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195.3 | NOVEMBER 2023

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TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS 3 & 4.

CSA releases statement on Israel-Gaza conflict

5.

Walk your way through time with Jaywalking Tours Residential building across from campus approved

6.

The remergence and utilization of ‘magic mushrooms’ on U of G’s campus

7.

CSA invites students to nation-wide protest

8.

John McCrae: A century later

ARTS & CULTURE 9.

Find the style for your story

10

Ontarion Book Review: The Adult is a captivating coming of age and coming-out story

11.

CFRU: So much more than just a radio station

12.

Sunday secret cinema at the Bookshelf

13.

Guelph Comedy Festival celebrates 10 years of love, laughter, and Yo Mama jokes

14.

The Guelph Film Festival connects global and local communities through powerful documentary films

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SPORTS & HEALTH 15.

Burlesque is back and bringing on the fire

16 & 17. FEATURE STORY: Burnt out? You’re not alone 18.

Stressbusters

19.

Stress-busting horoscopes

20.

Ontario pharmacists expanded prescribing powers

21.

Don’t lose your pennies to the penny stock scam

OPINION 22.

An international student’s experience with Guelph’s housing crisis

23.

Got period problems? So does U of G

FUN STUFF 24.

Because we asked...

25.

From the archives

26.

Club of the month

27.

November to-do list Pets of the month

28 & 29. Puzzle pages 30.

Autumn on campus

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8 | CALL TO ACTION

CSA releases statement on Israel-Gaza conflict Over 1400 comments have since appeared on the Instagram statement TAYLOR PIPE

O

n Oct. 18, the Central Student Association (CSA) board of directors passed a motion to release a statement regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict on their Instagram account and website. In the days that followed, over 1400 comments appeared underneath the post reflecting a myriad of views and reactions.

The Statement The Instagram post showed support for Israeli civilians and had no mention of Palestinian civilians.

It also condemned the violence perpetrated by Hamas against Israel and condemned all acts of hate and violence while expressing concern for increasing rates of anti-semitism.

The statement posted to the CSA website contains an additional paragraph that does mention the Palestinian lives lost and highlights Hamas’ impact on Palestinian lives.

“We are deeply concerned for innocent Palestinian civilians whose lives have now been threatened due to the horrific actions of

Hamas and the subsequent humanitarian crisis,” an excerpt from the extended statement reads.

Shaima Alam, president of the CSA spoke with The Ontarion about the CSA’s statement on the Israel-Gaza conflict and how the CSA came to release the statement.

“The only time that we need Board approval for a statement is when it's political,” she said.

Alam indicated that typically statements released on behalf of the CSA are crafted after consulting with different groups.

The Ontarion reviewed CSA board meeting minutes from May 26, 2021 which details discussion surrounding the creation of a statement regarding an 11-day escalation of violence in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The board agreed to release a statement only after consulting with members of the community and affected members of the CSA. “RESOLVED that the CSA respond and work alongside impacted CSA members and student organizations to develop a direct

action plan on campus, which may include a solidarity statement and options will be presented at a future board meeting,” reads an excerpt from the motion.

Alam said that when the board members who put forward the original statement were asked, they did not specify any groups they consulted with.

“They just said they consulted people that were Jewish and non-Jewish,” Alam said.

The Ontarion planned to ask the board members who exactly were consulted in the last board meeting, but were unable to address the board before the meeting time expired at 12:17 a.m.

“It just made sense to make the statement but the board decided on their own that they want to make their own statement up and post it,” Alam said. “It followed the process of board approval.”

For this statement to get official board approval, it had to be presented to the board, voted on, and had to get majority approval from board members. The execu-

tive team, which includes the CSA president, VP Academic and VP External are not voting members of the board.

The Board Meetings Alam said that during the board meeting on Oct. 18 “the intentions were kind of made clear by the board that they intended to not change the statement.”

She continued to say that she urged the board to consult with more members of the community before voting on releasing the statement as it was.

The motion was passed without further consultation with community members.

She said both statements, including the shortened version posted on Instagram, were presented to the board. The shortened version was referred to as “statement one” and the longer website version was referred to as “statement two.”

When asked why the Instagram statement excluded any mention of Palestinians, Alam said “I

don’t know.”

“It was resolved to post statement one, which is the Instagram post, on Instagram and then statement two be posted on the website,” she said. “So, it was just one motion that was brought forward by the board members.”

The motion to approve this statement was approved by a majority vote. However, names of voting board members and how they voted will not be reflected in upcoming board meeting minutes, which will be publicly released after they are approved at the next board meeting.

Both statements were then posted to their respective platforms.

“We've gotten a lot of feedback on the statement, and a lot of students were inflamed,” Alam said.

This led to an emergency board meeting being held on Oct. 23. The agenda from this meeting included a motion to approve a new statement with stronger messaging of Palestinian support brought forth by CSA board director Naomi Amayaevbo.

During the meeting, board

COMMON TERMINOLOGY FOR BOARD MEETINGS Motion - A formal proposal to take a specific action. It must be voted on and board directors have the opportunity to discuss and understand a motion.

In-Camera - .Latin for "in chambers", there are certain things a board must discuss with no other people present, such as human resources or legal issues.

Sub-committee - A group of people from the board of directors who meet separately from a board meeting to discuss a specific issue in more detail than can be done in a board meeting.

Minutes - A record of a board meeting, as written by the scribe.

The statement released by the CSA on Oct. 19.

External chair - A chair facilitates the board meeting. Sometimes the chair is a member of the organization and other times, such as in the case of the CSA, an external chair is used.

NOVEMBER ISSUE | NEWS

THE ONTARION

member Jake Levy called for a motion to go in-camera, meaning spectators could not be present during the debate segment of putting forward the motion. Levy cited the safety of board members for the reasoning behind an in-camera session.

“It’s not about legal reasons… it’s about safety reasons,” Levy said during the meeting.

Board member Amayaevbo asked if spectators could stay if they signed a confidentiality agreement. The motion to have spectators stay upon signing the agreement was denied by a vote of 7 to 10. The motion to go in-camera was passed by a vote of 10 to 7.

External board chair Cameron Olesen said that it was atypical to go in-camera for safety reasons, noting that going in-camera is typically used for legal and financial discussions. Olesen determined that in the absence of rules prohibiting going in-camera for specific reasons, that it would be allowed.

This caused the 40 spectators, many of whom were representing student groups including the Guelph Palestinian Student Association, Muslim Student Association, Middle Eastern Student Association, in addition to those present for personal reasons, to have to leave the meeting.

The Ontarion provided the opportunity for guests to provide a statement.

Hamza Kamal, representing the Pakistani Student Association, was among the spectators.

“This meeting will basically now happen behind closed doors where we don't know what's going to happen,” he said. “Now they can just keep doing that every single meeting until basically people forget about this.”

Another concern of Alam’s was how the response would affect those on the executive team.

“This is something the CSA has done wrong before, posting statements without consultation, and it resulted in death threats to the executive, people pushed to resign, and [having] to retract the statement,” she said in the transcript of her seven-minute speech.

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This is something the CSA has done wrong before, posting statements without consultation, and it resulted in death threats to the executive, people pushed to resign, and [having] to retract the statement Mustafa Zuberi, president of the Guelph Young Liberals questioned why the majority of members who voted for the motion to go in-camera were present virtually, and not in person.

“That doesn’t add up… That's like everyone who was online in the meeting voted against us being here,” he said.

He also empathized with some members of the CSA. “I'm sure not every person in the CSA aligns with what they just did right now, but it does put a dent on their reputation,” he said.

After an in-camera session which took just over three hours, The Ontarion joined the meeting again to learn that the motion to release a statement focusing on the Palestinian side of the conflict would be tabled indefinitely.

Following that motion, Alam put forward a motion that would allow for a sub-commit-

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tee to be made for consultation. Levy requested that executive members on subcommittees not have voting rights in the subcommittees.

During discussions to strike the subcommittee, Olesen reminded Levy that normally the executive would have voting rights on a subcommittee and that any items brought forward by the subcommittee would still be voted on by the board regardless.

The vote passed to remove the voting rights of executive members and the committee was created.

The Board Directors CSA bylaws state that board members “be at all times as objective, fair and impartial as possible when discussing issues and making decisions.”

When asked if she felt that members of the board violated bylaws pertaining to remaining impartial and representing the best interest of students, Alam declined to comment.

She did say that there is a group of members who vote together on matters frequently and said, “those are all public minutes… It's always been obvious that they're all friends.”

The same group asked for a hybrid meeting on Oct. 23.

This was ultimately allowed. However, Alam did arrange for a Campus Safety Officer to be present at the meeting for members who did show up in person.

“I did contact the Campus Safety Office directly and so they said they could arrange to have someone there in person that they actually are so that folks can feel safe being there,” Alam said.

Alam also appealed to the same group of board members during the Oct. 18 meeting.

She said she wanted to ensure they worked with multiple organizations before releasing a statement on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

“I acknowledge that the statement at hand was written with a lot of work, but as an organization with great responsibility of representing students, making them understand we are their union, having them feel accepted and included to use the services we provide and comfortable with reaching out with us… We should not release a statement that has not been looked at with great thought, and multiple voices,” reads a transcript of a seven-minute speech Alam made during the same meeting.

“I just talked for over seven minutes about why we shouldn't post this specific statement,” she said. “Why we should get consultation, what the precedent has been, how we can fix our mistakes in the past, what our mandate is, what our job is, and then what would happen if we posted this and everything I said has happened, which includes our polling staff quitting their jobs.”

Statements from community groups Although some students are upset by the statement released by the CSA, there are groups on campus who are thankful for the CSA’s statement.

In a statement to The Ontarion, Guelph Hillel said they were “appreciative of the CSA’s statement on the conflict, which reflected the sentiments many of our students are currently feeling.”

They also stated that as the only CSA recognized Jewish student club at the University of Guelph, they are determined to make sure students feel supported, safe, and proud of their identities, both on and off campus.

The Guelph Palestinian Student Association, (GPSA), provided their own statement to The Ontarion about the Israel-Gaza conflict and the local response.

“It is deeply concerning that the Trudeau government, along with the University of Guelph have refrained from addressing Israel’s harsh and indiscriminate treatment of Palestinian individuals, opting instead to express unwavering support for Israel’s claimed right for ‘self defense’,” their statement reads.

Chabad of Guelph commented in favour of the CSA’s statement.

“I’m so proud of the students of the CSA who stood up with moral courage to call Hamas’s heinous massacre of Israelis on Oct. 7 exactly what it is: evil,” they wrote in their statement to The Ontarion.

Rabbi Raphi Steiner from Chabad of Guelph also said “When commenters on social media are calling to release the names of whoever voted for this statement 'so they can get what’s coming to them,' and students perpetrate vandalism and intimidation towards Jews, causing tension to rise on campus, I’m proud of the courageous Jewish students who have donned their Kippahs and Stars of David openly and proudly.”

