Between the Lines: Borders, Territory, and Space by soroushyeganeh

Border Index 3 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory & Space Border Index

Nur Nuri Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh Rebecka Ferraro

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

Border Index

Border Index 1

Introduction

RBC ATM Machines

Border Index 2

U.S. Consulate General

Border Index 3

University of Toronto: Accessibility and Inclusivity

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

Introduction While our group engaged in three different sites and themes throughout the course of this semester, the common thread within our research is the investigation of privatized public space. Initially beginning by analyzing highly securitized sites with hard tangible borders, including the RBC bank and the U.S General Consulate building, our group progressed into Border Index Three with a focus on accessibility and inclusivity to develop a multifaceted comprehension of how barriers are formed, reinforced and maintained. The borders imposed by the U of T colleges were perhaps more nuanced and charged than the explicit barriers of our previous investigations. Rather than distinctly communicating what bodies and behaviours were permitted, our final project unveiled the subtle, blurred, and often subjective experiences associated with accessibility barriers.1 Despite appearing neutral, the colleges have a unique identity and culture that is formed through the borders they impose, rather than as a symptom of pre-existing boundaries. We can conclude that in each assignment we found this intentionality to be present, evident in the deliberate subtlety of barriers that are intended to produce the impression of freedom within the controlled privatization of these outwardly public spaces.2 1

Storey, David. “Territory and territoriality” in Territories: The Claiming of

Space. Abingdon: Routledge, 2012, 24-30 2

Coaffee, Jon, Paul Ohare, and Marian Hawkesworth. “The Visibility of (In)security: The

Aesthetics of Planning Urban Defences Against Terrorism.” Security Dialogue 40, no. 4-5 (2009): 489-511. doi:10.1177/0967010609343299. Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index 1 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh

RBC ATM Machines Border Index 1 reveals the territorial claim that the Royal Bank of Ontario and its users have upon the Hudson’s Bay Plaza at the intersection of Yonge and Bloor Street. The site reveals unique conditions of barriers, through a series of subtle boundaries that distinguish the public pathway from the protected zone of the ATM machines. Ranging from a wide array of physical and metaphysical barriers, the protection of the ATM’s are supplemented by architectural shifts in typology. Sheltered in an alcove with a simple metal banister as a blockade, the zone of monetary exchange is divided into distinct zones that emphasizes the external gaze, thus challenging publicness. The primary boundary that demarks territory is the division of space whilst maintaining a visual relationship.1 Unlike the division of space imposed by rigid elements such as the wall, the ATM’s are separated from the public through invisible borders.2 Borders aim to distinguish between two zones- the public and the territory of RBC members. This membership and access is further amplified and perhaps questioned by the company logo and its various signs. These inscriptions symbolically allow for members to feel a sense of identity and claim over the space, thus acting as a live barrier in the fight over territory. 3 These elements create a catalogue of carefully hidden boundaries that communicate whom is allotted access and whom is not.

Lynch, Kevin. “Edges and Districts” in the Image of the City. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1960, 65-72.

Koolhaas, Rem. “Field Trip: A(A) Memoir, The Berlin Wall as Architecture” in Small Medium, Large, Extra

Large. New York: Monacelli Press, 1995, 212-33. 3

Storey, David. “Introduction” and “Territory and territoriality” in Territories: The Claiming of Space. Abing-

don: Routledge, 2012, 1-30.

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index 1 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh

The Plaza Identifying four major zones of boundaries, the site is a delicate configuration between visible and invisible barriers. The primary is the edge seam that separates the public from the ATMs. This zone is implied through the ceiling facet and amplified by the shift in floor material, and supported by the architectural composition of the corner. The secondary barrier, the metal line up banister, rests atop this seam. Physically extruding the invisible threshold, the banister aims to impose regulation upon the RBC territory. However, this act of regulation is more-so figurative than rigid, a suggestion rather than a rule. The third boundary emerges as the conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst delegating space through suggestive interpolation, as well as, physical barriers, these gestures are symbolic rather than effective. The final boundary is of the ATM, where the RBC sign, accessibility symbols, and the ATM machine software security, create a multitude of boundaries- for members, as well as, non members.

