Volume 46, Issue 3

THE MEDIUM

September 23, 2019

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

The Scream: A shout for change A minute of expressing “eco-anxiety” leads the Global Climate strike week

Learn about UTM’s new Mental Health Initiatives

NEWS

RAWC and Career Center introduce pole dancing classes

SATIRE

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Dior’s Sauvage ad appropriates Indigenous culture

FEATURES

MELISSA BARRIENTOS NEWS EDITOR In support of the fight against climate change, UTM is holding a series of events on campus, one of which was The Scream.

The Scream, organized by Greenwood UTM, Blackwood Gallery, Justseeds and supported by the university, is described as a “one-minute expression of eco-anxiety and a call-to-action on climate justice.”

From September 16 to 19, participants gathered in front of the CCT building at noon and screamed in unity for one minute.

“We are the generation who will be the most burdened by the climate crisis. We have been let down by the institutions established by generations before us,” Greenwood UTM said in their mission statement.

“We must force those in power to pay attention to the demands of the people and actively fight against this ongoing crisis,” Greenwood UTM continued. “If our speaking is being ignored, our screaming won’t be.”

The Scream, in a collective effort to support the Global Climate Strike and

the students participating in it, has collected approximately 150 letters of support from UTM students, which will be mailed to elected politicians.

The four-day event also had many students contribute to the bannermaking and t-shirt workshops. Attendees printed approximately 200 t-shirts and made over 300 posters, banners, and placards.

“I think students are often unsure of what they can do and how they can contribute,” says Alison Cooley, the Assistant Curator at Blackwood Gallery. “It can be really powerful to see a student-led action like this bring people together and provide an outlet for collective anxiety, frustration, and hopefully move towards climate action.”

The climate crisis awareness events on campus are organized around the upcoming UN Climate Summit on September 23 in New York.

UTM is taking an active role in climate action by arranging a TEDstyle Climate Change Talk, a Climate Change Summit, and a viewing of the 2018 TIFF selection documentary Anthropocene: The Human Epoch throughout the Global Climate Strike Week.

“Climate change is clearly one of the most, if not the most, important issues of our time,” said UTM VicePrincipal & Dean Amrita Daniere to The Medium. “UTM is committed to embracing sustainability both through research and teaching but also through how we manage and build the campus.”

In light of the student walk-out for the Global Climate Strike on September 20 and 27 in Toronto, Daniere sent out an email to faculty encouraging them to accommodate students should they choose to participate.

“The Strike represents a pedagogic moment that UTM wanted to be part of, especially for the benefit of our students,” continued Daniere. “UTM will participate in many longer-term actions to support addressing climate change as opportunities present themselves.”

In terms of research and study, UTM has initiated the process for new Sustainability research grants focusing on student research, a Sustainability minor in environmental sciences, and an upcoming Sustainability Pathways Certificate.

On campus sustainability, Daniere stated that “our Sustainability Office

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oversees a number of important programs designed to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, divert waste from landfills, and encourage sustainable resource uses.”

“We recently expanded our electric vehicle charging stations on campus,” continued Daniere, “added more solar panels, and our newest building, Maanjiwe nendamowinan, will be certified LEED Silver or better.”

On October 16 to 18, the UTM campus will also host an international conference on sustainability. The conference, called Transdisciplinary Theory, Practice and Action Conference, is organized by Professor Shashi Kant, the director of UTM’s Masters of Science in Sustainability and Management program (MScSM).

“Student participation is pretty lax on this campus so you kind of have to give it a bit of push for students to participate as much as possible,” said Anila Wahid, a fourth-year visual culture and communication student and New Media Assistant at Blackwood Gallery, to The Medium.

“I feel having something like this helps students be more seen and it makes their voices more heard.”

“When they see there are free

Vol 46, No. 3

What’s the best way to approach environmental activism?

COMMENT

Cirque du Soleil’s Alegria comes to Toronto

ARTS

UTM’s Cross Country team places first

SPORTS

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posters and free t-shirts and bannermaking, students see that the university is actually making an effort and accommodating students as much as possible so they can protest and fight for their future.”

A banner-making workshop participant and first-year forensic science student, Trisha Tolentino, told The Medium, “I think it’s important to participate in these kinds of events because it’s something worth fighting for.”

“If the climate change gets to the point where it’s irreversible—and essentially starts human extinction— then we’re all screwed. People should be thinking about that when they are looking at these events and hearing about it in the news,” continues Tolentino.

“If they feel really strong about it the least they can do is talk about it with people and join these kinds of events where they are able to protest and feel safe.”

On September 27, a separate shuttle bus will drive participating UTM students directly to Queen’s Park where the Global Climate Strike, hosted by Fridays for Future Toronto, will take place.

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09.23.2019

Editor | Melissa Barrientos

U of T begins its student mental health initiative The Student Mental Health Task Force held in-person consultations at UTM as a start to the four-part plan MELISSA BARRIENTOS WITH NOTES FROM HARRIS WATKINS ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR U of T’s newly formed Student Mental Health Task Force organized inperson consultations at UTM last week as part of their feedback process to improve student mental health services.

On March 28, U of T President Meric Gertler announced a fourpart plan to enhance student mental health and wellness services to all three campuses.

The first phase of the four-part plan is assembling a Task Force on Student Mental Health, which includes conducting a series of Outreach and Engagement programs to gather feedback on the Task Force’s four key areas of focus.

The four key areas include reviewing the current mental health services at campuses and making recommendations, reviewing the internal coordination of student support groups, reviewing and strengthening the community-stationed organizations and hospitals, and examining the physical spaces of mental health services.

“Student mental health is a serious issue here and at many university campuses,” says Trevor Young, Viceprovost and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine chairing the Student Mental Health Task Force.

“This is a real opportunity for stu-

HAYDEN MAK/THE MEDIUM

A Student Mental Health Task Force has been assembled to assess and assist mental health issues. dents to share their experiences, learn about available services, and work with us to broaden our reach and improve our system.”

On September 19, as part of the Outreach & Engagement plan, inperson consultations were held at UTM with separate time slots allotted to students, staff, and faculty, and a targeted group student engagement session.

The in-person consultations in-

vited the UTM community to share their input and recommendations for the Task Force’s initiative on student mental health in a face-to-face, open discussion environment.

To gather the major concerns for student mental health at UTM, The Medium attended the open group student engagement session led by U of T’s Innovation Hub. Over ten students attended the focus group session at Spigel Hall in

the Davis Building. Upon entering, the Innovation Hub administer assured students their feedback would be confidential.

Students who participated at the group session mainly expressed that student mental health care is hard to access on campus while student enrollment continues to rise.

Issues with the Health & Counselling Centre’s long waiting list, its location at the basement of the Davis

Building, and its website inaccessibility were also brought up.

According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, 75 per cent of people living with mental health problems reported they first surfaced between the ages of 16 and 25.

In Ontario, Health Canada reports that approximately 80 per cent of people aged 18 to 24 are attending college or university.

These statistics show a prevalence of mental illnesses at post-secondary institutions.

As part of the Outreach & Engagement Plan an open online consultation form inviting feedback from the U of T community on the four key focus areas is also available until October 15 on their website.

The other phases of the four-part plan include building a “culture of support” for students with information on student experience gathered by the Undergraduate Student Educational Experience (USEE) Expert Panel and School of Graduate Studies (SGS); working with Toronto health system partners for better student mental health services, and communicating with the provincial government about the need for more university student mental health resources.

The Task Force will gather feedback received from the consultation sessions and will provide recommendations to the President & Provost by December 2019 for the second phase of the four-part plan.

Students & school reps flocked to hit fair The Career Centre’s Graduate and Professional Schools Fair was a smash this year as well TANISHA KUMAR ASSOCIATE NEWS WRITER Last Wednesday, the Career Centre organized the annual Graduate and Professional Schools Fair for all UTM students and recent graduates. The fair was held at the RAWC from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 1060 students attended.

The A/B gym was filled with large booths, pamphlet-filled tables, and free goodies.

“This fair gives all students a chance to speak to different university representatives. Any student who is coming in having done research, can ask about information not available on websites and any other questions,” said Anne Gaiger,

Assistant Director, Employer Relations and Marketing at the Career Centre. “Others get a wide crosssection, at one place, to explore.”

The fair had over one hundred universities and colleges attending, including Harvard University, McGill University, McMaster University, and the University of Southern California.

The fair gave students access to a myriad of academic fields like Law, Medicine, Psychology, and Business.

Although the majority of the booths housed fields of interest relating to medicine and healthcare, some not-so-mainstream fields like Occupational Therapy, Landscape Design, and Forestry were also pres-

ent.

Attending the fair “gives students a chance to form a personal connection with someone from the university they are interested in,” Gaiger told The Medium. “They can also get to know specifics and requirements that may not be mentioned online.”

“Ryerson University has launched its own Law program and U of T an Occupational Therapy program— they have booths here and not a lot of students know of them.”

Rodrick, a fourth-year DEM specialist student, attended the fair to know more about opportunities in his field.

“This is very well organized. I can easily navigate my way and spot the

booths I want to see. I had a particular aim when I came here, and I could get my information easily,” Rodrick told The Medium.

Aman Nadkarni, a third-year finance specialist student, felt that economics and finance were underrepresented, however the available booths were very informative.

“I think doing both online research and visiting fairs like this is very important. It is an investment, an investment in your future and you want to be sure that you have all the right information. This fair is good for that,” Rodrick added.

A representative from the University of Guelph for the Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies was in awe of the attendance and students’ ini-

tiative.

“This is my first time attending this fair and I am very impressed with the student turn-out and how well this fair has been organized. The students who I have spoken with are well researched—they know what they want and what questions they want to ask,” said the representative to The Medium.

The Career Centre organizes three fairs in the academic year: the Get Experience Fair at the beginning of the year, followed by the Graduate and Professional Schools Fair and the Get-Hired Fair in December.

MASTHEAD EDITORS Editor-in-Chief Ali Taha editor@themedium.ca Managing Editor Paula Cho managing@themedium.ca News Melissa Barrientos news@themedium.ca A&E Srijan Sahu arts@themedium.ca Features Fatima Adil features@themedium.ca Sports Sarah-May Edwardo-Oldfield sports@themedium.ca Photo Julia Healy photos@themedium.ca Design Tegwen McKenzie design@themedium.ca Illustrations Tala Alkhaldi illustrations@themedium.ca Copy Jessica Cabral copy@themedium.ca Online Yasmeen Alkoka online@themedium.ca ASSOCIATES News Harris Watkins Saleha Faruque Kayvan Aflaki A&E TBA Features Latisha Lobban Bismah Rizvi Sports Noorbir Bhatia Photo TBA Copy TBA GENERAL STAFF Webmaster William Pau web@themedium.ca Distribution Manager Mduduzi Mhlanga distribution@themedium.ca Ads Manager Amina Safdar ads@themedium.ca COPYRIGHTS All content printed in The Medium is the sole property of its creators, and cannot be used without written consent.

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Week review of election campaigns Past tweets, yearbook pictures, and videos stir doubt on parties running KAYVAN AFLAKI ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR After a week of campaigning, the political landscape leading into Canada’s 43rd federal election on October 21 has slowly shifted with platform reveals and several controversial announcements.

Last Monday, the leader of the People’s Party of Canada (PPC), Maxime Bernier, received an invitation to take part in the two televised debates organized by the independent Leaders’ Debate Commission. The English and French debates will take place on October 7 and 10 respectively.

Leaders’ Debate Commissioner David Johnston initially decided to not invite Bernier as he didn’t meet the requirements to participate in the debates.

The Commission considers three criteria when inviting party leaders to participate in the debates: whether a party is represented by an MP in the House of Commons; whether a party plans to field candidates in at least 90 per cent of ridings; and whether a party has a substantial chance of electing more than one MP. Johnston wrote to Bernier on Monday that he satisfied the last two requirements.

“Based on recent political context, public opinion polls and previous general election results, I consider that more than one candidate of your party has a legitimate chance to be elected,” wrote Johnston.