The Muslim Students' Association also submitted a statement to The Ontarion.

“The Muslim Students' Association is appalled by the actions of the CSA,” they wrote in their statement. “It was a very hurtful experience for a great many members of our community. The initial statement made by the CSA was inflammatory and alienating to Palestinians. Its most fatal flaw, however, is that despite the incredibly vulgar claims, it is entirely without any sources or evidence. In an educational institution, that is unacceptable.”

What you can do If you’re looking to have your voice heard, email the representative for your college which can be found at csaonline.ca/ board/directory.

In addition, reach out to your college to see if there are any vacant positions available to make your voice heard and have a vote on the CSA board of directors.

This is an ongoing story and will continue to be covered in later editions of The Ontarion.

ISSUE 195.3 | NEWS

THEONTARION.COM

5

Walk your way through time with Jaywalking Tours Uncover Guelph’s scandalous and spectacular history with Jay Wilson JORJA ALLEN

A

re you an avid theatre enthusiast looking for a new adventure this weekend? Are you interested in exploring Guelph’s local culture? If so, Jaywalking is for you!

Jaywalking is a one-man theatre company run by Jay Wilson, who takes theatre to the streets through his captivating accounts of local news stories from the 19th century. In taking part in a tour, you will uncover witty tales of Guelph’s founding father John Galt along with flippant scandals of women going up in flames.

Acquaint yourself with the landmarks you pass by every day and learn about the local idiosyncrasies of Guelph. Join the world’s smallest theatre company for a performance like no other and get your steps in while you’re at it.

Wilson believes that “you don't need a theatre in order to do theatre… and that's the beauty of it.”

“That's what I'm trying to do,”

Jaywalking lets you learn more about Guelph’s captivating history. PHOTO PROVIDED BY JAY WILSON

he said “I'm taking theatre to the streets…I'm attracting a crowd of people and then entertaining them with local stories about Guelph’s history.”

Wilson radiates performativity and encapsulates you with every consonance he constructs. His love of theatre is embedded within his tours. With his expertise as manager of the National Tap Dance Company of Canada to his work with The Gravenhurst Opera House, along with his experience operating Pandora’s Sox-Puppets and Entertainment, it is clear Wilson has a true passion for performance.

The tours are 90 minutes long and $25 per person. They run all day every day and you can book through Jay via jaywalkingguelph@gmail.com. Tours run all year round, and each season adds to their ambiance according to Jay. Each tour script is cultivat-

ed to create an experience that “transports people to the 19th century and gives them a sense of what it was like at that time.”

Currently, he is running three walking tours. The first is “Gwelf Early Days” which takes a more comical perspective of Guelph’s founding days, covering topics such as a baby contest for 50 acres of land, the first blushing bride, the first four fatalities and the first natural disaster.

The second tour he offers is the story of William Harvey, who in 1889 murdered his family. Yet, Guelph felt sorry for this “Unfortunate Man”, and you can find out why in the tour.

Lastly, his third tour spotlights the “Scandals of Early Guelph Wealth” with “everything from murders and financial scandal to even poetic scandal.”

If these sound intriguing but you aren’t big on walking,

then join Jay for his show “Lilt of Laughter and Trace of Tears.” After selling out in Collingwood, he is bringing this show to Guelph on Nov. 18 and 19 at the Art Bar on 37 Quebec St. The show contains beautiful Irish tales written by a close family friend, Charlene Harold, whose memory permeates through her work. Jay is incredibly appreciative of her work and credits her writing for inspiring this fantastic event.

“I pay a little tribute to her backstage before I go on every time, “ he said. “Because without her writings, I wouldn't have a show.”

Jay also has Podcasts that are a retake of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol and does live performances of his shows at the Guelph Public Library.

His dedication to the theatre is reflected in his work. A Tri-

pAdvisor review from Jaz Chez claims “His storytelling and theatrical background are quite evident when he reveals the history and daily life of the time.”

His tours have been doing so well that he is now expanding to Jaywalking Alton in partnership with The Alton Mill Art Centre.

Whether it be rain or shine, Jay encourages students to come out and learn more about the history of the city they’re studying in.

“It allows you to engage with the locals more intimately because you know a bit about their background,” he said. “And it gets a different part of your brain thinking as you're standing outside and breathing the air and taking in the sounds of nature.”

Now that you know all about Jay and his tours, be sure to add his walking tours to your bucket list or check out his show at the Gulph Art Bar in November.

Residential building across from campus approved City council made the decision on Oct. 17 TAYLOR PIPE

R

oughly 532 residential units will be popping up across the street from the University of Guelph campus.

On Oct. 17, city council approved a development plan for 716 Gordon St. The plan is to build an 11-storey building on the corner of Stone Rd. And Gordon St. However, once the building is approved, the developer is not legally required to provide these units to students.

The plan for this building was first proposed in 2011. This twelve-

year project’s plan was approved in 2013.

During the meeting, there were concerns about cutting down large trees on the plot of land, and the amount of noise that may come from the building.

Residents of the area will be invited to view and comment on the upcoming project in the near future, but their voices may not be considered as the area needs increased housing.

More information can be found at: guelph.ca through their council meeting agenda and livestream.

The new housing development is proposed for 716 Gordon Street. PHOTO PROVIDED BY SOPHIA MARCON

6

NOVEMBER ISSUE | NEWS

THE ONTARION

The remergence and utilization of ‘magic mushrooms’ on U of G’s campus Amidst this revival of psychedelic research, the prospect of compounds like psilocybin is being reconsidered with a newfound rigour and reverence

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resurgence of interest in psychedelics has been steadily gaining traction, even here in Guelph.

In late 2022, Health Canada granted the University of Guelph access to grow and study psilocybin. Psilocybin is a compound used to produce what we know as 'magic mushrooms.' Once we ingest psilocybin, our bodies convert it into psilocin, which allows the mind and body to hallucinate.

As society redirects its attention to how psychedelics evolve, a field of research has been revived, concentrating on various treatments and regimens. Nowhere is this renaissance more tangible than in Canada, particularly Ontario, where a pioneering legal framework has paved the way for the reemergence of psilocybin dispensaries.

The Ontarion spoke with Dr. Andy Hathway, an associate professor right here at U of G with an extensive background in illicit drug use, harm reduction, human rights, and Canadian drug policy, on his thoughts on the legal ambiguities and trends associated with psilocybin and its distribution in our region.

Upon discussion of the use of psilocybin, he said, "Whether it is made legal or not for medical or recreational purposes, it will continue to exist."

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rooms is still illegal in Canada, but that does not mean they are not still around. Although psilocybin are not a newfound discovery, every so often, we see its resurgence in popularity and trends like microdosing and macrodosing among young adults throughout the country.

"It's nothing new, it goes back decades'," says Hathaway.

"In some way, the use of microdosing suggests a bit of emerging recognition of its use for fun as a recreational tool, as well as its use as a medical tool," he said.

Research suggests that many medicinal causes, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction, could benefit from psilocybin.

"If we want to make a case for it being available for medical purposes, there needs to be allowance for research to take place," Dr. Hathaway says.

Suppliers are easily adaptable, and by eliminating the illegal channels not only for research purposes but also for public consumerism, it can be used as a controlled substance rather than as it is now uncontrolled. That being said, Hathaway says, "The use of psychedelics has always been something of interest to young people, particularly of university age." Its ability to improve cognitive function is something that appeals to personal development. However, a big provision needs to be clearly stated regarding recreational psychedelic use; although these substances can be used and handled with care and proper intention, they can easily lead to misuse and abuse, often leading people down roads challenging to come back from. They aren't for everybody, and like Hathaway explains, "sometimes a crutch for people that might probably benefit from other ways of getting out of the rut they are in."

ISSUE 195.3 | NEWS

THEONTARION.COM

CSA invites students to nationwide protest

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The CSA will provide transportation and food to the those who wish to participate TAYLOR PIPE

O

n Nov. 8, the Central Student Association will be rallying up students and heading to Queen’s Park in Toronto for a national day of advocacy. “[The day] advocates for stopping the federal and provincial government from decreasing and cutting the funding for higher education in Canada,” said Samar Tariq, VP External at the Central Student Association, (CSA).

Tariq said the protest is mostly against the cuts that the Ontario provincial government made when premier Doug Ford was elected.

She also said the CSA, along with the Canadian Federation of Students is working in conjunction to remove barriers for students

wishing to exercise their right for peaceful protest.

“We don't want any student advocate on the U of G campus to experience any barriers in participating on this day,” Tariq said.

“This is a day that advocates for elements within the education funding that impacts every single student irrefutably. There's not one student that this movement is not pertaining to. And so it is only fair to assume that every single student has incentive to attend.”

One of the big things that students are advocating for is turning more loans into grants to help students, while also capping the fees international students have to pay.

“Indian students alone, apart

PHOTO PROVIDED BY OPIRG/CSA

from other international students that the universities take in, pay double what a Canadian domestic student is paying,” she said. “This is coupled with the recent cuts…

and this isn't just from the Ford government. The federal government is in line with Ford's mandate and they support it.”

Students who are interested

in attending the protest can sign up for transportation by scanning the QR on the event posters or emailing csavpexternal@ uoguelph.ca.

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NOVEMBER ISSUE | NEWS

THE ONTARION

John McCrae: A century later Remembering the Guelph-born physician, soldier, and poet behind In Flanders Fields FATIMA ASKARY

McCrae’s poem inspired Madame Anna Guérin of France to create felt poppies that fundraised for veterans. Now, we wear them each Remembrance Day. PHOTO PROVIDED BY PEXELS

I

n a vast sea of destruction and devastation, only one thing flourished: the bright red poppies. Every November, we pin these red poppies over our chests, in a show of remembrance to fallen soldiers and their sacrifice.

John McCrae, a University of Guelph alum, physician, poet and soldier was inspired by these flowers, resilient amongst the horrors of war. Shortly after losing close friend Lieutenant Alixes Helmer in the Second Battle of Ypres, McCrae wrote In Flanders Fields in his remembrance. The poppy fast became a symbol of the fallen soldiers and the lives lost in conflict.

John McCrae was born in Guelph, Ontario in 1872. He attended Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute, and then the University of Toronto to complete his B.A. He then returned on a scholarship to study medicine.

Many years before he was to serve as a medic during WW1, he held an established career as a physician. His first encounter was serving in the military as a lieutenant during the Second Boer War in South Africa. When Britain declared war on Germany, he went on to enlist in the first Canadian contingent at the age of 41. He wrote to a close friend, “I am really rather afraid, but more afraid to stay at home with my conscience."

McCrae treated wounded soldiers for 17 days in the battle. He died in 1918 from pneumonia, and was buried in full military honour in Wimereux Cemetery in France.