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Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index 1 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh

Visible and Invisible Borders

Bright Blue

Yellow

Dark Blue

The logo and branding colour of RBC symbolize status as well as exclusivity. The utility of the tri-colour and the lions head resting upon a globe interpolates the RBC bank client, whilst claiming territory in the plaza. It is seen repetitively from multiple angles and this act of repetition alludes to the superimposition of the brand, demarcating space as belonging to the bank and its clients.

The floor material divides the public walkway of the plaza and the space in which the RBC ATM machines operate. The materials are succinctly independent from one another- texture, level of polish, colour- creating an invisible threshold. This stark distinction between the two spaces creates an implied soft border between members of RBC and the rest of the plaza users. This act of division is further amplified through the datum points that the porcelain tile flooring meets, strengthening its claim upon the corner.

The gentle gesture of the familiar metal railing implies the direction of lineup when waiting for an ATM. This implicit border is unique in its condition to be porous and able to be able to be challenged by its users. Although its demarcation in space structures a hierarchy of waiting in line, its power can be easily dismantled by subtle glances, playful children, and impatient clients.

Perhaps the most exclusive barrier is the personal banking password. Unknown to others and protected by the self, the password is an essential element to distinguish between users, keep data confidential, and restrict non-members from accessing the ATM. It is equally symbolic and physical, without the password there is no access, however, in order to input a password other requirements must be met such as a credit card.

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

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Visible and Invisible Borders

The tilt of privacy shields the user from external gazes from unwanted members or non-members. The subtle 45 degree tilt and darkened screen protects personal banking information such as the total sum. It is a physical barrier that acts to privatize the process of withdrawal and transaction.

The overhead edge establishes territory and divides space whilst maintaining a visual relationship between the plaza and the ATMs. The soft border acts in cohesion with the change in floor material, enclosing the collection of items that provide the space accessible to those who are able to use an ATM and more specifically bank with RBC.

The watchful eye of the “other” constantly creates an invisible boundary of protection around the zone of RBC’s ATM machines. The 360 degree ability to surveillance, establishes power over territory, as synonymously as a wall acting as a boundary. The effects of the boundary are further amplified by their anonymity-who is watching and are they watching?

The dividers create distinct separation between users whilst their transparent nature allow for them to not obstructing views. The barrier although takes upon the role of delegating space, it is an implied barrier. The plexi-glass dividers, installed due to the COVID-19 virus, does not perform the function of actual protection from air particles. However, it does provide the illusion of protection from users of neighbouring ATM’s.

ATM Machine The layers of access are discretely displayed on the ATM machine.

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index 1 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh

The Signage A visual communicator of who gains access is represented to the public through the four icons resting on the ATM machines. Showcasing access to Chinese translation, audio assistance for those in need of hearing aid, wheelchair accessibility, and the acceptance of US dollar currency. However, what is excluded can be inferred upon through observing two out of four signage. The primary one is that of linguistic exclusion and aid, whilst the secondary is the exclusion of currencies that are have lower market value than the US dollar.

Credit Card Socio-Economic Status Often it seems that a credit card is accessible to all people, however, its subtle exclusions undermine its boundless access into the realm of finance. The credit card is only accessible to individuals over the age of 18, with previous income or employment, and good credit. These negations are created in order to minimize risk for RBC in the future.

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index 2 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

U.S. Consulate General Traversing across University Avenue and Simcoe Street, The United States Consulate General uses a multitude of scales and layers of securitization in a subliminal display of power in a foreign territory. Although often masked from plain sight, the claim over foreign territory manifests itself in discrete forms of tangible and intangible barriers. Using a variety of techniques, the architecture of defense is realized through symbolic gestures and functional ornamentation intended to securitize the building and the international laws it represents. The Consulate claims Canadian territory as being a space under the sovereignty of the USA, which is physically reflected within its architecture and through the metaphysical treaties between the two nations.¹ However, the securitization mechanisms that extend beyond the Consulate’s territory construct a unique condition of surveillance and regulation. Thus, the extension of the border conditions onto both University Avenue and Simcoe Road reflects the true nature of security possessing the Consulate.² This invisible buffer zone, perhaps best described as a no mans land, dominates the hierarchy of control over the public sphere.³ Even though the Consulate does not construct an impermeable border, the zones of accessibility blur the boundaries between tangible and intangible borders, thus performing a collective strategy of defense through a variety of maneuvers and scales.