Johnston’s initial decision, informed by current polling data at the time, was that the PPC did not have a “legitimate chance” to win more than one seat in the House of Commons.

Johnston reportedly gave the PPC time to submit more material to appeal the decision.

Following the announcement, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh publicized his disagreement with the Commission’s decision.

“I think it’s wrong to give Mr. Bernier the platform to spread his hateful and divisive message,” said Singh during a campaign stop in Montreal.

In a letter to the Commission, Singh accused Bernier of “courting racists to run for his party” and for “promoting conspiracy theories.”

Singh also criticized Bernier for his comments on 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg. Bernier referred to Thunberg as being “clearly mentally unstable.”

“Not only autistic, but obsessivecompulsive, [has an] eating disorder, depression and lethargy, and she lives in a constant state of fear,” posted Bernier on Twitter on September 2. He back-tracked his statements shortly after.

Factoring in the “recent political context” and recent polling data, the PPC can potentially win in at least four ridings across the country.

In a video posted to his Twitter account, Bernier welcomed the Commission’s decision to include him in the debates.

“Canadians will be able to look at all the options. I can tell you that the People’s Party is a real, national party with serious reforms that need to be

PHOTO/B’NAI BRITH CANADA

As we get closer to the next federal election, debates and scandals litter the road ahead. done for a freer and more prosperous country,” said Bernier.

A second controversy began to make waves on the campaign trail last Monday when rumours surfaced that Justin Trudeau “had drinks” with former Rebel Media journalist and farright activist, Faith Goldy.

“Only one federal party leader has bought me drinks at Ottawa’s Chateau Laurier,” Goldy tweeted on Monday.

“Any guesses?”

Attached to the tweet was a 2014 image of Goldy and Trudeau as she interviewed him for Sun Media.

Goldy has since deleted the tweet.

Only a few days prior, Liberal Maryam Monsef released a video of Conservative candidate Justina McCaffrey with Goldy, dating their friendship back to 2013.

Goldy was fired from Rebel Media for appearing on a white nationalist podcast during the 2017 Charlottesville riots. She made a bid in Toronto’s mayoral race last year and finished third, receiving 3.40 per cent of the vote.

Andrew Scheer, the leader for the Conservative party, was quick to defend his candidate and question Trudeau’s relationship with Goldy.

“If we’re going to talk about candidates, let’s talk about the Liberal candidate in Papineau [Trudeau’s riding], who broke ethics laws twice, who brought a convicted terrorist along to an official state function, who is now interfering and blocking an RCMP investigation into the SNC-Lavalin

affair. I also look forward to Justin Trudeau’s response to allegations that he took Faith Goldy out for drinks,” Scheer said at a campaign event in British Columbia on Monday.

Scheer has also recently been subject of criticism for his defence of several Conservative candidates who have been accused of making derogatory remarks in the past.

Last week, Scheer answered questions from the media about his candidate for Brampton North, Arpan Khanna, who reportedly made homophobic remarks on Twitter in 2010.

At the same press conference, Scheer defended Ghada Melek, Conservative candidate for MississaugaStreetsville. Malek was rejected as a candidate by the Ontario Progressive Conservative party for her homophobic and Islamophobic online remarks but was accepted to run as a candidate for Scheer’s Conservative Party.

Perhaps the most shocking revelation from the campaign trail emerged last Wednesday evening when TIME published a story after receiving a photo of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wearing a turban and robes.

His face, neck, and hands are covered in dark makeup.

The article reported that the picture was taken at an “Arabian Nights”themed gala and was featured in the 2000-2001 yearbook of West Point Grey Academy, a private day school where Trudeau worked as a teacher.

“Earlier this month, TIME obtained a copy of the yearbook, The

View, with the photograph of Trudeau in brownface from Vancouver businessman Michael Adamson, who was part of the West Point Grey Academy community. Adamson was not at the party, which was attended by school faculty, administrators and parents of students. He said that he first saw the photograph in July and felt it should be made public,” explains the article.

The Liberal Party of Canada confirmed that Trudeau was in fact the individual in the photo.

Speaking to reporters shortly after the photograph surfaced, Trudeau appeared remorseful for his actions.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” said Trudeau. “I should have known better and I didn’t. I’m really sorry.”

When asked by TIME reporters if he thought the photograph was racist, Trudeau replied, “Yes it was. I didn’t consider it racist at the time, but now we know better.”

Two other photographs from separate incidents have since surfaced showing Trudeau in blackface.

At the time of writing, the Conservatives and Liberals are polling at a 34.8 per cent and 33.8 per cent support, respectively. The New Democratic Party are in third with 13.5 per cent support. The Green Party trail behind with 9.6 per cent support. The Bloc Québécois are polling at 4.6 per cent and the People’s Party are at 2.8 per cent. The poll averages collected is per the CBC’s Poll Tracker.

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THE MEDIUM 09.23.2019

H(e)art of U of T celebrates

HUMANS OF UTM

The Hart House downtown celebrates its 100th anniversary SARA YOSHIMI CONTRIBUTOR Hart House at the St. George campus has been celebrating its 100th anniversary throughout the 2019-2020 academic year and last Sunday they held the biggest event of the year so far.

The Open (Hart) House event invited students, alumni, and residents to visit the building and enjoy the activities scheduled for the day including reunion gatherings, craft workshops, and panel discussions.

Hart House is known for its leisure, art, culture, fitness, diversity, and— most historically—its debates.

The creation of Hart House began with an idea from Vincent Massey, who did his undergraduate studies at Victoria College in the University of Toronto. Massey continued his studies at the University of Oxford and upon returning to Toronto he was inspired to gift U of T a building that encouraged students to pursue a social and recreational life.

With high hopes Massey named the building after his grandfather, Hart.

“Through creative engagement with the arts and culture, debates and dialogue, recreation and wellness, or community-engaged learning, Hart House provides students an opportunity to navigate different ideas and perspectives, and to connect to causes and purposes greater than themselves,” said U of T President Meric Gertler in a message to the 100th Hart House anniversary website.

“Hart House,” continued Gertler, “has become an integral part of the cultural and intellectual landscape of the University and the surrounding city, and is peerless in inspiring change, provoking thought and helping to shape the artistic and social tapestry of the local community.”

AIMEE PADILLO/THE MEDIUM

The famous Hart House is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

The Great Hall, located in the east wing of the House, is where many historical and famous debates have taken place like John F. Kennedy’s debate with Stephen Lewis on November 14, 1957.

Many theatrical, symphonic, and orchestral performances have also been held there.

Evelyn, a second-year St. George student studying statistics and music, spoke of her experience with the Great Hall as part of the Hart House Singers.

She performed in the summer of 2019 with her fellow peers on the theme of “Journeying.”

Evelyn called the experience “one of the most unforgettable memories of [her] life.” She continues to volunteer at Hart House Singers events and tries to spend as much time at the Hart House as she can.

Hart House was originally meant for men’s recreational, social, and academic use only. Although now anyone can enter, women were originally not granted access into the building.

Massey believed that a coeducational facility would ruin the collegi-

ality of how Hart House was supposed to be and included the male-only requirement with his donation of the building.

By the early 1950s, the restriction created controversy and people began to protest, demanding admission entry for women. After Massey’s death, administrators altered his plans and allowed women to become members in 1972.

Currently, Hart House is at the center of the St. George campus. Students from all three U of T campuses pay a mandatory incidental fee to Hart House of $6.02 per year ($3.01 per semester).

This allows UTM students to receive a discount to see performances in the Great Hall, host events held by student societies, and provide fitness activities at St. George’s historical building.

So, raise a glass and have a toast to the 100th anniversary of one of the oldest buildings in Toronto, and to which improved the student body’s social and recreational life on the St. George campus.

Taxi owners sue Mississauga Taxi license owners file a $100 million lawsuit against the city KAYVAN AFLAKI ASSOCIATE NEWS WRITER Taxi drivers are suing the City of Mississauga for $100 million dollars for the damage caused by ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft.

Back in March, taxi license plate owners asked the City Council for compensation for their income loss in the form of $50,000 per licence.

The request cited the city’s decision to implement the Transportation Network Company (TNC) pilot project, which permitted Uber and Lyft to operate on city roadways. The motion passed on March 22, 2017 with a vote of 7 to 4.

The TNC was originally meant to gather data on ride-sharing companies and rider-usage but was extended on January 1, 2019 to an interim period not exceeding 12 months.

Councillor Ron Starr, whom sits on the TNC committee, said to The Star that there are more people using Uber and Lyft than was expected and so an extension was granted.

“The argument as I see it from

them is that the municipalities put them into that situation, it was the municipalities that wanted a better industry, to control the type of vehicles, the safety aspect, inspections, fees, and didn’t do any of that for TNCs,” said Starr.

Taxi drivers contend that the TNC project has devastated the traditional taxi industry.

“Our lawsuit seeks to mitigate the gross injustice we have suffered” writes taxi license plate owner and industry spokesperson Peter Pellier to Taxi News.

“While sympathetic to our plight,” continued Pellier, “the city demurred, claiming their hands were tied by provisions contained in the Municipal Act that prevent them paying any compensation whatsoever. This left us with no choice but to sue.”

Pellier argues that Uber and Lyft completely bypassed city regulations like the Public Vehicle Licensing Bylaw, while taxi license owners, who followed the rules, suffered.

A taxi license owner for 40 years, Pellier emphasized that the city’s deci-

sion to regulate ride-sharing services has affected the value of the taxi industry and taxi license owners’ livelihood.

“Given free rein, Uber quickly captured a lion’s share of the vehicle for-hire market at our considerable expense,” writes Pellier. “The city’s decisions on how to manage the TNCs have directly resulted in the loss of 70 per cent of the taxi market share.”

As a result, license owners have complained that the value of taxi license plates has severely diminished.

“The loss is real, and it’s considerable,” Pellier told The Globe and Mail. “They used to be worth around $200,000, and now they sell for $10,000.”

In Quebec, the provincial government faced a similar situation and decided to compensate taxi drivers $1,000 to $46,700 per permit.

In Toronto, taxi owners and operators launched a $1.7-billion lawsuit in the summer of 2018 against the city, alleging the improper regulation of the private transportation industry.

“Throughout my undergrad life, I always felt like something was missing in my university experience. During my freshman year, I made a point to go to all the parties everyone else was going to and tried to fit in. I didn’t want to be an outsider. Eventually, I started to dislike being around people. My grad school experience in UTM so far has brought me a lot of happiness and comfort. I have not been this comfortable around my peers for a very long time and I am so grateful to my colleagues for being so open and welcoming, not only to me but also to everyone else in that class. Maybe I’ve found my tribe - a tribe of like-minded people whose ultimate goal is to save the world from ourselves. I care for these people, and I know they care for me.”

September 12, 2019.

Police Information.

A resident student reported they saw a male carrying a knife on campus.

The male was approached by campus police and readily agreed to surrender the knife to Campus Police. It was taken by Campus Police for destruction.

September 14, 2019.

Liquor License Act. An intoxicated student was reported to Campus Police. Campus Police attended the residence and the student was found to be underage. A Provincial Offence Notice was issued.

September 14, 2019.

Suspicious Person.

A student reported they saw a male peer into their residence window.

Campus police arrived immediately to the area but the male was gone on arrival.

September 16, 2019.

Motor Vehicle Collision.

A student reported that while they were parking another car reversed out into them and drove off. The student was advised to attend the Collision Reporting Centre.

September 17, 2019.

Traffic Complaint.

A student reported someone driving erratically on campus. The driver was cautioned by Campus Police that a further complaint may result in him being prohibited from bringing a vehicle onto campus.

September 17, 2019.

Police Assistance.

Campus Police and ECSpeRT attended the library for a student experiencing medical distress. Mississauga Fire and EMS also attended. The student was transported to hospital for further assessment.

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).