His poems were posthumously published In Flanders Fields and Other Poems.

The John McCrae House, the birthplace of McCrae, is located in Guelph and

open to the public. The house has been memorialised in remembrance of McCrae and his contributions, showcasing his medals and honours. Outside the cottage stands a marble lays an engraving commemorating McCrae and his poem “In Flanders Fields”.

A few wreaths lay scattered, remembrances left by those who have visited and acknowledged McCrae’s legacy.

It is easy to forget the sacrifices made by those in the past, but faced with the historical evidence, it’s impossible to ignore.

Millions of people each year read his poem on Remembrance Day. There is a lot we can continue to learn from McCrae’s words.

While the poppy has become a symbol for fallen soldiers, our remembrance should encompass all lives lost during conflict.

McCrae’s mourning was universal to all innocents who were killed as a result of the actions of a few. His poem speaks of mourning and regret, that lives lost were once loved and cared for. This sentiment became analogous with wearing a poppy: a pledge to never again let innocent lives be lost, a pledge of peace.

That pledge has been betrayed since its inception, as millions of innocents die every year due to war. Yet nations and leaders continue to parade the poppy as a symbol of commemoration and sacrifice. Has McCrae’s message been lost amidst the sea of genocide, war and apartheid that continues today? It is vital we enact its original message by reflecting on the true meaning of the poppy and fighting to end all forms of bloodshed. I encourage you to visit the McCrae house and let it serve as a reminder for all that we have lost in the past, and what we risk to lose in the future.

In Flanders Fields

By John McCrae 1872-1918 In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

ARTS & CULTURE

9

12 | SECRET CINEMA

11 | BOOK REVIEW

THE ONTARION

13 | COMEDY FEST

"They can't really put a cap on colour," said Denise Mansur. PHOTO PROVIDED BY TAYLOR PIPE

Find the style for your story Take a peek into the up-and-coming, bold and bright professional wear from Ms. Meri Mak AADYA KAPOOR

“T

hey can’t really put a cap on colour,” is what Denise Mansur, the founder of Ms. Meri Mak store shared with us when talking about fashion and clothing for women in professional corporate settings. The fashion show invited attendees to contemplate how women feel the need to conform to succeed in the corporate environment, especially when it comes to their fashion choices, and to conceive the experience around the collection while keeping this in their minds.

Denise shared that as she rose

in the corporate world, she realised that wearing bold, bright colours like pink was one of the best ways she stayed authentic to herself, and it was something that could not have been put a cap on.

The fashion show had an air of magnificence around it, with a sea of immaculately dressed attendees and confident and flawless models and designers. The event started at 5:30 p.m. with an amazing music performance by Samuel Soga and the CRFU radio DJ Takeyse. The host of the night was the Kween, the founder of the Kween Compa-

ny, who kept the entire crowd in high spirits and created the best atmosphere for the night. The guests were then served with a hearty Caribbean dinner and beverages.

The fashion show took place in three main sets, with poetry performances by performers Natalie Ann and Miles which both were on conformity and how societal expectations bind to our mentality about our bodies and self-image.

Both performances brought more life to the designs and spoke greatly to the audience.

The entire fashion show was

very inclusive, including the models, who were representative of all body types, ethnicities and backgrounds. Ms. Meri Mak also released their first men’s line during the fashion show which featured two exquisite designs modelled on the runway. The fashion show also featured outfits by two other designers, Nadya Toto, a Montreal-based women’s designer and Jessica from the My Perfect Pair company which started with first luxury breast tape, lingerie and shapewear, and has now introduced their new pieces at this

event.

The last performance of the night was done by Kween and Denise Mansur herself where they performed a beautiful dance set for the audience. Then, the fashion show came to an end with a final runway walk of all the models with their designers and a roar of appreciation from the audience.

The entire event tied up the theme of women reclaiming their power to express themselves through their bold fashion in the corporate world beautifully, leaving the audience in awe of the designs.

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NOVEMBER ISSUE | ARTS & CULTURE

THE ONTARION

Ontarion Book Review: The Adult is a captivating coming of age and coming-out story Protagonist Natalie is relatable and real as she wonders what it means to be an adult ANDREEA BURLACU

F

reshman year. You meet a billion people, remember like, two of their names, hate your workload, change your major, eat Kraft Dinner and question everything. It all feels new, and you quickly realize you don’t know what you’re doing. But neither does anyone else!

If that sounds like you, you’ll relate big-time to Bronwyn Fischer’s debut novel The Adult. Protagonist Natalie has just left her comfy small town to study at University of Toronto, where she tries to figure out who she is. She stands in the grocery store aisle, wondering if buying orange mini cupcakes makes you less of a grown-up.

She Googles “things to ask people you don’t know” on the city bus and befriends her cool, confident floormate Clara. She takes a Nature Poetry class and searches for meaning in evenly-planted trees.

While sitting on a park bench, Natalie meets Nora, a gorgeous, intriguing older woman who seems to have it all together.

Natalie is intensely drawn to her: her confidence, her expensive home, her flirtatious personality, and the way Nora seems to know it all.

All Natalie is sure about is that she wants Nora. But this

leads to more questions. Natalie searches up “how to date an older woman”, wondering if she’s pretty, if she’s a lesbian, if she’s in love, if she’s in denial, if she knows herself and if she even knows Nora.

Author Bronwyn Fischer agreed that university is a period of self-discovery.

“It’s a time period where there’s just a lot of information,” she said. “It’s something radically new.”

As Natalie tries to connect deeper with Nora, she creates a lover named “Paul” to conceal her identity from her friends. She fears she’ll be treated differently if people know she’s queer. But Natalie realizes she’s not the only one hiding something. Missed calls and Nora’s mysterious past worry her. Who is Nora, really?

To create Natalie’s confused inner monologue, Fischer leaned into a “very specific part” of herself.

“I feel like she’s just always longing after different things,” she said. “I guess I feel like that in my own life, and so that’s why I was interested in writing about it.”

Although this novel mainly focuses on Natalie, its story shows

Bronwyn Fischer graduated from Guelph with a Master’s in Creative Writing and released her debut novel. PHOTO PROVIDED BY PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHING

The Adult is about growing pains and Googling all of life’s big questions. PHOTO PROVIDED BY PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHING

that not even adults have everything figured out. The enigmatic Nora is also trying to get her life back on track.

“I think that she’s going through her own crisis of identity and uncertainty,” Fischer said.

This debut novel from Fischer also culminates the author’s journey of finding out what she likes. Having initially pursued an English degree, Fischer had a “hard time” in her first year at University of Toronto. Although she loved reading books, she didn’t find the course material enjoyable and she wasn’t sure English was meant for her.

“I was pretty confused about it all,” she said.

Then, Fischer flipped through a course handbook and found Creative Writing courses.

“I forgot that was something I was into,” she said. “And then, that kind of reinvigorated the

whole university thing for me.”

Later, Fischer took a novel writing course that helped her find her creative voice and complete a first draft of The Adult.

She then pursued an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Guelph and published this debut novel last May. Fischer advises other aspiring writers to discover what they want to write about and just go for it, even if the first draft turns out rough.

“You could just be like, ‘I’m going to write a novel and it doesn’t matter how terrible it is’,” she said. “‘I’m going to write one.’”

By doing this, you’ll discover your voice and develop the ideas that come to your mind.

“You have to write yourself into a place of knowing how to write,” she said. “Also, I think you should write what’s interesting to

you, because otherwise, what’s the point?”

Overall, Fischer’s The Adult is relatable and real. It reminds me of a university-level Judy Blume book, full of self-discovery and friendship, but with more mature subject material. You’ll fall for Natalie’s sweet floormate Clara and be pulled into Nora’s magnetism. And Fischer’s descriptive detail of Toronto makes you feel like you’re in Queen’s Park, shivering and wondering if you should follow the road not taken.

The Adult has a sense of hope that one day you’ll figure it out.

This is summed up in one of the book’s final quotes, “I think, everywhere, there is a hint of who you are becoming.”

But even as an adult now, Fischer doesn’t think she has all the answers.

“I think [life] might always be perpetually uncertain,” she

ISSUE 195.3 | ARTS & CULTURE

THEONTARION.COM

11

CFRU: So much more than just a radio station A point of view from someone who just found out U of G has a radio station YASMINE SULIMAN

D

id you know we have a radio station on campus? I’m in my second year and I didn’t. Although maybe I’ve just been living under a rock for the past year. But regardless, I thought it was super cool, a radio station broadcasting from our very campus. Like, I can turn on my car radio and spin the dial to 93.3 and I get a broadcast coming from my own school.

Pretty cool.

But if that's not cool enough for ya, get this. I took a trip to the CFRU headquarters above the UC, where it all goes down, to find out how it all works and take a sneak peak at the action. I was shocked to find out they are so much more than just a single room radio station like you see on TV shows with two mics and a sound board. They are a full on media centre!

So if you are a media, technology, music or communications buff, or are one of those people who enjoy listening to the news or a podcast while getting ready in the morning, they’ve definitely got content and opportunities for you! Plus, they are funded by our student fees, so why not know and make use of what you're paying for.

What CFRU is all about I had the pleasure of interviewing Bryan Webb, the Operations Coordinator for CFRU. He gave me a tour of the Media Centre, where I got some photos of the station and members of their team in action. Also, Webb filled me in on what CFRU was all about.

“We try to provide a venue for voices, music, ideas, perspectives that aren’t typically represented on commercial or public radios,” Webb emphasised.

In terms of music, CFRU doesn’t play the top charts, like the other commercial stations you might be used to, like 99.9 Virgin radio and KX 94.7.

“We likely wouldn’t add the new Alicia Keys album to our music library because it's already so represented on more commercial radio,” Webb said. “We instead connect with local musicians and

more underground artists who aren’t getting played on those venues, to celebrate that work.”

“That's kinda the ongoing tradition with campus and community stations, is to provide that alternative venue for voices that are underrepresented.”

S o if you’re a musician and want to get your music out there, you cancontact CFRU. They are always looking for more talent to broadcast.

“We definitely want musicians and campus based musicians and producers to know that we have a fully functional music production facility with amazing software and hardware,” Webb said. “They are welcome to get involved …it's all free and you don’t have to have any experience.”

The show discusses a wide range of topics including politics, social justice issues, environmental sustainability and so much more. These topics aren’t often spoken about on other public media platforms, yet they very much affect the Guelph community.

“Local and underrepresented voices, that's the priority,” Webb said.

The new Social Media Lab The CFRU recently launched a new Social Media Lab, which is open for student use. Wanna film a video with a green screen and fancy cameras? Take some new profile pics to spice up your LinkedIn profile? Edit a video with professional editing software?

Well, any student or CFRU volunteer can book out the room, completely free, for a two hour time slot between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Attached is a QR code that will take you to www.

