

You might be surprised how easy (or difficult) it is to get a hold of them.

If people cared about municipal politics and genuinely concerned themselves with local issues it would encourage others to run and implement meaningful and positive change. The bar surrounding the expectations within municipal politics will only be raised as high as the citizens set it. Currently, that bar is extremely low.

Dealing with depression: It’s time for the right support MEHRSHAD BABAEI STAFF WRITER This is the third and final part in a series on mental health.

In 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported depression as the leading cause of illness and disability worldwide. Currently, many experiencing depression do not get the treatment needed to lead healthy and productive lives due to a lack of support, as well as a fear of facing the stigma associated with having mental health problems. It’s time to provide the right support to those we care about and reduce the present stigma around these issues. However, it can be hard to know what to say or do to support someone experiencing depression. So, what entails providing the right support?

It’s time for us to just listen.

It’s tough to see someone we care about struggle with depression, and the desire to want to make things better can be strong. But now is not the time to give advice, lighten the mood by cracking jokes, or trying to solve their problems. A person experiencing depression doesn’t want to feel like someone is fixing them.

Author Stephen Covey noted that most people don’t listen with the in-

tent to understand — they listen with the intent to reply. Listening to understand means genuinely trying to get a sense of what that person is going through and letting them know that you are there for them. Open-ended questions are ones to use in these conversations, experts say.

“What can I do to help you feel better?”

With that, however, individuals often need time to sort out how they are feeling and aren’t exactly ready to talk, and it’s important to avoid forcing them to engage. Instead, we should offer to give them space and check in later. When they are ready to share what’s happening with themselves, we must keep in mind that this means having many conversations as opposed to just a talk; and this is where we can be persistent and express concern and willingness to listen — that is, listen to understand — repeatedly.

“You don’t seem like yourself lately.

Is everything okay?”

It’s time to recognize that depression is much more than feeling sad.

As discussed previously, depression is not something someone can just choose to snap out of. It can’t be stressed enough that depression does not mean character weakness, bad attitude, or laziness—depression is

a disorder. The causes and presentation of depression are unique to different individuals. It’s time to actively inquire and learn about depression in better understanding what our loved ones are going through. Our biggest responsibility in this endeavour is avoiding judgements, shaming, or blaming them for what they are experiencing.

It’s time to encourage the person to get help.

While very serious and indeed able to worsen over time without treatment, depression is a treatable disorder with a high success rate for those who do seek help. In encouraging our loved ones, professionals recommend sharing what we have noticed about their mood and behaviour, and why we are concerned — here we can explain what we have learned about the symptoms of depression and consequent negative impacts. This is where we can suggest a check-up with a family physician to rule out any medical factors contributing to the depression, as well as help make a list of questions to ask and symptoms they’re experiencing, and even offer to go to the appointment with them.

It is also important to encourage a meeting with a mental health professional, either in the community or

online. This may often be daunting, and offering to help find these services may ease the process. For many, it may not be financially feasible to speak with a counsellor, in which case online resources such as DepressionsHurts.ca could be extremely helpful.

While supporting our friends or family members who are struggling, it can place a great deal of pressure on us if we feel we are alone. This is where we need to identify a support network and come together as a community in dealing with mental health and depression.

And we mustn’t forget about ourselves. Supporting someone with depression can certainly be overwhelming; factors like the severity of the depression, accessibility to treatment and other means of support, or even living with the individual can intensify the supporting experience.

One cannot be a source of support if burned out. And so, knowing limits and setting boundaries around what we are willing and not willing to do is an integral part of the supporting process.

Lastly, it’s time to learn about the warning signs for suicide.

With a suicide epidemic on the rise, it is important to take the warning signs seriously. Three main cate-

gories of warning signs to look out for have been identified as the following: Talking: Whether about death, suicide, harming oneself, expressing hopelessness and no reason to live, or feeling like a burden.

Behaviour: Increased use or misuse of alcohol or drugs, no longer taking care of oneself or following medical advice, withdrawing from activities once enjoyed, isolation from friends and family, sleeping too much or too little, giving away valuable possessions, and calling or visiting people to say goodbye.

Mood: Loss of interest in people and activities, anxiety, irritability, shame or humiliation, mood swings.

These warning signs must not be ignored, and connecting with someone that truly cares for them can mean the difference for an individual during these vulnerable times.

Research shows that talking about suicide does not increase the chance of someone killing themselves, so there is no worry in raising the topic of suicide.

The right support is letting our loved ones know they are not alone, that we care about them and will be there for them, and to give them space if they need it.

It’s time to be there.

01.13.2020 THE MEDIUM COMMENT» 7

Feeling numb while watching the news?

It might be compassion fatigue Compassion Fatigue is a real condition and it needs a real solution AYA YAFAOUI STAFF WRITER The new decade roared into existence earlier this month, with a news cycle dominated by the fear of another world war, an entire continent burning, and a whole host of problems inherited from last year. In a sad way, it has almost become a habit to anticipate bad news and atrocity every day as we consume the news and engage with the wider world.

Political instability, war, humanitarian crises, oppression, and climate change are all horrible realities that we, as the consumers of news, have to deal with. To make matters worse, it has also become overwhelmingly hard to watch the news on a daily basis, and even harder to find a reaction to it.

This numbness and inability to connect to all the tragedies of the world is an experience all too common. Clinically, it is called compassion fatigue and was often seen in professions that were consistently exposed to trauma and suffering, such as health professionals, first-aid responders, and caregivers. Today, in the world of a 24-hour news cycle and constant social media presence, everyday people are experiencing the symptoms of compassion fatigue.

So, what is compassion fatigue?

The condition is defined by Psychologist Charles Figley as, “a state of exhaustion and dysfunction, biologically, physiologically and emotionally,

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Compassion fatigue can come from things like always being your friend’s shoulder to cry on. as a result of prolonged exposure to compassion stress.” Symptoms include emotional, physical, and behavioural changes such as numbness, hopelessness, feeling lost, exhaustion, increased anxiety, depression, loss of objectivity and more. Compassion fatigue, however, is not just caused by the constant exposure to traumatic or stressful situations, but rather our compassion to want to help those affected and our inability to solve the problem. Thus, compassion fatigue is, paradoxically, caused by our own compassion.

Now, although compassion fatigue is a new term, the worries around it and its effects have persisted for a long time and various strategies have been

suggested to address the condition, from personalizing tragedy, to maintaining outrage, to taking breaks from the news and social media. Sometimes these strategies might work, but none of the strategies listed above are sustainably effective. Personalizing tragedies only works for certain types of tragedies, ones that are singular in nature. As Elisa Gabbert from The Guardian put it, “if we read up on the victims of every mass shooting, won’t the hundreds of details begin to blur together?” Several crises will feel like they’ve become one giant crisis that has countless victims, and as such will only deepen compassion fatigue.

Outrage is also a short-term solution, since anger is often short-lived and

demoralizing to maintain. Social media and news breaks are important for general mental health, but it is ineffective if the minute you log back on you are bombarded by the same horrific tragedies.

None of these strategies address the true issue with compassion fatigue: that our compassion and empathy are being spent on issues that we have little control or influence over, and thus we are draining ourselves over problems that we cannot make better.

This sad reality of compassion fatigue does sound harsh, and it could be easily used as an excuse to turn away from the world’s suffering. However, that is not at all the world that I am suggesting we create. No, I would

still urge people to be informed of the tragedies and problems in the world, to engage and donate, and to raise awareness on important issues because there is a need for it.

Yet, as you engage with the ills of the world, remember that these big problems require even bigger solutions—often ones that are slow, difficult, and that need massive public will to succeed—and that while your small contribution is important, it will not have a ton of impact. That is why it is so important to prioritize and work on local issues, issues one can directly affect and solve.

Instead of striving to solve world hunger, try focusing on contributing and helping the UTM food bank.

These local problems that we can directly impact and solve can leave us feeling more hopeful and capable of affecting change. Therefore, the true solution to compassion fatigue is being able to manage our compassion and redirect our energy into solving problems that we have the most impact on.

Compassion fatigue is a natural human self-preservation mechanism that serves to keep us from being driven to madness by the cruelty of the world. It is also a by-product of our own human limits and capacity.

We are only afforded a finite amount of energy, so I implore everyone to use that energy in ways that can leave a lasting impact, for your own wellbeing and the world’s.

Why I read the news but no longer watch the news Reading the news promotes critical thinking and deeper understanding CHRISTOPHER ADANTY CONTRIBUTOR For the past two years, I have not watched television news. Yes, that’s right. In the fall of 2017, I made a conscious decision to stop watching television news. I have totally (and happily, I might add) substituted television news with newspaper media. Eliminating television news has improved my life and is something I highly recommend to all of my friends and family.

As a former TV news junkie, my new found love for newspapers has come as a shock to my family and friends. At my peak, I was watching two to three hours of TV news every day. From a young age, I’ve always enjoyed being informed of events taking place both domestically and internationally. I’ve always been fascinated by the idea that although you may not be physically present, you can still know and have an understanding about events taking place anywhere around the world.