Coaffee, Jon, Paul Ohare, and Marian Hawkesworth. “The Visibility of (In)security: The Aesthet-

ics of Planning Urban Defences Against Terrorism.” Security Dialogue 40, no. 4-5 (2009): 489-511. doi:10.1177/0967010609343299. 2

Minosh, Peter. “Sovereignty, Security, and the Architecture of American Governance.” In The Politics of

Space and Place, 117-45. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2012. https://www.academia.edu/7735076/Sovereignty_Security_and_the_Architecture_of_American_Governance. 3

Armstrong, Anne-Marie. “Occupying a Third Space: The Haskell Free Library on the U.S.-Canada Border.”

Thresholds 35 (2009): 64-65. doi:10.1162/thld_a_00211.

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

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The Front Enrance The facade and border conditions aligning University Avenue integrate soft and hard borders into a cohesive strategy of defense. The alliance between the securitization of the architecture, the territory, and the street condition aims to express a sense of power to the public sphere while also defending the political interest of the U.S.A. These strategies are symbolically divided into six layers: the surrounding architecture, the street ornamentation, the pedestrian and vehicle accessibility, the site condition, the building architecture and its operational components. While often masked as ordinary elements of architecture, these zones are charged areas of defense. The larger-scale mediators of security are exemplified by the regulation of traffic and pedestrians, while the street elements such as the median, the lampposts, the planters and the landscaping supplement the site security. The architecture itself uses discrete methods to divert attacks and provide a layer of passive regulation through surveillance. Overall, the relationship between the buffer zone and the Consulate territory are invisible, however, many physical elements are tied to symbolic claims of politics. Hence, the iconographic use of the U.S.A crest and the flag as an emblem of political treaties further complicate the true boundaries that encase the Consulate building.

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Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index 2 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

The Back Entrance

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Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

The Simcoe Street entrance and subsequent street conditions largely privatize the space through the securitization of access, the act of regulation, and the physical barricading of the site. Flanked on either end by a police station and a dead end, the one way Simcoe Street physically and ideologically showcases the sensation of being watched and granted access. The narrow road and sidewalk is continuously interrupted by signage of regulation and access, especially for non-authorized vehicles. Signified primarily by the requirement of permits for entrance and the lack of parking across from the Consulate, the law is continuously reinforced through the police and the Consulate security stationed at the back entrance. When compared to the front, the rear of the building is far more visually securitized through familiar modes of defense such as barricades, metal detectors, bollards, fences, and cameras. However, similarly to the University Avenue border conditions, the neighbouring buildings and the streetscape provide buffers of regulation for the Consulate.

Border Index 2 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

Tangible Borders

There are six waist-high planters made of thick concrete in front of the Consulate with small gaps in between them. Within these spaces are street signs, traffic light poles and bollards to act as additional borders.

The fence that wraps around both the University Avenue and the Simcoe Street entrances, surrounds a garden that belongs to the Consulate General. The continuation of this fence through both street conditions, and its layered identity with the landscape, physically delegates space belonging to the public vs the Consulate.

Tangible Borders

The bollards create a physical barrier that regulates the flow of pedestrian traffic. The rather dense arrangement of the boulders indicate their role in securitizing the street surrounding the Consulate.

The Median located in front of the building is a barrier to prevent cars from diverting their path towards the Consulate. While University Avenue is lined with many medians, the one directly in front of the consulate is lined with trees, wide planters and is more elevated than those in the surrounding area.

The elevated ground floor discretely provides a layer of security through architecture. The defense strategy protects against terror attacks caused by vehicles, whilst providing privacy for interactions within the Consulate.

The wall located along the North facade, joining the Consulate and the University Club, provides a unique no-mans land condition. The physical boundary prohibits access past its extent, whilst unifying the two buildings. This juxtaposition reveals the territorial claim that the neighbouring buildings have on the block of University Ave.

According to the American foreign post-security standard, a maximum of 30% window coverage is allowed based on the surface area of the structure. The Consulate, which has 15% window coverage, prevents visibility inside by elevating them and securitizing some with bars.

The Guard Station is embedded within the flower planters against the building so that it is not overtly intimidating or noticeable. It can only be entered through the inside of the building, and has darkened reflective glass that prevents visibility into the booth from the outside.

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index 2 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

Street Conditions

Surveillance

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Parking is prohibited directly in front and behind the building due to threats of car bombs and to provide access for emergency vehicles. The staff parking is located in the rear of the building in a gated lot for employee safety.