CFRU.ca/SMlab, where you can book your slot. I’ll definitely be using this room at some point and you should too. Might as well, right?

Get involved There are so many ways to get involved with CRFU. They offer a variety of volunteer and paid positions, ‘“I think a lot of folks think,

Volunteer host and DJ Nicholas Cooper began with CFRU as a UofG Student, but has carried on involvement as an alumnus. PHOTO PROVIDED BY YASMINE SULIMAN

‘Oh well I don’t really wanna do a radio show,’ like that's the only opportunity,” Webb said. “But there's a ton of different ways you can get involved. If you don’t want to sit in front of a microphone you can do all sorts of other things, as aspects of making media and communications.”’

Webb listed several roles that students and community members can take on within the Media Centre. That's another cool part about CFRU, their team is composed of not only students, but also community members and Alumni.

* * * * *

Some examples of roles with CFRU

What Goes on Air - Hosts, Djs, Programmers Music Department - sourcing out and/or processing new music Tech Department Maintaining equipment, setting up for music performances Events - Assisting with on and off campus events throughout the year Outreach - Handing out flyers

They also allow scheduled access to almost, if not all their equipment for free. All you have

to do is email volunteer@cfru.ca and they will set you up for equipment training.

“We are here to educate and train as much as we’re here to provide interesting content,” Webb said.

“If you're making beats in your dorm room or something like that and you want a space to come and break it out, use some fancier equipment, and just monitor mixes in a production studio, that's what it's here for as well,” Webb said.

So, if you wanna listen to something different from your usual Spotify playlist on repeat, you can dial into 93.3 CFRU. Whether you’re in your car, walking to class, or looking for a background track to one of your late night study sessions, CFRU lets you hear some new and local voices.

Wanna get involved? You can email them at volunteer@cfru.ca ! You’re spicing up that resume before graduation, while doing something that lets your talents and interests thrive.

Moreover, whether you’re a listener, volunteer or someone using the equipment for personal use, you are connecting with the community.

“We consider ourselves a successful bridge between the campus and the community,” Webb said.

“It's a place where those two worlds that sometimes are very separate can interact.

He added, “I think it's important in a university setting to not be isolated from the community that you're in and actually understand what's directly affecting that region.”

Some of you have lived in Guelph most of your lives, others will only be here for their university career, and others will stay here afterwards. But wherever you fit in that spectrum you are spending time in the City of Guelph, so why not spend a little time connecting to the community and trying something new.

ICON BY FREEPIK

NOVEMBER ISSUE | ARTS & CULTURE

12

THE ONTARION

Sunday secret cinema at the Bookshelf Is the book really better than the movie? You can now find out at the Bookshelf ELLIE PETRAK

S

unday Secret Cinema gives movie lovers a chance to discover new films and share the experience with like-minded people over a cup of morning coffee.

A Guelph favourite for book and movie lovers alike, the Bookshelf in downtown Guelph is a comfy bookshop that’s complete with its own independent cinema and bistro.

Starting this November, they are bringing back their popular Sunday Secret Cinema event. On the first Sunday of each month until April, the bookshelf will be holding screenings at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. of a new film that hasn’t been available before.

Attendees arrive about an hour before for pre-show coffee, baked goods and other refreshments. The movie is then announced and attendees can experience the new film together. After the show, special guests come in for discussion and a Q&A. These guests may be people involved in the film or film-making. The movie-watchers have the opportunity to ask questions about the film and discuss ideas and themes brought up in the movie.

Sunday Secret Cinema gives people a chance to watch films that may expand their movie palette, introducing them to movies they may not have sought out before. These events give movie lovers a chance to find

hidden gems and discover new genres. The films are all different and can range from foreign films to Canadian documentaries.

“The morning session sold out this year in about 90 minutes, so we’ve added a second show,” said cinema manager Peter Henderson. “It’s our most popular event series that we’ve ever had.”

Previous pass holders are excited to return to the series after around 3 years since it ended due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“It was unfortunate that like everything else, it got squashed by covid and as we started gradually coming back and restrictions were lifted, our most asked question was, ‘Are you doing Secret Sundays again?’ Henderson.

The series includes 2023 showings on Nov. 5 and Dec. 3 as well as Jan. 7, Feb. 4, Mar. 3 and Apr. 7, in 2024. Series tickets are $180 plus tax and can be bought at the Bookshelf or over the phone at 519-8213311.

If you’re interested in the Bookshelf Cinema outside of the Secret Cinema Sundays, their regular cinema runs 7 days a week, all year round. Be sure to check their website bookshelf.ca to keep updated on their film screenings and showtimes.

Stay warm this winter with the Bookshelf’s hot indie movies. PHOTO PROVIDED BY TAYLOR PIPE

CFRU's Monthly Top 10 albums 1. APOLLO SUNS* Departures (Do Right!)

6. FREAK HEAT WAVES* Mondo Tempo (Mood Hut)

2. KEVIN DREW* Aging (Arts & Crafts)

7. DANKO JONES* Electric Sounds (Sonic Unyon)

3. ELISAPIE* Inuktitut (Bonsound)

8. MOTHER TONGUES* Love In A Vicious Way (Wavy Haze)

4. ALLISON RUSSELL* The Returner (Fantasy / Concord) 5. DEVENDRA BANHART Flying Wig (Mexican Summer)

CFRU93.3FM

@CFRU93.3

CFRU_radio

WWW.cfru.ca

9. PATRICK KRIEF* Skylines (Indica)

For the creator in all of us!

10. THE BATTLE OF SANTIAGO* Los Santos y Pecadores (Unfit)

CFRU offers FREE training, use of high-quality recording equipment, and (remote) opportunities for on-air and behind-the-scenes projects.

*CANADIAN ARTIST

Give it a try today!

Email volunteer@cfru.ca to learn more.

ISSUE 195.3 | ARTS & CULTURE

THEONTARION.COM

Performer DeAnne Smith entertains the crowd at Standup Powerhouse. PHOTO PROVIDED BY STUART SERVICE

Guelph Comedy Festival celebrates 10 years of love, laughter, and "Yo Mama" jokes “We are a city that loves to laugh”, says Festival director Kate Ethier ANDREEA BURLACU

W

e all need a laugh this midterm season. With the Guelph Comedy Festival, you can take off some stress and enjoy improv, stand-up, music, and sketch comedy. From Oct. 19 - 21, 2023, this non-profit organisation celebrated ten years of chuckles and chortles with events like “Improv Jam Sandwich” and “Rapp Battlez”.

With Improv Jam, folks from all over the community can try improv for the first time with shortform games. This can include your weird neighbour, your crush that’s somehow both hot and funny, your nutty professor, or even your mother. You’ll never know unless you go check it out.

“You just have to come with an open mind and a positive attitude,” said Director and Acting President Hayley Kellet. “It’s a great way to try comedy out and be part of the Festival.”

If you love diss tracks, you’ll dig Rapp Battlez, a show from Toronto that is an “absolute banger”.

This event features characters from history or works of media battling each other rap-style.

The Guelph Comedy Festival’s 2023 Hometown Heroes included the Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute Improv Team, Juno-nominated Jackie Pinto, and local legend Jason Dalgleish. Dalgleish started off in a drop-in improv class and now has open-mics every Monday at Shoeless Joe’s and a free comedy show Tuesdays at Fixed Gear

Brewery. Dalgleish proves that putting your dreams into action is no laughing matter.

Each of the Festival’s events promised attendees a great time.

Director and Treasurer Kate Ethier said that choosing a favourite one was “like picking a favourite child.”

“All of the shows are fabulous in their own way,” agreed Kellet.

Kellet also loves the sense of community and connection they feel throughout the Festival.

“Over those three days, I just feel so tapped into the people around me,” she said. “There’s something to say about how laughter builds bonds and strengthens connections.

I feel so close to Guelph over the course of the Comedy Festival.”

As Kellet and Ethier browsed through old photos of the Festival, they noticed couple who went on first dates at comedy shows and are now happily married.

“We’ve got so many love stories saying, ‘Comedy is how we got to know each other, how we met,’” said Kellet. “‘And now here we are, two kids down the line, still laughing, learning, and loving together.’”

Ethier and Kellet have also had a longtime love for comedy. Ethier got into improv at 15 and performed with The Making Box’s house team for “many, many years”, while Kellet performed comedic burlesque and worked at Second City Toronto for almost 10 years. Both Ethier and Kellet are co-chairs of the Board, but this is

Kellet’s last year in a leading role.

“Kate will be taking over as full President next year,” they said.

“I’m really excited for her to be in charge and take the reins. She’s gonna continue to be excellent.”

In 10 years, Guelph’s comedy scene has come a long way. The Making Box hosts many comedy nights in town alongside other “fabulous new initiatives”.

“There’s more open mics in Guelph than I think there have ever been,” said Ethier. “I think that showed in the last 10 years, that we are a city that loves to laugh, and we are a city that is always looking for opportunities to get out there.”

If you’re also looking to get out there, and give comedy a try, Ethier and Kellet can assure you that the Guelph scene is very welcoming.

“There’s not a better place to try it than in Guelph,” said Ethier. “I think Guelph has done a very good job at taking to heart the concept of punching up, not punching down. Of being cognizant of the place that you take up on the sage, and your opportunity to say things while you’re there.”

“If you are a little bit nervous, I can’t think of a more friendly audience, or an audience who is more prepared to support you,” she added.

Kellet also described that the biochemical in your brain that is responsible for nervous energy is the same one that tells you you’re excited. She described that if you

change your mental language to ‘I’m excited’ instead of ‘I’m nervous’, you can trick your brain into using nervous energy in a positive way. This makes it easier to jump into new things, like stand up or improv comedy.

They advised folks in the Wellington KW area who are looking to give comedy a try to reach out to Jason Dalgleish at DogLeash Comedy and Ben Gorodetsky at Pinch Cabaret. If you wish to perform at the Festival, you can reach out to them at fest@guelphcomedyfestival. com.

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“I love celebrating new talent, especially if you’re in the Tri-City area,” said Kellet.

You can also be a volunteer and get access to super cool comedy shows, a volunteer exclusive party, and a free t-shirt, not to mention something to fill the blank space on a resume.

As for the 2024 GCF, you can look forward to the comedy shows without worrying that tickets will break the bank. In recent years, Kellet adopted the more inclusive Green Bottle method, which features three price tiers. These incorporate specific criteria that assess whether you can comfortably meet basic needs, pay bills, or take time off work when needed.

“I found it very inspiring,” said Kellet. “And when I brought it to the board, we agreed that if we can remove some of the barriers to connection, laughter, and joy, why not lean into that?”

Kellet and Ethier applied the Green Bottle method to ensure shows are accessible to the community while performers are appropriately paid.