09.23.2019

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Ali Taha

Editorial

Outrage and the climate crisis Measured and articulate speech—that is the benchmark of a reasoned and wellintentioned speaker, or at least it should be. For some people, when it comes to climate change reform, talking about the issue is just not enough.

Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old environmental activist from Sweden, has become known around the world for being a strong, albeit young, advocate for global climate change reform.

She rose to fame in 2018 after taking time off school to demonstrate outside the Swedish parliament, holding a sign that read “school strike for the climate.”

Her protest gave way to “the school strike for climate,” an international movement composed of students who are taking time off from school to participate in protests to demand action that will prevent further global warming and climate change.

Last Wednesday, Thunberg appeared in front of Congress before a hearing on climate change. In her speech, the young girl spoke about how the issue has become an “existential emergency” facing the human race, and that political leaders must come together to solve the crisis before it’s too late.

“Stop pretending that you, your business idea, your political party, or plan, will solve everything,” said a resolute Thunberg. “We must realize that we don’t have all the solutions yet. Far from it.”

Although this is a sentiment echoed by many climate activists that have come before her, Thunberg’s determination, quiet resolve, and youth bring a gripping urgency to her words.

Thunburg has become the face of a movement, and a powerful one at that.

Her presence on the world stage is underscored by her youthfulness.

She represents the next generation.

Climate change is truly a global problem. At the end of the day it affects us all, and can only be solved when we work together.

The Paris Agreement, which established a long-term goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature below 2°C, set an important precedent for states to agree that climate change reform is important. However, because no specific targets for carbon emissions were set for each country, the results of the agreement have been largely fruitless.

There must be a next step. Positive sentiments mean nothing if we settle for inaction.

Many environmental activists, specifically Thunburg, articulate their frustration with the inaction on climate reform by using apocalyptic language and dire statistics to shape their narrative. How should one react when they are told we only have “18 months left until the earth is irreparably damaged”? Thunburg’s rhetoric is meant to spur a sense of urgency that leads to policy action. On the other hand, voicing concerns over the climate crisis without clarity on a path to action is unproductive. Blatant anger and outrage will not do.

Last week Greenwood UTM, a group of students affiliated with The Blackwood Gallery to promote environmental initiatives on campus, hosted a fourday event called “The Scream,” where they did just that. Each day at noon, the students would gather together and scream for one minute to express their “eco-anxiety.”

In their mission statement, Greenwood UTM argues that “we must force those in power to pay attention to the demands of the people and actively fight against this ongoing crisis. If our speaking is being ignored, our screaming won’t be.”

Screaming is not a proactive response to climate change. It only adds to the noise of an already divisive issue. And “eco-anxiety,” however real, is debilitating. Instead, we should stay optimistic while emboldening the next generation to fight for a climate solution.

We must stay civil and air out our grievances in calm, coherent discussion.

Rigorous debate on the solutions of climate change should be encouraged, and grounded in scientific fact. Let’s welcome everyone to talk through these issues and find some common ground.

Letter to the Editor On Mass Violence in North America In her article published on September 16, “The Gun Epidemic: Mass Violence in America,” Paula Cho brings up isolated American incidents from as far back as 1999 and juxtaposes them with the recent gun violence in Toronto to push for reducing the rights of law-abiding citizens to own firearms in both of these countries.

This is problematic for two reasons.

Firstly, banning legal acquirement of

firearms in no way prevents the illegal acquiring of guns; for example Faisal Hussein’s handgun used in the 2018 Danforth shooting was illegally obtained and it is highly unlikely the Toronto gangs go through the arduous Canadian RPAL process to procure their own. Secondly, any proposed disenfranchisement of the citizen body needs to be viewed with wariness as it opens the way to a tyrannical government, and we are seeing

that, along with gun control, speech restrictions are now being pushed for across the West by creating arbitrary categories of “hate speech”—two sides of the same coin illustrating a dangerous trend.

Dominik Wrona 3rd year Information Security Specialist, Classical Civilisations Minor

Going beyond ‘brownface’ How the political standard we hold politicians to must change

PHOTO/CBC

Photos surfaced of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in brownface and the public is torn.

TOMASZ GLOD STAFF WRITER Last week, TIME magazine released a photo of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau donning “brownface” and wearing a turban. Since then, it has come to light that he has worn brown/ black face on at least three separate occasions. Many Canadians were outraged, disappointed and quite frankly, ashamed. With all of this in mind, and with an election quickly approaching, many individuals find themselves at a crossroads regarding how they should proceed with their ballots.

As significant as this event is for many people—for others it just isn’t.

Trudeau’s actions, as hurtful as they are for some, are being dismissed.

Some supporters are willing to put up with their leader in hopes of securing government but quite frankly, these revelations are not going to be deciding factors between a Conservative or Liberal government, instead they’re going to be deciding factors between a majority or minority Liberal government.

Most individuals that are going to vote in the upcoming election have already made up their mind as to how they’re going to cast their ballot.

For Conservatives, these events have solidified their opinions on Trudeau.

For Liberals, Trudeau is still the most capable leader they have, with many citing that they must vote for “the best of the worst.”

Trudeau and his actions have brought the many things that Canadians would prefer to avoid to the forefront. Trudeau failed to live up to the expectations that he created for himself. He was the poster boy for change, equity, and social justice, but his words never materialized into action. During the 2015 election Trudeau positioned himself as an individual who will defend the climate, try to further relations with Indigenous peoples, and strengthen our democratic institutions. All things that we have failed to see materialize.

Not following through with campaign promises seems to be a norm established by politicians, but just like how students face consequences if they do not complete an assignment, politicians need to be held accountable for their actions and inactions.

As the election draws near, we must recognize who it is that’s issuing his report card.

Canadians, and specifically young Canadians, must come to terms with

the power that they have as critical thinkers, as visionaries, and as voters. Irrespective of what people think about Trudeau, it is imperative that we hold people in power accountable. When citizens set standards for politicians—or politicians set their own—the citizens must stay alert and be aware of whether the principles are being met. The apathetic nature of Canadian politics reflects the lack of judgement and engagement that youth have when looking at these critical issues.

Youth today need to recognize their abilities to influence change. It exists inherently. It is not something that needs to be validated by the institutions that we are trying to reform.

Entering this upcoming election, I hope that, firstly, people vote, but do so after learning about the full context of any narrative. Secondly, people of all ages should demand more from their governments, whilst realizing that their ability to criticize is distinct from their ability to participate in constructive dialogue.

But most critically, demand more from people in power. Demand honest and clear action.

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Learning the pardoxes of wu-wei The practices of wu-wei can bring contentment, peace, and understanding to our everyday lives MED KANE CONTRIBUTOR

In this world, there are endless paradoxes that permeate through society, sometimes capable of causing existential crises. Two such paradoxes are found in the Daoist principle wu-wei.

Its translations range from “action through inaction” to “non-doing” to “not acting against the nature of things.” The constant thread that links these translations is the idea that by doing less we can accomplish more. At first, this idea seems ludicrous. How can we do more by doing less? From biographies of great leaders to the principles of physics, the idea that the more force we apply, the more we can accomplish has been instilled in us. However, appearances are deceiving.

To use force for attainment, we must apply it with the hands of a surgeon and not the hands of a fiveyear-old child. When performing surgery, a surgeon is precise and takes the least amount of action in order to minimize the chance for error whereas the hands of children are chaotic.

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Action through inaction and non-doing are what encompass the Daoist principle of wu-wei.

Much like rice is threshed to remove the outer hull and stalk, the model practitioner of wu-wei strips away their worries and meaningless actions so that they can act without burdens. They do not constrain themselves to the pressures of their

surroundings but rather express their inner natures. An acorn seed does not try to become a dandelion and proponents of wu-wei do not undertake meaningless action. They go with the flow of life much like the fall leaves fly with the wind.

The second inherent paradox of wu-wei is that it requires great finesse and effort to accomplish. Accomplishing wu-wei means that we must apply effort without being attached to the outcome of such action.

Yet, our brains are constantly under

pressure from the stimuli in our everyday lives such as exams, family, careers and so forth. We scheme on how to get an “A” in psychology class, fret over impressing our parents, and go through the effort of securing internships.

Yet, life always reminds us that inevitably we cannot always get what we want. That goal to achieve an “A” in psychology is thwarted by the death of a parent, and thoughts of obtaining an internship become shadowed by grief and mourning.

We cannot always control our final destiny, thus we should focus on what we can control: our inner thoughts, emotions, and actions. An oft used expression is “the more you squeeze, the more sand slips through your fingers.” By clinging too hard, we only accelerate our losses. Wuwei teaches us to let go.

No matter how much we dream, we humans are confined to a frail sack of blood and bones. The shadow of death is ever looming so we grasp on to life with an iron grip. We worry over the minute details of our every day, but the great irony is that by doing this we only accelerate our own demise.

To be truly free, learn to let go.

In defense of new hip-hop: mumble rap With the rise of artists like Lil Uzi Vert, it’s time for hip-hop purists to embrace change, not reject it RYAN OLEGARIO CONTRIBUTOR You have likely heard of the term “mumble rap,” and even if you have not heard of the term, you have definitely heard the music. The YouTube comments under many classic rap songs would lead you to believe that “mumble rap” is some sort of malignant tumor, hellbent on destroying the sacred hip-hop of the past. The truth is quite the opposite—mumble rap has enriched hip-hop much, much more than it has harmed it.

What we know as “mumble rap,” “SoundCloud rap,” or “melodic rap” is actually too diverse to be pigeonholed into just one category. The one unifying factor is the emphasis on melody, emotion, and effects like auto-tune, rather than on the lyricism associated with rappers of old. Mumble rap, just like more “traditional” hip-hop, can be uplifting, tragic, and fun. It is a fresh take on hip-hop, a new way for artists (overwhelmingly young people of colour) to express themselves. Artists commonly labeled as mumble rappers include Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, Future, and Young Thug.

Unfortunately, this new style has been met with harsh criticism from the “old guard” of the hip-hop culture. Eminem, a legendary figure in hip-hop, took aim at mumble rappers on his track “The Ringer,” rapping, “I heard your mumbling but it’s jumbled

PHOTO/GRAMMY.COM

Hip-Hop is an ever-changing field that is moving forward with mumble rap despite protests. in mumbo-jumbo.”

Funkmaster Flex, the host of the tenured Hot 97 radio station, declared that “mumble rappers are finished” while insulting stereotypical mumble rappers Bow Wow and Lil Yachty. Even back in 2009, Jay-Z railed against auto-tune on a track called—wait for it—”Death of AutoTune” (Clearly, auto-tune outlived its prognosis).

It’s not hard to see why the old guard is so upset about mumble rap.

Older generations have always been resistant to whatever young people

are doing. Thousands of years ago, even Aristotle complained about how young people “think they know everything.” To artists like Eminem, “mumble rap” is an insult to the culture of hip-hop that they helped form.

But that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Mumble rap isn’t degeneration— it’s evolution.

What we see in mumble rap is music that pushes the boundaries of a genre. The melodies and emotions associated with it allow artists to express themselves sincerely and pow-

erfully. Lil Uzi Vert’s “XO Tour Llif3” is a prime example of this, a depressing breakup song with undertones of suicidal ideation. When he croons, “I might blow my brains out” and sings, “All my friends are dead / Push me to the edge,” it’s an emotional experience that would be impossible under the restrictions of “old-school” hip-hop.

There is also a surprising amount of introspection in mumble rap: Future’s “Perkys Calling” is a tragedy about his losing battle with addiction.

He laments how all of his material wealth means nothing to him under

the shadow of hard drugs, all while slurring as if he had taken the drugs right before recording. It’s terrifying, but you can’t help but nod your head to the beat.

That being said, mumble rap is not just rappers singing about life gone wrong—it is also often good music to lift one’s spirits. Playboi Carti’s music is not terribly deep, with most of his lyrics being “Huh?” and “What?”, but there is something hypnotic about Carti’s simplicity that drives any crowd into a frenzy. Young Thug and Gunna’s triumphant anthem “Hot” can make anyone feel on top of the world, even though they likely cannot understand half of what is being said. Simply put, playing 21 Savage at a party will get a much more positive reception than playing some Pete Rock deep cuts.