Two years ago, in an effort to expand my sources of information beyond TV news, I began reading The Wall Street Journal and The National Post every day. I can now say with confidence that after two years of religiously reading newspapers, I

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TV news goes for sensationalism in short spurts, while newspapers have more room for depth. will never watch TV news again.

In my opinion, TV news’ greatest shortfalls lie in its poor quality and heavy tilt towards sensationalism.

The time constraints placed on TV news programs are the most likely culprits for why TV news is being driven into the ground. With tight time limits, TV news stories normally have shallow depth and only

offer the bare minimum facts. Even worse, when expert guests are invited to provide analysis they are often interrupted by the host trying to squeeze in as many questions within the short time limit. This archaic form of interviewing is extraordinarily inferior to long form talk shows like podcasts (which have seen an exponential rise in popular-

ity in recent years).

I, for one, find that newspaper articles provide more coverage and depth for each story covered. Moreover, when the author of an article provides an opinion, it is obligatory that they provide further background information and analysis to flesh out their arguments. I certainly walk away with more knowledge

and understanding of a particular situation or event after reading a newspaper article than a one-minute news segment.

Finally, the most important reason why I have permanently ditched TV news for newspapers is the ever present sensationalism that dominates TV news. With TV news’ continuing spiral into oblivion, they now solely rely on shock-value to attract or maintain viewership.

I could no longer stand TV news’ deliberate and obvious attempts to rile me up with anger and resentment. I believe my mental health was suffering because of it. I don’t think I’m only speaking for myself when I say I was often restless, anxious, and frustrated after watching the news. However, in comparison with TV news, my emotions are always stable when I read newspaper articles. I believe that reading the news demands one be more analytical than emotional as the information is presented.

No matter how you consume the news, I recommend that you seriously give newspapers a try—in comparison with TV news, it drastically offers more information, depth, and analysis with a palatable degree of sensationalism.

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01.13.2020

Editor | Erin Delaney

SATIRE

“New Year, New Me,” says exact same student from last semester ERIN DELANEY SATIRE EDITOR For some, the dawn of a new decade and a new year often incites an urge to change, and at the University of Toronto Mississauga students across campus are flaunting their new commitments to themselves.

For those focusing on improving their academics, the start of a new semester is the perfect time to become the star student of your dreams. One second-year student told The Medium, “Last semester, I had so much trouble finding the motivation to go to class. It was impossible to go more than a week without skipping at least once. But this is a new year, and a new semester. This week, I went to every single class. Sure, the tutorials don’t start till next week, and I just scrolled through reddit during all my lectures, but still. New me.”

The Medium also spoke to secondyear visual culture major, Cynthia Smith, “I absolutely hate talking in my classes, but after looking at my

participation grades from last semester, I knew I had to make more of an effort to speak up in my tutorials. So today, I raised my hand high, and confidently told the TA that the PowerPoint wasn’t appearing on the projector. It was exhilarating. 4.0 here I come!”

New year’s resolutions involving fitness are often the most popular, with the RAWC and Athletic facilities seeing a large increase in gym-goers.

One gym patron waiting to use a squat machine told The Medium, “My new year’s resolution was to go to the gym five times a week. Before the new year, I had maybe gone five times in the past three years. But now, it’s like I live here. It helps since I’m technically homeless, but still.”

The Medium caught up with another gym-goer while she was lingering on the upper-level running track.

“My resolution is to find a boyfriend.

It’s been my resolution for several years, but I’m taking it up a notch in 2020. This running track gives me the perfect view of the dudes lifting

weights and the dudes working on their assignments in the lobby. I’m a simple girl. I like brains and brawn.”

When questioned as to whether she had any goals on self-improvement, she asked, “Why would I need to improve myself?”

Resolutions involving personal health are also popular. In one of the designated smoking areas, Pete Myer, a third-year computer science major told The Medium of his recent resolutions. “In 2019, my goal was to stop smoking cigarettes, so I started Juuling. I thought it was the safer alternative. Now all I see are news reports about vaping illnesses, so my 2020 resolution is to quit vaping and go back to cigarettes. They would never hurt me.”

Another smoker also chimed in, “Last year, I smoked way too much weed. I always had the munchies, so I’d binge. I’d just lay on my couch all day playing video games. In 2020, I plan on becoming an alcoholic. It’s much more social. I’m trying to come out of my shell.”

Human of UTM: Snowman

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This snowman is fitting right in with the cold students at UTM, and is pursuing political science.

ERIN DELANEY SATIRE EDITOR “I’m constantly told I’m too cold, but people don’t know what it’s like to be me. My parents were frigid and unloving. I’ve never felt the warm embrace of a loved one.

I’d try to hug my parents, but they would never bend their arms to reciprocate. I’ve spent my whole life dealing with rude comments based in snow-ism. My childhood was

spent being called “Frosty,” despite the fact that I’ve never worn a top hat. It’s not my religion. It’s gotten worse again recently. I can’t even roll down the street without someone pointing at me and saying “Olaf.” They need to Let It Go. Luckily, I fit in here at UTM. Everyone is just as cold as me. I just wish I could find a girlfriend. Every snow party has too many snow balls for me, y’know. When was the last time you saw a snow woman? With

global warming and all that, all the hot chicks are melting quicker than my pet ice cube. Sometimes it feels like I was born in the wrong generation. Oh, to be a snowman in the ice age. They lived like kings. Anyway, my time is very limited. Who needs to be suicidal when there’s climate change? I’ll be a puddle by the time I graduate, so there’s no real purpose to my degree. It’s why I’m a political science major.”

CCT floors shined with student tears

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The tears of the students of UTM are cleaning our floors.

ERIN DELANEY SATIRE EDITOR The University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) has recently introduced a new initiative to ensure a safe and clean campus for all students.

“We are proud to be able to introduce this new eco-friendly initiative,” a spokesperson from the Custodial Department told The Medium. “The floors in high-traffic areas like Davis, CCIT, and IB are extremely susceptible to dirt and damage from dirty shoes that bring in snow and slush from outside. Our previous cleaning methods relied on harsh chemicals and expensive manpower. We desperately needed a new solution. By reframing the mental health crisis, we are able to reappropriate the tears of students to shine the floors. The salt within the tears helps break down the remnant ice, while the sheer volume of tears covers the entire floor plan within minutes.”

The tears are a result of a recent recycling project brought upon by the worsening mental health of University of Toronto students. Students experiencing large amounts of fluids leaking from their eyes were able to dispose of their used

Kleenex tissues and have the tears wrung out. The Health and Counseling Centre had receptacles placed in all of their counselling offices as well as in the main clinic, just below the handcuff storage.

One student was noted by the HCC for being the largest tear donator. This esteemed honour was bestowed upon Karen Mulaney, a fourth-year CCIT student. After receiving her trophy and $8 gift card to Subway, she responded: “Should I be proud? Is this really a thing to be proud of?”

The Medium caught up with U of T president, Meric Gertler to see how he felt about the new initiative.

“For months and months, we have heard the pleas of students to address the mental health crisis at the University of Toronto. The safety of our students is paramount, and we want to ensure every student feels safe and supported while going to school. We are proud to allocate $1.5 million in mental health funding to ensure that all floors are shined. The money will be used to pay for even worse mental health counselling so that students have no option but to cry. Mental health starts with putting your best foot forward, and why not put that foot on a shiny sparkling floor.”

01.13.2020

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Editor | Vinney Wong

Emma Sangalli talks Legally Blonde The actor who plays Elle Woods in the musical adaptation discusses the production process and more VINNEY WONG A&E EDITOR Legally Blonde: The Musical will be opening at Hart House Theatre in Toronto on January 17. The musical, which made its Broadway debut in the United States in 2007, is based on the hit movie of the same name and follows sassy Elle Woods as she finds her self-worth in law school at Harvard University.

The Medium spoke with Emma Sangalli, who plays Elle Woods, to discuss the casting process, musical numbers, and gender stereotypes ahead of the show’s opening this week.

The Medium: For those who haven’t been exposed to the cultural phenomenon that is Legally Blonde, can you describe what the play is about?

Emma Sangalli: Legally Blonde tells the story of Elle Woods, a Malibu-born sorority girl, who gets dumped by her would-be-fiancé and decides to win him back by following him into law school at Harvard.

In attempting to win her fiancé back, Elle abandons her beach-house life and is faced with numerous obstacles during her time at Harvard, including sexism and harassment.

She manages to overcome those obstacles by staying true to herself and eventually becomes an incredible lawyer.

It’s a really upbeat and empowering story that encourages people to stay true to themselves and go after their dreams despite labels and stereotypes.

PHOTO/HART HOUSE PRODUCTIONS

The characters from the iconic film and Broadway classic are hitting the stage at Hart House.