The biking path acts as an additional buffer that provides a greater setback between the building and the road. The bollards lining the path act as an added barrier of defense and safety.

Between Dundas Street West and Queen Street West, University Avenue has 18 Canadian flags within a 450 meter stretch. This reflects efforts to assert dominance over territory in the presence of the American flag on the U.S Consulate General building.

The intersection of Armoury Street and University Avenue does not line up directly with the Consulate, which is beneficial in preventing highspeed perpendicular traffic from having a direct path to the building. The traffic light functions to slow down cars, while the absence of a pedestrian crossing by the Consulate is intended to reduce the volume of people in front of the building.

The officers in charge of surveillance provide a variety of barriers for the accessibility of the Consulate, operationally and externally. In addition to securing the premise, they prohibit the photography of the site. Thus the regulation of the public, despite individual’s access into the premise, showcase the power of the Consulate.

The unique edge condition , showcased by the two protruding cubes on the roof of the Consulate , alludes to a panapticonic method of surveillance and regulation. The use of the security camera on the most elevated point of the building monitors the neighbourhood through the gaze.

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index 2 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

Signage

The array of signage found along Simcoe Street showcases the regulation of traffic and public access. The access is maintained through the one way street and controlled by fines assigned to parking and stalling.

The only display of accessibility is showcased along the ramp and entrance of the University Avenue door. The wheel chair accessibility is built into the architecture of the building, however, neither brail nor auditory assistance is provided as reinforcing agents of access.

Access

The COVID-19 regulations displayed at the University Avenue entrance, showcase the enforcement of Canadian mandates such as limitation on access upon travel, as well as, the enforcement of masks indoors.

The signage displaying a change in USA passport requirement alludes to the requirements and regulations of official passports. Utilizing interpolation, the poster signifies the power of the USA to alter past, current, and future requirements for travel, visas, and citizenship.

The one way road condition of Simcoe Street is supplemented by signage and physical barriers. The almost makeshift re-purposing of ordinary planters to act in cohesion with a metal blockade, claims public territory as that of the USA Consulate General.

The division of entrance between American Citizens and those in need of Visa services between University Avenue and Simcoe Road, showcases the physical division of political identities.

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

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Prohibited Items To enter the building there is a mandatory screening process that involves walking through a metal detector and putting personal objects into an x-ray machine. Prohibited items include bags, food, weapons, tools, sprays, liquids, powders, all electronics, helmets, strollers and any other items deemed suspicious. There is no storage available for prohibited objects in the Consulate, though it is provided in surrounding stores for a fee such as Tim Hortons and Staples.

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

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Political Immunity

JUSTICIA

Securitized Area The U.S Consulate General is located in a highly surveilled and securitized area that operates as a border against crime. This is evident through the surrounding buildings which include the Police Station, the Superior Court of Justice, the Hockey Hall of Fame, Osgoode Hall, and the University Avenue Court House among others.

The many physical elements composing the defense strategies of the Consulate regulates access through a multitude of intangible layers. Those who possesses diplomatic immunity through international law are not regulated by the meticulous barriers in place at the Consulate. Rather, their level of free access is determined by their passports. The diplomatic immunity proposed by the juxtaposition of a regular citizen’s passport with diplomatic passports and delegate passports, signifies the level of regulation for different passport users. The lack of surveillance granted to diplomats can be seen in ordinary acts of monitoring goods entering and exiting the Consulate.

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

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NATO

NAFTA

The American Flag and Immigration Law The symbolic nature of the American flag not only represents a colonial past, it showcases the false representation of an American dream for immigrants across the world. The flag holds a rather connotation for those who are excluded from Visa waivers programs and privilege of being Westerners. Epitomized under the Trump administration, the bans on immigration utilized immigration law, police enforcement, as well as, physical barriers.

American Flag and Int. Agreements The American flag, in contrast to immigration policy and the exclusion of marginalized communities from access, represents international law and treaties. United primarily under the framework of commerce and exchange, NAFTA emerges as the primary agreement in juxtaposition with the ban on immigration from Mexico to the USA. The exchange of goods and services supersedes racialized biases and injustices. In addition, the USA Visa Waiver Program further amplifies the colonial past and present of the USA, as well as, the inclusion of Eurocentric countries and the exclusion of the Southern and Eastern countries from access into the USA.