We should not stifle the creativity of this new wave of hip-hop. They are pushing the envelope in ways that musicians of the past never could have imagined. It is true: mumble rap is new, and new things can often be scary. But just because Migos exists does not mean that Tupac and Biggie stopped existing. If mumble rap is not your cup of tea, simply change the channel, and let the new generation have their music.

And if you are really that concerned about not being able to understand them, just Google the lyrics.

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Genetic engineering and the end of the world In the next decade, CRISPR technology may change the fabric of the human species for good DHAIRYA BHATT CONTRIBUTOR Genetic engineering. I realize that this topic has been beaten to death in popular culture, but I don’t think the focus has been on the actual technology—really only the flashy outcomes for lay people. I can understand the need to simplify and sensationalize for entertainment, but decoupling the effects from the cause is, at best, ignorant and, at worst, misleading.

The reason that genetic engineering is popular today is largely because of the discovery of CRISPR. But it’s important to note that the field itself is not new; nearly all commercial forms of insulin are from genetically engineered bacteria.

Prior to Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR), technologies like Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFNs) were somewhat random. While it was likely that the gene you wanted to manipulate would be inserted into a specific location, it was unclear where in the host’s DNA it would end up. Far more often than not, the gene would end up either in the middle of another host gene (likely lethal) or end up in the junkyard of the host genome, which is effectively useless. Both problems effectively made genetic engineering on humans far too risky.

The introduction of CRISPR, however, has completely changed the field.

CRISPR works similarly to ZFNs, except that it has a very specific targeting domain so that the genes almost always end up in the location that you want them to. While there are still minor kinks to correct, the technique will likely be perfected within this decade. While this technique is no doubt one of the finest inventions in the field of biology, even the person that discovered it, Dr. Jennifer Doudna, is calling for the halting of research in the field until bioethics has a chance to catch up.

The terms “designer babies” and “gene drive” are very common buzzwords; however, they genuinely do present ethical challenges for us a species. For example, most people wouldn’t have a problem using CRISPR to eradicate debilitating genetic conditions or destroying the ability of insect-carried diseases to infect people.

The problem arises when we begin to consider what counts as pathology, there is an argument that variation from societal, social or biological normality makes people unique.

Surely something like schizophrenia or leukemia is morally permissible to eradicate, but what about autism, homosexuality or intersexuality? It’s a relatively short slippery slope before you end up at eugenics.

Another cause for concern is the ecological impact of transgenics. Using the CRISPR based Gene Drive

AREK SOCHA/PIXABAY.COM

Researchers are investigating possible gene editing using CRISPR. construct, you can force all offspring of a transgenic organism to carry your gene and their offspring, and then their offspring. This is ideal in a lab; however, if a single individual is accidentally released into the environment, it could easily damage genetic diversity, and permanently disturb the careful equilibrium of an ecosystem.

There are instances in which not using cheap, readily available technology like CRISPR to cure or prevent diseases may be unethical. For example, the technology to destroy the means by which malaria spreads

already exists. Is it really ethical to allow a disease that affects over 200 million people a year (90% of whom are children) to exist? Are there limits that we shouldn’t cross? Until we have those discussions and draw the lines, research in genetic engineering is effectively playing with fire, analogous to research in nuclear fission during the Cold War. Like a thermonuclear bomb, releasing CRISPR technology into the world, whether using it for humans or other animals, is not an action that we can reverse, and its results could be equally catastrophic to life on earth.

These discussions aren’t entirely hypothetical by the way; the first genetically modified human babies were born in China last year.

To clarify, I am not against progress in CRISPR research. I am a huge fan of the technology and I believe it can be an invaluable resource to improve the world. However, as a student in this field, I am concerned with the ramifications of this techology, enough that it gives me pause. The public discussion surrounding genetic engineering and legislation desperately needs to catch up to the science.

Studying the pomodoro technique Introducing a new technique of studying that will help you succeed and increase productivity MEHRSHAD BABAEI STAFF WRITER Throughout all of mankind, we’ve questioned our existence, purpose, and most importantly, what we’re going to eat next. But there’s a question we often consider yet never attempt to answer: how do I stop binge-watching Netflix and do my work?

For some, they put off work and procrastinate, while others simply struggle to get things done in a timely manner.

We’re going to hit two birds with one stone: time itself. You often hear “time is money” but for our purposes, time is tomato—pomodoro in Italian (you’re welcome).

So what is The Pomodoro Technique? In the late 1980s, a man by the name of Francesco Cirillo decided to wave the white flag and work with time, as opposed to against it. He developed a revolutionary time-management tool. This technique allows one to use time and not race against it by not only implementing structure and planning, but also taking into account human function & behaviour.

This is how the technique works in a nutshell: begin by identifying a task that you need to work on, set a timer for 25 minutes and begin working.

When the timer rings, stop working and put a checkmark on a piece of paper— you’ve just completed a pomo-

HANNAH OLINGER/UNSPLASH.COM

Try out the Pomodoro Technique for a simplistic form of time management and efficient studying. doro. Take a five minute break. After you’ve completed four pomodoros (or four checkmarks), take a 30-minute break. After your long break, reset and repeat until your task is complete.

Now let’s discuss the practicalities of the technique and how the structure, as simple as it is, allows us to maximize our productivity.

An important aspect of The Pomodoro Technique is the short-break system. These five-minute breaks are there to help you concentrate and combat boredom. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that brief diversions from a task can dramatically improve one’s ability to focus on that given task for a longer period of time. Alejandro Lleras, the

study lead and psychology professor, explained that “prolonged attention to a single task actually hinders performance.” He concluded that brief mental breaks actually help the individual stay focused.

Furthermore, the work-breakwork pattern keeps one motivated.

How many times have you given up on work because you felt so drained and bored? Recall that the longer we work without any interruptions, the worse we perform. There’s more: researchers also found that, concurrently, there’s less of an incentive to actually complete the task at hand. In their book, The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World, Dr. Gazzaley and Dr. Rosen, a neurosci-

entist and psychologist, discuss why breaks are essential for productivity.

What they found through their extensive research is that short breaks drive the individual to work harder and get things done. These breaks not only allow you to address your distractions at an appropriate time but also enable your brain to get better at preventing them when you’re focused during your pomodoro.

The coolest part–this technique fundamentally changes your idea of time–no, not that it’s an illusion— merely your perception. Let me explain.

Awarded with the Nobel Prize in literature in 1927, French philosopher Henri Bergson, in his Time and

Free Will: An Essay on the Immediate Data of Consciousness (1889), explored the concept of time and various perceptions of it. He discussed its dimensional aspect—what we measure—noting that such perception is ultimately what elicits time-related anxiety, where we put ourselves under pressure, with a constant worry of the lack of time.

However, viewing time as a series of (planned) events—do ‘x’; go to ‘y’—allows us to perceive time as a means of completing tasks and achieving goals, a tool if you will.

Furthermore, with this mindset we become aware of how our precious time passes, consequently increasing our productivity and concentration; and this is especially the case with the 25-minute pomodoro intervals.

They take into account your attention span as well as provide a stable system where you’re not overworking yourself. A good comparison would be to that of weightlifting—taking one to two-minute breaks between exercise sets lets you recover and efficiently train the muscle(s).

Here’s a fun fact: the very technique discussed was used to write this article.

Now go and grab a timer, a tomato (optional), put on your productivity glasses and get to work. Time is tomato.

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SATIRE Donating blood UTM introduces pole dancing becomes tedious ERIN DELANEY CONTRIBUTOR After years of lacklustre donations, the UTM blood drive is announcing a new initiative to accept thoughts and prayers.

“Donating blood can be cumbersome,” a nursing student told The Medium. “Our screening process takes about an hour for first-time donations, and even then we have to reject a lot of people due to health reasons. The possibility of rejection scares away a lot of would-be donors, which is why I think the ‘Thoughts and Prayers’ initiative is so great. They can do it without even thinking too deeply about it.”

Certain aspects of donation have been controversial in the past, like stem cell donation, but the concept of giving thoughts and prayers to those experiencing tragedies is so normalized that no one has the chance to get offended.

“Usually when someone is in

dire need of a blood transfusion, we have to express-ship bags of blood to them, which is gross when you think about it, and bad for the environment! With the new ‘Thoughts and Prayers’ initiative we can send them an email or even an emoji to sooth their emotional and physical woes,” the nursing student continued.

While Canada is still suffering from a grim blood supply shortage, the supply of thoughts and prayers has been flooded with contributions. Canadian Blood Services have now transferred these donations to the United States, where the countless mass shootings require a great number of thoughts and prayers.

If you’re interested in giving your thoughts and prayers, be sure to Tweet, Instagram, or Snapchat the Canadian Blood Services, or simply go to their Facebook page and smash that like button. The current exchanges rate values 1 like as 1 prayer.

Gertler denied student services

BRIAN RANKIN/THE VARSITY

Meric Gertler is rich, white, and a marginalized student.

GORDON CORK CONTRIBUTOR After standing in line for three hours to schedule an appointment with a Student Success representative at the Office of the Registrar, U of T President Meric Gertler was denied student services aimed at low-income students due to a burdensome salary of $400,000.

“Just because I make $400,000 doesn’t give these posers the right to discriminate against me,” an embarrassed Gertler had to say.

We caught up with a peer men-

tor who aided Gertler with his study plan. “I can understand [Gertler’s] frustration. It was very difficult for me to schedule his golf games in so they wouldn’t overlap with his metime.”

Gertler reportedly ran from the Registrar’s Office in shame, shouting things like “I deserve equal treatment” and “student services are inaccessible.”

The President is now blonde and lobbying the university administration for better, more accessible mental health services.

PHOTO/PIXABAY.COM

Pictured is Jennifer Lopez in her new hit film “Paying Off Student Debt”.

ERIN DELANEY CONTRIBUTOR In an attempt to help prepare students for the professional world, the Recreational Athletic Wellness Centre and Career Centre are teaming up to offer pole dancing classes. This new initiative comes after the Career Centre received multiple alumni complaints of the school failing to provide more practical skills for the workplace.

“After I graduated with a degree in Art History, I couldn’t find any work except for the night shift at Diamonds Gentlemen’s Club,” said one alumna.

“I really had to rely on the training the job gave me, since no one was willing to discuss the colonial influence on the male gaze while I gave them a lap

dance. Feels like I wasted four years when I could’ve been here. I would’ve been able to do a carousel spin by now.”

A spokesperson from the Career Centre told The Medium, “Our main goal is to encourage the professional development of all of our students, and we now realize that in today’s economy, we need to prepare students for all types of careers, whether it is sex work, food couriering, or the noble career of dog walking. It’s 2019.

The workplace is no longer an office— it could be your car, or an app, or a VIP private room.”

The classes promise to help you develop valuable professional skills, like navigating a hostile work environment, managing money, dressing for

success, nailing a first impression, and executing a 360 scorpion twist while nude.

The reaction to this initiative has been intense, with scantily clad students flocking to the class in droves, causing the course to suffer from massive waitlists. This overwhelming demand for pole dancing classes has led the RAWC to add two more class sessions and enforce a stricter dress code.

After the success of the initial class, the Career Centre is planning on offering workshops in various other fields. Course titles include “How to Secure a Sugar Daddy,” “Claiming Your Corner,” and “Camgirl 101.”

UTM to build pipeline through MN building GORDON CORK CONTRIBUTOR After months of protests, the University of Toronto will advance their plans to build an oil access pipeline through the Maanjiwe Nendamowinan building. The university will fund the $3.7 billion project by selling three cars in the CCT garage that were left behind by international students after they graduated.

As a final gesture of activism, students screamed outside Maanjiwe Nendamowinan to express their “oil anxiety.” Unfortunately, the shriek-

ing on campus could not be heard over the sound of crude oil rushing underground.