TM: How does the musical differ from the movie?

ES: It’s much more fun—singing, dancing, through-the-roof-energy!

TM: What was the casting process like?

ES: From my understanding, this was one of the most auditioned for shows in Hart House’s history, which makes me all the more grateful to be a part of it—and to play this dream role of Elle Woods.

For the casting process, I sang a few songs and did a monologue during my initial audition, then I was called back to dance. On the third callback, I went in to perform material for the show’s directing team and was paired up with a few other potential cast members to read scenes and test for chemistry. I got a call from our wonderful director, Saccha Dennis, a week later who offered me the role of Elle. As an actor, you often dream of getting the call, so it was pretty exciting!

TM: How difficult is it to incorporate songs and dance numbers without the overall story getting lost in translation?

ES: The song and dance numbers serve the story in any good musical— they exist as a greater expression of what a character is going through or feeling.

As an actor, it can definitely become challenging, trying to remember hundreds of dance moves and lyrics while performing them simultaneously. A lot of stamina has to be built up in order to perform the musical numbers, but I also have to focus on the character and her experiences in those moments and sharing them with the audience. Marrying those elements together is the goal of every musical theatre actor and it is what brings musical theatre to life.

TM: Elle Woods is such an iconic character. How is she different in this musical compared to the movie?

ES: I think she’s a little more asser-

tive and determined in the musical, but she remains the same at her core.

All the iconic moments are still there, but her character is just an enhancement of what you see in the movie.

Elle Woods is still very much Elle Woods.

TM: There are a lot of gender issues in the show, why is it important to address the stereotypes?

ES: It’s important to talk about these things so that we can continue to make our world a safer place for everyone to be able to express themselves and their identities without fear.

This musical has a lot of amazing female characters. Elle, Vivienne, and Enid stand out to me as examples— they all express their femininity in different ways and are all successful and powerful in their own industries.

It’s really inspiring and beautiful to see different versions of female expression represented in the show.

TM: What are your favourite mu-

sical numbers from the show?

ES: “What You Want,” which replaces the video submission to Harvard from the movie, has been one of my favourite songs for many years now and a dream come true to perform. It’s so much fun! The choreography by Gregg Carruthers in this production is outstanding that it has to be my favourite number in the show.

TM: “Bend and Snap” is such a famous line. How fun was it to turn it into a musical number?

ES: So much fun. Emmilie Macaulay (Serena), Paige Foskett (Margot), and Tama Martin (Pilar) give that song so much life. And Moulan Burke as Paulette is hysterical and powerful in her discovery that she can “bend and snap” with the best of them. It’s a very fun number to perform with everyone.

TM: Legally Blonde is a feel-good musical, but what message should audiences take away after watching it?

ES: I think the biggest lessons that I’ve learned from being in this show are the power of determination and staying true to yourself. It truly is an inspiring piece and I hope people walk away feeling determined to fully embrace themselves and to fiercely go after what they want in life.

TM: Lastly, how much pink should audiences expect to see?

ES: Like, so much pink. So much.

Legally Blonde: The Musical runs until February 1, 2020. You can get your tickets at Hart House Theatre’s website.

Anastasia: The Musical humanizes fantasy The show takes audiences back in time tp Russia in 1906 and explores the Romanovs’ deaths APRIL JOY ABIT CONTRIBUTOR There’s a rumour in Toronto that Anastasia is in town. Consider that rumour confirmed. Ed Mirvish Theatre showcased the Broadway musical under the direction of Darko Tresnjak. In a bold and beautiful retelling of a classic, we take a trip to Russia in 1906.

The story begins at Saint Petersburg with an uprising that led to the death of the royal family, the Romanovs.

Ten years later, we meet our protagonists: Dimitry (Jake Levy), a con man, his accomplice Vlad Popov (Edward Staudenmayer), a former member of the Imperial Court, and Anya (Lila Coogan), a hard working streetsweeper with no recollection of a life before the orphanage.

The three come together and

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The Disney classic turned Broadway musical has had its time to shine on stage in Toronto. make plans to escape to Paris. Dimitry and Vlad in search of a better life for themselves using the reward the Dowager Empress (Joy Franz) is offering for the safe return of her missing granddaughter Anastasia who is thought to have survived the slaughter of the royals; Anya in

search for fragments of a family she can’t remember.

If you’re like me, your first introduction to the Romanovs might be in the form of an animated movie that included a talking bat, a powerful sorcerer antagonist, appropriately timed musical numbers that

carry the plot, and a puppy sidekick.

In place of the animated antagonist, Rasputin, we have General Gleb Vaganov (Jason Michael Evans). A loyal member of the Bolsheviks who ruled after the fall of the Romanovs, Gleb follows the protagonists to Paris. His mission: ensure

the Grand Duchess Anastasia does not come back from the dead.

Drawing more from history, the musical humanizes the plot. This might be the reason why it’s so captivating. Stripped of the fantasy, it presents a story more horrific than an angry magician. It tells of class struggle and power play, grief and loss, hope and redemption.

The musical isn’t fantastical. No bat, no sorcerer, and no puppy.

But even without these elements, the production itself is pure magic.

Glittering lights that melt into snow and disperse as flowers, enchanting musical numbers, stunning choreography, and a dynamic set that take us from Saint Petersburg to Paris.

Far from its predecessor that softens it, Anastasia is a musical that brings things familiar and old to a refreshing new light.

I recommend it to anyone who seeks a journey to the past.

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THE MEDIUM 01.13.2020

Talking (Dis)connected with EDSS Raphaela Pavlakos discusses the theme of the sixth edition of With Caffeine and Careful Thought SHALOMI RANASINGHE ASSOCIAATE A&E EDITOR UTM’s English and Drama Student Society (EDSS) publish an academic and literary journal annually. This year, their journal With Caffeine and Careful Thought is publishing Volume 6: (Dis)connected. The Medium sat down with this year’s editor-in-chief Raphaela Pavlakos, who is a fifth-year English specialist and Professional Writing and Communications major, to discuss the responsibilities and challenges of being editor-in-chief, the general process of a student-run publication, and this year’s theme.

Pavlakos is a full-time student, the consulting editor for PWC’s Mindwaves and Compass, a weekly volunteer at her church, as well as a teacher for Greek dance. On top of school, work, and life, Pavlakos still makes time to continue her love for reading novels and poetry. As an avid reader, she just finished reading Erin Morgenstern’s The Starless Sea and is currently enjoying some of William Blake’s poetry.

With Caffeine and Careful Thought is a student-run publication. Pavlakos explained that they “run under the English and Drama Student Society. We do not have a faculty advisor, which is different for some of the departmental publications. This means that it’s run by the students. So, students edit, and it’s for students. So, you cannot publish with us if you are not a current UTM student.”

JULIA HEALY/THE MEDIUM

The new edition of With Caffeine and Careful thought will feature themes of futurism and fantasy.

Each year the journal employs a different publisher, in hopes of finding the most cost-effective company.

Pavlakos knows who to reach out to by doing research and even asking previous editor-in-chiefs for advice.

Considering her experience with Mindwaves and Compass, she also reached out to their faculty advisor for advice about the publishers he uses for classroom textbooks.

As editor-in-chief, she does not feel unguided in this process as she can always reach out to the EDSS team for support, she stated, “it’s only as

lonely a job as you make it.”

According to Pavlakos, when she thinks of the theme “(Dis)connected,” it is “everything that’s in the inbetween. So, it could be transition, it could be liminality, it could be the transgressing of boundaries, it could be the convergence of two opposites and binaries. Just kind of everything that doesn’t fit perfectly in the box.”

Prior to finalizing this year’s theme, Pavlakos wanted to explore “identity,” but it did not make the cut.

Pavlakos was brainstorming about a theme which revolved around origin

stories and appearance versus reality. She also thought about focusing on binaries, but felt that it “would be too restrictive, so it kind of opened up to (Dis)connected.” The process of choosing a theme was her decision but she reached out to the EDSS team to ask for opinions and feedback.

When asked what the most challenging part about choosing the pieces for volume six was, Pavlakos explained, “I wanted to come up with as broad a theme as I could, just to get as many submissions as possible,

which was totally what happened.

The problem with that was a lot of really amazing, fantastic writers submitted stuff; the writing was great but didn’t fit as close with the theme as other pieces did. I was looking for quality but also how well it fit with the theme.” The journal received more than 30 submissions but selected 10 for publication.

Due to the broadness of (Dis)connected, the journal will have pieces which engage with futurism, fantasy, dystopian worlds, and identity experience.

As editor-in-chief, Pavlakos’s biggest challenge when working with editors and writers is communication. She stated, “communication is the biggest challenge for any publication at any point. Once you’re working with students, everyone has their own crazy schedule and everyone’s crazy schedule doesn’t line up with each other. Being able to get a hold of people, like working around deadlines can be quite a challenge.”