USA Visa Waiver Program USA Visa Free Countries

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Univresity of Toronto: Accessibility and Inclusivity The University of Toronto St. George Campus (UTSG) is laced with implicit and explicit boundaries that blur territories of ownership and access, curating an imposing dominance over the city of Toronto. Provoking the subtle privatization of public space emergent through juxtaposition, UTSG’s tamed nature distinguishes itself as an institutionalized space within the metropolis.¹ Through the nuanced College system of dividing and claiming space, the UTSG creates an interconnected web of border conditions that disguise the intangible limitations of accessibility, diversity, and inclusion through illusions of prestige and institutionalized dogma. Systematically and ideologically, the College system creates hierarchies of borders that reveal the subtle exclusion of students and staff under the framework of gender bias, as well as racial and financial inequality. Thus, despite geographic affiliation between Colleges, each of the seven is culturally disconnected from one another due to ethos driven by historical canons and socio-political distinctions. ² In contrast to the formal unity reflected across Campus, moments of exclusion are hidden in the fine print and vary drastically between Colleges. Therefore, the form of the architecture and urbanity often does not showcase the implicit extent of borders imposed through accessibility, diversity, and inclusion. ² By examining the implications of soft borders, as reflected in architecture and iconography in relation to socio-political structures of oppression, hard borders that foster a sense of unequal access to opportunity across Campus were revealed. Consequently, the urban unity of planned and pruned space masks the discrepancies that create controlled boundaries that operate within an institutionalized framework.

Cruz, Teddy. “Two-way Journeys: Border Walls, Border Cities, and the

Two-headed Trojan Horse.” Thresholds No.20: Be Longing. Cambridge:MIT, 2000. 72-77 2

Koolhaas, Rem. “Field Trip: A(A) Memoir, The Berlin Wall as Architecture” in Small,

Medium, Large, Extra-Large. New York: Monacelli Press, 1995, 212-33. Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index 3 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

Introduction HER

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The University of Toronto is home to seven colleges that each foster a unique culture that is largely defined by the barriers they impose. Through the lens of equity and inclusion, they present varying layers of borders regarding acceptance into the college, residence accessibility, the acquisition of financial support, gender inclusion, the diversity of clubs, and the availability of public and private greenspace. Given the complex and layered interplay of these factors, their ubiquity will be explored in further detail, which are preliminarily introduced through the blue icons that symbolize the border condition most prevalent in each college.

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Border Index 3 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

Truth and Reconciliation The University of Toronto, alongside its federated and non-federated College Universities, operate upon the ancestral land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and most recently the Mississaugas of the Credit River. Turtle Island and its colonial history has utilized academia to subdue Indigenous culture and abuse communities under the framework of assimilation. Therefore, as stated by the Final Report of the Steering Committee for the University of Toronto Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, the University of Toronto has been complicit in the oppression of Indigenous people of Turtle Island. The University, as well as its federated and non-federated Colleges must act to respect and further the goals of the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Action must take fold over the short and long term period, however, each College must be held responsible for creating systems and spaces that encourage Indigenous success and promote systems of reconciliation. Colleges play an integral role in fostering a safe and inclusive spaces within the University at large. The small intimate scale of the Colleges often exaggerate the soft border conditions that exist for BIPOC students. This introduction aims to acknowledge that the land in which the University and Colleges operate upon are borrowed land. The introduction aims to make explicit that the standardized land acknowledgement commonly practiced across the UTSG Campus is not sufficient in creating inclusive and safe spaces for BIPOC students and staff. Thus, non tangible services such as Woodworth College's Imagine Native film screenings, as well as, tangible spaces such as New College's Mother Earth Learning Lodge, are necessary kick-starter projects in fostering an inclusive and accessible community. A border condition highlighted is of St. Michael’s College and their lack of representation, services, and spaces for the purpose of Truth and Reconciliation. Unlike other Colleges across campus, St. Mikes only mentioned a brief Land Acknowledgement as a footnote on their website. The lack of services and spaces dedicated to BIPOC voices, create major issues in accessibility for students who not prioritized within the St. Mikes College system. The particular endorsement of BIPOC friendly spaces will be able to bridge the disproportionate rate of graduation for BIPOC students across campus, thus promoting a more inclusive and accessible College system at large.