Last week, president Meric Gertler signed orders to remove trees, animals, and sociology students from Outer Circle road for construction equipment to gain access to the Maanjiwe Nendamowinan building. The pipeline will ultimately bring oil from Maanjiwe Nendamowinan to Square One. Students who study on the academic reserve of Maanjiwe Nendamowinan fear for their well-being once the pipeline is built.

“I have been studying here since the beginning of my undergraduate career,” said first-year anthropology student Jacob Collier. “This pipeline threatens my existence as a student, and as a human being.”

Maanjiwe Nendamowinan natives are also fearful that the university won’t stop at the construction of the pipeline. They predict that UTM will run them out of their home land as the university did to the people of the credit.

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Editor | Srijan Sahu

Alegria: A transcendental performance Cirque du Soleil’s current show Alegria came to Toronto and offered audiences an other-worldly experience DANICA TENG CONTRIBUTOR The circus is officially in town.

By Toronto’s waterfront, the renowned Cirque du Soleil has made Ontario Place its home for the next few months to perform their show Alegría.

The peculiar sight of an enormous tent, decorated in blue and white swirls, seems inviting to those who walk along the lakeshore. Banners of green-feathered faces and odd characters surround the area. Stringed lights hang even in the daytime, filling the crowd with all the excitement a circus has to offer.

From September 12 to November 24, Cirque du Soleil is in Toronto performing one of their most popular shows. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Franco Dragone’s iconic 1994 version, they’ve chosen to reinvent it in a new way while keeping the main essence of the original.

During the performance, the story itself is not laid out for its audience, as there’s barely any dialogue. They show their tale through actions and acrobatics. In a behind-the-scenes video, stage director Jean-Guy Legault clarifies the story: the piece follows a kingdom that suffers the loss

PHOTO/CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

Cirque du Soleil has arrived in Toronto to perform the 25th anniversary version of Alegria. of its king. A bizarre character known as Mr. Fleur, the king’s jester, tries to take over the position of power—a symbol which is represented by a glowing scepter. A group of youths, known as the Bronx, tear away from the kingdom’s old ways and challenge the new authority.

Through its fantastical storytelling, Alegría showcases a theme of resilience, as Legault notes in the video. “[Alegría’s] message is still relevant today,” he says. “[It’s] a desire

for change that can be felt throughout the world.” Alegría is a Spanish word meaning happiness and joy. The show takes this word to display a great expression of hope and change from the younger generation as they go against the fixed visions of the past. It conveys an inspirational message, as the fight in their world parallels the one in our own.

The vivacious nature in which the artists perform with is as mesmerizing as the creative storytelling. The

moment you step into Cirque du Soleil’s tent, the Big Top, you enter a different world—a fantastical world in which fiction comes to life. It was hard to take my eyes off the stage as each of the various acts seemed humanly impossible. Every performance, like Tuione (Onè) Tovo’s insane fire knife dance and Elena Lev’s shocking flexibility with hula-hoops, kept me watching with wonder. In between the acrobatics, the story also includes quirky, comedic acts which

are truly enjoyable and wholesome.

What fascinates me most about Alegría are the artists themselves.

Pure joy and liveliness animate their faces. They catch audience eyes with unique costumes and beautifully painted makeup. With every jump and every fall, my mind kept contemplating the idea of trust. It’s amazing to think about how much trust they must have in each other to accomplish these feats. The dedication and efforts that Cirque du Soleil puts into Alegría is evident and their hard work paid off.

For me, every element of the show comes together through the music.

The impressive live instrumentals and singing are captivating, to the point where it feels enchanting. The songs convey such strong emotions that match the passion of the artists, as they fly through the air or play with the limits of the human body.

As it was my first time watching, Alegría was a great introduction to the world of Cirque du Soleil. It’s not often that we get to leave reality, but Cirque du Soleil gives us that chance (especially with their student discount). I look forward to the next time I get to see that glimpse of another realm again.

Lilly Singh’s refreshing late night debut The YouTube star has fit in comfortably in the white, male-dominated genre of late-night talk show hosting VINNEY WONG CONTRIBUTOR At 30 years old, Lilly Singh has become one of the most influential figures in media. The Canadian YouTube sensation with 14 million subscribers is the first queer woman of colour to host her own late-night show on a major network. She is also one of the youngest late-night hosts in NBC history. The network, who boasts Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers as their late-night talents, is putting their faith in Singh to diversify their audience and bring in fresher perspectives on socio-political topics.

A Little Late with Lilly Singh, which made its debut on NBC and YouTube on Monday, served as a perfect introduction for Singh and the type of comedy she will be showcasing throughout the season. Singh opened the show with her rapping about how she’s not like “other Jimmy’s” on late night. The cold open is reminiscent of her content on YouTube which features satirical sketches about her life as an Indian-Canadian. Singh’s rapping and acting serves as a reminder

PHOTO/TORONTO STAR

Lilly Singh is setting records and making Canada proud with her new late night talk show on NBC. that she’s not your typical network TV star—she’s a YouTuber looking to reinvent the late-night genre.

Singh’s show does not follow the conventions of other late-night shows, which focus on daily news headlines and timely segments that need to be written, revised, and edited before taping. Instead, A Little Late will be pre-taped over the course of three months and released incrementally. This format allows Singh to

produce content that are easily serviceable and accessible for viewers of all demographics—a strategy she had implemented throughout her YouTube career.

In each half-hour episode of A Little Late, Singh opens the show with a monologue covering a wide range of trending topics before transitioning into a comedic segment at her desk.

The latter portion of the show features interviews with celebrity guests,

who join Singh in playing games, comedy sketches, and field pieces.

Mindy Kaling was the first guest on Monday’s show and praised Singh for being a relatable personality that her daughter could watch “20 years from now.” Kaling’s appearance marked a rare sight for NBC to have two South Asian women side-byside, sharing their experiences about working in the industry.

During her opening monologue,

Singh acknowledged the power she has in promoting and normalizing diversity on NBC. “The media has mentioned that I’m a ‘bisexual woman of colour’ so often that I’m thinking about changing my name to Bisexual Woman of Colour,” she said before pointing out how NBC’s logo reminds her of a pride flag.

“Maybe I shouldn’t be joking about this because one of the biggest fears of white America is that minorities are coming to take their jobs, and honestly, we are,” Singh added.

These jokes along with colourful suits and Canadian references are what makes Singh stand out in a traditionally male-dominated field. She is able to diversify her topics that other late-night show hosts can’t do, like talking about what it’s like growing up in Canada with immigrant parents from India. By sharing her experiences, Singh is able to maintain her authenticity while helping NBC usher in a new generation of viewers—a welcome change that has been long overdue on late night television.

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The degradation of the Central Park Five The Netflix original When They See Us delineates the events of the Central Park Five criminal case MARIAM SALEH CONTRIBUTOR When They See Us is based on a true story of the systemic oppression of racial minorities by the American judicial system. The Netflix Original miniseries follows five innocent boys as they are charged and sentenced for a crime they did not commit. Ava DuVernay co-wrote and directed the series based on the 1989 events pertaining to the assault and rape of a jogger in Central Park.

Despite the abolition of slavery and segregation, and the strides made to overcome those events, black individuals in the United States continue to face systemic discrimination in their daily lives. When They See Us is a prominent example of the ways in which people of colour are unjustly treated.

A large group of black and Hispanic boys, between the ages of 14-16, went out into the streets of Harlem to go “wildin.” While some people played music and danced their way through the streets, others harassed cyclists and joggers, beating them until some were hospitalized. Although they had not participated in the violence, in the group were the boys that would become the infamous Central Park Five: Antron McCray (Caleel Harris), Korey Wise (Jharrel Jerome), Kevin Richardson (Asante Blackk), Raymond Santana (Marquis Rodriguez), and Yusuf Salaam (Ethan Herisse). Most

ATSUSHI NISHIJIMA/NETFLIX

When They See Us follows the case of the Central Park Five and their mistreatment by the system. of the boys were arrested by police and stayed the night at the station while they awaited their parents’ arrival. However, the head of the precinct, a conniving woman by the name of Linda Fairnstein (Felicity Huffman) decided to link the boys to a sexual assault that occurred earlier that night. She stretched the course of events to fit her agenda and charged the boys with a crime they did not commit. The five young men had not met one another prior to the charges raised against them.

Each boy was interrogated, without

the presence of an attorney or a parent in most cases. They were severely beaten and forced to endure over 18 hours of interrogation without food or water. The detectives promised each boy the chance to go home after providing the detectives with the information they required. As a result, the boys falsely confessed to the rape and incriminated others with them.

The young men were informed of the rape and the details of the assault against the female jogger, details to be used in the filmed tes-

timony the detectives forced them to give. Despite their adamant protests that they had nothing to do with her misfortune, the detectives coerced the boys into giving fabricated testimonies implicating each other, despite not even knowing one another. Due to there being no DNA remnants from the boys found at the crime scene or the presence of a murder weapon, the video confessions and accusations made played a crucial role in the conviction of the Central Park Five. It was the judge that allowed those confessions into

the trial despite their brazen illegitimacy.

Four of the boys were sent to juvenile detention centers, and one, Korey Wise, who was 16 years old at the time, sent to an adult facility. Many advocates protested outside of the courtrooms, seeing the racial discrimination and coercion that led to the boys being charged in the first place. Despite their passionate efforts, the men served out their sentences before their true innocence was discovered.

In 2002, the true assailant was convicted. He confessed to his crimes and with the aid of DNA testing, it was easy to prove that he was indeed the actual perpetrator of the crime. He requested that the conviction against the Central Park Five be vacated, as if there was no trial at all. Unfortunately for the men, they had already served their sentences and been traumatized by the injustice they faced.

The men sued the DA’s office in 2003 and finally received their settlement in 2014. However, no monetary gain could compensate for a childhood robbed of its innocence; of justice torn apart to continue the baseless prosecution of people of colour. The law decrees everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but as the Central Park Five has demonstrated, there are systemic biases that prevent this principle from always being afforded to people of colour.

Canadian pop icon Carly Rae Jepsen returns Carly Rae Jepsen performed the Canadian leg of her Dedication Tour in Toronto last week ERIN DELANEY CONTRIBUTOR On Friday September 13, at the First Ontario Concert Hall in Downtown Hamilton, Carly Rae Jepsen showed off her Canadian charm and proved the future of pop music lies in the nostalgic memories of the past.

The Canadian leg of The Dedicated Tour began late August in Vancouver and is making its final stops in Southern Ontario before moving onto Asia in early October.

Jepsen brought along up-and-coming Canadian pop artist Ralph as an opener, who at one point during her set mentioned that “It was a great Saturday night in Hamilton!” that prompted the audience to say that it was in fact Friday.

Carly Rae Jepsen took the stage shortly after, emerging from the shadows as she started the show with “No Drug Like Me.” On the stage, there is no dramatic set dressings or elaborate costumes meant to display a true spectacle, just a woman with a love for feelings and a few instrumentalists (who adopt choreography at points during the show). Jepsen is packed full of personality and charm, sharing stories of the inspiration between songs.

Before she started her album opener

KATRINA LAT/AESTHETIC MAGAZINE

Canadian pop idol Carly Rae Jepsen played Toronto on her tour supporting her album Dedicated.

“Julien,” she reveals that Julien was a boy she dated for a few months from Montreal, and that while she doesn’t carry feelings for him anymore, he has a name that sings nicely. She yells “Don’t call me!” right as the band kicks in. Her genuine spirit is contagious and never gives the hint of being anything other than true

emotion. In an interview with q on CBC, she has said, in regard to how different she is on and off stage, “I don’t think I separate them as two different things. I know some performers do, they’ve got like this stage idea. I feel like I’m just myself, and I’m myself performing, and I’m myself at home. Obviously you get

to be a little bit more theatrical and over-the-top when you’re on stage, but that’s a very sincere part of my personality. And I don’t know if that’s the right answer, but that’s the true one.”