Pavlakos explained that this publication is “very loose [and] very broad. You’re going to pick it up and read about things that you may never have considered to be part of (Dis) connected. Whatever comes to mind [about (Dis)connected] it will be that and so much more.”

With Caffeine and Careful Thought’s (Dis)connected will be released on April 7 in the MiST Theatre at their launch party. Journals will be available for purchase on that date and by contacting EDSS thereafter.

A love letter to Harry Styles’ Fine Line The singer charms his way into listeners’ hearts as he explores soundscapes of pop-rock and soul ERIN DELANEY SATIRE EDITOR Harry Styles is the ex you wish you had. He’s so dreamy, it hurts. There’s a charming quality about him that can only be derived from his days as a boy band teen heartthrob. He’s polite but funny. Dashing while never being intimidating. He can have anyone, but he wants you. He’s way too into The Beatles. He doesn’t admit that he’s truly sorry. He’ll make you his muse whether you like it or not. He calls you a good girl. He’ll never call you “mine,” but he doesn’t want you to call anyone else baby.

While his self-titled debut solo album was hallmarked by throwbacks to the British rock he grew up listening to, Fine Line (2019) enters uncharted territory for Styles. Songs like “Watermelon Sugar” and “Adore You” show his glittery evolving sense of pop-rock and undeniable charm, while tracks like “Cherry” and “Canyon Moon” evoke a vulnerable acoustic side of the heartthrob, showcasing his song-writing abilities capable of taking you to a specific personal moment, a loss of love, or a homecoming.

“Sunflower Volume 6,” a highlight of the album, is possibly his most experimental track of his ca-

TALA ALKHALDI/THE MEDIUM

Styles has broken through his boyband mould to produce an inspired album that has fans gushing. reer so far. The nearly four-minutelong track features a nonsensical outro, harmonies reminiscent of The Association, and lyrics capable of making the most jaded person swoon. Styles sings, “I don’t want to make you feel bad but I’ve been trying hard not to talk to you,” and “Let me inside, wish I could get to know you.”

“Falling” is Styles at his most vulnerable. The piano-based track includes admissions of fear of “What if I’m someone you won’t talk about?” and “I get the feeling that you’ll never need me again.” He has moments of self-awareness, singing, “And I’m well aware I write too many songs about you.” This self-reflection is a departure from the usual perspec-

tive of his music and comes across as if he was making a genuine confession towards you.

Styles’ intentions, no matter how pure, can get lost in the shiny retro packaging. “Treat People With Kindness,” a phrase adopted

by Styles to promote positivity, is cursed by its chorus, as it focuses on a slightly out of tune choir practi-

cally going off beat. His Mick Jagger impression, while entertaining at first, loses its lustre. Much of Styles’ music is the result of digested McCartney, Mayer, Martin, and other male soft-rock stars. Most of the time, his obvious inspirations work, like in “Canyon Moon” as he does his best to channel Paul Simon, but “Treat People With Kindness” misses the mark.

The album ends with the eponymous track “Fine Line.” A sprawling song over six minutes long, Styles struggles with the uncertainty of his relationship, before submitting to the unknown. Styles exists on the fine line between sexual prowess and vulnerable admission, singing “You’ve got my devotion, but man I can hate you sometimes” and “Spreading you open, is the only way of knowing you” in the two verses. The simple acoustic structure of the song melts away as the song breaks down completely, with trumpets and drums overtaking the acoustic strumming. Styles’ voice echoes through the last minute of the album, as he sings the final lyrics of the album: “We’ll be alright.”

Whatever you may have had with him, at least it ended on a good note.

01.13.2020 THE MEDIUM ARTS» 11

Knives Out: Review The film is a thrilling new twist on the whodunit genre MAY ALSAIGH CONTRIBUTOR

TALA ALKHALDI/THE MEDIUM

Knives Out is a 2019 American mystery film.

Directed and written by Rian Johnson, Knives Out is a 2019 American mystery film that follows the lives of a family gathering gone wrong. This movie is a classic whodunit film, which portrays the story of a murder in which the identity of the murderer is not revealed until the end. This film differentiates from typical mystery movies as the setting takes place in modern America rather than earlier years.

After Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), a world-renowned writer and self-made man, is found dead with a slit throat and a knife in his hand, a detective hired by an anonymous source tries to unravel the mystery of his killer through various events.

Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) arrives at the Thrombey

house and discovers various secrets hidden among the family members that reveal their involvement in extortion, affairs, and lying. Other characters include daughter Linda (Jamie Lee Curtis), who is a successful businesswoman married to an incompetent husband named Richard (Don Johnson) and has a spoiled ill-mannered son named Ransom (Chris Evans). Son Walt (Michael Shannon) has been arguing with his dad for some time and daughter-inlaw Joni (Toni Collette) has been helping herself by ripping off the father. Finally, there’s Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas), Harlan’s nurse and most trusted confidante.

Detective Blanc’s instinct pushes him to believe Marta is the culprit behind the murder and after discovering multiple clues and pieces of

evidence. The nurse also believes she has committed the crime, but little does she and the detective know— spoiler alert—she has been framed

by Ransom.

One of the most interesting things about this movie is how it clashes the early cinematic approach of traditional whodunit roles with modern film aspects in order to attract a larger and more youthful audience.

Knives Out employs the use of vulgar language and modern technology in comparison to tradition whodunit films that are based in the 90s and usually revolve around the lives of a wealthy and dysfunctional American family.

In effort to assimilate today’s culture, the movie also brings awareness to one of today’s most talked about topics: Latin immigration.

The suspected killer, Marta, is an undocumented individual living in the U.S. and must live under fear of getting deported. Although the movie doesn’t spend much time focusing on her background story, it differs from older films with the inclusion of political topics.

This movie is definitely one of those movies that leave you wanting more and it is surely worth spending that extra amount of money for some popcorn and drinks. The never-ending suspense truly does not disappoint. The interesting and futuristic setting along with the suspense and the edge-of-your-seat plot twist at the end makes the movie definitely worth watching.

Adam Sandler at his non-comedic best in this crime-thriller

PHOTO/IMDB.COM

Adam Sandler gets into trouble in this stressful action film.

Uncut Gems, set amidst the bustle of New York, follows Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) as a jeweler and a compulsive gambling addict.

Through the course of the film, what can only be described as a series of unfortunate events take place owing to bad decisions made by the morally ambiguous protagonist. The film is a crash course for the average individual on what exactly not to do in a wide variety of your everyday situations involving loan sharks, a rare black opal from Ethiopia, gambling, NBA players, and The Weeknd.

Adam Sandler is an actor that can boast a unique filmography, ranging

from the likes of Jack and Jill and Grown Ups to Punch Drunk Love and The Meyerowitz Stories. With Uncut Gems, the Sandman once again proves that with the right material, he can deliver a glorious dramatic performance. He has a phenomenal cast of supporting actors at his side that elevates his performance and the film, including Kevin Garnett and debutant Julia Fox. Uncut Gems has gained a title, among critics and audiences alike, of being the most stressful film of 2019 and I do hereby concur with this well-earned characterization.

The stress induced from scenes that

“The Ones Who Walked Away From Omelas” by Ursula K. LeGuin is one of the texts that was covered in ENG110: Narrative. This short story describes the utopian city of Omelas and its happy citizens. The reader is then introduced to the beautiful imagery of the people of Omelas celebrating the first day of Summer and the festival of celebration that follows.

In Omelas, the Festival of Summer is vibrant and reflects a state of euphoria. As readers, we are transported to city of wonder and happiness where no problems exist. The narrator describes Omelas as “like a city in a fairy tale,” where everything is blissful. However, despite the perfect world the reader is presented with, the narrator ultimately reveals the truth about Omelas.

The happiness of Omelas is solely dependent on the suffering of a single child kept in darkness and filth. The juxtaposition highlighted by LeGuin reflects the class disparity and social attitudes within society, which is showcased in the meeting between the child prisoner and the people of

simmer with gradual tension, culminating in a loud climax, quickpaced dialogue, and Howard’s decision making is as claustrophobic as his tiny jewelry shop with its broken door. Josh and Benny Safdie masterfully direct this wide expanse of content and character through a narrow field with a clear vision of the contained, sensory chaos they deliver on the big screen.

The film is a brilliantly executed cacophony of dialogue and action as each character tries to overtake the other, creating a raw and tense environment in which the actors thrive.

This further reinforces the rhythm of the film and every beat contributes to a compelling, albeit stressful, watch.

What truly corroborates this description is that the only tranquility to be found, within the entire 135-minute runtime, is in a scene depicting a psychedelic transition from the inside of an opal to the inside of Howard’s colon during a colonoscopy. What exactly a transition from an opal to a human colon means and translates into in terms of cinematic visuals can only be discovered by visiting a local showing of Uncut Gems, which I highly recommend.

Omelas. Some individuals were unable to accept the truth that a child prisoner was the reason for their happiness and chose to walk away from Omelas, whereas others ignored the child and went on with their worriless lives.