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Coat of Arms The ethos of each college is reflected through their heritage and affiliation with global icons and sacred communities across Toronto. Displayed visually through their coat of arms, each College utilizes iconographic imagery to claim territory within the Campus at large. Constructed upon a range of belief systems and cultural emphasis, each coat of arms is symbolic of a code of ethics, belief system, and academic success. However, these coats of arms are laced with meaning that claim territory and impose ideologies onto its students and staff. Coats of arms that have been selected as borders are ones that have ties to religion and colonial pasts.

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As a symbolic Catholic icon, the cross is both inclusive and exclusionary due to the church’s inherent opposition to modern day LGBTQ, feminist, and sexual rights. The cross is present in St. Michael's College coat of arms, and is indirectly referenced in the coat of arms of Trinity College through the crosier and key which serves as a representation of Catholic divinity.

The crest of St. Michael's College claims religious ownership over the student body, as evident through its affiliation with the Archangel Saint Michael. The intangible border reflected in the crest alludes to more tangible borders, including the College’s requirement of having predominantly Catholic staff, and the condemnation of opposite gender visitors after midnight within their residences.

The crown, which is present in four out of seven coats of arms, is a symbol for the British Empire. Driven by the colonization of Turtle Island, the crown remains a symbol of oppression for many BIPOC students which produces intangible borders.

Inherently linked to the use of the Crown, as well as, the symbolic power of the Church that is reflected in the coat of arms, the Atlantic slave trade remains a border that has not been erased through time. Presently showcased in society through institutionalized and systemic acts of racism, the on going oppressions of marginalized and BIPOC bodies in Canada. Within the coat of arms, what is visually interpreted as a soft symbol has direct affiliation with systemic injustice, thus curating very tangible borders within the College system at large.

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The "Broken Bicycle Memorial" (Image i) is a memorial dedicated to the lives lost at the Tiananmen Square 1989 massacre. Not only is this symbol of remembrance discretely tucked in a quiet path on campus, but it also fails to explicitly condemn the acts of the Chinese government.

“Michael” by Anne Allardyce and “Zen West” by Kosso Eloul are abstract sculptures of Archangel Saint Michael and Catholicism within the St. Mikes Campus. They both represent the claim of territory through religious unity by emphasizing the values of the Church on St. Mikes campus.

Monuments and Statues Monuments and statues are often synonymous with soft borders of exclusivity and prestige. From the stance of public art, if the monument or statue is endowed with a meaning of inclusivity, its public platform amplifies accessibility rather than condemning it. However, the content of the monuments and statues that adorn each college within the University of Toronto impose barriers of accessibility through representation, or a lack of it. In addition to constructing soft borders of inclusivity, monuments that are showcased at each College are place markers and claimers of territory. Therefore, once observed from the perspective of territory working in conjunction with inclusivity and diversity, the soft intangible borders of the physical realm become far more problematic than what meets the eye.

The two sculptures are juxtaposed to explore the discrepancies of gender balance, and the disproportion between the number of sculptures representing men and women. The "Crucified Woman” by Almuth Lutkenhaus-Lackey depicting primitive suffering, contrast to the “Businessman on a Horse” by William McElcheran depicting the businessman as a classic war hero.

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index 3 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

Government Funding (OSAP) Woodsworth College has the greatest number of students who apply for government aid at 60%, in contrast with Trinity College which has the lowest amount at 43%. This fact could showcase the lack of adequate scholarships, grants, and bursaries that Woodsworth provides for its students.

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index 3 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

Part-Time vs. Full-Time Students Trinity College has the lowest number of part-time students at 4%, standing far behind Woodsworth College with the highest amount at 17%.

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index 3 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

Finances Over half of Ontario students are on OSAP each year, indicating that financing one’s degree is a major border to pursuing undergraduate studies. While University and Victoria College offer the most entrance scholarships and in-course awards, they fall short in providing bursaries for students with financial needs. Woodsworth, the college with the greatest student dependence upon OSAP at 60%, offers the most bursaries with nearly 2000 administered annually. However, an analysis of each college’s student population relative to the number of scholarships offered demonstrates that those affiliated with Trinity College have the highest chance of securing funding throughout their degree. This correlates with our findings that Trinity students are the least dependant on OSAP.

ENTRANCE AWARDS IN-COURSE SHOLARSHIPS BURSARIES

NEW COLLEGE

Approximately 6% students recieve some form of funding.