There’s a quiet confidence to Jepsen’s music. In my youth, I had dismissed the musical stylings of

Carly Rae Jepsen as not a pop master craft, but instead the ramblings of a permanent sixth grader trying to slip a note to her crush at recess.

It took me far too long to truly realize that that sixth grader lives somewhere deep inside everyone. While others push that child down and try to give an air of maturity and coolness, Jepsen embraces the preteen, and puts that unfound courage in a sleek disco-pop package in order to place her heart at stake. The audience is a reflection of this mindset.

During “Want You In My Room,” an 80’s inspired Jack Antonoff produced track from her latest album Dedicated, preteen girls dance in their seats, who sing along with the university students grooving beside them.

Jepsen ends the show with her 2017 single “Cut To The Feeling,” a track originally written for her fanfavourite album Emotion. Even after over an hour of dancing and singing her heart out, Jepsen manages to turn the First Ontario Concert Hall into a dance party one last time. She bids farewell to the audience, and concludes another night dedicated to the true power of emotion. Carly Rae Jepsen has saved pop music once again.

09.23.2019 THE MEDIUM ARTS» 11

Highlights & misses from TIFF 2019 One writer reviews the TIFF premieres of: Knives Out, The Aeronauts, Ford v. Ferrrari, and Radioactive DEEMA ABU NASER CONTRIBUTOR TIFF 2019 was a whirlwind. 333 films were shown from over 80 countries, and I was lucky enough to watch a couple of them.

Knives Out Knives Out is a hilarious comedy/ mystery film starring Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, and Chris Evans.

I watched the film as a Gala Presentation. When the director, Rian Johnson, appeared at the beginning of the premiere, there was a fiveminute standing ovation. Film lovers adore him, so it was very likely, before the film even started, that it was going to get very good reviews. The film itself was light and airy, with a good mixture of family drama and comedy. The cinematography and style of the film will give you Agatha Christie and Alfred Hitchcock vibes, as those were the people the director was inspired by.

I found the whodunit aspect overshadowed slightly by the obvious nature of the killer’s identity, but the comedic aspect saves the film. It’s worth a watch and will be released in theatres on November 27. 7/10.

The Aeronauts The storyline follows pilot Amelia Wren (Felicity Jones) and scientist James Glaisher (Eddie Redmayne) as they attempt to fly to the highest point in the sky in a hot air balloon in 1862. They are faced with enor-

DEEMA ABU NASER CONTRIBUTOR Under the Influence is a Canadian podcast and radio series that focuses on stories from the advertising and marketing world. It’s a great introduction to getting into podcasts because the episodes are under 30 minutes long and are easily digestible, with each episode focusing on a particular theme within marketing, such as “Zombie Brands.”

When you click play on an episode of Under the Influence, you’ll hear a very catchy jazz tune, along with the words, “You’re under the influence, with Terry O’Reilly.” The podcast was first created as a radio program on CBC Radio One in 2012, and is produced by Debbie O’Reilly and hosted by Terry O’Reilly. According to Wikipedia, the series has over 25 million podcast downloads. I am a part of the millions that add to the number count, as I have almost every episode downloaded for the hours I

PHOTO/TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

TIFF brought the celebrity but it also brought a broad cinematic experience with the feature films. mous challenges, from storms to the freezing cold, and need to fight for their survival. What truly shines in this film is the grit of Jones, a female pilot, as she fights with her personal demons and Glaisher to keep them alive. As the story is based on reallife events, it makes the film all the more interesting. The soundtrack and cinematography in the film are outstanding, and I heard many gasps around me in the cinema as the sound shifts from complete si-

lence to sudden orchestral crescendos. The Aeronauts will be released December 6. 8/10.

Ford v Ferrari I personally waited five hours in the rush line to see this film. It was well worth the wait. The film is based on a real-life story, which follows Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon), the owner of a custom-make luxury car dealership, and racer Ken Miles (Christian Bale). Shelby was once a racer who won the illustrious 24

drive during the day, or when I clean my house.

After the catchy intro, another tune will start playing, leading you to the first little story that O’Reilly narrates.

Every introductory story connects to the theme of the episode. The stories are quirky and usually have to do with random topics, like the Beatles or Diesel. In fact, the best way to illustrate how good the podcast is to lead you through one. Let me give you an example via my favourite episode so far: Season 3, Episode 19: “When founders are the face of the company.”

The episode starts off innocently enough. O’Reilly is telling us a story about how Diesel engines were first made. Diesel was made by a man called Diesel. One day, he was on a train to Belgium. He had a 6 a.m. wake up call, but when they went to wake him up, no one found him on the train carriage. They found his corpse floating in a river nearby, but it was determined as an unsolved case. O’Reilly ties this story to his real

introduction: how founders of companies play important roles to a business, and when they’re put as the face of the company, it changes the whole marketing strategy of that business.

The music tapers off, and we’re left wanting more. This episode is a compelling one in particular because it’s like a large spider web. Every story he tells connects to another one.

I personally love this podcast because it has taught me more about advertising, marketing, and the art of different strategies than most of my marketing classes have. I never knew how banks advertised before I listened to the episode about Gift Advertising. Neither did I know that films make most of their money off merchandise and licensing deals. It’s a great podcast where you learn lots, but it doesn’t feel like it.

You can listen to Under the Influence on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or on any platform that hosts podcasts.

hours of Le Mans race. He retires and starts making cars instead.

Ford, losing a battle with Ferrari over ownership rights to the Italian brand, hires Shelby to help them build a car and find a racer who could win them the most difficult race of the century: Le Mans. Shelby enlists his best friend Miles’ help, and the competition begins. I cannot praise this film highly enough.

It has everything: twists, adrenaline, comedy, family, and drama. Person-

ally, I have never been into cars, but this film made me want to learn more about racing. The director, James Mangold, did a fantastic job.

The film will be released November 15. 10/10.

Radioactive This film was heart-wrenching and beautiful, and kept me on the edge of my seat battling a tear away the whole time. It stars Rosamund Pike as Marie Sklodowska-Curie, as she discovers new scientific facts in the twentieth century. It is directed by Marjane Satrapi, a female director who is incredibly smart and honest in her directing style.

The storyline is not a predictable one—in fact, I never imagined that a female scientist would lead a life like the one Curie did. You will be shocked at the things you will learn from this film, and it will change your perspective on different facets of common science that you may think you understand fully. I will not divulge any further, as it will ruin the secrets of the film. Radioactive will be released in 2020. 10/10.

Ultimately, this year’s TIFF was fantastic. I flew from film to film with utter glee as I prepared to see stories acted out by my favourite actors and directors. TIFF is one of the most fun festivals you will find in Toronto, and if you missed it this year, be sure to make it for next year.

You won’t regret it.

09/23 09/27 09/28

09/28 10/04 10/07 Go to themedium.ca/elections to get the nomination form Nomination forms can be submitted at our office (room 200, Students' centre) or to the editor-in-chief at editor@themedium.ca

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Editor | Fatima Adil

Dior Sauvage ad receives backlash UTM alumna speaks out about cultural appropriation in Dior’s new ad campaign starring Johnny Depp LATISHA LOBBAN ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR

UTM alumna, Indigenous fashion designer, and Temagami First Nation tribe member Lesley Hampton speaks out against French luxury goods company Dior’s “very, very bad campaign” advertising their new fragrance, Sauvage.

The original Sauvage fragrance was launched in 2015. Its advertising campaign featured Johnny Depp in an urban setting.

The September 2019 launch of the new Sauvage cologne featured an ad campaign titled “We are the Land.”

In the new campaign, Depp walks through a desert, while Indigenous actress Tanaya Beatty, wearing a wolf coat, follows him from a distance.

Clips of Canku One Star, a Rosebud Sioux tribe member, performing the Fancy War Dance are spliced in between.

Dior quickly pulled the campaign after widespread backlash.

Hampton mentions that the Utah desert setting of the Sauvage campaign is a direct reference to the “Navajo region and the people in that area.” She emphasizes that the “connection between the word and the culture is the most offensive part.”

“Sauvage” is the French word for savage and is a slur that is “relatively put on the same level as the n-word”

JESSICA WEILLER/UNSPLASH.COM

Dior came under fire after publishing an ad featuring Johnny Depp and Indigenous themes. when used toward Indigenous peoples.

Historically, it “dates back to colonialization where the French settlers that came to Canada and the [United States] would call Canadian and American Indigenous people ‘savage’ in a derogatory way.”

Advertising a fragrance labelled Sauvage with Native imagery alongside naming it after a slur is problematic because “it ignores all the oppression and colonial violence that happen[ed] at that time.”

The Washington Post reports that some scholars have defended the fragrance’s name by stating that the er-

ror lies in the translation of the word “sauvage” into savage in English.

Defenders note that sauvage can also refer to a “wild nature.”

Hampton refutes this idea. She explains that “Dior is such a major brand, there’s no way every person who had a say in this didn’t know [the negative connotations of the word ‘sauvage’]. It’s fair to assume they knew and used the exploitation of a culture to push their brand forward.”

Johnny Depp released a statement defending the campaign in which he said that non-profit Indigenous peoples’ rights organization Ameri-

cans for Indian Opportunity “was involved in its creation.”

“There’s no way that an Indigenous person was put in an executive role because there’s no way that an Indigenous person would have allowed that word to be attached to our culture,” responds Hampton.

“If they wanted to do it authentically, why didn’t they put an Indigenous person in an authentic role?”

Hampton suggests that the campaign is “a marketing ploy” by Dior executives who ignored the possibility of “offend[ing] a few Indigenous people” just so “[other] people [would] buy the product.”

Hampton says that there has also been “lots of research and backlash from the [Indigenous] community about the people that [Dior] said advised them. [It is suggested] that they were just paid to find a location and not [put in an] advising role.”

The campaign’s 60-second advertisement is equally as offensive as the fragrance’s name.

“In the advertisement, they have this kind of Indigenous woman climbing out of the bush and they made it seem like [she] is climbing to go and find [Johnny Depp],” explains Hampton. The imagery depicts “this wild sensual mating.”

Johnny Depp himself is a controversial choice of lead actor for the Sauvage campaign. Hampton mentions that “there has been some discussion about Johnny Depp having Indigenous heritage.” For reference, in 2012, Depp stated that his “great grandmother was quite a bit of Native American. She grew up Cherokee or maybe Creek Indian.” The Americans for Indian Opportunity also noted that Depp was granted the status of an honorary member of the Comanche Nation that same year.

Hampton asserts however that “if [Depp] truly was an Indigenous person, he would understand the title being so offensive.”

“They knew what they were doing and that’s kind of the worst part of it,” Hampton says.

The gender gap in Canadian politics Women less likely to run for office, get elected, and receive funding for their campaigns DANIEL REALE-CHIN CONTRIBUTOR

In light of the 2019 Canadian federal election this October, CBC News conducted a survey profiling the dis-

parities that exist between men and women in election campaigns. The survey found that in terms of women in Canadian politics, there were fewer women running for office, women were getting elected less often, and they were receiving less funding for

their campaigns. The Medium sat down with UTM Women and Gender Studies professor and program director Dr. Joan Simalchik to discuss these findings.

Simalchik regards the existing disparities to be complicated. In society,

SAIRA KHALID/THE MEDIUM

Dr. Joan Simalchik discusses the gender gap in politics, and how it relates to Canada.

Simalchik says, women are still seen as the primary caregivers. These “objective material realities” create barriers that “prevent women from accessing the political sphere.”

Considering the scrutiny women in politics face—scrutiny about “how they look, how they dress, how they age, their competence as caregivers, it’s amazing that women even put themselves out there,” explains Simalchik.

Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party of Canada, is one of six national party leaders running for the 2019 Federal election. She is also the only female leader. Besides the “objective realities” which prevent women from running, Simalchik also names “subjective realities” that create barriers for women entering the political realm.

“Deeply entrenched cultural biases,” namely patriarchal beliefs that women lack the competence to involve themselves in politics, are issues that Simalchik labels as the “Wicked Problems.” She explains that these problems are difficult to

come up with solutions for, as they require a paradigm shift that is hard to predict and complicated to initiate.