The story begs the question, “what makes the imprisoned child less of a person than the happy children of Omelas?”

“The Ones Who Walked Away From Omelas,” answers said question by providing commentary on society’s tendency to be pre-occupied with the self, while distancing themselves from problems that do not directly involve them. A modern-day example of this would be consumerism. Many of us have indulged in making purchases for products that make us happy without acknowledging that children forced into labour are most likely behind the production process. LeGuin does an excellent job questioning the reader’s morals and ethical values by juxtaposing two different realities that reflect modernday society. As such, I highly recommend this short story.

On Baby Yoda The internet’s most beloved sensation DANICA TENG ASSOCIATE A&E EDITOR

Uncut Gems: Review CATHERINE JOSEPH CONTRIBUTOR

SURUTIGA RANJAN CONTRIBUTOR

Before the start of a new decade, the end of 2019 brought us the next big meme. Pictures of “Baby Yoda,” The Child from The Mandalorian, flooded social media with all its cuteness.

The tiny figure, with its big, black eyes, and the hairs on its little green head captured the hearts of people everywhere.

The Mandalorian (2019) is a Disney+ original created and written

by Jon Favreau, based off George Lucas’ original Star Wars series. The show stars Pedro Pascal as the Mandalorian, along with others like Gina Carano as Cara Dune, and Carl Weathers as Greef Karga. With such captivating action scenes and the coos of an adorable alien baby, the show became an instant hit.

Although much of the show’s popularity comes from a fascinating story and creative direction, the rise of “Baby Yoda” seemed to play a role in luring a bigger audience. However, contrary to the name people gave it, the character is not actually Yoda as a baby. In the show, it is simply referred to as “The Child.” Yoda is a character in the original Star Wars trilogy who is around 900 years old when we see him. So, it makes sense to see a smaller version of Yoda and assume that it’s him as a baby. However, The Mandalorian takes place five years after Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)—the last movie in the original trilogy. As it cannot be Yoda, this makes The Child the third known character of its unknown species.

The story of The Mandalorian follows one of the few members left of the Mandalorian clan—warriors seen in helmets and armor of Beskar, the rare Mandalorian steel. Working as a bounty hunter in tough times doesn’t leave the protagonist, nicknamed “Mando,” a lot to survive on. As the reward matches the risk, Mando can’t help but take a shady, discreet job from obvious survivors of the fallen Empire as they promise a plentiful pay in Beskar. After the Great Purge which left the Mandalorians almost extinct, the clan needs to reclaim the Beskar they lost. After Mando takes the mission to secure a 50-year-old, he’s surprised to find out the target is a child. Their journey together begins, and the show explores many different perspectives of morality, trust, trauma, friendship, and family.

Setting up a Star Wars story seems to be a challenge. Fans and other watchers around the world have their eyes and ears on anything that comes out from this iconic franchise that has survived all the way from 1977.

The Mandalorian, while it still possesses some negative reviews, seems to have gained much success and positive feedback. What makes The Mandalorian “new” and refreshing is actually the “old.” The show brings back some of the subtle elements people loved in the original trilogy more than 40 years ago: cool droids, good humour, rich characters, and lost limbs. From the very beginning, the action jolts you awake and makes you fall in love with the world of Star Wars all over again (and with Baby Yoda).

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Editor | Fatima Adil

Wildlife burning in Australia fires The current disaster is the first to have been assigned the ‘Catastrophic/Code Red’ Fire Danger Rating ELIZABETH PROVOST CONTRIBUTOR

Australia has been engulfed by overwhelming natural forest fires.

The fires are a threat to the wildlife, the flora, and the people of Australia. The current disaster has been assigned the “Catastrophic/Code Red” Fire Danger Rating, which has never been implemented previously, marking the 2019-2020 Australian bushfire season as the most destructive in Australian history.

The residents of the multiple scorched communities across Australia have had to evacuate their homes. According to the BBC News, more than 15.6 million acres of land have been consumed and destroyed.

This area is larger than Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island combined and is continuously growing with more than 135 fires currently active and the majority not contained. At least twenty-four people have been killed and over two thousand dwellings destroyed.

An important topic of discussion is the well-being of Australia’s wildlife. According to analysis done at the University of Sydney by Pro-

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Australia’s bushfire season has seen most of the country and its wildlife engulfed in flame. fessor Chris Dickman, 480 million animals have perished and billions have been crucially affected since the bushfires started in September 2019. Much of Australia’s wildlife is endemic to its state—meaning

it is unique and cannot be found elsewhere on the globe. An example would be koalas who have suffered drastically due to the bushfires. The Australian Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley, has declared

that more than a third of the koalas’ habitat and population has been destroyed. Over eight thousand koala bears have died, either by succumbing to smoke inhalation or perishing in a fire they cannot escape.

Heartbreaking pictures of koalas with singed fur, raw patches of burnt flesh, and blistered paws have flooded social media. There are horrifying pictures of animals who failed to escape the destruction of the flames and now, lie lifeless on the sides of the road. Fortunately, there have also been videos of cyclists and other travellers travelling to these animals’ previous habitats to provide these frail koalas with water, veterinary care, roadside assistance, and rescue.

The truth is that animals are not unprepared for natural disasters— they have been predisposed to them over the millennia. Many organisms in Australia have even adapted to thrive and reproduce following habitat destruction. However, human interaction with their environments have affected this ability to adapt. Through fragmentation of habitat and artificial introduction of invasive species, native species are struggling to recolonize. Climate change and the subsequent crisis, an issue that has overwhelmed us in its reality, has made natural disasters go from bad to worse with no hope of recovery.

Fire continued on page 13

Drought, rising temperatures, and plants UTM Ph.D. student Lucas Albano is researching how plants adapt to changing climates LATISHA LOBBAN ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR

UTM Ph.D. student Lucas Albano is researching the ability of plants to adapt to changing climates. He is specifically testing the white clover’s ability to adapt to water shortage and rising temperatures.

Albano is a Ph.D. candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in Dr. Marc Johnson’s Evolutionary Ecology lab. He is also an undergraduate TA in the Department of Biology.

Albano says that white clovers are an ideal specimen to study “a global phenomenon like climate change since “[white clover] grows everywhere apart from deserts [and is] very widely distributed across the globe.”

In his current experiment—which Albano is conducting at the UTM greenhouse—he is studying the effects of water shortage on white clover. Albano’s experiment will determine whether the plants which receive low water are able to survive in times of drought, and ultimately, whether they have the ability to adapt to water shortages.

“Essentially, there are 640 plants in

the experiment and half have to get high water and half have to get low water,” explains Albano. “There is a four-fold difference between the high and low [meaning] the high plants receive four times as much water as the low plants.”

Albano expands on the watering process: “Rather than giving [specified] amounts of water, I water them for a specific amount of time per day.

No matter what that time is, the wet ones are also going to be watered as much as the low ones.”

To facilitate the irrigation process, Albano developed an automated watering system. “I decided that I would build this system that was very difficult to build [because] by the end of it, I just [had] to go in and click a button once a day. [The watering system] does everything for you.”

Albano adds that half of the plants receiving high water and half of the plants receiving low water also receive nutrient pellets.

The temperature of the greenhouse is also controlled in the experiment.

“The temperature right now is mimicking that of the second two weeks of August. When we began the experiment, the temperature matched the

JULIA HEALY/THE MEDIUM

Lucas Albano is a UTM Ph.D. student working under Dr. Marc Johnson on Evolutionary Ecology. beginning of early June. [We’ve been adjusting it] progressively to match the seasons,” describes Albano. The experiment will last two months in duration.

Albano uses bumblebees to pollinate the plants and measure the seed

output. “You can’t measure the seed output without measuring the pollination. We decided that we would order cardboard boxes [filled with] bees and have them do the work for us.”

Albano has also planned a second experiment using white clovers to de-

termine the plant’s ability to adapt to a change in climate. Albano will conduct a “common garden experiment” which is an experiment where “you take plants from all over the world and grow them in one place.”

Clover continued on page 13

01.13.2020 THE MEDIUM FEATURES» 13

@SpottedatUTM2.0 Studying climate account uncovered change effects An insider story on the anonymous student-run page ELISA NGUYEN CONTRIBUTOR

Spotted at UTM (@spottedatutm2.0) is an Instagram confession page where unidentified UTM students can send anonymous messages that are then posted for others to see. The account is a vortex of over seventeen thousand nameless submissions concerning academic advice, love and relationships, buying or selling of textbooks, finding people on campus, and any random opinions, thoughts, or questions.

Its more than three thousand fan base includes students, academic societies, campus clubs, and even the official University of Toronto Mississauga Instagram account. The page is currently run by two administrators who post anonymous submissions that are sent through DMs (direct messages) or the Sarahah website daily. The administrators refer to themselves as ‘female admin’ and ‘male admin’ to maintain their anonymous identity.