It can be really hard to get out of that scarcity mindset, even as an artist, even as somebody who knows what these indie performers deserve to be paid,” said Ethier. “I was one… when I would see a sliding scale, part of my brain would be like, ‘We’re doing pretty good right now, so maybe I should pay more.’”

“It’s nice to give people the freedom to self-select what works for them,” Kellet added.

The Festival also offers online tickets for viewers across the world.

“We always want to make sure that if folks want to attend, there’s a way for them to do it,” said Kellet.

So whether you’re looking for a cute date idea, hoping to connect with the Guelph community, or wondering why the chicken crossed the road – you can find something new to laugh about at the Guelph Comedy Festival.

The Improv Jam lets crowd members come onstage and try out improv comedy.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY STUART SERVICE

NOVEMBER ISSUE | ARTS & CULTURE

14

THE ONTARION

The Guelph Film Festival connects global and local communities through powerful documentary films “It's not enough to just watch the documentary film. It’s very important to do something after you see it" PAULA HENRY-DURU

The Festival aims to screen films from diverse voices and perspectives. PHOTO PROVIDED BY UNSPLASH

D

id you know that one of the oldest documentary-focused film festivals in the world takes place every year at Guelph? It’s called the Guelph Film Festival, and this year the festival will run from Nov. 3 to Nov. 11 at various locations across Guelph.

Directors from all around the world can submit their documentaries as either

feature length or short films, and submissions must incorporate the festival’s three core themes: social justice, the environment, and community building. To encourage and showcase films of unique, diverse and varying perspectives, the Guelph Film Festival makes it their rule that films screened are from diverse voices and per-

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spectives. It is their mandate that 50 per cent of the films screened are directed by women-identifying individuals, 50 per cent are by diverse directors (including BIPOC, D/deaf and/or disabled and LQBTQIA2S+ individuals), and 50 per cent are Canadian films.

Two people heavily involved with the Guelph Film Festival are Kimber Sider, the artistic director and lead programmer, and Steve D'Alimonte, the operations director.

D’Alimonte explained that the festival is more than just about screening films, and mentioned that the festival’s mandate is “to inspire community building and inspire community change.”

One interesting thing about the Film Festival is that the screenings take place at different locations across Guelph and this provides a unique experience to the audience as the festival ‘repurposes spaces’. The locations of the screenings often tie in to the documentaries being shown, and this connects viewers to members of the community in the documentary, and to members of the physical community in which the film is being screened.

An example of this is a documentary entitled Someone Lives Here that will be shown this year at the Habitat for Humanity Guelph ReStore. It features a carpenter in Toronto who decided to build little shelters for unhoused people during the winter of 2020. Although his efforts gained traction internationally, local authorities were not as pleased. The full documentary of this powerful story will be on Nov. 9.

An amazing feature about the festival is the talkback sessions which happen at the end of films, The audience is provided with the opportunity to engage in conversation with the director, locals or people involved with the film. The people on this panel answer any questions the audience may have about the documentary and connect the issues raised in the film to Guelph. Through a two-way discussion this panel aims to showcase the relevance of the issues in the films to our community.

“The films are the springboards to the conversations that will leave people with something to really think about afterwards,” D’Alimonte said.

Another film to look forward to is Periodical, a film about menstruation which will be filmed at Victory Public School.

“It's obviously a reality that affects about half the population, but isn't spoken about not just candidly, but largely isn't spoken about publicly at all,” D’Alimonte said.

“Through art and the conversations after the film we want to facilitate conversations with what we hope is a mixed audience to talk and have honest conversations about this.”

D’Alimonte emphasized the importance of viewers thinking about what comes next after seeing the documentary films.

“It's not enough to just watch the documentary film,” said D’Alimonte. “It’s very important to do something after you see it.

There are so many important issues around the world these days and reflecting on something, or becoming involved in organizations in your community is the point.”

D'Alimonte acknowledged that some subject matters (like climate change) may be heavier than others. But through the conversations that happen at the end of films, people can leave screenings feeling passionate and excited about what they can do to help solve the issue discussed.

The Guelph Film Festival will begin on Friday Nov. 3, with the film July Talk: Love Lives Here to be screened at Royal City Mission. The film is about Leah and Peter, singers of the Toronto-based rock band July Talk, and how they navigated the pandemic as individuals on a personal level and as a band. There will also be a short set by Peter and Leah along with the screening and they will be present afterwards to answer questions from the audience.

Special student pricing will be available for the opening night film, and all other films excluding that are free to individuals under 30. For those over 30, tickets can be bought in person or online for a flat rate of up to $15 (excluding the opener which is $25), or individuals can pay what they want to purchase their tickets. More information about the film schedules, screening venues, and pricing can be found at the Guelph Film Festival website guelphfilmfestival.ca.

Guelph Film Festival’s poster showing all the feature films. PHOTO PROVIDED BY STEVE D'ALIMONTE

THEONTARION.COM

SPORTS & HEALTH 20 | PHARMACISTS

18 | STRESSBUSTERS

15

21 | STOCK SCAMS

Burlesque is back and bringing on the fire Guelph troupe Femmes Rebelles tell all about burlesque’s confidence-boosting powers ANDREEA BURLACU

T

he golden lights gleam onstage. Saucy jazz sets the mood.

Sumptuous costumes and smouldering eyes, silky gloves and satin thigh-highs. You lean in your seat with anticipation, wondering what show awaits you. Well, Christina Aguliera sang it best - “It's a life, it's a style, it's a need, it's burlesque.”

Burlesque, which derives from the Italian word “burlesco”, has a rich history of parody and comedy.

In the 20th century, raunchy humour and drinks would flow freely in cabarets and clubs. These burlesque shows would feature slapstick comedy, chorus numbers, and daring dances that often included stripteases.

The effects of Prohibition, the rise of movies, and censorship made burlesque shows fall out of fashion by the 1970s. But just like pin-up fashion and Mary Janes, burlesque has had a resurgence. Audiences get the pleasure of comedy, dance, drama, and stripteases all in one show.

And it’s incredibly fun to perform burlesque.

Local performer Olive von Topp was a belly dancer before discovering burlesque in 2013.

“I feel like I was searching for burlesque for a long time,” she said.

“I describe it as all the things I love combined…comedy and sensuality and costumes and acting.”

Burlesque often features gorgeous costumes and elaborate makeup..

PHOTO PROVIDED BY FEMMES REBELLES

Ruby Moon had a similar calling. She had originally danced ballet when she saw a burlesque show in 2012.

“I saw Sassy Ray and her troupe in Kitchener and I immediately wanted to do it,” she said. “I just fell in love.”

Now, von Topp and Moon perform across the world, including recent shows in Stockholm and London. They are also instructors at Guelph’s Femmes Rebelles. Alongside third member Lilith Lemons, von Topp and Moon teach classes like “Burlesque Bombshells”, “Burlesque Badasses”, and “Burlesquercise” at Flying Dance Community.

Trying out burlesque can be a great confidence-booster. In an age where seemingly-impossible standards flood social media, it can be hard to feel confident being yourself. Women are shamed for everything under the sun, including being too sexual or too modest, being too insecure or too confident. Burlesque sticks a rhinestone-encrusted middle finger up to those standards and celebrates you, exactly as you are.

As a feminist, you may wonder whether empowerment really equals stripping off clothes for a historically male audience. But modern burlesque is very much about yourself, and performing in ways that make you feel comfortable in your body.

Moon described that developing her confidence with burlesque was “a bit of a journey.”

“When I first started, I was still self conscious and nervous,” she said. “But the more I did it, the more confident I became.”

Moon and von Topp love that burlesque allows them to let go for a moment and express themselves.

“There’s really no rules,” said Moon. “It’s all about your ideas and your creativity and your fantasy.”

In each burlesque act, they play a different role. Ruby Moon has gone from fairy to flapper, while von Topp has performed as a

Ruby Moon, Olive von Topp, and Lilith Lemons make up the Femmes Rebelles. PHOTO PROVIDED BY FEMMES REBELLES

repressed housewife, a go-go dancer, and even The Office’s Dwight Schrute.

“It helps those negative thoughts go away, if you really dig into the character and just enjoy the pleasure of dancing and moving,” Moon said.

In a way, burlesque is similar to drag. With wigs, costumes, makeup, and larger-than-life personas, you’re transformed into a more confident version of yourself.

It also helps to have an alter ego, like a “Sasha Fierce” who brings out a more confident side of you. von Topp described that her burlesque persona is above insecurity and “just gives less shits.”

“She has more fun than me,” von Topp said.

While it’s fun to perform as someone else, burlesque can also help you love the skin you’re in.

You can give burlesque a try even if you don’t consider yourself a dancer.

Everyone has insecurities. But in a burlesque class, you can focus on the way your body expresses it-

self through movement rather than how it looks. Burlesque celebrates every body shape and size while also including people of different skill levels, abilities, and ages.

“It’s significantly ahead of some of the other dances shown to us,” said Moon.

Coming from a ballet background, Moon is familiar with the unwelcoming body standards that can exist in the dance world.

“I know all about not having the right body or the right technical skill,” she said.

She described that burlesque is much more flexible, and that just being onstage and embracing your body can inspire somebody else to do the same.

“I think a lot of people have a very narrow view of what we should look like or act like in order to be confident,” von Topp said. “Often in burlesque, we see someone who has the same thing that we’re tripped up about on ourselves being sexy and feeling confident, and it gives us the permission to be like, ‘Maybe I can

be too.’”

If you’re ready to show a little leg and shimmy your chest, you can sign up for a Femmes Rebelles class at www.thefemmesrebelles.com/classes. And if you’re feeling like watching a spectacular show, you can catch their upcoming student showcase on December 9.

Olive von Topp loves that burlesque gives her “the ability to be creative and express”. PHOTO PROVIDED BY FEMMES REBELLES

16

FEATURE STORY

THE ONTARION

It’s important to set reasonable goals and take time to recharge. PHOTO PROVIDED BY PEXELS

Burnt out? You’re not alone U of G Kinesiologist Kathy Somers walks The Ontarion through our burnout and to the other side TAYLOR PIPE

F

or students, the general exhaustion that comes from balancing work, life and school can seem normal. But how do we know if what we’re experiencing is normal, or if we’re actually on the verge of burning out?

Kathy Somers is a University of Guelph alumni and a Kinesiologist. She specializes in creating workshops for students and campus community members that revolve around stress, anxiety and the symptoms that accompany them.

“It just seems so hard. You're dragging yourself through the day,” she said.

Somers said that according to American social psychologist and professor, Christina Maslach, there are three main symptoms of burnout: exhaustion, cynicism and reduced productivity.

“So your productivity is go-

ing down, which is really ironic because quite often, what people are doing is they are working very, very hard and long hours, but now it's becoming very ineffective work,” she said.