Policies that have barred women from voting in the past have changed; however, the beliefs which fueled the sexist policies are not as quick to shift. Policy change has allowed women such as May to enter politics. Unfortunately, entrenched beliefs that fuel gender stereotypes continue to translate into a lack of confidence in women’s political abilities, strains in financing campaigns, and a lack of effort to support female candidates.

According to CBC News, “women are more likely than men to find themselves in hard-to-win ridings,” another factor that limits women from winning in their riding. Women receive less funding: “$35,838 compared to $40,162 for men” according to the CBC’s analysis of Elections Canada’s findings. This statistic relates back to beliefs about women’s competence, says Simalchik.

Gender continued on page 14

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Exploring medicine and immigration Dr. Vincent Kuuire named Canada Research Chair for work on immigrant well-being and global health BISMAH RIZVI ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR

Dr. Vincent Kuuire, an assistant professor in UTM’s geography department, recently received the prestigious Canada Research Chair (CRC) award. As a CRC recipient, the Government of Canada will support Kuuire’s research by providing additional funding. The Medium sat down with Kuuire to discuss his awardwinning research.

Kuuire says “I am very grateful for the research chair position because it makes available to me extra resources for my ongoing projects.” He confirms that his research over the summer was partly supported by the CRC program and states that “the grant will continue to be useful in terms of providing some financial cushion to preliminary research, enabling [him] to seek bigger grants to explore [his research] ideas on a wider scale.”

Kuuire’s journey towards being delegated a CRC began at the University of Ghana. Following graduation, he completed one year of Ghanaian national service as a teaching assistant. Next, Kuuire moved to Canada where he completed his Master’s degree and Ph.D. at Western University.

After Kuuire’s post-doctoral fellowship at Queen’s University, he joined UTM as an assistant professor.

Motivated by his own experiences growing up in Ghana and as a Canadian immigrant, Kuuire and his graduate student spent two months this summer in Upper West Ghana collecting both qualitative and quantitative data on the use of traditional medicine. As to why he chose to study traditional medicines, Kuuire discusses how “there’s this wrong

perception that traditional medicine is not popular. In reality, especially in low and middle income countries such as Ghana, 70-90 per cent of the population uses one form of traditional medicine or the other as remedies for certain health conditions.”

of these medicines.” Kuuire plans to explore how generational differences impact the use of traditional medicines and hopes to bring traditional medicines into the broader discussions within healthcare since there is currently little to no mention of it.

lations are integrating in Canada.”

Although Kuuire’s work focuses on Canada, countries such as the U.S. and UK where the public increasingly opposes immigration can also benefit from studies on immigration.

Kuuire regards “the broader trend

PHOTO COURTESY OF VINCENT KUUIRE

Dr. Vincent Kuuire is researching immigrant well-being, global health, and transnationalism.

Knowing the wide prevalence of traditional medicines in Ghana, Kuuire wanted to dig deeper and understand why people chose to use traditional medicines in place of the standard Western healthcare model.

He expects “explanations [to] go beyond normal explanations of cost and availability” and predicts “there will be issues relating to efficacy which don’t get a lot of attention.”

Kuuire also anticipates finding “cultural preferences to some of these medicines because in certain instances, people’s ways of life are tied to use

Healthcare is just one of Kuuire’s research interests. This summer, Kuuire also studied transnationalism and immigration by collecting data on the connection between immigrants in Canada and their countries of origin along with the impacts these ties have on the immigrants’ integration into Canadian society and wellbeing.

Kuuire explains how “it’s an acceptable, well known fact that Canada has adopted immigration as a population growth policy. There is relevance in understanding how immigrant popu-

in certain Western countries where governments have been leaning towards anti-immigrant sentiments [to be] problematic on several fronts.”

He continues to explain how “immigration sentiments tend to focus on specific issues or one or two issues without looking at the broader picture of how immigrants can be or [how immigrants] usually are a positive [influence] to the wellbeing of society. More importantly, those [antiimmigration] sentiments don’t take into consideration the fundamental causes of the problems we are seeking

to address.”

“For example, the fundamental causes of low or fewer highly lucrative jobs in all of these economies where we are seeing those [anti-immigration] sentiments is not because immigrants are taking those jobs.

It is part of a broader globalization and political economy –factors that are responsible for creating those circumstances,” Kuuire explains.

Kuuire goes on to discuss how blaming immigrants “is also part of the broader inequalities that are emerging across the world. Those sometimes tend to mask the real problems that exist, and so, getting to a root cause usually will not have anything to do with immigrants directly.”

This year, Kuuire is teaching two courses that bring together his various passions and encourages students to unpack the ideas they may hold regarding healthcare, especially relating to Sub-Saharan Africa. His course GGR353: Disease and Death “tries to unravel how place-based factors and social determinants of health all impact trends we see related to death and disease.”

GGR265:(Under)development and Health in Sub-Saharan Africa, his second course, addresses the complexity of the region and aims to dismantle the notion that Sub-Saharan Africa is a monolith with similar traditions and issues across the region, when in reality, the area holds more diversity than most other parts of the world.

The results of Kuuire’s studies are anticipated to be released in about a year. Kuuire’s research holds significant potential, especially since immigration and healthcare continue to be issues at the forefront of many people’s lives.

Studying the history of capitalism at UTM New and innovative course aims to discuss various aspects of economic life under capitalism CHAKRIKA BURRA CONTRIBUTOR UTM course HIS212: The History of Capitalism has much to offer.

With topics ranging from weaving techniques to the conquest of the Americas, it explores a wide variety of topics related to economic life under capitalism. The Medium sat down with the course’s instructor Dr. Kevin Coleman, an associate professor in UTM’s history department, to discuss the course and what it entails.

The course was first offered last year. Coleman describes how his colleagues and himself proposed the creation of the course three to four years ago. The goal was to design a new and innovative course that would interest and attract incoming undergraduate students.

The course was specifically designed to not be geography-specific and is globally relevant. The course combines logic with history and is thematic in nature which sets it apart from other history courses. According to the course website, the History of Capitalism “uses historical methods to study the social, political, cultural, environmental, gendered, and

ethical aspects of economic life under capitalism.” Coleman views the course as a way of providing students with a self-defense mechanism in today’s civil society.

When asked about how this might help students from different programs, Coleman says that the course “will help students understand to not take things for granted or assume [one way] is the only or best way there is to organize social, political, and economic [aspects].”

Coleman provides an example of the smile every customer receives when they walk into a Starbucks store. He points out that the smile is not because the staff member is happy to see you but because they are being paid and monitored to do so. As a customer, you are paying for that particular kind of service in that particular way. He highlights that the History of Capitalism course will explore how, as members of a civil society, we arrived to the Starbucks situation described above and what could be better.

In terms of course work, students can expect historical and conceptual examples with ecological aspects such as how air is factored out and

has no value on its own. The course consists of several readings including works by Scottish economist Adam Smith. Readings will later be discussed during the lecture as a class to help the students better understand the concepts and contribute.

The History of Capitalism also includes two interesting projects. One is a Wikipedia project which entails the students to write about a topic, edit other students’ writing, and finally, create a conceptual map for the entire twelve-week course.

In the second assignment, students can select any “thing” and prepare a report on the history of the object.

Coleman uses a mobile phone as an example and describes that the person might need to provide the history starting from where the lithium in the phone came from, who designed the software, who owns it, where was it assembled, and where does the developer live now.

Coleman assures that any student, regardless of their background, can succeed in this course and will enjoy it. While he acknowledges that the course is challenging in terms of the readings the students have to complete, he affirms that after the lecture

PHOTO COURTESY OF KEVIN COLEMAN

Capitalism has found its way into many aspects of our lives. and class discussions, students will feel more at ease and have a sense of satisfaction and understanding.

Coleman also mentions that the course will help every student, irre-

spective of their major, develop the critical thinking, analytical skills, historical awareness, and political reasoning required to better understand the world around them.

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Volcanic rock to replenish marine life?

Dr. Paul Ashwell discusses theories regarding floating sheet of volcanic rock headed to Great Barrier Reef RICARDO VALDES GONZALEZ CONTRIBUTOR

On August 15, 2019, Michael and Larissa Hoult, an Australian couple, were sailing to Fiji. As they sailed near Tonga, they encountered a “total rock bubble slick made up of pumice stones [ranging] from marble to basketball in size” floating in the ocean.

Days earlier, NASA’s Earth Observatory (NASA EO) picked up an image that matched what Michael and Larissa saw. NASA EO states that the floating raft of pumice originated from an underwater volcanic eruption which occurred near the Pacific island of Tonga on August 7, 2019.

Scientists around the globe argue that this floating raft of pumice, currently headed to Australia, could potentially replenish marine life at the Great Barrier Reef.

According to Hobart M. King, a geologist and Ph.D. graduate in geology, pumice is a light-colored, extremely porous igneous rock that forms during volcanic eruptions. Pumice can be found in multiple everyday products such as skin exfoliators and traction enhancement materials in rubber tires.

Dr. Paul Ashwell, geology professor at the University of Toronto Mississauga, describes the floating pumice as an anchor for organisms to attach themselves.

“When corals spawn, they give off very small larva. These larva float around in ocean currents, and that’s where the floating pumice comes in,” explains Ashwell. “The larva, along with other organisms, attach themselves to the pumice rock. This allows [the larva] to move and introduce themselves to other environments.”

Ashwell argues that these organisms

can either act as an invasive species or colonize new volcanic areas that previously had no corals.

Ashwell disagrees with other scientists about the possible beneficial impact of the pumice raft on the Great Barrier Reef. He says to “think of [the Great Barrier Reef] as a forest with toxic soil. No matter how many trees you plant in this toxic soil, the trees will still die. Climate change is destroying coral reefs in general and not just the Great Barrier Reef.” Ashwell argues that all theories of this raft replenishing marine life are unlikely considering the Great Barrier Reef ’s current condition. “First, we solve climate change. Once that’s done, maybe we’ll see an increase in coral reefs,” he remarks.

Climate change, such as the increase of global temperatures and greenhouse gases, affect marine life in many ways. Temperature and green-

house gases are directly correlated: the higher the level of greenhouse gases, the higher temperatures rise.

The heat is trapped inside Earth by greenhouse gases and transfers to the ocean. This is problematic for corals which “are very susceptible to temperature change.”

Corals provide shelter for marine life, assist in carbon and nitrogen fixing, help with nutrient recycling, and most importantly, have a symbiotic relationship with algae. Corals receive their energy from algae. “Temperature change stresses corals out,” Ashwell explains. “As a result, that relationship with algae dies off. Once the algae dies, so does the coral.” Unfortunately, temperature rise isn’t the only factor negatively impacting corals.

Along with causing rising temperatures, greenhouse gases acidify the ocean through a process called

NATALIE HUMMEL/CARLETON COLLEGE

Dr. Paul Ashwell talks about how floating pumice could provide a way of replenishing the Great Barrier Reef.

acidification. Acidification happens when there is an excess of greenhouse gases. The excess gases transfer to the ocean due to equilibrium which namely describes how the more gases there are in the atmosphere, the more gases there will be dissolved in the ocean. Carbon dioxide (CO2), a common greenhouse gas, is very soluble in water.

“When CO2 reacts with water, it produces carbonic acid,” Ashwell explains. “Carbonic acid reacts with the coral’s skeleton—which is mostly made of calcium carbonate—to produce more acid. This causes the ocean to become more acidic.” Under acidic conditions, corals have to struggle more to create their skeletons.

Students can fight climate change in two steps. “The first step is to realize your own impact on the environment. You can do this by checking your carbon footprint,” advises Ashwell. “From there, you can work on reducing that footprint.”

According to Ashwell, the average Canadian carbon footprint per person is about 15 tonnes. “Most of it comes from the transportation sector,” Ashwell states. “But meat and dairy consumption also plays a huge part.” According to National Geographic, cattle contribute to about 40 per cent of the annual methane budget. “If the demand for meat and dairy decreases, so will its production,” says Ashwell.