Despite the page’s overall secrecy, the account boasts a strong sense of unity and support. Spotted 2.0 acts as a safe haven for students to be heard, ask questions, connect with others, and laugh together. One recent submission asked, “Best place to make out - Anonymous” to which students commented “Tim Hortons lineup at DV,” “Ib110,” “In the comfort of your own home,” and “by the trash cause that’s where ya tuition dollars going… why you no study.”

Spotted at UTM continues to thrive as a prominent source of community and as a trusted confidant to thousands of students. However, nobody knows how the page was created, why it started in the first place, and most importantly, who is behind it. The Medium contacted Spotted at UTM

for an insider interview. Here’s what we learned: *** On January 8, 2020, an Instagram story update was posted: “Both the female Admin and I are saddened by the news regarding the passing of the U of T students on the plane crash. If anyone needs help rn, or at any point, we’d be beyond happy to help - ya boi, male admin.”

Earlier that day, the female and male admin met me in Library Study Room 8 for their first-ever reveal. In order to conduct the interview, The Medium had to agree not to reveal the names of the admins, and therefore, they are referred to as Female Admin and Male Admin in this article.

“I thought [the page] was amazing! I started to follow the page, and—this is cheesy—but I fell in love.”

Female Admin shared that it wasn’t easy running the page while keeping up with her studies, work, and family life: “In the first semester, when we first started, there were kinks [that] we had to work out,” Female Admin admits. “Sometimes I would be posting all of [the posts], or [Male Admin] would be posting all of them. I got busy with classes because I had a full course load, and he was posting them all the time. I felt so bad, so I said ‘Okay, let’s do alternating days.

Or when you have more classes, I’ll do them, or when I have more classes you can do them.’”

“I didn’t have exams to worry about [so] that gave me a lot of free time,” Male Admin adds.

“We help[ed] each other out, switch[ed] it up, and if there was a concerning DM, we asked each other

[for advice],” Female Admin continues.

“There was a lot of teamwork,” Male Admin concludes.

The two admins disclose that managing Spotted 2.0 was a learning experience. “Like with anything, you can’t really know for sure [how it’ll work out] until you start doing it,” Male Admin states. But how did the Spotted ‘torch’ get passed on to them in the first place?

“I saw [Spotted 2.0] somehow in first year, whether it came across my feed or someone sent it to me.

When I saw it, I thought [the page was] amazing! I started to follow the page, and—this is cheesy—but I fell in love,” shares Male Admin.

Female Admin reports a similar experience. What began as an accidental discovery resulted in an irresistible obsession with Spotted 2.0. “[In] first year, I stalk[ed] all the U of T accounts, and then my Explore page [recommended] all these U of T related accounts.” Female Admin got “obsessed” with the anonymous confessions page. “I would go through all the posts one by one, thinking, ‘Oh are they talking about me?’ or, ‘Do I know this person?’” “[Then] the two admins before us were like ‘Oh, school work is getting a lot,’ so they wanted to pass the page onto someone. They posted a story and said ‘We’re looking for two new admins and if you’re interested, shoot us a DM!’ My friend sent me the story saying ‘I think this is something you’d be good at, you say funny s***.’ I sent [the admins] a cheesy line like ‘It’s me! I’m the one you’re looking for!’”

Female Admin continues, “I don’t know why they chose me. Mine was such a short line compared to [Male Admin] who put his heart and soul into it. I used a line from Grey’s Anatomy.”

Admin continued on page 14

Clover continued from page 12

Albano drove over one thousand miles across North America, from Louisiana to North Bay, to collect white clover samples for his upcoming experiment. All of the sample plants will be planted in a garden in Newmarket, Ontario.

Albano says, “Typically what you’d expect is the plants from Newmarket would do the best. You expect the plants from where the [common] garden is located to do the best [because they would be] highly adapted to the climate in that region.” Albano calls this a “home field advantage.”

The regional diversity of the white clover samples is essential to this experiment. “We can test the climate change aspect of things by using the plants that have been tak-

COULEUR/PIXABAY.COM

White clovers are ideal specimens for studying climate change.

Bushfires ravaging Australia Fire continued from page 12

KELLSY ANN MENESES/THE MEDIUM

Spotted At UTM is a well-known anonymous social media account run by and for UTM students.

en from an area south of the garden to [determine] if it’s the same temperature here [in Southern Ontario] that those plants are adapted to.”

Albano hypothesizes that “if the plants south of the common garden are doing better than the local plants, that means that the climate is changing faster here than it is in the south because those plants are more successful.”

Albano adds, “If the results come out that the home-field advantage exists, then we can kind of infer that plants can adapt very quickly to climate change. We start to lose biodiversity due to climate change because plants cannot adapt fast enough.”

“We can build a whole story around what [impacts of climate change] plants are adapting to.”

Animal hospitals, zoos, rescue groups, local and international firefighters, and thousands of volunteers have come together to fight the fires and they are doing their best to care for injured animals and destroyed habitats. Ninety-five Canadian firefighters have answered Australia’s call for help and have travelled across the globe to help battle the wildfires.

A new $1.4 billion bushfire recovery fund has also been created by the Australian government to help residents, businesses, and farmers recover from their devastating losses.

International fundraisers have raised millions of dollars to support animal rehabilitation, habitat recovery, residence reclamation, and fire extinction.

As the sky is stained red in what resembles an apocalyptic scene, thousands of people evacuate their

homes and millions of animals suffer. Habitats are destroyed and fires spread faster than they are contained.

Life is so precious. Vulnerable animals such as koalas are defenseless, and we have the power to help them.

Whether it’s for the frail koalas, the kangaroos engulfed by flames, the other countless animals losing their habitats, or the families losing their homes, it is important to raise awareness about what is happening on the other side of the globe. We need to re-evaluate our impact on the environment, and most importantly, do something about it.

Monetary contributions can be made online to the following organizations dedicated to providing meals to evacuees and frontline responders or helping rescue and treat injured animals: Salvation Army Australia, Australian Red Cross, Port Macquarie Koala Hospital and other animal rescue organizations such as WIRES and the WWF Australia.

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THE MEDIUM 01.13.2020

How do Chinese seniors perceive abuse?

Dr. Weiguo Zhang’s study explores the cultural elements of elder abuse and senior well-being FATIMA ADIL FEATURES EDITOR

Dr. Weiguo Zhang, an associate professor of sociology at UTM, conducts research on the well-being of Chinese seniors. Last year, he published a study about how Chinese seniors living in Canada perceive elder abuse. What might be considered as abuse in Western culture is not recognized as such in Chinese culture.

Similarly, actions considered disrespectful by the Chinese community may be regarded as completely acceptable in the West.

Zhang focused on seniors who had immigrated to Canada since “ninetyseven percent of Chinese seniors living in Canada are immigrants.”

Through his research, he found that “essentially, there is a kind of gap in terms of understanding the abuse - a gap between the official definition of abuse and [the Chinese senior immigrants’] perception of the abuse.”

Zhang explains that Chinese seniors often do not consider behaviours which would be considered abusive in Canada as abuse. They “do not have a problem recognizing physical abuse [and] financial abuse,” however, in regards to “emotional

and verbal abuse,” some Chinese seniors might “think it is normal.”

“A woman actually approached me [when I was collecting data] because she knew I was doing this project.

[She talked about how] she has some trouble with her son-in-law. She talked a lot about [him] calling [her] names. She doesn’t like that, but she never even thought this is a kind of abuse.”

Zhang also discusses boundaries which are often not clear in Chinese culture. He explains that “in the West, parents and seniors have the right to [engage in] risky behaviours.” For Chinese individuals, children might coerce their parents to stop drinking, smoking, or gambling, and the seniors may believe their rights are being violated. However, if the children do not take any action at all to prevent their parents engaging in risky behaviours, “then it might be said that children are neglectful.” The boundary between violation of rights and being concerned is “vague.”

Another culturally dependent aspect is respect. In some cultures, “disrespect to older people may be considered a kind of abuse.” For example, in Western culture, referring to seniors by their first names is

largely not considered disrespectful.

However, in Chinese culture, “you never do that, you call them [by their title].” There is a more nuanced side to the issue of culture and respect since it can also be considered disrespectful when one does not greet seniors.

One of the conclusions of this project “is that through this kind of awareness [and] through discussion amongst themselves, people [can become] more aware of elder abuse so that they can protect their rights.”

The inspiration behind this project stems from a misconception about Chinese culture. “One of the things people believe about Chinese culture is that [since] respecting older people [is a priority,] it seems Chinese seniors don’t have much of a problem. [However,] elder abuse is still very much there.” Although the prevalence is unknown currently, Zhang wants to “really understand how people perceive elder abuse.”

Zhang acknowledges that “in a sense, the situation for Chinese immigrants is better than for those living in China,” since most seniors “who come here as immigrants have a good relationship with their children because many are sponsored by them.” Furthermore, the seniors who

IRTAQA ARIF/THE MEDIUM

Zhang focused on Chinese immigrant seniors living in Canada. are able to immigrate to Canada “are mostly healthier because of Canadian immigration policies.”