She continued on to say that one of the main ways students can identify this stress is to try to remain self-aware and recognize when you are feeling stressed and experiencing symptoms of burnout.

It’s often this time of year, mid-semester and post-midterms that students feel the most apathy toward their studies, but also the most stress with upcoming exams and culminating projects.

However, sometimes these feelings of cynicism and apathy toward studies can be the nail in the coffin for students who realize they may have picked the wrong course of study in university.

“Sometimes the question to ask is, it's a values conflict,” Somers said. “Sometimes people at university begin to realize they’re truly actually not really that interested in this particular topic or this particular program.”

She also brought up having a heavy workload this time of year, with midterms and finals on the horizon. She said people need to look at their workload and be realistic about what they can and can’t get done in a reasonable timeframe.

ICON BY FREEPIK

“I think it's common that people will be very self critical,” Somers said. “They may be driving themselves mercilessly and they become a human doing rather than a human being.

They become disconnected with their feelings. Their body, their emotions, and they're ignoring the symptoms. So it becomes sort of like a spiral sometimes. It's all work and not being aware or not taking the time to try and balance it out.”

She also said that these spiraling feelings can make students feel quite isolated and like they aren’t understood. This is why having a solid support system during these times is so important.

“They're disconnected from family, friends, emotions, their support system,” Somers said.

“One of the things that really

seems to be the hallmark of who differentiates who really experiences burnout compared to those who don't, is the social support.”

She added that this is why having self-awareness is so important. She said being aware of the signs and asking yourself some key questions can help you determine whether you’re burnt out.

“Like, ‘What's going on with me? Is my life becoming sort of out of balance and it is all work and no play, no joy, total exhaustion? Am I overachieving? Am I worrying a lot? Am I trying to please everybody? Am I very critical of myself while trying to rescue everybody else?’,” she said.

She said the next piece to managing burnout is self management.

“It might include things like learning how to say no or be more

ISSUE 195.3 | FEATURE STORY

THEONTARION.COM assertive or figure out where the boundaries are,” she said.

That also means being more flexible with your expectations of yourself, exploring your values and perhaps speaking with a counsellor about what you’re feeling.

“This is hard, especially for people who are more introverted or perfectionistic because they might, through their lifetime, have developed the idea that you should be able to do it yourself. A strong person does it themselves,” she said. “They might perceive this as ‘Well, I need to be the strong person,’ and so they won't reach out, they won't do some of these kinds of things.”

She said self-management also ties into time management and managing procrastination.

“Self management also might be about time management,” Somers said. “There's some really good resources at the Learning Commons, here on campus, about time management, and maybe also learning how to get along with other people.”

But sometimes these stressors that leave us burnt out can have nothing at all to do with school and studying.

“It might be stuff that is going on in my family life that is creating this, or it might be in my social life, or if I'm a volunteer or the groups that I belong to, or it might be my personal life,” Somers said. “So, it might be all of these things coalescing at the same time that’s made me feel the burnout.”

In November, Somers is running group programming for people experiencing stress and anxi-

ety from procrastination, and also ways to cope with anxiety.

“The topic that I've chosen this year is breaking the anxiety procrastination cycle,” she said.

“One of the points that I really want to make here is that it is human to procrastinate. It is human to turn on a stress response, or anxiety or fight, flight, freeze, or whatever we might use as a term to describe that. But if it's interfering with our life, our productivity, our enjoyment of our life, there are things that we can do about it.”

Somers said that what people don’t know about procrastination is that it’s often a challenge to emotional regulation.

“We are often procrastinating because we're trying to avoid feeling something uncomfortable, either because ‘I don't like that task or that course. So I'm not studying it’,” she said. “Or ‘I'm afraid that if I get into it, I might realize I don't really know that much or that it's hard that I might not be able to get the grade or that I want or to be successful the way that I want’.”

Somers said one of the ways to get through this is to be cognitive in your thought process. She listed off some questions that may help people with their emotions.

“What am I saying to myself inside my head and being more realistic or kind to myself and focusing on actions rather than the fears or the emotions?” she said. “What things can I do to get through that situation as uncomfortable or as hard or as stressful as I may think it might be? What would I do to get through it when I have a plan? It is much more

17

One of the hallmarks of resiliency is being action-oriented and taking steps to move forward even if this is a rough patch in life. manageable having a plan of action, rather than dwelling in what if this happens? What if that happens?”

Somers said creating a game plan can help mitigate feelings of anxiety and increase resilience when it comes to the unknown.

“One of the hallmarks of resiliency is being action oriented and taking steps to move forward even if this is a rough patch in life,” she said.

She said a lot of the cognitive aspect that she works on with people is helping them realize they’ve overcome adversity before and that there’s more to them than their anxiety and how they feel in a particular moment.

In addition to cognitive thinking techniques, she also teaches self-calming techniques.

“Some people use meditation and right now it's very popular and very common for people to use mindfulness meditation,” Somers said. “But there are many other types of meditations.”

She brought up different meditations like breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, open focus and quieting

Burnout can affect your mental health and prevent you from doing as well in school. PHOTO PROVIDED BY PEXELS

response.

“I like people to think about it like a smorgasbord and I want them to experiment,” she said.

Somers said that mindfulness is a popular meditation practice right now, but might not work for everyone. She said people who may have trouble paying attention to mindfulness meditation might find something like Tai Chi more valuable.

The final piece of the puzzle is changing behaviours.

“In addition to these cognitive behavioral strategies, or the calming, calming strategies, sometimes it really is about behaviors… the behaviors of sleep and exercise and going to bed at the same time and getting up at the same time,” Somers said.

She said one of the behaviour strategies is to give yourself just 20 minutes of putting in work.

“I can do anything that I don't like for 20 minutes,” she said, “Then you put a time limit on it. It's not like I've got to study this topic all night. If I really have been procrastinating on it, I say to myself, I'm gonna do 20 minutes.

I could do anything I don't like for

20 minutes.”

Somers said she hopes these tips can help others recognize their feelings and come up with ways to help themselves.

“I'm hoping people will just start thinking about this and become a bit more self aware and realize there are things that they can do about it,” she said.

She said the most common thing people do is give up and take zero action because they simply don’t have the energy.

“There could be a cost to taking no action, even if you are aware of the signs,” Somers said.

She said those who may be struggling a lot might want to seek help from a counsellor, or access some of the supports available through the Learning Commons.

She also said that those wishing to learn new skills for coping with procrastination, anxiety and burnout can attend her workshops this month for more strategies to deal with burnout.

You can reach out to Somers at ksomers@uoguelph.ca, or visit selfregulationskills.ca to learn about the workshops.

NOVEMBER ISSUE | SPORTS & HEALTH

THE ONTARION

STRESSBUSTERS Take a break from studying and enjoy these stressbusting activities!

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ILLUSTRATION BY GEORGE LONGLEY

L C M P T E X T B O O K S H H Z A E S Q H C J G R Y P H O N N M G F K R D H G U

M J T M S N J R U G R G D E V N J Y B H H D F V I P G T C X Z C T H A N K F U L R V M E L N Z T W N G A R D E N N R V A I W D T E I D R B P W J P L W S Q Y E P G E Z T J L W F O O W H B P T J C R K J Y M E O K R I T U F U S R S M G W E C K T K N Q K A S N C L O H A P P I N E S S U H C D F E T P G L N I H D H T N E R F R P Z C F J N N E S A E R G B H H A K W M B M A Q V F E T G N P S O F O H J O V E F F E O V M I Z C Y Y T S Q U V K E Y P Z F A I T H J A E M W K X N G S J W O W L L J T K F F P N E W W P Y H V X Y O S H E J M G A Y P A R E P V C T G I C H G R A T I T U D E C E Z U Z N F C B C A G V U C W X N S W T C N R H J U Q J T G H G S V Y G H B R V L P P O U L J W K F G O M V X L Q T F X E D S P J J F V A L C W L J J P H W T E B V Z E L L Q V W K V T C S I F X K A E T Q L T O A B E U D

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V Y K Y C H A O Y R M J L E M B T F U B U P S E R E A L L W A P S T U B U A L A A H Y B G Y F J X B L G L S T U O S I W X A A J C E O Y C Q C G H K C A O A P K S E W Z L G B K P L R Z Y P B R S H X U J C O F F R O G S X O N

U N Q A R N O Y V X D K D Y I U T S Y D T D E N O S I E M F Z Z T I E J P O H U R Q E E N T A R

Z H K A M X A O W W I N G Y C W T A M N I P M R X Z I U M T G U E L P H T A Z Z N G D R S Z Q D S G S I H R C Y H O M B P O S V D I B C U H T W G J Z Q J V P L Z L I D Y S F K V X K Q H G D L Q R J N K X C A Q Q D F Y R D A Q U C K I I N T U N I V E R S I T Y Y K C E H W Z O J I A H E Y A U G G Q W I O N Q E H M D U X

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ISSUE 195.3 | SPORTS & HEALTH

THEONTARION.COM

STRESS-BUSTING HOROSCOPES Aries (Ram): March 21–April 19

Cancer (Crab): June 22–July 22

Things might seem a little off-kilter right now. You might be starting a new job, working on new projects, or dealing with a conflict in your life. Treat yourself to a nice latte, a yummy lunch or get those new shoes you’ve been wanting! Life is short. Buy the ticket. Take the ride.

It’s easy to feel like there’s so much to do and not enough time to do it. Try not to get overwhelmed and break your tasks into smaller pieces. If you’re up for it, go out to a new spot in town and take a moment to observe your surroundings. You never know what you might see!

Taurus (Bull): April 20–May 20

Leo (Lion): July 23–August 22

You might be feeling angry and anxious about the way things are going. You might be having relationship problems, or issues within your social circle. Take time to have a nice relaxing bath - and don’t forget the bath bomb for some scented luxury!

Gemini (Twins): May 21–June 21 Sometimes, you might feel most at war with yourself. You have big feelings and need a space to safely express them. Take a moment to yourself and try creating something! Paint a canvas, make a sculpture, or just take the time to clean your room and rearrange it.

It’s a cold time of year, and leo’s are known for being hot! You might feel like you’re in a style rut and your old fall clothes don’t fit your new aesthetic. That means it’s time for some retail therapy! Go out and try out a new style. Go goth for a week and see how you transform!

Libra (Balance): September 23–October 23

Capricorn (Goat): December 22–January 19

Libras are one of the most popular star signs, but you might feel your star is waning. Have some fun with friends by planning a themed party, or a night out. You can still be the life of the party even if you don’t go to every event… Although it’s a lot more fun when you do!

Life is full of surprises. But that doesn’t mean it comes without its ups and downs. Sometimes life can be overwhelming and straight up suck. Capricorn, you deserve a vacation! Take some time off and live your best life on your own terms.