WOODSWORTH COLLEGE

Approximately 14% students recieve some form of funding.

INNIS COLLEGE

TRINITY COLLEGE

Approximatly 10% students recieve some form of funding.

Approximately 25% students recieve some form of funding.

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

Approximately 8% students recieve some form of funding.

VICTORIA COLLEGE

Approximately 16% students recieve some form of funding.

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

ST. MICHAEL’S COLLEGE

Approximately 9% students recieve some form of funding.

Border Index 3 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

College Preference Since over 65% of U of T students are enrolled in the Faculty of Arts and Science, they compose the majority of the population of each college. With that in mind, Woodsworth, Trinity and St. Michael's have the least program diversity, catering almost exclusively to those in the Faculty of Arts and Science. Students within the remaining faculties, which include kinesiology, music, and applied science and engineering, are strategically funneled into certain colleges which demonstrates how one's program of study can impact their likelihood of residing in their preferred college. Over 60% percent of students seeking residence who are enrolled in Daniels, the final faculty, are not placed in a college. Rather, they are typically redirected to an off-campus residence called Chestnut without the benefit of proximity, clubs, funding and other perks of being a member of a college. The process to apply to colleges varies. Some have a longer and more selective acceptance process, such as Trinity and Victoria, which suggests that these may be more highly sought after. Larger colleges such as University and New do not require students to rank them first, meaning that those who do not receive their first choice may be funneled here as a secondary or third option.

KINESIOLOGY

NEW COLLEGE

WOODSWORTH COLLEGE

APPILED SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

INNIS COLLEGE

TRINITY COLLEGE

MUSIC

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

VICTORIA COLLEGE

ST. MICHAEL’S COLLEGE

https://starportal.utoronto.ca/StarRezPortal/923B5FD6/1/1/Home-StarRez___University

COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS

Grades

Application

Rank as #1

Application & #1 Ranking ENG

1:34 PM 2021-04-26

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Border Index 3 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

Residence Space Woodsworth College contains 370 residence spaces in total with 5062 students. This number demonstrates that Woodsworth provides residence space for only 7% of its students. In comparison, Trinity College, with 474 residence spaces for its population of 1781, provides living spaces for 26% of it is students.

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index 3 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

Gender Balance by College New College and St. Michael’s College have the lowest ratio of female students at 55%. In contrast, Woodsworth has the most at 67%

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index 3 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

Clubs Offering opportunities for stress reduction, collaboration, and community building, each college has a unique selection of clubs for its students. The following chart outlines groups tailored to diversity and inclusivity, which we have measured based on three types of clubs: the LGBTQ+ community, mental health awareness, and those tailored towards minority groups. Students who wish to join these types of clubs may have access to do so based on the selection offered by the college that they are affiliated with. Only New and Victoria College fulfilled each category, signifying that the remaining five do not have adequate groups in place to support student diversity within the college community, creating a border condition for students that may prevent them from accessing the resources, comfort, and community inclusion these types of groups foster.

Minority Groups

Mental Health

LGBTQ+

NEW COLLEGE

WOODSWORTH COLLEGE

INNIS COLLEGE

TRINITY COLLEGE

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

VICTORIA COLLEGE

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

ST. MICHAEL’S COLLEGE

Border Index 3 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

Incident report of an unwanted person at 213 Huron Street, adjacent to New College on April 5, 2020. The reported individual was seen sleeping at the entrance of the underground parking garage and had left the premises as officers were called onto the scene.

Occurring on St. Mikes's property, a report of an unwanted person/trespassing incident on March 11th was documented, alongside several other suspicious and unwanted person reports. The trespassers were located and provided a verbal warning by Campus Police to evacuate the premises.

Campus Policing: “Unwanted People” All colleges, federated and non-federated, operate within centralized safety and regulation systems offered by the University of Toronto Campus Police. Campus Police operate in conjunction with other third-party safety officers within each college, such as the Building Patrol Officers and Community Policing which uses students and staff as stakeholders of safety. However, what is common across all colleges is the removal of unwanted people, most commonly being the homeless population of Toronto. Despite the college grounds and the university at large being a public institution, it is privatized through acts of policing to create invisible boundaries of access to the public.

Incident reported at 91 Charles St. adjacent to Victoria College, in which an "unwanted person" was removed from the premise by Campus Police.