For those who love meat, Ashwell discusses an alternative solution. “The second step is to vote,” he affirms.

“Right now, the most important thing to work on is climate change.” Ashwell encourages students to research political parties that have a legitimate and effective solution to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gasses emissions.

Students can also learn more about climate change and its impact on Earth in Ashwell’s course ERS111: Earth, Climate, and Life.

Politics and gender disparity Gender continued from page 12

CBC News also profiled Haley Brown, the 2015 Liberal candidate in the Calgary Midnapore riding, and used the story of her political campaign to review the stark gender gap that continues to exist in Canadian politics.

“At campaign events, I heard people calling me a sacrificial lamb,” Brown told the CBC. Brown entered political debates by herself while her opposition, Jason Kenney, was surrounded by his entire team. Theory states that women are equal to men in competence and in political ability, but the climate women are encountering in the political sphere suggests they are treated as less-than.

“Praxis,” advises Simalchik. There

is a need to mobilize theory, to put it into practice and see theory reflected in policy. Rather than saying “equality has been achieved,” we need to embody it, says Simalchik. She sug-

Considering the scutiny women in politics face “it’s amazing that women even put themselves out there”, says Simalchik. gests that policies which prioritize the political campaigns of women and which support national day care can help mitigate the limitations that women face in the political sphere.

Simalchik concludes by cautioning that without women in politics, “we lose a significant point of view.”

SHELAGH MURPHY/UNSPLASH.COM

Women continuously put themselves out there in politics even though the odds are against them.

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Editor | Sarah-May Edwardo Oldfield

Visit UTM’s doctor’s office here on campus UTM’s Health and Councelling Center offers a variety of services for students and many of them are free NOORBHIR BHATIA ASSOCIATE S & H EDITOR We all know how important it is to have proper mental and physical health. Academia can be stressful and tiring at times in a way that impacts not only our health but also our selfesteem and self-confidence. Stress disorders are only one component of the many consequences we may face when ignoring our mental health and well-being. Apart from academics, there are other issues that some of us face in our everyday lives. These include family-related issues, job-related stress, relationship problems, and loneliness.

With that being said, UTM students have access to all kinds of services for the betterment of their physical and mental health. These services range from counselling sessions to medical care, and can be found at the Health & Counselling Centre (HCC) right here on campus.

Starting with personal counselling sessions, which are provided by HCC clinicians who are experts in psychiatry and counselling, these sessions allow students to talk through their problems such as low self-esteem, transitioning to university, depres-

JULIA HEALY/THE MEDIUM

Take advantage of all the great services and counselling that the HCC can provide. sion, family and/or relationship conflicts, exam anxiety, and other emotional or social concerns that they face in their everyday lives. The HCC not only provides students with therapy services or counselling sessions, but also provides referrals that assist students in accessing resources that

will help them in the long-term.

Counselling sessions are also offered in group settings, all you have to do is to choose the kind of counselling sessions you want to attend when you register online (on the HCC website). These group sessions are more like workshops that educate and mo-

tivate you to improve your personal well-being and personality. These workshops happen at specific times, depending on the group session, and last for four weeks.

In addition, there are events that the HCC organizes for the benefit of all students at UTM, such as mindful-

ness meditation. Through meditation, students can learn how to stay calm under pressure and clear their minds.

Moving on to the nutritional counselling, the HCC provides counselling about nutrition and eating habits for students who want to improve their eating habits to be fit, prevent obesity, or maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The services provided by the dietician and nutritional counsellors range from education on healthy eating habits and healthy foods to special diets for students with health conditions or food allergies. The dietician also helps build diet plans for vegans and vegetarians.

Finally, the HCC has experienced and well-renowned staff of medical doctors and nurses who provide counselling and medical advice for many health issues such as first aid of injuries, allergies, immunizations, chronic illnesses, and cold or flu, just to name a few.

The costs for most services or appointments are covered by the OHIP (for Ontario students) or the UHIP (for international students). Further information can be found on the HCC’s website at www.utoronto.ca/ health.

UTM Women’s cross country races to first place UTM women’s cross country team makes program history winning first overall in first meet of the year SARAH-MAY OLDFIELD S & H EDITOR On a chilly windy morning in Windsor, Ontario, the UTM Eagles Cross Country team took to the race course of their first meet of the season at the St. Clair College Invitational. It was a great effort all around from both the men’s and women’s teams, but it was the women’s team that made program history by finishing first place.

UTM’s Cross Country has sent athletes to Provincials and Nationals every year, but they have yet to win a meet. This past Saturday September 14th, marked the first time a UTM cross country athlete has won a race since the program’s OCAA debut. Third-year UTM medicine student Sophie Glanz placed first overall, winning the six-kilometer race with a time of 23:47.9.

It didn’t end there with the women’s achievements at this invitation-

al. Four members of the women’s team finished in the top 15. Behind Glanz in the top 15, Eirini Martsoukaki finished seventh with a time of 26:12.5; Taylyn Tait finished eighth with a time of 26:13.8; and Tori Horrobin finished 13th with a time of 27:17.9. The Women’s team finished first overall with a score of 29, over Laurier Brantford.

UTM’s Men’s Cross Country team ran a good race of their own, placing sixth overall behind Cambrian in the meet. UTM senior runner Gabe Boily-Porter ran the best time of his teammates, finishing the eight-kilometer races with a time of 29:05.5, placing 17th out of nearly 80 runners.

The UTM Eagles Men’s and Women’s Cross Country team take to the race course again in couple weeks on Saturday September 28, closer to home at the Seneca College OCAA Invitational in North York, Toronto.

TALA ALKHALDI/THE MEDIUM

Members of the UTM cross country team have emerged from their first meet as champions.

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«SPORTS

THE MEDIUM 09.23.2019

Varsity Eagles shredded in the Lions’ den UTM Eagles varsity men’s basketball take brutal loss in pre-season exhibition game to York University Lions SARAH-MAY OLDFIELD S & H EDITOR The UTM Varsity Eagles Men’s basketball team played their first game of the season, an exhibition preseason game against the York University Lions. Fresh out of tryouts, a young and eager roster struggled to form any kind of chemistry or rhythm. Unable to keep up with the taller and more experienced Lions, they fell in a massive beatdown: 100-47.

The Eagles had some good energy to start the first quarter, but it didn’t take long for the Lions to take over.

With 3.7 seconds left, the Eagles had a chance to take the final shot of the quarter, but UTM Eagles number four Nana Osei Tutu Sarfo turned the ball over, and committed an unsportsmanlike technical foul leading to two free-throws for York. The Lions lead the Eagles 30-6 to end the first quarter.

UTM began the second quarter with much of the same energy they started with in the first, but York was bigger and stronger. The Eagles defence picked up, double teaming early and increasing pressure on the ball before York could run an offence. The Lions struggled to score.

UTM’s number 11, second-year guard George Karagan, whipped a crisp cross court pass to number two, first year guard Keaton Thornton, who hit the three-pointer. UTM was able to draw two fouls and get trips to the free throw line, but they were unable to make foul shots. With just over two minutes left to play in the first half, UTM’s improved defence kept the Lions to just four

CHEN GONG/THE MEDIUM

Efforts by the UTM Eagles fall flat in their pre-season loss against the York University Lions. points in the quarter. York’s scoring draught ended in a flash. Missed layups and sloppy passes by the Eagles led to quick and easy Lion points.

The York Lions scored 14 in the final two minutes of the half, leading the Eagles going into half time, 49-15.

To start the third quarter, York continued where they left off in the first half with an offensive onslaught.

They outhustled the Eagles to rebounds and fifty-fifty balls, leading to more points. Eagle’s secondyear center, number one Andreas Jankovic made a turn around hook shot, scoring UTM’s first points

SCORE CHECK! Varsity Eagles Game Results

Sept. 20

Sept. 15

Women’s Soccer vs Redeemer Royals @ Redeemer 3-1

Women’s Soccer vs Lambton Lions @ UTM 0-0 Men’s Soccer vs Lambton Lions @ UTM 5-0 Sept. 19 Men’s Basketball vs York Lions @ York 47-100

since mid-way through the second quarter. York responded with three three-pointers in a row, in a matter of seconds, leading to a UTM timeout.

Out of the time out, York continued to outplay the Eagles, even with York’s starters pulling out of the game. Eagles guard number 17 Baridillo Poroman hit a three-pointer to end a five-minute scoring drought.

But he turned the ball over on a pass, which led to an emphatic Lions dunk. The UTM Eagles score just eight points to the York Lions’ 29 in the third quarter. Lions lead 78-23.

Despite the starters resting for the remainder of the game, York didn’t let up in the fourth quarter. The York Lion reserved play with just as much intensity, refusing to let the Eagles get out and run. More UTM turnovers led to more York buckets.

UTM’s Kargan, currently one of the smallest on the floor, grabbed a big rebound that led an Eagles break.

He made a run from one end of the court to the other, went for the layup, made contact but couldn’t finish. The trailing Jankovic grabbed the board and finished with a layup.

UTM’s defence seemed to crum-

ble, and they couldn’t stop the bleeding as York got almost everything they wanted on offence. UTM continued to draw York fouls, but struggled to capitalize at the free throw line. With just minutes left to play in the contest, UTM made one last push. Thornton, proving himself to be a young sharp shooter hit another three pointer. Eagles number 15 Shaquille David drove to the basket and finished at the rim despite contact. On another possession, UTM’s number 14, first-year guard Luke Burston, swung the ball to David who sunk the corner three. On a UTM break, Thornton hit Karagan with a lead pocket pass, who finished with a right-hand layup and drew a foul. Karagan missed the free throw, but the Eagles hustled for the board leading to a York turnover under their basket. On the baseline out of bounds play, Eagles guard Henry Lao popped out to the corner. Burston hit the popping Lao who hit the short-corner jump shot.

Eagles were eaten alive in the Lions’ den, in a massive 100-47 defeat.

UTM won’t be facing York in their upcoming season, as York plays in the OUA (Ontario University association) while the Eagles play in the OCAA (Ontario College Athletic Association). Though a brutal beatdown, this preseason exhibition hopefully shed some light on what work the Eagles need to do to be ready for the upcoming season.

UTM Eagles Men’s Basketball team plays their first official league game on October 18 against the Seneca Sting on the road.

What’s going on at the Rawc?

UTM Tri-Campus Tryouts

UTM Tri-Campus Games

Sept. 28

Women’s Soccer vs UTSC Maroons 11 a.m. @ UTSC

Women’s Basketball Sept. 25 | Gym AB | 7:30-9 p.m.

Women’s Basketball Tournament 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. | UTM | Gym AB

Men’s Soccer vs UTSC Maroons 1 p.m. @ UTSC

Men’s Volleyball Sept. 25 | Gym AB | 5-7 p.m.

Cross Country Invitational @ Seneca

UTM Tri-Campus Game Results

Women’s Volleyball Sept. 25 | Gym AB | 5-7 p.m.

Sept. 15

Women’s Hockey Sept. 25 | Clarkson Arena | 10-11 p.m.

Women’s Soccer vs Conestoga Condors 1 p.m. | UTM | South Field

Men’s Soccer vs Redeemer Royals @ Redeemer 2-0

Women’s Soccer vs St. George Reds @ Varsity Stadium 0-8 Men’s Soccer vs St. George Reds @ Varsity Stadium 0-8

Men’s Basketball Sept. 24 | Gym AB | 9:30-11 p.m.

Varsity Eagles Games & Tournaments

Men’s Cricket Sept. 24 | Gym C | 5-6:30 p.m.

Men’s Soccer vs Conestoga Condors 3 p.m. | UTM | South Field

RAWC & Wellness Events Sept. 26 Be Well UTM Resource & ActivityFair 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. | Gym AB Sept. 24 Wellness Route: Pink Walk led by the Run for the Cure Team 12-1 p.m. | Meet at RAWC Entrance