Scorpio (Scorpion): October 24–November 21

Aquarius (Water Bearer): January 20–February 18

It’s scorpio season, baby! This time of year is all about you. However, you may not like the attention. Take time for yourself to read a book, do a wordsearch or get lost in the latest bingeable Netflix show. It’s your season - you do you!

You might feel like people aren’t paying attention to your feelings.

Make sure to be assertive and let others know what you want. While you’re at it, figure out what you want and go for it. Set new goals for yourself and create a plan to follow through. You got this, Aquarius!

Virgo (Virgin): August 23–September 22

Sagittarius (Archer): November 22–December 21

Pisces (Fish): February 19–March 20

Sometimes life is overwhelming.

Your season is over, but your life isn’t! Go for a nice walk in your area, or maybe take up jogging. You never know what you’ll be able to achieve until you try it! Remember to be aware of your surroundings and good things will come your way!

If you’re feeling like things aren’t going your way recently, reflect on why that might be. You might try too hard to please others and forget to make time to please yourself. Indulge in your favourite sweets or try a new recipe to help excite your taste buds and treat yourself.

You might be spending your time daydreaming about the way you wish things were. Reality checks are necessary, but it’s okay to get lost in your world sometimes. Write a short story, or fanfiction and create the world you want to be in. Escapism is a great way to pass the time!

2024

Submit your work to tpipe@theontarion.com

by Dec. 8, 2023

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NOVEMBER ISSUE | SPORTS & HEALTH

THE ONTARION

Ontario pharmacists expanded prescribing powers Now you can go directly to a pharmacy for these 19 conditions FATIMA ASKARY

P

harmacists in Ontario can now diagnose and treat up to 19 ailments, making it significantly more simpler, faster and accessible for people to receive the care they need.

As of January 2023, Ontario announced 13 medical ailments that pharmacists would now be allowed to treat and prescribe medications.

Now, they’ve expanded this list by adding 9 more common medical conditions.

You can now skip the doctor for these conditions: • Acne • Allergic rhinitis • Candidal stomatitis (oral thrush) • Canker Sores • Conjunctivitis (bacterial, allergic and viral) • Dermatitis (atopic, eczema, al-

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

lergic and contact) Diaper rash Dysmenorrhea Gastroesophageal reflux disease Hemorrhoids Herpes labialis (cold sores) Impetigo Insect bites and urticaria (hives) Tick bites, post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent Lyme disease Musculoskeletal sprains and strains Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy Parasitic worms (pinworms and threadworms) Urinary tract infections.

Yeast infections Health Minister Syliva Jones

made the announcement on Oct. 1, stating, “Expanding the list of common ailments pharmacists can treat, people will now get faster, more convenient access to the care they need closer to home, while helping to further reduce wait times at our community clinics and hospitals.”

She also stated that 89 per cent of pharmacists are now participating, with 400,000 assessments that have been made since the beginning of this program. Pharmacists roles have also been expanded to administer certain injections such as insulin, B12 shots and RSV vaccines. Accessing services for diagnosing ailments requires only your OHIP card, however pharmacists prescribing these injections will charge a small fee.

The overall aim with this ini-

If you can’t get an doctor’s appointment, a pharmacy can prescribe meds for many common conditions. PHOTO PROVIDED BY PEXELS

tiative is to reduce the long backlog of cases that have been flooding the province since 2020. The shortage of family doctors and long wait times has made it increasingly difficult to receive primary care. This initiative has worked to address these issues with the time spent in emergency rooms and surgical waitlists reduced steadily over the past year, according to Jones.

It also increases access to care for those living in rural communities.

Alleviating this large burden from physicians allows them to dedicate time and resources to treating more

complex and urgent cases.

The next steps of this program is to address the issue of women’s healthcare. CEO of Ontario Pharmacists Association Justin Bates spoke openly on addressing women’s health concerns, saying he hopes that birth control and emergency contraceptives are added to the list of treatments prescribed by pharmacists by 2024. These two medications are on a new list that the Ontario College of pharmacists have proposed to the Ministry of Health, currently pending approval.

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ISSUE 195.3 | SPORTS & HEALTH

THEONTARION.COM

Don’t lose your pennies to the penny stock scam You won’t get rich fast through an email - here’s how to avoid stock-based scams PATRICK SUTHERLAND

I

n this installment of our series on scams and how to avoid them we’ll be looking at a very specific type of scam. You will likely never encounter it but it serves as an example of how clever scammers can sometimes be.

Imagine you get an email from someone who claims they have a system for picking stocks (or perhaps these days, cryptocurrencies). They tell you there’s a lot of money to be made buying almost-worthless penny stocks and making a fortune if they go up even a little.

They make a bold prediction: within a week a specific stock (let’s call it ONTA) will go up. A week later, ONTA goes up.

Too bad you didn’t buy it right? Then you notice another email from the same sender.

They predict another stock, called GRYF, will go down. Sure enough, a week later, it goes down.

Now they have your interest and you’re curious to see the next email. Fast forward a few months and they have made 10 successful predictions in a row. That’s not luck, right? They must know something and it’s looking like their predictions might actually be real. So you throw a few hundred dollars into the stock, which starts to go up. You put more money in and so do others, driving the price up until it pulls a Bitcoin and crashes. You’ve lost your money and the emails stop.

How does it work?

Let’s look at this from the scammers point of view. They start with a list of, let’s say 50,000 emails. They divide the list in two and tell half that the stock ONTA will go up, and the other half that it will go

down. Because stocks tend to fluctuate, one of those two things will likely happen. Those who got the correct prediction will be divided in half and receive another email. Half will be told that GRYF will go up, and the other half – you guessed it – will go down.

The scammer will continue this process until about 48 people have received 10 correct predictions in a row. If even a small handful of these people can be convinced to put money into the final stock the price can spike quickly, which is good for the scammer who already owns a ton of shares. They sell high, the price crashes and the victims are left “holding the bag”.

The increase in price and offloading of the scammer’s shares give this scam its name of “pump and dump”.

How do we avoid it?

This scam is about establishing credibility by using hidden information to create the appearance of making predictions.

Our task, as savvy students and community members, is to see past the ruse and protect ourselves.

Since we can’t know how many emails they are sending to others, we need to use other tools. The first is to ask yourself if this is too good to be true. If someone could predict the stock market, why would they share their secrets with perfect strangers by email?

The second is: don’t make financial decisions based on random emails or social media posts.

And while these may seem very obvious, ask yourself, how many “correct” predictions in a row would tempt you to believe it?

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If someone could predict the stock market, why would they share their secrets with perfect strangers by email? PHOTO PROVIDED BY PEXELS

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OPINION

THE ONTARION

An international student’s experience with Guelph’s housing crisis When I came to Guelph, I was looking for an exciting journey – not a housing shortage MANI RASH

A

International and domestic students alike struggle to find affordable housing in Guelph. PHOTO PROVIDED BY PEXELS

Music. Smiles. Hot Dogs.

For 23 years, Bob has made it his mission to serve up good food and good times to U of G students. Whether you're in need of a quick meal or a just friendly face, come say hi to Bob at his hot dog stand just east of Branion Plaza.

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BOB’S DOGS Come see for yourself why Bob's Dogs is a U of G Tradition

round September of last year, when I first arrived in Guelph, I was filled with excitement. I had reached a turning point in my life, and I was about to start a journey. But even moreso, I was terrified to the bone, because I didn't have a place to stay yet.

At the time, I was oblivious that Canada was plunged into a housing crisis. I thought finding a place to rent would be a pretty straightforward process, as it is anywhere else. Boy, was I wrong.

I had initially booked an Airbnb for a week and decided to look for places in the meantime. One week turned to two weeks, and two weeks turned to a month. I was trying to keep up with my newly enrolled in courses and trying to adjust to my new environment, while spending an awful amount of money everyday that I couldn't find a house. And housing from the university seemed unlikely, as I had put a deposit months prior and there were still no rooms available every time I checked.

After a month of going all around town and visiting houses, while trying to keep up at university, I finally found a shabby room at the very south end of Guelph. It wasn't ideal as it was an old house, and it was quite far from campus. Yet I was relieved and happy that I didn't have to stress over housing anymore.

Through the semester, after talking to many domestic and international students, I realized that I wasn't alone in this struggle. Many of my peers went through the same thing. That struggle had set me back from the very start of a journey that I was looking forward to, a journey that was supposed to be lively and exciting.

But this isn't just due to the nation-wide housing crisis that is prevalent right now. The housing issue was much worse in Guelph than other Canadian cities. Guelph is much more affected by this issue because of the sudden rapid acceptance of international and domestic students after the pandemic, when most people didn't have to attend the campus.

It should be the university’s duty to provide residence for international students. If they can't do so, they should at

least make sure that the city's housing infrastructure wouldn't break under their decisions to enroll so many students.

However, this isn't solely U of G's fault.

Canada has a high rate of international students in general, due to the country's high standards of education. The total number of international students in all education levels in Canada is 807,750. International students contribute over CA$22.3 billion per year to the Canadian economy, paying tuition and student fees that are up to five times higher than those paid by Canadian students.

Yet, the Canadian government seems unable to provide the necessary infrastructure to accommodate the high number of international students that enter the country every year. In addition to high fees, international students are among the only Canadian residents systematically denied adequate access to health care services, with those in Ontario, Yukon, and Manitoba ineligible for public-health insurance.

Post-secondary institutions must recognize that international students need different supports than domestic students.

International students deserve to be treated more than just a revenue stream, by both the Canadian government and all the academic institutions. I feel for any international students at the University of Guelph, because I understand their struggles. I wish that future students who come to this country don't have to go through the same hardships.

ICON BY MONKIK

ISSUE 195.3 | OPINION

THEONTARION.COM

23

Got period problems? So does U of G Ever unexpectedly got your period and found there were no products available? So have a lot of Guelph’s students, and one too many times.

SIERRA LEESE

I

first noticed the lack of attention to this problem in my first year at residence. I stayed in Maritime, part of the South Residences, where all the bathrooms are gender neutral. It seemed there was a noticeable oversight however when it came to menstruation-related necessities.

There were no hygiene disposal boxes anywhere to be seen, but a general, public, garbage bin that was placed outside of the bathroom stall. A far from ideal situation for people in this position.

Finding available period products was also out of the question, the only dispenser located in the basement and more items than not was empty. This posed significant challenges for residents on upper floors like myself, making accessibility to these essential products difficult.

My experience wasn’t isolated to my residence either. I spoke with students who resided in Lambton, Lennox & Addington, and Mills residence and all faced similar situations and challenges.

The consistent lack of supply for adequate menstrual hygiene prod-

ucts across the campus was evident, highlighting a bigger issue at foot.