Unwanted person report from Woodsworth College’s Rotman Commerce underground parking states that an individual was located sleeping near entrance and removed by Campus Police.

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index 3 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

SON MADI

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AVE

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5 min

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335 m

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13 min

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1113 m

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INNIS COLLEGE

ST. MICHAEL COLLEGE

719 m

ST UTO BALM

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230 m

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14 min

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U of T Campus Police, located at Sussex Ave., responds to emergencies and assists faculty, students, and staff all over the campus. However, the distance between its main center and different colleges ranges from 200m to over 1000 meters. The campus is also equipped with 22 Emergency Polls that are accessible to students of different colleges. The proximity of Emergency Polls to some colleges as well as their higher number make them more accessible to the students of those colleges.

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SCALE 1:10000

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index 3 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

Degree Affiliation Innis college with 12,228 graduates has the lowest degree affiliation amongst the seven colleges of Univesity of Toronto. This number in comparison to University college with 59,376 graduates is notable. The seven colleges of University of Toronto have 255,662 graduates in total.

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index 3 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

NEW COLLEGE

INNIS COLLEGE

TRINITY COLLEGE

ST. MICHAEL COLLEGE

Private Building Key Required Private Building Key Not Required Private Building Split Key Required Public Green Space

WOODSWORTH COLLEGE

INNIS COLLEGE

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

WOODSWORTH COLLEGE

INNIS COLLEGE

VICTORIA COLLEGE

ST. MICHAEL COLLEGE

New College

Non-Federated Colleges Privatization of Public Space

Residences TRINITY COLLEGE

ST. MICHAEL COLLEGE

Victoria College

Woodsworth & Innis

Residences of different colleges provide a variety of services for the students. However, these services are not equal in all residences. Lack of tactile writing system, wheelchair accessibility, single gender floors, and being closed during holidays create various boundaries for the students. This drawing illustrates the colleges that fail to provide such services in their residences.

Trinity College

St. Michael’s College

Federated Colleges Privatization of Public Space

New College

Trinity College

Woodsworth

University College

Innis

Victoria College

St. Michael’s College

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index 3 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

Courtyards

New College utilizes strategies that combine soft and hard borders in order to privatize its courtyard space. Utilizing the building as an envelope with one regulated entrance point, whilst visually limiting access to within through its curved structure and bench system, the public courtyard becomes privatized.

St. Michael's College, despite its lack of tangible border conditions prohibiting public access into the courtyard, utilizes passive intangible strategies to claim private ownership over its courtyard. The designed landscape works in conjunction with the signage present in the courtyard to limit the public utility of the courtyard.

University College, despite its central location on St. George utilizes seasonal and permanent strategies to privatize public space. Through a four tier system that disables access into the courtyard from its primarily public circulation path, the fence, the staircase, the doorway, as well as, the building itself act to shelter access into the courtyard.

Trinity College, unlike other Colleges, explicitly utilizes hard borders in order to privatize its internal courtyard. Sheltered by the change in levels, the fencing, the vegetation and the grand door of the building, the courtyard is visually not accessible from the street, therefore, imposing borders of accessibility for users.

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index 3 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

Courtyards

R PRIVATE PROPERTY

WELCOME TO OUR SMOKE-FREE CAMPUS

Woodsworth College, despite its public setting and frontage, utilizes the framing quality of the building envelope and archway structure in order to private the courtyard. Additionally supplemented by vegetation and change in floor material.

The Victoria College courtyard, sheltered by its building configuration as well as gate system privatizes the centralized courtyard through strategies of disguisement.

Innis College, perhaps the most privatized courtyard out of all, utilizes the hidden circulation pathway by vegetation, as well as, physical border conditions such as the wall and bollards to limit public access.

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index 3 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

1113 m

13 min

VIC Students 16% ofrecieve funding

14%

1205 m

14 min

of Woodsworth College Students recieve funding

10%

of Innis College Students recieve funding

8% 6%

of St. Mikes Students recieve funding

of University College Students recieve funding

of New College Students recieve funding

25%

of Trinity Students recieve funding

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

Border Index 3 Nur Nuri + Soroush Ehsani-Yeganeh + Rebecka Ferraro

Between the Lines: Borders, Territory and Space

ARC465 Between the Lines: Borders, Territory & Space Winter 2021 - Daniels Faculty