Zhang says that Canada is a “pioneer country” in dealing with the elder abuse issue. “The Canadian government is paying attention to this issue [and] there are networks trying to prevent abuse.” Many UN initiatives are also being spearheaded by

Canadian scholars.

Going forward, Zhang wants to research the risk factors influencing abuse and focus on prevention.

“How do the seniors think is the best practice to prevent abuse?” Furthermore, he also wants to “understand the perception of other immigrant groups such as South Asian and Arabic communities.”

What we know about SpottedatUTM2.0 Admin continued from page 13 Male Admin shows me the original DM that got him the job. “They wrote specific questions so I wanted to answer them.” A brief scroll through Male Admin’s phone displays multiple messages containing bullet points regarding all the reasons he thought he should be the page’s admin. One of them reads “I can keep a secret.”

The page receives hundreds of submissions every day, and therefore, managing Spotted 2.0 is no easy task.

Male Admin asserts that they have a systematic method to sort through the submissions—to know which have been posted already and to make sure that none were missed.

He explains that “when people [say] ‘Oh you didn’t post my confession!’ [my reply is] ‘Sorry dude, if I didn’t post one that was sent, it’s because it shouldn’t have been posted.’”

Female Admin mentions a situation regarding hateful submissions they previously had to deal with.

“There was this guy, [who I] know

SPOTTEDATUTM2.0/INSTAGRAM

Students discuss dating, depression, drinking, and their classes.

Male Admin discloses that filtering posts and intentional captions are often needed when addressing “racist, misogynist, or homophobic” submissions. “When some people send a message and don’t see it posted, [they get] upset. But I have made it very clear that if it’s an offensive post, I won’t share [it].”

because he’s in my program. He DM’d Spotted one day [and] was like, ‘Hey, people have been sending these posts about me, can you delete them or stop posting them?’” Female Admin “didn’t want [him] feeling bad about [him]self,” so she deleted all the posts about him.

“One day, an anonymous mes-

sage came in about him that was really rude. I [didn’t think] this [was] a friendly thing, so I still posted the message, but I altered it because I want[ed] this person to feel good about themselves. I added one word [and] changed the caption. The [person who had submitted the original post] messaged me [angrily, asking why I had changed it].”

“This isn’t a page to bully people, this is a page to become a community.

UTM is a small campus. I want everyone to feel happy about themselves.

This isn’t a page to promote hate.”

When asked about their most memorable experiences as Spotted administrators, Female Admin shares, “We have regulars that DM us all the time—almost every day or twice a week. We have conversations with them, so there’s memorable people.”

However, Female Admin mentions that memorable DMs are often the ones that cause worry. “We’ve had some [posts] about forced marriage, or someone who wants to commit suicide.”

“I remember we posted one day, and then Campus Police reached out to us saying, ‘Someone posted this thing about suicide. Do you know who this person is?’ And we didn’t know who it was because it was through the anonymous page, so we had to contact Sarahah [and] post stories.”

“The person [who posted about suicide then] messaged us saying ‘I’m okay now, these comments I got on the post were really helpful.’”

Male admin recalls, “I just came home from work, and I saw the missed call. I didn’t recognize the number. I called it up, or I searched the number, and it was the Peel Police Services. I was like, ‘Oh, s***.’ The

[police] said they somehow found our page and saw that particular post. I was just like, yeah, ‘I don’t know who it is, I’ll try and figure it out.’”

Following this incident, the admins began intentionally addressing submissions confessing depression, suicidal ideation, or other distresses with extra caution. A recent post from January 7 reads, “I think I’m getting depressed. I wanted to do a lot this whole winter break but ended up lying on my bed. I want to do stuff and be productive, but I physically feel so unmotivated and just feel sad all the time.

Please help me - Anonymous.”

The admins responded with a caption that says, “UTM has services that can offer professional support. If you aren’t comfortable, you can always talk to/spend time with friends which can help tremendously.” Other students also responded supportively, with comments such as “Hey! I’m here to help you! Please dm me,” “Hmu,” and “Sessional depression is a real thing.”

It is important to remember that the two admins behind the Spotted 2.0 page are first and foremost students. They study among us in the same buildings, eat at the same cafeterias, and complete assignments at the same library. “At first it was kind of crazy thinking that people [that] I don’t even know, know me,” admits Female Admin.

Male Admin adds, “Once I was at the downstairs library in the basement and I was just doing my work.

I had taken my headphones out because I couldn’t use it to listen to music when charging my phone, and a few minutes later the people at the same table started talking about the page. And I was just sitting there trying not to freak out.”

“There have been people who have sent posts like, ‘I have a crush on the

male admin!’ When I saw that the first time, my caption was like ‘OMG, OMG, holy crap!’”

What is the future of Spotted 2.0?

Female Admin says that she hopes to pass the role on within the next year or two when school, work, and family responsibilities become harder to balance.

Male Admin shares, “This is as difficult as my degree is going to get for me thankfully. So as long as I enjoy [being the admin] or as long as I graduate, whichever comes first, [that] is when I’ll say, ‘Okay. It’s time for me to move on.’”

Both admins hope that Spotted 2.0 will continue to grow in terms of outreach and engagement. “[We hope] that people know that [the page] is a safe place where you can share your thoughts, or where if you have questions, you can DM us.”

“And that the next admins don’t destroy our legacy, or whatever.” *** (Female Admin) is a second-year science student (specific field of study omitted) who is considering additional studies in education or psychology.

She considers herself a quiet person who sticks to herself and keeps to a small group of friends. Interesting fact: She’s from a very large family with eight people including three sisters and two younger brothers.

(Male Admin) is a third-year political science student whose goal is to attend graduate school in education or law school. He has family members in teaching and is in contact with his previous high school teachers who all inspire him to enter the education field. At UTM, he’s worked as a calculus teaching assistant. Interesting fact: He has a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo.

01.13.2020

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Editor | Sarah-May Edwardo Oldfield

Your diet can affect your mental health Research finds new relationships between what you eat and mental illness ANDREW STONE ASSOCIATE S & H EDITOR New developments in nutritional and neurochemical research appear to be steering towards a new form of psychotherapy based simply in changing our diets.

A 2019 review published in European Neuropsychopharmacology by researcher Roger Adan and colleagues from the Netherlands presents the most recent understanding of the ways in which diet and nutrition can influence an individual’s mental health. It is important to make the point that there is currently no evidence that demonstrates a direct connection, but there is promising correlational data. It is already well-known that the nutrients we consume are used to facilitate neural functioning. There are many nerve endings within the digestive system that are affected by the food we eat, but this is not enough to explain a direct link between mental health and diet.

The review discussed how a traditionally healthy diet is positively correlated with better mental health.

Diets consisting of fruits and vegetables, as well as foods rich in vitamins

HAYDEN MAK/THE MEDIUM

The keto diet has been linked to reducing seizures, and a healthy diet with aiding mental disorders. like vitamin B12 and vitamin D, reduce the risk of depression and improve cognitive performance. Some diets can deter worsening symptoms for people who already have psychological and neurological disorders.

The keto diet, for example, appears to reduce the frequency of seizures in

children with epilepsy. This information is a good step forward in finding new ways to treat epilepsy and, when further research is done into the mechanisms behind this relationship, more effective treatments can be created. Many mental health issues follow this pattern. We see that

diet can improve our mental health, we just haven’t figured out how exactly it does this.

To find the mechanisms underlying this relationship, researchers have taken a closer look at the different aspects of the digestive system and how they affect each other. The

microbiome, for example, is gaining a lot of attention in the media.

The gut microbiome (bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses that live in the human body), the community of bacteria and fungi in the gastrointestinal tract, seems to have a great deal of influence on an individual’s wellbeing. The research shows that diets consisting of nutrients that promote a healthy and diverse microbiome seem to reap the most rewards. The gut microbiome has been studied for its role in how our bodies respond to stress. The health of the microbiome has been found to be correlated with many disorders, including depression, anxiety, and ADHD. To sum it up, the gut microbiome has positive effects on one’s mental health when it is well-kept and well-nourished.

These findings introduce an exciting potential to current mental health treatment. This line of research is quite new and more research is needed to get a full understanding of what foods are beneficial to mental health.

With the growing knowledge on this topic, health care practitioners will be able to create diets for their patients that cater to their specific needs as an alternative to more common methods of psychotherapy.

Lady Eagles soar through the Sting swarm UTM’s varsity women’s basketball win in a blowout against the Seneca Sting in the first game of 2020 ROBERT BUI CONTRIBUTOR On the rainy Saturday afternoon of January 11, the UTM women’s varsity basketball team looked to push the season series against Seneca to 2-0. The opening game of the season against the Sting saw the Eagles winning away from home, 68-59. With an early lead and a never-letting-up attitude, the Eagles left the Stingers stung by the end of the game.