The Menstrual Hygiene Initiative established by the CSA in 2017 is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, acknowledging the pressing need for comprehensive menstrual care on campus. The initiative collects a mandatory fee of $0.90 per semester from undergraduate students with the intention of supplying free menstrual hygiene products. However, the reality is that they have greatly fallen through on the execution of this idea. This initiative only applies to 4 buildings on campus - the University Centre, Athletics Centre, Bullring and Rozanski Hall. I went to investigate each bathroom that was supposedly affiliated with their initiative, to which I found all the dispensers out of tampons.

This wasn't just a one-off either. I’ve returned to these bathrooms for the past three days to still find the dispensers out of tampons, and in some cases out of pads as well. If a portion of students' tuition is going towards supplying

these products, it’s important that the CSA honors their word and ensures they are being made readily available for students. While it’s important to recognize the CSA is a non-profit, student led organization, the university itself should be collaborating with the CSA to help expand this initiative.

With over 100 buildings on campus, serving the menstrual hygiene needs of students should be a priority across the board.

The Mackinnon building bathrooms I found to be lacking the most in this department. While there are disposal boxes available, they have either been so overfilled with liner bags that it's impossible to use them or are completely empty. There are also no menstrual products to be found in any of the bathrooms. In an already uncomfortable state, these situations pose more than an inconvenience for menstruating people.

The school itself would benefit from saving their pipes by ensuring there are hygienic and sufficient ways for people to dispose of their period products. Disposing

Menstrual products are not a luxury: everyone deserves access. PHOTO PROVIDED BY UNSPLASH

of products like tampons in toilets can cause damage to plumbing and pipes, resulting in costly repairs.

Much more than it would if the school provided sufficient period care and products.

Additionally, providing appropriate disposal options plays a vital role in environmental protection. Period products flushed down toilets risk ending up in rivers and oceans, damaging our environment. As a school located in a city that was labelled the 6th greenest in Canada (according to CTV), it's important to address and solve an issue such as this that directly contradicts their environmental and sustainability values.

The lack of products on campus isn’t the only concern students have either. Mckinley Pugh, a third year student here at University of Guelph, brought to my attention the lack of variety available for menstruating people.

“When pads and tampons are actually provided in the bathrooms they’re only for the lightest flow possible." said Pugh. "That doesn’t work for a lot of people I know. Ev-

eryone is different which requires a variety of sizes. When tampons and pads are provided, they are low quality which deters students from using campus provided resources”.

While details such as this may seem like nitpicking, it’s an essential part of menstruating people's lives.

Periods can be painful, uncomfortable and more often than not, miserable. The last thing they should have to deal with is barriers created by their own educational institution. It is high time for the University of Guelph to address these oversights and ensure that it provides the fundamental hygiene essentials for menstruating individuals.

This is not only a matter of convenience but a matter of respect for the health, well-being, and dignity of all students. By expanding the Menstrual Hygiene Initiative to encompass all campus buildings and improving the range and quality of menstrual products, the university can foster a more inclusive and supportive learning environment for everyone.

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NOVEMBER ISSUE | FU N S T U FF

FUN PAGES

THE ONTARION

BECAUSE WE ASKED...

What do you do to unwind after a stressful day?

"Go back to my room and put on some nice music, make a pot of tea and relax for 45 minutes before studying."

" Going to The Arboretum and walking through Wild Goose Woods."

"Go for a walk in The Arboretum and look for animals."

Christa Wise Recent Graduate, Zoology

Sam Welsh 2nd year, Arts and Science

Abdullah Badullah 3rd year, Economics

"I go and head over to The Tulip Tree in The Arboretum."

"I listen to the 'My Dad Wrote a Porno' podcast."

Odesia Howlett Alumni

Aleksander Mell 5th year, Wildlife Biology and Conservation PHOTOS BY MARIANA ERAZO

"Eat a good mouse" Mowat Wild Ontario

THEONTARION.COM

ISSUE 195.3 | SPECIAL ONTARION ARCHIVE FEATURE

FROM THE ARCHIVES

The Ontarion has been around since 1951 and we’ve witnessed some pretty historic moments. This is a new feature that will focus on noteworthy articles pulled from our archives that are of interest to our readership today.

We’re currently in the process of fully digitizing our archives and creating a searchable directory. If you’d like updates on when this project is complete, sign up for our newsletter by emailing info@theontarion.com

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NOVEMBER ISSUE | FUN STUFF

THE ONTARION

THE ONTARION'S CLUB OF THE MONTH Club Name: The University of Guelph Improv Club Club Since: 2018 Club Mission: To create a community of people at the University of Guelph who are interested in learning and enjoying improv, provide opportunities on campus to perform improv and make improv accessible to people of all skill levels and backgrounds. It’s fun!

Fun Fact: Our Fall semester showcase is this November! We will be holding a free performance on Tuesday November 28th in Peter Clark Hall and would love it if you attended. No pressure or anything. But it will be cool. See Gyrphlife for more details and to RSVP. How can others get involved: All students, staff, faculty and alumni are welcome to show up to our weekly meetings. These free weekly workshops help to develop your improv for performance, personal growth, or just for fun. For the F23 semester our meetings are Tuesdays from 7:30-9:00 in Mckinnon Rm 304. We also encourage you to follow our instagram (@uofgimprov) for updates .

If you want to be the next club of the month, email tpipe@theontarion.com

The Ontarion is always looking for passionate and creative volunteers to join our team of reporters, copyeditors, photographers, and illustrators.

No experience needed!

For more information visit theontarion.com/volunteer

ISSUE 195.3 | FUN STUFF

THEONTARION.COM

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NOVEMBER TO-DO LIST WED NOV 1 Break the Anxiety-Procrastination Cycle • 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

• Online • Free and open to all U of G students. Tips for hacking the anxiety-procrastination cycle, and making these strategies into habits

WED NOV 8

FRI NOV 16

TUES NOV 24

Anxiety Skills & Strategies • 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

• Online • $10 for U of G students. 3 session program on techniques and tips to decrease the uncomfortable sensations of anxiety

Fair November • 10: a.m. - 9:00 p.m. from Friday Nov. 16 to Sunday Nov. 19 • UC main floor • Open to everyone. 85 incredible artists and craftspeople from across Ontario and Shop your past favorites and discover new ones!

Taylor Swift Eras Tour Dance • 8:00 p.m.

• Peter Clark Hall • $10 and tickets can be purchased at CSA office room 274. Costumes are encouraged

THURS NOV 9 THUS NOV 2 Hypnotist Show • 7:00 p.m.

• Peter Clark Hall • Free for all U of G students

Decreasing Headaches • 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

• Online • $20 for U of G students.

4 session program on how to decrease stress-related tension and migraine headaches, and better cope with headache pain

MON NOV 20 Imaginus Poster Sale • 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. from Monday Nov. 20 to Wednesday Nov. 22 • UC Courtyard

Stress Less for Tests • On-demand; you can begin today!

• $10 for U of G students. 3 hour online program on strategies that decrease test anxiety and enhance performance

PETS OF THE MONTH

MEET JESSE WILLIAM!

MEET KALE YARBOROUGH!

Breed: Unknown (Rescue)

Breed: Budgie

Breed: Doodle (Wheaton Terrior/Poodle

Breed: Dwarf Hamster

Photo: Eva Gharabaghi

Photo: Tahmo Gharabaghi

Photo: Sydney

Age: 5, but a kitten at heart

Age: 11

Photo: Madigan Gillespie Age: 2 Fun Fact: He is smart enough to create a diversion just so he can steal your lunch. Especially if it's cheese

Age: 2 months Fun Fact: He's a huge racecar fan and he's speedy on his wheel

MEET OLIVIA!

Fun Fact: She is an ex-feral cat from Atlanta, Georgia, and was the mother to 4 beautiful rescue kittens before she got spayed

MEET KIWI!

Fun Fact: Kiwi loves toothbrushing and wants to be a dental hygienist when he grows up!

MEET EEVEE! Breed: Australian Cattle Dog mix Age: 10 months Fun Fact: She loves puppy parkour and will jump up onto any surface on command!

WANT TO SUBMIT YOUR PET TO BE FEATURED? Email tpipe@theontarion.com with a photo and the information above!

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THE ONTARION

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CRYPTOGRAM

Tips: 1. Use a pencil 2. Letters will not stand for themselves.

3. There are two commonly used one-letter words: "i" and "a" 4. The most common letters in the English language are: E, T, A, O, I, and N.

A cryptogram is a collection of words - often quotations - where each letter has been consistently substituted with a number.

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ontarion@uoguelph.ca 519-824-4120 Editorial: x 58250 Advertising: x 58267 Accounts: x 53534 E DITORIAL STAFF

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Editor-in-Chief Taylor Pipe News Editor Carlota Sousa Arts & Culture Editor Andreea Burlacu

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Sports & Health Editor OPEN POSITION Copy Editor & Fact Checker Olivia Strutt

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Graphic Designer Paige Stampatori

Fill in the empty squares so that each of the digits 1 through 9 appear once in each row, column, and 3-by-3 block.

WORD JUMBLE

Photo & Graphics Editor Sophia Marcon OFFICE STAFF Executive Director Patrick Sutherland Accountant

FI UYO ELFE “OUNRBTU” TNTIGSE NI, FI OUY LFEE

Laurie Arnold Circulation Director Salvador Moran

MDAIRZLEDOE NAD DAHSEXUTE, TI SI TBSE, RFO HTE KASE

Marketing Coordinator Mariana Erazo Archive Assistant Abbey Hanks

FO ROENEVYE, IWHAWDTR DNA ETRSREO ELSORFYU.

BOARD OF DIREC TORS President

— IADLA MLAA

Paula Henry-Duru Chair of the Board Katelynn Huong Vice President Finance Jaidyn McCrae Vice President Communications *OPEN POSITION Staff Representative Paige Stampatori DIREC TORS Thea Basic Jordana Glowinsky Avneet Grewal Alex Lefebvre Annie O'Keefe

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CONTRIBUTORS JORJA ALLEN FATIMA ASKARY LOREL DANIELOV PAULA HENRY-DURU AADYA KAPOOR SIERRA LEESE ELLIE PETRAK

The Ontarion is a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors. Since The Ontarion undertakes the publishing of student work, the opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of The Ontarion staff and Board of Directors. The Ontarion reserves the right to edit or refuse all material deemed sexist, racist, homophobic, or otherwise unfit for publication as determined by the Editor-in-Chief. Material of any form appearing in this newspaper is copyrighted 2023 and cannot be reprinted without the approval of the Editor-inChief. The Ontarion retains the right of first publication on all material. In the event that an advertiser is not satisfied with an advertisement in the newspaper, they must notify The Ontarion within four working days of publication.

The Ontarion will not be held responsible for advertising mistakes beyond the cost of advertisement. The Ontarion is printed by Master Web, Inc.

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THE ONTARION

AUTUMN ON CAMPUS PHOTOS BY SOPHIA MARCON