While Seneca sat on a 2-6 record, and a two-game losing streak, UTM looked to capitalize and add a tally in the win column to their already stellar 6-2 record and start a winning streak of their own.

The game began with a scramble at the tip-off. Both teams started with lots of energy and set the tone for the first half. Early in the first quarter, Seneca made three baskets in a row, turning up the pressure. The Eagles got more aggressive and found their way inside the paint, slowing the game down with trips to the free throw line. They ended the quarter shooting 2-8 from the free throw line. The two teams went back and forth to end the quarter tight. UTM

CELINE POLIDARIO/UTM ATHLETICS

With respect to the Seneca Sting, the UTM Eagles swept through this game and the series. just got ahead of Seneca after the first ten minutes of play, 14-12.

UTM took control of the second quarter early by making buckets, capitalizing on Seneca’s missed shots and turnovers. Seneca’s misfortunes continued, and a timeout was called after turning the ball over on an in-

bound. The Eagles tried to take advantage of their teetering opponent by applying a full court press, but Seneca fought back by scoring inside against a vulnerable defense. UTM stayed on-top going into the second half, 30-21.

UTM came out of the second half

strong, with an and-one from number six Janella Viado. They continued their full court press and did not allow the ball into the half court easily.

Seneca’s fatigue was on full display.

UTM went on a 12-3 run, later making three consecutive baskets to put the game out of reach. Seneca failed

to find much rhythm in their game.

UTM took a 20-point lead going into the fourth quarter, 52-32.

In the fourth quarter, Seneca tried to shoot their way back into the game, chucking up a lot of threes, but failing. UTM’s Janella Viado and Jade Addai took over the fourth quarter, putting the game away. UTM would not let up, as head coach Salee Johnson-Edwards substitutes the starters in to close out the game.

Respect should go to Seneca for playing until the final seconds, despite being far behind.

UTM completed the series sweep against Seneca, winning 74-53.

As UTM breezes through the rest of their season, they cannot drop focus. Next Saturday, January 19 they face the Algonquin Thunder. In their last encounter with the rival team, the Eagles saw themselves lose 74-80 away from home in a tough contest.

They will have to demonstrate the good ball movement and pressure that was on display today and perform better at the free throw line.

Next week’s home game is certainly one to come out to. The Eagles face the Thunder at the RAWC, next Saturday, tip-off at 1:00 p.m.

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THE MEDIUM 01.13.2020

Khan becomes first Eagle to 1000 points UTM Men’s basketball Zamam Khan makes program history in disapointing loss to Loyalist Knights SARAH-MAY OLDFIELD SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR In 2017, UTM entered its fourth sport in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association: men’s and women’s varsity basketball. The basketball program’s debut brought with it a set of growing pains, but it nonetheless developed to produce exceptional athletes.

On Saturday November 30, 2019, in a rough loss to the Loyalist College Knights, number 12 Zamam Khan made program history, becoming the first UTM varsity basketball athlete to reach 1,000 career points.

There was high energy to start the contest for both teams. The Knights broke the ice first, going on a 7-1 that forced the Eagles into an early time-out. Out of the time-out UTM couldn’t contain the Knights. Defensively, UTM was a step too late. The late defensive pressure against the crisp ball movement of the Knights led to open threes. The Eagles moved the ball, got a couple of great looks at the basket, but weren’t able to score.

Missed calls by the officials and missed open shots gave the Knights the 12-23 lead over UTM. The Eagles began the second quarter with a full-court pressure defence, forcing early turnovers from the Knights. Despite the increased defensive pressure, UTM wasn’t able to get anything in a set offence but made up for it in transition points.

The Knights played more disciplined than UTM, moving the ball and outrebounding the Eagles. Number zero Kyle Boorman grabbed a rebound and put it back up just as the buzzer sounded to end the first half. In a low scoring first half, Eagles were down 25-39 to the visiting Knights, with Zamam just two points away from a spectacular milestone.

UTM was more aggressive to start the second half, but they still weren’t able to hit open shots. While the Eagles struggled to see the ball

CELINE POLIDARIO/UTM ATHLETICS

Zamam Khan reached 1000 career points during a loss for UTM against the Loyalist College Knights.

CELINE POLIDARIO/UTM ATHLETICS

Khan is proud of himself for this achievement and hopes to inspire others to work hard and do well. go through the hoop, the Knights put on a shooting exhibition hitting almost every shot. Transition offence put UTM on a 6-0 run, but the Knights weathered the onslaught and their lead blew to 20. With 4:15 left in the quarter, Zamam ran the length of the court for a layup at the other end, becoming the first UTM varsity basketball athlete to reach 1,000 career points. The basket brought fans and the UTM bench to their feet, and sparked life into the

dry Eagle offence. A suffocating zone press forced the Knights into turnovers. UTM took advantage of the situation and went on a 10-0 run to end the half. The run closed out the quarter with UTM down 12, 52-64.

Number 15 guard-forward Shaquille David took a charge to start the final quarter. The Eagles found their offensive rhythm and cut the Knights’ lead, 59-64. But UTM couldn’t maintain the increased efficiency for long. They got sloppy and

turned the ball over. As the clock winded down UTM had little energy left for one more push. A historic night for UTM and Zamam ended in a blowout: 82-60 for the Loyalist Knights.

Khan, who has accumulated a number of accolades, wasn’t too down after the loss. As a rookie during the 2017-2018 season, and UTM’s basketball program introduction, Khan led the league in points

and in defensive rebounds—496 and 182 respectively. He was second in the league in both rebounds and field goal percentage—244 and 37 percent respectively. After an impressive season performance, Khan was awarded Rookie of the Year, West Division Rookie of the Year, West Division Scoring Champion, OCAA Second Team All-Star and West Division All-Rookie Team.

In his third year with the program, Khan continues to be a strong presence. He now leads the league in assists currently with 52, shooting 38 percent from the field and averaging nearly 39 minutes a game. Already one of the most decorated male athletes UTM has ever had, Khan adds to his legacy with 1000 career points scored.

Third year UTM men’s varsity basketball head coach, Nkosi Adams, spoke nothing but praise for Zamam and this achievement.

“It has been a pleasure coaching Zamam the past three years. He is very deserving of this achievement.

When the program started, we talked to the players about having the opportunity to be in the history books.

It is no surprise that Zamam is the first to do so. He has always represented the program with high character on and off the court. Our staff, student body, and his teammates are very happy for him. I’m glad that his friends and family were able to share this amazing accomplishment with him,” shared Adams.

Khan himself is no doubt proud of the achievement, but also hopes the achievement inspires others. “It’s an honour to be the first to ever reach this milestone. All glory is to God and I hope it inspires future athletes at UTM to work hard and create their own achievements,” said Khan.

Despite a historic night, the UTM Eagles end 2019 and the first half of the season with a loss, but nevertheless look forward to a more successful 2020.

How to be successful in your health goals Here’s how to help you achieve your 2020 health and fitness goals and why many fail to see them through MATHUS COLLINS-EDWIN CONTRIBUTOR In the new year, many people want to make healthier lifestyle changes and set fitness goals as a way to keep them motivated and on track. Many people go to the gym or participate in fitness activities with no real objective, which is why they most often fail.

There are many ways to set fitness goals, including writing down your short-term and long-term goals and making sure to revisit them later.

Short-term goals provide us with an immediate target and are a way to attain big results. Writing out your short-term goals, such as adjusting your eating habits or thinking about things you need to do, help you become more active and will give you the confidence to meet your longterm goals.

Setting long-term goals for a year or two provides us with an overall objective and is a great motivator for im-

KELLSY ANN MENESES/THE MEDIUM

Keeping consistent and revising your long-term goals to fit your short-term needs is key to success. provement. However, writing down your goals is not enough, you need to ensure that you revisit them a few weeks after you start your physical activity. Once you start working out, you may see changes and notice that

you can do things faster and more easily. As you start changing your fitness levels, you need to go back to your goals and make any necessary changes to ensure everything is up to date and revise them along the way.

Having a fresh start and committing to a healthier lifestyle may be a 2020 New Year’s resolution for some.

A few ways to ensure you reach your fitness goals is to make them attainable. Reward yourself and have

fun throughout the process. You are setting yourself up for failure if you make goals that are unrealistic.

Changes require patience and persistence—setting out aggressive goals will only make you frustrated and you will give up in the end.

Rewarding yourself and having fun with your workouts is a key factor. Fitness is a long process. If you feel miserable and dread going to the gym, you will most likely not succeed in your goals. Finding activities that you enjoy, or working out with another person, will help you reach your short-term and long-term goals.

For instance, if you like playing basketball or soccer, you can use these sports as a source of cardio. If dieting is also a part of your goal and you hate green beans, find alternative healthy foods to eat, such as broccoli or cauliflower. The overall point is to have fun with your fitness journey and be consistent throughout the process.